Known as “NINO” she performed miracles that led people to the faith of Christ in the time of Constantine.  She cured the Queen of an illness and aided the King on a hunting expedition. Both then converted to Christianity, as did all of Georgia.  She became a hermitess in Bodbe, where she died and was buried.  Many legends are told about her.

FEAST DAY- December 15

GIFTS

Responsorial Psalm

Lord, come and save us.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

Baptism

Today’s Question-

What is the first effect of God’s gift of love through the Holy Spirit to us?

Citing a desire to lead a contemplative life, John joined the Carmelites.  He met Teresa of Avila while he was at the University of Salamanca studying theology.  John was convinced to join her to bring the Carmelites back to their austere principles.  Besides assisting Teresa in her work, John, who had mystical experiences, wrote several mystical works.  Two of his most famous are:  Dark Night of the Soul and The Ascent of Mount Carmel.

FEAST DAY- December 14

PATRON OF- Contemplative life, mystical theology, mystics, and Spanish poets

BOOKS

Responsorial Psalm

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

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(b) canonization (par 828 in Catechism)

Today’s Question-

How does one become a member of the Church?

From early childhood, she vowed to remain a virgin.  When her prayers to St. Agatha resulted in her mother’s health, her mother allowed her to remain a virgin.  A young pagan nobleman, who she refused to marry, accused her of being a Christian. The judge her ordered to service in a brothel but God intervened.  She was sent to prison and endured tortures.  She was killed by the sword. 

FEAST DAY- December 13

PATRON OF-  Eye diseases, day laborers

MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Question-

What is the process whereby the Church recognizes a person to be a saint or model of holiness?

(a) laicization  (b) canonization (c) dispensation

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego as he was on his way to Mass in Mexico in December of 1531.  She told him to go to the Bishop saying, “Tell him to build a church where I am standing.”  The bishop, however, did not believe him.  He said, “Give me a sign.”  On his way to get a priest for his very sick uncle, Juan again met the Lady and told her of his situation.  She said, “Your uncle is cured.”  He was to gather roses and wrap them in his “tilma” (cloak).  He took them to the Bishop as her “sign” and when the roses fell to the floor, her image was imprinted on his “tilma”. The bishop then indeed came to believe.

FEAST DAY- December 12

PATRON OF- The Americas, sickness

OUR LADY MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

You are the highest honor of our race.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

The bishops

Today’s Question-

Infants need not be baptized because they have never committed personal sin. True or False?

Using Church funds, Pope Damasus restored and adorned the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs.  He had epitaphs, which he wrote, carved on stone tablets and affixed to the saints’ tombs.  He had new stairways and light and air shafts constructed for easier access to the catacombs.

FEAST DAY- December 11

PATRON OF- Archaeologists

PYXES

Responsorial Psalm

O bless the Lord, my soul!

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

The rosary

Today’s Question-

Who are the successors of the apostles today?

It is said that in 1921, after the crusaders were driven out of the Holy Land, the house of the Holy Family in Nazareth was taken to what is now Loreto by angels.  A basilica was built around the little stone house.  Pope Benedict XV named Our Lady of Loreto the patron saint of airline pilots.  Later, the patronage was extended to the entire crew and the passengers.

FEAST DAY- December 10

PATRON OF- Pilots, crew, passengers

OUR LADY MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord our God comes with power.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

John the Baptist

Today’s Question-

What is a popular Marian prayer which is also called “an abridgment of the whole Gospel?”

St. Peter Fourier was born in Lorraine in 1565.  At age 20 he joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine.  After his ordination and further studies, he was appointed parish priest in the village of Mattaincourt at the age of 33.  This was a stronghold of Calvinism where he labored unceasingly with zeal and lived out the example of a holy life for his people.  He founded the Congregation of Augustinian Canonesses of Our Lady dedicated to the education of girls.  For several years he worked at unifying the Order of Lorraine.  He became Superior General.  In 1636, political circumstances caused him to be exiled.  He died in 1640. 

 FEAST DAY- December 9

BOOK

Responsorial Psalm

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) priests

Today’s Question-

Who baptized Jesus?

The Blessed Virgin Mary was free from original sin from the moment she was conceived.  The Eastern Churches declared this in the 6^th century.  On December I, 1854, Pope Pius the XI declared this dogma of the Church.  It is in accord with the texts of Scripture, (Gn 3,15 and (Luke 1,28).  This was generally accepted long before Pius defined it. 

FEAST DAY-  December 8

MIRACULOUS MEDALS     SONG OF BERNADETTE DVD      

Responsorial Psalm

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

Quiz

Yesterday’s Answer-

(b) Nazareth

Today’s Question-

Who are the co-workers of the bishops and the second order of the ordained ministry?

(a) deacons (b) nuns (c) priests (presbyters)

St. Ambrose

Born around the year 340 in Gaul. His father died while Ambrose was an infant and his mother moved back to Rome.  He was well educated, he learned Greek and was a poet and orator. He moved to Milan to be with his brother. He was appointed Governor of Liguoria and Aemilia. When the Milan See was vacated, he was appointed Bishop. He accepted reluctantly. Since he was only a catechumen, he had to be baptized and was consecrated Bishop at age 34. He gave his fortune to the Church and the poor. St. Ambrose became a foe of heresy and by the year 385 very few heretics were in the diocese. He was sent to Gaul and successfully concluded a treaty with the Emperor. He assisted in many problems in the kingdom and bapt

 FEAST DAY:  December 7

PATRON OF:  Beekeepers, Candle-makers

MEDALS

Responsorial Psalm

Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

Quiz:

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) Eve

Today’s Question-

Where did the angel encounter Mary to announce the coming birth of Jesus?

(a) Bethlehem (b) Nazareth (c) Galilee

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?