Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

23 May 2023 – Reinstallation of St. Philip Neri’s altarpiece – VIDEO

St. Philip is home again.   The painting for the altar in the chapel dedicated to him at the parish has been restored and put back in its place. Music from Musica Al Tempo Di Guido Reni

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
Comments Off on 23 May 2023 – Reinstallation of St. Philip Neri’s altarpiece – VIDEO

20 May – The “Golden Girl” of Ostia, St. Aurea and a link with St. Augustine’s mom, Monnica

Today is the feast of St. Aurea of Ostia, a martyr from the 2nd century about whom we know nothing for sure, except that she worked miracles, refused to sacrifice to the gods and was murdered in the 3rd c. … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
Comments Off on 20 May – The “Golden Girl” of Ostia, St. Aurea and a link with St. Augustine’s mom, Monnica

A Pope in hell? The curious case of Pope SAINT Peter Celestine V

Today is the feast of St. Peter Celestine, Pope Celestine V, who famously resigned the papacy. This is one of the fascinating people in our Catholic family history. Pietro da Morrone, born c. 1215, in the Molise area of central … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols |
4 Comments

St. John in Oil

Today is, along with being the day of the Swearing of the new Swiss Guards, the Feast of St. John at the Latin Gate.  The Romans call it San Giovanni “sott’olio… St. John in oil”, which sounds like how you … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
5 Comments

30 April (Vetus Ordo): St. Catherine of Siena, Doctrix. She has an immensely important message for our time.

Today is 30 April and in the traditional calendar it is the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctrix of the Church. In the Novus Ordo her feast falls on 29 April (her dies natalis). She was canonized by a … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA, Sin That Cries To Heaven | Tagged ,
3 Comments

New online course on “St. Edith Stein as Modern Witness”

The great folks at The Catholic Thing have been holding online courses.  For example, there were courses with Robert Royal on Dante’s Divine Comedy, on Augustine’s City of God and on Thomas More’s Utopia. They are now going to have … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged
Comments Off on New online course on “St. Edith Stein as Modern Witness”

“Avaunt and defiance!” A limerick on a feast day.

My old pastor Msgr. Richard Schuler used to trot out this limerick on this Feast of St. Richard. There was an old Bishop of Chichester, Who said thrice (the Latin for which is ‘ter’), “Avaunt and defiance, Foul spirit called … Read More

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

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me…” The mighty Lorica of Saint Patrick

During these dark days, we can benefit from the use of this prayer, called the Breastplate, or Loríca of St. Patrick, “The Cry of the Deer” (Latin Lorica is pronounced lo-REE-ka).  It is said that St. Patrick (+461) sang this when an … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Si vis pacem para bellum! | Tagged
6 Comments

7 March – OLDIE PODCAzT 141: Two Prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas and a 1st class relic

Today is the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, the only saint mentioned in Canon Law apart from feasts.  Canon Law requires that seminarians be formed especially according to the thought of St. Thomas.  HA! Remember how Aquinas … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
Comments Off on 7 March – OLDIE PODCAzT 141: Two Prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas and a 1st class relic

27 Feb – St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows: Patron of seminarians, hand-gunners, marksmen

Today we celebrate a wonderful saint. 27 February is the feast of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, Gabriel Possenti, according to the calendar of the Novus Ordo. In the older, traditional Missal we find that 28 February was … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
3 Comments

10 February – José de Jesús Sánchez del Río, Martyr: “Tell Christ the King I shall be with him soon.”

Today is the Feast of José Sánchez del Río. I would very much like a relic of this wonderful saint.  Anyone? I suspect many people, perhaps even among the readers here, have convinced themselves that the persecution of the Church … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Religious Liberty, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
3 Comments

8 February: St. Josephine Bakhita, Daughter of St. Magdalene

J.R.R. Tolkien’s concept of eucatastrophe runs strong with the Catholic “thing”.   We Catholics know that there are some catastrophic events which produce unexpected blessings.  Usually with a lot of pain along the way.   O Felix Culpa! I am trusting God … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
1 Comment

5 January: St. Telesphorus and an old friend

In the Novus Ordo calendar it is the Feast of St. John Neumann (+1860) and also of St. Edward the Confessor (+1066). However, it is also the Vigil of Epiphany and feast of St. Telesphorus (c. 137).  St. Irenaeus says … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: When can people begin to ask for Pope Benedict’s intercession?

This question comes from a comment under another post, but it stands on its own. From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, quick question? I too believe that Benedict is a saint in heaven. Of course, when someone dies (including a pope), … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Benedict XVI, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
11 Comments

The prayer book of St. Thomas Becket

Here is something from 2016 which remains fascinating to this day. The other day I read about St. Theresa of Avila’s book that had the famous poem written in the margin, perhaps by St. John of Avila.  And years ago … Read More

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

27 Dec – St. John Evangelist and St. Fabiola and Card. Wiseman about Protestantism and the Bible

Today, being the Feast of the Evangelist John, we have a special blessing for wine and other libations.  I wrote about that HERE.  We have this blessing because of an assassination attempt.    There was an attempt on the life … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols |
1 Comment

26 Dec: St. Stephen the Protomartyr, the Archconfraternity, of…

In addition to Boxing Day, and the day good King Wenceslaus went out, it is the feast of St Stephen. I hope all your snow is neat and crisp and even. For my part I am, at the time this … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA, The Coming Storm | Tagged
1 Comment

Old Testament Prophets in the Church’s calendar: Like the Lord on the road to a Christmasy Emamaus

Today is 21 December, the Winter Solstice and the Feast of the Old Testament Prophet St. Micah. Since the beginning of December, Holy Mother Church has been imitating the Lord on the Road to Emmaus. She has been reminding us … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged , ,
10 Comments

St. Thomas and the beating, living, healing, Heart of Love.

Here is something that I wrote a while back. Since today in the Vetus Ordo calendar is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, I figured that it might be good to share for those who haven’t seen it. […] … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
1 Comment

Advent Ember Week and the pivotal Feast of St. Lucy, the “darkest day”

13 December was the darkest day – with the least sunlight – of the old Julian calendar. Today in the Gregorian calendar is the feast of St. Lucy, whose name from the Latin lux, for “light”, reminds us who dwell in … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
1 Comment