CHRIST IS MAY SALVATION

“I slipped His fingers,
I escaped His feet,
I ran and hid, for Him I feared to meet.

One day I passed Him, fettered on a tree,
He turned His head, looked, and beckoned me.
Neither by speed, nor strength could He prevail.
Each hand and foot was pinioned by a nail.

He could not run and clasp me if He tried
But with His eye, he bade me reach His side.
“For pity’s sake,” thought I, “I’ll set you free.”
“Nay - hold this cross,” He said, “and follow Me.

This yoke is easy, this burden light
Not hard or grievous if you wear it tight.”
So did I follow Him who could not move,
An uncaught captive in the hands of love.“

-Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

BEGINNING OF ADVENT 2015

Take the First Step TODAY!

It’s just about taking the first step. Even if we are fearful about this next step, we can say to God what is in our hearts. In this Advent season, it’s time to risk, to make the first step, to find our way back home.

Loving God, I don’t have the right words. I’m not sure where to begin, but I know you are the hope and promise of the peace to come in my life. Be with me this day. Let me look at my life and my day today and open my heart completely as I begin, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

ST CATHERINE LABOURE' - FEASTDAY 28TH NOVEMBER

At an early age St Catherine entered the community of the Daughters of Charity, in Paris, France. Three times in 1830 the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure, who then was a twenty-four year old novice. On July 18, the first apparition occurred in the community’s motherhouse. St. Catherine beheld a lady seated on the right side of the sanctuary. When St. Catherine approached her, the heavenly visitor told her how to act in time of trial and pointed to the altar as the source of all consolation. Promising to entrust St. Catherine with a mission which would cause her great suffering, the lady also predicted the anticlerical revolt which occurred at Paris in 1870.

On November 27, the lady showed St. Catherine the medal of the Immaculate Conception, now universally known as the “Miraculous Medal.” She commissioned St. Catherine to have one made, and to spread devotion to this medal. At that time, only her spiritual director, Father Aladel, knew of the apparitions. Forty-five years later, St. Catherine spoke fully of the apparitions to one of her superiors. 

The years passed by, Catherine performed daily her mundane and very ordinary tasks of sewing and door keeping, unknown to the world around her, which was buzzing with the miraculous effects of the medal. Because of this humility, she is often called the Saint of Silence. When her body was exhumed for beatification 57 years after her death in 1933, it was found as fresh as the day it was buried. Her incorrupt body can still be seen today at the Mother House of the Daughters of Charity in The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 140 Rue du Bac in Paris. 

THREE QUOTES THAT MAKE SENSE

“Man has often lost his way but modern man has lost his address.”

…………………………….. G K Chesterton

 There is no holiness without the grace of God.

And this grace can be obtained by our prayer………….St Pius X.

“One cannot desire freedom from the Cross when one is especially chosen for the Cross”


…………………………………. St Edith Stein

WHAT ARE WE WORTH?

“Our true worth does not consist in what human beings think of us. What we really are consists in what God knows us to be.”

…………………………….. St John Berchmans – 

LEADERSHIP

ST JOHN BERCHMANS - FEASTDAY 26TH NOVEMBER

Eldest son of a shoemaker, John was born at Diest, Brabant. He early wanted to be a priest and when thirteen became a servant in the household of one of the Cathedral canons at Malines. In 1615, he entered the newly founded Jesuit College at Malines, and the following year became a Jesuit novice. He was sent to Rome in 1618 to continue his studies and was known for his diligence and piety, impressing all with his holiness and stress on perfection in little things. He died there on August 13. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death, and he was canonized in 1888.

ST CATHERINE OIF ALEXANDRIA - FEASTDAY 25TH NOVEMBER

Converted to Christianity through a vision, she denounced Maxentius for persecuting Christians. Fifty of her converts were then burned to death by Maxentius.

Maxentius offered Catherine a royal marriage if she would deny the Faith. Her refusal landed her in prison. While in prison, and while Maxentius was away, Catherine converted Maxentius’ wife and two hundred of his soldiers. He had them all put to death.
Catherine was likewise condemned to death. She was put on a spiked wheel, and when the wheel broke, she was beheaded

OUR REWARD

DO NOT LET THE DEVIL TROUBLE YOU

ST ANDREW DUNG LAC AND COMPANIONS - FEASTDAY 24TH NOVEMBER

Through the missionary efforts of various religious families beginning in the sixteenth century and continuing until 1866, the Vietnamese people heard the message of the gospel, and many accepted it despite persecution and even death. 

On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized 117 persons martyred in the eighteenth century. Among these were ninety-six Vietnamese, eleven missionaries born in Spain and belonging to the Order of Preachers, and ten French missionaries belonging to the Paris Foreign Mission Society. 

Among these saints are eight Spanish and French bishops, fifty priests (thirteen European and thirty-seven Vietnamese), and fifty-nine lay people. These martyrs gave their lives not only for the Church but for their country as well. They showed that they wanted the gospel of Christ to take root in their people and contribute to the good of their homeland. On June 1, 1989, these holy martyrs were inscribed in the liturgical calendar of the Universal Church on November 24th. 

GOD APPRECIATES EVERYTHING

ST CAECILIA PATRONESS OF MUSIC - FEASTDAY 22ND NOVEMBER

This patroness of music lived in early times. What we know about her goes back to the fourth century. Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman who had given her heart to Christ. Beneath the rich clothes worn by women of her class, Cecilia wore a rough shirt that caused her suffering. She wanted to be able to offer this sacrifice to Jesus, whose bride she intended to be. But Cecilia’s father gave her in marriage to a young pagan noble. It is said that during the wedding celebration, the lovely bride sat apart. She was singing to God in her heart and praying for his help. 

When she and Valerian, her husband, were alone, she gathered up courage and said to him: “I have a secret to tell you. You must know that I have an angel of God watching over me. If you let me keep my promise to be Christ’s bride only, my angel will love you as he loves me.” 

Valerian was surprised and said kindly, “Show me this angel. If he comes from God, I will do as you wish.” Valerian went to Bishop Urban and was received with joy. After he had professed his belief in the Christian religion, he was baptized and returned to St. Cecilia. There by the saint’s side, the young man saw the splendid angel.

Valerian’s brother, Tiburtius, learned of the Christian faith from Cecilia. She spoke so beautifully of Jesus that before long, he too was baptized. Together the two brothers performed many works of charity. When they were arrested for being Christians, they went bravely to death rather than give up their new faith in Jesus. St. Cecilia lovingly buried their bodies, before she too was arrested. 

She converted the very officers who tried to make her sacrifice to false gods. When she was put into a fire, it did not harm her. At last, a man was sent to behead her. He struck her neck three times, but Cecilia did not die right away. She lay on the floor of her own home unable to move. Yet by holding out three fingers of one hand, and one of the other, she still professed her belief in the Blessed Trinity. 

CHRIST, OUR KING

Christ Jesus, we acknowledge You King of the universe.

Make full use of Your rights over us.

We renew the promises we made in Baptism,
when  we renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,
and we  promise to live a good Christian life
and to do all in our power
to procure the triumph of the rights of God
and Your Church.

Divine Heart of Jesus,
we offer you our efforts
in order to obtain that all hearts
may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,
and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace
may be established throughout the universe

OUR CROSS

IT IS THE WISH OF OUR KING THAT WE CARRY OUR CROSS WITH HIM.

WITH HIS HELP WE ARE ABLE TO CARRY THE BURDEN SINCE TWO ARE CARRYING THE CROSS.

PRESENTATION OF THE HOLY CHILD MARY - FEASTDAY 21ST NOVEMBER

When she was only three years old, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne. Mary’s whole life was to belong to God. He had chosen her to be the Mother of his Son, Jesus. The Blessed Virgin was happy to begin serving God in the Temple. And St. Joachim and St. Anne were pleased to offer their saintly little girl to God. They knew that God had sent her to them.

In the Temple, the high priest received the child Mary. She was placed among the girls who were dedicated to prayer and Temple service. The high priest kissed and blessed the holy child. He realized that the Lord had great plans for her. Mary came so happily to the altar that everyone in the Temple loved her at once.
St. Joachim and St. Anne went back home. They praised God for their blessed daughter. And Mary remained in the Temple, where she grew in holiness. She spent her days reading the Bible, praying and serving the Temple priests. She made beautiful linens and splendid vestments.Mary tried to do each of her duties well, to please God. She grew in grace and gave great glory to the Lord.

ST EDMUND - FEASTDAY 20TH NOVEMBER

Edmund was an English king who lived in the ninth century. He became king when he was only fourteen. Yet his high position did not make him proud or conceited. Instead, he took as his model the Old Testament king, David. Edmund tried to serve God as well as David had. In fact, Edmund even learned David’s psalms by heart. King Edmund governed wisely, showing kindness to all his subjects. When Danish barbarians invaded his land, he fought them bravely. Their army was much larger than his. At last, the English king was captured. The barbarian leader offered to spare Edmund’s life if he would agree to certain terms. But since these terms were opposed to his country and his religion, the king refused. He declared he would never save his life by offending God and his people. In anger, the pagan chief condemned him to death.
St. Edmund was tied to a tree and then cruelly whipped. The holy king took it all patiently, calling on Jesus for strength. Next, his torturers shot arrows into every part of his body. They were careful not to hit any vital organ, so his sufferings would be prolonged. At last he was beheaded.

CHRIST, YOU ARE OUR KING

O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations.

We pray to You Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You

O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things.

Protect, O Lord and our King, our families and the land of our birth.

Guard us we pray, Most Faithful One.

Protect us from our enemies and from Your just judgment.

Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against You.

Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.

We trust in Your Great Mercy.

AMEN

ST NERSES THE GREAT - FEASTDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

The father of St. Isaac the Great. A native of Armenia, he studied in Cappadocia and wed a princess who gave birth to Isaac. After she died, he served as a chamberlain in the court of King Arshak of Armenia. In 353 he was made Catholicos of the Armenians. Nerses devoted much effort to reforming the Armenian Church, including convening a synod in 365 based on the principles he had studied under St. Basil at Caesarea. Though he established hospitals and monasteries, his reforms and denunciation of King Arshak’s murder of the queen led to his exile. He returned after Arshak’s death in battle, but relations were not much better with the new Armenian ruler, Pap, whose dissolute lifestyle caused Nerses to refuse him admission into church. Nerses was invited to a royal banquet at Khakh, on the Euphrates River, and was assassinated by poison. 

WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?

We should harbour a single “YES” concerning all that God wills and a single “NO” concerning all that He does not will.
The state of things comprises perpetual communion………..St Vincent de Paul

ST ROSE PHILLIPNE DUCHESNE - FEASTDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin (Feast day – November 18) Born in Grenoble, France, in 1769, Rose joined the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818, when she was forty-nine years old, Rose was sent to the United States. She founded a boarding school for daughters of pioneers near St. Louis and opened the first free school west of the Missouri. At the age of seventy-one, she began a school for Indians, who soon came to call her “the woman who is always praying”. Her biographers have also stressed her courage in frontier conditions, her single-mindedness in pursuing her dream of serving Native Americans and her self-acceptance. This holy servant of God was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

“We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self…. The truest crosses are those we do not choose ourselves…. He who has Jesus has everything.”


………………………………………..St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

DEDICATION OF THE CHURCHES OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL - FEASTDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

This feast celebrates the dedications of two of the four major basilicas of Rome.

Saint Peter’s Basilica was originally built in 323 by the emperor Constantine. The basilica was constructed over the tomb of Peter the Apostle, the Church’s first Pope. After standing for more than a thousand years, Pope Julius II ordered the building to be torn down due to structural concerns. The construction of the new church spanned over 200 years before its completion. It was dedicated on Nov. 18, 1626. It is considered the most famous church in Christendom.

Saint Paul´s Basilica is located outside the original walls of Rome. It was also originally built by the emperor Constantine though it was destroyed by fire in 1823. Donations from around the world made the reconstruction possible. Before the completion of Saint Peter´s Basilica, St Paul’s was the largest church in Rome. The Basilica was built over St. Paul´s grave. Pope Pius IX consecrated the Basilica in 1854. 

TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

ST ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY - FEASTDAY 17TH NOVEMBER

St Elizabeth was a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary, Landgravine of Thuringia, Germany and a greatly venerated Catholic saint who was an early member of the Third Order of St. Francis, by which she is honoured as its patroness. Elizabeth was married at the age of 14, and widowed at 20. After her husband’s death she sent her children away and regained her dowry, using the money to build a hospital where she herself served the sick. She became a symbol of Christian charity after her death at the age of 24 and was quickly canonized.

Miracle of the Roses

A statue showing the miracle of the roses in the rose garden in front of the neo-Gothic church dedicated to her at Roses’ Square (Rózsák tere), Budapest.

Elizabeth is perhaps best known for her miracle of the roses which says that whilst she was taking bread to the poor in secret, she met her husband Ludwig on a hunting party, who, in order to quell suspicions of the gentry that she was stealing treasure from the castle, asked her to reveal what was hidden under her cloak. In that moment, her cloak fell open and a vision of white and red roses could be seen, which proved to Ludwig that God’s protecting hand was at work. Her husband, according to the vitae, was never troubled by her charity and always supported it. In some versions of this story, it is her brother in law, Heinrich Raspe, who questions her. Hers is the first of many miracles that associate Christian saints with roses, and is the most frequently depicted in the saint’s iconography. 

SANCTITY OF MARRIED LIFE

St Margaret and Malcolm, King and Queen of Scotland – were beautiful witnesses to the grace of the sacrament of matrimony by striving to grow in holiness together and in so doing, reached out to all those of their kingdom – our witness of the sanctity of the married life can do the same today.

ST MARGARET QUEEN OF SCOTLAND - FEASTDAY 16TH NOVEMBER

As queen, Margaret changed her husband and the country for the better. Malcolm was good, but he and his court were very rough. When he saw how wise his wife was, he willingly listened to her good advice. Margaret helped him control his temper and practice the Christian virtues. She made the court beautiful and civilized. The king and queen were wonderful examples because of the way they prayed together. They fed crowds of poor people. They tried very hard to imitate Jesus in their own lives.

Margaret was a blessing for all the people of Scotland. Before she came, there was great ignorance. Margaret worked hard to obtain good teachers to help the people correct evil practices. She and Malcolm had new churches built. She loved to make the churches beautiful to honor God. In fact, Queen Margaret embroidered some of the priests’ vestments herself.

Margaret and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters. They loved all their children very much. The youngest boy became St. David. But Margaret had sorrows, too. In her last illness, she learned that both her husband and her son, Edward, had been killed in battle. They died just four days before Margaret’s death 

DIVORCE??????????????????

 There must be a divorce between you and sin, or there can be no marriage between you and Christ.

ST ALBERT THE GREAT - FEASTDAY 15TH NOVEMBER

Albert the Great was one of the Church’s greatest intellects. He studied at the University of Padua and later taught at Hildesheim, Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Regensburg, and Strasbourg. He then taught at the University of Paris, where he received his doctorate in 1245. He was among the first and greatest of the natural scientists, gaining a reputation for expertise in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography, metaphysics, and mathematics. He was also very learned in biblical studies and theology. He was known during his lifetime as doctor universalis and doctor expertus and, late in his life, the term magnus was appended to his name. Scholars have referred to him as the greatest German philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages. The Church honours him as a Doctor of the Church, one of only 36 so honoured.

WOULD YOU LEAVE HIM WAITING

WOULD YOU LEAVE HIM WAITING?

ST LAWRENCE O'TOOLE - FEASTDAY 14TH NOVEMBER

About the year 1171 he was obliged, for the affairs of his diocese, to go over to England to see the king, Henry II, who was then at Canterbury. The Saint was received by the Benedictine monks of Christ Church with the greatest honour and respect. On the following day, as the holy archbishop was going to the altar to officiate, a maniac, who had heard much of his sanctity, and who was led on by the idea of making so holy a man another St. Thomas, struck him a violent blow on the head. All present concluded that he was mortally wounded; but the Saint came to himself, asked for some water, blessed it and having his wound washed with it, the blood was immediately stopped, and the Archbishop celebrated Mass.

 In 1175 Henry II of England became offended with Roderic, the monarch of Ireland, and St.Lawrence undertook another journey to England to negotiate a reconciliation between them. Henry was so moved by his piety, charity and prudence that he granted him everything he asked and left the whole negotiation to his discretion. He died on 14 November 1180 

VALUES

 Not all of us understand spiritual values as well as we should, nor do we give them a proper place in our lives.

Many of us, strongly attracted by sin, look upon such values as of no importance or ignore them altogether.

Learn from St Martin  de Porres, who encountering great difficulties persevered to reach great heights of spiritual growth…………………….St Pope John XXIII

ST FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI - FEASTDAY 13TH NOVEMBER

St. Frances was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850. At eighteen, she desired to become a Nun, but poor health stood in her way. She helped her parents until their death, and then worked on a farm with her brothers and sisters.

One day a priest asked her to teach in a girls’ school and she stayed for six years. At the request of her Bishop, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. Then at the urging of Pope Leo XIII she came to the United States with six nuns in 1889 to work among the Italian immigrants. Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful administrative ability, this remarkable woman soon founded schools, hospitals, and orphanages in this strange land and saw them flourish in the aid of Italian immigrants and children. At the time of her death, at Chicago, Illinois on December 22, 1917, her institute numbered houses in England, France, Spain, the United States, and South America. In 1946, she became the FIRST American citizen to be canonized when she was elevated to sainthood by Pope Pius XII. 

THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Our Lord does not come down from Heaven every day to lie in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven which is infinitely dearer to Him -the heaven of our souls. 
-St. Therese

THE STORY OF RAYMOND DIOCRES

Raymond Diocres, a professor at the Sorbonne, and a man with a universal reputation for learning and apparent virtue, died in Paris. Three days later, his coffin, beautifully adorned with the symbols of his profession, was brought into the cathedral with solemnity, accompanied by his fellow professors, by a large group of students and many priests.

Hundreds attended the funeral service; innumerable candles were lit and prayers were offered for him by those who had admired the great knowledge and virtues of the illustrious deceased. But when the choir came to the passage in the Office of the Dead: ‘What are my faults and my sins? My misdeeds and my sins make known to me!’ which Holy Job asks in Scripture, suddenly the corpse, which was lying exposed on its bier, moved before their eyes, sat up, and cried out in accents of desperation which matched the despair in his eyes: ‘By the judgement of God, I have been accused, judged and condemned’.

Having said this, he fell back, never to move again. Thus the world- renowned professor had hidden vice under the appearance of virtue. But God, who scrutinizes hearts, knew his sins and punished him for them.

Dead Raymond Diocres speaks after death

It was because of this event that St. Bruno of Cologne (1030-1101) went to great extremes in rejecting the pleasures of this world by founding a monastery in the Chartreuse Mountains, a home for the Carthusian Order. The Carthusians are, to this day, renowned for being the most rigorous and ascetic of all the cloistered orders.

ST JOSAPHAT - FEASTDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

Josaphat was born in the Ukraine and baptized  in 1580. He became a monk in the order of St. Basil. He was a self-sacrificing, brave man. Because of his many natural qualities, he was chosen for leadership roles. This would eventually cost him his life. He became an apostle of ecumenism. He preached union among the Christian churches of the Ukraine which were- the Latin Church united with the pope, the Orthodox Greek Church and the Greek Catholic Church. 

He became a bishop and took over the diocese of Polotsk in 1617. He spent the next ten years helping the people know and love their Catholic faith better. He organized celebrations of prayer and religion classes. He called clergy meetings and worked with the priests to put into effect rules that helped the people live closer to Jesus. Archbishop Josaphat had great positive influence on people. He was a dynamic leader. For this, some people feared him. They stirred up a mob against him. Josaphat was murdered. His body was thrown into a local river. Josaphat died on November 12, 1623. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius IX in 1867.

JESUS THE GREATEST MAN

ST MARTIN OF TOURS - FEASTDAY 11TH NOVEMBER

One very cold winter day, Martin and his companions came upon a beggar at the gate of the city of Amiens. The man’s only clothes were nothing but rags and he was shaking with cold. The other soldiers passed by him, but Martin felt that it was up to him to help the beggar. Having nothing with him, he drew his sword and cut his long cloak in half. Some laughed at his funny appearance as he gave one half to the beggar. Others felt ashamed of their own selfishness. That night, Jesus appeared to Martin. He was wearing the half of the cloak that Martin had given away.
“Martin, still a catechumen, has covered me with this garment,” Jesus said. Right after this wonderful event, St. Martin went to be baptized. 

Conscripted as a soldier into the Roman army, he found the duty incompatible with the Christian faith he had adopted and became an early conscientious objector. He became a disciple of St. Hilary, the bishop of Poitiers, France. Because of his strong opposition to the Arian heretics in various cities, Martin had to go into exile. But he was happy to live in the wilderness with other monks. When the people of Tours asked for him as their bishop, he refused. The people would not give up, however. They got him to come to the city to visit a sick person. Once he was there, they took him to the church. As bishop of Tours, St. Martin did all he could to rid France of paganism. He prayed, he worked, he preached everywhere.

Our Lord let Martin know when his death was near. As soon as his followers heard of it, they began to weep. They begged him not to leave them. So the saint prayed: “Lord, if your people need me yet, I will not refuse the work. Your will be done.” He was still labouring for the Divine Master in a far-off part of his diocese when death finally came in 397. St. Martin’s tomb became one of the most famous shrines in all of Europe.

ST MARTIN'S TOMB

ST LEO THE GREAT - FEASTDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

Pope Leo I (c. 400 – 10 November 461), also known as Saint Leo the Great, was Pope from 29 September 440 to his death in 461.

He was an Italian aristocrat and was the first pope to have been called “the Great”. He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452 and persuading him to turn back from his invasion of Italy. He is also a Doctor of the Church, most remembered theologically for issuing the Tome of Leo, a document which was foundational to the debates of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon.

 The Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council, dealt primarily with Christology and elucidated the orthodox definition of Christ’s being as the hypostatic union of two natures—divine and human—united in one person, “with neither confusion nor division”. It was followed by a major schism associated with Monophysitism, Miaphysitism and Dyophysitism. 

WHAT IS A SAINT?

Saints are not the opposite of sinners.  There are no opposites of sinners in this world.  There are only saved sinners and unsaved sinners.  Thus holy does not mean “sinless” but “set-apart:” called out of the world to the destiny of eternal ecstasy with God.A saint is a servant of Christ.  

A saint is also a conqueror greater than Alexander, who only conquered the world.  A saint conquers himself.  What does it profit a man if he conquers the whole world but does not conquer himself?

ST THEODORE - FEASTDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

Theodore lived in the third century. He was a new soldier in the Roman army when he was called to die for the faith. Although he was young, he knew how to keep his soul pure. He was a prudent person who considered the devil a real enemy. When his legion had camped for the winter in the country of Pontus, all the soldiers were taking part in services to the pagan gods. Since he was a Christian, he knew that these gods did not exist. So Theodore refused to join in the pagan rites. He was arrested. “How dare you profess a religion which the emperor punishes with death?” demanded the governor. Without hesitation, the young soldier answered, “I do not know your gods. Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, is my God. If you take my answer as an offense, cut off my tongue. Every part of my body is ready to suffer when God calls for this sacrifice.”
When the suffering soldier was sent to prison, some said that angels came to comfort him. After he had been questioned three times, he was finally condemned to death by fire in the year 306. A beautiful church was later built to enshrine his ashes. Great crowds of people began going to it to pray to the martyr.

RIGHT INTENTION

DO NOT SHINE FOR OTHERS TO SEE YOU BUT SHINE FOR OTHERS TO SEE HIM.

ST CASTORIUS - FEASTDAY 8TH NOVEMBER

St. Castorius is the patron saint of sculptors and his feast day is November 8th. Castorius, Claudius, Nicostratus, and Symphorian are called “the four crowned martyrs” who were tortured and executed in Pannonia, Hungary during the reign of Diocletian. According to legend, they were employed as carvers at Sirmium (Mitrovica, Yugoslavia) and impressed Diocletian with their art, as did another carver, Simplicius. Diocletian commissioned them to do several carvings, which they did to his satisfaction, but they then refused to carve a statue of Aesculapius, as they were Christians. The emperor accepted their beliefs, but when they refused to sacrifice to the gods, they were imprisoned. When Diocletian’s officer Lampadius, who was trying to convince them to sacrifice to the gods, suddenly died, his relatives accused the five of his death; to placate the relatives, the emperor had them executed. Probably they were the four Pannonian martyrs (not counting Simplicius) whose remains were translated to Rome and buried in the Four Crowned Ones basilica there. 

SIN VERSUS DEATH

If we feared sin more than death, like the saints, our lives would look very different.

If we feared sin more than death, we would have an easier time unleashing the power of the Holy Spirit…

ST WILLIBRORD - FEASTDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

He was Apostle of Frisia, Netherlands, a missionary archbishop. Born in Northumbria, England, circa 658, he studied at Ripon monastery under St. Wilfrid and spent twelve years studying in Ireland. He received papal approval for his mission to Friesland and founded the monastery of Echternach, Luxembourg, to serve as a center of missionary endeavors, and extended the efforts of missionaries into Denmark and Upper Friesland. He faced chronic dangers from outraged pagans.

HAVE THIS THOUGHT EVER CROSSED YOUR MIND?

ST LEONARD - FEASTDAY 6TH NOVEMBER

According to an 11th-century vita, Leonard was a Frankish noble in the court of Clovis . He was converted to Christianity along with the king, at Christmas 496, by Saint Remigius, Bishop of Reims. Leonard asked Clovis to grant him personally the right to liberate prisoners whom he would find worthy of it, at any time. Leonard secured the release of a number of prisoners, for whom he has become a patron saint, then, declining the offer of a bishopric he entered the monastery at Micy near Orléans, under the direction of Saint Mesmin and Saint Lie.

 Then, Leonard became a hermit in the forest of Limousin, where he gathered a number of followers. Through his prayers the queen of the Franks was safely delivered of a male child and in recompense Leonard was given royal lands at Noblac. There he founded the abbey of Noblac, around which a village grew-Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. Prisoners who invoked him from their cells saw their chains break before their eyes. Many came to him afterwards, bringing their heavy chains and irons to offer them in homage and many remained with him. He gave them part of his vast forest, that they might have the means to live an honest life. 

NECESSITY OF GOOD EXAMPLE

ST ZACHARY AND ST ELIZABETH - FEASTDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

Little is known about either saint, with the exception that they were of advanced age upon conceiving and bearing the cousin of Jesus, the Forerunner of the Son of Justice, Saint John the Baptist. Though all we know of them is recorded in the Gospel of Luke (chapter 1), detailing Our Blessed Mother’s visitation to her kinswoman, Elizabeth, given the honour bestowed upon them by the Lord we can be certain of their piety, strength of character and love.

CHRIST IS MY FOCUS

Every day, look into the spotless mirror that is Jesus Christ and study well your reflection.
In that way, you may adorn yourself, mind and body, with every virtue…..St Clare of Assisi

ST MARTIN DE PORRES - FEAST DAY 3RD NOVEMBER

When Martin was 15, he asked for admission into the Dominican Convent of the Rosary in Lima and was received as a servant boy and eventually was moved up to the church officer in charge of distributing money to deserving poor. During his time in the Convent, Martin took on his old trades of barbering and healing. He also worked in the kitchen, did laundry and cleaned. After eight more years with the Holy Rosary, Martin was granted the privilege to take his vows as a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic by the prior Juan de Lorenzana who decided to disregard the law restricting Martin based on race. Martin grew to become a Dominican lay brother in 1603 at the age of 24. Ten years later, after he had been presented with the religious habit of a lay brother, Martin was assigned to the infirmary where he would remain in charge until his death. He became known for encompassing the virtues need to carefully and patiently care for the sick, even in the most difficult situations. 

ST. PIO OF PIETRALCINA ON THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

“Kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Confide all your needs to Him along with those of others.

Speak to Him with filial abandoment, give free rein to your heart and give Him complete freedom to work in you as He thinks best.”

……………St Padre Pio

THE HOLY SOULS - FEASTDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

This feast day is one of the most loving celebrations in all the Church’s liturgy. It is the day that we especially remember all the faithful departed-those who have passed from this life into the next. We don’t know how long a particular individual who dies spends in purgatory. However, we do know that purgatory is real. Today we stop to remember all who have died. We especially pray for those who were related to us. We pray for those who taught us good things. We pray for those who made sacrifices for us. We pray for those who prayed for us while they were on this earth. We pray for the most forgotten souls. We pray for those who had great responsibilities while they were on earth.

We think of those holy souls in purgatory and we realize that they are saved. Now they wait, being purified, until the moment when they can be with God, face to face. We can pray for the souls in purgatory and hasten their journey to God.

Eternal rest, grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen