Did You Know?

[Brigid]

Prayers here!

[odhiambo]

Did you know that  St. Michael the Archangel is actually a Seraph?
I just learnt about this now. I though he is an Archangel and that is it.

[Shin]

I had no idea! Where did you find out?

 

[odhiambo]

From CAF.
Someone started a thread on Angels' hierarchy? He/She wanted to understand it better. Someone else posted an explanatory link to Catholic on line entitled "The Nine Choirs of Angels". I read it there.

[Patricia]

what is the difference between seraph and archangel?

[odhiambo]

what is the difference between seraph and archangel?

According to the article I referred to, there are, as we know,  nine orders of Angels namely: Seraphim,  Cherubim, Thrones,  Dominions, Virtues,  Powers, Archangels,  Principalities and Angels.
Each hierarchy has their specific function, for instance Seraphs
are the highest order of angels. They are attendants before God's throne, constantly praising Him: "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts".
Archangels, on the other hand, have the special role as God's messenger to the people. We are all familiar with Biblical references to angels belonging to this category.
They are the most frequently mentioned in the Bible.  
Now, it seems that members of this choir may also belong to other hierarchies as exemplified by St. Michael Archangel, who is a Seraph.

[Shin]

Hmm. I wonder if he was by nature an archangel and then raise to a higher place due to humility during the war in Heaven?
Or perhaps he always was so high?
Or perhaps..?

The angels are hard to find out more about I think!

St. Francis of Assisi took a high throne due to his humility.

What throne did he take? Who knows the answer? 

[odhiambo]

Did you know that the spikes on the Jerusalem thorn, which was used to make a mock crown for Jesus,  grow in groups of three - one large in the center and two smaller spikes flanking the larger central spike?
I learnt this today and Iam wondering at the significance.

[Shin]

How interesting to think about!

[Poche]

Did you know that among the 1,500 people who perished 100 years ago when the luxury liner, RMS Titanic, hit an iceberg and sank five days into its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, were three Catholic priests who, according to survival accounts all died selflessly and heroically?
Fr. Juozas Montvila, Fr. Joseph Peruschitz and Fr. Thomas Byles. Each of these three priests in their own way lived up to his calling to the very end.
Their presence in that ship was surely providential. Father Boyles reportedly calmed the passengers, led them in reciting the rosary, exhorted them to prepare to meet God and led them in an Act of Contrition and finally, gave them general absolution. 
May God rest all their souls in eternal peace

There is a similar story about the death of Huey Long. Huey Long, the governor of Louisianna, was shot. While he was in the hospital dying a nun took his hand and asked him if he wanted a priest. Huey Long said, "No sister, I'm not Catholic." The sister led him in the Act of Contrition."   

[Poche]

I have heard about that...I mean somebody calling the pope's name...to make sure he's really dead.
And as for the the pope's ring being destroyed... I would recommend the movie The Shoes of the Fisherman. Whenever I watch this movie...I somehow think...is it a prediction of Pope John Paul's election to become pope  They seem similar. 

Actually it coincided with the liberation of Cardinal Slipji from prison in the Soviet Union.

[CyrilSebastian]

                         Did you know that the Bible does not mention the number of Magi?   
                         The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, in an article about who visited Jesus, mentions that Matthew does not       
                         include the number of men who came to worship the Child Jesus.   
                         According to this reference: "Some (Catholic church) Fathers speak of three Magi. They are very likely   
                         influenced by the number of gifts. In the Orient, tradition favors twelve."   
 
                           

[odhiambo]

Did you know that the Franciscan Order is sometimes called the Seraphic Order.
If you knew, please tell us how the Order came by such a beautiful description.

[Poche]

Did you know that the Franciscan Order is sometimes called the Seraphic Order.
If you knew, please tell us how the Order came by such a beautiful description.

It is called seraphic because it was founded by St Francis of Assisi. The holiness of St Francis is so great that he was compared with the highest order of the angels. Therefore the seraphic saint is the founder of a seraphic community.

[Poche]

Last Sunday was officially the first Sunday of Advent for both the Ambrosian and the Mozarabic rites.

[Shin]

Yes he is called the Seraphic Patriarch!

I wonder if folks know even a little more about the why of that?