Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

21 February 2012

Religious Persecution and Martyrdom

Posted on 21 February 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A reader sent me this.
It contains comments made by His Eminence Francis Card. George, Archbishop of Chicago.
In 2010, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago outlined the degree to which he believed religious freedoms (in the United States and other Western societies) … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, Global Killer Asteroid Questions, Modern Martyrs, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The Last Acceptable Prejudice, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

21 January 2012

Agnes: “Shining with the fire of divine love”

Posted on 21 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Let us invoke St. Agnes, virgin and martyr.
O glorious Agnes, chosen by God, though weak,
to make His own might manifest in your martyrdom,
together with the Apostles
intercede before the throne of our Our Father in heaven
and beg strength for the bishops … Continue reading →

Posted in Linking Back, Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , | Comments Off

16 January 2012

Appeal to authorities for Chinese New Year: release of three bishops and of six priests who have disappeared

Posted on 16 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I hope other bloggers will pick this up and share it with their own readers.
Perhaps after reading this you could stop for a moment and say a Memorare for the missing priests and bishops as well as for the softening … Continue reading →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Modern Martyrs, The future and our choices | Tagged , | 4 Comments

12 January 2012

Nigeria: More Christians killed, probably by Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram

Posted on 12 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From CWN:
Gunmen kill 4 Nigerian Christians
Gunmen on the outskirts of Potiskum, a northeastern Nigerian city of 200,000, have killed four Christians who were fleeing the area in the wake of previous attacks. The Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram is suspected … Continue reading →

Posted in Modern Martyrs, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

27 December 2011

St. Jerome on St. John the Evangelist

Posted on 27 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Matins for today’s feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, from the Breviarium Romanum:
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine. Amen.
Reading 6
From the Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians, … Continue reading →

Posted in Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , | 4 Comments

18 December 2011

18 Dec: St. Malachi, Prophet

Posted on 18 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Some people may not know that Holy Church considers many Old Testament figures to be saints.
The liturgical book called the Roman Martyrology contains brief “bios” of saints and blessed celebrated on each day of the year. Some of these … Continue reading →

 St. Malachy, Prophet [6:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Posted in ADVENT, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | 5 Comments

15 December 2011

Feeling safe about being a faithful Catholic, are you?

Posted on 15 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

OMI‘s have a video about their Spanish Martyrs.
There is an odd liturgical moment, in which, during the Mass as it was during the 30′s, the priest turned around at the elevation of the Host.  I think the producers are familiar … Continue reading →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Modern Martyrs, Our Catholic Identity, The Last Acceptable Prejudice, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

13 December 2011

WDTPRS: St. Lucy (reason #7569320 for a new, corrected translation) and Advent Ember Week

Posted on 13 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

13 December was the darkest day of the old Julian calendar.  Thus, today in the Gregorian calendar is the feast of St. Lucy, whose name from the Latin for “light”, reminds us who dwell in the still darkening northern hemisphere … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SESSIUNCULA, Saints: Stories & Symbols, WDTPRS | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

9 December 2011

St. Juan Diego’s miracle

Posted on 9 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Under normal circumstances, for a beatification there must be a miracle which has been rigorously studied and approved by the Congregation for Causes and Saints accepted by the Holy Father.   In the case of Juan Diego, John Paul II decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Too Cool, Pray For A Miracle, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

7 December 2011

7 Dec: St Ambrose of Milan –

Posted on 7 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today is the feast of St. Ambrose, who seemed to bring out both the worst and the best in people.
I am happy to have the company of Ambrose in a special way.  I have a first class relic of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , | 11 Comments

St. Ambrose: copycat, rookie, disliked by St. Jerome

Posted on 7 December 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

St. Ambrose was a titanic figure in the Church in Italy in the 4th century.  Here is a post I wrote some time ago about him and another great figure of the patristic era, St. Jerome.
In the ancient world, invective … Continue reading →

Posted in Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

17 November 2011

Bl. Carl Lampert: ” ‘I love my Church. I remain faithful to my Church and to the priesthood. I am on Christ’s side and I love His Church.”

Posted on 17 November 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I had determined last year that this year I would during Advent read a book Advent of the Heart, reflections by a priest who died in Dachau, Fr. Alfred Delp – a fellow Lutheran convert. (Kindle version. UK book.)  Remember: … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Killer Asteroid Questions, Modern Martyrs, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The Last Acceptable Prejudice, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

10 November 2011

Leo “the Great”

Posted on 10 November 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the newer Roman calendar this is the feast of Pope Saint Leo I, “the Great” (+461). In the older, traditional calendar, his feast is 11 April.
You could perhaps pray to St. Leo that he will intercede with God … Continue reading →

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | 2 Comments

22 October 2011

22 October: Sts. Nunilo and Alodia! Virgins and Martyrs

Posted on 22 October 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today, 22 October, is the feast of the glorious martyrs Sts. Nunilo and Alodia!
Nunilo and Alodia were 9th c. virgin martyrs in Huesca, Spain. They were born to a Muslim father and Christian mother. They chose … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Too Cool, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged | 5 Comments

17 October 2011

“the risk of a despotism freed from every fetter”

Posted on 17 October 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The other day I stood at the place where King Henry VIII was born.  I recall the exhibit at the British Library a couple years back for the centenary of the coronation of that King.  On the way into the … Continue reading →

Posted in New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols, TEOTWAWKI, The Drill, The Last Acceptable Prejudice, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments