Archive for December, 2023

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Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church – Please Pray For Us!

Sunday, December 17th, 2023

Hildegard of Bingen

Saint Hildegard of Bingen –Image Courtesy: UCatholic@Twitter

(Franciscan Media) Abbess, artist, author, composer, mystic, pharmacist, poet, preacher, theologian–where to begin describing this remarkable woman? 

Born into a noble family, she was instructed for 10 years by the Holy Woman Blessed Jutta–When Hildegard was 18 she came a Benedictine Nun at the Monastery of Saint Disbodenberg.

Ordered by her confessor to write down the visions she received since the age of 3, Hildegard took 10 years to write her ‘Scivias’ (Know the Ways) Pope Eugene III read it and in 1147 encouraged her to continue writing.

Hildegard’s book of ‘The Merits of Life and Book of Divine Works’ followed, wring over 300 letters to people who sought her advice–later she also composed short works on medicine, physiology and sought advice from contemporaries such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

Saint Hildegard’s visions caused her to see humans as “living sparks” of God’s love, coming from God as daylight comes from the sun. Sin destroyed the original harmony of creation. Christ’s redeeming death and resurrection opened up new possibilities. Virtuous living reduces the estrangement from God and others that sin causes.

Hildegard saw the harmony of God’s creation and the place of Women and Men in that. This unity was not apparent to many of her contemporaries.

In September 2010, Pope Benedict spoke about ‘Hildegard of Bingen’ during two general audiences, praising her humility with which she received God’s gifts the obedience she gave Church authorities. Pope Benedict praised the “rich theological content” of her mystical visions that sum up the history of salvation from creation to the end of time.

In 2012 Hildegard was Canonized and named a ‘Doctor of the Church’ by Pope Benedict XVI

Related: Apostolic Letter (2012) by Pope Benedict XVI, Proclaiming Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church

Posted in Advent, Christianity, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Saint of the Day | No Comments »

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of Blessed Honoratus Kozminski – Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, December 16th, 2023

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski –Image Courtesy: Debra Babin Kerner@Twitter

(Catholic Online) Blessed Honoratus Kozminski was born in Biala Podlaska (Poland, Siedice) and studied architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

When Wenceslaus was almost 16 yrs of age his father passed away. Suspected of of participating in a rebellious conspiracy, the young man was imprisoned from April 1846 until the following March. In 1848 he received the Capuchin habit and a new name–four years later he was ordained.

In 1855 he helped Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska establish the Felician Sisters.

Honoratus served as Guardian in a Warsaw friary, dedicating his energies to ministering, to giving spiritual direction and to hearing confessions, he worked tirelessly with the Secular Franciscan Order.

More here from  Franciscan Media

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An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Friday, December 15th, 2023

The Lord will come; Go out to meet Him!
He is the Prince of peace.

Jesus: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.” –John 8:12

The Two Ways

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers but their delight is in the Law of the Lord and on His Law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by the streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. –Psalm 1:1-6

Jesus: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.” –John 8:12

Jesus: “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;
we wailed for you and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, ‘He has a demon;’ the Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” –Matthew 11:16-19

You May Know the Joy of Salvation,
Forgiveness of Sins
and the Assurance of Eternal Life Today,
Through ‘The Good News’ of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings, Visit: -USCCB

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Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Juan Diego, Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, December 9th, 2023

Saint Juan DiegoSaint Juan Diego –Image Courtesy: Catholic Online

Saint Juan Diego born around 1474, he was visionary and one of the first indigenous of the New World–an Indian peasant who experienced a vision of ‘Our Lady’ on Tepeyac Hill on the 09 December 1531

The Bishop at the time didn’t believe his story until he returned with his cloak (or tilma an outer garment worn by men in that period) filled with roses. As Juan Diego, spread the roses on the ground before the Bishop, an image of ‘Our Lady’ miraculously formed on the fabric.

The cloak/tilma is now at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.

Thousands of people gathered in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadeloupe on the 31 July, 2002 for the Canonization of Juan Diego to whom the ‘Blessed Mother’ appeared–Pope John Paul II, celebrated the ceremony at which this poor Indian peasant became the Church’s first Saint indigenous to the America’s.

More here from Franciscan Media

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Juan Diego, Visit: -USCCB

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An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Thursday, December 7th, 2023

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
call upon Him while He is near. –Isaiah 55:6
Image Courtesy: Natl Catholic Register

Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord! –Psalm 118:26(a)

O give Thanks to the Lord for He is good,
His steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever!”
Let the House of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever!”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever!”

Out of my distress, I called upon the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me.
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidences in princes.

All nations surround me;
in the Name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surround me, surrounded me on every side;
in the Name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surround me like bees,
they blazed like a fire of thorns;
in the Name of the Lord I cut them off!
I was pushed hard so that I was falling
but the Lord helped me!
The Lord is my Strength and my Might;
He has become my Salvation!

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I shall not die but I shall live
and recount the deeds of the Lord!
The Lord has punished me severely
but He did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and Give Thanks to the Lord!

This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I Thank You that You have answered me
and have become my Salvation!
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Save us, we beseech You, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech You, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!
We bless You from the House of the Lord.
The Lord is God
and He has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the Altar.

You are my God and I will give Thanks to You!
You are my God, I will extol You!
O give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His steadfast love endures forever!
–Psalm 118:1-29

Jesus: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only the one
who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
On that day many will say to Me,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name
and cast out demons in Your name and do many
deeds of power in Your name?’
Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you,
go away from Me you evildoers.”

“Everyone then who hears these Words of mine
and acts on them will be like a wise man
who built his house on a rock.
The rain fell, the floods came and the
winds blew and beat on that house but it did not fall
because it had been founded on rock and everyone
who hears these Words of Mine and does not
act on them will be like a foolish man
who built his house on sand.
The rain fell and the floods came
and the winds blew and beat against that house
and it fell — and great was its fall.”
–Matthew 7:21-27

You May Know the Joy of Salvation, Forgiveness of Sins
and the Assurance of Eternal Life in Heaven Today,
Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Visit: -USCCB

Posted in Advent, Christianity, Israel | No Comments »

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

The Lord sent me to bring Good News to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to the captives. –Cf.Luke 4:18
Image Courtesy: 1RomanCatholic@Twitter

 

Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help

Here I am, Lord;
I come to do Your will!  Cf. Psalm 40:7(a)-8(a)

I waited patiently for the Lord;
He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God!
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who make
the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord, my God,
Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us.
None can compare with You!
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering You do not desire
but You have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, “Here I am;
In the Scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God!
Your Law is within my heart.

I have told ‘The Glad News’ of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see I have not restrained my lips,
as You know, O Lord.
I have not hidden Your saving help within  my heart,
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation!
I have not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold Your mercy from me;
Let Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness
keep me safe forever.
For evils have encompassed me without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me
until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head
and my heart fails me.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Let all those be put to shame and confusion
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who desire my hurt.
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha Aha!”

May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You!
May those who love Your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my Deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God! –Psalm 40:1-17

You May Know the Joy of Salvation,
Forgiveness of Sins and the Assurance
of Eternal Life in Heaven Today,
Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Nicholas, Visit: -USCCB

Posted in Advent, Christianity, Christmas | No Comments »

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Gerald

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

St GeraldSt. Gerald Bishop of Mayo
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(CNA) Born in England Northumbria, the exact date of his birth is unknown, we do know that Gerald was an English Monk, becoming Bishop of Mayo and that following the Synod of Whitby in 664 he followed St. Coleman (605-676) to Ireland and settled in Innisboffin in 668

After a period of time dissensions arose between the Irish and the English Monks and St. Coleman decided to found a separate Monastery for the 30 English Brethren, this arose the Abbey of Mayo with St. Gerald being its first Abbot in 670

St. Bede (Feast Day: 25 May) wrote: “The Monastery is to this day 731 occupied by English Monks…continues an exemplary body who gathered there form England and live by the labor of their own hands (after the manner of the early Fathers) under a rule and Canonical Abbot, leading chaste and single lives.”

Although St. Gerald was a comparatively young man, he proved to be a wise ruler and governed Mayo until 697 when it is said that he resigned in favor of St. Adamnan some scholars hold that St. Adamnan celebrated the Roman Easter at Mayo in 703 and then went to Skreen in Hy Fiachrach. — following his departure it is said the Monks prevailed on St. Gerald to resume his duties as Abbot — Mayo though merged in Tuam for a time.

St. Gerald reportedly continued to govern the Abbey and Diocese of Mayo until his death in 731

  • Today’s alternative Feast Day is of St. Sabas, Patron Saint of Generosity

Posted in Advent, Christianity, Saint of the Day | No Comments »

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. John of Damascus

Monday, December 4th, 2023

St John DamascusSt. John of Damascus (676-749)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

Born in Syria Damascus according to SQPN John spent much of his life in the Monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem and all of his life under Muslim rule. Tutored in his youth by a captured Italian Monk Cosmas, together with being educated in Muslim schools, John became quite well schooled in the areas of Geometry, Literature, Logic, Writing and Speech.

St. John became famous in three areas: (1) Writings; (2) Treatise “Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” and (3) A Poet — Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1890 by Pope Leo XII

More here from Franciscan Media and here from Catholic Online

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. John of Damascus, Visit: -USCCB

Posted in Advent, Christianity, Saint of the Day | No Comments »

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of Blessed Rafal Chylinski, Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, December 2nd, 2023

Blessed Rafal ChylinskyBlessed Rafal Chylinski (1694-1741)
Image Courtesy: Holy Spirit RE

(Catholic Online) Born in Poland Poznan and given the name Melchior Chylinski, his father John Arnold Chylinski and his mother Margaret Kierski were both nobles, even though Melchior was born into nobility, he left his heredity rights and privileges to become a Conventual Franciscan Minor in Poland Krakow according to SQPN taking the name Rafal and Ordained into the Priesthood in 1717

Melchior attended school in the Village of Buk, in 1707 his father passed away as a result of the plague and their home was subsequently burned to the ground. Since Melchior and his family no longer had a place to live, Bishop Stanislaus Kierski (who may have been Melchior’s Uncle) helped Margaret raise her sons.

In 1712 Melchior had served in the Polish Army and became an Officer, in 1715 he left the military and moved to Krakow where he joined the Franciscan Fathers as a Cleric. — In 1715 Melchior was Baptized into the Order and took the name Rafal and Ordained into the Priesthood in 1717

Fr Rafal was assigned to Parishes in 9 cities and traveled to Monasteries in: Poland Radziejow, Poznan, Gniezno, Warsaw, Kalisz, Warta and Krakow, where he distributed food, supplies and clothing to the poor according to SQPN and played a harp, lute and mandolin to accompany liturgical hymns. Fr. Rafal was known for candid sermons, generosity and as a great Confessor. Fr. Rafal devoted his life to prayer, together with caring for the poor and sick.

From 1728 to 1736 he served in the Lageiewniki, part of the Parish of Lodz where he would pass away on this date in 1742

In 1949 he was Venerated (declared heroic in virtue) by Pope Pius XII and Beatified in 1991 by Pope Saint John Paul II

More here by Angel Fire and here by Franciscan Media

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