Saint of the day and Feast days.

[Shin]

100,000 people!

I would like to see such times come again!

[odhiambo]

100,000 people!

I would like to see such times come again!

You can say that again

[odhiambo]

30th November

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Andrew
Among many other saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Andrew, the first apostle
Andrew was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, to a fisherman named Jonas.
He lived in Capernaum.

“The Church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew on November 30, an important date in the annual liturgical calendar, because it determines the date of the First Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday nearest this Feast. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen, and of both Scotland and Russia.
Andrew, the first Apostle called by Jesus, was a fisherman from Bethsaida and the brother of Simon Peter. A follower of John the Baptist, Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah when John baptized Our Lord in the Jordan River, and he introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. The two brothers continued as fishermen until Jesus called them as Apostles.
After Pentecost, it is believed that Andrew went to Greece to preach the Gospel of Christ Jesus.
Saint Andrew, called the "Protoclet" (or "first called") by the Greeks, was crucified at Achaia by order of Roman Governor Aegeas during the reign of Nero. He was bound, not nailed, to the X-shaped cross in order to prolong his sufferings. According to tradition, he preached from the cross for two days, and died on the third day.”

From Women for Faith and Family
Saint Andrew,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

What sublime preaching must have been given by St. Andrew from the cross... !

[odhiambo]

December Devotion:
The Immaculate Conception

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.

[odhiambo]

1st December

Today is the Memorial of
Blessed John of Vercelli
Among many other Saints and Blesseds

[odhiambo]

Blessed John of Vercelli
John was born in 1205 at Mosso Santa Maria, near Vercelli in northwest Italy.
His birth name was John Garbella.( The name John, if I may remind the reader, means God is gracious; God’s gift.)
He studied at the University of Paris (another account of his life lists another university at cologne), and graduated in both civil and canon law. He taught law at the same university, later also teaching law at Vercelli , where he helped found a university.
John entered the Dominican Order in the 1240s (1230s by other accounts). The preaching of Blessed Jordan of Saxony played a large part in his decision to join the Order; he received the habit from him.
John too, turned out to be a great preacher. He served in various leadership positions over the years.
John was known for his tireless energy. It is on record that he was lame, walking with a limp on his right side and yet, it is said that he always walked wherever he wanted to go and he walked barefoot. He made personal visits to most of the Dominican houses, encouraging them in their observance of the rule.
John had a great gift of peace making and was sent to reconcile various conflicts in his day, such as conflicts between Venice & Genoa and France & Castile. This was a very difficult period with many heresies and bands of robbers. It was during this time the great Saint Peter the Martyr (Saint Peter of Verona) was killed by heretics.
He was commissioned by the pope to draw up the Scheme for the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons in 1274. This council would lay the groundwork for the founding of the Holy Name Society .It was also at that council he met the future Pope Nicholas IV; they would later be called together using John's great peace-keeping skills to help in a dispute involving King Philip III of France.
John knew many great saints and blesseds that were his contemporaries: St. Albert the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas, King St. Louis IX and Peter of Tarentaise (the future Pope Innocent V).
He became Master General of the Order in 1264 and remained so until his death on November 30, 1283 at Montpelier , France .
He was buried at the Dominican Convent near Montpelier .
His tomb was desecrated by Calvinists in 1562 and his body disappeared.
Blessed John of Vercelli was beatified in 1903 by Pope Pius X
He is the patron of the Holy Name Society
Blessed John of Vercelli ,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

I read that he was under consideration as a possible Pope, and that when he learned about it, he fled from Rome.

Pope Bl. Gregory X was elected instead.

I read that it's been said that during the translation of the relics of St. Dominic, when the body was exposed to view, the head was seen to turn towards him.

He was embarrassed, so he moved to another part of the church, giving his place to a cardinal. Then the head of St. Dominic was seen by all to turn towards him again.

So you could say his saintly friends certainly took notice of him!   

[Shin]

'Watch the little things. He who grows careless in little things, little by little falls. He who does not push himself to make progress, goes backward.'

Bl. John of Vercelli, writing to his priests

'Desirous of protecting the honor of God, of obeying this apostolic command, and of promoting in our neighbor an increase in devotion, we beseech you to stir up your zeal to the end that you personally see to it that this request of the Holy Father receives full compliance by having your subjects preach with convincing arguments and with scrupulous diligence the need for reverencing the Holy Name.'

Bl. John of Vercelli, writing on the creation of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Name of God and Jesus

[odhiambo]

I read that he was under consideration as a possible Pope, and that when he learned about it, he fled from Rome.
Pope Bl. Gregory X was elected instead.

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2: 3-4

[odhiambo]

2 December

Today is the Memorial of
Blessed Rafal Chylinsky
Among many others

[odhiambo]

Blessed Rafal Chylinsky
Blessed Rafal Chylinski was born in 1694 at Buk, Poznan , Poland . His birth name was Melchoir Chylinski. He was a pious youth, so much so that his family members nicknamed him "the little monk."
After completing his studies at the Jesuit college in Poznan , Melchior joined the cavalry, and was made an officer within three years.
In 1715, against the advice of his brothers in arms, Melchior joined the Conventual Franciscans in Kraków, took the name Rafal, and was ordained in 1717..
Rafal devoted his life to prayer. He was known for simple and candid sermons and for his generosity.
He died in 1741 at Lagiewniki , Poland ; the Conventual church there became a place of pilgrimage.
Blessed Rafal Chylinsk
Pray for us!

[Shin]

Bl. Rafal pray for us!

St. Bibiana pray for us!

A little about St. Bibiana, I read that:

Her parents, Saint Flavian of Acquapendente and Dafrosa of Acquapendente, were martyred in the persecution of Julian the Apostate, and Bibiana and her sister Demetria were turned over to a woman named Rufina who tried to force her into prostitution. Upon her continued refusal, Bibiana was imprisoned in a mad house, then flogged to death.

Her body was left to the dogs, but none would touch her, and she was buried two days later.

A church was built over her grave, in the garden of which grew an herb that cured headache and epilepsy. This and her time spent with the mentally ill led to her areas of patronage.

(thanks to PSI)

[odhiambo]

Bl. Rafal pray for us!

St. Bibiana pray for us!

A little about St. Bibiana, I read that:

Her parents, Saint Flavian of Acquapendente and Dafrosa of Acquapendente, were martyred in the persecution of Julian the Apostate, and Bibiana and her sister Demetria were turned over to a woman named Rufina who tried to force her into prostitution. Upon her continued refusal, Bibiana was imprisoned in a mad house, then flogged to death.

Her body was left to the dogs, but none would touch her, and she was buried two days later.

A church was built over her grave, in the garden of which grew an herb that cured headache and epilepsy. This and her time spent with the mentally ill led to her areas of patronage.

(thanks to PSI)

Saint Bibiana,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Collect for Feast of St. Bibiana

O God, the giver of all good gifts, in Your servant Bibiana You joined the flower of virginity with the palm of martyrdom; be pleased, by her intercession, to join our souls by charity to You, so that all dangers being removed, we may obtain our eternal reward. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.