ST JOHN OF MATHA - 17 DECEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 17th of December

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST JOHN OF MATHA, PRIEST

Saint John of Matha, born of holy and noble parents at Faucon in Provence, saw in a vision when he first offered the Sacrifice of the Mass to God that he was destined to redeem captives from the infidels. Therefore, in accordance with the divine prompting, he withdrew into a place of solitude where he met Felix of Valois, who had been living there for many years. There they renewed the fervour of their prayers, and admonished three times in dreams, set out for Rome and obtained from Pope Innocent III the approbation of the new Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives.

THE FIRST MONASTERY

Then they built their first monastery in the diocese of Meaux, where Felix remained as superior. John, then, returned to Rome with some of his brethren, where Innocent gave them the house, church and hospital of Saint Thomas de Form is on the Coelian Hill.

THEY REDEEMED MANY CAPTIVES

Through letters sent to Miramolin, King of Morocco, the work of redemption was successfully begun. Then John went to Spain, a great part of which was oppressed under Saracen rule, created sympathy for the captives in the minds of all, built many hospitals, and redeemed many captives. He returned to Rome, worn out by his heavy labours, and seized with illness, died in the Lord on the sixteenth day before the Calends of January in 1213.

(From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964 - heading added afterwards)

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

ST VALENTINE, BISHOP OF RHAETIA - 7 JANUARY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 7th of January WELCOME! SAINT VALENTINE, BISHOP OF RHAETIA Saint Valentine (Valentinus) is the patron saint of the diocese of Passau. The Proprium of Passau relates his life story as follows: Saint Valentine came from the seashore and arrived at Batava, today's Passau. Here he wanted to proclaim the gospel to the inhabitants, who were ignorant of the true worship of God, and therefore went to Rome to obtain the necessary authority from the Pope for this undertaking. Upon his return, he invested much time and effort to gain those lost souls for Christ, as the Pope expected him to. Valentine himself thirsted for their salvation, incessantly preaching the Divine word to them. After some considerable time, however, Valentine realised that all the seed he had sown fell on rocky ground. Thus he travelled again to Rome with the request to be sent to another place that had fertile soil. The Pope received him graciously, consecra...

FATIMA APPARITION - 13 AUGUST

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 13th of August Marian Feast Days WELCOME! FATIMA APPARITION - AUGUST 13 The Fatima Children “BUT IN THE END MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH.” But in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me; it will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world. THE AUGUST 13 EVENTS On August 13, the children were in jail at Ourem. The civil administrator threatened to boil them in oil if they did not tell the Lady’s secret. Though badly frightened, they could not think of disobeying our Lady. In disgust, the administrator finally freed them. A large number of people, not knowing that the children had been kidnapped, went to the Cova for the scheduled appearance of the Lady. At noon, there was a loud clap of thunder. Then, according to an eyewitness: “Right after the thunder came a flash, and immediately we all noticed a little cloud, very white, beautiful and bright,...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog