Author Archives: Catholic Fun Facts

Bernadette’s parents lost their mill in Lourdes, France through mismanagement and laziness.  When Bernadette was about 14, they could only afford to live in a dank, unhealthy cellar that had once been the town hall.  Her sister said that Bernadette was sickly all her life.  Not only did she have asthma but she ate very little.  The story of her visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, (18 in all) in a grotto known as Massabeille are very well known.  Her family wasn’t sure of her story and Sr. Marie Therese Vauzous,  her teacher, made fun of her.  The police tried to force her to admit that she was lying.  Her pastor also rebuked her for causing such a commotion. Our Lady directed Bernadette to uncover a spring in the grotto and the people who bathed in the spring had miraculous cures.  People begged her to touch them to cure them and offered money for this but she refused.  She entered the convent of Sisters of Charity of Nevers, to get away from this attention.  The Mistress of Novices was Sr. Marie Therese, the nun who had mocked her at school and who still thought that she was guilty of trying to fool the world.  She took final vows in 1878 and shortly therafter she contracted tuberculosis of the bone which is an incurable and painful disease.  To the end of her life Sr. Marie Therese refused to believe that the visions were authentic.

FEAST DAY: April 16

PATRON OF:  The chronically ill, especial asthmatics

ST. BERNADETTE

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Quiz

Yesterdays Answer

God the creator

Today’s Question

Who was the Roman procurator who condemned Jesus to die on a cross?

Legend questions that Basillisa and Anastasia were noble Romans who were converted by and eventually became disciples of  Sts. Peter and Paul.  When the two recovered the bodies of Sts. Peter and Paul after their executions, the two were put in prison and tortured and then beheaded by order of Emperor Nero because they acknowledged that they were Christians.

FEAST DAY:  April 15

BAPTISM GIFTS

Responsorial Psalm

I will sing of your salvation.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Creation

Today’s Question-

What is the name for God who made heaven and earth?

Justin was an avid student of Greek and Roman philosophy but he found them unsatisfactory.  A  chance meeting with an aged Christian who explained the Gospels to him made him realize that this was the only sure and useful philosophy.  After being baptized, he started a Christian philosophical school in Ephesus.  He later relocated his school to Rome and published several books in which he strove to prove that the Christian faith was true.  Justin and six of his pupils were arrested on orders of Emperor Marcus Aurelius who was persecuting Christians.  They were ordered to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods.  Justin replied, “no one in his right mind gives up piety for impiety.”  Justin and his students were condemned and were flogged and beheaded.

 FEAST DAY:  April 14

PATRON OF:  Lecturers

HOLY WATER FONTS

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Blessing God

Today’s Question-

What is the main theme of the first two chapters of the book of Genesis?

St. Martin was a native of Tuscany and a member of the Roman clergy.  He was elected to succeed Pope Theodore in 649.  In a Council which he convened, he condemned the leaders of heresy, the Monothelites, and a document from Emperor Constans was censured.  The Emperor had him sentenced to death or sent East as a prisoner.   He was miraculously saved from the attempt to kill him.  The emperor sent others to seize him while he lay sick and was taken to Constantinople.  After three months he arrived on the island of Naxos.  There he was kept for a year and was subjected to many indignities.  He was put in a dungeon in Constantinople and was persecuted.  He was abandoned by all as they feared being seized.  He died in 655 after a prolonged martyrdom.

FEAST DAY:  April 13

POPE JOHN PAUL II             POPE JOHN XXIII

Responsorial Psalm

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Following the Eucharistic prayer and before communion.

Today’s Question-

Which comes first in the Lord’s Prayer?  Blessing God or petitioning God?

Julius was elected pope on February 6, 337 during a time of turmoil which involved the Arian controversy.  When Athanasius was returned to the see of Alexandria, Eusebius opposed  it and he and his followers elected George.  The Arians elected Pistus.  Julius convened a synod in Rome and neither group attended.  Julius declared that Athanasius was the rightful bishop and reinstated him.  Emperors Constans and Constantius declared that Julius’ actions were correct.  Julius built several basilicas and churches in Rome.  He was pope for a little over fifteen years.  He died in Rome on April 12.  He was famed  for his sanctity.

FEAST DAY:  April 12

POPES

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

When is the Lord’s Prayer said during the Mass?

Born July 26, 1030 at Sezepanow in Cracow, Poland.  He was educated in the schools of his native country.  He attended the university of Gnesna.  For seven years he studied canon law and theology in Paris.  He refused the degree of doctor because of his humility and returned home. He was ordained and was given a canonry by the Bishop of Cracow.  He was known for his preaching and was sought after as a spiritual advisor.  He denounced the King’s cruelties and injustices.  Among other things, the King kidnaped the wife of a nobleman.  Stanislaus excommunicated King Boleslaaus and stopped services at the cathedral.  King Boleslaus killed Stanislaus while he was saying Mass in a chapel on April 11.  He was canonized by Pope Innocent IV in 1253.

 FEAST DAY:  April 11

PATRON OF:  Cracow

FIRST COMMUNION

Responsorial Psalm

 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

Our life in Christ depends on our “hallowing” God’s name.  True or False?

Born to humble parents in Italy.  He was educated in Rheims and was brilliant in mathematics and philosophy. When his teacher, Gerbert, was elected Pope Sylvester II, he received a position at Rome.  He returned to France when Sylvester died in 1033.  He was chancellor of Chartres, overseeing the cathedral schools of the diocese in thie position.. Under his direction his school became one of the most famous educational centers in Europe.  He was later elected Bishop of Chartres.  He had great influence among secular leaders.  He preached regularly at the cathedral and strove to spread instructions throughout the diocese.  He died on April 10,  1029 after nearly 22 years as the episcopate,

 FEAST DAY:  April 10

CONFIRMATION

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

Being active in the world prevents one from being a prayerful person.  True or false? 

Born at Meulan-sur-Seine, France, St. Gaucherius received a good Christian education.  He gave up the world at the age of eighteen.  He became a solitary in the forests of Limoges with his friend, Germond.  He attracted many disciples.  Gradually a community grew and he organized them into St. John’s Monastery.  St. Lambert, Faucherius and St. Stephen of Gramont were trained in this community along with many other holy men.  He was the abbot.  He also founded a convent for women.  He died from a fall from a horse while returning to Aureil from Limoges.  He was canonized April 9, 1194.

 FEAST DAY:  April 9

BOOKS ABOUT MARY

Responsorial Psalm

Glory and praise for ever!

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

We can always enter into contemplative prayer wherever we are.  True or False?

Born in 1751 in France, she exuded exceptional traits of intelligence and devotion early in her life.  She took a vow of chastity at the age of 14.  She worked to support her family who had lost everything.  When she witnessed the attempted assassination of her father in 1773, the shock left her partially paralyzed.  She fought strenuously against the Reign of Terror from the Jacobins during the French Revolution.  She founded the Institute of the Sisters of Notre Dame when calm was restored.  Frances Blin, Vicountess of Gezaincourt and Fr. Joseph Varin of the “Fathers of the Faith” assisted her in this quest.  At the end of 22  years, at the end of a mission given by Father Enfantin of the Fathers of Faith, she was suddenly cured of paralysis. The purpose was to teach the children of the poor and their salvation.  She had to struggle to preserve the distinctively modern character of her Institute.  The Institute has spread throughout the world.  She died April 8, 1816.

 FEAST DAY:  April 8

PATRON OF:  Against poverty

JEWELRY

Responsorial Psalm

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(a) at home

Today’s Question-

Memorized prayers are less effective than spontaneous prayers.  True or False?

Born at Rheims, France in 1651.  After ordination to the priesthood, he devoted himself to the education of boys and founding schools for the poor.  He and his companions formed a religious congregation and suffered much because of it. He died at Rouen in 1719.

FEAST DAY: April 7

PATRON OF: Educators, teachers, school principals.

POPE FRANCIS

Responsorial Psalm

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

Where is the primary place of Christian education in prayer?  

(a) at home  (b) at church  (c) at school