Friday, March 22, 2013
Saint Stephanie (Patron of Theologians)
Patron Saint: Theologians
Also Known as: St. Stephana De Quinzanis
Born: 1457, Italy
Died: January, 1530 of Natural Causes in Italy
Beautified: 1740 by Pope Benedict XIV
Prayer of St. Stephanie:
God of all consolation, you made Blessed Stephana a sharer in the passion of Christ. With the help of her prayers and by following her example may we be conformed to the image of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
- General Calendar of the Order of Preachers
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Visionary: Taught by Saint and Stigmatic Matthew Carrieri. When Matthew died, Stephanie was 14 years old and experienced visions of Dominican Saints. Immediately after, she took her vows of Obedience, Chastity and Poverty
Stigmatic: Shortly after taking her vows and receiving visions, she developed St. Matthews' full Stigmata of the Crucifixion
Mystic: Capable of reading hearts and minds
Prophetess: Accurately predicted the day of her own death
Healer: Capable of healing herself very quickly after inflicting herself with severe penances. Able to heal others as well.
Life of a Saint:
Understood advanced principles and doctrine of Catechism at a very young age
Dominican Tertiary
Her Spiritual council was sought by many Saints
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Saint Samantha (Patron of Spiritualness)
Patron Saint: Spiritualness
Also Known as: Samthann of Clonbroney (The Maiden of Ulster)
Memorial: December 18th
Born: Ireland, early 700 AD
Died: 739 AD Natural Causes
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Abbess of the Convent in Clonbroney
Refused donations. Her sisters lived in poverty
Miracles and Piety: Her Father, the King of Ireland arranged her to marry a nobleman. She was against this, but her father was adament. The nobleman approached her windowless room one night to witness her "Bathed in a Heavenly Light" as she slept. When the king discovered this, he allowed her to choose her own groom. She chose Our Lord Jesus Christ and entered the Convent to become a Nun.
When Samthann hired a carpenter to build an addition to the Convent, the worker was very hungry and had not had a meal for several days. The worker was dreaming about bread, cheese and butter for himself and his co-workers. Several days after, Samthann made his secret wish come true, exactly how he saw it in his dreams.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Holy Roman Catholic Church and Constantine
I've always been completely fascinated by Roman history. I haven't seen the BBC piece called "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" until today. It's very long at 14 episodes, 30 minutes per episode. The link below is of Constantine; a former pagan Roman Emperor converting to the Roman Catholic Church.
I recommend all 14 episodes, but the below 10 of 14 represents the birth of the first Christian Roman Emperor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ifur2iTDKA
It's extremely interesting, and the piece touches quite a bit on how Christianity is introduced to Rome.
I recommend all 14 episodes, but the below 10 of 14 represents the birth of the first Christian Roman Emperor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ifur2iTDKA
It's extremely interesting, and the piece touches quite a bit on how Christianity is introduced to Rome.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Saint Rose (Patron of Vanity)
Saint Rose was the first Canonized Saint of the Americas born in the year 1586 A.D. Rose is often depicted in images holding a rose in one hand and a Crucifix in the other. St. Rose was always a beautiful yet humble and pious woman. As a young child she would nail her hair to a wall to keep from falling asleep in prayer. Rose was quite serious about her Faith in Christ as she constantly begged her parents to allow her to join the Convent. Being somewhat reasonable, they allowed her to practice as a Dominican Tertiary and did not bother her as she endlessly prayed, while afflicting herself with the wounds of Jesus Christ.
Saint Rose was affectionately called the "Little Rose" as her mother was upset that she cut her beautiful hair. Rose believed her hair was a symbol of vanity and wanted nothing to do with it. In turn, Rose's mother forced her to wear a headdress made of roses. Underneath Saint Rose would wear a crown of nails in emulation of Christ. Not only was Saint Rose exceptionally devout, she was also given visions of The Infant Christ, The Virgin Mother and several Angels. Her visions are described as the Mystical Marriage.
Amongst her Divine Visions, Rose was able to heal the sick and grow flowers out of season. Many people living near her believed she was a witch. Her family also condemned her and sent her away. Rose died at the age of 31 from a strange ailment that was never diagosed.
Memorial: August 23rd
Also Known as: St. Rose of Lima
Born: 1586, Lima, Peru
Died: August, 1670, Lima Peru
Beautified: April, 1668 by Pope Clement IX
Canonized: April, 1671 by Pope Clement X
Additional Patronages: Embroiderers, Gardeners and Florists
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Visionary: Recieved visions of the Holy Infant
Stigmatic: Severe and constant pains in her wrists, ankles and head
Mystic and Miracle Worker: Able to grow assorted flowers out of season
Life of a Saint: Dominican Tertiary
Remarkably devoted to her vow of Chastity
Sold her beautiful flowers and needlework to support her family and the poor
First Saint born in the Americas
Founder of Social Work in Lima
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Saint Rita (Patron Against Lonliness)
Prayer of Saint Rita:
By the singular merits of thy childhood,
By thy perfect union with the Divine Will,
By thy heroic sufferings during thy married life,
By the consolation thou didst experience at the conversion of thy husband,
By the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God,
By thy miraculous entrance into the covenant,
By thy severe penances and thrice daily bloody scourgings,
By the suffering caused by the wound thou didst receive from the thorn of the Crucified Savior,
By the divine love which consumed thy heart,
By that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, on which alone thou didst exist for four years,
By the happiness with which thou didst part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse,
By the perfect example thou gavest to people of every state of life.
Pray for us, O holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Also known as: St. Rita Cascia
Born: 1386, Italy
Died: May, 1457, Italy
Beautified: October 1627, Pope Urban VIII
Canonized: May, 1900
Additional Patronages: Against Lonliness, Infertility and Widows
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Stigmatic of the Crown of Thorns: Suffered continuous bleeding head wounds throughout her life
Devoted to the Passion of Christ
Peacemaker: Prayed for the forgiveness of her sons when her husband was murdered
Prayed for, and achieved the peace of two warring factions in her town in Italy
Miracles: Her last wish on her deathbed, was to have a rose from her families' estate in the dead of winter. Upon this request, a care taker went to her families estate and found a single rose sprouted next to the house in the midst of a blizzard.
Life of a Saint: Unshakable devotion to prayer
Offered spiritual guidance to hundreds
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Saint Theresa (Patron of Lung Ailments)
Patron Saint: Lung Ailments
Also Known as: Saint Theresa of Lisieux
Additional Patronages: Flower Growers, Missionaries, AIDS Sufferers, Loss of Parents and Aviators
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."
- Saint Therese of Lisieux
O Heavenly Father, Who in Thine ineffable goodness didst place in the soul of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus the precious treasure of sanctifying grace, and didst grant her ever to keep it in the midst of earthly dangers, we pray Thee to grant to us for our part the happiness of never losing this inestimable gift whereby we become Thine adopted children, the brothers and sisters of Thy Son Jesus, the temples of the Holy Spirit and the heirs of Heaven.
Enable us, to this end, carefully to avoid mortal sin which would rob us of this grace more to be desired than all the wealth of the world, to fly the occasions of sin, and to resist temptation.
We implore these graces through the intercession of the one who was ever Thy faithful child and whose memory we venerate.
Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, who would have preferred to die rather than lose God's grace, vouchsafe to obtain for us all the help necessary to avoid the misfortune of committing mortal sin, incompatible with this divine grace. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through you powerful intercession. Amen.
Born: January, 1873, France
Died: September, 1897, France from Tuberculosis
Venerated: August, 1921 by Pope Benedict XV
Beautified: April, 1923 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized: May, 1925 by Pope Pius XI
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Miracles: A smile from the Virgin Mother of God cured her of disease at age 8
Several Holy See Confirmed Miracles while she was alive and at her grave site
Life of a Saint:
Named Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II
Writer of the Story of a Soul and The Little Way
Carmelite Nun by Age 15
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Saint Priscilla (Patron Saint of Homemakers)
Saint Priscilla
Patron Saint: Homemakers
Also known as: Prisca
Born: Early first century
Died: Mid - late first century. Martyred in Rome
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Married to St. Aquila
Converted to Christianity during the time in Rome when it was illegal
Used her home as a church
Martyr
Biblical References:
Acts 18
Romans 16
Timothy 4
Corinthians 16
Patron Saint: Homemakers
Also known as: Prisca
Born: Early first century
Died: Mid - late first century. Martyred in Rome
Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:
Married to St. Aquila
Converted to Christianity during the time in Rome when it was illegal
Used her home as a church
Martyr
Biblical References:
Acts 18
Romans 16
Timothy 4
Corinthians 16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)