Author Archives: Catholic Fun Facts

St. Adrian was a native of Africa.  He was the Abbot of a monastery near Monte Casino, Italy.  He was a saintly man.  The pope appointed him to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury because of his talent for instructing and nurturing a nation still young in the Faith.  Because Adrian felt unworthy of such an assignment, he suggested St. Theodore be assigned there.  The pope assigned Theodore to be his assistant and adviser.  On their way to France, Adrian was arrested as an agent of the Eastern Emperor.  Theodore proceeded to Rome.  When Adrian finally arrived in Rome, he found that Theodore had been made Archbishop.  Adrian became Abbot of Sts. Peter and Paul monastery at Canterbury.  Adrian’s administration of the Abbey and his teachings brought many students to the monastery.  He died on January 9, 710.  His tomb became famous for the miracles obtained there.

FEAST DAY- January 9

MEDIA

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Bishops

Today’s Question-

What is our human vocation?

(a) to live in divine love and in human solidarity (b) to die and go to heaven (c) to become rich and famous

St. Apollinaris was the Bishop of Hierapolis, Phrygia, and was famed for his teaching and writings.  He was called “the Apologist”.  He attacked various heretics, especially the Encratites and Montanists.    In an “apologia” to Marcus Aurelius he told of a miracle attributed to the 12^th Legion, which was mainly Christian, wherein they defeated the enemy when they were completely surrounded in Moravia.   They fell on their knees and begged God for water and suddenly rain fell and revived the soldiers.  This enabled them to conquer the Germans.   The “apologia” resulted in an imperial edict forbidding the denunciation of Christians for their religion. Marcus Arelius named the Legion “Thundering Legion”.   Unfortunately, none of Apollinaris’ writings survived.

 FEAST DAY:  January 8

SAINT BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(b) Ecumenical council

Today’s Question-

Who alone in the Church can validly ordain priests?

He was born to a noble family in Catalonia.  When he was 20 years old he taught philosophy at Barcelona and accepted no remuneration.  At age thirty he went to Bologna to study canon and civil law.  There he received his doctorate.  The Bishop of Barcelona made him a canon, archdeacon, and vicar-general on his return to Barcelona.  Later he entered the Order of St. Dominic .  He zealously worked for the conversion of Moors and Jews.  He wrote a treatise for the instruction of confessors.  The Pope appointed to several positions in the Apostolic Palace, including to be his confessor.  He wrote many other great papers and held many others positions.  He died in 1275 at 100 years of age.

FEAST DAY- January 7

PATRON OF- Sanctity and learning

MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Quiz

Today’s Question-

What is it called when all the bishops of the world meet together under the authority of the pope to consider matters affecting the future direction of the whole Church?

(a) synod (b) ecumenical council (c) audience

St. Andre was the 8th of 12 children.  He did many odd jobs as a child and young adult, one of them being doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal.  He had a lifelong devotion to St. Joseph.    After visiting sick persons, healings would occur.  St. Andre attributed the cures to St. Joseph and not himself.  He was beatified in 1982 and canonized in 2010.  Pope Benedict XVI said that St. Andre “lived the beatitude of the pure of heart.”

FEAST DAY- January 6

BIOGRAPHY BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

 True

Today’s Question-

In the Scriptures, illness was associated with sin and evil.  True or False?

It celebrated on the first Sunday after January 1.  It is one of the oldest in the Church and greatest in the ecclesiastical year.  It signifies the manifestation, or revelation, of Christ to the chosen people. This feast of “The Three Wise Men”  along with the manifestation of Christ as the Savior of all races and nations were celebrated on the same day, but since the 4^th century, they have been separated.  It is not certain which countries they came from but they said  “we saw His star rising in the East and have come to pay Him homage.”

FEAST DAY-  January 5 or the first Sunday after Epiphany

ROSARIES

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(d) all of the above

Today’s Question-

All those baptized share in the priesthood of Christ. True or False?

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in New York  City in 1774.  She was raised as a devout Episcopalian.  At age 19 she was married to William  Seton and had five children.  William died when Elizabeth was 29 and she then joined the Catholic Church.  This action caused her family and friends to reject her.  Bishop John Carroll invited her to Baltimore to start a Catholic school.  It was the first Catholic free school in America. She died in 1821.

FEAST DAY- January 4

PATRON OF- Death of children, in-law problems, loss of parents

 MEDAL

Responsorial Psalm

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Bread and wine

Today’s Question-

Where can anointing of the sick take place?

(a) hospital  (b) home  (c) church  (d) all of the above

Not many details are known about St. Daniel.  He was a Jewish convert and deacon to St. Prosdocimus, bishop of Padua.  He did missionary work and was martyred for his efforts.  He died in 168 at Padua, Italy.

FEAST DAY- January 3

PATRON OF- lost articles, prisoners, women whose husbands are at war

RELIGIOUS JEWELRY

Responsorial Psalm

  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Seven

Today’s Question-

What elements are offered at Mass to become the body and blood of Christ?

The church revised the calendar of the Church to honor these two great Doctors of the Church and good friends on the same day.  Basil was born in Caesarea in 330.  His parents and several brothers and sisters were honored as saints.  While attending school in Athens he met St. Gregory Nazianzen in 352.  After having a school in Caesarea and was a lawyer, he became a monk.  He founded several monasteries, and was ordained and in 370 he was made Bishop of Caesarea.  He died in 379 and is the patron of hospital administrators.

St. Gregory was born in Cappodocia.  Both of his parents were made saints.  He met St. Basil during his studies in Alexandria where they were students.  He was baptized by his father when he returned to Nazianzus and led a holy life. He was ordained a priest and was appointed Bishop of Sasima by St. Basil in 372.  He wanted to live a life of quiet and reflection but circumstances prevented this.  He was made Bishop of Constantinople in 379 .  He resigned this position in 381 and returned to a life of solitude where he died in 389.

FEAST DAY- January 2

ST. BASIL THE GREAT MEDAL

ST. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS MEDAL

Responsorial Psalm

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Spirit

Today’s Question-

How many gifts of the Holy Spirit are there?

From eternity, God had Mary chosen as the Mother of God.  Mary became the Mother of God at the Annunciation.  It is her most exalted title.  This is the source of all her other privileges.  At the crucifixion, Christ gave His Mother to be the spiritual Mother to all men.  Thus, through her they could come to Him.  This feast is in place of the Maternity of Mary  formerly kept on October 13.  

FEAST DAY-  January 1

 BOOKS ON MARY

Responsorial Psalm

May God bless us in his mercy.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

The Gospel of John records Jesus’ words that no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born gain of water and ______.

Born in Rome, little is known of Sylvester’s early life.  He was ordained by  Pope St. Marcellinus during the peace before the persecutions of  Diocletian. He lived through those days of terror.  Constantine triumphed over Diocletian and Maximian in 312.  He succeeded St. Melchiades as Bishop of Rome and on January 31, 314, Sylvester was ordained Pope .  He sent legates to the Council of the Western Church at Arles.  In 325 AD he sent his legates to the Council of Nice.   Because of his great age, he was unable to attend himself.  Sylvester was pope for 24 years and 11 months. He died in 335 AD.

FEAST DAY- December 31

BOOKS BY DR. SCOTT HAHN

Responsorial Psalm

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) Charisms

Today’s Question-

Those from other Christian denominations are re-baptized when the convert to the Catholic Church. True or False?