Saint of the day and Feast days.

[odhiambo]

Today is also the Feast day of
 Saint Catherine of Genoa
She was  a mystic.
She wrote a treatise on purgatory which she reportedly experienced while still alive.
To her purgatory is a place of joy not physical suffering.
How is that!

[Shin]

I remember Our Lady of the Rosary Library I think had some beautiful pamphlets on the Seven Sorrows devotion. They have a great number of beautiful pamphlets for pennies.

I love the purity of St. Catherine of Genoa's soul, the way she writes and thinks and loves the pure love of God.

'If it were given to a man to see virtue's reward in the next world, he would occupy his intellect, memory and will in nothing but good works, careless of danger or fatigue.'

St. Catherine of Genoa

'I do not wish a love which may be described as for God, or in God. I cannot see those words, for and in, without their suggesting to me that something may intervene between God and me; and that is what pure and simple love, by reason of its purity and simplicity, is unable to endure. This purity and simplicity is as great as God is, for it is his own.'

St. Catherine of Genoa

[Shin]

From the prayer card. . .

The Blessed Virgin Mary grants seven graces to the souls who honor her daily by meditating on her tears and dolors (sorrows). This devotion was passed on by St. Bridget.

Text on Back

HERE ARE THE SEVEN GRACES:

    I will grant peace to their families.

    They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.

    I will console them in their pains and I will accompany
    them in their work.

    I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.

    I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.

    I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.

    I have obtained (This Grace) from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

THE SEVEN SORROWS:

    The prophecy of Simeon. (St. Luke 2: 34, 35)

    The flight into Egypt. (St. Matthew 2:13,14)

    The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple. (St. Luke 2: 43-45)

    The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.

    The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.

    The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.

    The burial of Jesus.

(Say one Hail Mary while meditating on each Sorrow)

The Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

[odhiambo]

Saint Catherine of Genoa.
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

September16

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Cyprian of Carthage
Among many other Saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Cyprian of Carthage
Cyprian was born of wealthy, pagan parents around 200 AD in Carthage, North Africa.
We do not know much about his childhood or his early adult life.
We know that he was a prominent trial lawyer, and that he had the gift of eloquence.
Cyprian was converted to Christianity as an adult. While still a catechumen, he decided to observe the virtue of Chastity.
He sold all his property and gave away his revenues to the poor.
He was baptized around 246 AD, two years later in 248 AD, he was ordained Bishop of Carthage.
Soon after Cyprian became Bishop, the first persecution of Christians began.
Cyprian went into hiding and managed to avoid death.
A second persecution years later, saw him arrested, tried, and beheaded on 14th September 258.

Saint Cyprian,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Today is also the Feast day of
Saint Andrew Kim
Andrew Kim was born of Korean nobility.
His parents were converts. His own father, Ignatius Kim was  a martyr, beheaded during the persecution of Christians in 1839. Andrew was baptized at the age of 15. After baptism he traveled to the nearest seminary which at the time was Macao, China, some 1300 miles away from his native Korea.
He became the first ever Korean priest.
When Kim went back to his own country, he was involved in arranging for missionaries to enter Korea.
Kim was arrested for his Christian Faith, tortured and finally beheaded in 1846 at the Han River near Seoul.
He was beatified in 1925 by Pope Pius X1 and canonized on 6th May 1984 by Pope John Paul 11
Saint Andrew Kim,
Pray for us!

[Patricia]

Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides of death always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence the first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father's mercy.

-- Saint Cyprian of Carthage  

[odhiambo]

September 17

Today we commemorate
1: The Stigmata of Saint Francis .
2: Saint Lambert

[odhiambo]

The Stigmata of Saint Francis .
Saint Francis was born in 1182 in Assisi. His father was a merchant and very rich.
Francis was reportedly ‘spoiled’ as a child and  as a young man. He was very worldly and did not care much about studies.
One day while still in his twenties and on his way to start a military career, Francis had a dream. In the dream, a voice commanded him to return to Assisi, which he did.
He became a different person following that dream. He started spending time in prayer. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome where he gave up his worldly goods. He returned to Assisi and continued with his new found prayer life.
One day while praying, Francis heard a voice saying, “Go, Francis, repair my house which as you see is falling into ruin.” He understood this in a literal sense. His father reportedly, disinherited him and Francis, in retaliation, stripped off all his clothes and gave them to his father with these words: “Until now I have called you my father on earth. Henceforth, I desire to say only, ‘Our Father who art in Heaven.’” Thus disinherited, Francis wandered off into the hills beyond Assisi. He had nothing but the clothes on his back. He used to wander throughout the countryside preaching repentance, brotherly love and peace.
He soon had a following. Their rule of life was to follow Jesus’ words “give all you have to the poor and come, follow me.” In 1210, at the age of 28-29, he founded the Order of Friars Minor at Portiuncula.
In 1211, the first Franciscan monastery was built. The Franciscan went throughout the countryside singing God’s praises and preaching peace and love.
In 1212 an 18 year old heiress, Clare, asked Francis to allow her to join his way of life. He agreed. This was the beginning of the second Franciscan Order of Poor Ladies, now known simply as Poor Clares.
Around September 14, 1224 Francis receive the stigmata, which we commemorate this day. Francis is the first saint recorded as having received the stigmata. ‘Stigmata’ refers to marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Christ.
One year after receiving the stigmata, Francis composed the famous Canticle of the Sun. (Brother Sun, Sister Moon)
Francis died at Portiuncula in Assisi on October 3rd 1226. Many miracles reportedly took place at his tomb.
He was canonized by Gregory IX on 16th July 1228. The Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi is kept throughout the church on 4th October, but the impression of the stigmata on his body is celebrated today on 17th September.
Saint Francis .
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pain that we are pardoned’
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen!

[odhiambo]

Lord God,
You made Saint Francis of Assisi Christ-like in his poverty and humility.
Help us to walk in his ways that, with joy and love, we may follow Christ Your Son, and be united with You.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen!

[odhiambo]

I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.

 Saint Francis of Assisi

[odhiambo]

Today is also the Feast Day of
Saint Lambert
Bishop of Maestricht
Martyr
Saint Lambert was born about 640, in Maestricht,  Holland. His parents were Christians. He was educated by a pious man, Bishop Saint Theodard. Saint Lambert used to work miracles, even as a young man and was very well known in the city. When his teacher, Bishop Theodard was assassinated in defense of the possessions of the church, Saint Lambert was chosen to be his successor. He was only 21 years old.
A few years after he became bishop, a revolution broke out and there was a regime change. Saint Lambert was banished from his see. He retired to the Monastery of Stavelo.
After seven years in the monastery, he was recalled to his see. He was assassinated on 17th December 705, slain by the sword in his house.
Saint Lambert
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Shin,
So many saints out there and I completely forgot Saint Robert Bellarmine, whose optional memorial it is today!
Saint Robert Bellarmine,
Pray for us!

[Patricia]

Saints Francis, Lambert and Robert Bellarmine , pray for us!!