Archive for the ‘Christianity’ Category

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

Today Christians Honor Blessed John of Parma, Please Pray For Us!

Thursday, March 21st, 2024

Blessed John of ParmaBlessed John of Parma (1209-1289)
Image/Video: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) The Seventh Minister General of the Franciscan Order, John was known for his attempts to bring back the earlier spirit of the Order after the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

As a young philosophy professor known for his devotion to God that John entered the Franciscan Order. After his profession, John was sent to Paris to complete his theological studies. After becoming ordained into the Priesthood, Fr. John was appointed to teach theology in his home country of Italy and he was first sent to Bologna, then to Naples before being going to Rome.

In 1245 Pope Innocent IV, called a General Counsel in France Lyon, Crescentius the Franciscan Minister General at the time, was ailing and unable to attend. In his place, Fr. John was sent and he made a deep impression on the Church leaders gathered. Two years later when Pope Innocent IV presided at the election of a ‘Minister General to the Franciscans’ he remembered Fr. John and held him up as the man best qualified for this office.

Fr. John in 1247 was subsequently elected as the ‘Minister General’ — the surviving disciples of St. Francis rejoiced in his election, expecting to return to the spirit of penury and humility of the early days of the Order and they were not disappointed.

As ‘Minister General’ Fr. John traveled on foot, accompanied by one or two companions, to practically all of the Franciscan convents in existence. Sometimes he would arrive and not be recognized, remaining there for a number of days to evaluate the true spirit of the Brothers.

The Holy Father called on Fr. John to serve as Legate (his personal representative) to Constantinople, where he was most successful of winning back the schismatic Greeks. Upon his return, Fr. John asked that someone else take his place to govern the Order of Franciscans. St. Bonaventure, at Fr. John’s urging was chosen to succeed him.

Fr. John subsequently, tool up a life of seclusion in Italy Greccio. Many years later, Fr. John learned that the Greeks who had been reconciled with the Church for a time, had relapsed in schism.

Though 80 yrs old by then, Fr. John received permission from Pope Nicholas IV, to return to the East in an effort to restore unity once again but on his way, Fr. John tool ill and died.

Fr. John was Beatified in 1777 by Pope Pius VI

Today Christians Commemorate Saint Maximilian, Conscientious Objector & Martyr – Please Pray For Us!

Thursday, March 14th, 2024

Saint Maximillian

Saint Maximilian (274-295)
Image: Vidas Santas

(Franciscan Media) Maximilian the son of Fabius Victor, a Roman Army Veteran according to Rev Alban Butler (1711-1773) Lives of the Saints Vol III  Maximilian was drafted into the military at the age of 21 but refused to swear allegiance to the Roman Emperor, serving in the military on the grounds of being a conscientious objector and was brought before Proconsul Dion, who advised him that he must serve or die.

Maximilian replied: “I will never serve. You can cut off my head but I will not be a soldier of this world for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the Army of God and I cannot fight for this world, I tell you, I am a Christian.”

Proconsul Dion replied: “There are Christian soldiers serving our rulers…”

Maximilian though continued to refuse to serve and at the age of 21 offered his life to God in lieu of military service and was beheaded in Numidia, an ancient Roman empire city which is now present day Algeria.

Today Christians Honor Blessed Angela Salawa, “Devoting her Life to Works of Mercy” – Please Pray For Us!

Tuesday, March 12th, 2024

Blessed Angela Salawa...

Blessed Angela Salawa (1881-1922)

(Franciscan Media) Born the eleventh of twelve children in Poland Krakow, Angela learned piety, modesty and hard work from her Mother writes The Black Cordelias and with these principles Angela grew into a God fearing young woman.

At the age of 15 Angela began working for nearby families and went to work for a family in Siepraw and entertained their children. At 16 she worked for a family in Krakow without complaint until she felt intimidated by the landlord and left her employment and moved in with her sister Teresa until her death in 1899

In 1900 Angela felt called to a religious life and enrolled into the Association of Saint Zita, promoting care for the home, disciplined for Jesus Christ and a model for her Christian life–In 1912 she joined the ‘Third Order of St. Francis’ and two years later during WW I, Angela gave great service caring for injured soldiers in a hospital and prisoners of war without distinction of their nationality, earning the name ‘The Holy Lady’ for those she cared.

Beatified in 1991 Blessed Angela Salawa was remembered by Pope Saint John Paul II during his Papal visit to Poland in August, 2002 for “devoting her life to works of mercy.”

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Monday, March 4th, 2024

Jesus ministered saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” –Matthew 4:17

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 mediate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield fruit in its season and their leaves do not wither. In all 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

  • You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life
    Today Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Sunday, March 3rd, 2024

Homelessness California — Image Courtesy: Reuters

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. –Proverbs 28:27

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What does it profit my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.

Someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is One God, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. Do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the alter? (Genesis 22:1-18) Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8) You see then a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot (Joshua 2:1-24) also justified by works when she received the messengers (spies) and sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. –James 2:14-26

  • 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!

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. David of Wales – Please Pray For Us!

Friday, March 1st, 2024

St David of Wales

St. David of Wales –Image: NNDB

(CNA) Saint David is remembered as a missionary Bishop and the founder of many Monasteries during the 6th century United Kingdom, Wales.

Saint David’s conception is believed to have occurred as a result of rape–a detail that seems unlikely to have been invented by later biographers, his mother, Saint Non (or Nonna) may have been the daughter of Lord Cynyr of Caer Goch, according to Fr. Harry Allagree Blogger of ‘The Good Heart’ who gave birth to him atop of a cliff during a storm.

Becoming a renowned teacher and Priest, David was elected Bishop of Menevia, an important port city, linking Wales and Ireland in his time.

Twelve monasteries have their founding by Bishop David, who developed a reputation of strict asceticism. St David’s Cathedrial stands on the site of a monastery that he founded in Wales, Pembrokeshire.

It is believed that Bishop David, lived to be very old and died somewhere around 589, other traditions place his death at 601, his last words to his followers were reportedly:

“Be joyful and keep your faith and your creed. Do little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path our fathers have trod before us.”

Saint David of Wales, was Canonized by Pope Callistus II in 1120

In 2010 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during his visit to Wales, spoke of today’s Saint of the Day and said:

“Saint David was one of the great Saints of the sixth century, that golden age of Saints and missionaries in these isles and he was thus a founder of the Christian culture which lies at the root of modern Europe. David’s preaching was simple yet profound: his dying words to his Monks were, ‘Be joyful, keep the faith and do little things.” It is the little things that reveal our love for the one who loved us first (1st John 4:19) and that bind people into a community of faith, love and service. May Saint David’s message, in all its simplicity and richness, continue to resound in Wales, drawing the hearts of its people to renewed love for Christ and His Church.”

  • Full Salute here of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
    to Saint David of Wales

In These Perilous Times Take Heed to the Word of The Lord!

Thursday, February 29th, 2024

“…There will be difficult times
in the Last Days!” –2 Timothy 3:1
Image Courtesy: MFVA Friars

The Last Days

Remember that there will be difficult (perilous) times in these Last Days. People will be selfish, greedy, boastful and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful and irreligious; they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent and fierce; they will hate the good; they will be treacherous, reckless and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; they will hold to the outward form of our religion but reject its real power. Keep away from such people! –2 Timothy 3:1-5

Signs of the End of the Age

When Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?’

Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My Name saying, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines and earthquakes in various places, all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”

Persecutions Foretold

Jesus continued, “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, you will be hated by all nations because of My Name. Then many will fall away and they will betray one another and hate one another, many false prophets will arise and lead many astray and because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold but the one who endures to the end will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” 

Matthew 24:3-14

Hear The Truth

St. Paul: “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and they will turn away from listening to the Truth and wander away to myths.”  –2 Timothy 4:3-4

The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

“…First of all you must understand this, that in the Last Days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!’

They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the Word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. By the same Word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the Day of Judgment and destruction of the godless.

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord will come like a thief and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will be dissolved with fire and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the Coming of the Day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved and the elements will melt with fire? In accordance with His promise (1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:101 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23) we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Final Exhortation (Appeal) and Doxology

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by Him at peace, without spot or blemish and regard the patience of the Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen! 

2 Peter 3:3-18

  • Jesus taught, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near; Repent and Believe in The Good News!”  –Mark 1:15

If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved! For one believes with the heart and so is justified and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture says, “No one who Believes in Him will be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 25:1-22) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved!”  –Romans 10:9-13

  • You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life
    Today,Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Oswald of Worcester

Thursday, February 29th, 2024

St OswaldSt. Oswald of Worcester -Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(Franciscan Media) Born in England into a military family during the 10th century (Oswald’s parents immigrated from Denmark according to SQPN before his birth) Oswald was raised and educated by his uncle the Archbishop of Canterbury (would be Canonized and known as St. Odo the Good -Feast Day: 04 July) Oswald continued his education in France where he would later become a Benedictine Monk.

In 962 Oswald was appointed Bishop of England Worcester (later Archbishop of York) working with St. Dunstan and St. Ethelwold to revive monastic and ecclesiastical discipline in England — Archbishop Oswald founded the Abbey at Ramsey and the Monastery at Winchester and supported and improved scholarships at the Abbey, together with inviting leading educators in such fields as mathematics and astronomy to lecture. 

Archbishop Oswald became widely known for his sanctity and especially his love for those less fortunate. — The final Winter of his life was spent at the Cathedral in Worcester that he so loved. At the beginning of Lent in February 992, Archbishop Oswald resumed the practice of washing the feet of 12 poor Men each day.

On this leap year day in 992, Archbishop Oswald died after he washed the feet of the twelfth Man, kissing his feet and giving a blessing.

More here from Catholic News Agency

Today Christians Honor Blessed Daniel Brottier – Please Pray For Us!

Wednesday, February 28th, 2024

Blessed Daniel BrottierBlessed Daniel Brottier (1876-1936) Image: Cradio

(Catholic Online) Born in France, Blessed Daniel Brottier, was a decorated Priest who served as a volunteer Chaplain during World War I risking his own life from time-to-time, cited six times for bravery, receiving the ‘Croix de Guerre’ and the ‘Legion of Honor’ according to 365 Rosaries during his 4 years at the front, ministering to the suffering and dying–It was miraculous that during the war, Fr. Brottier didn’t suffer a single wound.

Following the end of the war, Fr. Brottier was invited to help establish a project for orphaned and abandoned children in Paris, spending the last 13 years of his life there.

Blessed Daniel Brottier...Fr. Daniel Brottier –Image Courtesy: 365 Rosaries

Fr. Brottier was Beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II in Rome in November, 1984