Saints: February 2012 Archives

St Gabriel Possenti of Mary.jpegI've always been impressed by the saints and blesseds of the Passionist order. So many have them exemplify what the Christian of today face, Saint Gabriel Possenti and in my opinion help us to strive to be holy.

Lord Jesus, crucified and risen, you taught Saint Gabriel to cling to you alone as Lord and Savior and to find in your Mother a refuge and companion along the Gospel Way. Through his prayers and example, may we too, who honor him, share in the marvelous joys of friendship with you and the Blessed Virgin and come to the Heavenly Father in eternal glory, where you live forever and ever. Amen.

Saints Cyril and Methodius

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Sts Cyril and Methodius.jpgA lot of westerners are not too aware of Saints Cyril and Methodius. However, there's a Polish parish in the Hartford and Bridgeport dioceses and a seminary in Michigan that bear the names of these rather famous saints. So, they are not too obscure but they're not that well-known as they ought to be. In 1985, Blessed John Paul II paid tribute to these two saints in an Encyclical, Slavorum Apostoli, to show the vividness of their witness.

In Russian Orthodox circles, the celebration of Cyril and Methodius is connected with a cultural festival on Salvonic literature. The holy brothers are known for the formation of the Glagolitic alphabet --now called the Cyrillic alphabet-- that was instrumental in the evangelization and education of the Slavs.

Here we have saints not only of great zeal for the Kingdom of God but of culture. The true and orthodox faith the lived and taught is the one we desire, too.

The Church prays

O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession.

Saint Valentine

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St Valentine Aidan Hart icon.jpg
Today is a dedicated in the secular world to Valentine. But the more excellent way, the Church, proposes an observance of a saint whose love for God and others, Valentine, is more noteworthy because it focuses not on the temporal but on the eternal. Indeed, Saint Valentine is invoked for his intercession by young people, for happy marriages, and authentic love. A holy priest, Valentine withstood the persecution inflicted on him by those who did not hold belief in the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Jesus Christ. In many circumstances the Lord healed and cured many people through the intercession of Saint Valentine. Would we be able to do the same?

The 2011 post is here.
The 2009 post is here.
St Giuseppina bakhita.jpg

The Lord has loved me so much: we must love everyone...we must be compassionate!


The Church liturgical memorial today commemorate Saint Josephine Bakhita, a woman from the Sudan who was enslaved as a young girl, purchased by an Italian family, educated by the Canossian Sisters in Italy where she was converted and became a member of that religious community. 


At Mass for Saint Josephine, we hear the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids (Matthew 25); the Communion antiphon is also from that Gospel. Pope Benedict has spoken of Saint Josephine several times in past years. Let us run out to meet the Lord our Saint today did.


The antiphon at Communion


The five prudent bridesmaides were prepared with much oil in their flasks, along with their torches. In the gloom of the midnight, a shout was heard by them: "Behold! the Bridegroom comes! Go out to meet Him, the Christ, our Lord!"

St Paul Miki.jpg

O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess.


The question of who was Saint Paul Miki is dealt with on Rome Reports today. The video gives a brief intro the life of the martyr and his companions.

From the cross, Paul said: "The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain."

The 2011 post on Saint Paul Miki and his companions

The 2010 post on Nagasaki martyrs Paul Mike, et al.

About the author

Paul A. Zalonski is from New Haven, CT. He is a member of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic ecclesial movement and an Oblate of Saint Benedict. Contact Paul at paulzalonski[at]yahoo.com.

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This page is a archive of entries in the Saints category from February 2012.

Saints: January 2012 is the previous archive.

Saints: March 2012 is the next archive.

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