Saint of the day and Feast days - Part 2

[odhiambo]

Nine Martyrs of Astoria also known as
Martyrs of Turon.
These Christians were martyred during the the Spanish Civil War. They were Cirilo Bertrán and eight companions who were Brothers of the Christian Schools. The Christians Schools, were institutes founded around 1680 by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle. Along with the nine Brothers, there was also a Passionist priest, making ten martyrs.
Eight of the brothers and the priest were excecuted in 1934 in the town of Turon. A nineth brother, Jaime Hilario Barbel was murdered in 1937 near Tarragona. Cirilo Bertrán and his companions: Marciano José, Victoriano Pío, Julián Alfredo, Benjamín Julián, Benito de Jesús, Aniceto Adolfo and Augusto Andrés belonged to a community of brothers who ran a school in the mining region of Astoria ( Asturias) in northeastern Spain. At that time, as part of the Spanish Civil War, there was a severe campaign of oppression and terror against the Church. At dawn on October 5 1934, the Communist rebels who had taken over Turon, rounded up the brothers along with Father Inocencio de la Immaculada, a Passionist priest who had come to the town to hear the confessions of the children.
After a mock trial by a revolutionary comittee, the brothers were driven to a ditch on the morning of October 9 and shot.
Jaime Hilario Barbel, another brother of the Christian School had initially wanted to become a priest. Because of a hearing problem he had, he was not admitted into the seminary. He became a brother instead and taught first in France and then in Spain. He was arrested at Mollerusa in December 1936, incarcerated on the prison ship Mahon, given a mock trial then excecuted in early 1937. The firing squad reportedly missed him repeatedly giving him an opportunity to utter his last words said to be the following:
" My friends, to die for Christ is to reign!" He was then shot in the temple by the squad leader.
The martyrs were beatified on 29 April 1990 by Pope John Paul II and canonized on 21 November 1999 by Pope John Paul II.
Holy Martyrs of Turon,
Pray for us!
Ref
1:SQPN
2: Our Sunday Visitor Encyclopedia Of Saints.
By Matthew Bunson, Stephen Bunson, Margaret Bunson:

[Shin]

Many folks are not aware of our more modern day martyrs! Communism and Masonry have created many!

[odhiambo]

Many folks are not aware of our more modern day martyrs! Communism and Masonry have created many!

Freemasonry? Martyrs?
I don't understand Shin. Did they also martyred Catholics?

[odhiambo]

October 10
Today is the Memorial of
Saint Daniel Comboni
Among many other Saints

[odhiambo]

This is going to be a long one.
Will post in three parts.
Bear with me  

Saint Daniel Comboni
Missionary
Saint Daniel Comboni, from whom the Comboni Missionaries take their name, had a life marked by a passion for Africa.
He was born on March 15, 1831 in Limone, a small town on Lake Garda in northern Italy. He grew up poor. His father worked locally as a gardener while his mother was a housewife. The couple had eight children. Six of them died young. The eldest child died at the age of twenty one. Daniel was the sole surviver.
He attended local schools for his primary education till he was eleven years old. He was a gifted child academically and his parents wanted him to progress with his studies but they were poor and could not afford to pay for his further education. Fortunately, a priest from Verona, Father Nicholas Mazza, had set up a school for gifted children whose family could not afford to pay for their education. In February, 1843, Daniel was accepted here as a student.
He first felt the desire to become a missionary at the age of fifteen. He read an account of the martyrs of Japan and felt very strongly that he wanted to be a missionary. Around this time, a Father Angelo Vinco, who had spent some time in Sudan and was in Verona looking for help, gave a talk at the Mazza College about the conditions in Africa and how much missionary work was needed there.
This was the beginning of his passion for Africa. In an outline of his life and work written in 1876, Father Comboni linked the birth of his missionary vocation with the arrival of Father Vinco in Verona. As a student of seventeen, he consecrated his life for work in Africa.
Daniel began to study for the priesthood, learning not only theology but languages and medicine as well, the better to prepare himself for life in Africa.
He was ordained a priest on 31 December 1854 in the diocese of Verona by Blessed John Nepomuk von Tschiderer.
After his ordination, Daniel spent three years in Italy before he got a chance to travel to Africa. In 1857, at the height of the slave trade, Mazza decided to send an expedition to open a mission along the Nile and Father Comboni was chosen as one of the six priests making up the members of the expedition. At this point, he was wrecked with worries for his elderly parents. He would be leaving them completely on their own. To decide the matter, he took a few days retreat to pray about it. His retreat director helped him to understand that for this first journey at least, he was only going to survey the possibility of later work in Africa. And so the matter was settled.
The six sailed from Triesta for Egypt on September 1857. After months of travel, the group finally reached Khartoum and from there the group traveled to Holy Cross Mission, deep in the region of Southern Sudan. They settled down to making the place habitable....
Please continue at the next post.

[odhiambo]

Saint Daniel Comboni…..
One priest who did carpentry made things like chairs, tables, etc; another did laundry, another cooking, etc. Father Comboni worked as a tailor. They all spoke Arabic but also started to learn the local language of the Dinka people.
Then the rains came and all the missionaries became ill. They had been there just six weeks when one of them contracted a fever and died. There was also news that Daniel’s mother had died. He was saddened by the news and in a letter to his cousin wrote: “After all that I had left behind, did God have to ask this as well? But it is God’s Will. Blessed be God…..”
Father Comboni tried to persevere despite the difficulties and the extremely harsh conditions of day to day life. Because of the poor health of all the remaining priests, it was decided that the White Nile Mission be abandoned and to return to Italy which they did in 1859.
He needed to rest and to spend time with his father. He was so exhausted that Mazza doubted if he would ever be able to return to Africa. After recovering some of his strength, however, Father Comboni was given the responsibility of the African students in Mazza’s college.
Father Nicholas Mazza had a plan. While Africans were looked on as slaves and servants, Father Mazza wanted to give them the best education possible. Since it was very difficult for Europeans to survive in the harsh African climate, the development of a local African clergy and the education of young African men and women in Europe so that they can return home and pass on what they have learnt. This was the plan and Father Comboni supported it wholeheartedly. In spite of this new job, Daniel was not at ease in his heart. He wanted to go back to Africa.
In 1865 he wrote to a friend: “Bear in mind that I cannot live except for Africa and what concerns Africa”
Shortly after Father Comboni had begun working with the African students, news arrived that a group of African slaves had been rescued by a British warship in the Indian Ocean and were in Aden. He was sent to bring some of them back to Mazza. In Aden, he selected seven of the slaves to bring back with him to Verona but because of laws related to slave trade, Father Comboni was stopped by custom officials as he was leaving Alexandria and was held in custody for two days. He eventually managed to bluff his way out of the situation by fibbing the officials. Many of the slaves had been taken prisoners and enslaved when they were very young; they had no recollection of where their homes were or indeed what tribe they belonged to. In later years, Father Comboni was able to take many freed slaves back to the Sudan and some were fortunate enough to find their families again.
During the years from 1861 to 1864, Father Comboni started to develop his own ideas about evangelizing Africa. He could see that the education of Africans in Europe was not really bearing fruit. The cold climate of Verona did not suite them and he felt that something different needed to be done. In September 1864, he saw clearly, what that “something different that needed to be done” was. He later wrote:
“On 15 September 1864, while I was in Saint Peter’s Basilica, attending the beatification of Margaret Mary Alacoque, the thought came to me like a flash of lightening of making a new plan for the Regeneration of Africa.”
The thrust of his plan was the idea that all Africans would receive basic religious and secular education.
Technical colleges would be constructed where Africans could live without changing climate and Europeans could live without succumbing to the climate.
These centers of learning would be set up all over Africa and would be in areas where both Africans and Europeans can live and work.
The centers of learning would train men and women to work as catechists, teachers, carpenters, tailors, doctors, etc.
He envisioned seminaries in Europe for the training of missionaries and steps taken to allow for acclimatization as they go to Africa. From these centers, there would then be a gradual movement to the interior where Christian villages and local churches would  be established.
All these ideas came to him as he was at prayer at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Afterward, and for the next three days, Daniel worked on his Plan. Within a short time, he was able to present a copy to Pope, Pius IX, as well as to Cardinal Barnabo, head of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. Both expressed support for the Plan and encouraged him. He traveled widely to European cities to make his Plan known.
In 1865, Daniel was sent to Africa once more by the Mazza Institute. He remained in Sudan and Egypt for an extra two months before returning to Rome. He was looking for suitable sites to set up the centers of learning of his Plan…..
Please continue at the next post.

[odhiambo]

Saint Daniel Comboni…..
Back in Rome, Father Mazza had by now died and his successor was not too keen on Daniel’s Plan. He was on his own or so it seemed, but God was very much with him on this one. An advisor suggested to him that he should form his own missionary society. This was what he did. On 1 June, 1867, the new organization was set up in Verona and given the name of “The Institute of the Good Shephard for the Regeneration of Africa.” Other priests interested in missionary work joined him as well as some sisters and even some Africans many of whom were from the Mazza College. The group sailed to Africa arriving in Egypt in December 1867 and on New Year’s Day of 1868; they were able to open two colleges in Cairo, one for women and the other for men. When their money ran out, Comboni returned to Europe to raise more funds which he took back with him to Africa.
When the First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, Father Comboni wrote to his adviser ( Cardinal Barnabo), about the possibility of his going to Rome to inform the Church Fathers about the needs of the Church in Africa. In March 1880, Father Comboni returned to Europe and attended the Council. He presented a document to the Council Fathers and sixty five bishops supported it and signed to that effect. The document asked the bishops to find a way of sending workers into this “abandoned part of the Lord’s vineyard”.
Father Comboni was indeed committed to Africa. His motto was “Africa or death”. On 1January, 1872, he founded a society of women known as the Comboni Missionary Sisters.
In May 1872, the Vatican approved the two institutions he had founded and officially entrusted them with a mission. Father Comboni was appointed Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa, meaning that while still a priest, he had the full authority of a bishop in that area.
When he went back to Africa in 1872, on the Sunday after his arrival, he preached in Arabic to a cosmopolitan congregation of freed slaves, Arabs, missionaries and European dignitaries. This is part of what he told them “The first love of my youth was for Africa, and, leaving all that was dear to me in the world, I came here 16 years ago. Because of the poor state of my health, I was obliged to return home. I left out of obedience, but I left my heart among you. And today, now that I have found my heart again by returning among you, I will never abandon you. I intend to belong to each one of you.”
In 1876, Father Comboni returned to Europe to raise more funds and to defend himself against accusations of waste of money and not caring for his missionaries. Investigations into the allegations absolved him completely of any wrong doing. He was ordained the first bishop of Central Africa in August 1877. Back to Africa he went that same year and was met by a great famine. He directed all his energies towards ameliorating the effects of the famine. But the famine began to affect the missionaries and several of them died. In his report to Verona he wrote:
“ What more than anything else filled my spirit with deep affliction and sorrow, to the point of nearly dying of anguish and grief, was the torment which lack of resources, diseases and death inflicted on the active personel of the mission. In these fierce trials, we were inspired to stand firm in our holy vocation, and to persevere more than ever with our war cry “Africa to death” “
Utterly worn out by these trials, he was forced to return to Europe again in May of 1879. He gave talks in cities in Europe and identified three main difficulties for missionaries in Africa as 1: Long hazardous journeys. 2: Tropical diseases. 3: The problem of numerous languages.
Two years later, he was back in Khartoum. While mourning the death of three of his missionaries that had just taken place, he too became ill with a fever. On the evening of 9 October, the Bishop talked for a long time about his crosses. He talked about his missionaries, about his dear old father, his friends, etc. That was his last night here on earth. Before noon on 10 October, he asked for the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion which he received. Later he received also the Anointing of the Sick. He died on 10 October 1881 at 10 pm. Yes, it was indeed “Africa to death” for him and many of his missionaries.
As soon as the children of the mission school were told of the Bishop’s death, they burst into such a wild, desperate crying, so loud and prolonged that all Khartoum guessed what had happened. In no time, all the yards and surroundings of the mission were crowded with people of all races and religions, who according to their custom started mourning very loudly. All night and the following day, people kept coming to weep for their common father and benefactor.
The next morning, the remains of the Bishop were taken into the chapel for the Solemn Office and High Mass. All the authorities were present.
Before the burial, the Austrian consul said a few words of farewell to “ his friend and the Angel of Africa” None of the missionaries, so overwhelmed, had the strength to speak.
Told about the death of Bishop Comboni, Pope Leo XIII reportedly raised his arms towards heaven and exclaimed: “ Poor Africa, what a loss!”
He was proclaimed venerable on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II, beatified on 17 March 1996 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome and canonized on 5 October 2003 by Pope John Paul II.
Saint Daniel Comboni,
Pray for us!

[George]

Beautiful
Saint Daniel Comboni
Pray for us

[Shin]

“Poor Africa, what a loss!”

Moving words!

Yes, Freemasonry has martyred numberless Catholics all around the globe, along with Communism, and the corruption they both bring to Christian teaching and morals.

[odhiambo]

October 11
Today is Memorial of
Saint Maria Soledad Torres Acosta
Among many other Saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Maria Soledad Torres Acosta
The saint is also known by the following names:
Emanuela Tores Acosta, Manuela Torres Acosta and simply as María Soledad.
Foundress of the Handmaids of Mary.
Maria was born on 2 December 1826 at Madrid, Spain as Emanuela Tores Acosta. She was born to Francis Torres and Antonia Acosta. The family ran a small business locally. From a young age, Emanuela wanted to become a religious. She even applied to become a Dominican nun but due to ill health, she was not admitted. In 1851, she joined a community formed by Father Michael Martinez y Sanz to minister to the sick in their homes. She took the name Maria Soledad, or Maria Desolata.  Around 1856, she parted from the original group and formed the Handmaids of Mary Serving the Sick.
During the cholera epidemic in 1865, this congregation proved invaluable. It spread throughout Europe and America.
Maria Solidad died  on 11 October 1887 in Madrid. She was canonized on 25 January 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
Ref:
1:Our Sunday Visitor Encyclopedia Of Saints.
By Matthew Bunson, Stephen Bunson, Margaret Bunson:
2:SQPN
Saint Maria Soledad Torres Acosta
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

October 12

Today let us remember the Apparition of
Our Lady of the Pillar
Among others.

[odhiambo]

Our Lady of the Pillar
In the early days of the Church, after the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, the Apostles began to spread the message that Jesus had left. One of the Apostles, James the Greater, reportedly traveled as far west as Spain, to the village of Saragossa in the north east of the country. According to tradition, the Apostle was making very little progress in his mission and was very disheartened. One account holds that the BVM, who was still living, appeared to him in a vision to boost his morale.
In the vision, she was on top of a column or pillar, which was being carried by angels. That pillar is believed to be the same one venerated in Zaragoza, Spain today. Miracles were reported at the scene.
Another account holds that while the Apostle, disheartened and deeply in prayer, the Blessed Mother appeared to him and gave him a small wooden statue of herself and a column of jasper wood and instructed him to build a church in her honor.
About a year after the apparition James arranged to build a small chapel in Mary's honor, the first Church ever dedicated to the honor of the Virgin Mary. He returned to Jerusalem and was beheaded by Herod Agrippa around the year 43-44 A.D, the first apostle to be martyred for his faith.
His body was returned to Spain for burial. Miracles were reported which convinced the Queen to convert to Christianity. She permitted James's remains to be buried in a local field.
Centuries later, this burial site was reportedly discovered by a local hermit. The hermit saw an unusual constellation of stars. A cathedral in his honor was erected here.
The site for the cathedral was called Compostella, i.e. starry field, and it is reportedly a major pilgrimage site to this day.
Our Lady of the Pillar,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Today also, especially in Brazil, we remember
Our Lady Aparecida
Among many others.

[odhiambo]

Our Lady Aparecida or
Our Lady Who Appeared
Patroness and Queen of Brazil,
One day on October 12, 1717 in Guarantinqueta in Brazil, three men were out fishing in the Paraíba River, between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It was not really the season for fishing, but there was a celebration in the town and the men needed the fish as part of the celebration. The three men were Domingos Garcia, Joco Alves, and Felipe Pedroso. The men prayed to the Immaculate Conception, and asked God‘s help.
After several hours trying and not being successful, they were ready to give up. Joco cast his net once more near the Port of Itaguagu, but instead of fish, he hauled in the body of a statue. The three cast their net again, and brought up the statue’s head. After cleaning the statue they found that it was a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
They wrapped the statue in a piece of cloth and continued to cast their nets. And what do you know? The nets were full! The fishermen went home. The statue was recognised as being one of the works of Frei Agostino de Jesus, a monk from Sao Paulo known for his sculpture. This particular one was reportedly made around 1650, As soon as the two parts of the statue were joined together again, the statue began to be venerated by the families and neighbors of the fishermen. Since this was a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception that had appeared from the river waters, it soon became known as Our Lady of the Conception Who Appeared from the Waters, which in shortened form became Our Lady Aparecida [who appeared].
Initially a small chapel was built for the statue, and then a larger one was constructed near the site where it had appeared in the waters. From the beginning, there were many miracles associated with the statue. Fame of Our Lady Aparecida grew and spread among the simple people. Pilgrimages from the neighboring towns became common and soon people from throughout the States of Rio, Sao Paulo and others were coming to visit the statue and ask for graces from Our Lady.
A huge modern Basilica to house Our Lady of Aparecida was constructed and completed in 1980.
According to the link given, Here on May 16, 1978, a Protestant adherent took the statue after the Mass on that day. He ran away with it but was chased and caught, at which point the statue dropped and shattered. Somehow, it was put together again.
Pope Pius XII proclaimed her principal patroness of Brazil in 1930. The statue was later vandalized. It was broken into several pieces just prior to a visit by Pope John Paul II, but a group of dedicated artists and artisans carefully pieced it together again.
Our Lady Aparecida,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

[odhiambo]

October 13
Let us remember today
Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa
Among many Saints and Blesseds.