Saint of the day and Feast days - Part 2

[odhiambo]

Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa
Alexandrina was born on 30 March 1904 at a town called Balasar in Portugal. She had a sister called Deolinda. The two girls were brought up in a Christian tradition by their mother.
Aged about 12 years, Alexandrina reportedly contracted an infection from which she almost died.
Holy Saturday of 1918, when she was 14 years old, she and her sister Deolinda and another girl were in the house when three men knocked at the door, one of these men had previously tried to molest Alexandrina. They force their way into the house and attempted to violate them. In fear for herself, Alexandrina jumped from an upstairs window. She fell several meters to the ground and shattered her spine. The intruders fled. Alexandria became paralyzed and the doctors predicted that the paralysis would get progressively worse. For about five years, Alexandrina was able to drag herself to church and attend Mass, etc. With her paralysis and pain worsening, however, she was forced to remain immobile, and from 14 April 1925 until her death - approximately 30 years - she would remain bedridden, completely paralyzed.
Alexandrina continued to ask the Blessed Mother for the grace of a miraculous healing, promising to become a missionary if she were healed. Little by little, however, God helped her to see that suffering was her vocation. As she grew closer to God, she realized that she was suffering in a special way for the salvation of souls. The more Alexandrina "understood" that this was her mission, the more willingly she embraced it. The desire to suffer continued to grow in her the more her vocation became clear.
She received Holy Communion every day and her thoughts frequently turned to Jesus in the tabernacle. Alexandrina reportedly had ecstasies, the first one occurred in 1931. During these ecstasies, Jesus instructed her on what He wanted of her. According to SQPN, "The last 13 years of her life she had the gift of inedia, living solely off daily Communion"
When the doctor she allowed to examine her asked her, “Why do you not eat?” She replied, “I do not eat because I cannot. I feel full. I do not need it…”
Alexandrina died on 13 October 1955 at Balasar, Portugal. She was beatified on 25 April 2004 by Pope John Paul II.
Canonization is pending.
Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

October 14
Today is the Memorial of
Saint Burchard of Würzburg,
Among many saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Burchard of Würzburg.
Burchard was born in England, date of birth is not known. He became a Benedictine priest and was ministering in Wessex, England. About the year 732, he went as a missionary to Germany and served under Saint Boniface. It was Saint Boniface who consecrated him the first bishop of Würzburg. In 749, Bishop Burchard was sent to Rome by the Frankish King, Pepin the Short. His mission in Rome was to secure the approval of Pope Saint Zachary of Pepin’s accession to the Frankish throne. He was successful in this mission.
Burchard founded the abbey of Saint Andrew in Würzburg. About the year 753, he resigned the bishopric. He retired to a monastery in Hamburg, Germany where he spent the last years of his life.
He died on February 2, 754 in Germany. He was buried at Mount Saint Mary or Old Wurzburg.
His canonization was Pre-Congregation
He is the Patron Saint of Würzburg, Germany.
Saint Burchard of Würzburg,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

Pope St. Zachary, St. Andrew, St. Burchard and St. Boniface pray for us!

I have a little book on Bl. Alexandrina I should read.

St. Boniface! Now there is a famous saint.

And Christmas is not too too too far away.

[odhiambo]

Pope St. Zachary, St. Andrew, St. Burchard and St. Boniface pray for us!

I have a little book on Bl. Alexandrina I should read.

St. Boniface! Now there is a famous saint.

And Christmas is not too too too far away.

Looking forward to Christmas.

[Shin]

Have you heard the St. Boniface Christmas story yet?

[odhiambo]

Have you heard the St. Boniface Christmas story yet?

No Shin!
I am all ears 

[odhiambo]

October 15
Today is the Memorial of
Saint Agileus,
Among many other Saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Agileus
Martyr.
Saint Agileus was a Christian who lived in North Africa. He was martyred in the city of Carthage in the year 300, during the local persecutions of Christians. Saint Augustine reportedly preached a sermon in his honor on his birthday.
This was all the information I could find on this martyr.
Saint Agileus,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

Haha, then I will tell it, God willing, tomorrow.

Or if you are impatient, you might find it if you look. 

St. Agileus, pray for us! All ye holy martyrs, pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Haha, then I will tell it, God willing, tomorrow.

Or if you are impatient, you might find it if you look. 

St. Agileus, pray for us! All ye holy martyrs, pray for us!

Tell it tomorrow Shin, that way we all benefit.
Will stifle my impatience , an exercise in self discipline.  Do me good.

[Shin]

Haha! That's the spirit!   

[odhiambo]

October 16
Let us remember today
Blessed Gerald
Among many Saints and Blesseds

[odhiambo]

Blessed Gerald.
Gerald was born in Lombardy, Italy. He joined the Cistercians at the monastery of Fossanuova. He was later named abbot of this monastery. In 1170,Gerald became abbot of Clairvaux. He was killed by one of the monks at Igny when he was visiting there.
His canonization is pending.
Blessed Gerald,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

Abbot of Clairvaux! Now there's a famous monastery.

It's said that St. Boniface is responsible for the first Christmas tree.

He went to convert the pagan Germans and, during one of their pagan rites worshiping a giant old tree and a Norse god, he went right into the middle of it, and chopped the tree down to show the uselessness of their worship.

Then he pointed to a young tree, and gave it a new meaning.

[odhiambo]

Abbot of Clairvaux! Now there's a famous monastery.

It's said that St. Boniface is responsible for the first Christmas tree.

He went to convert the pagan Germans and, during one of their pagan rites worshiping a giant old tree and a Norse god, he went right into the middle of it, and chopped the tree down to show the uselessness of their worship.

Then he pointed to a young tree, and gave it a new meaning.

Those of us who buy Chrismas trees during the season would do well to remember him at the time.