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33  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 20, 2016, 02:56:30 PM
June 20

Blessed Margaret Ebner
Nun & Virgin

Bl. Margaret Ebner was born in 1291 at Donauworth
in Bavaria and made her profession at the
Dominican Monastery of Maria Medingen in
1306. By her own account her true conversion to
God began in 1311 when she was 20 years old.
Soon after she became seriously ill and was
bedridden for nearly 13 years; these years of
suffering and prayer brought her to the heights
of contemplative union with God. She became
one of the more prominent of the Rhineland
mystics, known to both John Tauler and Henry
Suso. She left an account of her mystical experiences
in her Spiritual Journal (Revelationes) and
wrote a treatise on the Lord's Prayer. She died
on June 20, 1351.
34  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 20, 2016, 02:55:00 PM
Great Bio info. on Bl. Ossana Shin !
35  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 18, 2016, 03:52:43 PM
June 18

Blessed Osanna of Mantua
Lay Dominican & Virgin

Blessed Osanna Andreassi was born at Mantua
in 1449 and received the habit of the Sisters of
Penance of St. Dominic as a young girl. With
great wisdom she blended the practice of good
works and the pursuit of secular occupations
with a life of contemplation. She enjoyed many
extraordinary mystical graces during her life
and many came to her for advice and
consolation. She died on June 18, 1505.
36  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 14, 2016, 02:31:59 PM
St. Albert Chmielowski
(1845-1916)
 
Born in Igolomia near Kraków as the eldest of four children in a wealthy family, he was christened Adam. During the 1864 revolt against Czar Alexander III, Adam’s wounds forced the amputation of his left leg.

His great talent for painting led to studies in Warsaw, Munich and Paris. Adam returned to Kraków and became a Secular Franciscan. In 1888 he took the name Albert when he founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants to the Poor. They worked primarily with the homeless, depending completely on alms while serving the needy, regardless of age, religion or politics. A community of Albertine sisters was established later.

Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1983 and canonized him six years later.

Comment:
Reflecting on his own priestly vocation, Pope John Paul II wrote in 1996 that Brother Albert had played a role in its formation "because I found in him a real spiritual support and example in leaving behind the world of art, literature and the theater, and in making the radical choice of a vocation to the priesthood" (Gift and Mystery: On the Fiftieth Anniversay of My Priestly Ordination, p. 33). As a young priest, Karol Wojtyla repaid his debt of gratitude by writing The Brother of Our God, a play about Brother Albert’s life.

Quote:
The first reading at the canonization included Isaiah 58:6 (“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”). The pope referred to this passage and said: “This is the theology of messianic liberation, which contains what we are accustomed to calling today the ‘option for the poor’.... In this tireless, heroic service on behalf of the marginalized and the poor, he [Albert] ultimately found his path. He found Christ. He took upon himself Christ’s yoke and burden; he did not become merely ‘one of those who give alms,’ but became the brother to those he served...” (L'Osservatore Romano 1989, Vol. 49, No. 9).
37  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 13, 2016, 01:32:31 PM
St. Anthony of Padua
(1195-1231)
 
The gospel call to leave everything and follow Christ was the rule of Anthony’s life. Over and over again God called him to something new in his plan. Every time Anthony responded with renewed zeal and self-sacrificing to serve his Lord Jesus more completely.

His journey as the servant of God began as a very young man when he decided to join the Augustinians in Lisbon, giving up a future of wealth and power to be a servant of God. Later, when the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs went through the Portuguese city where he was stationed, he was again filled with an intense longing to be one of those closest to Jesus himself: those who die for the Good News.

So Anthony entered the Franciscan Order and set out to preach to the Moors. But an illness prevented him from achieving that goal. He went to Italy and was stationed in a small hermitage where he spent most of his time praying, reading the Scriptures and doing menial tasks.

The call of God came again at an ordination where no one was prepared to speak. The humble and obedient Anthony hesitantly accepted the task. The years of searching for Jesus in prayer, of reading sacred Scripture and of serving him in poverty, chastity and obedience had prepared Anthony to allow the Spirit to use his talents. Anthony’s sermon was astounding to those who expected an unprepared speech and knew not the Spirit’s power to give people words.

Recognized as a great man of prayer and a great Scripture and theology scholar, Anthony became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars. Soon he was called from that post to preach to the Albigensians in France, using his profound knowledge of Scripture and theology to convert and reassure those who had been misled by their denial of Christ's divinity and of the sacraments..

After he led the friars in northern Italy for three years, he made his headquarters in the city of Padua. He resumed his preaching and began wrtiting sermon notes to help other preachers.

Comment:
Anthony should be the patron of those who find their lives completely uprooted and set in a new and unexpected direction. Like all saints, he is a perfect example of turning one's life completely over to Christ. God did with Anthony as God pleased—and what God pleased was a life of spiritual power and brilliance that still attracts admiration today. He whom popular devotion has nominated as finder of lost objects found himself by losing himself totally to the providence of God.

Quote:
In his sermon notes, Anthony writes: "The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ."
38  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 12, 2016, 03:14:47 PM
Blessed Jolenta (Yolanda) of Poland
(d. 1298)

Jolenta was the daughter of Bela IV, King of Hungary. Her sister, St. Kunigunde, was married to the Duke of Poland. Jolenta was sent to Poland where her sister was to supervise her education. Eventually married to Boleslaus, the Duke of Greater Poland, Jolenta was able to use her material means to assist the poor, the sick, widows and orphans. Her husband joined her in building hospitals, convents and churches so that he was surnamed "the Pious."

Upon the death of her husband and the marriage of two of her daughters, Jolenta and her third daughter entered the convent of the Poor Clares. War forced Jolenta to move to another convent where, despite her reluctance, she was made abbess.

So well did she serve her Franciscan sisters by word and example that her fame and good works continued to spread beyond the walls of the cloister. Her favorite devotion was the Passion of Christ. Indeed, Jesus appeared to her, telling her of her coming death. Many miracles, down to our own day, are said to have occurred at her grave.
39  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Quote for the Day on: June 11, 2016, 09:11:15 PM
Interesting Question to ponder ......
40  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Quote for the Night on: June 11, 2016, 03:04:57 AM
Beautiful !  crucifix
41  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 08, 2016, 03:55:50 AM
June 8 -


Blessed Diana, Cecilia and Amata
Nuns & Virgins

Bl. Diana, a member of the powerful d'Andalo family, was born at Bologna at the beginning of the 13th century. Attracted to the Order by the preaching of Bl. Reginald, Diana overcame the strong objections of her family and in 1222 with the help of Bl. Jordan of Saxony founded the Monastery of Saint Agnes where she lived until her death in 1236. There, letters which Bl. Jordan wrote to her are a splendid testament to the spirituality of the Dominican family and to the association of brothers and sisters within the Dominican family.
&
Bl. Cecilia was born at Rome around 1200 of the noble Caesarini family. In 1220 Pope Honorius III asked St. Dominic to reform several Roman monasteries, among them Santa Maria in Tempulo of which Bl. Cecilia was a member. According to tradition she was the first to express enthusiasm for the project and the first to receive the habit from the hands of Saint Dominic at the new Monastery of Saint Sixtus. In late 1223 or early 1224 she and three other nuns were sent to the Monastery of St. Agnes in Bologna to help with the new foundation. To her we are indebted for our only physical descripttion of the appearance of St. Dominic. She died around 1290.
&
Not to be forgotten is Blessed Amata (beloved). Legend has it that St. Dominic named her himself. She was a nun at St. Sixtus with Bl. Cecilia also receiving the habit from St. Dominic. She was beatified in 1891 with Diana and Cecilia but was not included on the calendar because so little is known of her.
42  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 02, 2016, 04:41:06 PM
Health is good amen !!!

All the holy souls pray for us !!!!
43  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: June 02, 2016, 02:38:04 PM
Blessed Sadoc
Friar & Priest, & Companions, Martyrs

According to tradition Bl. Sadoc received the
habit from St. Dominic himself at the General
Chapter of Bologna in 1221 was chosen to
accompany Master Paul of Hungary, who had
been commissioned to establish a province in
Hungary. Later Bl. Sadoc moved on to Poland
where he preached the gospel for nearly forty
years. In 1260 he and 48 members of the
Dominican community at Sandomierz were
martyred by the Tartars as they were singing the

Salve Regina at Compline. The custom of singing
the Salve Regina at the deathbed of Dominicans
stems from this incident.
44  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Quote for the Night on: May 08, 2016, 03:27:05 AM
Ah, that quote is a good reminder that we need to be ever vigilant in our daily activities.  Little Angel
45  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: May 07, 2016, 01:49:24 PM
St. Rose Venerini
(1656-1728)
 
Rose was born at Viterbo in Italy, the daughter of a doctor. Following the death of her fiancé she entered a convent, but soon returned home to care for her newly widowed mother. Meanwhile, Rose invited the women of the neighborhood to recite the rosary in her home, forming a sort of sodality with them.

As she looked to her future, Rose, under the spiritual guidance of a Jesuit priest, became convinced that she was called to become a teacher in the world rather than a contemplative nun in a convent. Clearly, she made the right choice: She was a born teacher, and the free school for girls she opened in 1685 was well received.

Soon the cardinal invited her to oversee the training of teachers and the administration of schools in his Diocese of Montefiascone. As Rose's reputation grew, she was called upon to organize schools in many parts of Italy, including Rome. Her disposition was right for the task as well, for Rose often met considerable opposition but was never deterred.

She died in Rome in 1728, where a number of miracles were attributed to her. She was beatified in 1952 and canonized in 2006. The sodality, or group of women she had invited to prayer, was ultimately given the rank of a religious congregation. Today, the so-called Venerini Sisters can be found in the United States and elsewhere, working among Italian immigrants.

Comment:
Whatever state of life God calls us to, we bring with us an assortment of experiences, interests and gifts—however small they seem to us. Rose’s life stands as a reminder that all we are is meant to be put to service wherever we find ourselves.

AND

Blessed Albert of Bergamo
Lay Dominican & Husband

Blessed Albert was born in Valle d’Ogna near Bergamo in 1214. As a married man he was known for his generosity to the poor, a virtue for which his wife reproached him. Upon the death of his wife, being childless, he left his father’s farm and went to Cremona where he lived in poverty. His poverty was a witness to a group of heretics there who boasted of their own poverty. Attracted by the life of Saint Dominic he joined the Brothers of Penance, which later became the Order of Penance of St. Dominic, and lived at the Dominican priory. He died on May 7, 1279.
46  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: May 03, 2016, 03:55:18 PM
Sts. Philip and James
 

James, Son of Alphaeus: We know nothing of this man except his name, and of course the fact that Jesus chose him to be one of the 12 pillars of the New Israel, his Church. He is not the James of Acts, son of Clopas, “brother” of Jesus and later bishop of Jerusalem and the traditional author of the Letter of James. James, son of Alphaeus, is also known as James the Lesser to avoid confusing him with James the son of Zebedee, also an apostle and known as James the Greater.

Philip: Philip came from the same town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida in Galilee. Jesus called him directly, whereupon he sought out Nathanael and told him of the “one about whom Moses wrote” (John 1:45).

Like the other apostles, Philip took a long time coming to realize who Jesus was. On one occasion, when Jesus saw the great multitude following him and wanted to give them food, he asked Philip where they should buy bread for the people to eat. St. John comments,
47  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: April 16, 2016, 01:16:45 PM
St. Bernadette Soubirous
(1844-1879)

Bernadette Soubirous was born in 1844, the first child of an extremely poor miller in the town of Lourdes in southern France. The family was living in the basement of a dilapidated building when on February 11,1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. Bernadette, 14 years old, was known as a virtuous girl though a dull student who had not even made her first Holy Communion. In poor health, she had suffered from asthma from an early age.

There were 18 appearances in all, the final one occurring on the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, July 16. Although Bernadette's initial reports provoked skepticism, her daily visions of "the Lady" brought great crowds of the curious. The Lady, Bernadette explained, had instructed her to have a chapel built on the spot of the visions. There the people were to come to wash in and drink of the water of the spring that had welled up from the very spot where Bernadette had been instructed to dig.

According to Bernadette, the Lady of her visions was a girl of 16 or 17 who wore a white robe with a blue sash. Yellow roses covered her feet, a large rosary was on her right arm. In the vision on March 25 she told Bernadette, "I am the Immaculate Conception." It was only when the words were explained to her that Bernadette came to realize who the Lady was.

Few visions have ever undergone the scrutiny that these appearances of the Immaculate Virgin were subject to. Lourdes became one of the most popular Marian shrines in the world, attracting millions of visitors. Miracles were reported at the shrine and in the waters of the spring. After thorough investigation Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions in 1862.

During her life Bernadette suffered much. She was hounded by the public as well as by civic officials until at last she was protected in a convent of nuns. Five years later she petitioned to enter the Sisters of Notre Dame. After a period of illness she was able to make the journey from Lourdes and enter the novitiate. But within four months of her arrival she was given the last rites of the Church and allowed to profess her vows. She recovered enough to become infirmarian and then sacristan, but chronic health problems persisted. She died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35.

She was canonized in 1933.
48  Forums / Saints' & Spiritual Life General Discussion / Re: Solemnities, Feasts and Memorial days of the Saints on: April 08, 2016, 03:02:34 PM
Thanks for adding the extra Info. on St Vincent Ferrer Brother !!! Smiley





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