Archive for November, 2024

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Leonard of Noblac, Patron Saint of Incarcerated Persons – Please Pray For Us!

Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

St LeonardSt. Peter together with St. Martha, St. Mary Magdalene
& St. Leonard Artwork by: Antonio da Correggio

(CNA) St. Leonard was a French nobleman of great reputation in the Court of Clovis I according to EWTN and in the “flower of his age” converted Christianity together with many thousands of others according to SQPN through the witness of Archbishop Saint Regimius subsequent to the victorious Battle of Tolbiac in 496

Following Leonard’s conversion to Christianity, he began a life of ministry and austerity dedicated to God–with his earnest desire to know God better, Leonard decided to enter the Monastery at Orleans, where Saint Mesmin governed that had been founded by his uncle Saint Euspicius in 508 — In this house, Leonard took the religious habit, subsequently his brother Saint Lifiard would follow Leonard’s example according to SQPN leaving the King’s Court, building a Monastery at Meun and living there.

Leonard further desiring a life of solitude and prayer, with drew into the forest at Limousin, converting many along on the way, he would sustain himself on herbs, wild fruits and spring water. Subsequently, Leonard would build an Oratory, leaving it only for journeys to Churches.

People would soon recognize Leonard’s holiness and would beg to live with him at a Monastery that he would subsequently form around his Oratory. — Leonard possessed great compassion for imprisoned prisons and would convert many of them to Christianity and obtained their release.

In 559 Leonard passed away, following his death, many Churches were dedicated to him in France, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and other countries. Pilgrims would flock to Leonard’s tomb. — In one small village in Bavaria, there are records of 4,000 prayers granted through Saint Leonard’s intercession.

More here from Catholic Online

Related: Alternative Saint of the Day: St Nicholas Tavelic & Companions -Franciscan Media

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of Saint Zechariah & Saint Elizabeth

Tuesday, November 5th, 2024

St Zechariah and St ElizabethSt. Zechariah & St. Elizabeth
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(SQPN) St. Zechariah was a Jewish Priest in Jerusalem and married to St. Elizabeth, they were the parents of St. John the Baptist (more here on the Solemnity of John the Baptist birth and here on his Martyrdom)

During Zechariah’s latter years he was visited in the Temple by the Angel Gabriel who Foretold the Birth of John the Baptist See: Luke 1:5-24 to Zechariah for he and his wife Elizabeth:

“Both of them being righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord but they had no children because Elizabeth was barren and they were both getting on in years.” See: Luke 1:6-7 — God heard their prayers and would bless them with a son which they would name him John, and they “will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” See: Luke 1:13-15

Saint Elizabeth’s name which has been borne by several Saint’s which means in Hebrew ‘Worshiper of God’ she was the descendant of Aaron the Patriarch brother of Moses and high Priest of the Torah.

More here on Saint Aaron the Patriarch

Related: Other Memorials 05 November:
St. Bertille -EWTN
and St. Sylvia -Catholic Online

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop, Patron Saint of Seminarians – Please Pray For Us!

Monday, November 4th, 2024

St Charles BorromeoSt. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
Image Courtesy: Laurent Benoit-Marie

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Novara to a wealthy family, Charles was the third of six children according to SQPN his father was Giberto II Borromeo, his mother Margherita de Medici and his uncle Pope Pius IV (1559-1565)

Even though Charles belonged to the Milanese (Milan) nobility and his mother and uncle were ascendants of the powerful ‘Medici’ family, Charles desired to devote himself to the Church. — When his uncle Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Medici, was elected Pope, he made Charles Cardinal-Deacon and Administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan, even though he was yet a laymen — because of his intellectual qualities, Charles was entrusted with several important office connected with the Vatican, he would later be appointed Secy of State with the responsibility of the Papal states.

With the untimely death of Charles’ elder brother brought Charles to the definite decision to be Ordained a Priest, despite his relatives persuasion that he instead be married. Soon after he was Ordained a Priest at the age of 25, Fr. Charles was consecrated Bishop of Milan.

Due to Bishop Charles Borromeo work at the Council of Trent he was not permitted to take up residence in Milan until the ‘Council’ was over. Bishop Borromeo encouraged the Pope to renew in 1562 after it had been suspended for 10 years all the while working behind the scenes. — Bishop Borromeo deserves the credit for keeping the ‘Council’ in session when at several points it was on the verge of breaking up, Bishop Borromeo, took it upon himself, the arduous task of the entire correspondence during the final phase.

Eventually Bishop Borromeo was allowed to devote his time to the Archdiocese of Milan, where the religious and moral picture was far from positive. The reform needed in every phase of Catholic life among both the Clergy and Laity was initiated at a Provincial Council of all the Bishop’s under him. — Specific regulations were drawn up for the Bishop’s and other Clergy. If the people were to be converted to a better life, Bishop Borromeo had to be the first to give a good example and renew their apostolic spirit.

Bishop Borromeo took that initiative of providing a good example and would allot most of his income to charity, he would forbid himself of all luxury and would impose strict penances upon himself. — Bishop Borromeo would sacrifice wealth, high honors, esteem and influence to become poor.

During the plague and famine of 1576, Bishop Borromeo attempted to feed between 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. To accomplish this mission, he borrowed large sums of money that took years to repay. — Where the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague and famine, Bishop Borromeo stayed in the city, where he would minister and provide counsel to the sick and dying, always helping anyone in need.

Bishop Borromeo’s work and heavy burdens took their toll on him and began affecting his health and at just 46 yrs of age he died in November 1584 — Bishop Borromeo was Beatified in 1602 by Pope Clement VIII and Canonized just 8 yrs later in 1610 by Pope Paul V

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

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Martin de Porres, Patron Saint of Racial Harmony – Please Pray For Us!

Sunday, November 3rd, 2024

St Martin de PorresSt. Martin de Porres (1579-1639) Image Courtesy: uCatholic

(CNA) Born in Peru Lima, St. Martin de Porres was the son of a Spanish Grandee (nobleman) Juan de Porres and a freed slave Ana Valasquez from Panama.

Born biracial, Martin was in his day of a lower social caste, though his father looked out for him and made sure that his son, apprenticed in a good trade. Martin would study to be a barber, which at that time meant that he’d also learn medicine. Martin would become quite well known for his compassion, skill as a barber, together with his care for many people and animals.

In 1594 Martin chose to become a Dominican Lay Brother in Peru Lima, according to EWTN and served in various humble offices. Outside of the Monastery, he became widely known for his continuing care for the poor and sick. — Martin would go on to found an orphanage and would minister to African-American slaves brought to Peru Lima, he was aided by St. Rose of Lima (Feast Day: 23 August) who respected his penances and labors.

During St. Martin’s lifetime, he became a formidable fundraiser, obtaining thousands of dollars for dowries for poor young Women so that they could marry or enter the Convent.

Many of St. Martin’s Lay Brothers accepted him as their ‘Spiritual Director’ but he would continue to call himself a “poor slave” throughout his lifetime.

St. Martin de Porres passed away on this date in 1639, he was Beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and Canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII

More here from Franciscan Media

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

Today On the Feast of ‘All Souls Day’ Christians Commemorate All of the Faithful Departed

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

All Souls DayOn ‘All Souls Day’ We Remember
Those Who Have Gone Before Us
By Saying a Prayer for Our Dearly Departed
Image Courtesy: CRS@Twitter

(Franciscan Media) The Church has encouraged prayers for those who have passed away before us from the earliest of times as an act of charity.

“If we had no care for the dead,
we would not be in the habit of praying for them.”
St. Augustine

Yet pre-Christian rites for the deceased retained such a strong hold on the superstitious imaginations, that a liturgical commemoration was not observed until the early Middle-Ages, when monastic communities began to mark an annual day of prayer for their departed members.

In the middle of the 11th century, St. Odilo Abbot of France Cluny, decreed that all Cluniac Monasteries offer special prayers and sing for ‘Office for the Dead’ on the 02 November the day after the Solemnity of All Saints — This custom spread from Cluny and was finally adopted throughout the Church.

The theological underpinning of today’s Feast, is the acknowledgement of human frailty. Since few people achieve perfection in life but rather go to their graves still scarred with traces of sinfulness, some period of purification seems necessary before a soul comes face-to-face with God. — The Council of Trent affirmed this purgatory state and insisted that the prayers of the living can speed the process of purification.

Superstition easily clung to the observance. Medieval popular belief held that the souls in purgatory could appear on this day in the for of Witches, toads or will-o’-the-wisps (a phosphorescent light seen hovering or floating at night over marshy ground) graveside food offerings would supposedly ease the rest of the dead.

Observances of a more religious nature have survived. These include: Public processions or private visits to cemeteries, the decorating of graves with flowers, lights and candles. — Today Feast of ‘All Souls Day’ is observed with great fervor in Mexico.

Lighting Cemetery GravesCandles Light Up a Cemetery in Commemoration
of All the Faithful Departed on ‘All Souls Day’

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

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Friday, November 1st, 2024

(CCC 956) The Intercession of the Saints: “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in Heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in Holiness — they do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which the acquired on earth through the One Mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus — so by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.”
(See: Lumen Gentium 49; 1 Timothy 2:5)

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought [to] but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words and God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the Saint’s according to the will of God.  –Romans 8:26-27

The 144,000 of Israel Sealed

After this, I (St. John) saw for Angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or sea or against any tree. I saw another Angel ascending from the rising sun, having the Seal of the Living God and he called with a loud voice to the for Angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea saying,

“Do not damage the earth or sea or the trees until we have marked the Servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel.

The Multitude From Every Nation

After this I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, from all the tribes, peoples and languages, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice saying:

“Salvation belongs to our God
who is seated on the Throne and to the Lamb!”

All the Angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, they fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God singing:


“Amen! Blessing and Glory and Wisdom

and Thanksgiving and Honor

and Power and Might

be to our God forever and ever Amen!”

 

Then one of the elders addressed me saying, “Who are these robed in white and where have they come from? I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the Throne of God and worship him day and night within His Temple and the One who is seated on the Throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; For the Lamb at the center of the Throne will be their Shepherd and He will guide them to the springs of the water of life and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:1-4; 9-17

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

What the Early Church Believed: The Intercession of the Saint’s  -Catholic Answers

How Can You Become a Saint? -Oblates of the Virgin Mary