Patron Saint of the Day- St. Cecilia

November 22nd
St. Cecilia

Patron Saint of Musicians

While the historical accuracy of St. Cecilia is up for debate, her story is touching and inspiring.

Cecilia was a young woman in Rome in the third century. Betrothed against her will, she fasted and prayed that she would be able to keep her virginity. She told her betrothed, Valerian, that she was able to see an angel, who protected her from harm. She told Valerian that if he was to become a Christian, he would be able to see the angel as well. He believed her and when he returned saw an angel with flaming wings who then crowned the two with flowers. Valerian and his brother were so inspired by this they made it their mission to bury Christians who had been martyred by the emperor.

Cecilia meanwhile converted hundreds through her preaching. Over four hundred people are said to have been baptized because of Cecilia. She was eventually arrested and sentenced to death. The original sentence of being suffocated by the steam and heat in the baths failed, Cecilia was unharmed. She was then ordered to be killed by beheading. The executioner tried three times, but only succeeded in fatally wounding Cecilia. It took her three days to pass.

Reilly's has a selection of medals, statues, and holy cards of St. Cecilia, as well as other loved saints.

Patron Saint of the Day- St. Hugh of Lincoln

November 17th
St. Hugh of Lincoln

St. Hugh and the Swan of Stowe

St. Hugh of Lincoln was a Carthusian in the 12th century. He had a reputation for wisdom, justice, holiness, and sanctity. He often rebuked leaders when they were acting inappropriately. He admonished Henry II for keeping Sees empty in order to keep money in the royal treasury, and he spoke out vehemently against the Jewish persecutions in England in 1190-91. There are stories of him speaking with armed mobs and convincing them to release their prisoners. 

A whooping swan appeared at his ordination as bishop. He befriended the swan and kept it as a pet for the rest of his life. There are tales that the swan watched over St. Hugh as he slept. 

St. Hugh was the first Carthusian to be canonized a saint.

Links of interest:

Carthusian Monks from Chartreux.org

The York Pogrom from BBC

St. Elizabeth of Hungary from Catholic.org (whose feast day is also today)

Patron Saint of the Day- St. Gertrude the Great

November 16
St. Gertrude the Great

St. Gertrude of Helfta

St. Gertrude was a Benedictine nun who lived in the 13th century. She is renowned for her overpowering visions of Christ, and for her spiritual writings and exercises. She is one of the leading women monastic writers and visionaries. Her focus was the unconditional love of God for us. 

St. Gertrude is invoked to pray for the souls in purgatory. Her prayer is said to help release 1000 souls from purgatory every time it is said. 

St. Gertrude's Prayer:

"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 sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

Link of interest:
St. Gertrude's Monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho

Patron Saint of the Day-St. Albert the Great

November 15
St. Albert the Great

Patron saint of scientists

St. Albert was a man of remarkable intellect. One of the first natural scientists, Albert was skilled at biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography, metaphysics, mathematics, Biblical study, and theology. He studied at the University of Padua and received his doctorate from the University of Paris. He was a professor at several colleges in Europe.




Links of Interest:
University of Padua
University of Paris from Catholic Encyclopedia
Prayer to St. Albert the Great from Catholic Prayers

Patron Saint of the Day- St. Martin of Tours

November 11

St. Martin of Tours

Since today is Veterans Day, it is fitting that the saint of the day is the patron saint of soldiers.

Martin was born in 315 or 316 in Pannonia, in what is now Hungary. From an early age he desired to be a Christian, even though his family worshiped the traditional Roman gods. He was made a catechumen at the age of ten, but due to his forced conscription into the Roman army, was not baptized a Christian until he was 18.

Martin performed works of mercy in every aspect of his life. During his forced service in the army, he refused to take a life. He spent much of his service as an imperial guard, rather than in battle. When approached by a homeless man freezing from cold, Martin cut his cloak in two, to share with the beggar. He was later visited by a vision of Jesus wearing half of the cloak.

Martin worked throughout his life Martin spoke out for those in prison. He protested state sanctioned torture and the murder of criminals. He spoke to leaders and prison keepers and convinced them to free their prisoners. While he went door to door evangelizing people for Christianity, he spoke fervently against capital punishment and imprisonment for heresy, maintaining that it was a spiritual matter and should be left to the church.

St. Martin’s monastic life style and prayerful meditation led him to have many visions. For a more detailed account of his life visit: Catholic.org

Links of Interest:

St. Martin's Bags from Catholic Cuisine

An explanation of St. Martin's Day celebrations in Germany from Travels Through Germany

Patron Saint of the Day-St. Leo the Great

November 10th
St. Leo the Great

Raphael's painting The Meeting between Leo the Great and Attila

St. Leo the Great was the first pope ever to be bestowed with the title "The Great". He was pope from 440-461, and is the tenth longest-reigning pope. 

Pope Leo was born in Tuscany in the year 400. He is best known for his meeting with Attila the Hun and persuading Attila to turn back from invading Italy. Raphael's depiction of this meeting can be seen in the image above. He also convinced the Vandals who had lay siege to Rome to cease looting and pillaging the city under their occupation. St. Leo the Great was instrumental in cementing the papacy as the ultimate authority of the Catholic Church, citing that the Church was built on Peter (Matthew 16:16-19). He left many significant writings and documents and is considered a father of the Church.

Links of Interest:

St. Leo and the Petrine Doctrine from Fordham.edu

More information on St. Leo the Great from doctorsofthecatholicchurch.com

Related Books at Reilly's:

Church Fathers and Teachers:
From Saint Leo the Great to Peter Lombard
By Pope Benedict XVI

Hardcover
211 pages
$16.95

The Fathers of the Church:
An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
By Mike Aquilina

Paperback
289 pages
$13.95

Patron Saint of the Day- November 8th

November 8th

St. Castorius

Quattro Santi Coronati (The Four Crowned Saints) by Nanni di Banco

St.  Castorius was one of a group of martyred artisans sometimes called the Four Crowned Saints. The others were named Symphorian, Claudius, and Nicostratus. They were a group of sculptors and carvers that lived under the rule of Emperor Diocletian.  They were commissioned to do carvings for the Emperor, however they refused to make a carving of the Greek god, Aesculapius, god of medicine and healing. While Diocletian accepted this, when the four refused to make sacrifices to the god, Diocletian had them killed by locking them in lead coffins and throwing them in a river.

Castorius is the patron saint of sculptors.

Links of interest:

Emperor Diocletian from roman-emperors.org

More information on Diocletian and the Diocletian persecutions from Catholic Encyclopedia 

Patron Saint of the Day- November 5th

November 5th
Sts. Elizabeth and Zachariah

Elizabeth and Zachariah are Biblical saints and the parents of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was descended from the line of Aaron, and Zachariah was a priest. Both were good people who wished for a child, even into advanced age.

The Angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah and announced that he and Elizabeth would have a son and name him John. Zachariah questioned and did not believe the angel, and so was struck dumb until John's naming day when he insisted that they call the boy John, even though he had no relatives with that name. He prophesied John's mission as the Baptizer by saying,

" And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Luke 1:76-79

Elizabeth was the first to hear of the Virgin Mary (her kinswoman) being pregnant with the Messiah. Her words to Mary are now part of the Hail Mary prayer. Mary's response to her is a beautiful prayer of joy that we now call the Magnificat.


Links of Interest:
The Hail Mary Prayer from About.com
The Magnificat Prayer from Women for Faith and Family

Patron Saint of the Day- November 4th

November 4th
St. Charles Borromeo

St. Charles was born in Italy to Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret Medici. His uncle was Pope Pius IV. He began his studies at the Benedictine abbey of Sts. Gratian and Felinus when he was twelve years old.

When he was older, St. Charles served as a legate on diplomatic missions for Pope Pius the IV and was instrumental in reconvening the Council of Trent. When the Count died, Charles declined to take his place as leader of the family, choosing instead to be ordained a priest. That same year he became Bishop of Milan, and oversaw the creating of the catechism, breviary, and missal called for by the Council of Trent.

He eventually became Bishop of Trent and made drastic changes there to improve the manners and morality. He reorganized the diocese to make it one of the most effective in the area, instituting seminaries, confraternities, and aiding colleges. He created a society of secular priests (now called the Oblates of St. Charles) and brought many lapsed Catholics back to the faith.

His feast day is November 4th, and he is the patron saint of learning and the arts.

Links of Interest:
Explanation of the Council of Trent at the Catholic Encyclopedia
Canons and decrees of the Council of Trent at Hanover College

Prayer of St. Charles from St. Charles Borromeo Church in Picayune, MS

Almighty God, you have generously made known to human beings the mysteries of

your life through Jesus Christ your Son in the Holy Spirit.
Enlighten my mind to know these mysteries which your Church treasures and
teaches.
Move my heart to love them and my will to live in accord with them.
Give me the ability to teach this Faith to others without pride, without
ostentation, and without personal gain.
Let me realize that I am simply your instrument for bringing others to the
knowledge of the wonderful things you have done for all your creatures.
Help me to be faithful to this task that you have entrusted to me.
Amen.

Patron Saint of the Day- Martin de Porres

November 3rd

St. Martin de Porres

St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. His mother was a former slave from Panama, his father from Spain. St. Martin's greatest desire was to be a missionary and martyr, initially he was not even allowed to be a full friar, due to the racial constraints of his order. Martin joined the Dominicans as a servant at the age of fifteen and performed many tasks at the Dominican friary in Lima. He cared for animals, the sick, and orphans. He did farm labor and his work there as a barber is why he has been named the patron saint of barbers.

Martin fasted and did penance constantly. He could fly, bi-locate, and pass through locked doors to heal the sick. Eventually his piety and miracles surrounding him convinced the friars to make him a full Dominican brother, in spite of his skin color. At one point when his friary was in debt, Martin urged them to sell him as a slave to earn the money they needed. They did not. 

From Wikipedia: "One day an aged beggar, covered with ulcers and almost naked, stretched out his hand, and Saint Martin, seeing the Divine Mendicant in him, took him to his own bed. One of his brethren reproved him. Saint Martin replied: “Compassion, my dear Brother, is preferable to cleanliness."

St. Martin De Porres Prayer From mycatholictradition.com
O GOD, 
Who has given us
In Your humble Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The model of all virtue
And perfection,
Grant to us
The virtue of humility.

We think so little of You
Because we are
So full of ourselves.

We cannot love You more
Until humility shows us
Our own nothingness
And makes us rejoice
In our complete
Dependence upon You.

You have given to the world
a glorious apostle of humility:
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES.

Guide us by his example
And strengthen
Us through his intercession
In our efforts
To conform our hearts
To the humble Heart
Of Your crucified Son.

May the glory of sainthood
Which you have
Deigned to bestow
Upon Brother Martin
Draw the world closer
And closer to You.

Renew, O Lord, in these days
When pride and forgetfulness
Of You are so widespread,
The wonders which You performed
Through Your humble servant
During his lifetime.

Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (3 times each.)

You can order the icon pictured above, and other icons of the saints at Reilly's. 

Call 1-800-635-5190  for information.

Patron Saint of the Day- October 27

October 27th

St. Frumentius

Patron saint of Ethiopia. 

Frumentius was a Phonecian from Tyre. When he was a boy, he and his brother were captured off of a ship on its way to Abyssinia. The crew was massacred and Frumentius and his brother given as slaves to the king of Axum. After the king's death, the men were freed, but the queen asked Frumentius to stay and teach the young prince until he was old enough to rule. Frumentius stayed until the prince was of age.

Frumentius convinced St. Athanasius to send priests to Abyssinia and worked extensively to convert the natives to Christianity. He encouraged public worship of Christians in open meeting places, and build several churches. He was consecrated bishop of Abyssinia in 328 A.D. The people called him "our father" and Abyssinian tradition credits Frumentius with the first translation of the New Testament into Ethiopian.

Links of Interest: 

Overview of Abyssinia and Christianity from the Catholic Encyclopedia

Ethiopian recipes 

History of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia

Image credit: www.christopherklitou.com

Patron Saint of the Day- October 26

October 26th
St. Rusticus


St. Rusticus was a bishop of Narbonne, France. He was a correspondent with St. Jerome and Pope Leo I. While not much is known of him, we do know that he attended the First Council at Ephesus and was a champion against the Arian heresy, a belief that Jesus was not God, and a point of debate during the Council of Nicaea.

One of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of St. Rusticus was his humanity and struggle against hopelessness. While he worked to put a stop to the spreading Arian beliefs in Gaul, he could not. An Arian bishop was even installed in Narbonne. Eventually Rusticus' disillusionment over the fighting between Catholics led to Rusticus wishing to step down from being a bishop. Pope Leo I convinced him to remain. Even though he was discouraged, St. Rusticus spent the rest of his life trying to consolidate the Catholics in Gaul.

Links of Interest:
An explanation of Arianism at wikipedia.
Information on the Nicene Creed 
Gospel reading: Lk 13:18-21

Patron Saint of the Day- October 25

As All Saint's Day approaches, we are beginning a new blog feature, the patron saint of the day.

October 25th
Sts. Crispin & Crispinian

These brother saints were Roman missionaries to the Celts of Gaul. They are most renowned for being shoemakers and leather workers at night to earn money to live on and help the poor, while preaching the gospel during the day.

They are the patron saints of shoemakers, leather workers, saddlers, and tanners.

Links of Interest:
Shakespeare's "St. Crispin's Day Speech" from Henry V
Other saints with this feast day: Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria

Image credit: http://www.catholicculture.org