Archive for March, 2024

Today Christians Commemorate St. Stephen of Mar Saba, Please Pray For Us!

Sunday, March 31st, 2024

Stephen Mar Saba

(Saint Mary’s Press) Stephen of Mar Saba was introduced to the monastic lifestyle at the age of 10 by his uncle Saint John Damascene whom Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI called a person of prime importance in the history of Byzantine Theology, a great Doctor in the history of the Universal Church.

When Stephen turned 24, he began to serve the monastery by doing a number of jobs according to Franciscan Media including a guest master. After some time, Stephen asked permission to lead a life in religious seclusion–the answer from the Abbott was yes and no.

Stephen could follow his preferred lifestyle during the week but on weekends he was to offer his skills as a Counselor. Stephen put a sign on the door of his room: “Forgive me Fathers, in the name of the Lord but please do not disturb me except on Saturday’s and Sunday’s.”

Even though Stephen would have preferred to live in solitary prayer everyday, he kindly met those seeking his counsel and was a trusted spiritual advisor.

Saint Stephen of Mar Saba’s biographer and disciple wrote: “Whatever help, spiritual or material, he was asked to give, he gave. He (Stephen) received and honored all with the same kindness. He possessed nothing and lacked nothing. In total poverty, he possessed all things.”

Related: Saint Stephen of Mar Saba Monastery –Holy Land Sites

Today Christians Commemorate St. Peter Regalado, Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024

St Peter Regalado

Saint Peter Regalado (1390-1456)
Image: Pinterest

(Saint Mary’s Press) Peter came from a wealthy and religious family and was only 13 yrs of age when he entered the Conventual Franciscan Order in his hometown of Spain Valladolid, after several years, he decided to transfer to the more simplistic and rigorous monastery at Tribulos.

While at this monastery, Peter became know for his strict-discipline and delight during his prayers. Following his ordination, Peter was made Superior of the Friary in Aguiar according to Franciscan Media and became part of a group of Friars who desired to lead a life of indigence and penance–In 1442, Fr. Peter Regalado was appointed head of all the Spanish Franciscans in his reform group.

Fr. Peter Regalado led the Friars by his example, a special love of the poor and the sick characterized him. Miraculous stories have been told about his charity to the poor, for example bread never seemed to run out as long as Fr. Regalado had hungry people to feed.

Immediately following Fr. Regalado’s death, his grave became a place of pilgrimage.

Fr. Peter Regalado was Beatified in 1684 by Pope Innocent XI and Canonized in 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV

Today Christians Commemorate St. Ludovico of Casoria, Please Pray For Us!

Friday, March 29th, 2024

Saint LudovicoSaint Ludovico of Casoria (1814-1885)
Image:
Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Casoria, today’s Saint was given the name Arcangelo Palmentieri  and was a cabinet maker before entering the Friars Minor in 1832 taking the name Ludovico–after his ordination five years later, Fr. Ludovico taught chemistry, physics and mathematics to younger members of his province for several years.

In 1847 while praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church of the Sacramentine Sisters in Naples, according to Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth Fr. Ludovico had a spiritual experience characterized as a ‘rebirth’ to a new life.

The first people to see the change in Fr. Ludovico were his students, that one day saw him wearing a habit made out of inexpensive fiber and rough sandals. Fr. Ludovico told his students that he desired to emulate Saint Francis, the reaction was one of surprise.

From that day on, Fr. Ludovico consecrated himself totally to the service of the poor and sick, establishing a medical clinic for them, two schools for African children, an institute for the children of nobility, one for orphans, the deaf and mute and other institutes for the blind, elderly and for travelers, in addition to a medical clinic for Friars of Fr. Ludovico’s province together with charitable institutes throughout Italy.

To help continue his works of mercy, in 1859 Fr. Ludvico established the ‘Gray Brothers’ a religious community composed of Men who had formally belonged to the Secular Franciscan Order — Three years later, Fr. Ludvico established a congregation of religious Women, known as the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, whom he placed under the protection of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary among the first members of the Third Order of Saint Francis and its Patroness. Their work continues to this day in Italy, the United States, Ethiopia, India, Panama.

Fr. Ludovico was a man ahead of his time, he would encourage the Apostolate of the Laity, to interchange with different cultures, with the goal of invigorating society with the light of the Gospel.

It is said that Fr. Ludovico had the charisma to attract others to his initiatives who were willing to work for God’s love. One day a friend inquired how many institutions and projects he had established around Naples, it was estimated that Fr. Ludovioc established some 200 projects all dedicated to the service of the poor and needy.

Fr. Ludovico was a practical man who would say of himself that he was just an old carpenter, his secret was his faith, conviction and the belief that not by human reasoning but with the help of Divine Providence–anything could be accomplished.

Toward the end of Fr. Ludovico’s life, he wrote a spiritual testament which described faith as “light in the darkness, help in sickness, blessings in tribulations, paradise in the crucifixion and life amid death.”

The work for Fr. Ludovico’s Beatification began within 5 months subsequent of his death, he was Beatified in 1993 by Pope Saint John Paul II according to SQPN and was Canonized on the 23 November, 2014 by Pope Francis.

Today Christians Commemorate St. Catharine of Bologna, Please Pray For Us!

Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Saint Catherine...

St. Catharine of Bologna
Image: Catholic Bible 101

(EWTN) Born to a noble family in Italy Bologna, Catharine moved to Ferrara, where she entered the court of Niccolo III d’Este, as a Maid of Honor, there she was educated which later would serve her during her religious life when she used the ‘cultural and artistic knowledge’ she gleaned over the years to her advantage.

In 1427 Catharine at the age of 14 left the court to dedicate herself to a religious life in a community of young Women–two years later, the leader of this community founded an Augustinian Convent but Catharine and 15 other Sisters preferred Franciscan spirituality and established a ‘Poor Clare’ monastery in Florence according to Franciscan Media and as Abbess, Catharine worked to preserve the peace of the new community, her reputation for holiness drew many young Women to the ‘Poor Clare’ life.

Catharine passed away in 1463 and was Canonized in 1712 by Pope Clement XI

On the 29 December, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Saint Catharine of Bologna and said that she was a ‘humble Woman–dedicated to prayer but was always ready to serve; generous in sacrifice but full of joy in welcoming Christ with the Cross”

In Catharine’s autobiography The Seven Spiritual Weapons (available from Amazon) Pope Benedict said, “Catharine offers in this regard teaching of deep wisdom and profound discernment, she speaks in the third-person in reporting the extraordinary graces which the Lord gives to her and in the first-person in confessing her sins…she identifies seven weapons in the fight against evil against the devil:

  • (1) Always to be careful and diligently strive to do good;
  • (2) To believe that alone we will never be able to do something truly good;
  • (3) To trust in God and for love of Him, never to fear in the battle against evil, either in the world or within ourselves;
  • (4) To meditate often on the events and words of the Life of Jesus and especially on His passion and His death;
  • (5) To remember that we must die;
  • (6) To focus our minds firmly on memory of the goods of Heaven;

  • (7) to be familiar with Sacred Scripture, always cherishing it in our hearts so that it may give direction to all our thoughts and all our actions. — A splendid program of spiritual life, today too, for each one of us.”

Today Christians Commemorate St. Lazarus, Bishop of Marseilles and Martyr for Jesus Christ – Please Pray For Us!

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024

Feast of LazarusLazarus the Friend of Jesus and Brother of Martha & Mary
Image: Catholic Online@Facebook

(EWTN)  Legends abound about the life of Lazarus, after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Lazarus is supposed to have left a written account in what he saw in the next world before he was called back to life.

Some report that Lazarus followed Peter into Syria, another story is that despite being put into a leaking boat by the Jews at Jaffa, Lazarus, his sisters and other landed safely in Cyprus and there he died peacefully after serving as a Bishop for 30 years. A Church was built in Lazarus’ honor in Constantinople and some of his reputed relics were transferred there in 890

A Western legend has the oarless boat arriving in Gaul (Western Europe–present day France) there Lazarus is said to have been the first Bishop of France Marseilles and was martyred after converting a number of people and was buried in a cave, with his relics being transferred to the new Autun Cathedral (in France) in 1146

It is certain there was an early devotion to Saint Lazarus–Around the year 390 the pilgrim lady Etheria, talks of the procession that took place on the Saturday before Palm Sunday at the tomb where Lazarus had been raised from the dead.

In the West, ‘Passion Sunday’ was called Dominica de Lazaro and Augustine tells us that in Africa the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus was read at the office of Palm Sunday.

Today Christians Commemorate St. Catherine of Genoa, Please Pray For Us!

Tuesday, March 26th, 2024

St. Catherine of Genoa

Saint Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)
Image: Adoremus Books

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Genoa, the life of Catherine may be more properly described as a state than a life says EWTN than as a life in the ordinary sense.

Catherine’s parents were members of the nobility in Genoa, at the age of 13 Catherine attempted to become a Nun but was rejected because of her age–three years later, Catherine married a fellow by the name of Julian, a nobleman himself but he turned out to be a gambler according to Catholic Culture, selfish and unfaithful to her her–for a time, Catherine attempted to numb her disappointment by a life of selfish pleasure.

One day in Confession, Catherine had a new sense of her own sins and how much God loved her, she reformed her life and gave good example to Julian, who soon himself turned from his self-centered life of distraction.

Julian’s spending however ruined him and Catherine financially, they decided thereafter to live in a large hospital and dedicated themselves to the works of charity there–after Julian’s death in 1497 Catherine took over management of the hospital.

Catherine thought on purgatory for which she reasoned begins on earth for souls open to God. Life with God in heaven is a continuation and perfection of the life with God begun on earth.

Exhausted by her life of self-sacrifice, Catherine passed away at the age of 63 and was Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII

Today Christians Commemorate St. Dismas, Penitent Thief From the Cross, Please Pray For Us!

Monday, March 25th, 2024

St. Dismiss, Penitent Thief, Canonized from the Cross
Image Courtesy:  Memento Mori

(Catholic Online)  Dismis is the Penitent Thief crucified with Christ Jesus at Calvary, the other thief Gestas, the most Holy Scriptures describes the exchange at Calvary between Jesus, Dismis and Gestas:

Two others also who were criminals (Dismis and Gestas) were led away to be put to death with Jesus. When they came to the place that is called ‘The Skull’ they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on the right and one on His left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then they (soldiers) cast lots to divide His clothing and the people stood by watching, the leaders scoffed at Him saying, ‘He saved others, let Him save Himself if He is the Messiah of God, His chosen One.’ The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Jesus sour wine and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over Jesus, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals (Gestas) who was hanging there kept deriding Jesus and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.’

The other criminal (Dismis) rebuked him saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? We indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds but this Man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong.’

Then Dismis said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.’

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  –Luke 23:32-43

Related:  Canonized from the Cross: How St. Dismis, Shows Its Never Too Late to be a Great Saint -Seton Magazine

Today Christians Commemorate St. Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Martyr For Jesus Christ – Please Pray For Us!

Sunday, March 24th, 2024

Archbishop Oscar Romero(CNA) On Sunday, 22 March, 2015 in Los Angeles, over 3,000 people gathered at the ‘Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels’ for Mass in honor of Archbishop Romero’s Beatification (in San Salvador on the 23 May) and prayed that his ‘shining example’ of sacrificial love and his alliance and friendship with the poor and oppressed will continue to be fruitful.

“Archbishop Romero preached nonviolence and reconciliation in a time of hate and vengeance,” Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said in his Homily Sunday, adding that he, “Spoke out against every form of violence, every violation of the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person,” noting that this included “the violence of abortion.”

Sunday 22 March, 2015 Holy Mass, marked the 35th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Romero during his celebration of Mass in a small Chapel outside of San Salvador.

The proclamation by Pope Francis confirming that Archbishop Romero died a martyr followed a vote by Theologians at the ‘Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints’ in January that Romero was murdered in “hatred of the faith.”

Archbishop Romero Radio BroadcastArchbishop Oscar Romero — El Salvador’s Most Trusted News Source

Catholic Agency For Overseas Development worked closely with Archbishop Romero during the 1970s supporting his famous Sunday radio broadcasts which — at a time of heavy press censorship, were often times the only means by which people in El Salvador, knew the truth about the atrocities occurring in their country.

A vocal critic of the country’s military dictatorship, the Sunday before his assassination, Archbishop Oscar Romero’s homily called upon Salvadoran soldiers to disobey their orders if asked to attack innocent civilians — his homily ended with the words: “In the name of God, I urge you, I plead with you, I order you—Stop the killing.”

Archbishop Jose Gomez said that Archbishop Romero is “a shining example to all of us,” showing us humility and courage, love for the poor and his “witness of solidarity and service to others, even to the point of laying down his life.”

More here from Franciscan Media

Today Christians Commemorate St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, March 23rd, 2024

Saint Turibius...Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo (1538-1606)
Image: Samuel Miranda

(EWTN) Turibius (or Turibio) was the second son to the Lord of Mogrovejo and born in the Kingdom of Spain Mayorga and from his earliest years he discovered a strong inclination to charity and it was his delight.

One day seeing a poor Woman street peddler angry because she had lost something out of her pack, Turibius most movingly encouraged her and said that she would not displease God by her anguish and in order to appease her, Turibius gave her money for the value of her loss, which he had begged from his mother for that purpose.

Turibius was very devout to the Blessed Virgin Mary, saying everyday the Rosary, together with fasting every Saturday in her honor. While at school, he would often give away part of his meager dinner to a poor person.

Educated in Law according to Franciscan Media Turibius became a brilliant scholar, subsequently becoming a Professor of Law at the Univ of Salamanca and eventually a Chief Judge.

When the Archdiocese of Peru Lima, required a new leader Turibius was selected to fill that vacancy–he was one of strength, character and holiness of spirit to resolve the conflicts that had infected the area.

Turibius later was ordained as a Priest & Bishop in Peru which he found colonialism at its worst–the Spanish conquerors were guilty of every sort of oppression of the native populace, abuses amongst the clergy were flagrant, so Bishop Turibius first devoted his energies to the needs of the suffering.

Bishop Turibius began the long and arduous visitation of the vast diocese, staying in each place two or three days without neither a place to sleep or sustenance, he made Confession every morning to his Chaplain and celebrated daily Mass with intense fervor.

Among those Bishop Turibius gave the ‘Sacrament of Confirmation’ to were Saint Rose of Lima and possibly Saint Martin de Porres who was a Lay Brother of the Dominican Friary.

In Bishop Turibius 68th yr while visiting in his diocese, he fell sick at Santa Maria del Mar — In his ‘Last Will & Testament’ he bequeathed what he had be distributed to his servants and whatever else remaining be given to the poor. Bishop Turibius was carried to the Church to receive the Holy Viaticum and died this date in 1606

Bishop Turibius was Beatified by Pope Innocent XI in 1679 and Canonized in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Today Christians Commemorate St. Nicholas Owen, Martyr for Jesus Christ – Please Pray For Us!

Friday, March 22nd, 2024

St Nicholas Owen

St. Nicholas Owen (1550-1606)
Image Courtesy: Fr. Willie Doyle

(Franciscan Media) Born at Oxford the son of a carpenter, Nicholas became a carpenter and a brick mason–two of his brothers became Priests and another a Publisher of underground Catholic books according to SQPN.com Nicholas used his skills to save the lives of Priests in secret hiding places when Catholics were being persecuted, that went completely undetected by raiding parties.

Nicholas (sometimes using the pseudonym John Owen) worked with Saint Edmund Campion one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, Owen’s short stature led to his nickname ‘Little John’ but he was big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits.

When Fr. Edmund was Martyred for Jesus Christ, Nicholas spoke out against the atrocity and was imprisoned. Following his release from prison, Owen worked in service of the Jesuit Priest Henry Garnet and was admitted into the Society of Jesus as a Brother — In 1594 Owen was arrested again and tortured because of his faith, he was released after a wealthy Catholic family paid his fine, the Jailers believed that he was just some insignificant friend of some Priests according to Wikipedia afterward, Owen returned to his work constructing hiding places for Priests from anti-Catholic authorities.

In 1605 Brother Owen and three other Jesuits were forced into hiding in Hinlip Hall (which according to SQPN.com had some 13 hiding places) to escape the Priest hunters. Owen spent 4 days in one of his secret hiding places but having no food or water, he finally surrendered and was taken to the Tower of London and was there endlessly tortured for information on the underground network of Priests and their hiding places with ‘such inhuman ferocity’ that he became disemboweled and died.

Brother Owen was Beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI and was Canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI