Saint of the day and Feast days.

[odhiambo]

7 January

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Anthony of Egypt
Among many other saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Anthony of Egypt.
Anthony, who is also called Saint Anthony of Egypt, Saint Anthony Abbot as well as Saint Anthony the Great, was born in Cooma near Herakleopolis Magna, Lower Egypt in 251, to wealthy parents who were land owners.
( It is rather puzzling; in different accounts of the original home of Saint Anthony, one finds records of the saint being born in different parts of Egypy, viz: 1: “Herakleopolis Magna in Lower Egypt”; 2:”Antony was born in 251 at Coma, a village near Great Heracleopolis in Middle Egypt” ; 3: “was born and raised by pious Christian parents at Como in Upper Egypt”, As you can see, he was born in Lower, Middle as well as Upper Egypt)!
 Most of what is known about the life of Anthony comes from the "Life of Anthony" written in Greek around 360 by Athanasius of Alexandria
The parents were pious Christians who shielded him from the outside world, keeping him closely at home. When he was about 18, his parents died, leaving him a large estate and the responsibility and care of a younger sister.
Soon after the death of his parents, Anthony was in Church one day when he heard spoken, the text from Matthew XIX, 21, in which Christ says to the rich young man, "Go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor." Antony took this command as meant for him.
He went home and deeded a large part of his estate to his neighbor. He then sold the rest of the estate and gave the money to the poor, saving only what he thought was necessary to maintain him and his sister.
At another time in Church, he heard yet again, other words which Christ spoke (Matthew vi, 34), "Do not be anxious about tomorrow."
Anthony now gave away whatever he had kept for themselves, placed his sister in a "house of virgins," and he became a hermit. “He retired to a solitary place and occupied himself with manual labor, prayer, and religious reading. His only food was bread and a little salt, and he drank nothing but water. His bed was a rush mat. He soon became a model of humility, piety, and self-discipline.”
Anthony’s solitary life was marked by many temptations by the devil and demons.
The terrible and fantastic forms that these took were represented later in literature and art about him. Anthony prevailed against demons in the shapes of wild beasts, evil thoughts, and even human persons , for instance, at one time Satan himself is said to have appeared in visible form, first as a seductive woman, then as a black and terrifying man. Saint Anthony prevailed against all these temptations. His biographer attributes these victories to his constant faith and the use of the sign of the Cross and the name of Jesus.
“In quest now of greater solitude, he hid himself in an old tomb in the desert, where a friend brought him a little bread from time to time. Here Satan again attacked him and deafened him with loud noises. Once, Athanasius says, he was so grievously beaten that when his friend arrived he lay almost dead.”

When he was about 35, Anthony moved still farther out into the wilderness to an abandoned fort across the Nile River. His reputation grew during the years he spent at the fort, and many hermits came to him for instruction in the discipline of the ascetic life. Finally, in 305, the first religious community of hermits was founded here.
During the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Maximus about 311, Anthony went to Alexandria, where he visited and encouraged the captive Christians; he was hoping for martyrdom himself, but it was not to be. When the persecution ended, he moved again into the wilderness. He left his mountain on only one more occasion when, about 335, he visited Alexandria to join Athanasius in fighting the Arian heresy. In debates with heretics and philosophers Anthony demonstrated considerable learning and rhetorical skill. Later, he returned to his ascetic life in the wilderness.
People traveled great distances to his retreat, not only for instruction but also to benefit from the miracles reputed to occur at his bidding. He advised the great, such as the Roman emperor Constantine and his sons, and the imperial government.
The Saint died in 356, when he was about 105 years old.
Two disciples buried his body, not embalming it above ground in the Egyptian manner. His grave was unmarked, but his garments were sent to the Egyptian bishops Athanasius and Serapion.
Saint Anthony is revered as the Patron of hospital workers, butchers, grave diggers, and brush and basket makers ( I wonder the connection?)
His intercession is sought especially in cases of epilepsy, pestilence, erysipelas, a skin disease also called Saint Anthony’s Fire” and other skin diseases.
Saint Anthony,
Pray for us!

[Patricia]

His only food was bread and a little salt, and he drank nothing but water. His bed was a rush mat. He soon became a model of humility, piety, and self-discipline.”
Anthony’s solitary life was marked by many temptations by the devil and demons.

The devil seems to hate penance, fasting and prayer.....

[Shin]

In regards to brush and basket makers, the desert hermits normally would weave baskets out of reeds to give to people who would sell them and return with food for them to eat.

Basically, they needed some sort of work to do with their hands so as not to be kept idle, and that was what they would do. One of the desert hermits, I read, rarely changed the water he used to wet the reeds to weave his baskets with, and so it was foul, and that was a small part of his mortification and penance for his sins.

[odhiambo]

In regards to brush and basket makers, the desert hermits normally would weave baskets out of reeds to give to people who would sell them and return with food for them to eat.

Basically, they needed some sort of work to do with their hands so as not to be kept idle, and that was what they would do. One of the desert hermits, I read, rarely changed the water he used to wet the reeds to weave his baskets with, and so it was foul, and that was a small part of his mortification and penance for his sins.

Now I understand the connection.
Thanks.

[odhiambo]

18 January

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Charles of Sezze
Among many other saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Charles of Sezze.
Charles was born in Sezze Italy on October 19, 1613. His birth name was John Charles Marchioni, by which name, he is sometimes listed.
They lived in a rural area and as a child he worked as a shepherd. He was barely educated, having learned only the basics and could hardly read and write.
Charles entered the Franciscan Order as a lay brother in Naziano. He was assigned duties as cook, porter, and a gardener.
He was known for his holiness, simplicity, and charity. In 1656 he worked tirelessly with victims of the plague that occurred that year.
It is interesting to note that this man with hardly any education is said to have written  several mystical works including his autobiography titled, The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. Tradition states he was called to the bedside of the dying Pope Clement IX for a blessing.
Legend also has it that his heart was pierced by a light from the Sacred Host, living a visible wound.
Saint Charles died on January 6, 1670 in Rome; he is buried in Rome in the Church of Saint Francis. He was canonized by Pope John XXIII on April 12, 1959.
Saint Charles
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

19 January

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Fabian.
Among many other saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Fabian.
Pope
Martyr
Nothing much seems to be available about this saint apart from the extraordinary circumstances leading to his election as pope in January 236. Eusebius , a Christian historian, relates how this occurred:
Fabian was a Roman layman who came into the city from his farm one fateful day; the day the clergy and people were preparing to elect a new pope. Then a dove flew in and settled on the head of Fabian. This was taken as a sign and it united the votes of clergy and laity and he was chosen unanimously, an unknown, despite the fact that there were several famous men among the candidates for the vacant position.
He led the Church for 14 years. His pontificate ended on January 20, 250, when Emperor Trajan Decius began his persecutions, starting with Fabian the first of the martyrs of the new oppression. He was initially buried in the catacomb of Callixtus, but his body was later moved to the Church of San Sebastiano where it was found in 1915
Saint Fabian,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

20 January

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Sebastian
Among many other saints,

[odhiambo]

.
St. Sebastian.
Martyr
Sebastian was born in Gaul. His parents were, however, from Milan, Italy. He was brought up as a Christian. He wanted to help fellow Christians who were being persecuted and killed by the pagan Emperor Diocletian. With this goal in mind, Sebastian went to Rome in 283 and enlisted in the army. He became an officer and a favorite of the emperor who had no idea that Sebastian was a Christian. He was eventually made captain of a company of the praetorian guards. In this position, he helped numerous persons to face martyrdom bravely.
Twin  brothers, Marcus and Marcellinus had been imprisoned for the faith and were on the verge of yielding to the pleadings of their pagan relatives to renounce Christ and to sacrifice to the gods, thus saving themselves from the cruel torture and death that awaited them. Sebastian, exhorted them to remain loyal to Christ. He reportedly delivered his exhortation with an ardor that strongly affected his listeners.  Miracles reportedly happened during this incident; a woman who had for six years lost the power of speech, spoke distinctly after Sebastian had made the Sign of the Cross on her mouth! Overcome by the wonder and the awe, many from the audience were led to embrace Christianity, including the prefect of Rome and his son, Tibertius.
The persecutions continued in full fury and as was to be expected, Sebastian was himself betrayed by a false disciple. He was brought before the emperor who tried unsuccessfully to turn Sebastian away from Christ. He was finally delivered to the archers to be shot to death.
The sentence was carried out, his body was covered with arrows and he was left for dead. Irene, widow of the martyr St. Castulus, went to bury him, but found him still alive. She carried him to her home and nursed him back to health!
When Sebastian was strong enough, Irene tried to persuade him to escape but he would not hear of it! What he did, instead, was to position himself at a place where he knew the emperor was to pass. When the emperor was passing by, Sebastian accosted him, reproached him for his cruelty to Christians and urged him to end the persecution. The emperor ordered that Sebastian be seized and beaten to death. This was done. Saint Sebastian was clubbed to death. His body was thrown into the sewer in Rome. Sebastian thus suffered a double martyrdom. His body was secretly collected and buried in a place called “ad catacumbas” on the Appian Way (Via Apia) where now stands the basilica of St. Sebastian.
Saint Sebastian is always represented as pierced with arrows or at least holding an arrow.
He is the patron saint of soldiers, specially archers and gunsmiths. He is also invoked against the plague on account of his having, among other cities, protected Rome in 680, Milan in 1575 and Lisbon in 1599 from that dreadful disease!
Saint Sebastian,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

When the emperor was passing by, Sebastian accosted him, reproached him for his cruelty to Christians and urged him to end the persecution.

What a soldier for Christ! I have always loved St. Sebastian! Thank you odhiambo!

[Shin]

From a treatise On Virgins by Saint Ambrose, bishop

Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr's crown

Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve. The cruelty that did not spare her youth shows all the more clearly the power of faith in finding one so young to bear it witness.
  There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Though she could scarcely receive the blow, she could rise superior to it. Girls of her age cannot bear even their parents’ frowns and, pricked by a needle, weep as for a serious wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She stands undaunted by heavy, clanking chains. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Dragged against her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord in the midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs.
  A new kind of martyrdom! Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown; unfitted for the contest, yet effortless in victory, she shows herself a master in valour despite the handicap of youth. As a bride she would not be hastening to join her husband with the same joy she shows as a virgin on her way to punishment, crowned not with flowers but with holiness of life, adorned not with braided hair but with Christ himself.
  In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. The crowds marvel at her recklessness in throwing away her life untasted, as if she had already lived life to the full. All are amazed that one not yet of legal age can give her testimony to God. So she succeeds in convincing others of her testimony about God, though her testimony in human affairs could not yet be accepted. What is beyond the power of nature, they argue, must come from its creator.
  What menaces there were from the executioner, to frighten her; what promises made, to win her over; what influential people desired her in marriage! She answered: “To hope that any other will please me does wrong to my Spouse. I will be his who first chose me for himself. Executioner, why do you delay? If eyes that I do not want can desire this body, then let it perish.” She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck.
  You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned; his right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl’s peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and to religion; Agnes preserved her virginity, and gained a martyr’s crown.

Responsory   

Let us keep the feast of blessed Agnes, and recall the kind of suffering she endured: in the full flower of her youth she died, and found life.
She chose to love the Author of life alone; in the full flower of her youth she died, and found life.

Let us pray.

Almighty, ever-living God,
  you choose what is weak in the world to shame what is strong.
Grant that, as we celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Agnes,
  we may follow her example of steadfastness in faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
  God for ever and ever.

Ant. The blessed Agnes stood in the midst of the fire and stretched forth her hands unto the Lord, and prayed, saying O Thou Who Alone art Almighty! Who Alone art to be adored! Who Alone art to be worshipped! Who Alone art to be feared! I bless thee, and glorify thy Name for ever and ever!

[odhiambo]

Saint Agnes,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Let us pray.

Almighty, ever-living God,
  you choose what is weak in the world to shame what is strong.
Grant that, as we celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Agnes,
  we may follow her example of steadfastness in faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
  God for ever and ever.

Amen!

[odhiambo]

22 January

Today we remember
1: St. Vincent(d. 304)
2: St. Vincent Pallotti (d. 1850)
Among many other saints.