Cristy Li

St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Image: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Born in Portugal Lisbon into a wealthy family, at his baptism he was given the name ‘Fernando’ according to Pope Benedict XVI and was educated by a group of Priests writes Catholic News Agency until the age of 15 when he made a decision to enter a religious life.

Fernando moved into St. Vincent’s Monastery in Lisbon which followed the monastic Rule of St. Augustine — Fernando however disliked the constant visits and interruptions of  his friends and subsequently moved to a more remote house of the same Order, there he dedicated himself to solitude study of the Bible and of the Church Fathers, acquiring theological knowledge that was to bear fruit according to Pope Emeritus Benedict, later in life in his teaching and ministry activities.

In 1220 when the remains of Saint Berard and Companions (Feast Day: 16 January) the first Franciscan Martyrs were brought to Portugal for burial and veneration, Fernando was inspired by their lives and commitment to the Gospel. — Later when a group of Franciscan’s later visited the Monastery, Fernando told them that he wanted to adopt their humble lifestyle. Some of the Augustine Monks criticized and mocked Fernando’s interest in the Franciscans which had only been established recently before in 1209 but prayers, confirmed his desire to follow the example of St. Francis (Founder of the Franciscan Order) who was still living at the time.

Fernando eventually obtained permission to enter the Franciscans. At that time, he took the name ‘Anthony’ after the 4th century Monk St. Anthony of Egypt (Feast Day: 17 January)

Anthony desired to emulate the commitment of St. Berard and Companions the Franciscan Martyrs that gave their life to God while ministering to the Muslims. Traveling by ship, Anthony became seriously ill and could not carry out his intended work–the ship was supposed to take him to Spain for treatment but was blown off course and ended up in Italy.

Through this series of mishaps,  Anthony ended up near Assisi, where St. Francis was holding a major meeting for members of his Order of Franciscans. Despite Anthony’s poor health, he resolved to stay in Italy to be closer to St. Francis himself, initially concealing his deep knowledge of Theology and Scripture, offering to serve in the kitchen among the Brothers, together with reading scriptures and performing other menial tasks.

At the time, no one realized that Anthony was anything but a kitchen assistant and obedient Franciscan Priest according to Catholic News Agency however around 1224 Anthony became obligated to deliver an improvised speech before an assembly of Dominicans and Franciscans, none of who had prepared any remarks. Anthony’s eloquence stunned the crowd and St. Francis himself soon learned what kind of man the ‘Dishwashing Priest’ really was.

Subsequently St. Francois gave Fr. Anthony permission to teach theology in the Franciscan Order, “provided however, that as the Rule prescribes the spirit of prayer and devotion may not be extinguished.”

Fr. Anthony taught theology in several Italian and French cities, while strictly following his Franciscan vows while also preaching regularly–Later he dedicated himself entirely to the work of preaching as a Missionary in France, Italy and Spain, teaching an authentic love of God to many people–whether they be Royalty or Peasants who had fallen away from the Christian faith, Catholicism and morality.

Known for his bold preaching and austere lifestyle, Fr. Anthony also had a reputation as a worker of miracles which often came about in the course of disputes with heretics.

Fr. Anthony’s biographers related stories of a few of the miracles:

• The first being of a horse which refused to eat for three days, accepting food only after it had been placed in Adoration before the Eucharist  that Fr. Anthony brought in his hands;

• Another miracle involved poisoned meat which Fr. Anthony ate without any harm after making the sign of the Cross over it;

• A final miracle recounted a group of fish which rose out of the sea to hear Fr. Anthony’s preaching where heretical residents of a city refused to listen.

Following Lent in 1231 Fr. Anthony’s health was in decline–he retreated to a remote location, taking along two companions for assistance. When his worsening health persisted, Fr. Anthony was carried back to the Franciscan Monastery in Padua, where crowds of people converged in groups, in hopes of paying their homage to the Holy Priest–After receiving last rites, Fr. Anthony prayed the Church’s seven traditional penitential psalms, sung a hymn to the Virgin Mary and died on this date at the age of 36 in 1231

Fr. Anthony’s well established holiness, combined with many miracles working during his lifetime, so moved Pope Gregory IX who knew Fr. Anthony personally to Canonize him just 1 year following his death adding:

“St. Anthony, residing now in heaven is honored on earth by many miracles daily seen at his tomb, which we are certified by authentic writings.”

More here from EWTN and here from CatholicSaints.Info

Related: For Today’s  Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua Visit: -USCCB

Saint Barnabas and Apostle Paul in Lystra
Image Courtesy: 33 Knots

(EWTN) Barnabas (originally named Joseph) was born Jewish in Cyprus around the time of the Birth of Jesus, later on when Jesus’ public ministry began, Barnabas may have been one of those who heard Him minister in person.

Barnabas comes as close as anyone outside the original 12 disciples to being an Apostle according to Franciscan Media and was closely associated with Saint Paul (Feast Day 29 June) serving as a kind of mediator of the suspicious Jewish converts to Christianity of his day.

When a Christian community developed at Antioch, Barnabas was sent as the official representative of the Church of Jerusalem, to incorporate them into the community, subsequently both Barnabas and Paul stayed in Antioch for about one year and were remembered for their charismatic ministry together with their enormous success.

Following a miracle at Lystra, the people desired to offer a sacrifice to them as ‘gods’ — Barnabas being ‘Zeus’ and Pail being ‘Hermes’ but the two told the multitudes:

“Men why are you doing this? We also are men of like nature with you and bring you Good News, that you should turn away from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations He allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways,  yet he did not leave himself without witness, for He did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” —Acts 14:8-17

Barnabas and Paul subsequently departed Antioch together with Barnabas’ cousin John Mark (who would later compose the most concise account of Jesus Christ life and be Canonized as Saint Mark — Feast Day: 25 April) The group’s first forays into the pagan world met with some success however Mark became discouraged and returned to Jerusalem. The question of Mark’s dedication to the mission would arise again later and resulted in a significant personal disagreement between Paul and Barnabas.

The remarkable success of Barnabas and Paul led to one of the earliest controversies in Church history, regarding whether or not Christian converts would continue to have to observe Jewish traditions?

During the landmark ‘Council of Jerusalem’ (outline courtesy of the Vatican) around the year 48 the assembled Apostles confirmed Paul’s earlier proclamation that the Laws of the Torah would not be mandatory for Christians.

Barnabas and Paul later separated in their ministries while remaining Apostles. — Little is known of the subsequent career of Barnabas according to EWTN except that we know that he was still living and laboring as an Apostle in 56 or 57 when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 9:5-6 from which we learn that Barnabas like Paul earned his own living though on an equality with other Apostles.

With the exception of Saint Paul and certain of the Twelve Disciples, Barnabas appears to have been the most esteemed man of the first Christian generation. Saint Luke breaking his habit of reserve, speaks of Barnabas with affection:

“For he was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith and a large company was added to the Lord.” —Acts 11:24

Barnabas is said to have died a Martyrs death by stoning in 61 at Cyprus Salamis and is the Patron Saint of Antioch and is invoked as a peacemaker.

More here from Pope Benedict XVI

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings on the Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle Visit: -USCCB

Saint Joseph Damien of Molokai
Image Courtesy: Aquinas & More

(Franciscan Media) When Joseph de Veuster was born in Belgium Tremelo, few people in Europe had any first-hand knowledge of Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) however by the time he passed away at the age of 49 people all over the world knew about the disfiguring disease caused by the Mycobacterium laprae bacteria because of Fr. (Joseph) Damien of Molokai.

Joseph de Veuster, joined the Picpus Fathers in France according to SQPN and at the age of 20 and took the name ‘Damien’ as a Seminarian, volunteering for missionary work while still in Seminary, he was sent to Hawaii where he was Ordained a Priest in 1864

After serving in Hawaii for 9 yrs pioneering Catholicism Fr. Damien faced a new and frightful challenge–a leprosy epidemic. To halt the spread of the disease according to EWTN the Hawaiian government had isolated several hundred Lepers on the island of Molokai Kalawao County.

Molokai Catholic Lepers begged Bishop Louis Maigret for a Priest, many Missionaries despite the dangers, offered to go however Fr. Damien was selected.

Thirteen years earlier, while Fr. Damien was studying for the Priesthood in France, he had symbolically faced and accepted death. At the public profession of his final vows, he truly believed then that only by accepting death would he discover life. Now thirteen tears later, Fr. Damien was putting his dedication to the test, he sought to serve the most pitiful of all men–the lepers of Molokai. 

Between 1866 and 1873 seven hundred and ninety seven (797) lepers had arrived on Molokai, almost half died.

Bishop Maigret accompanied Fr. Damien to Molokai, presenting him to the Catholic Lepers as their new pastor.

With the Lepers help Fr. Damien added a rear wing to the Molokai Chapel also constructing a rectory.

Molokai became known as the ‘Colony of Shame’ medical care was minimal. Fr. Damien was deeply moved by the ‘Leper Children’ struggling to preserve them from the physical and moral corruption of the island.

At the outset of his mission, Fr. Damien aimed to restore in each leper a sense of personal worth and dignity. To show his poor battered flock the virtue of their lives, he had to demonstrate to them the value of their deaths and so he first turned his attention to the cemetery area beside his little Chapel. Fr. Damien constructed first a fence around it to protect the grave sites from animals; he built coffins and would dig graves and organized lepers into the ‘Christian Burial Assn’ to provide a decent burial to each of the deceased–the newly found organization arranged for the requisite Mass, proper funeral ceremonies and sponsored a musical group that played during the funeral processions.

Fr. Damien continued ministering to the sick, bringing the Sacraments of Confession; Holy Communion and anointing bedridden lepers. He would likewise cleanse their bodies, bandaged their wounds and would tidy their rooms. Fr. Damien did all that he could to make them as comfortable as possible.

Soon the settlement had new houses thanks to Fr. Damien and the assistance of lepers and together they constructed a new Church, School and an Orphanage. Morale improved considerably. A few year later, Fr. Damien succeeded in getting the ‘Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse’ led by Mother Marianne Cope (Feast Day 23 January) to help staff the Leper Colony’s hospital and schools at Kakaako and Kapiolani.

One day in 1884 while soaking his feet in extremely hot water, Fr. Damien experienced no sensation of heat, the evil disease that he battled for so many years, had now claimed him.

During his final years, Fr. Damien engaged in a flurry of activity–as much as his body would allow, he hastened to complete his many new building projects and enlarge the orphanages.

Fr. Damien died during Holy Week in 1889 — Some weeks before Fr. Damien breathed his last, he had said the Lord wanted him to spend Easter Sunday in heaven.

On the 03 June, 1995 Fr. Damien was Beatified by Pope John Paul II and Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on the 11 October, 2009

Related: “A Leper For Christ: St. Damien of Molokai” -Word on Fire

Why Do Catholic’s Seek the Intercession of Saint’s?

How Can You Become a Saint?

Saint Rosa Venerini (1656-1728)
Image: Rosettagrams

(Vatican) Born in Italy Viterbo, Rosa was the daughter of a Physician  and had three siblings, was naturally gifted with intelligence and an uncommon sensibility–the education that Rosa received in her formidable years, allowed her to develop her many talents, together with Christian values and principles.

According to Rosa Venerini’s first biographer Fr. Girolamo Andreucci, she made a vow to consecrate her life to God at the age of seven. During the early years of her youth, she lived a conflict between the attractions of the world and the promise made to God, Rosa overcame this crisis with trusting prayer and discipline.

At the age of twenty, Rosa raised questions about her own future, that Women of her time, she could choose marriage or seclusion in a religious order. Rosa invited neighborhood Women in her home to pray the Rosary according to Franciscan Media and sought spiritual guidance from a Jesuit Priest, Fr. Ignatius Martinelli, over time Rosa was convinced that she was called by God to become a Teacher instead of a Nun.

With two friends according to SQPN Rosa opened a free pre-school for Girls in 1685 which was well received, in 1692 Cardinal Barbarigo, asked Rosa to oversee training of Teachers and the administration of schools in his diocese. Rosa organized new schools in many parts of Italy including room–at the time of her death in 1728 there were 40 schools under her direction.

During Rosa’s entire life she moved the Ocean of the Will of God and said: “I feel so nailed to the Will of God that nothing else matters, neither life or death, I want what He wants. I want to serve Him as much as pleases Him and no more.”

Rosa did not practice her education mission only in the school but took every occasion to announce the love of God, she comforted and cared for the sick until they were well, raised the spirits of the discouraged, consoled the afflicted, called non-Christians to repent and to live a new life, exhorted to fidelity, helped the poor and helped to free people from every form of slavery.

“Educate to Set Free” became Rosa’s model to the world. To be free from ignorance and evil so that the project of God which every person carries within can be visible.

Rosa died in Rome at the age of 72 where a number of miracles were attributed to her. Rosa was Beatified in 1952 by Pope Pius XII and Canonized in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI

The sodality of Women that Rosa invited to pray the Rosary with her, were ultimately given the rank of a religious congregation becoming known as the ‘Venerini Sisters’ working with Italian immigrants. Today they render apostolic service through Teaching, Catechesis, Pastoral Ministry, Health Care, Social Services, Youth Ministry and Foreign Missions in Italy, the United States, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Albania, Romania and throughout Africa, guided the Charism of their Foundress Saint Rosa Venerini — Educate to Set Free.

Saints Philip & James
Image Courtesy: Young Adult Ministry Sacred Heart

(EWTN) Born in Galilee, Philip was called by Jesus Christ to be His disciple the day after St. Peter and St. Andrew and straightaway he obeyed. In Philip’s zeal and charity he sought to win Nathaniel also saying: “We have found Him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth.” When Nathaniel in wonder asked, “Can any good come of out Nazareth?” Philip replied: “Come and see,” he then brought Nathaniel to Jesus. John 1:46

“In his dry but clear response,” Pope Bendict XVI says, “Philip displayed the characteristics of a true witness, he is not satisfied with the presenting the proclamation theoretically but directly challenges the person addressing him by suggestion he have a personal experience of what he had been told.”

After our Lord’s ascension, the Gospel was to be ministered to the whole world by a few persons who had been eye-witnesses to Jesus’ many miracles and were enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to confirm their testimony concerning Him by doing the like wonderful works themselves. So that this may be accomplished, it was necessary for the disciples should quickly disperse themselves into all parts of the world. Philip accordingly ministered the Gospel in the two Greece Phrygia writes EWTN as Theodoret and Eusebius assures us from undoubted monuments.

From Saint Philip, we particularly learn an ardent love of God and desire to see the Father–Philip died as a Martyr for Jesus Christ, being stoned to death while tied to a cross.

More on Saint Philip here from SQPN and here from Franciscan Media

Saint James the Lesser

St. James the Lesser came from Nazareth says Pope Benedict XVI and was probably related to Jesus —Matthew 13:55 and  Mark 6:3 he was called “Less” because he was younger than the other apostle by the same name.

The Book of Acts of the Apostles emphasizes the prominent role that St. James played in the Church of Jerusalem after the resurrection of Jesus —Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13-21 and Acts 21:18

Saint James most important act says Pope Benedict XVI was his intervention in the matter of the difficult relations between the Christians of Jewish heritage and those of pagan origins. In this matter, together with Peter, he contributed with integrating the original Jewish dimension of Christianity, with the need not to impose upon converted pagans the obligations to submit to all the norms of the ‘Law of Moses’ — Torah.

The Book of Acts has preserved for us the solution of compromise proposed precisely by James and accepted by all the Apostles present, according to which pagans who believed in Jesus Christ, were to be asked only to abstain from idolatrous practices of eating the meat of animals offered in sacrifice to gods and from “impropriety” a term which alluded to irregular matrimonial unions. In practice, it was a question of adhering to only a few prohibitions of Mosaic Law held to be very important.

Thus two important complimentary results were obtained, both of which are still valid today: (1) the inseparable relationship that binds Christianity to Judaism, as to a perennially alive and effective matrix was recognized; (2) Christians of pagan origins were permitted to keep their own sociological identity, which they would have lost had they been forced to observe the ‘ceremonial precepts’ of Moses –Saint James however continued to observe all of the ‘Laws of Moses’ himself as part of his heritage.

The oldest information on the death of St. James, is provided by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, written in Rome towards the end of the 1st century.

Flavius Josephus says in his Jewish Antiquties: Chapter 9 No.1 the death of James was decided with an illegal initiative by the High Priest Ananus–in the year 62, he profited from the gap between the deposition of Roman Procurator (Festus) and the arrival of his successor (Albinus) to hand him over for stoning.

More here from Catholic Saints.Info

St. Athanasius (296-373)
Image Courtesy: Pellham Plastics

(Franciscan Media) Born into a Christian family in Egypt Alexandria and provided a classical education, Athanasius became Secy to Alexander the Bishop of Egypt Alexandria, an outspoken critic of a new movement growing in the East–the heresy of Arianism.

Athanasius entered the Priesthood and eventually named a Bishop himself and becoming known as the ‘Champion of Orthodoxy’ according to EWTN his strength of ascetical writings among which was of the ‘Life of Saint Anthony’ (Feast Day 17 January) earned him the title of Doctor of the Church.

When Athanasius accepted his new position as Bishop of Alexandria, which he served for 46 years according to SQPN he continued to fight against the heresy of Arianism, which spilled over from theology to politics, resulting in Bishop Athanasius being exiled 5 different times for his defense of the doctrine of Jesus Christ’s divinity.

Following the death of Constantine in 337 his son restored Athanasius as Bishop, this lasted but for only a year however as he was deposed again by a group of  Arian Bishops. — Athanasius took his case to Rome which Pope Julius I called a synod to review the case and other related matters.

While the theological controversies which marked this period were complex writes EWTN they were an important milestone in the history of the Church which Bishop Athanasius rendered an outstanding service. As Cardinal Newman said, he stands as “a principal instrument after the Apostles by which the sacred truths of Christianity have been conveyed and secured to the world.”

In 2007 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said that “Athanasius was undoubtedly one of the most important and revered early Church Fathers but this Great Saint was above all the impassioned theologian of the Incarnation of the Logos, the Word of God who as a Prologue of the fourth Gospel says–“became flesh and dwelt among us.” —John 1:14

“We have many causes which to be grateful to St. Athanasius, his life like that of St. Anthony (Feast Day 17 January) and of countless other Saints shows us that ‘those who draw near to God do not withdraw from men but rather become truly very close to them.’ (Deus Canitas Est, n.42)

Full address here of Saint Athanasius by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

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.”
  

St. Jacinta (1910-1920) St. Francisco Marto (1908-1919)
Image Courtesy: Ensina me a Rezar

(Franciscan Media) Between the 13 May and 13 October, 1917 three little shepherd children from Portugal Fatima, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, a city about 110 miles from Lisbon.

At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war and Portugal was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910 — the government had disbanded religious organizations soon thereafter.

Jacinta Marto, Lucia de Jesus dos Santos & Francisco Marto

The three children (Jacinta, Francisco and their cousin Lucia de Jesus dos Santos) were raised in homes where the catechism  was their daily bread, stories from the Bible their recreation and the word of the village Priest was law.

In the Spring of 1916 while the children were watching over their lambs an Angel appeared to them in an olive grove, asking the children to pray with him.

The Blessed Mother of Jesus appeared again in the mid Summer of that same year at a well in Lucia’s garden, urging them to offer sacrifice to God in reparation for sinners. In a final appearance at the end of the Summer of that same year, the children were given a secret including a vision of hell, which so changed them they became like adults than children.

Jacinta talkative sometimes to a fault became quiet, Lucia had sworn her and her brother to secrecy but Jacinta bubbling over, had let slip all they had seen to her family, who had told the village. While the news was received by skepticism by many, mockery by some and anger by Lucia’s mother, Jacinta was so contrite that she promised never to reveal another secret.

Jacinta reluctance to reveal anything more of their experience was increased by the vision of hell, given the children in the third apparition seemed to have affected her the most. To rescue sinner from hell she was in the forefront of the three in voluntary mortification, whether it was giving up their lunches (sometimes to their lambs) refusing to drink in the heat of the day or wearing a knotted rope around their waists–involuntary penances included for her. Jacinta’s brother and cousin, the constant mockery of unbelievers, badgering by skeptical clergy and  cajoling by believers to reveal the Lady’s secret.

In August 1918 when W.W. I was ending, Francisco and Jacinta both contracted influenza, in April the following year he passed away. When Jacinta became ill, she was taken to a hospital where she stayed for two months before returning home, only subsequently to contract tuberculosis and sent to Lisbon where she later died.

Lucia at the age of 14 was admitted as a border to the school of the ‘Sisters of St. Dorthy in Vilar and in 1925 entered the institute, making her first vows in 1928 and her perpetual vows in 1934 receiving the name, Sister Mary of the Sorrowful Mother.

In 1946 seeking a more contemplative life, Lucia entered the ‘Carmelite Convent of St. Teresa in Coimbra, where she made her profession as a declared Carmelite in 1949 and took the name Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart.

On the 50th anniversary in 1967 of the apparitions she received as a child, Sister Lucia traveled back to Fatima, the event was presided over by Pope Paul VI in 1982 she returned again, when Pope Saint John Paul II came to the shrine to give thanks for the saving of his life during an assassination attempt a year earlier, subsequently she returned twice more in 1991 and on 13 May, 2000 when Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Jacinta and Francisco Shepherd’s of Fatima

Sister Lucia and Pope Saint John Paul II –Courtesy of: Unam Sanctam

Sister Lucia mission in life came to an end in 2005, her funeral Mass was held at the Cathedral of Coimbra and was laid to rest at the convent where she spent many years until a place  for permanent entombment for her body at the Basilica in Fatima, where Francisco and Jacinta were laid to rest.

In 2008 Sister Lucia was Beatified by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI waiving the traditional 5 year waiting period, this rule was also waived for Sister Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope Saint John Paul II

Related: Do You Know the True Story of Fatima & The ‘Miracle of the Sun’ on 13 October, 1917

7 Powerful Messages from Our Lady of Fatima: The Grace of God Will Be Your Comfort

(Franciscan Media) Today Christians celebrate the ‘Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple’ occurring 40 days subsequent to the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ  — This day is also known as ‘Candlemas’ which Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated in 2013 marking the ‘World Day for Consecrated Life’ thousands attended the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

We process in with lit blessed candles, writes EWTN and the light of our blessed candles, symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world–It symbolizes the Infant Savior, entering into the temple with Mary and Joseph–God our Father who is the source of all light, revealed to Simeon the light of revelation to the nations. It symbolizes also, that we are to always bring that light of Christ we received at our own baptism to those who live in darkness.

Coinciding with this Feast, it is also a special day of all consecrated Women and Men throughout the world. Of course, all baptized persons are truly consecrated to God, the moment we were baptized, we were consecrated to God, becoming separated from the world, yet being in the world especially to fulfill the mission God gave to us but this day is particularly highlighting those who consecrate themselves more radically through their profession of the evangelical counsels–like out dearest Sisters here and others who profess the vows of purity, chastity and obedience as their permanent state of life.

There are indeed many forms of consecrated life that exist today within the Church, as the Catechism (starting with paragraphs 914 — stating at 917) its ‘One great tree with many branches.’ Our dearest Sisters (mentioned earlier) are living one of the many forms of consecrated life, that is the form of ‘religious life’ — specifically, religious life who has the privilege of ‘Solemn Vows and Papal Enclosure’ this is just one form within the main branch of religious life within the bigger branch of consecrated life.

At the end of the 4th Century, a Woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, her journal discovered in 1887 provides an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the ‘Epiphany’ the observance of the Birth of Jesus Christ and the gala procession in honor of His ‘Presentation in the Temple’ 40 days later–This Feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple.

At the beginning of the 8th Century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession and at the end of the same century, the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day, became part of the celebration.

Related: Feast of Presentation of the Lord (Most Holy Scripture Readings) Visit:  -USCCB