Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

14 June – Elisha, Old Testament Prophet: This bears attention!

Today is the commemoration of St. Elisha, prophet, called also Eliseus.  He was the disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-21).  When Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven in the fiery chariot, Elisha asked for a double portion … Read More →

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13 June: St. Anthony of Padua, Confessor and Doctor

COLLECT (Novus Ordo): Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui populo tuo beatum Antonium praedicatorem insignem dedisti, eumque in necessitatibus intercessorem, concede, ut, eius auxilio, christianae vitae documenta sectantes, in omnibus adversitatibus te subvenientem sentiamus. This prayer was of new composition for the … Read More →

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“Katonda!” The Feast of St Charles Lwanga, Martyr. A patron saint for LGBT

“Katonda!” This year, using the Traditional Missale Romanum, we celebrate today the Feast of St. Charles Lwanga.  The decree Cum sanctissima allows for the celebration of Saints canonized after 1962 provided that the day is not some feast that would … Read More →

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA, Sin That Cries To Heaven |
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30 May – St. Joan of Arc, Virgin: Martyrology, Marvelous reading, Movies

It is not only the Feast of Corpus Christi (the real feast, although I don’t object to its transfer or observance to Sunday), it is the Feast of St. Joan of Arc. St. Joan is a great model for young … Read More →

Posted in Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA |
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23-25 May – Triduum for the Feast of St. Philip Neri – Litany and Prayer of Card. Baronio

At my adoptive parish in Rome, where St. Philip Neri estabished the historically important Archconfraternity of the Pilgrims and Convalescents, it is time for the Triduum before the Saint’s feast day, 26 May. Therefore, the Litany of St. Philip is … Read More →

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9 May: Feast of St. Isaiah, Old Testament Prophet

Today is the feast of St. Isaiah.  Yes, that is Isaiah the Prophet.  Many of you might not know that great figures of the Old Testament are considered saints by the Church, though they are not remembered at the altar … Read More →

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4 April – St. Isidore of Seville, the Internet Prayer and You

I often forget to pray before using the internet. I sometimes fail in charity when using the internet. This tool of social communication and research and entertainment has amazing upsides, but it also has spiritually deadly perils. We all should be … Read More →

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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25 March: Feast of St Dismas – So good a thief that he “stole heaven”

If it were not Monday of Holy Week, today would be Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation, the instant of the Incarnation. However, 25 March is also the Feast of the Good Thief, St. Dismas! Fulton Sheen famously quipped … Read More →

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7 March – Two Prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas (podcast) and a 1st class relic – 750th Anniversary of his death

Today is the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor (+7 March 1274 – 750 years ago at 49 years of age), the only saint mentioned in Canon Law apart from feasts.  Canon Law requires that seminarians be formed … Read More →

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ANNUS BISEXTILIS – Leap Year and You

The other day I had a text exchange with a priest friend asking about why, because it is a leap year, we didn’t celebrate St. Matthias. He wasn’t sure about why the leap year changed the date. I responded that … Read More →

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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