Author Archives: Catholic Fun Facts

One of the most celebrated places venerated by Christians has always been the tomb of St. Peter at Rome.  A splendid basilica was erected over the tomb of St. Paul by Emperor Constantine.  Another basilica was errected on the Ostian Way where St. Paul suffered martyrdom.  St. Sylvester consecrated both of them. After the basilica of St. Peter was destroyed, it was rebuilt in a more imposing style and newly consecrated in 1626.  The basilica of St. Paul was destroyed by fire and was also rebuilt and newly consecrated by Pius IX in 1854.  Cardinals and Bishops who were in Rome to attended the ceremonies connected with the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception were also present for the consecration of the Basilica.  The anniversaries of both dedications are united and form the object of today’s feast.

FEAST DAY: November 18

BIBLE STUDY

Responsorial Psalm

 I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

b) The apostolic faith

Today’s Question-

Jesus’ prayer was not always humble and trusting before his Father.

True or false?

St. Elizabeth, the daughter of King Alexander II of Hungary, was born in 1207. She was sent, at the age of 4, to the court of Landgrave of Thuringia for her education.  She was betrothed to their infant son.  She grew in piety as she aged and in 1221, she married Louis of Thuringia.  She lead an austerely simple life, despite her position in court.  She practiced penance, and devoted herself to works of charity.  Her husband was inclined to religion and highly esteemed her virtue.  He encouraged her in her exemplary life.  They had three children.  Louis was killed while fighting with the Crusaders, and Elizabeth left the court.  She made arrangements for the care of her children and became a tertiary of St. Francis.  She built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and devoted herself to the care of the sick until her death at age 24 in 1231.

FEAST DAY:  November 17

PATRON OF:  Bakers, homeless

E-BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

The importunate friend–Luke 11:15-13

The persistent widow and the judge–Luke 18:1-8

The Pharisee and the tax collector–Luke 18:9-14

Today’s Question-

The Church’s prayer is founded on what?

a) the present memory of Jesus   b) the apostolic faith   c) the lives of the saint

Born in Hungary in 1045, the grand-niece of Edward the Confessor.  King Edward the Exile was her father, a Scottish nobleman and a Hungarian princess was her mother. About 1070 she became the Queen of Malcolm III.  She had eight children, and she was devoted to the spiritual perfection of her children.  She practiced austere self-denial and was unflagging in her love of the poor. She used her influence in the interests of the Faith. She convoked a synod which drew up regulations for the Lenten fast, Easter communion, and marriage laws.  She was constantly engaged in prayer and founded several churches.  She was continually venerated by the Scottish people after her death in 1093.  Pope Clement X proclaimed her patroness of Scotland.

FEAST DAY:  November 16

PATRON OF:  Large Families

MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

To do the will of the Father.

Today’s Question-

Name one of the parables on prayer in the Gospel of Luke.

St. Albert the Great was born in 1206 at Swabia, Germany.  Blessed Jordan of Saxony, his spiritual tutor, inspired him to join the Order of Preachers.  He studied philosophy at the college Cologne and Paris.  He also taught at Cologne and Paris.  There he became one of the most famous philosophers of his day.  St. Thomas Aquinas was a student of St. Albert.  He was named to the Bishopric of Ratisbon, then retired to dedicate his talents to writing and teaching.  He was a man of immense knowledge and erudition.  He died in Poland in 1280.  He left a voluminous body of his works on a myriad of subjects.  He never ceased to regard the Scriptures as the fount of man’s spirituality or true wisdom.

FEAST DAY:  November 15

PATRON OF:  Scientists

STATUES

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

1. a) Abba

Today’s Question-

When one prays, it is important not just to say, “Lord, Lord,” but also to do what?

St. Sidonius was a native of Scotland.  In the 7^th century, he came in contact with some monks from the Abbey of Jumieges (Normandy) who had been sent to Ireland to ransom Anglo-Saxon slaves.  He was impressed with their life and went back to Jumieges about 1664 and received the monastic habit.  Ten years later, he was sent to the monastery of Herio and to the monastery of Quincay.  In 674 he accompanied St. Audoenus to Rome.  About 685 he returned to Jumgieges and founded a monastery near Rouen.  This became known as the Monastery of Saint-Saens.  It was destroyed in 851 by the Normans.  After the death of St. Audoenus, he was instrumental in founding another monastery in the region.  He weathered many storms, both physical and spiritual, like all pioneering religious. But by clinging steadfastly to trust in God, he helped many souls before his death.

FEAST DAY:  November 14

SPANISH/ESPANOL BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

How did Jesus address his Father in prayer?

a) Abba   b) Yahweh   c) Lord

St. Francis was born in Lombardy, Italy in 1850, one of 13 children.  Poor health prevented her from entering the convent.  She helped her parents until their death and then worked on a farm with her brothers and sisters.  For six years, she taught at a girls’ school at the request of a priest.  Her Bishop requested her to found the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals.  Pope Leo XIII urged her to go to the United States to work among the Italian immigrants, which she and six Sisters did in 1889.  She was endowed with a wonderful administrative ability.  That and a deep trust in God helped her found schools, hospitals, and orphanages in a strange land that flourished in the aid of Italian immigrants and children. She died in Chicago on December 22, 1917.  At the time of her death, her institute had houses in England, France, Spain, the United States, and South America. Pope Pius XII canonized her in 1946, the first American citizen to be canonized.

FEAST DAY:  November 13

PATRON OF:  Hospital Administrators

BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

Luke

Today’s Question-

Jesus had a human need to pray.

True or false?

St. Josaphat was born in Poland in 1580 to noble parents.  He became the first great leader of the Ruthenian Catholics (or Uniates).  The former schismatics had returned to the Church through the treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1595.  He entered the Order of St. Basil at 20 years of age and reformed it, giving it a more active character.  He was recommended to the Pope by his own people to rule over them as Archbishop of Polotsk in 1617 because of his wisdom and knowledge.  He worked intensively for the conversion of schismatics and the reform of his own clergy who were ignorant and venal.  He established the ascendancy of the Uniate Church through his boundless charity and powerful preaching.  Because of this, he was slain by the Orthodox fanatics in 1623 at Vitebak.

FEAST DAY:  November 12

CHRISTMAS & ADVENT

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

d) Despair

Today’s Question-

Which Gospel writer emphasizes the action of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ prayer?

Born of pagan parents in Pannonia (Hungary) about 317. Early in life he became a catchumen and served in the Roman army.  He had a vision of Christ (about 339) after he had given half his cloak to a beggar at Amines which impelled him to Baptism and the religious life.  St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, ordained him as an exorcist.  He had the happiness of converting his mother to Christianity.  For offering public opposition to the Arians, he was flogged. He and St. Hilary built a monastery at Liguge after Hilary’s return from exile. It consisted of a few grottoes in the rock and wooden cells in which they all lived, and it was called the monastery of Marmoutier.  Because of their monastic standard, a number of disciples joined them.  The monastery was known as the nursery of Bishops, such was the reputation of their disciples.  St. Martin labored zealously to rid idolatry from the diocese of Tours and the surrounding parts of Gaul.  He and St. Ambrose zealously protested the putting to death of heretics.  Because of his virtues and sanctity, he was rewarded by an extraordinary of miracles.  He died in 397, well over the age of 80.

FEAST DAY:  November 11

PATRON OF:  Reformed alcoholics

$5.00 ITEMS

Responsorial Psalm

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

What attitude is not characteristic of the Psalms?

a) simplicity   b) tribulation   c) grief   d) despair

He was Born in Tuscany.  He was raised to the See of Peter in 440.  He reigned as Pope between 440 and 461.  In an edict in 445, he persuaded Emperor Vanentinian to recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome.  He confirmed the doctrine of the Incarnation.  He labored strenuously to safeguard the integrity of the faith and vigorously defended the unity of the Church.  He softened the rush of barbarians and has deservedly won the title “the Great”.  He died in 461, leaving many letters and writings of great historical value.

 FEAST DAY :  November 10

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

a) Submissive

Today’s Question-

Only after much debating did Moses follow God’s call to him (Ex. 3:11)

True or false?

It was originally the palace of Constantine, but it was adapted and dedicated under the title “Our Savior” to serve as the church of the Pope.  It is the oldest and ranks first among the four greater or patriarchal churches of Rome.  The other archbasilicas of Rome are St. Peter’s, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul’s outside the walls.  The present arch basilica was built later, on the site of the original church.  It is known as St. John Lateran.  These four arch basilicas represent the four great partriarchcates or ecclesiastical provinces of the world. 

FEAST DAY:  November 9

HOLY WATER FONTS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

Envy

Today’s Question-

What was Abraham’s attitude when he received God’s call?

a) submissive   b) fearful   c) joyful