catholicprayer

*** *** *** “Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and helps us to persevere. A servant of God ought always to be in good spirits. Charity and cheerfulness, or charity and humility, should be our motto.” ~ St. Philip Neri

— So much to say about this influential saint: *Founder of the ‘Congregation of the Oratory’ and ‘Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity’ *Pursued philosophical and theological studies with the Augustinians *Mission work in Rome for nearly 17 years, before being ordained *Engaging and cheerful nature; conversed with people of all ages/societal levels *Brought people […]

*** *** *** Born in England, St. Bede (d. 735) was a priest, monk, theologian, and historian. At the Benedictine Monastery, Bede was “the most observant and happiest of all monks.” He had a passion for learning, writing, and teaching and composed many works of his own, including commentaries on Scripture. His classic title, “Ecclesiastical History of the English People,” is considered one of the best sources for early English history. Because of Bede’s holiness and extraordinary intellect, soon after his death he became known as “Venerable Bede,” a title that would continue through centuries.

— Also on the calendar today as Optional Memorial: -Saint Gregory VII, Pope -Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, Virgin

*** *** *** Celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost, this Feast was established in 2018 by Pope Francis on the 160th anniversary of the Lourdes apparition.

~ Saint John Paul II: “Mary is present in the Church as the Mother of Christ… Thanks to this special bond linking the Mother of Christ with the Church, there is further clarified the mystery of that ‘woman’ who, from the first chapters of the Book of Genesis until the Book of Revelation, accompanies the […]

*** *** *** “In all your actions, seek in the first place the kingdom of God and his glory. Direct all you do purely to his honor. Persevere in brotherly charity, and practice first all that you desire to teach others. By this means, the Holy Spirit will be your master, and will give you such wisdom and such a tongue that no adversary will be able to stand against you.” ~ St. Bernardine of Siena

— Known as the Apostle of Italy, St. Bernardine (1380-1444), was a Franciscan missionary priest and effective preacher. Traveling across Italy on foot, his mission was to revive the country’s Catholic faith and he also encouraged devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, which he associated with the Christogram (IHS). The Feast of the Most […]

*** *** *** “Then they prayed, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.’ Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:24-26) ~ from the Didache Bible

~ We honor St. Matthias, the disciple who replaced Judas. After the Ascension of Christ, St. Peter proposed that an apostle be chosen to fill the place of Judas. St. Peter had a requirement in choosing the new apostle: someone that followed Jesus from the beginning of his public ministry and witnessed the Resurrection firsthand. […]

*** *** *** On May 13, 1917, Our Lady first appeared to three shepherd children in the village of Fatima. The Blessed Virgin would appear six times to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta with a message to pray for the conversion of sinners, peace in the world, and repentance from sin. The final apparition took place on October 13, 1917, with a crowd of thousands witnessing the Miracle of the Sun. In 1930, the local bishop formally approved the apparitions.

~ “O God, who chose the Mother of your Son to be our Mother also, grant us that, persevering in penance and prayer for the salvation of the world, we may further more effectively each day the reign of Christ.” – from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

*** *** *** “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.” (Lk 24:50-53)

— The Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Omaha, and Philadelphia continue to celebrate the Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord on Thursday (May 13). — All other U.S. Ecclesiastical Provinces celebrate The Ascension on May 16, the following Sunday.