Richard was a prince of the West Saxons, but his people gave him the title of King.   He was held in great veneration by his people.  Little is known of his early life,  but he was the father of Sts. Willibald, Walburga, and Winnebald.  He was on a pilgrimage from West Essex, England to Rome with his two sons.   They stopped at various towns and visited shrines and churches along the way.  The journey proved to be exhausting for Richard.  He died at Lucca, Italy in 722.  The people of Lucca venerated him and reported many miracles through his intercession.

FEAST DAY- February 7

PATRON OF- Large families

HISTORICAL BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed be God my salvation!

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

“Hail, favored one” (Lk 1:28)

Today’s Question-

How one lives has little influence on the quality of prayer. True or False?

St. Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit along with 2 other Jesuit priests, six Franciscans, (4 of whom were Spanish), one Mexican, one Indian, and 17 Japanese, including  lay people, were martyred near Nagasaki after a journey to impress the population that they were trying to prepare the way for the Spanish and Portuguese to conquer Japan.  Just like Jesus, they were all pierced with a lance.   This happened 45 years after St. Francis Xavier had evangelized much of Japan. They were canonized in 1862.

FEAST DAY- February 6

EBOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, you are exalted over all.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

What was the opening greeting of the angel Gabriel to Mary when he announced the birth of Jesus?

The name Agatha means “good”.  She was born into a noble family.  Details of her martyrdom are historically certain but the details are legendary.  A Roman senator (Quintanius) had St. Agatha tortured, including cutting off her breasts because she refused his solicitations.  When she continued to refuse, he had her thrown onto red-hot coals.  An earthquake shook the town and he feared an uprising of the people so he had Agatha returned to prison where she died.  

FEAST DAY- February 5

PATRON OF- diseases of the breast, nurses, earthquakes

BOOK

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

In prayer we also have communion with Mary, the Mother of God.  True or False?

St. Veronica is known for wiping the face of Jesus on his Way of the Cross.  It is said that he left an imprint of his face on the towel.  Legend has it she cured Emperor Tiberius with this image, called Veronica’s Veil.  It is also said that she left the “veil” in the care of Pope Clement and his successors.  French legend has it that she married Zacheus, a convert in France and accompanied him to Rome.  Another legend is that she is the “woman cured of bleeding when she touched his cloak”.

FEAST DAY- February 4

PATRON OF- Photographers

HOLY WOMEN BY POPE BENEDICT XVI

Responsorial Psalm

Listen, Lord, and answer me.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(b) modesty

Today’s Question-

All things are possible for the one who prays in faith.    True or False?

St. Blaisé studied philosophy early in his life and afterward became a physician.  He became a priest and was made Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia.  There, he was taken prisoner by the Governor.  On the way to prison a mother whose child was suffering of a disease of the throat, begged him to aid her.  His intercession caused the child to be cured.  Since then, he is called upon for help in such cases.  He was tortured and beheaded in the year 316. 

FEAST DAY- February 3

PATRON OF- diseases of the throat

SAINTS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, rise up and save me.

Quiz

Today’s Question-

What guards people’s privacy and preserves their dignity?

(a) stewardship  (b) modesty  (c) jusice

This occurs 40 days after the birth of Jesus.  Jesus was presented in the temple and was prayed over by Simeon in the presence of Anna the prophetess.

FEAST DAY- February 2

BOOK

Responsorial Psalm

Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

From whom did Jesus first learn how to pray?

Born in Sweden in 1303.  She married and was a devoted mother to her eight children.  After she was widowed, she continued to live in the world but devoted herself to the ascetic life as a member of the Third Order of St. Francis.  She then formed a religious order and became a model of great virtue to all.  She wrote many works relating her mystical experiences.  She died in Rome in 1373.

FEAST DAY- February 1

PATRON OF- Widows, Sweden

GIFTS

Responsorial Psalm

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Baptism

Today’s Question-

What do we call the main laws given to Moses in the Old Testament?

Born near Castelnuovo  in the diocese of Turin in 1815.  His early years were most difficult so he dedicated himself to the education of the young.  They were instructed in both the arts and the Christian life. He wrote pamphlets for the support and defense of religion.  Died in 1888.  St. John pray for us!

FEAST DAY-  January 31

PATRON OF-  Altar servers, editors, acrobats, jugglers

BOOK

Responsorial Psalm

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Quiz

Today’s Question-

Our salvation is given through which sacrament of faith?

An English girl,  St. Bathildis was captured in the 7^th century and was sold as a slave  to the mayor of Paris.  She was forced to marry King Clovis II.  He was a foolish and debauched man.  When he died, she became regent.  She brought many good changes to France, including stopping slave traffic.  She also founded the nunnery of Chelles and the abbey of Corble.  She retired to the nunnery in 1665 AD and lived a life of prayer and self-denial.  She died in 680AD.

FEAST DAY- January 30

MASS KITS & SICK KITS

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

True

Today’s Question-

How many Books of Psalms are there in the Old Testament?

(a) 150   (b) 5    (c) 15

St. Gildas the Wise was born in the Valley of Clyde around 500 AD.  He was a teacher and the first British historian.  Not too much is certain of his life but it seems he had to flee to Wales and was married.  After his wife died he studied under St. Illtyd.  After some time in Ireland, around 520 AD he went to Rome and founded a religious house at Ruys in Brittany on  his way back to Wales.  He visited Ruys and Ireland again and died at Ruys on January 29, 570 AD.  He was known for the first history condemning British vice – the only history of the Celts.

FEAST DAY- January 29

CROSSES & CRUCIFIXES TO WEAR

Responsorial Psalm

For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Elijah

Today’s Question-

Jesus prayed before all the decisive moments of his ministry in serving his Father’s will.  True or False?