Communio: Saints: February 2011 Archives

Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother

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on February 27, 2011 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

O good St. Gabriel, God inspired you to love the passion of Jesus as it was reflected in the heart of Mary, his mother. By her side, you stood beneath the cross of Jesus, gazing on him as she did, and sharing her compassion. O St. Gabriel, we wish, like you, to grow in love for God and all his people. Remember us in the trials of our life. Remember especially those who are young and in need.

Support us, all our days, by your holy prayers. And when this life is done, may we join you in heaven in the joyful company of Jesus and Mary. Amen.

Francesco Possenti's love of Jesus Christ was mediated through Mary. No wonder that his name in religion would be "Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother."

Francesco Possenti was born on 1 March 1838 in Assisi; he was the 11^th child. On 21 September 1856, Francesco received the religious habit of the Congregation of the Passion (the Passionists) and was given the name "Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother." His love for the Mother of God under the title of "Sorrowful Mother" was intimate, intense and beautiful. She taught him what it meant to be at the foot of the Cross. In few years on earth Gabriel cultivated a profound love for the Christ Crucified. At a young age Gabriel was diagnosed with tuberculosis, dying only days before he could be ordained a priest.

On this date in 1862 at 24 and 6 years a Passionist, Brother Gabriel died. Pope Benedict XV canonized him on May 13, 1920 and declared him a patron of Catholic youth. In 1959, Blessed Pope John XXIII named him the patron of the Abruzzi region, where he lived prior to death. He's also revered by seminarians, novices and those with an abiding desire to be with Christ.

It was through Gabriel's intercession that Saint Gemma Galgani was cured.

Saint Polycarp

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Paul Zalonski

on February 23, 2011 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you really want to know what tradition is look at the life of today's saint. Saint Polycarp had indirect knowledge of Jesus: he had known those who had direct knowledge of the Savior. Polycarp was a disciple of the Beloved Disciple, Saint John the Evangelist, who had converted him around the year AD 80. And from Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, we learn that Polycarp taught him as a young man what he learned about Jesus and the Kingdom from the Apostles, which the Church hands down, which are true. Irenaeus testifies to the seriousness, holiness, and the devotion Polycarp had for Christ.

The Martyrology tells us that Polycarp became bishop of Smyrna and administered the diocese for some 70 years. He defended the Church's orthodox faith against those who taught a different doctrine, especially Marcionism and Valentinianism (the most influential of the Gnostic sects).

From a hagiography

"At Smyrna, the death of St. Polycarp. He was a disciple of the holy apostle John, who consecrated him bishop of that city; and there he acted as the primate of all Asia Minor. Later, under Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, he was brought before the tribunal of the proconsul; and when all the people in the amphitheater cried out against him, he was handed over to be burned to death. But since the fire caused him no harm, he was put to death by the sword. Thus he gained the crown of martyrdom. With him, twelve other Christians, who came from Philadelphia, met death by martyrdom in the same city"

Pius Parsch

The Church's Year of Grace

The 7 Holy Servite Founders

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Paul Zalonski

on February 17, 2011 7:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The collect prayed by the priest at Mass for today's optional memorial of the 7 holy founders of the Servite Order asks the Lord for same "love which inspired the seven holy brothers to honor the Mother of God with special devotion and to lead your people to you." Servites, a 13th century mendicant order inspired by the first Dominican martyr, Saint Peter of Verona, are devoted to the Our Lady of Sorrows and are to live a life of penance. Theirs, like what all Christians live, is a life discipleship with Christ Crucified. The is the key to our salvation. And the Servite founders remind us that following Christ necessarily means bearing the cross.

Wisdom and knowledge stimulates virtue

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 16, 2011 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

God's promise to us is to remain with use for ever.

"Wisdom has built herself a house, and she has set up seven pillars." To man, who was made in the image of God when the rest of creation was created, Wisdom gave the seven gifts of the Spirit to enable man to believe in Christ and to keep His commandments. By means of these gifts, the spiritual man grows and develops until, through firm faith and the supernatural graces he receives, he finally reaches maturity. Knowledge stimulates virtue, and virtue reflections knowledge. The fear of the Lord, understanding, and knowledge give true orientation to his natural wisdom. Fortitude makes him eager to seek understanding of the will of God, as revealed in the laws by which the entire creation is governed. Counsel distinguishes these most sacred and eternal laws of God from anything opposed to them, for these laws are meant for man to ponder, to proclaim, and to fulfill. Insight disposes man to embrace these expressions of God's will and to reject whatever contravenes them.

Office of Readings

a commentary on the Book of Proverbs by Procopius of Gaza, bishop

Saint Valentine

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 14, 2011 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Church's hagiographical tradition (lives of the saints) the Roman Emperor Claudius prohibited young men from getting married because he wanted them for his army. Valentine, a priest of Rome, contradicted the Emperor's wishes and married couples in secret. This act of deviance, and the fact that he helped martyrs at the time of persecution, landed Valentine in prison with a death sentence. He was beaten and beheaded. Saint Valentine's relics repose in the Church of Saint Praxedes (near to the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore). Corresponding with some married couples Valentine would sign his letters, 'Your Valentine'.

Valentine was martyred in 269 at Rome and buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the patron saint of beekeepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, and young people. Valentine is often portrayed with birds and roses in iconography.

As a cultural note, the Flaminian Way is one of the principal Roman roads leading from Rome to Gaul. The road's construction was begun in 220 BC by Caius Flaminius.

Saints Cyril and Methodius

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 14, 2011 7:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

O Cyril Methodius, glorious teachers, with brilliance you taught the Moravians to bless God in their own words, by translating the law of the Lord from Greek into Slavonic. You taught His righteousness. Therefore, the Slav peoples now give glory to God in joy.

Who can proclaim the wonders of the Lord, which Cyril and Methodius did to his glory? They overcame the poison of the Saracens. They tore apart the heavy nets. Their language closed the mouths of the corrupt Khazars with the faith of the Lord. They made sweet the bitter waters and delighted the good people that had sat in darkness.

Stichera at the Praises, Tone 8

Saint Maron

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 9, 2011 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In honor of the 1600th anniverssary of the death of Saint Maron, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI blessed and unveiled a new statue of the saint at the Vatican basilica of Saint Peter's.

For the past year, Maronites and others around the world have been observing a jubliee year called by His Beatitude, Patriarch Nasralla Peter Sfeir. In a letter to the Maronite Church around the world he said, in part,

Our Church was not built after a name of a See or Apostle, but rather took its identity from the radiance of a man and a monastery: the Maronite Church, a Church of asceticism and adoration attached from the beginning to a solitary man, not a man of rank or a Church leader.

The faith lived out by the hermit Maron became the inner strength of a people's history. As for the successive migrations from Syria (in the 5-10th centuries), the Maronites gave them one meaning, that is, giving up land, wealth and comfort in Syria moving toward a poor land where anxiety and austerity prevail, so they could preserve their faith and remain attached to their freedom ... This event is not a simple historical fact among others ... it is the very beginning of a new history, the history of the Maronites.

The Jubilee Prayer

Lord, Jesus, You called Your chosen one, Saint Maron, to the monastic life, perfected him in divine virtues, and guided him along the difficult road to the heavenly kingdom.

During this jubilee year, commemorating 1600 years since the death of Your chosen one, Saint Maron, when he was called to the house of Your heavenly Father, we ask You, through his intercession, to immerse us in Your love that we may walk in Your path, heed Your commandments, and follow in his footsteps.

May his holy example resonate throughout our lives. With Your love, may we achieve that final distination reached by our father, Saint Maron, and carry Your Gospel throughout the world.

Through his intercession, may we attain the glory of the resurrection and everlasting life in You.

Glory and thanks are due to You, to Your blessed Father, and to Your living Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 8, 2011 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jesus left his throne in heaven,

Humbly coming as a slave,

Here his love and his obedience

Were the ransom that still saves:

Strong the song the Church now raises

For this humble virgin's day,

Praising God that, through all struggles,

She was led to Christ, the Way.

As a child torn from her fam'ly,

Made a slave, great suff'ring bore,

And by those who took her childhood,

Named "Bakhita" everymore.

Brought to Italy and rescued

By Cannosian sisters there,

She found Christ and then was baptized,

Lived in service and in prayer.

As the virgins in the Gospel,

Josephine was filled with light,

Daily serving at her convent,

Greetings all with heaven's sight;

Loving all with Jesus' mercy,

Treating each as she would him--

Persevered through pain and sorrow,

Making life her off'ring-hymn.

Glory to the loving Father

Who has made us for his own;

Glory to the Son, who saves

And who lifts us to his throne;

Glory to the Holy Spirit,

Never-ending font of love!

With our saint, the "one most blessèd,"

We raise songs to God above!

J. Michael Thompson

8787D; BEACH SPRING

A previous post on Saint Josephine

Saint Blase and the Blessing of Throats

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 3, 2011 6:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lord, hear the prayers of Your martyr Blase. Give us the joy of Your peace in this life and help us to gain the happiness that will never end.

The Church has few exact details of the life of Saint Blase (also Blaise, Biago, Sveti Vlaho) but we have the experience of his popularity through the centuries in the churches of the East and West. What we know is that Blase was a physician, the Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia and martyr. The Roman Martyrology tells us that he was beheaded in 316.

More info on Saint Blase is found here and here.

The Blessing of Candles on the feast of St Blase can be found here.

The Blessing of Bread, Wine, Water and Fruit for the feast.

From the Golden Legend again:

And when this good widow, which by S. Blase had recovered her swine, heard thereof, she slew it, and the head and the feet with a little bread and a candle, she brought to S. Blase, and he thanked God and ate thereof, and he said to her that every year she should offer in his church a candle, and know thou that to thee and to all them that so shall do shall well happen to them, and so she did all her life, and she had much great prosperity.
Even after imprisonment, he refused to worship the prince's gods, and for punishment his flesh torn by wool combs. He was finally beheaded, martyred along with seven women and two children.

Today, due to the cure of the boy's throat when the boy was choking, Saint Blase is patron against diseases or any other trouble of the throat.

The priest will bless two candles in honor of Saint Blase.

Saint Brigid of Ireland

By

Paul Zalonski

on February 1, 2011 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

O holy Brigid, you became sublime through your humility, and flew on the wings of your longing for God. When you arrived in the eternal City and appeared before your Divine Spouse, wearing the crown of virginity, you kept your promise to remember those who have recourse to you. You shower grace upon the world, and multiply miracles. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls. (Troparian, tone 1)

Lord, you inspired in Saint Brigid such whole-hearted dedication to your work that she is known as Mary of the Gael; through her intercession bless our country; may we follow the example of her life and be united with her and the Virgin Mary in your presence.

Saints: February 2011 Archives

Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother

Saint Polycarp

The 7 Holy Servite Founders

Wisdom and knowledge stimulates virtue

Saint Valentine

Saints Cyril and Methodius

Saint Maron

Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita

Saint Blase and the Blessing of Throats

Saint Brigid of Ireland

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