Saturday, December 22, 2007
Readings for Sunday Dec. 23
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Reading 1
Is 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Reading II
Rom 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Mt 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Sorry about not having last week's readings on the blog. I completely forgot until Sunday and by that time it was too late.
Reading 1
Is 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Reading II
Rom 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Mt 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
Sorry about not having last week's readings on the blog. I completely forgot until Sunday and by that time it was too late.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Information about Advent...
Hello!
Last night at Newman someone asked about the color of the candles:
The quick answer:
Purple is the liturgical color for the season of advent, it is a penitential season and a time of waiting and expectation...
On the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, the opening Antiphon (look it up!) begins with the word Rejoice! (Gaudete) - so we use the joyous color pink...
Here is a link to some information on Advent:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Advent/faqs.asp
(Remember - when searching for information on the internet - do not believe everything you read...even if it sounds good. You are always welcome to stop by the office or email to get some answers) (even if the answers make you more confused!)
Erin Hammond
Last night at Newman someone asked about the color of the candles:
The quick answer:
Purple is the liturgical color for the season of advent, it is a penitential season and a time of waiting and expectation...
On the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, the opening Antiphon (look it up!) begins with the word Rejoice! (Gaudete) - so we use the joyous color pink...
Here is a link to some information on Advent:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Advent/faqs.asp
(Remember - when searching for information on the internet - do not believe everything you read...even if it sounds good. You are always welcome to stop by the office or email to get some answers) (even if the answers make you more confused!)
Erin Hammond
Immaculate Conception Mass Times
| Parish | Friday | Saturday |
| St. Joseph, Lebanon | 7:00 P.M. |
|
| Holy Trinity, Fairview Heights | 7:00 P.M. | 9:00 A.M. |
| St. Clare, O’Fallon |
| 8:30 A.M. |
| St. Nicholas, O’Fallon | 6:30 P.M. | 8:30 A.M. |
| St. George, New Baden |
| 8:00 A.M. |
| Holy Childhood, Mascoutah |
| 9:00 A.M. |
| Corpus Christi, Shiloh | 7:00 P.M. | 8:00 A.M. |
| St. Mary, Trenton |
| 4:15 P.M. |
| St. Dominic, Breese | 7:00 P.M. | 8:00 A.M. & 12:10 P.M. |
Monday, December 3, 2007
Readings for Sunday Dec. 9, 2007
Second Sunday of Advent
Reading 1
Is 11:1-10
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
he shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Reading II
Rom 15:4-9
Brothers and sisters:
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction,
that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another,
in keeping with Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised
to show God’s truthfulness,
to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,
but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.
Gospel
Mt 3:1-12
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website
Reading 1
Is 11:1-10
On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
he shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Reading II
Rom 15:4-9
Brothers and sisters:
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction,
that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another,
in keeping with Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised
to show God’s truthfulness,
to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,
but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.
Gospel
Mt 3:1-12
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Readings for Sunday Dec. 2 2007
First Sunday of Advent
Reading 1
Is 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Reading II
Rom 13:11-14
Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Gospel
Mt 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Thanks to United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the readings every week.
Reading 1
Is 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Reading II
Rom 13:11-14
Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Gospel
Mt 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Thanks to United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the readings every week.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Saints
We discussed our patrons at Newman the other night - here are some more of the patrons that we discussed.
Thanks to catholic-forum.org for the information.
George
Also known as
Victory Bringer
Memorial
23 April (Roman Catholic); 3 November (Russian Orthodox); fourth Sunday in June (Malta); third Sunday in July (Gozo)
Profile
Soldier. Martyr. That's all we know for sure. Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, then rode away. Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the 15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback. The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Died
tortured and beheaded c.304 at Lydda, Palestine
Patronage
Amersfoort, Netherlands; Aragon; agricultural workers; archers; armourers; Beirut, Lebanon; Boy Scouts; butchers; Canada; Cappadocia; Catalonia; cavalry; chivalry; Constantinople; Crusaders; England (by Pope Benedict XIV); equestrians; Ethiopia; farmers; Ferrara, Italy; field hands; field workers; Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Genoa, Italy; Georgia; Germany; Gozo; Greece; Haldern, Germany; Heide, Germany; herpes; horsemen; horses; husbandmen; Istanbul; knights; lepers; leprosy; diocese of Limburg, Germany; Lithuania; Malta; Modica, Sicily; Moscow, Russia; Nerola, Italy; Order of the Garter; Palestine; Palestinian Christians; plague; Portugal; Ptuj, Slovenia; Qormi, Malta; Riano, Italy; riders; saddle makers; saddlers; Senj, Croatia; sheep; shepherds; skin diseases; skin rashes; soldiers; syphilis; Teutonic Knights; Venice, Italy; Victoria, Gozo, Malta
Prayers
Novena in honor of...
Representation
armor; banner; buckler; dragon; horse
Images
Gallery of images of Saint George [45 images, 1,474 kb]
Additional Information
Google DirectoryChristian Biographies, by James KeiferSaint George Greek Orthodox Church, Des Moines, Iowa, USARussian Scouting and Saint George [russian]Saint George and Scouting, by Lewis P OransColumbia Encyclopedia, by Herbert ThurstonThe Saints: A Concise Biographical Dictionary, by John CoulsonSaint JordiDomestic Church, by Catherine FournierLives of the Saints, by Father Alban ButlerMaster of Guillebert de MetsSaint George Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USACatholic EncyclopediaFor All The Saints, by Katherine RabensteinVietnamese Eucharistic Youth SocietyThe Passion of Saint George, by E A W BudgeSaint TheododiusAbba TheodotusEthiopic Miracles of Saint GeorgeMilitary Martyrs, by David WoodsGreek Miracles of Saint George, by J AufhauserNew Catholic DictionaryIn God's Garden, by Amy Steedman
Readings
Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ. Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to he poor. Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the think of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ. Clearly what he did serves to teach us a valuable lesson: if we are afraid to strip ourselves of out worldly possessions, then we are unfit to make a strong defense of the faith. Dear brothers, let us not only admire the courage of this fighter in heaven's army, but follow his example. Let us be inspired to strive for the reward of heavenly glory. We must now cleanse ourselves, as Saint Paul tells us, from all defilement of body and spirit, so that one day we too may deserve to enter that temple of blessedness to which we now aspire. from a sermon by Saint Peter Damian, priest
Catherine of Alexandria
Also known as
Katherine of Alexandria
Memorial
25 November; removed from the calendar and cultus suppressed in 1969
Profile
Apocryphal. Nobility. Learned in science and oratory. Converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, and immediately martyred. Maximus had her scourged and imprisoned. The empress and the leader of Maximus' army were amazed by the stories, went to see Catherine in prison. They converted and were martyred. Maximus ordered her broken on the wheel, but she touched it and the wheel was destroyed. She was beheaded, and her body whisked away by angels. Immensely popular during the Middle Ages, there were many chapels and churches devoted to her throughout western Europe, and she was reported as one of the divine advisors to Saint Joan of Arc. Her reputation for learning and wisdom led to her patronage of libaries, librarians, teachers, archivists, and anyone associated with wisdom or teaching. Her debating skill and persuasive language has led to her patronage of lawyers. And her torture on the wheel led to those who work with them asking for her intercession. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. While there may well have been a noble, educated, virginal lady who swayed pagans with her rhetoric during the persecutions, the accretion of legend, romance and poetry has long since buried the real Catherine.
Died
beheaded c.305 in Alexandria, Egypt
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Name Meaning
pure one (= Catherine)
Patronage
Aalsum, Nederlands; apologists; craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters, spinners, etc.); archivists; attornies; barristers; diocese of Dumaguete, Philippines; dying people; educators; girls; Heidesheim am Rhein, Germany; jurists; knife grinders; knife sharpeners; Kuldiga, Latvia; lawyers; librarians; libraries; Mähring, Germany; maidens; mechanics; millers; nurses; old maids; philosophers; potters; preachers; scholars; schoolchildren; scribes; secretaries; spinners; spinsters; stenographers; students; tanners; teachers; theologians; turners; University of Paris; unmarried girls; wheelwrights; Zejtun, Malta; Zurrieq, Malta
Representation
spiked wheel; woman strapped to the spiked wheel on which she was martyred; woman arguing with pagan philosophers
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Catherine [12 images, 209 kb]
Additional Information
Goffine's Devout InstructionsSaint Catherine's WigsGoogle DirectoryChristian Biographies, by Kames E KeiferColumbia EncyclopediaCatholic OnlineLives of the Saints, by John CrawleyExplore ArtFor All The Saints, by Katherine RabensteinVietnamese Eucharistic Youth SocietyEcole Glossary, by Karen Rae KeckNew Catholic DictionaryCatholic Encyclopedia, by Leon Clugnet
Hard Copy
printer friendly version
Catherine of Siena
Also known as
Caterina Benincasa; Catharine of Siena
Memorial
29 April; (formerly 30 April)
Profile
Youngest child in a large family. At the age of 6 she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican tertiary. Mystic. Stigmatist. Received a vision in which she was in a mystical marriage with Christ, and the Infant Christ presented her with a wedding ring. Counselor to Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI.
Proclaimed Doctor of the Church on 4 October 1970.
Born
25 March 1347 at Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Died
29 April 1380 of a mysterious and painful illness that came on without notice, and was never properly diagnosed
Canonized
July 1461 by Pope Pius II
Name Meaning
pure one
Patronage
against fire, bodily ills, diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, Europe, fire prevention, firefighters, illness, Italy, miscarriages, nurses, nursing services, people ridiculed for their piety, sexual temptation, sick people, sickness, Siena Italy, temptations
Representation
cross; crown of thorns; heart; lily; ring; stigmata
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Catherine [11 images, 175 kb]
Prayers
Prayer I to...Prayer II to......to the Precious Blood of Jesus...for the Gifts of...Novena prayer to...
Writings
Dialogue of the Seraphic Virgin
Additional Information
Google DirectoryNew Catholic DictionaryPatron Saints for GirlsPope Proclaims Three New Patrons of Europe - 1 October 1999Bells Ring in Siena in Honor of Saint Catherine - 4 October 1999In God's Garden, by Amy Steedman
Readings
Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God. -Saint Catherine of Siena
Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light, and causes me to know your truth. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love. -from On Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena
Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind. -Saint Catherine of Siena
Cecilia
Also known as
Cecily; Cicilia
Memorial
22 November
Profile
Cultivated young patrician woman whose ancestors loomed large in Rome's history. She vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptised. The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in her turn. The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse." It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.
Died
martyred c.117; suffocated for a while, and when that didn't kill her, she was beheaded; her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome; the tomb was opened in 1599, and her body found to be incorrupt
Name Meaning
blind
Patronage
Academy of Music, Rome; Albi France; composers; martyrs; music; musicians; musical instrument makers; archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska; poets; singers
Representation
musical instruments, especially a lute or organ; roses
Prayers
Prayer to...
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Cecilia [19 images, 555 kb]
Additional Information
Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P KirschThe Golden Legend, by Jacob VoragineGoogle DirectoryShrine of Saint CeciliaFor All The Saints, by Katherine RabensteinPatron Saint of Church Music, by Bethany JenkinsNew Catholic DictionaryPatron Saints for GirlsLives of the Saints, by Father Alban ButlerIn God's Garden, by Amy Steedman
Joseph
Also known as
Joseph the Betrothed; Joseph the Worker
Memorial
19 March; 1 May (Joseph the Worker)
Profile
Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Carpenter. Earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. Visionary who was visited by angels. Noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.
Died
1st century, prior to the Passion, of natural causes
Name Meaning
whom the Lord adds (Joseph)
Patronage
against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska; Austria; diocese of Balanga, Philippines; diocese of Bangued, Philippines; diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belgium; diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi; Birkirkara, Malta; Bohemia; diocese of Buffalo, New York; bursars; diocese of Butuan, Philippines; cabinetmakers; Canada; Candian Armed Forces (in 1941); Carinthia; carpenters; Catholic Church (1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX); diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming; China; archdiocese of Cologne, Germany; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliment); diocese of Daet, Philippines; Deschambault, Quebec; dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence Italy; Fonte Nuova, Italy; happy death; archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; diocese of Itanagar, India; Kalkara, Malta; Korea; diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; La Spezia, Italy; laborers; Ladispoli, Italy; Laguna Indian Pueblo; archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; diocese of Mangalore, India; married people; diocese of Menevia, Wales; Mexico; Msida, Malta; diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; Orvieto, Italy; diocese of Osnabrück, Germany; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; Qala, Gozo, Malta; Querceta, Italy; diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands; diocese of Romblon, Philippines; diocese of San Jose, California; apostolic vicariate of San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines; diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; Santa Marinella, Italy; Sicily; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Spadafora, Sicily; Styria, Austria; diocese of Tagbilaran, Philippines; travellers; Turin, Italy; Tyrol, Austria; unborn children; Universal Church (1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX); Vatican II; Viet Nam; diocese of Virac, Philippines; diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people
Representation
bible; branch; carpenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod
Images
Gallery #1 -
10 holy cards -
220 kb
Gallery #2 -
10 holy cards -
149 kb
Gallery #3 -
10 holy cards -
187 kb
Gallery #4 -
10 holy cards -
128 kb
Gallery #5 -
10 holy cards -
134 kb
Gallery #6 -
10 holy cards -
165 kb
Gallery #7 -
19 statues -
210 kb
Gallery #8 -
5 other -
87 kb
Gallery #9 -
11 holy cards -
194 kb
Gallery #10 -
36 Holy Family -
584 kb
Prayers
Harry Holbrook's collectionLitany to Saint Joseph,Novena to Saint Joseph I,Novena to Saint Joseph II,Prayer to... I - 2 versions,Prayer to... V,Prayer to... II,Prayer to... III,Prayer Before Mass,Prayer to... ...for the Whole Church,Prayer to... ...for the Spirit of Work,Prayer to... ...to Know One's Vocation,Prayer for a Happy Death,Prayer to... ...patron of Carpenters,Prayer to... ...the Workman,Prayer to... IV,Prayer to... ...for Protection,Prayer to... ...patron of Workers,Prayer to... VI,Prayer to... VII, The Josephites,Prayer to... VIII, Pope Saint Pius X,Prayer to... IX, the Pallottines
Additional Information
Goffine's Devout InstructionsGoogle DirectoryWikipediaQuamquam Pluries: On Devotion to Saint Joseph, by Pope Leo XIIIBurying Saint Joseph to Sell Your HomeRedemptoris Custos: Guardian of the Redeemer by Pope John Paul II
Hard Copy
printer friendly version
Readings
He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying 'Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.' from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena
There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand. This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord, and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying "Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord." Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen. from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena
What emanates from the figure of Saint Joseph is faith. Joseph of Nazareth is a "just man" because he totally "lives by faith." He is holy because his faith is truly heroic. Sacred Scripture says little of him. It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness. Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God. We see how the word of the Living God penetrates deeply into the soul of that man, that just man. And we, do we know how to listen to the word of God? Do we know how to absorb it into the depths of our human personalities? Do we open our conscience in the presence of this word? Pope John Paul II from Daily Meditations
Thanks to catholic-forum.org for the information.
George
Also known as
Victory Bringer
Memorial
23 April (Roman Catholic); 3 November (Russian Orthodox); fourth Sunday in June (Malta); third Sunday in July (Gozo)
Profile
Soldier. Martyr. That's all we know for sure. Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, then rode away. Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, largesse to the poor), devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the 15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback. The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Died
tortured and beheaded c.304 at Lydda, Palestine
Patronage
Amersfoort, Netherlands; Aragon; agricultural workers; archers; armourers; Beirut, Lebanon; Boy Scouts; butchers; Canada; Cappadocia; Catalonia; cavalry; chivalry; Constantinople; Crusaders; England (by Pope Benedict XIV); equestrians; Ethiopia; farmers; Ferrara, Italy; field hands; field workers; Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Genoa, Italy; Georgia; Germany; Gozo; Greece; Haldern, Germany; Heide, Germany; herpes; horsemen; horses; husbandmen; Istanbul; knights; lepers; leprosy; diocese of Limburg, Germany; Lithuania; Malta; Modica, Sicily; Moscow, Russia; Nerola, Italy; Order of the Garter; Palestine; Palestinian Christians; plague; Portugal; Ptuj, Slovenia; Qormi, Malta; Riano, Italy; riders; saddle makers; saddlers; Senj, Croatia; sheep; shepherds; skin diseases; skin rashes; soldiers; syphilis; Teutonic Knights; Venice, Italy; Victoria, Gozo, Malta
Prayers
Novena in honor of...
Representation
armor; banner; buckler; dragon; horse
Images
Gallery of images of Saint George [45 images, 1,474 kb]
Additional Information
Google DirectoryChristian Biographies, by James KeiferSaint George Greek Orthodox Church, Des Moines, Iowa, USARussian Scouting and Saint George [russian]Saint George and Scouting, by Lewis P OransColumbia Encyclopedia, by Herbert ThurstonThe Saints: A Concise Biographical Dictionary, by John CoulsonSaint JordiDomestic Church, by Catherine FournierLives of the Saints, by Father Alban ButlerMaster of Guillebert de MetsSaint George Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USACatholic EncyclopediaFor All The Saints, by Katherine RabensteinVietnamese Eucharistic Youth SocietyThe Passion of Saint George, by E A W BudgeSaint TheododiusAbba TheodotusEthiopic Miracles of Saint GeorgeMilitary Martyrs, by David WoodsGreek Miracles of Saint George, by J AufhauserNew Catholic DictionaryIn God's Garden, by Amy Steedman
Readings
Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ. Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to he poor. Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the think of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ. Clearly what he did serves to teach us a valuable lesson: if we are afraid to strip ourselves of out worldly possessions, then we are unfit to make a strong defense of the faith. Dear brothers, let us not only admire the courage of this fighter in heaven's army, but follow his example. Let us be inspired to strive for the reward of heavenly glory. We must now cleanse ourselves, as Saint Paul tells us, from all defilement of body and spirit, so that one day we too may deserve to enter that temple of blessedness to which we now aspire. from a sermon by Saint Peter Damian, priest
Catherine of Alexandria
Also known as
Katherine of Alexandria
Memorial
25 November; removed from the calendar and cultus suppressed in 1969
Profile
Apocryphal. Nobility. Learned in science and oratory. Converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, and immediately martyred. Maximus had her scourged and imprisoned. The empress and the leader of Maximus' army were amazed by the stories, went to see Catherine in prison. They converted and were martyred. Maximus ordered her broken on the wheel, but she touched it and the wheel was destroyed. She was beheaded, and her body whisked away by angels. Immensely popular during the Middle Ages, there were many chapels and churches devoted to her throughout western Europe, and she was reported as one of the divine advisors to Saint Joan of Arc. Her reputation for learning and wisdom led to her patronage of libaries, librarians, teachers, archivists, and anyone associated with wisdom or teaching. Her debating skill and persuasive language has led to her patronage of lawyers. And her torture on the wheel led to those who work with them asking for her intercession. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. While there may well have been a noble, educated, virginal lady who swayed pagans with her rhetoric during the persecutions, the accretion of legend, romance and poetry has long since buried the real Catherine.
Died
beheaded c.305 in Alexandria, Egypt
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Name Meaning
pure one (= Catherine)
Patronage
Aalsum, Nederlands; apologists; craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters, spinners, etc.); archivists; attornies; barristers; diocese of Dumaguete, Philippines; dying people; educators; girls; Heidesheim am Rhein, Germany; jurists; knife grinders; knife sharpeners; Kuldiga, Latvia; lawyers; librarians; libraries; Mähring, Germany; maidens; mechanics; millers; nurses; old maids; philosophers; potters; preachers; scholars; schoolchildren; scribes; secretaries; spinners; spinsters; stenographers; students; tanners; teachers; theologians; turners; University of Paris; unmarried girls; wheelwrights; Zejtun, Malta; Zurrieq, Malta
Representation
spiked wheel; woman strapped to the spiked wheel on which she was martyred; woman arguing with pagan philosophers
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Catherine [12 images, 209 kb]
Additional Information
Goffine's Devout InstructionsSaint Catherine's WigsGoogle DirectoryChristian Biographies, by Kames E KeiferColumbia EncyclopediaCatholic OnlineLives of the Saints, by John CrawleyExplore ArtFor All The Saints, by Katherine RabensteinVietnamese Eucharistic Youth SocietyEcole Glossary, by Karen Rae KeckNew Catholic DictionaryCatholic Encyclopedia, by Leon Clugnet
Hard Copy
printer friendly version
Catherine of Siena
Also known as
Caterina Benincasa; Catharine of Siena
Memorial
29 April; (formerly 30 April)
Profile
Youngest child in a large family. At the age of 6 she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican tertiary. Mystic. Stigmatist. Received a vision in which she was in a mystical marriage with Christ, and the Infant Christ presented her with a wedding ring. Counselor to Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI.
Proclaimed Doctor of the Church on 4 October 1970.
Born
25 March 1347 at Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Died
29 April 1380 of a mysterious and painful illness that came on without notice, and was never properly diagnosed
Canonized
July 1461 by Pope Pius II
Name Meaning
pure one
Patronage
against fire, bodily ills, diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, Europe, fire prevention, firefighters, illness, Italy, miscarriages, nurses, nursing services, people ridiculed for their piety, sexual temptation, sick people, sickness, Siena Italy, temptations
Representation
cross; crown of thorns; heart; lily; ring; stigmata
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Catherine [11 images, 175 kb]
Prayers
Prayer I to...Prayer II to......to the Precious Blood of Jesus...for the Gifts of...Novena prayer to...
Writings
Dialogue of the Seraphic Virgin
Additional Information
Google DirectoryNew Catholic DictionaryPatron Saints for GirlsPope Proclaims Three New Patrons of Europe - 1 October 1999Bells Ring in Siena in Honor of Saint Catherine - 4 October 1999In God's Garden, by Amy Steedman
Readings
Charity is the sweet and holy bond which links the soul with its Creator: it binds God with man and man with God. -Saint Catherine of Siena
Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light, and causes me to know your truth. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love. -from On Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena
Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind. -Saint Catherine of Siena
Cecilia
Also known as
Cecily; Cicilia
Memorial
22 November
Profile
Cultivated young patrician woman whose ancestors loomed large in Rome's history. She vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptised. The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in her turn. The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse." It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.
Died
martyred c.117; suffocated for a while, and when that didn't kill her, she was beheaded; her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome; the tomb was opened in 1599, and her body found to be incorrupt
Name Meaning
blind
Patronage
Academy of Music, Rome; Albi France; composers; martyrs; music; musicians; musical instrument makers; archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska; poets; singers
Representation
musical instruments, especially a lute or organ; roses
Prayers
Prayer to...
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Cecilia [19 images, 555 kb]
Additional Information
Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P KirschThe Golden Legend, by Jacob VoragineGoogle DirectoryShrine of Saint CeciliaFor All The Saints, by Katherine RabensteinPatron Saint of Church Music, by Bethany JenkinsNew Catholic DictionaryPatron Saints for GirlsLives of the Saints, by Father Alban ButlerIn God's Garden, by Amy Steedman
Joseph
Also known as
Joseph the Betrothed; Joseph the Worker
Memorial
19 March; 1 May (Joseph the Worker)
Profile
Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Carpenter. Earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. Visionary who was visited by angels. Noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.
Died
1st century, prior to the Passion, of natural causes
Name Meaning
whom the Lord adds (Joseph)
Patronage
against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska; Austria; diocese of Balanga, Philippines; diocese of Bangued, Philippines; diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belgium; diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi; Birkirkara, Malta; Bohemia; diocese of Buffalo, New York; bursars; diocese of Butuan, Philippines; cabinetmakers; Canada; Candian Armed Forces (in 1941); Carinthia; carpenters; Catholic Church (1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX); diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming; China; archdiocese of Cologne, Germany; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliment); diocese of Daet, Philippines; Deschambault, Quebec; dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence Italy; Fonte Nuova, Italy; happy death; archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; diocese of Itanagar, India; Kalkara, Malta; Korea; diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; La Spezia, Italy; laborers; Ladispoli, Italy; Laguna Indian Pueblo; archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; diocese of Mangalore, India; married people; diocese of Menevia, Wales; Mexico; Msida, Malta; diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; Orvieto, Italy; diocese of Osnabrück, Germany; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; Qala, Gozo, Malta; Querceta, Italy; diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands; diocese of Romblon, Philippines; diocese of San Jose, California; apostolic vicariate of San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines; diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines; Santa Marinella, Italy; Sicily; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Spadafora, Sicily; Styria, Austria; diocese of Tagbilaran, Philippines; travellers; Turin, Italy; Tyrol, Austria; unborn children; Universal Church (1847 by Blessed Pope Pius IX); Vatican II; Viet Nam; diocese of Virac, Philippines; diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people
Representation
bible; branch; carpenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod
Images
Gallery #1 -
10 holy cards -
220 kb
Gallery #2 -
10 holy cards -
149 kb
Gallery #3 -
10 holy cards -
187 kb
Gallery #4 -
10 holy cards -
128 kb
Gallery #5 -
10 holy cards -
134 kb
Gallery #6 -
10 holy cards -
165 kb
Gallery #7 -
19 statues -
210 kb
Gallery #8 -
5 other -
87 kb
Gallery #9 -
11 holy cards -
194 kb
Gallery #10 -
36 Holy Family -
584 kb
Prayers
Harry Holbrook's collectionLitany to Saint Joseph,Novena to Saint Joseph I,Novena to Saint Joseph II,Prayer to... I - 2 versions,Prayer to... V,Prayer to... II,Prayer to... III,Prayer Before Mass,Prayer to... ...for the Whole Church,Prayer to... ...for the Spirit of Work,Prayer to... ...to Know One's Vocation,Prayer for a Happy Death,Prayer to... ...patron of Carpenters,Prayer to... ...the Workman,Prayer to... IV,Prayer to... ...for Protection,Prayer to... ...patron of Workers,Prayer to... VI,Prayer to... VII, The Josephites,Prayer to... VIII, Pope Saint Pius X,Prayer to... IX, the Pallottines
Additional Information
Goffine's Devout InstructionsGoogle DirectoryWikipediaQuamquam Pluries: On Devotion to Saint Joseph, by Pope Leo XIIIBurying Saint Joseph to Sell Your HomeRedemptoris Custos: Guardian of the Redeemer by Pope John Paul II
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Readings
He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying 'Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.' from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena
There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand. This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord, and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying "Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord." Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen. from a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena
What emanates from the figure of Saint Joseph is faith. Joseph of Nazareth is a "just man" because he totally "lives by faith." He is holy because his faith is truly heroic. Sacred Scripture says little of him. It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness. Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God. We see how the word of the Living God penetrates deeply into the soul of that man, that just man. And we, do we know how to listen to the word of God? Do we know how to absorb it into the depths of our human personalities? Do we open our conscience in the presence of this word? Pope John Paul II from Daily Meditations
Thanksgiving Prayer
Lord God, we bless You
and are filled with gratitude
for the numerous gifts,
the Countless Blessings,
that come to us from You.
Your blessings come in times of joy,
in times of victory, in success and honor,
and they come as well in times of pain and sorrow,
in sickness and defeat.
Your blessings come always as Life.
We take pleasure in the Fruit of Your Creation,
in the earthen blessings
of fish and bird, tree and flower,
each the Harvest of Your Divine Heart.
We take delight in our eyes,
in our ears, arms and legs,
We find joy in holidays and vacations,
and in our work as well.
We thank You, Lord of Gifts,
for friendships, family and fun.
In winning and in losing—
in being last as well as first—
we take relish in the challenge and adventure
of Your Great Gift of Life.
Lord, we thank You for all the gifts
that flow fully, day and night,
into our lives.
Today, with full hearts,
in the company of Jesus, Mary,
and of all Your Saints,
we bless You for all the good that has come to us.
Blessed are You, Lord our God,
who in the richness of Your Divine Love,
blesses us with good things.
Amen
-from Prayers for a Domestic Church
by Edward Hays
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
and are filled with gratitude
for the numerous gifts,
the Countless Blessings,
that come to us from You.
Your blessings come in times of joy,
in times of victory, in success and honor,
and they come as well in times of pain and sorrow,
in sickness and defeat.
Your blessings come always as Life.
We take pleasure in the Fruit of Your Creation,
in the earthen blessings
of fish and bird, tree and flower,
each the Harvest of Your Divine Heart.
We take delight in our eyes,
in our ears, arms and legs,
We find joy in holidays and vacations,
and in our work as well.
We thank You, Lord of Gifts,
for friendships, family and fun.
In winning and in losing—
in being last as well as first—
we take relish in the challenge and adventure
of Your Great Gift of Life.
Lord, we thank You for all the gifts
that flow fully, day and night,
into our lives.
Today, with full hearts,
in the company of Jesus, Mary,
and of all Your Saints,
we bless You for all the good that has come to us.
Blessed are You, Lord our God,
who in the richness of Your Divine Love,
blesses us with good things.
Amen
-from Prayers for a Domestic Church
by Edward Hays
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Readings for Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Mal 3:19-20a
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9
R. (cf. 9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth,
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Reading II
2 Thes 3:7-12
Brothers and sisters:
You know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day
we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you,
we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,
neither should that one eat.
We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a
disorderly way,
by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.
Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly
and to eat their own food.
Gospel
Lk 21:5-19
While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here--
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered,
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,’ and 'The time has come.’
Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
"Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
Reading 1
Mal 3:19-20a
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9
R. (cf. 9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth,
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Reading II
2 Thes 3:7-12
Brothers and sisters:
You know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day
we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you,
we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,
neither should that one eat.
We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a
disorderly way,
by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.
Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly
and to eat their own food.
Gospel
Lk 21:5-19
While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here--
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered,
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,’ and 'The time has come.’
Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
"Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
Monday, November 12, 2007
Our Saints...
We discussed Saints at Tuesdays Newman Night...
Here is the first of several SHORT biographies of some of the saints that you chose at confirmation...
The information is from Catholic-forum dot com (or org)
You can also look to Wikipedia (yes, Wikipedia) for good starting places to search for historical information about saints...
Jude Thaddeus
Memorial
28 October (Roman Church); 19 June (Eastern Church)
Profile:
Son of Cleophas, who died a martyr, and Mary who stood at the foot of the Cross, and who annointed Christ's body after death. Brother of Saint James the Lesser. Nephew of Mary and Joseph; blood relative of Jesus Christ, and reported to look a lot like him. May have been a fisherman. Apostle. Writer of canonical letter. Preached in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia with Saint Simon. Healer. Exorcist. Could exorcise pagan idols, which caused the demons to flee and the statues to crumble. His patronage of lost or impossible causes traditionally derives from confusion by many early Christians between Jude and Judas; not understanding the difference between the names, they never prayed for Jude's help, and devotion to him became something of a lost cause.
Died beaten to death with a club, then beheaded post-mortem in 1st century Persia; relics at Saint Peter's, Rome, at Rheims, and at Toulouse, France
Name Meaning
sweetness or gentleness of character (Thaddeus)
Patronage
desperate situations; forgotten causes; hospital workers; hospitals; impossible causes; lost causes diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida
Prayers
Prayer to..., by Kathleen Norris
2 prayers at Webdesk Catholic Prayers
Representation
axe; bearded man holding an oar; boat; boat hook; book; club; square rule; sword; nearly every image depicts him wearing a medallion with a profile of Jesus, and usually with a small flame above his head; often carries a pen or sits at a writing location to make reference to the canonical Epistle
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