catholicfeastday

*** *** *** “And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!… He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.'” (Lk 1:28,32-33)

— The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated as one of the highest ranking liturgical feasts. Mary’s consent to God’s Word — that she would be Mother of the incarnate Son of God — played a crucial role in the redemptive work of her Son, Jesus Christ, for all of humanity.

Although exact dates of the events in St. Patrick’s life are uncertain, early tradition credits the popular saint with converting a largely pagan society in Ireland to Christianity during the fifth century. Born in Roman Britain, when he was about 16, St. Patrick was captured by pirates and brought to Ireland. He would spend six years in captivity as a slave before escaping and returning to his homeland. When back home he studied for the priesthood and would later be ordained a bishop before heading back to Ireland. His mission was to convert the land to Christianity and build churches across the country. St. Patrick wrote in his surviving work “Confession” that his time spent in captivity greatly influenced his spiritual growth and strengthened his prayer life.

~ “O God, who chose the Bishop Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the peoples of Ireland, grant, through his merits and intercession, that those who glory in the name of Christian may never cease to proclaim your wondrous deeds to all. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily […]

St. John of God (1495– 1550) was a farmer and soldier, before having a profound conversion experience at the age of forty. Reflecting on his life he vowed to follow the word of God and from then on lived at the service of the sick in Granada, Spain. Behind John’s outward acts of concern and love for the sick and the poor was a deep interior prayer life and spirit of humility. He founded what would become known as the Order of Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, a congregation devoted to the infirm.

~ “O God, who filled Saint John of God with a spirit of compassion, grant, we pray, that, giving ourselves to works of charity, we may merit to be found among the elect in your Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

Perpetua, a young mother of Carthaginian nobility, and Felicity, a slave woman imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, were martyred during the persecution of Emperor Severus in 203. Along with their Christian companions, they were sent to the public games in the Carthage arena. Although details of early martyrs are often unclear, a true record exists attesting to the courage of these two saints, known as “The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity.”

~ A passage from St. Perpetua’s account in captivity, while separated from her baby: “… I was very much afraid, because I had never felt such darkness. O terrible day! O the fierce heat of the shock of the soldiery, because of the crowds! I was very distressed by my anxiety for my infant… ” […]

Born in 1458, St. Casimir was the son of King Casimir IV and Queen Elizabeth, monarchs of Poland and Lithuania. In contrast to other members of the royal court, St. Casimir preferred a life of asceticism and prayer. He was educated by Fr. John Dlugosz, the historian and diplomat whose deep piety and political expertise would greatly influence Casimir in his upbringing. Known for his material charity to the poor, St. Casimir was a compassionate young man with great devotion and love for the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

~ In 1984, at the 500th anniversary commemorating St. Casimir’s death, St. John Paul II said, “His life of purity and prayer beckons you to practise your faith with courage and zeal, to reject the deceptive attractions of modern permissive society, and to live your convictions with fearless confidence and joy.”

St. Katharine was the founder of the congregation of missionary nuns, dedicated to the welfare of American Indians and African Americans, now named Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Born into a wealthy family in 1858, St. Katharine was greatly influenced by seeing her parents practice charity from their own home, distributing food, clothing, and money to the poor. She would devote her life to the impoverished, taking a special interest in the material and spiritual well-being of African Americans and Native Americans. In 1915, she founded Xavier University in New Orleans, along with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. At the time of her death, St. Katharine had used a large amount of her inheritance for her charitable and apostolic missions.

~ “God of love, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Native American and African American peoples; by her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed, and keep us undivided in love […]

St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was close to St. John the Evangelist, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys. In the second century, St. Polycarp was martyred under emperor Aurelius for refusing to renounce Christ as Lord and King. At his trial, he said, “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior?”

~ “God of all creation, who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ from the Proper of […]

This feast commemorates the office of supreme pastor conferred by Christ upon St. Peter and continued in unbroken succession to the present. ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

–“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And […]

Born into a wealthy and prominent family in Thessalonica, brothers Cyril and Methodius evangelized Moravia, Bohemia, and Bulgaria. Their ardent love for Christ would drive them to renounce wealth and status in order to fully commit themselves in service to the Lord. St. John Paul II proclaimed them patron saints of Europe along with St. Benedict of Nursia.

~ “O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that out hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal […]