~ Michael is the great protector and defender of the Church. Pope Leo XIII instituted the Prayer to St. Michael, invoking his name for protection against Satan and all evil. ~ Gabriel is the messenger; he announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and the joyful message of the Incarnation to the Blessed […]
— “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” (Mt 9:9)
— Our Blessed Mother endured each of the Seven Sorrows with perfect faith and trust in God; the echo of her Fiat. “… the Blessed Virgin faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself […]
*** In Cruce Salus *** — The Church sings of the triumph of the Holy Cross, the instrument of our salvation: “We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered.” (Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal)
“Mary . . . is interpreted to mean ‘Star of the Sea.’ This admirably befits the Virgin Mother… She, I say, is that shining and brilliant star, so much needed, set in place above life’s great and spacious sea, glittering with merits, all aglow with examples for our imitation… In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, […]
— St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles as mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and also in Acts. According to tradition, he preached the Gospel as far as India and was martyred in Armenia for having converted the king. The saint may have been flayed alive which is widely depicted […]
— “The Blessed Virgin Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our eternal salvation… with complete justice St. John Damascene could write: ‘When she became Mother of the Creator, she truly became Queen of […]
— “Mary taken up to Heaven, ‘By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into the happiness of their blessed home’ (Lumen Gentium, n. 62). Let us invoke the Holy Virgin, that she may be the star […]
— “The Transfiguration invites us to open the eyes of our hearts to the mystery of God’s light, present throughout salvation history… it is Christ who constitutes the full manifestation of God’s light. His Resurrection defeated the power of the darkness of evil forever.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Castel Gandolfo – Sunday, 6 August 2006)
“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” (Jn 11:5) — Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are mentioned in Scripture as being close friends of Jesus. After the death of Lazarus, Martha would profess: “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.” (Jn […]