Not Soiled

So much can be said about the feast day of the Immaculate Conception.  However, I thought this video from a program we are participating in explains it so well.

Holy Heroes link

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of North America.  We praise God for allowing us to have such a wonderful spiritual mother.  May we never forsake her son.

Praise God!

He Gave It All Up...

Today's saint had it all...a successful career, a position in the government, the esteem of the emperor and all the possessions and wealth that come with it.  However, he felt a call that he could not refuse.

St. Ambrose

Feast Day:  December 7
Born: 340
Death: 397
Patron of bee keepers; bees; candlemakers; chandlers
Born in modern day France
Roman Christian family
Bishop of Milan

Ambrose was born to a pious family with siblings who are also considered saints.  There is a legend that as an infant, a swarm of bees settled on his face while he lay in his cradle, leaving behind a drop of honey. His father considered this a sign of his future eloquence and honeyed tongue.

Although his father died when he was young, Ambrose would study and follow in his father's profession.  By 372, Ambrose would be named governor of Milan, second largest city of the empire.  He was a very popular and esteemed member of the court.

However, in 374 a turn of events led to a change in the life of Ambrose.  At this time the bishop of Milan die and a fight broke out in the city as they tried to determine who should take on this role.  Still a catechumen, Ambrose was placed in the middle of this feud between the Catholics and Arians (a heretic group that did not believe in the full divinity of Christ).  Suddenly, a child's voice was heard calling, "Make Ambrose the bishop!"  The crowd agreed that Ambrose should take on this religious role.  He was soon baptized and made bishop within days!

It seems he just as quickly gave up all his worldly possessions and began to learn as much as he could from the writings of the Church Fathers and Scripture.  He had little care for the Arian movement before he became bishop; however, he quickly had the heresy removed from the diocese.  Unfortunately, the Arians would not give up  so easily.  They appealed their position to various leaders until they had the backing of enough to call a general council from all parts of the empire.  A synod composed of thirty-two bishops was held at Aquileia in the year 381. Ambrose led the council, but Palladius was asked to refute the Arian views but did not make himself present.  When a vote was made by the council the Arian leaders were removed from their episcopal offices.  The heresy continued to thrive in the empire and Ambrose would continue to teach the true faith.  He was asked to give over the possession of the basilica, but he refused.  Bishop Ambrose declared:

"If you demand my person, I am ready to submit: carry me to prison or to death, I will not resist; but I will never betray the church of Christ. I will not call upon the people to succour me; I will die at the foot of the altar rather than desert it. The tumult of the people I will not encourage: but God alone can appease it."

He used his gift to learn and express his knowledge as he began to lead the people in the faith.  His preaching caught the eye of a young wayward man by the name of Augustine.  It was through this friendship that Ambrose was able to teach him and bring Augustine (feast day in August) back into the fold.

After many years of leadership, Ambrose retired from his position and died peacefully in 397.
Ambrose wrote much on the Scriptures and Fathers, preached a homily every Sunday.  All of these writings were influential in the future teachings of the Church.  He composed many hymns, promoted sacred chant, and took a great interest in the Liturgy.  He is considered one of the Doctors of the Church.

St. Ambrose, pray for us!

Not Santa Claus!

Today's saint is so much more than what we hear about in the cartoons and sitting at the mall.  I love this saint and it has nothing to do with coming down the chimney!

St. Nicholas of Myra

Created by another mom
from our summer saint exchange

Feast day: December 6
Born 270
Death 343
Patron of Bakers and Pawnbrokers and SO MANY others that it could fill this page!
Greece

Nicholas was born into a wealthy family and the only son to his pious parents.  He was very religious from an early age and according to legend, Nicholas was said to have rigorously observed the canonical fasts of Wednesdays and Fridays. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young and he was raised by his uncle—also named Nicholas—who was the bishop of Patara. Nicholas was tonsured soon after as a lector as studied to become a priest.  During this time, he would also be given the opportunity to live with a group of monks outside of Bethlehem and other sites within the Holy Land.  In 317, While in prayer, he felt that he was being called back to his home.  Upon his return he was quickly consecrated as bishop of Myra.

In 325, he was one of many bishops to answer the request of Constantine and appear at the First Council of Nicaea. There, Nicholas was a staunch anti-Arian, defender of the Orthodox Christian position, and one of the bishops who signed the Nicene Creed.  This was a volatile session, and tradition has it that Nicholas became so angry with the heretic Arius during the Council that he punched him in the face.  Although not a very saintly act, it shows that Nicholas was determined to stop this heresy from continuing.

There are many stories told of his care for his flock.  Many of these stories are miracles that some find hard to believe as they are so extraordinary.  Although these experiences in his life do not make him a saint...it his desire to do the work of God that give him the honor.  Of course, ultimately it is the fact that he is in heaven...we see him as a saint (someone to look to and be inspired for our own faith journey) because of his virtuous life and the miracles attributed to him after his death when devout Christians asked for his intercession.  I encourage you to read some of his stories...the St. Nicholas Center is always a good website to start...and maybe you will see why his life is so much better than any Santa story!

Due to the location of Myra, many sailors came to know about Nicholas and carried stories of his piety and miracles.  It seems that they also carried off his bones as well!  Several churches are known for holding parts of the remains of St. Nicholas.  However, the message of St. Nicholas spread, he is known far and wide for his acts of charity.  Maybe that is why he is known so well as a giver of gifts and his love for youth.  It makes sense that he would have a special connection to Christmas as well.  His life inspires to all give a little during this time.  I pray that the gifts of faith will far out reach the commercial gift giving found during this time of year!

We were especially blessed today at Mass.  As has become a part of our Mass attendance, we brought along our saint peg doll.  Although our little saintly pegs have made it onto the small chapel altar on during daily Mass, we have never felt that they should be on the Sunday altar.  Well, Father Hall asked that we bring the doll forward to place on the altar this morning (read more of this on my Other blog)!  What a wonderful surprise!  I was a little embarrassed, however, as this little peg saint was not my creation (another mom from our saint exchange last summer), so I did not deserve any praise.  Besides, I create the saint dolls to help us remember the saints not to be recognized in Mass.

Later in the day, our meal was a nod to this Greek saint as well...we made our delicious Greek-style pizza!

We are truly blessed by the presence of St. Nicholas to remind us of our faith in Jesus!

St. Nicholas, pray for us!

Saint of the Tower

Today's saint might make you think of the fairy tale Rapunzel; however, she chose to live her life in prayer.

St. Barbara of Nicomedia

Feast Day:  December 4
Born: ??
Death: 267
Patron of Army field artillery
Pagan family
Turkey

Born to a pagan family, Barbara spent many of her years locked in a tower by her father.  He was concerned about her being influenced by the outside world.  It seems he could not take away her free will, as she secretly became a Christian and refused an offer of marriage that her father presented her.

Furthermore, her father decided to create a wall around her dwelling to allow her a place to bathe.  He left for an extended trip and left his workers to build the wall.  Barbara had the plans altered to include a third window so she could be reminded of the Trinity.  When her father returned he asked of the third window, so Barbara explained that she was a Christian and the importance of the three windows.  He was outraged and drew his sword to kill her; however, she prayed and an opening in the wall appeared and allowed her to escape.  Barbara fled to a field but he father found her with the assistance of a shepherd.

Her father immediately took her to the authorities where she was tortured.  She continued to hold firm to her faith.  She was thrown into a cell and tortured for several days.  Each night her cell would fill with light and the next morning her wounds would be healed.  Finally, she was condemned to death and her father would be the one to behead her.  On his way home from this deed, he was struck by lightning and killed.

Another Christian obtained her body for burial.  Her grave would become a place of miracles.  St. Barbara is considered one of the Fourteen Helpers.  Her association with the lightning that killed her father has caused her to be invoked against lightning and fire; by association with explosions, she is also the patron of artillery and mining.

This may seem like a pretty fanciful story; however, I just cannot help but believe as the stories of her life have been passed down for centuries with little variation.  It seems to me that the faith of this young maiden was so strong and her prayers so pure that she was able to not put limits on what God could do for her.

St. Barbara, pray for us to have even a portion of your faith.!

Missionary of the East

I find it interesting that today's saint would one day meet with his enemy and realize after great witness to true faith would reconcile and work together to form the Jesuit order.

St. Francis Xavier

Feast day: December 3

Birth: 1506

Death: 1552

Patron of foreign missions and of all missionary works 

Basque Spain

Francis was born into a family with great desires for fame and fortune.  He knew little of the faith other than the weekly trip to Mass with his family. He was a great scholar and would avoid war unlike his brothers, so he was sent off to college in France.  Upon his entrance to the university, he met Ignatius of Loyola.  Ignatius had been crippled in the very battle that Francis' brothers fought against him.  Such a true witness to forgiveness, as Ignatius did not seek revenge.  Instead, Ignatius remembered what he had discovered through revelations and showed kindness to Francis.

Francis on the other hand had no desire to be cordial to Ignatius.  Through persistent use of Biblical wisdom, Ignatius was able to win the heart of Francis for the love of Christ.  Ignatius and Francis, along with others, formed a missionary order that would become the Society of Jesus.  They made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope, and also vowed to go to the Holy Land to convert infidels. Francis began his study of theology in 1534 and was ordained in 1537.  The order would later be approved by Pope Paul III in 1540.  

Francis Xavier devoted much of his life to missions in Asia, mainly in four centers: Malacca, Amboina and Ternate, Japan, and China. His growing information about new places indicated to him that he had to go to what he understood were centers of influence for the whole region. He devoted almost three years to the work of preaching to the people of southern India and Ceylon, converting many. 

Arriving on the island of Sancian at the mouth of the Canton river, he became ill of a fever and would have died abandoned on the burning sands of the shore if a poor man named Alvarez had not taken him to his hut. Here he lingered for two weeks, praying between spells of delirium, and finally died, his eyes fixed with great tenderness on his crucifix. He was buried in a shallow grave and his body covered with quicklime, but when exhumed three months later it was found fresh and incorrupt. It was taken to Goa where it is still enshrined. 

He once wrote of his desire to continue missionary work, "I looked or desired for nothing here but to wear myself out with work and sacrifice my life itself in bringing about the salvation of souls."

We celebrated the feast day with a humble yet delicious French Onion Soup to remember his time at the university in Paris.  We consider this the conversion era of Francis when he came to understand the real meaning of the faith and embrace it for himself.

Martyr for Los Angeles

Today's saint is one of the early saints before Christianity was allowed in the Roman empire.  Her entire family gave their lives for the faith.  Little is known about their lives before they came to their martyrdom.

St. Bibiana

Feast Day:  December 2
Born:  ??
Death ??
Italy

I did not have time to research and write my own account of the saint for today.  I found this record of St. Bibiana:

In the year 363, Julian the Apostate made Apronianus Governor of Rome. St. Bibiana suffered in the persecution started by him. She was the daughter of Christians, Flavian, a Roman knight, and Dafrosa, his wife. Flavian was tortured and sent into exile, where he died of his wounds. Dafrosa was beheaded, and their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, were stripped of their possessions and left to suffer poverty. However, they remained in their house, spending their time in fasting and prayer.

Apronianus, seeing that hunger and want had no effect upon them, summoned them. Demetria, after confessing her Faith, fell dead at the feet of the tyrant. St. Bibiana was reserved for greater sufferings. She was placed in the hands of a wicked woman called Rufina, who in vain endeavored to seduce her. She used blows as well as persuasion, but the Christian virgin remained faithful.

Enraged at the constancy of this saintly virgin, Apronianus ordered her to be tied to a pillar and beaten with scourges, laden with lead plummets, until she expired. The saint endured the torments with joy, and died under the blows inflicted by the hands of the executioner.

An interesting side note...when we were at Mass today, we learned that the cathedral of Los Angeles was originally dedicated to St. Bibiana.  Her body was given the the diocese and she was placed in a glass coffin on a side chapel.  The diocese has since built a new cathedral; however, her body was moved to the new cathedral as well.  We might need to make a special trip to learn more about St. Bibiana.

The Recommitted Saint

Today's saint was highly praised by all as an exquisite speaker and learned man.  He drew the attention of the queen at the age of thirteen.  However, this would not be in his favor when it came to his faith.

St. Edmund Campion

Feast Day:  December 1
Born:  1540
Death:  1581
Patron saint of Wales
London, England

Edmund was raised in a business class family who were devout Catholics.  He attended school and quickly advanced in his education.  He was praised by many for his brilliance and ability to share his knowledge.

However, he took the allegiance to the queen as head of the church of England and became a Anglican deacon in 1564.  This oath would trouble Edmund in the next years.  He would eventually further his studies and recant his oath in 1569.  This decision would cause him to flee the persecutions of England.  He traveled to France and joined the Jesuits.  His vast knowledge would be utilized in the university of Prague.

It was at the university when he was ordained in 1578.  Two years later, he and another priest were sent back to England as missionaries.  His decision to return to England was a dangerous endeavor intensified by his outspoken desire to teach the faith.  He entered England in the guise of a jewel merchant, and at once began to preach.  Edmund would spend the next year conducting an underground ministry,  During this time he wrote his "Ten Reasons", arguments against the validity of the Anglican Church. This pamphlet, in Latin, was printed and 400 copies were delivered to Oxford.  This enraged those who sought him even more.

Edmund continued to preach but was eventually betrayed.  He was arrested by priest hunters and left in London Tower for an additional four months of torture.  He was finally convicted of high treason, and then he was hanged, drawn and quartered.

At his trial, Edmund gave the final response to his sentence:

"In condemning us, you condemn all your own ancestors, all our ancient bishops and kings, all that was once the glory of England — the island of saints, and the most devoted child of the See of Peter."

St. Edmund Campion, pray for us!