Saint of the day and Feast days - Part 2

[odhiambo]

December 29
Today we remember
Saint Marcellus Akimetes
Among many other others

[odhiambo]

Saint Marcellus Akimetes
He is also known as:
Saint Marcellus the Rightious, and as Marcellus the Sleepless
Marcellus was born some time in the 5th century at Agamea ( Apamea) in Syria. When his parents died, he inherited a fortune. He studied at Antioch and Ephesus
He became a monk at the Eirenaion monastery, the house of the Akoimetroi monks in Constantinople. In time, he became abbot of the monastery.
Marcellus’ surname is derived from the name of his monks “Akoimetroi” which is Greek for “non-resters” because the divine office was chanted twenty four hours a day in their monasteries.
Marcellus reportedly attended the Council of Chalcedon.in 451. He is also credited with saving Constantinople from a disastrous fire that destroyed half of the city in 465. He prayed for the city to be spared.
Marcellus died on December 29, 485 at Constantinople, after serving as abbot for 45 years.
Saint Marcellus,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

As soon as I read, 'he inherited a fortune' I thought -- he'd give it away!

St. Marcellus Akimetes pray for us!

Good morning odhiambo!

The continual prayer of a just man availeth much! [James 5:16]

[odhiambo]

As soon as I read, 'he inherited a fortune' I thought -- he'd give it away!

St. Marcellus Akimetes pray for us!

Good morning odhiambo!

The continual prayer of a just man availeth much! [James 5:16]

Good morning Shin!
It is more likely than not that he did give it up; only it was not reported  

[odhiambo]

December 30
Today is the Memorial of
Saint John Alcober
Among many other Saints

[odhiambo]

Saint John Alcober
Martyr.
He is also known as John Alcober Figuero and as John Figuero.
John was born in 1694 at Gerona, Spain. He became a Dominican priest and was sent to China in 1728 as a missionary. When a persecution of Christians broke out in China, John was arrested in 1746 by Chinese officials and thrown into prison for a year in Foochow with a group of other fellow Dominicans, among them Peter Sanz, vicar apostolic of Fu-kien. All were martyred by strangulation in the prison on December 30, 1748( According to SQPN, they died on 28 October 1748 )
The whole group who died then was beatified on 14 May 1893 by Pope Leo XIII ( May 26, 1893 according to another source)
He was canonized on 1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II
Saint John Alcober,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

December 31
Today is the Memorial of
Saint Melania the Younger
Among many other Saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Melania the Younger
Melania was born in 383. Her father was Publicola, a Roman senator who was the son of Saint Melania the Elder. Her mother was Albina, the Christian daughter of a pagan priest. At the age of fourteen, Melania was forced to marry against her will to Valerius Pinianus (Saint Pinian). After they lost two children who died soon after birth, the couple agreed to devote themselves to God. When her father died, leaving his enormous wealth to her, they left Rome with Melania's mother, Albina and turned their country estate into a Christian center. Melania reportedly became one of the greatest religious patronesses of all time, endowing monasteries in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. She aided churches and abbeys in Europe and freed eight thousand slaves.
When the Goths invaded her homeland in 406, Melania and her husband fled to Carthage, Lipari, and Tagaste North Africa where they had estates, and where they met Saint Augustine of Hippo. In 417, Melania made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and visited the Egyptian desert monks. On their return, they settled in Jerusalem. She met her cousin Paula and Saint Jerome there. Her mother Albina died fourteen years after their arrival in Jerusalem and Pinian, her husband, died the following year. Melania built a cell near their tombs and lived there as a hermitess. She attracted many disciples so she built a convent for them and served as its superior for the rest of her life.
She died a natural death on 31 December 439 at Jerusalem.
Saint Melania the Younger,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

1 January 2013

A Happy New Year to All!

 Remember the Month of January is dedicated to The Holy Name and Childhood of Jesus

[odhiambo]

Today we celebrate
 the:Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Today we  also remember
 Saint Gregory Nazianzen the Elder

[odhiambo]

January 2

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Macarius the Younger
Among many other Saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Macarius the Younger
Also referred to as:
Macarius of Alexandria
Macarius the Alexandrian
Born early in the 4th century at Alexandria in Egypt, Macarius grew up to become a successful businessman in Alexandria. Around the year 335, Macarius, now a converted Christian, gave up this thriving business to become a monk in the Thebaid, Upper Egypt. In 373, he moved to Lower Egypt where he built cells in the deserts of Skete and Nitria. Most of his time, however, he spent in a desert region called the Cells; an area famed for its hermitages.
He was ordained a priest and lived a life of great austerities. He was also known for his miracles.
Saint Macarius the Younger was banished, by the Arian Lucius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with Macarius the Elder and other monks to an island in the Nile because of his unwavering fidelity to orthodoxy. He was, however, allowed to return later.
Saint Macarius the Younger wrote a constitution for the monastery in Nitria that was named after him. Some of the rules of his constitution were adopted by Saint Jerome for his monastery.
Macarius died in 401
He was canonized by acclamation, i.e, Pre-Congregation
Saint Macarius,
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Today is the:
1:The Commemoration  of the Holy Name of Jesus.
2: Memorial of Saint Genevieve
Among many other Saints

[odhiambo]

Saint Genevieve
Also known as Saint Genovefa.
Patroness of the City of Paris, France.
Genevieve was born in 422 at Nanterre near Paris, France. She dedicated herself to God when only seven years old, after meeting Saint Germanus of Auxerre. When her parents died, Genevieve, now aged fifteen, moved to Paris and became a nun there. She started having visions and telling prophecies. These gifts put her in danger on many occasions. She was accused of being in touch with diabolical forces. An attempt was even made on her life. The support of Germanus and the accuracy of her predictions did much to change people's negative attitude. In 451, Genevieve predicted that Attila and his Huns would bypass Paris. She led a prayer Crusade that ended with the City of Paris being spared. Later, she prophesied invasions and disasters for Paris and this came to pass when Paris was occupied by King Chideric I and his Franks. She helped mitigate the rigor of the occupation of Paris, bringing in boatloads of food for the people. She pleaded successfully with Childeric, and later with Clovis to secure the release of captive prisoners.
Genevieve helped in getting a church built in honor of Saint Dionysius (Saint Denis Church). She also convinced Clovis to build Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church where she was later buried.
Genevieve died on January 3, 500 in Paris and, as already mentioned, was buried in the church of Saints Peter and Paul there. Many miracles were reported at her tomb in the church which was later renamed in her honor.
In liturgical art, Saint Genevieve is depicted as a shepherdess, holding a candle, sometimes confronting the devil.
Saint Genevieve,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

St. Genevieve pray for us! St. Germanus, pray for us!

A shepherdess!

Folks, don't forget we have the book 'The Wonders of the Holy Name' online for reading.

You can sometimes find this little booklet in parish vestibules in little baskets. Some people make it part of their charitable works to buy a number of copies and distribute them and this is very worthwhile.

As Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.) writes:

"This Divine Name is in truth a mine of riches; it is the fount of the highest holiness and the secret of the greatest happiness that a man can hope to enjoy on this earth. Read and see.

It is so powerful, so certain, that it never fails to produce in our souls the most wonderful results. It consoles the saddest heart and makes the weakest sinner strong. It obtains for us all kinds of favors and graces, spiritual and temporal.

Two things we must do. First of all, we must understand clearly the meaning and value of the Name of Jesus.

Secondly, we must get into the habit of saying it devoutly, frequently, hundreds and hundreds of times every day. Far from being a burden, it will be an immense joy and consolation. "

[odhiambo]

St. Genevieve pray for us! St. Germanus, pray for us!

A shepherdess!

You can sometimes find this little booklet in parish vestibules in little baskets. Some people make it part of their charitable works to buy a number of copies and distribute them and this is very worthwhile.

As Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.) writes:

"This Divine Name is in truth a mine of riches; it is the fount of the highest holiness and the secret of the greatest happiness that a man can hope to enjoy on this earth. Read and see.

It is so powerful, so certain, that it never fails to produce in our souls the most wonderful results. It consoles the saddest heart and makes the weakest sinner strong. It obtains for us all kinds of favors and graces, spiritual and temporal.

Two things we must do. First of all, we must understand clearly the meaning and value of the Name of Jesus.

Secondly, we must get into the habit of saying it devoutly, frequently, hundreds and hundreds of times every day. Far from being a burden, it will be an immense joy and consolation. "

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Thanks Shin for the reminder.