17 October: Saint Ignatius of Antioch

17 October: Saint Ignatius of Antioch

by | Oct 5, 2020 | CIC Saint Writeups

Saint Ignatius is an apostolic father and one of the great bishops of the early Church. He was born in Syria, converted to Christianity, and became a successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Antioch. He is said to have been personally instructed by the Apostle John. During the persecution of the Emperor Trajan, Ignatius would not deny Christ. He was condemned to death by wild beasts and sent in chains to Rome. During his final journey from Antioch to Rome, St. Ignatius wrote seven epistles (letters) which we still have today. Ignatius wrote to the Christian communities of Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, and Smyrna; along with a farewell letter to Bishop Polycarp (also a martyr). The Letters of Ignatius are greatly honored by the Church; they stress the importance of Church unity, dangers of heresy, and the importance of the Eucharist as the “medicine of immortality.” His writings contain the first surviving written description of the Church as “Catholic” (indicating the universality of the Church). St. Ignatius also wrote of his burning desire for martyrdom. Pope Benedict XVI said that “no Church Father has expressed the longing for union with Christ and for life in him with the intensity of Ignatius.” Ignatius’ last words before the lions tore him to pieces: “Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose means it will be granted me to reach God. I am the wheat of God, let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.”

Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:

  • Use lions as a theme for food/snacks today. Here is a neat idea for a lion vegetable tray. Or, bake a lion cake – the internet has lots of ideas for this!
  • Do an autumn leaf lion craft with children.
  • Make homemade wheat bread, remembering the last words of St. Ignatius.
  • Find the epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch here. Read and meditate upon his words.
  • St. Ignatius had a gift for written letters/epistles: in his honor, write a letter to someone who is sick, lonely, or in need of a handwritten note to brighten their day.
4 October: Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

4 October: Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

by | Oct 4, 2020 | CIC Saint Writeups, Uncategorized

Francis was born in 1182 into a wealthy Catholic family of seven children in Assisi, Italy. He was named John by his mother at birth, after St. John the Baptist. His father renamed him Francis because he made his livelihood in France. Francis lived a life of comfort, leisure, and partying until he left to fight as a solider in two wars. He was taken prisoner for a year. Afterwards, he felt called to spend more time in prayer and service to the poor. While praying, Francis heard God tell him to “repair my house, which is falling into ruins.” Francis went to work repairing ruined churches. His father was angry with him for spending family money. Francis then left home, renounced his wealth, and took a vow of poverty. Francis never become a priest but his love of poverty and his joyful preaching converted people everywhere he went. He had a group of followers; their one basic rule was “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” They traveled to Rome to get papal approval for their religious order. At first reluctant about this group of poor men, Pope Innocent III experienced a supernatural dream and then approved the founding of the Franciscan order. The Order grew quickly. A woman named Clare of Assisi wanted to take similar vows, so Francis helped her start the Order of the Poor Ladies (Order of Saint Clare). He also started another order (later called the Third Order of Saint Francis) for lay men and women. St. Francis received the stigmata during a 40-day fast preceding Michaelmas. Francis was also known for his love of nature and animals. There are many stories about Saint Francis preaching to animals and taming wild ones. One story tells of a vicious wolf in the town of Gubbio that was killing people and sheep. Francis confronted the wolf, made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf not to hurt anyone else. The wolf became tame and the town was saved. In 1220, he set up the first known Nativity scene to celebrate Christmas. Francis became ill and spent the last few years of his life mostly blind. He died in 1226 while singing Psalm 141. He was declared a saint only two years after his death.

Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:

  • Bring your animals to church on Sunday, 4 October at 2pm for the Blessing of the Animals! Fr. Tomlinson will bless all your creatures in the grassy area by the handicap parking.
  • Click here for Franciscan prayers you can say with your family on this feast day.
  • In honor of his love of poverty, make it a task this week to declutter closets and donate extra items to the poor! Include your children in this endeavor to give out of your excess to those in need. Or, send the St. Vincent de Paul Society a donation.
  • Francis fasted most of his religious life, so it’s not completely natural to prepare a great feast in his honor. However, on his deathbed, he asked for a sweet treat concocted of almonds and sugar. Here is a recipe that might be similar to what he requested. Because he was from Assisi, an Italian-themed dinner would also be fitting.
  • Get out into nature today and enjoy an animal-themed snack (animal crackers, ants on a log).
  • This website has other meal ideas in honor of St. Francis.
29 September: Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels

29 September: Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels

by | Sep 23, 2020 | CIC Saint Writeups

This feast, also known as “Michaelmas,” was a Holy Day of Obligation until the 18th century. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.” Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. (In ascending order, the choirs or classes are: Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Dominations, Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim.) St. Michael’s name means “Who is like unto God?” and he is known as “the prince of the heavenly host.” St. Michael’s task is doing battle against Satan and all his evil followers. His name appears in Scripture four times. He is usually depicted as a mighty warrior and is known as a champion of justice; the guardian of the Church; the protector and defender of all the friends of God. We invoke St. Michael for help in the fight against evil and to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death. St. Gabriel’s name means “God is my strength” and appears as a messenger in the Bible three times (to the prophet Daniel; to Zachariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist; and to Mary at the Annunciation). St. Gabriel’s famous greeting to Our Lady at the Annunciation was: Hail Mary, full of grace. St. Raphael’s name means “God has healed.” Knowledge of St. Raphael comes from the book of Tobit. His mission as healer and fellow traveler with Tobias has caused him to be invoked for journeys and at critical moments in life. Tradition also holds that Raphael is the angel that stirred the waters at the healing pool in Bethesda.
Another angelic feast is celebrated this week on 2 October: Feast of the Guardian Angels. “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and protection. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 336) St. Bernard wrote “…the angels are here; they are at your side, they are with you, present on your behalf. They are here to protect you and to serve you.” God has given each of us the incredible gift of a guardian angel – they will protect and help us attain eternal salvation.  Deo Gratias!

“For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

Ideas for celebrating this feast day at home:

· Memorize the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Pray it daily for protection from evil!

· In honor of St. Gabriel, Learn the Angelus. Traditionally, it is prayed at 6 and 12 o’clock

· Make recipes related to Michaelmas. St. Michael Bannock bread is traditionally served with roasted goose and carrots. Roasted chicken or Cornish hens work, too! An easy option is picking up a hot rotisserie chicken from the store. Other food ideas: make an angel food cake, devil’s food cake, angel hair pasta, or deviled eggs. For extra fun, poke cocktail swords (or little toy swords from play action figures) into your food! Decorate with white as symbolic of the angels.

· Do you have any angel-shaped Christmas cookie cutters? Use them to trace and color angels to decorate the house! OR, bake up some sugar cookies in angelic shapes this week.

· Folklore says that Michaelmas day is the last day that blackberries can be picked and eaten because when St. Michael expelled the devil from heaven, he fell from the skies and landed in a prickly blackberry bush. Satan cursed the fruit, stamped and spat on it, making them unfit for eating. So, on this feast day: enjoy blackberry wine or buy fresh blackberries to put on oatmeal, bake into a pie or cobbler, or top an angel food cake with them.

· Saint Michael is the patron saint of police officers. This is the perfect day to stop by your local police station with thanks and treats. Tell them that it’s their feast day so you brought some food for feasting and you are praying for them in a special way on Michaelmas.

· Don’t forget to memorize the Prayer to your Guardian Angel on October 2!