St. John, born in France in 1601, was extolled as one of the most brilliant students to attend the Jesuit College at Caen.  He worked zealously  to convert his countrymen and was known as one of the greatest missionaries of his day.  He founded the Congregation of the “Priests of Jesus and Mary” whose main purpose was to direct seminaries and the religious instruction of the people.  He also formed the “Sisters of Our Lady of Charity”.  He was recognized as the author of the liturgical devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary by Pope Leo XIII.  He died August 19, 1680.

FEAST DAY:  August 19

BIBLE STUDY

Responsorial Psalm

It is I who deal death and give life.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

b) speaking in tongues

Today’s Question-

What is the Marian feast day celebrated every year on January 1?

Ecclesiastical historians of England believe that Helena was the daughter of Coel, a British King.  An officer in the Roman Army, Constantius, married her.  The Empire honored Constantius with the title of Caesar and he governed Gaul and Britain.  He had to divorce St. Helena and marry Theodora, the daughter-in-law of Emperor Maximian.  Helena was not a Christian at this time.  After her son, Constantine, acceded to the throne, she became a Christian and her son made her Empress.  She was generous with her wealth,  giving to the poor and building churches.  At age 80 she oversaw the building of a church on Mount Calvary which the Emperor desired.  She went to Jerusalem where she sought the Holy Cross.  Excavations  discovered the three crosses.  She built churches on Mount Calvary and Mount Olivet.  In honor of St. Lucian, she beautified the city of Drepanum and Constantine renamed the city Helenopolis.  She died in Rome in August, 328 or 326.

FEAST DAY:  August 18

PATRON OF:  Difficult marriages, divorced people, converts

JEWELRY

Responsorial Psalm

You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

What is not a direct result of baptism?

a) freedom from sin     b) speaking in tongues     c) member of Christ’s body    d) adoption as God’s child

A native of Silesia, which belonged to Poland, he received the degrees of doctor of laws and divinity after study at Cracow, Prague, and Bologna.  Back in Silesia, he was employed in the administration of the diocese.  When Yvo, his uncle, was appointed Bishop, he took Hyacinth and Celas, his nephews with him to Cracow.  Hyacinth joined St. Dominic, along with Celas and two German gentlemen, and he received the habit from St. Dominic.  After a novitiate of only six months, they made their vows by special dispensation.  They returned to Poland, and Hyacinth was appointed superior of their mission.  They received many new members to their order on the way home.  The morals of the city of Cracow were entirely affected by the preaching of Hyacinth.  He traveled to Prussia, Pomerania and many other northern countries preaching and converting many along the way.  He visited some of the convents he had founded over the years even going to China and Tibet.  In 1257 he was back in Cracow at age 72 and died on August 15.  He was known for his numerous miracles.  He was known as one of the greatest travelers of his day.

FEAST DAY:  August 17

VESTMENTS

Responsorial Psalm

O God, let all the nations praise you!

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

b) to plunge or immerse

Today’s Question-

Mary gave birth to other children who are called the brothers and sisters of our Lord

True or False?

St. Stephen was born in 977 at Gran, the capital of Hungary, to parents who had just recently converted to Christianity.  St. Adalbert, Bishop of Prague and Theodatus, a virtuous Italian Count, gave him a thorough Christian education.  When his father, Geysa the fourth Duke of the Hungarians, died in 997, Stephen succeeded him.  He was successful in establishing a solid peace with neighboring nations.  Then his attention was turned to rooting out idolatry in his country.  His subjects rebelled, wanting to keep the religion of their ancestors.  They approached their King, but St. Stephen prepared for battle and by fasting and prayers, he completely routed his adversaries even though their forces far outnumbered his.  He was granted the title of King in the year 1000.  He placed all his forces under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He was a holy man and in the midst of the world he practiced mortification and humility.  He died August 15, 1038.

FEAST DAY:  August 16

PATRON OF:  Hungary

LITURGICAL BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

To baptize literally means ___________________________________.

a) to clean    b) to plunge or immerse    c) to change

Pope Pius XII defined as a truth revealed by god that the Mother of God was taken to Heaven body and soul.  He said that it was fitting that she, who had lived a life of sanctity should go straight to Heaven and not have to wait in a grave for the Second Coming.  Mary waited patiently on earth after Our Lord’s ascension until he called her home.  We share in the glory of her Assumption through the Communion of Saints, of which she is Queen.

FEAST DAY:  August 15

STATUES           BLESSED VIRGIN MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

Elizabeth

Today’s Question-

Devotion to Mary does not take away from worship of her Son. 
True or False?

Born in occupied Poland in 1894.  Entered the seminary in 1907.   Made his vows in the Franciscan Order in 1911.  He formed the Immaculata Movement to spread devotion to our Lady.  Published many magazines and papers and started a radio station.  Arrested in 1941 by the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz.  He volunteered to take the place of another who was to be executed.  He died August 14, 1941.  Canonized in 1982.

FEAST DAY:  August 14

PATRON OF:  Drug addiction, families, prisoners

MIRACULOUS MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

Do not forget the works of the Lord!

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

b) Annunciation

Today’s Question-

Who did Mary visit after receiving the news of her conception of Jesus?

Pontian became Pope in 230, succeeding Pope Urban.  He was exiled by Emperor Maximus to the mines in Sardinia after the assassination of Alexander Severus in 235. He attained the crown of martyrdom after suffering and persecution for Christ that same year.   Hippolytus, a priest was exiled with him.  He was one of the most important 3^rd century theologians of the Roman Church.  Born in 170, he was already a personage of some note when Origen heard him preach at Rome in 202.  He produced Scriptural writings (he wrote the earliest known commentary on Scripture, that of the Book of Daniel) and defended the Faith.  He wrote “Apostolical Tradition” which is the earliest known ritual of ordinations – the equivalent of a Roman Ritual.  After some controversies, he returned to the fold and defended the Church against all her enemies.  He gave his life for the Faith together with Christ’s Vicar on earth.

FEAST DAY:  August 13

CHURCH GOODS

Responsorial Psalm

The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

“Let it be done according to your word.”

Today’s Question-

What is it called when Mary received the news of her virginal conception of Jesus?

a)  Immaculate Conception    b) Annunciation    c) Assumption

Born January 28, 1572 in Dijon, France.  When she was twenty, she married Baron Christopher de Chantal.  He died in a hunting accident in 1601.  They had seven children.   When she heard St. Francis de Sales preach, she recognized him from a vision she had, and was deeply affected.  He became her spiritual director.  He convinced her not to enter the Carmelites but start a new congregation.  After her children were provided for and all put in order, she and a servant, Anne Coste, founded the Congregation of the Visitation.  It was for young girls and widows who were unable to follow the severe ascetic life at that time.  The order spread all over France and more than sixty houses were founded in the next three decades.  Jane experienced many difficulties and spiritual aridity during this time.  She died December 13 and was buried at Annecy near St. Francis de Sales.  She was canonized in 1767.  St. Francis had written his great spiritual classic “On the Love of God” for her and her nuns on December 12.

FEAST DAY:  August 12

PYXES

Responsorial Psalm

How sweet to my taste is your promise!

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

What was Mary’s final response to the angel’s announcement that she would give birth to a son?

Born at Assisi in 1193, she followed her spiritual brother, St. Francis, in a life of poverty.  She became a nun despite opposition from her friends and relatives.  Her sister Agnes joined her and her mother and several other ladies of some high nobility joined them.  She founded the Order of  Poor Clares.  At the death of her father, she inherited a large amount of money and gave it all to the poor.  When her convent was about to be attacked by soldiers, she held the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament at the window so the enemies could see it and they fled in terror.  She died August 11, 1253.

FEAST DAY:  August 11

PATRON OF:  Television, telephone

BAPTISM

Responsorial Psalm

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

Hermits or anchorites

Today’s Question-

We can no longer help the deceased with our prayers nor call on their intercession.

True or False?

St. Lawrence was a Deacon of the Church of Rome.  He was martyred during the persecution of Valerian four days after the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II and his four companions.  His tomb is located in the field of Verano near the Via Tiburtina where Constantine the Great later built a basilica.  Devotion to Lawrence was widespread by the fourth century.

FEAST DAY:  August 10

PATRON OF:  Deacons, comics, vintners

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE STATUE

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) Evangelization

Today’s Question-

Who are those who individually consecrate their lives to Christ and live a life of silence and solitude?