tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1933192500531732572024-03-13T02:52:23.167-07:00Saintly Bitsbeahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-39853547466104502932020-04-23T08:33:00.001-07:002020-04-23T08:35:24.060-07:00SAINT ROCK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In this time of COVID-19 pandemic, San Roque or Saint Rock, has become popular to the Catholic faithful. He is popularly known to be especially invoked against plagues.<br />
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Saint Rock is known as the patron saint of dogs, falsely accused people, invalids, bachelors, and several other<br />
things. <br />
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He was born in Montpellier as a son of the noble governor of the city. Even his birth was accounted a miracle, for his noble mother had been barren. She prayed to the Virgin Mary and her prayer was granted. His breast was miraculously marked with a red cross on his breast that grew as he did. Younger as he was, he began to manifest strict asceticsm and great devoutness. When his mother fasted twice a week, he would abstain twice a week also.<br />
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When his parents died in his twentieth year, he distributed all his worldly goods among the poor like St. Francis of Assisi, though his father on his death bed had ordained him governor of Montpellier. He set out as a mendicant pilgrim for Rome. In Italy during an epidemic plague, he was very diligent in tending the sick in the public hospital at Acquapendente, Cesena. Rimni,Novara and Rome. He is said to have effected many miraculous cures by prayer and the sign of the cross and the touch of his hand.<br />
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At Rome, he preserved the "cardinal of Angleria in Lombardy by making a sign of the cross on his forehead, which miraculously remained. Ministering at Piacenza
he himself finally fell ill. He was expelled from the town; and
withdrew into the forest, where he made himself a hut of boughs and
leaves, which was miraculously supplied with water by a spring that
arose in the place. He would have perished had not a dog belonging to a
nobleman named Gothard Palastrelli supplied him with bread and licked
his wounds, healing them. Count Gothard, following his hunting dog that
carried the bread, discovered Saint Roch and became his acolyte.<br />
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On his return incognito to Montpellier he was arrested as a spy
(by orders of his own uncle) and thrown into prison, where he languished
five years and died on 16 August 1327, without revealing his name, to
avoid worldly glory. <br />
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After his death, according to the <i>Golden Legend</i>;<br />
<blockquote class="templatequote">
An angel brought from heaven a table divinely written with letters of
gold into the prison, which he laid under the head of S. Rocke. And in
that table was written that God had granted to him his prayer, that is
to wit, that who that calleth meekly to S. Rocke he shall not be hurt
with any hurt of pestilence</blockquote>
The townspeople recognized him as well by his birthmark.<sup> </sup>He was soon canonized in the popular mind, and a great church erected in veneration.
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The date (1327) asserted by Francesco Diedo for Saint Roch's death would precede the traumatic advent of the Black Death in Europe (1347–49) after long centuries of absence, for which a rich
iconography of the plague, its victims and its protective saints was
soon developed, in which the iconography of Roche finds its historical
place: previously the <i>topos</i> did not exist.
In contrast, however, St. Roch of Montpellier cannot be dismissed based
on dates of a specific plague event. In medieval times, the term
"plague" was used to indicate a whole array of illnesses and epidemics.<br />
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<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"> </sup>The Council of Constance was threatened with plague in 1414, public processions and prayers for
the intercession of Roch were ordered, and the outbreak ceased.<br />
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beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-11739252919622558512017-04-01T02:30:00.001-07:002019-08-30T00:57:55.229-07:00ST. VINCENT FERRER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A famous saint that made thousands of miracles and the most gifted preacher of his time. Most often he would give his sermons outdoors because no church could accommodate the number of people who wanted to hear him speak about God's love. No worry if you would be far from him because you could hear him as clear as he would just be a stone throw away from you.<br />
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St. Vincent Ferrer was born on January 23, 1350 at Valencia, in Spain. It is said that his mother Constance did not experience pain during her pregnancy and delivery. His father had a prophetic dream in which an unknown Dominican preacher appeared to him and told him that he would have a son whose fame would be world-renowned. Also, a poor blind woman predicted that the child Constance bore within her was an "angel who would one day restore her sight" – which he did years later. His name was taken from St. Vincent Martyr, the patron saint of Valencia.<br />
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St. Vincent brought with him into the world a happy disposition for learning and piety, which improved from his cradle by study and a good education. In his childhood he rigorously fasted every Wednesday and Friday. The passion of Christ was always the object of his most tender devotion. The Blessed Virgin he ever honored as his spiritual mother.<br />
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Vincent is a lover of the poor. He treated them with the greatest affection and charity which caused his parents to make him dispenser of their bountiful alms.<br />
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The saint was honored to have a gift of tongues. Preaching on his own, he was understood by men of different languages, which is affirmed by Lanzano, who says that Greek, Germans, Sardes, Hungarians, and people of other nations declared they understood every word he spoke, though he preached in Latin or his mother tongue, as spoken at Valencia.<br />
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However far away people might be, everyone heard every syllable. He could make himself heard literally about three miles away, when it was of importance that he should be heard.<br />
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He also worked many wonders through the Sign of the Cross and through the Holy Name of Jesus. He warned lazy Christians who sloopily made a circular sign of the Cross that they were using a sign of the Devil instead!<br />
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The Moorish king had heard him; the multitude of his miracles was startling, and for a Muslim, upsetting. He could not get Vincent out of his head. Finally he decided he must see the man who worked the miracles. He sent for him. The saint arrives lame from a great sore in the leg and rode on his motheaten old donkey through all the splendors of the Alhambra grounds under the fixed stare of the marble lions. The king wanted to hear him preach. That in itself was a revolution. They murmured, they listened, and doubtless they understood though he spoke no Arabic. For, after three sermons, eight thousand Moors asked for Baptism. Some of the nobles, fearing the total subversion of their religion, obliged the king to dismiss him.<br />
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Aside from the Moors, the saint also converted about twenty-five thousand Jews.<br />
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Vincent would often preach on the roof of a house surrounded by trees. One day he stopped suddenly in his sermon. The people were startled. "Do not be shocked by this interval," he said, "I must wait upon grace." As the crowd began to laugh, a party of Jews were seen approaching: Grace had conquered them. Of sixteen rabbis, fourteen were converted. How he loved these new children of his; he loved to remind Christians who too readily forgot the fact that Jesus and Mary were of the Jewish race.<br />
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The people had recourse to him in every difficulty. The smallest villages fought to have him. In one place they took his hat, which assured pregnant women of a safe and easy delivery; in others, drove away a cloud of grasshoppers and a whole army of weevils with holy water. Once he came to the point of utter exhaustion. He could go no further and heaven came to his aid. In the very heat of a wild lonely forest, an excellent hotel appeared suddenly from nowhere to shelter him; leaving it the next day, he happened to forget his hat. One of the penitents went back to the inn - the hat was hanging on the branch of the tree at the very spot where the inn had stood.<br />
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Master Vincent came one time to the bedside of a sinner, to assist him in his last agony. The sinner clung to the saint; he felt that his tardy remorse, his imperfect contrition, his absence of penance, were insufficient to save him unless St. Vincent threw the whole of himself into the scale. He begged Vincent to make over to him a good share of the treasures of grace he had compiled. The saint had pity on his despair. He said: "I give God all my merits to be applied to you." "Is that true?" The dyng man was distrustful. He did not know that what a saint says is definite. "Then write it down for me on a slip of a paper." The saint cheerfully did what he was asked and the man died clutching his precious document. Logically, Vincent had nothing left - he must begin to pile up another lot of graces to himself. But a few days later, while he was preaching, a paper whirled in the air above the heads of the crowd, like a dead leaf blown along by the wind. Finally it settled on the preacher's cloak. I need not tell you what it was. God had decided to pay for the sinner's salvation in a different coin. He returned Vincent his merits along with his check. For you never lose by the gift of one's self unless you only half give it.<br />
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At Pampeluna, they had just condemned an innocent man to death. Vincent pleaded for him in vain. As he was being led to the scaffold, they passed a corpse being taken to burial on a stretcher. Vincent suddenly addressed the corpse: "You who have no longer anything to gain by lying, is this man guilty?" Answer me!" The dead man sat up and affirmed, "He is not." Then Vincent, to reward him for that service, offered him back the burden of earthly life. "No, Father," he replied, "for I am assured of salvation." And he went off to sleep again and was carried to the cemetery.<br />
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Another marvelous episode. It happened in Gerona. In the thick of the crowd stood a man somber, glowering, rage stamped on every feature. Near him was his wife with an infant in her arms, still at the breast. The man devoured by a frenzy jealousy. Brother Vincent saw him, saw what fire burned in him, and preached upon jealousy. Suddenly he turned to the man. "You doubt your wife's faithfulness, do you not? You think this child is not yours? Well, watch!" Then he cried in a great voice to the child: "Embrace your father!" The infant stirred, stood upright, turned towards the man and held out his arms. And thus was the man cured and the family peace restored.<br />
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St. Vincent touch each heart at the point he chose, the point that charity suggested to him, and invariably at the precise moment. He knew for example that a shepherd in the heart of the mountains had so great confidence in him that he came to hear him, leaving his flock, only staying to draw a circle round them with his staff -- counting on the saint to see that the sheep did not go out of the circle or the wolves come into it. Vincent knew it, whether he had guessed it or read it in the man's eyes; or perhaps God revealed to him the poor shepherd's naive arrangement and let him know that He meant to grant his prayer. At any rate, Vincent told him before all the crowd: Your sheep are safe; God is watching over them." Similarly, we are told that mothers did not hesitate to leave their babies to come to his sermons. They confided the infants to the angels -- as Vincent advised them to. He doubted nothing, this man --- God least of all.<br />
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Multitudes of miracles did St. Vincent Ferrer which would make us tired of reading and hearing. It's like almost every move he makes were miracles. No doubt he is one Saint whom we could pray for especially for our dire needs.<br />
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Let us pray : <br />
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ST. VINCENT FERRER PRAY FOR US!<br />
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Related links : <a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2013/04/st-francis-of-assisi_3.html" target="_blank">ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI</a>, <a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2012/10/st-pedro-calungsod.html" target="_blank">ST.PEDRO CALUNGSOD,</a> <a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2012/05/st-lorenzo-ruiz.html" target="_blank">ST. LORENZO RUIZ,</a> <br />
<a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2012/02/st-john-vianney.html" target="_blank">ST. JOHN VIANNEY,</a> <a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2012/01/sts-perpetua-and-felicity.html" target="_blank">ST. PERPETUA AND FELICITY,</a> </div>
beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-6715904302482306372014-08-31T22:14:00.000-07:002014-08-31T22:39:47.771-07:00PRAYER FOR CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Most Blessed Virgin Mary, amid the crisis brought about by the territorial claims of China, we come to your presence seeking your queenly protection and motherly help. We pray for peace and the safety of the Philippines, as we keep in mind the spiritual welfare of those who advance their territorial claims to the detriment of the security of our country.<br />
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May the love of your Maternal Heart attract the Chinese people to your Son, Jesus. May your Immaculate Heart be the center from which the rays of the light and love for the Sacred Heart will radiate forth throughout China, becoming for them the unquenchable fountain from which the living water of the Divine Mercy will flow. Through your intercession, may the Lord grace the Chinese people with faith, hope and love, that by your maternal mediation of grace, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be worshipped and glorified in that vast expanse of land. <i>(Adapted from a message of Jesus to Sister Lucy of Fatima as documented in a letter of the Seer to the Bishop of Gurza, May 27, 1943)</i><br />
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Remember o most Virgin that the Philippines is your beloved "Pueblo Amante de Maria" and that we belong to you absolutely, totally, always and forever. We are all yours and all that we have is yours, O most loving Jesus through Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace.<br />
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Imprimatur: Ricardo Cardinal Vidal - June 19<br />
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MARY Mediatirx of All Grace prophesied on October 17, 1949, to Teresita Castillo that China wants to destroy the world including the Philippines.<br />
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Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu has written to the Philippine bishops that on October 17, 1949, Mary Mediatix of All Graces has told Teresita Castillo; "Pray hard for China's dream is to invade the world. The Philppines is one of it's favorites. Money is the evil force that will lead the people of the world to destruction."<br />
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Castillo was a young Carmelite nun then in Lipa City. And the incident was known as the Lipa Apparitions. Before becoming Cebu Patriarch, Vidal was Lipa archbishop. Vidal said the last part of the message "gives us a reason to be hopefull." It read: <br />
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"Prayer. Sacrifices, self-denials and the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary will soften the heart of my Son as I said before."<br />
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It is thus to the Queen of Prophets under her title of Mediatrix of All Grace to whom we will have recourse in order to avert the buildup of tension and to check the territorial ambitions of this Asian superpower. It is by following this path of prayer and penance sounded out in Fatima and reiterated at Lipa that our beloved Philippines will be spared the scourge of war and the domination of a communist giant.<br />
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The Philippines cannot by any stretch of imagination equal or overtake China in economic growth or prevail in a military confrontation. China can bring to bear its huge financial, material and human resources, as well as its advanced military capability in any struggle with a smaller and poorer country like the Philippines with its ill-equipped armed forces. The first and only line of defense the Philippines has is the mantle of protection, provided by the Blessed Virgin Mary. Only She can help us! To whom then shall we go?<br />
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<i>From an article of Josephine Darang. A photocopy of it was given to me by a friend.</i><br />
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These are one of the rose petals that one day rained a place in Lipa City, Philippines.<br />
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Visit: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/apparitions/pr00013.htm </div>
beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-17148656727213350812014-08-20T01:58:00.000-07:002014-08-20T01:58:06.472-07:00Blessed Mother explains upcoming chastisement....For Immediate Release Video 2 of 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For video 1 click this link <a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=puZU9EcBAAA.WT8Wk1cXuOtTFJSd5BXWAw.1laZgvpexT749n-7MfqW_Q&postId=4674321861057428041&type=POST">https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=puZU9EcBAAA.WT8Wk1cXuOtTFJSd5BXWAw.1laZgvpexT749n-7MfqW_Q&postId=4674321861057428041&type=POST</a><br />
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Please share to save more souls...<br />
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beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-46743218610574280412014-08-20T01:52:00.000-07:002014-08-20T01:56:07.547-07:00Blessed Mother explains upcoming chastisement....For Immediate Release Video 1 of 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For video 2 click this link <a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=Y1hX9EcBAAA.WT8Wk1cXuOtTFJSd5BXWAw.SPkpOirkle4ayHAcJrtpRA&postId=1714865672721335081&type=POST">https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=Y1hX9EcBAAA.WT8Wk1cXuOtTFJSd5BXWAw.SPkpOirkle4ayHAcJrtpRA&postId=1714865672721335081&type=POST</a><br />
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Please share to save more souls..<br />
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beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-31996849784306791562013-11-03T06:06:00.002-08:002015-10-26T02:30:01.686-07:00PRAYER OF ST. GERTRUDE THE GREAT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A prayer which would release 1,000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was later extended to include living sinners as well. The approval and recommendation below does NOT include this extension.<br />
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Eternal Father I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinner in the universal church, </span>those in my own home and within my family. </b></i></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amen.</b></i></h2>
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</div>
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</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></i></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></i></h2>
</div>
beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-44592696444024998002013-04-03T23:22:00.001-07:002017-04-16T00:53:17.128-07:00St. Francis of Assisi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNXOxSozXnCfOZmt5lkRQ_3T0LZ4uj5JwQ7UempugvDSd-3c1bF3nwwF9vWeA8IDaUWQKxgHXHnzT1U_OLsBkpwVTNZzR4SGWMaQw81simu56vZ-kyjO_RDBjsodkJUzrsSzHBD11o7nU/s1600/St.+Francis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNXOxSozXnCfOZmt5lkRQ_3T0LZ4uj5JwQ7UempugvDSd-3c1bF3nwwF9vWeA8IDaUWQKxgHXHnzT1U_OLsBkpwVTNZzR4SGWMaQw81simu56vZ-kyjO_RDBjsodkJUzrsSzHBD11o7nU/s320/St.+Francis.jpg" width="253" /></a></b></div>
<br />
Saint Francis of Assisi is popularly known as the Patron Saint of animals and the environment as well. His feast day is on October 4. In this time many animals are brought to church to be blessed by priest.<br />
<br />
St. Francis was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone but nicknamed Francsco "the Frenchman" by his father, Pietro di Bernardone, a prosperous silk merchant, which made him belong to a rich family. He went
to school for only a few years, sufficient enough for acquiring the skills a cloth merchant
needed. As a teen-ager, he belonged to a gang of rowdies from rich
Assisi families who, of a night, would eat a fine dinner, get drunk,
and commit every kind of
debauchery. Francis, a high-spirited boy, was their leader and paid the
bills, which made him popular<br />
<br />
As a youth, Francesco was also a devotee of troubadours<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubadours" title="Troubadours"></a> and was fascinated with all things Transalpine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cefa_4-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-cefa-4"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Chesterton_14-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-Chesterton-14"></a></sup> Although many hagiographers<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagiography" title="Hagiography"></a> remark about his bright clothing, rich friends, and love of pleasures<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lives_12-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-Lives-12"></a></sup>,
his displays of disillusionment toward the world that surrounded him
came fairly early in his life, as is shown in the "story of the beggar."
In this account, he was selling cloth and velvet in the marketplace on
behalf of his father when a beggar came to him and asked for alms<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alms" title="Alms"></a>.
When a business deal was finished, Francis abandoned his wares and
ran after the beggar. When he found him, Francis gave the man
everything he had in his pockets. His friends quickly chided and mocked
him for his act of charity. When he got home, his father scolded him in rage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chest41_15-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-chest41-15"></a></sup><br />
<br />
Francis’s
world was filled with violence—between the papacy and the Holy Roman
Empire, between Assisi and other towns, and, in the town itself, between
the merchant class and the local nobility. In 1202, around the age of
twenty-one, he himself went to war, in a battle between Assisi and
Perugia. He was apparently glad to go. He got to wear fine clothes and
ride an excellent horse. But Assisi was soon defeated, and Francis spent
a year in a dank prison, with rats, before his father was able to
ransom him.<br />
Upon his return to Assisi in 1203, Francis returned to his carefree life
and in 1204, a serious illness led to a spiritual crisis. In 1205,
Francis left for Puglia<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puglia" title="Puglia"></a> to enlist in the army of the Count of Brienne<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_of_Brienne" title="Count of Brienne"></a>. A strange vision made him return to Assisi, deepening his ecclesiastical awakening.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cefa_4-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-cefa-4"></a></sup><br />
<br />
It was believed that in prison the change in Francis
began. As his friends noticed, he had lost heart for revelry. He began to avoid the sports<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport" title="Sport"></a>
and the feasts of his former companions. In response, they asked him
laughingly whether he was thinking of marrying, to which he answered,
"yes, a fairer bride than any of you have ever seen," meaning his "Lady Poverty<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty" title="Poverty"></a>".
He spent much time in lonely places, asking God for enlightenment. He took to nursing lepers, the most repulsive victims in the lazar houses<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazar_house" title="Lazar house"></a> near Assisi<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisi" title="Assisi"></a>.<br />
<br />
After a pilgrimage to Rome<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome" title="Rome"></a>, where he joined the poor in begging at the doors of the churches, he said he had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visions_of_Jesus_and_Mary" title="Visions of Jesus and Mary"></a> in the country chapel of San Damiano<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Damiano,_Assisi" title="San Damiano, Assisi"></a>, just outside of Assisi, in which the Icon of Christ Crucified<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Damiano_cross" title="San Damiano cross"></a>
said to him, "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you
can see, is falling into ruins." He took this to mean the ruined church
in which he was presently praying,<br />
and so he sold some cloth from his
father's store to assist the priest there for this purpose.<br />
<br />
His father, Pietro, highly indignant, attempted to change his mind,
first with threats and then with beatings. In the midst of legal
proceedings before the Bishop of Assisi<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_of_Assisi" title="Bishop of Assisi"></a>,
Francis renounced his father and his patrimony, he stripped naked in public, placed his clothes at his father’s
feet, and said that from then on God, not Pietro di Bernardone, would be
his father<br />
<br />
For the next
couple of months he lived as a beggar in the region of Assisi. Returning
to the countryside around the town for two years, he embraced the life
of a penitent<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penitent" title="Penitent"></a>, during which he restored several ruined chapels in the countryside around Assisi, among them the Porziuncola<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porziuncola" title="Porziuncola"></a>, the little chapel<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel" title="Chapel"></a> of St. Mary of the Angels just outside the town, which later became his favorite abode, s<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chest54_17-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-chest54-17"></a></sup>pent whole
days there, praying. Finally, he began sleeping there as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="descender">
In a written document about him, Francis said that his conversion was due to his
work with lepers, a number of whom lived outside Assisi. He explained,
“God allowed me to begin my repentance in this way: when I lived in sin,
seeing lepers was a very bitter experience for me. God himself guided
me into their midst and among them I performed acts of charity. What
appeared bitter to me became sweetness of the soul and body.” Lepers
were horrifying to people at the time, not only because of their
unsightly affliction—black boils, truncated limbs—but because the
disease was thought to be caused by sin. If a leper wanted to approach a
town, he had to do so at night and ring a bell to warn people of his
presence. </div>
<div class="descender">
In Roberto Rossellini’s “The Flowers of St. Francis” (1950),
the best of the many movies made about the saint, a leper, sounding a
bell, goes past the hut where Francis and his fellows are bedded down.
Francis rouses himself, catches up with the man, and embraces him. We
see the leper only darkly: his blackened skin, its clammy sheen. We see
Francis’s face directly, with no tears, just an ardent gaze. This is one
of the most appalling and thrilling scenes in Western cinema, and it
epitomizes the idea that evidently fired the young Francis. As he saw it
now, the more a person was despised, the more he or she resembled Jesus
in his last agonies, when he was abandoned by almost all the people he
had come to save. To obey Jesus, therefore, you had to join those who
were abandoned. At this point, in the words of
Francis’s “Testament,” “God gave me brothers.”</div>
<div class="descender">
<br /></div>
<div class="descender">
In 1206, the year that he
renounced his inheritance, two young Assisians joined him. By 1208, the
group numbered twelve. The Franciscan movement had begun. In Francis’s
view, property, by arousing envy and, therefore, conflict, was the one
thing most destructive to peace in the world. Thus the community lived,
as completely as possible, without property. To be part of the group, a
man had to sell all his goods, give the money to the poor, and, like
Francis, sever all ties with his family. Francis’s followers dressed the
way he did—dirty tunic, no shoes. Their home was a wretched little
shack outside the town. When the owner decided he wanted to house his
donkey there, they were kicked out. Then, in a district called the
Portiuncula, they found a ruined church, Santa Maria degli Angeli, and
they built wattle-and-daub cells around it. This remained their
headquarters for the rest of Francis’s life. </div>
<div class="descender">
<br /></div>
By day, the brothers
did the kinds of work that Francis felt were sanctioned by the Gospel.
They renovated churches, tended to lepers, performed manual labor for
farmers and artisans, preached, and prayed. They could accept a payment
of bread and fruit for their labor, but they were not allowed to have
money. Nor could they, in any way, save up for the next day. They could
not own any dwelling they lived in. (They rented the church in the
Portiuncula from a local abbot.) They could not store up food. They
couldn’t soak vegetables overnight.<br />
<br />
An entailment of the rule of
poverty was humility. In the “Testament,” Francis writes that he and the
other friars were subject to all, superior to no one. (He eventually
called the group the Friars Minor, as they are still known today.) They
were to see themselves as brothers even to people whose lives directly
opposed their aims—notably, the rich.<br />
<br />
<br />
While he was praying on the mountain of Verna, during a forty-day fast in preparation for Michaelmas<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michaelmas" title="Michaelmas"></a> (September 29), Francis is said to have had a vision on or about September 14, 1224, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exaltation_of_the_Cross" title="Exaltation of the Cross"></a>, as a result of which he received the stigmata. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chest131_35-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-chest131-35"></a></sup>
Brother Leo, who had been with Francis at the time, left a clear and
simple account of the event, the first definite account of the
phenomenon of stigmata<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cefa_4-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-cefa-4"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chest131_35-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-chest131-35"></a></sup> <i>"Suddenly
he saw a vision of a seraph, a six-winged angel on a cross. This angel
gave him the gift of the five wounds of Christ."</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chest131_35-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi#cite_note-chest131-35"></a></sup><br />
<br />
Suffering from these stigmata and from trachoma<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachoma" title="Trachoma"></a>, Francis received care in several cities (Siena, Cortona, Nocera)
to no avail. In the end, he was brought back to a hut next to the
Porziuncola. Here, in the place where it all began, feeling the end
approaching, he spent the last days of his life dictating his spiritual
testament. He asked his superior to have his clothes removed when his last hour came and for permission to expire lying naked on earth, in imitation of his Lord. He died on the evening of October 3, 1226, singing Psalm<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm" title="Psalm"></a> 142(141) – <i>"Voce mea ad Dominum"</i>. <br />
<br />
<br />
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI<br />
<br />
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;<br />
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;<br />
Where there in injury, pardon <br />
Where there is doubt, faith<br />
Where there is despair, hope<br />
Where there is darkness, light<br />
Where there is sadness, joy.<br />
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much<br />
Seek to be consoled as to console;<br />
To be understood as to understand;<br />
To be loved as to love<br />
For it is in giving that we receive;<br />
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and<br />
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen<br />
<br />
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::<br />
<br />
<a href="http://0.0.0.4/st-vincent-ferrer.html" target="_blank">ST. VINCENT FERRER</a><br />
<a href="http://0.0.7.220/02/st-john-vianney.html" target="_blank">ST JOHN VIANNEY</a><br />
<a href="https://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2012/05/st-lorenzo-ruiz.html?m=1" target="_blank">ST. LORENZO RUIZ</a><br />
<a href="http://saintlybits.blogspot.com/2012/10/st-pedro-calungsod.html?m=1" target="_blank">ST. PEDRO CALUNGSOD</a><br />
<br />
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beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-9228745411432661952013-01-21T06:59:00.002-08:002013-01-21T06:59:25.512-08:00True Life in God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><em> </em></span></h4>
<br />
<em> </em> <i>"I have chosen you as a blank canvas to fill it up only with My Work which I will name; True Life in God."</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i> I first heared about Vassula Ryden from a priest who gave us a retreat. I was amazed at how concretely God has been manifesting Himself through her.<br />
<br />
It was in 1985 while she was in Bangladesh with her family, when God started to communicate to her. She could never have imagined that God would unexpectedly reveal Himself. It is God that dictates, inspires and reveals to her His words of Wisdom<strong></strong> to pass them on to His people so that they know His Will. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Vassula Rydén belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. She is Greek, born in Egypt. Her husband's professional obligations meant that she
had to live most of her life in third world countries. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Vassula never received any catechetical instruction or theological formation. God Himself taught her everything; as He once said to her: <em><strong>‘I have chosen you as a blank canvas to fill it up only with My Work which I will name: ‘True Life in God.’</strong></em> (June 10, 1987). The ‘True Life in God’ divine messages are an urgent call to make peace
with God and amend our lives through repentance. They are a call to <strong>reconciliation, love and unity</strong>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em><strong> “Be like a loud book, a book written by the Most High,”</strong></em>
God told Vassula in the beginning. He foretold her back in 1986 that
His message, with His help, will go around the world and so it did.
Since 1988 Vassula has been invited to speak in more than 79 countries
and has given over 1000 presentations<strong><a href="http://www.tlig.org/en/mission/meetings/" title="Vassula's Mission"></a></strong>. In all of this apostolic work, Vassula receives <strong>no personal royalties, fees, or benefits for her efforts</strong>. So far, the books have been translated by volunteers into more than 42 languages.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Several renowned theologians and
priests, with great enthusiasm have studied the messages and consider
them not only to be in harmony with the Scriptures and the Tradition of
the Church but also said that they have given them a better insight of
the Scriptures and of the essence of God. They have confirmed their
authenticity and divine origin by writing books<strong></strong> and analyzing the unique case of Vassula.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Prophecy</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Through all these years, Our Lord has
tried and is still trying to awaken a true understanding in all of us by
repeatedly giving us reminders: recalling what was said in the past
through Scriptures, by the Holy Prophets and His own Commandments; God
will not allow us forever to offend His Holy Name and so, repeatedly He
has been warning us that the world, living without Him, is
self-destroying itself in its apostasy and provoking His Holy Justice to
fall on them. Prophecies such as the destruction of the Twin Towers<strong><a href="http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/654/" title="Twin Towers Prophecy"></a></strong>, the Tsunami in 2004<strong><a href="http://www.tlig.org/en/spirituality/letters/tsunami/" title="Tsunami Prophecy"></a></strong>, the fall of communism in Russia<strong><a href="http://tlig.org/en/messages/826/"></a></strong>
and other prophecies, were foretold to Vassula and have all come true.
If the world, will not repent and the churches will continue to be deaf
to His callings for reconciliation and unity, a unity in diversity, a
great chastisement of fire will be sent to the world.<em><strong> “Those who have ears let them hear, those who do not want to hear let them not hear”</strong></em><strong><em>,</em></strong> this is what God said to Vassula to tell this generation and to all the Churches. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Feeding the Poor</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Scriptures it is written that faith
without good works is quite dead. After experiencing our Lady in a
vision, Vassula was asked by our Holy Mother to reach out to the needy
and feed the poor as well, for spiritual food was not enough. Since
then, many houses called Beth Miriam
(house of Mary) started to function to feed the poor. Those houses are
progressing to have schools as well for the poor children. There are
now many worldwide.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Visit <a href="http://www.tlig.org/en/" target="_blank"> http://www.tlig.org/en/ </a>for more information about TLIG or True Life In God.</div>
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beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-4182621961967388792012-10-28T05:07:00.000-07:002012-10-28T05:07:02.623-07:00Our Lady of All Nations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_revelation" title="Private revelation"></a><b>“The Lady of All Nations”</b>
is a title used to describe a Marian apparition to Ida Peerdeman in Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 25, 1945. In this time she wants to be made known and loved by everyone under this title.<br />
<br />
In a prophetic way, she gives, above all, an impressive insight about
the situation in the Church and in the world. In the messages, Mary
gradually reveals a plan with which God wants to save the world and
prepare it for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, she
gives all peoples and nations an image and a prayer.<br />
<br />
<b><i>LORD JESUS CHRIST,<br />SON OF THE FATHER,<br />SEND NOW YOUR SPIRIT<br />OVER THE EARTH.<br />LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVE<br />IN THE HEARTS OF ALL NATIONS,<br />THAT THEY MAY BE PRESERVED<br />FROM DEGENERATION, DISASTER AND WAR.<br />MAY THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS,<br />THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,<br />BE OUR ADVOCATE.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />AMEN.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>"This prayer has been given to the world. Let this prayer accompany whatever you do in your daily life.<b> </b>This
should be spread in the churches and through modern means of
communication. I have taught you that simple prayer to the Father and
the Son. See that it is made known through all the world, among all the
Nations. They all have the right to it. Make sure that the prayer, which
briefly and yet so urgently asks for the sending the True Holy Spirit,
is spread as quickly as possible. Let everyone say this short and simple
prayer everyday! This prayer is purposely kept short and simple, so
that everyone may manage to say it, even in this modern and speed-mad
world. It has been given so that the coming of the Spirit of Truth may
be implored for the world. You do not know what the great value and
power this prayer boasts before God. Our Lady promises, "by means of
this prayer and title, She--The Lady of All Nations-- may save the world
from universal calamity."<br />
<br />
Ida Peerdeman was born on August 13, 1905 in the city of Alkmaar, in
Holland. She was forty years old when the Marian apparitions began. She
was an average woman, working in a perfume factory, the youngest of five
siblings, and God was the center of her life.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-1"></sup>
On the feast day of the Annunciation, her confessor, Father Frehe, was
visiting the family. This was the first time Mary appeared to Ida. Ida
recalled seeing a light from the corner of the room and from it came a
woman who revealed herself as the Lady of All Nations. The woman
instructed her to repeat everything she was told. Ida did so, and Father
Frehe ordered her sister to write down every word. Thus was recorded
the first apparition of The Lady of All Nations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-2"></sup>This all took place on March 25, 1945, when the Nazis still had
occupation of Holland. Ida saw Our Lady as she was huddled by a stove
with her sisters and priest chatting about the war and the possibilities
of what may happen in the future. Ida suffered attack both from the
Church and from demons for believing in the apparition of The Lady of
All Nations until her death in 1996, at the age of ninety.<br />
<br />
Over the course of
Ida’s life, Mary appeared to her fifty-six times. However, the visions
did not end with Our Lady. After Mary stopped appearing to her on May
31, 1959, Peerdeman received what she called “Eucharistic Experiences”
for twenty-six years, where she was given divine revelation most times
during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. One hundred and fifty one
Eucharistic apparitions were reported. All in all, two hundred and seven
apparitions were experienced through her.<br />
<br />
__________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
In 1951, the diocesan Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam, and later on about 60 other bishops around the world, gave ecclesiastical permission to print the prayer.<br />
<br />
On May 31, 1996, the public veneration of the Mother of God under this title was officially authorized by the two Haarlem (NL).<br />
<br />
On May 31, 2002, Msgr. Dr. J.M. Punt, Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam issued a statement, recognizing the supernatural origin of the apparitions of Amsterdam (Constat de Supernaturalitate Apparitionum)<br />
<br />
According to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the original phrase "who once was Mary", could lead to misunderstanding. After consultations between the CDF and the local bishops in 2006, the phrase was changed into "the Blessed Virgin Mary".<br />
<br />
<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-3"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-3"></sup><br />
<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-0"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-0"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-http:.2F.2Fwww.ladyofallnations.org.2Findex.htm_0-0"></sup></div>
</div>
beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-4947196122910947982012-10-26T04:42:00.000-07:002012-10-28T05:37:25.651-07:00St. Pedro Calungsod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBBSERSav30_X7tVKcPIrbUpfUjXNAeRzzuVKfwtWIAjQHPtHDflqhuNEV6_YLWmkHuRIm4qZ8_-bk77ypQzpS-4yA0eTRsgOJazBH8fiISgMVRRruSNQoJ3ldTbzl11hj_lOG8RvUJeT/s1600/Pedro++Calungsod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBBSERSav30_X7tVKcPIrbUpfUjXNAeRzzuVKfwtWIAjQHPtHDflqhuNEV6_YLWmkHuRIm4qZ8_-bk77ypQzpS-4yA0eTRsgOJazBH8fiISgMVRRruSNQoJ3ldTbzl11hj_lOG8RvUJeT/s1600/Pedro++Calungsod.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="userContent">Another Filipino saint has been beatified very recently. He is no other than </span><b>Saint Pedro Calungsod</b> <i>(1654 – April 2, 1672)</i>. <br />
<br />
A 17-year old
Roman Catholic Filipino young migrant, sacristan, and missionary
catechist who (along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores) suffered
religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam for their missionary work in
the Marianas Islands in 1672.<br />
<br />
Through Calungsod's and San Vitores' missionary efforts, many native
catechumens converted to the Roman Catholic Church through the Sacrament
of Baptism. Calungsod was beatified on 5 March 2000 by Blessed Pope
John Paul II and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in
October 21, 2012.<br />
<br />
Pedro was born in Molo, a Chinese district of Iloilo City. He came to Cebu to preach Christianity using the missionary text (<i>Doctrina Christiana</i>) as propagated by the Dominican priests. He then studied at the Jesuit town of Loboc in Bohol before sailing on to Guam.<br />
<br />
Calungsod travelled with Spanish Jesuit missionaries in 1668 to the
Marianas Islands, named in honour of both the Blessed Virgin Mary and of
the Queen Regent of Spain, María Ana of Austria, who funded their
voyage. Calungsod and San Vitores went to Guam to catechise the native
Chamorros.<br />
<br />
While in Guam, a Chinese merchant named Choco began spreading rumours that the
baptismal water used by missionaries was poisonous. As some sickly Chamorro
infants who were baptized eventually died, many believed the rumour and
held the missionaries responsible. Choco was readily supported by the <i>macanjas</i> (medicine men) and the <i>urritaos</i> (young males) who despised the missionaries.<br />
<br />
On April 2, 1672, Calungsod and San Vitores came to the village of
Tumon, Guam to baptise the infant daughter of Chief Mata'pang, who
strongly refused. They
proceeded with the rites anyway with the
consent of the infant's mother. Native assassins, led by Mata'pang and
Chief Hurao
pursued Calungsod and San Vitores down to the beach and then captured
them. They murdered Calungsod with a spear, while they killed San
Vitores with a bolo. The killers then stripped and mutilated the bodies
by a katana sword before tying them to rocks and throwing them into the
sea.<br />
<br />
In the Roman Catholic Church, Calungsod's death and Christian martyrdom is also called <i>In Odium Fidei</i> or <i>In Hatred of the Faith</i>, signifying the religious persecution endured by the martyr in evangelizing his or her faith.<br />
<br />
Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified Calungsod on 5 March 2000 at Saint
Peter's Square in Rome. Calungsod's first alleged miracle was the
healing of a man with bone cancer, which assisted his beatification
process though not necessarily due to his martyrdom <i>In Odium Fidei</i> ("In Hatred of the Faith") in accordance to the canonisation reforms of 1983. Calungsod was beatified with other 43 individuals who were declared Servants of God.<br />
<br />
Pope John Paul II declared:<br />
<br />
<table class="cquote" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: auto; width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: none; color: #b2b7f2; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold; padding: 10px 10px; text-align: left;" valign="top" width="20">“</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 4px 10px;" valign="top">...From his
childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and
responded generously to his call. Young people today can draw
encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of
Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a
lay catechist. Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly
accepted the challenge put to him by Fr. Diego de San Vitores to join
him on the Mission to the Chamorros. <b>In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion</b>,
Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the
many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger,
Pedro would not forsake Fr. Diego, but as a "good soldier of Christ"
preferred to die at the missionary's side."<br />
<br />
<b> </b><span class="userContent">“Young friends, do not hesitate to follow the
example of Pedro, who ‘pleased God and was loved by him’ and who, having
come to perfection in so short a time, lived a full life.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent"> </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwubNqO5x24o7W-QKiHzJlXArARjpjQpv5QfRSEDy6AA7Y1R-73BC3VNe6IdpZPQbEmfAFOtk5b0FXm85MAinN0sFu8Cf5sbylPfwm86sytHcsZetr7kIceGnFz5Jg7RWqv5R04wneGAbP/s1600/Calungsod2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwubNqO5x24o7W-QKiHzJlXArARjpjQpv5QfRSEDy6AA7Y1R-73BC3VNe6IdpZPQbEmfAFOtk5b0FXm85MAinN0sFu8Cf5sbylPfwm86sytHcsZetr7kIceGnFz5Jg7RWqv5R04wneGAbP/s320/Calungsod2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canonization day of Blessed Pedro Calungsod October 21, 2012</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="userContent"><br /></span></td><td style="border: none; padding: 4px 10px;" valign="top"></td><td style="border: none; padding: 4px 10px;" valign="top"></td><td style="border: none; padding: 4px 10px;" valign="top"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-79531249241158409412012-05-27T06:46:00.000-07:002012-05-27T06:46:36.115-07:00St, Lorenzo Ruiz<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN-6aNDmF9qCp8ETji_vEPpmsnqTryxAff8R5lwNlkIqosfJ6Cyp93YI_Lj3ccwXxLsNKLarFUfTmP7GLnwqQ8tGPI4k3mGnULAOB7AgQzJkCXKn0QkQS6BKnHSvRf6_evfB99X8K3ydy/s1600/Lorenzo+Ruiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN-6aNDmF9qCp8ETji_vEPpmsnqTryxAff8R5lwNlkIqosfJ6Cyp93YI_Lj3ccwXxLsNKLarFUfTmP7GLnwqQ8tGPI4k3mGnULAOB7AgQzJkCXKn0QkQS6BKnHSvRf6_evfB99X8K3ydy/s200/Lorenzo+Ruiz.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
<br />
Among all the saints in the world, St. Lorenzo Ruiz most probably is the busiest saint in heaven.<br />
<br />
What with him being a Filipino?<br />
<br />
Filipinos are considered to be the most prayerful people in the universe, naturally, they would call on someone closer. True enough. Many answered prayers were granted, not just to Filipinos but to other people from other parts of the world as well.<br />
<br />
Hence, on February 18,1981, He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution as he had, were beatified by Pope John Paul II<a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1031"></a> in Manila and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast day is on September 28th.<br />
<br />
St. Lorenzo Ruiz then became the first Filipino saint and the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith.<br />
<br />
Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a
daughter. He was born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600's and was educated in the
school of the Dominicans<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3958"></a>
there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and
clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the
Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a
calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for
private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished
and educated person, especially at a time<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11571"></a>
when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art.<br />
<br />
For unknown reasons, Lorenzo was accused of murder.
In 1636 he sought asylum on board ship with three Dominican priests,
Saint Antonio Gonzalez,
Saint Guillermo Courtet, and
Saint Miguel de Aozaraza,
a Japanese priest,
Saint Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named
Saint Lazaro of Kyoto, a leper.
Only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan during a time of intense Christian persecution.
<br />
<br />
Lorenzo could have gone to Formosa (modern Taiwan), but feared the Spaniards there would hang him, and so stayed with the missionaries as they landed at Okinawa.
The group was soon exposed as Christian, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki.
They were tortured in several inhuman ways for days.
Lorenzo and the Japanese priest
broke at one point, and were ready to renounce their faith in exchange
for release, but after their moment of crisis, they reclaimed their
faith and defied their tormentors.<br />
<br />
When asked by the governors: <i>"If we grant you life, will you renounce your faith?"
</i><br />
<br />
Lorenzo replied: <i> "That I will never do, because I am a
Christian, and I shall die for God, and for him I will give many
thousands of lives if I had them.
And so, do with me as you please."</i><br />
<br />
On
September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallow by his feet, his body
falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and
suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1143"></a> thrown into the sea.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Novena Prayer to St. Lorenzo Ruiz</b><br />
<br />
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<br />
<br />
V. No one lives for himself; no one dies for himself.<br />
R. We live and die for our God and our Lord, to him belongs all that lives. (Rom. 14:7-8)<br />
<br />
Let us pray:
<br />
God our loving Father, we praise you!
<br /><br />We thank you for crowning our Filipino brother, Lorenzo Ruiz with martyrdom.
<br /><br />Through his intercession, enable us by your Holy Spirit of Love,
to live and die for you and your beloved people, hoping that we may be
transformed day by day into the likeness of your Son, Jesus.
<br /><br />United with him around the table of his Eucharistic Sacrifice,
inspire us to surrender ourselves to be taken by you, Father, to be
blessed, broken, and shared with and for others in love and unity, so
that our beloved country may attain that peace we long for.
<br /><br />We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
<br /><br />Amen.
<br /><br />Our Father
<br /><br />Hail Mary (thrice)
<br /><br />Glory be
<br /><br />V. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary,
<br /><br />R. Help us to ponder and live by the Mysteries of the life of Jesus.
<br /><br />V. San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions.
<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_325608957"></span><span id="goog_325608958"></span></div>beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-67280952594988621992012-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:002012-04-08T07:00:19.945-07:00Blessed Pope John Paul II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cr9a-jMeFeRJ3rvgfIWE5Du5elKNqjm2z3EF32W6io_hVwzuEsoR7uGoNzNTWL9NdUO_b0PoFS1B5jzctu2nixPXmPfLadT_9J0F2vOVDsGmU_PeeNDP3HqXyvVUWIvxM7g2oxUloUT8/s1600/POpe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cr9a-jMeFeRJ3rvgfIWE5Du5elKNqjm2z3EF32W6io_hVwzuEsoR7uGoNzNTWL9NdUO_b0PoFS1B5jzctu2nixPXmPfLadT_9J0F2vOVDsGmU_PeeNDP3HqXyvVUWIvxM7g2oxUloUT8/s1600/POpe.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription"></span><b>Pope John Paul II</b>, with real name <b>Karol Józef Wojtyła</b> (<small>'karol juzef voj'tiwa) </small>was born on May 18, 1920. He reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005. He was the second-longest<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope#Longest-reigning_popes" title="Pope"></a> serving Pope in history and the first non-Italian since 1523.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ObzpvJYtliQCZcEcx22uip3YF30_m2MxsLdxKlmoAeFaoMz96yL09_UD-SJ5-kzBnrl4kjaPiK6wkqHAIwFoeDKHgfIhiF6yRXHGUFJJ_LIVMzM3JKD7k8HfDJ1Dy1hHxGcENGkBcRxK/s1600/Pope1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ObzpvJYtliQCZcEcx22uip3YF30_m2MxsLdxKlmoAeFaoMz96yL09_UD-SJ5-kzBnrl4kjaPiK6wkqHAIwFoeDKHgfIhiF6yRXHGUFJJ_LIVMzM3JKD7k8HfDJ1Dy1hHxGcENGkBcRxK/s1600/Pope1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription">Karol was born
in Wadowice, Poland. He lost his mother, father
and older brother before his 21st birthday. Karol’s promising academic
career at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University was cut short by the outbreak
of World War II. While working in a quarry and a chemical factory, he
enrolled in an “underground” seminary in Kraków. Ordained in 1946, he
was immediately sent to Rome where he earned a doctorate in theology. </span><br />
<span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription"> </span><span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription"> </span><br />
<span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription">In Poland, a short assignment as assistant pastor in a rural parish
preceded his very fruitful chaplaincy for university students. Soon he
earned a doctorate in philosophy and began teaching the subject at
Poland’s University of Lublin. <br /><br />Communist officials allowed him
to be appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958, considering him a
relatively harmless intellectual. They could not have been more wrong! <br /><br />He attended all four sessions of Vatican II and contributed especially to its <em>Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World</em>. Appointed as archbishop of Krakow in 1964, he was named a cardinal three years later. <br /><br />Elected
pope in October 1978, he took the name of his short-lived, immediate
predecessor. Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455
years. In time, he made pastoral visits to 124 countries, including
several with small Christian populations. <br /><br />He promoted ecumenical
and interfaith initiatives, especially the 1986 Day of Prayer for World
Peace in Assisi. He visited Rome’s Main Synagogue and the Western Wall
in Jerusalem; he also established diplomatic relations between the Holy
See and Israel. He improved Catholic-Muslim relations and in 2001
visited a mosque in Damascus, Syria. <br /><br />The Great Jubilee of the
Year 2000, a key event in John Paul’s ministry, was marked by special
celebrations in Rome and elsewhere for Catholics and other Christians.
Relations with the Orthodox Churches improved considerably during his
ministry as pope. <br /><br />“Christ is the center of the universe and of human history” was the opening line of his 1979 encyclical, <em>Redeemer of the Human Race</em>. In 1995, he described himself to the United Nations General Assembly as “a witness to hope.” <br /><br />His
1979 visit to Poland encouraged the growth of the Solidarity movement
there and the collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe 10
years later. He began World Youth Day and traveled to several countries
for those celebrations. He very much wanted to visit China and the
Soviet Union but the governments in those countries prevented that. <br /><br />One
of the most well-remembered photos of his pontificate was his
one-on-one conversation in 1983 with Mehmet Ali Agca, who had attempted
to assassinate him two years earlier. <br /><br />In his 27 years of papal
ministry, John Paul wrote 14 encyclicals and five books, canonized 482
saints and beatified 1,338 people. <br /><br />In the last years of his life, he suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was forced to cut back on some of his activities. <br /><br />Pope Benedict XVI beatified John Paul II on May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday.</span></div>beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-54975315233967767222012-02-18T23:38:00.000-08:002012-10-21T02:57:41.679-07:00Blessed Pedro Calungsod<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Blessed Pedro Calungsod</b> (1654 – April 2, 1672) was a 17-year old Roman Catholic Filipino young migrant, sacristan, and missionary catechist who (along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores) suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam for their missionary work in the Marianas Islands in 1672.<br />
<br />
Through Calungsod's and San Vitores' missionary efforts, many native catechumens converted to the Roman Catholic Church through the Sacrament of Baptism. Calungsod was beatified on 5 March 2000 by Blessed Pope John Paul II and is scheduled to be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in October 2012.<br />
<br />
Pedro was born in Molo, a Chinese district of Iloilo City. He came to Cebu to preach Christianity using the missionary text (<i>Doctrina Christiana</i>) as propagated by the Dominican priests. He then studied at the Jesuit town of Loboc in Bohol before sailing on to Guam.<br />
<br />
Calungsod travelled with Spanish Jesuit missionaries in 1668 to the Marianas Islands, named in honour of both the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Queen Regent of Spain, María Ana of Austria, who funded their voyage. Calungsod and San Vitores went to Guam to catechise the native Chamorros.<br />
<br />
While in Guam, a Chinese merchant named Choco began spreading rumours that the
baptismal water used by missionaries was poisonous. As some sickly Chamorro
infants who were baptized eventually died, many believed the rumour and
held the missionaries responsible. Choco was readily supported by the <i>macanjas</i> (medicine men) and the <i>urritaos</i> (young males) who despised the missionaries.<br />
<br />
On April 2, 1672, Calungsod and San Vitores came to the village of Tumon, Guam to baptise the infant daughter of Chief Mata'pang, who strongly refused.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"></sup> They proceeded with the rites anyway with the
consent of the infant's mother. Native assassins, led by Mata'pang and
Chief Hurao
pursued Calungsod and San Vitores down to the beach and then captured
them. They murdered Calungsod with a spear, while they killed San
Vitores with a bolo. The killers then stripped and mutilated the bodies by a katana sword before tying them to rocks and throwing them into the sea.<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"></sup>
In the Roman Catholic Church, Calungsod's death and Christian martyrdom is also called <i>In Odium Fidei</i> or <i>In Hatred of the Faith</i>, signifying the religious persecution endured by the martyr in evangelizing his or her faith.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Calungsod#cite_note-7"></a></sup><br />
Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified Calungsod on 5 March 2000 at Saint Peter's Square in Rome. Calungsod's first alleged miracle was the healing of a man with bone cancer, which assisted his beatification process though not necessarily due to his martyrdom <i>In Odium Fidei</i> ("In Hatred of the Faith") in accordance to the canonisation reforms of 1983.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Calungsod#cite_note-9"></a></sup> Calungsod was beatified with other 43 individuals who were declared Servants of God.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"></sup><br />
<br />
Pope John Paul II declared:<br />
<table class="cquote" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: auto; width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: none; color: #b2b7f2; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold; padding: 10px 10px; text-align: left;" valign="top" width="20">“</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 4px 10px;" valign="top">...From his
childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and
responded generously to his call. Young people today can draw
encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of
Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a
lay catechist. Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly
accepted the challenge put to him by Fr. Diego de San Vitores to join
him on the Mission to the Chamorros. <b>In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion</b>,
Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the
many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger,
Pedro would not forsake Fr. Diego, but as a "good soldier of Christ"
preferred to die at the missionary's side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Holy See<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_See" title="Holy See"></a> officially approved on December 19, 2011, the miracle qualifying Calungsod for sainthood by the Roman Catholic Church.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"></sup> The recognized miracle dates from 2002, when a Leyte woman who was pronounced clinically dead by accredited physicians two hours after a coronary heart attack was allegedly brought back to life when a doctor prayed for Calungsod's intercession.<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"></sup><br />
Cardinal Angelo Amato presided over the declaration ceremony on behalf of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He later revealed that Pope Benedict XVI approved and signed the official promulgation decrees recognising the miracles as authentic and worthy of belief.<br />
<br />
While the miracle for Calungsod's sainthood has been signed by Pope Benedict XVI and approved by the Holy See, Filipino Catholics are waiting for the Pope to recite the official Latin formula, which will declare Calungsod a saint. It is necessary for the Pope to recite the Latin formula of canonisation after a formal consistory is completed with the cardinals present in Rome.<br />
<br />
After Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Calungsod will be the second Filipino declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic calendar of Martyrology celebrates Calungsod's feast along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores every 2 April.<br />
<br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup><br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup></div>
beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-58744798124561850312012-02-15T23:45:00.000-08:002012-02-15T23:45:09.204-08:00St. John Vianney<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney</b> (8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859), commonly known in English as <b>St John Vianney</b>, is popularly known as the patron saint of all priest. He was a French parish priest<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priesthood_%28Catholic_Church%29" title="Priesthood (Catholic Church)"></a> who in the Catholic Church is venerated as a saint<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint" title="Saint"></a> and is often referred to as the <i>"Curé d'<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars-sur-Formans" title="Ars-sur-Formans">Ars</a>"</i>.<br />
<br />
He became internationally notable for his priestly and pastoral work in
his parish because of the radical spiritual transformation of the
community and its surroundings. Catholics attribute this to his saintly
life, mortification<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortification" title="Mortification"></a>, his persevering ministry in the sacrament<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament" title="Sacrament"></a> of confession<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament_of_Penance_%28Catholic_Church%29" title="Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)"></a>, and his ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Philomena.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Early Life</b></i><br />
<br />
May 8, 1786 was when St. John was born in French town of Dardilly, and was baptized
the same day.<br />
He was the fourth in the six children of Matthieu Vianney and Marie Beluze. The Vianneys were Catholics who
helped the poor and gave hospitality to aint Benedict Joseph Labre<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Joseph_Labre" title="Benedict Joseph Labre"></a>, the patron saint of tramps, who passed through Dardilly on his pilgrimage to Rome. By 1790, the French Revolution forced many loyal priests to hide from the government in order to carry out the sacraments in their parish. In order to attend Mass<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_%28liturgy%29" title="Mass (liturgy)"></a>,
even though it was illegal, the Vianneys travelled to distant farms
where they could pray in secret. Since the priests risked their lives
day by day, Vianney began to look upon priests as heroes. His First Communion<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Communion" title="First Communion"></a> lessons were publicly carried out in a public home by three priests. He made his first communion at the age of 13.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Walsh.2C_Michael_1991_0-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney#cite_note-Walsh.2C_Michael_1991-0"></a></sup>
During the Mass, the windows were covered so that the light of the
candles could not be seen from the outside. The secrecy of his Catholic
practices continued, especially during his preparation for confirmation<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_%28Catholic_Church%29" title="Confirmation (Catholic Church)"></a>.<br />
<br />
In 1802, the Catholic Church was re-established in France, resulting
in religious peace throughout the country. By this time, Vianney was
concerned about his future vocation and longed for an education. He was
20 when his father allowed him to leave the farm to be taught at Father
Balley's "presbytery-school" in the neighbouring village of Ecully.
The school taught arithmetic, history, geography, and Latin. Vianney
struggled with school, especially with Latin, since his past education
had been interrupted by the French Revolution. Only because of Vianney's
deepest desire to be a priest - and Father Balley's patience - did he
continue. <br />
<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup><br />
In 1809, Vianney's studies were interrupted when he was drafted into Napoleon's armies. As an ecclesiastical student, he should have been exempted, but Napoleon
had withdrawn the exemption in certain dioceses because of his need for
soldiers in his fight against Spain.
Two days after he had to report at Lyons, he became ill and was
hospitalized, during which time his draft left without him.<br />
<br />
On 5 January, after he was released from the hospital, he was sent to Roanne for
another draft.
He went into a church to pray, and fell behind the group. He met a
young man who volunteered to guide him back to his group, but instead
led him deep into the mountains of Le Forez, to the village Les Noes,
where deserters had gathered.<br />
<br />
Vianney lived in that village for fourteen months,
hidden in the byre attached to a farmhouse, and under the care of
Claudine Fayot, a widow with four children. He assumed the name Jerome
Vincent, and under that name he opened a school for village children. Since the harsh weather isolated the town during the winter, the deserters were safe from gendarmes.
However, after the snow melted, gendarmes came to the town constantly,
searching for deserters. During these searches, Vianney hid inside
stacks of fermenting hay in Fayot's barn.<br />
<br />
An Imperial decree proclaimed
in March 1810 granted amnesty to all deserters,
which enabled Vianney to go back legally to Ecully, where he resumed
his studies. He was tonsured in 1811, and in 1812 he went to the minor
seminary at Verrieres. In autumn of 1813, he was sent to major seminary
at Lyons. Considered too slow, he was returned to Father Balley.
However, father Balley persuaded the vicars general that Vianney's piety
was great enough to compensate for his ignorance, and the seminarian
received minor orders and the subdiaconate on July 2, 1814, was ordained
deacon in June 1815, and was ordained priest August 12, 1815 in the Couvent des Minimes de Grenoble. He said his first Mass the next day, and was appointed assistant to Fr Balley in Ecully.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="editsection"></span> <i><b><span class="mw-headline" id="Cur.C3.A9_of_Ars">Curé of Ars</span></b></i><br />
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In 1818, shortly after the death of Father Balley, Jean-Marie Vianney
was appointed parish priest of the parish of Ars, a town of 230.<br />
<br />
A few years later, he founded an orphanage for destitute girls,
called "The Providence" which was successful, however it was closed in
1847.<br />
<br />
As parish priest, Vianney realized that the Revolution's aftermath had resulted in religious ignorance<a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_ignorance&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Religious ignorance (page does not exist)"></a>,
due to the destruction of the Catholic Church in France. At the time,
Sundays in rural areas were spent working in the fields, or dancing and
drinking in taverns. Vianney was astonished, especially since Sundays
were meant to be reserved for religion. Vianney spent time in the
confessional and gave homilies railing on blasphemy and dancing. If his parishioners did not give up dancing, he refused them absolution.<br />
<br />
Monsignor Balley was Vianney's greatest inspiration, since he was a
priest who remained loyal to his faith, despite the Revolution. Vianney felt compelled to fulfill the duties of a curé, just as did M. Balley, even when it was illegal.<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span class="mw-headline" id="Later_years">Later years</span></h2>
<h2>
<span class="mw-headline" id="Later_years"> </span></h2>
Vianney came to be known internationally, and people from distant places began traveling to consult him as early as 1827."By 1855, the number of pilgrims had reached twenty thousand a year.
During the last ten years of his life, he spent sixteen to eighteen
hours a day in the confessional. Even the bishop forbade him to attend
the annual retreats of the diocesan clergy because of the souls awaiting
him yonder". He spent at least 11 or 12 hours a day in the confessional during winter, and up to 16 in the summer.<br />
<br />
Vianney had a great devotion to St. Philomena<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Philomena" title="St. Philomena"></a>. He regarded her as his guardian and erected a chapel and shrine in
honor of the saint. During May 1843, Vianney fell so ill he thought
that his life was coming to its end. He asked St Philomena to cure him
and promised to say 100 Masses at her shrine. Twelve days later, Vianney
was cured and he attributed his cure to St Philomena.<br />
<br />
Vianney yearned for the contemplative life of a monk, and four times ran away from Ars, the last time in 1853.<br />
<br />
<div class="thumb tleft">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="141" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Jean-Marie_Vianney.jpg/220px-Jean-Marie_Vianney.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="220" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The body of St. John-Marie Vianney wearing a wax mask, found to be incorrupt by the Catholic Church. It is entombed above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars, France</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<h2>
<span class="mw-headline" id="Death_and_veneration">Death and veneration</span></h2>
<h2>
<span class="mw-headline" id="Death_and_veneration"> </span></h2>
On 4 August 1859, Vianney died at age 73. The bishop presided over
his funeral with 300 priests and more than 6,000 people in attendance.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Jean-Marie Vianney in the church of a small village in France</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Before he was buried Vianney was fitted with a wax mask.
Biographers recorded miracles performed throughout his life, obtaining
money for his charities and food for his orphans; he had supernatural
knowledge of the past and future, and could heal the sick, especially
children.<br />
<br />
On 3 October 1874 Pope Pius IX<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_IX" title="Pope Pius IX"></a> proclaimed him Venerable<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venerable" title="Venerable"></a>; on 8 January 1905, Pope Pius X<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_X" title="Pope Pius X"></a> declared him Blessed<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatification" title="Beatification"></a> and proposed him as a model to the parochial clergy; in 1925 Pope Pius XI canonized<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonized" title="Canonized"></a> him, and assigned 8 August as his feast day<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_day" title="Feast day"></a>. This feast was inserted in the General Roman Calendar<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar" title="General Roman Calendar"></a> in 1928 with the rank of Double. He was made patron saint of parish priests in 1929.
The rank was changed to that of third-class feast in 1960, and it is
thus celebrated by those who observe the calendar of 1962 as an extraordinary form of Roman Rite<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_form_of_the_Roman_Rite" title="Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite"></a>. The date assigned by Pope Paul VI<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Paul_VI" title="Pope Paul VI"></a> for the memorial<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_%28liturgy%29" title="Memorial (liturgy)"></a> of John Vianney is 4 August.<br />
<br />
In 1959, Pope John XXII<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII" title="Pope John XXIII"></a> issued Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacerdotii_Nostri_Primordia" title="Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia"></a></i>, an encyclical on Vianney.<br />
In honor of the 150th anniversary of Vianney's death, Pope Benedict XVI declared a year for priests, running from the feast of the Sacred Heart 2009-2010.<br />
<br />
The Vatican Post has prepared a set of stamps to commemorate the
150th Anniversary of St John Vianney. With the following words on 16
June 2009, Benedict XVI officially marked the beginning of the year
dedicated to priests, "…On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 – a day traditionally devoted to
prayer for the sanctification of the clergy –, I have decided to
inaugurate a ‘Year for Priests’ in celebration of the 150th anniversary
of the dies natalis of John Mary Vianney, the Patron Saint of parish
priests worldwide…"<br />
<br />
Pope Benedict XVI placed the Year of the Priest also known as the Year for Priests (June 2009-June 2010) under St John Vianney's patronage.<br />
<br />
There are statues of Vianney in many French churches.<br />
</div>beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-71658643903971832922012-01-14T23:43:00.000-08:002012-01-15T00:34:20.052-08:00Sts. Perpetua and Felicity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="recurso_foto" height="200" src="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/saints/felicita.jpg" width="155" /></div>Saints Perpetua and Felicity were martyrs who died for the faith around the year 203. Their feast day is March 7.<br />
<br />
<b>St. Perpetua</b> was a noble young woman, well-educated and mother living in the city of Carthage in North Africa. Her father was a pagan. But her mother was a Christian. In terms of her faith, Perpetua followed the example of her mother. Despite the pleas of her father to deny her faith, Perpetua did the very opposite, and fearlessly proclaimed it.<br />
<br />
<div class="para"> Pointing to a water jug, Perpetua asked her father, "See that pot lying there? Can you call it by any other name than what it is?" Her father answered, "Of course not." Perpetua responded, "Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am -- a Christian." </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">This answer so upset her father that he attacked her. Perpetua reports that after that incident she was glad to be separated from him for a few days -- even though that separation was the result of her arrest and imprisonment. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">Perpetua was arrested with four other catechumens including two slaves Felicity and Revocatus, and Saturninus and Secundulus. Their catechist, Saturus, had already been imprisoned before them. She was baptized before taken to prison. Perpetua was known for her gift of "the Lord's speech" and receiving messages from God. She tells us that at the time of her baptism she was told to pray for nothing but endurance in the face of her trials. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div>The prison was so crowded with people that the heat was suffocating. There was no light anywhere and Perpetua "had never known such darkness." The soldiers who arrested and guarded them pushed and shoved them without any concern. Perpetua had no trouble admitting she was very afraid, but in the midst of all this horror her most excruciating pain came from being separated from her baby. We know she was married, but since her husband is never mentioned, many historians assume she was a widow.<br />
<div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">Two deacon<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3690"></a> who ministered to the prisoners paid the guards so that the martyrs would be put in a better part of the prison. There her mother and brother were able to visit Perpetua and bring her baby to her. When she received permission for her baby to stay with her "my prison suddenly became a palace for me." Once more her father came to her, begging her to give in, kissing her hands, and throwing himself at her feet. She told him, "We lie not in our own power but in the power of God." </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">When she and the others were taken to be examined and sentenced, her father followed, pleading with her and the judge. The judge, out of pity, also tried to get Perpetua to change her mind, but when she stood fast, she was sentenced with the others to be thrown to the wild beasts in the arena. Her father was so furious that he refused to send her baby back to Perpetua. Perpetua considered it a miracle<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8016"></a> that her breasts did not become inflamed from lack of nursing. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">While praying in prison, she suddenly felt "gifted with the Lord's speech" and called out the name of her brother Dinocrates who had died at seven of gangrene of the face, a disease so disfiguring that those who should have comforted him left him alone. Now she saw a vision that he was even more alone, in a dark place, hot and thirsty -- not in the eternal joy she hoped for him. She began to pray for Dinocrates and though she was put in stocks every day, her thoughts were not on her own suffering but on her prayers<a href="http://www.catholic.org/prayers"></a> to help her brother. Finally she had another vision in which she saw Dinocrates healed and clean, drinking from a golden bowl that never emptied. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">On the other hand. the young slave, <b>Felicity </b>was even worse off for she suffered the stifling heat, overcrowding, and rough handling while being eight months pregnant. It was against the law for pregnant women to be executed. To kill a child in the womb was shedding innocent and sacred blood. Felicity was afraid that she would not give birth before the day set for their martyrdom and her companions would go on their journey without her. Her friends also didn't want to leave so "good a comrade" behind. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">Fortunately, two days before the execution, Felicity went into a painful labor. The guards made fun of her, insulting her by saying, "If you think you suffer now, how will you stand it when you face the wild beasts?" Felicity answered them calmly, "Now I'm the one who is suffering, but in the arena another will be in me suffering for me because I will be suffering for him." She gave birth to a healthy baby girl who was adopted and raised by one of the Christian women of Carthage. Few words were known about Felicity as she has never maintained a diary.</div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">The officers of the prison began to recognize the power of the Christians and the strength and leadership of Perpetua. In some cases this helped the Christians. The warden let them have visitors -- and later became a believer. But in other cases it caused superstitious terror, as when one officer refused to let them get cleaned up on the day they were going to die for fear they'd try some sort of spell. Perpetua immediately spoke up, "We're supposed to die in honor of Ceasar's birthday. Wouldn't it look better for you if we looked better?" The officer blushed with shame at her reproach and started to treat them better. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">There was a feast the day before the games so that the crowd could see the martyrs and make fun of them. But the martyrs turned this all around by laughing at the crowd for not being Christians and exhorting them to follow their example. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">The four new Christians and their teacher went to the arena (the fifth, Secundulus, had died in prison) with joy and calm. Perpetua in usual high spirits met the eyes of everyone along the way. We are told she walked with "shining steps as the true wife of Christ, the darling of God." </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">When those at the arena tried to force Perpetua and the rest to dress in robes dedicated to their gods, Perpetua challenged her executioners. "We came to die out of our own free will<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4861"></a> so we wouldn't lose our freedom to worship our God. We gave you our lives so that we wouldn't have to worship your gods." She and the others were allowed to keep their clothes. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">The men were attacked by bears, leopards, and wild boars. The women were stripped to face a rabid heifer. When the crowd, however, saw the two young women, one of whom had obviously just given birth, they were horrified and the women were removed and clothed again. Perpetua and Felicity were thrown back into the arena so roughly that they were bruised and hurt. Perpetua, though confused and distracted, still was thinking of others and went to help Felicity up. The two of them stood side by side as all four martyrs had their throats cut. </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para">Perpetua's last words were to her brother: "Standfast<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4582"></a> in the faith<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4554"></a> and love one another." </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para"><br />
</div>Prayer: <br />
<div class="para">Saints Perpetua and Felicity, watch over all mothers and children<a href="http://www.catholic.org/shopping/?category=28"></a> who are separated from each other because of war<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=12206"></a> or persecution. Show a special care to mothers who are imprisoned and guide them to follow your example of faith<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4554"></a> and courage. Amen<a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=644"></a> </div></div>beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193319250053173257.post-69824283791688804822011-11-01T03:49:00.000-07:002011-11-01T03:49:12.510-07:00Saints<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
What are saints?<br />
<br />
<span class="nDesc"><b>Saints </b>are holy persons. People who lived Godly lives. They are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness. They are people who are worth emulation, honored or venerated. They are exemplary model, extraordinary teacher, wonder worker or source of benevolent power, an intercessor. They led a life of detachment to material things.</span><br />
<span class="nDesc"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="nDesc">Saints are people who are believed to be in heaven already. Many of them are not known to us. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="nDesc">There are no more than one word that can describe a saint. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="nDesc">For me, saints are my inspiration. They are my guide. A great influence to me.</span><br />
<br />
By writing about them is my way of thanking them for being such a wonderful friend.<br />
<br />
This is my way of remembering their goodness.<br />
<br />
<br />
Today is All Saints Day, the feast of all the saints.<br />
<br />
May we continue to be inspired by them as we remember them, not just today but in everyday of our life. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>beahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583335709689281894noreply@blogger.com0