St. Nicholas was born in Myra near the end of the third century. His uncle was Bishop of Myra. Nicholas was the special protector of those wronged. He made gifts of money to those who needed it without them knowing it. It is said that he restored to life the bodies of three children whose father had them killed. He died in 342 AD.

 FEAST DAY:  December 6

PATRON OF:  Children, Merchants, Sailors

MEDALS       VIDEO

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Quiz:

Yesterday’s Answer:

(False)

Today’s Question:

Who is the “mother of all the living” in Gen. 3:20? (a) Mary (b) Eve (c) Mother Teresa?

Bernard, the Archbishop of Toledo, was delegated to bring ecclesiastical reform to Spain. He called various clerks and monks, including St. Gerald, Abbot of Moissac, to achieve this. St. Gerald was appointed choir director of the Cathedral of Toledo. Because he did so well in this task and had such a good influence on the people, he was selected to be the Bishop of Braga when its See became vacant. Bishop Gerald successfully eradicated many of the abuses happening in his diocese, especially administering ecclesiastical investiture by laymen. He died on December 5, 1109 in Bornos, Portugal.

FEAST DAY:  December 5

PATRON OF:  Disabled people

CD/AUDIO

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Quiz:

Yesterday’s Answer-

Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist

Today’s Question-

(As God reveals himself, there is less mystery about him. True or False?)

Born in 676 AD, he was known for his knowledge and theological methods. He opposed the persecutions by the Emperor of Constantinople and fought for the veneration of sacred images.  Accused of treason, his right hand was cut off, but was miraculously restored through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.  He was persecuted until he died in peace in the latter part of the 8^th century.

FEAST DAY- December 4

STATUES

Responsorial Psalm

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

What are the three sacraments of initiation?

Born in Spain in 1506, St. Francis Xavier became a follower of Ignatius Loyola while studying arts in Paris.  In 1537 he was ordained at Rome and devoted himself to works of charity.  He went to the Orient and proclaimed the Gospel in India and Japan for ten years. Through his preaching, he brought many to believe in Jesus Christ.  He died in 1552 on the island of Sancian.

FEAST DAY- December 3

PATRON OF-  Japan, Missionaries

BOOK (pictured above)

Responsorial Psalm

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Quiz-

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

In case of necessity, any person, whether Christian or not, may baptize.  True or False?

Very little is known about this saint, but it is known she was the daughter of Christians.  Her father was tortured and died of his wounds and her mother was beheaded.  St. Bibiana suffered much during the persecution started by the governor of Rome, Apronianus.  She and her sister were left in poverty.  They were called upon to deny their faith but refused. Her sister died after confessing her faith.  Bibiana was tied to a pillar and beaten to death.

FEAST DAY- December 2

FRAMED ART

Responsorial Psalm

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) Power of the Holy Spirit

Today’s Question-

The church does not pray directly to Mary to intercede on our behalf.

True or False?

Born into a Catholic family in London, Edmond Campion, was a promising child who was given a good education.  A brilliant man bestowed with much honor, including blessings from the queen, he succumbed to their adulation and became an Anglican priest.  Later, he realized his mistake and renounced his new life.  He went to Ireland and then to Rome where he became a Jesuit. His mission was to reclaim lapsed Catholics.  He was betrayed by a spy and was thrown into prison and tortured.   He proclaimed his innocence but was convicted and martyred.  In a vision the Virgin Mary told him he would be martyred.

FEAST DAY- December 1

PATRON OF- The British Jesuit Province

$9.00 ITEMS

Responsorial Psalm

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

By what power did Mary conceive a son? (a) power of orders  (b) power of the Holy Spirit (c) power of love

St. Andrew was born in Bethsaida.  He was a disciple of John the Baptist before becoming a follower of Christ to whom he brought his brother, Peter.   He and Philip presented the Gentiles to Christ.  He preached in Scythia, Sogdiana, and Colchis.  Others say he also labored in Greece and is even believed to have gone as far as Russia, Poland, and Byzantium.  He is the one who pointed the boy carrying the loaves and fishes to Christ.  He was martyred at Patras on a cross in the form of an X. 

FEAST DAY:  November 30

PATRON OF:  Fishermen

ST. ANDREW MEDAL

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

In the greeting of the “Hail Mary,” God himself lifts up the lowliness of Mary and exults her.

True or false?

His life is shrouded in mystery.  Tradition says he was sent to Gaul from Rome by Pope Fabian around the year 245.  There he was to preach the Faith to the people of that country.  He fixed his See at Toulouse in the year 250 and converted a number of idolaters by his preaching and miracles.  One day he was seized by the priests of the principal temple of the city.  They dragged him into it and said he should either appease the offended deities by offering sacrifices to them or die.  He positively refused so they abused him.  Finally they tied his feet to a wild bull and then drove the beast from the temple.  He was dragged after it and soon died. His body was literally torn to pieces.  This probably happened under Valerian in 257.

FEAST DAY:  November 29

PATRON OF:  Toulouse

POPULAR AUTHORS

Responsorial Psalm

Here God lives among his people.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

At the Annunciation

Today’s Question-

Mary provides a unique sign showing the way to her son, Jesus, who is the one mediator.

True or false?

Incorrupt body of the saint

She was born in France on May 2, 1806, and named Zoe.  Her mother died when she was eight, and she took care of the family.  She never went to school.  In 1830 she joined the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, taking the name of Catherine.   She was sent to Rue de Bac Convent in Paris.  Almost immediately, she started to receive visions of the Virgin in the chapel.  She was told in several of them to have a medal struck showing the Lady and honoring the Immaculate Conception.  Permission was given for the medal to be made, and in 1832 the first medals were struck.  The visions were authenticated in 1836 by a special commission.  From 1831 until her death, Catherine spent her life performing menial tasks at the Hospice d’Enghlen, never revealing her visions to any but her confessor until a few months before her death on December 31 at Enghien.  She was canonized on November 28, 1947.

FEAST DAY:  November 28

PATRON OF:   The Miraculous Medal

THE INCORRUPTIBLES

Responsorial Psalm

Here God lives among his people.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

The Word of God or scripture.

Today’s Question-

When was Mary’s consent of faith first evident according to the scriptures?

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, commonly called the Miraculous Medal, was manifested to St. Catherine Laboure’ in the chapel of the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France, on November 27, 1830.  During her novitiate she received manifestations of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and visions of Mary Immaculate to which we owe the Miraculous Medal.  It is clear from the description of the apparition of our Lady that the Medal originated with the Mother of God, herself.  While watching the vision of the medal, she heard an interior voice, “These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them.  The gems from which rays do not fall are the graces for which we forget to ask.  All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck.”

FEAST DAY:  November 27

MIRACULOUS MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

 I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

a) Tradition

Today’s Question-

Besides the sacramental liturgy, what is another important source of Prayer?