St. Syncletica

St. Syncletica – January 8th

St. Syncletica was a rich young girl who lived in Alexandria, Egypt in the fourth century. When her parents died, they left her and her blind sister a great fortune. But Syncletica gave it to the poor. She kept just enough to live on, and she and her sister devoted themselves to prayer and penance. Hearing of St. Syncletica’s great holiness many women came to ask her to teach them how to please God. She was so humble that she felt she was too sinful to teach anyone. At last, however, she did not have the heart to refuse them any longer, and she gave them many wise lessons.

What most surprised everyone who visited the Saint was her great happiness. She who had once been so rich was living on bread and water and sleeping on the ground. Besides that, for three years before her death, she suffered from a very painful sickness. Yet, Syncletica was always joyful and grateful to God for letting her share in the sufferings of His Passion. To reward her, three days before her death, the Lord gave her a little idea of the great glory and happiness He had prepared for her in Heaven.

It is not true that to be good we have to be sad. The Saints were always happy. God loves those who serve Him cheerfully.

St. Lucian

St. Lucian – January 7th

St. Lucian was born in Syria. His rich pagan parents brought him up to worship their false gods. When he was twelve, however, he began to see that his religion was wrong, and after being instructed in the Christian faith, Lucian was baptized. He went away to a Christian school, even though he found it hard to leave home. There he studied Sacred Scripture and began to make mortifications, such as eating very little. Daily he grew closer to God. Lucian became a priest and a teacher of Sacred Scripture himself. When a persecution broke out, the Saint was captured and kept in prison for nine years. There he prepared himself to die for Jesus by reading the Holy Bible.

When brought before the emperor to be judged, Lucian took the opportunity to explain our holy religion to everyone. He suffered patiently, and when they asked him, “Where are you from? Who are your parents?” he only answered, “I am a Christian.” He was placed on the rack, and he still repeated these words. Then he was put to death and so he earned the martyr’s crown he had long desired.

Let us listen well to the sermons our pastor gives. Our faith will teach us what is right and give us the strength to do it-even when we find it hard.

The Epiphany of Our Lord

The Epiphany of Our Lord – January 6th


The Epiphany is the Feast of the visit of the Magi to the Infant Jesus. The Magi were three wise Kings from the East, who made a long trip to adore the King of Kings. When they saw a very unusual star in the sky, they knew that our Savior had been born in Palestine, and they set out to find Him. They did not listen to those who tried to discourage them, and they did not mind making the long, hard journey. The three Kings trusted God to lead them by His star.


When they found Jesus with His Mother, Mary, they knelt down and adored Him. Worshipping, they offered Him precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterwards, the Magi returned home with their hearts full of joy. They had seen and adored the Son of God.


Let us often visit Jesus in church and receive Him in Holy Communion, even if we have to get up early or walk a long way. In return, Jesus will fill our hearts with joy and give us many graces.

St. Simeon the Stylite

St. Simeon the Stylite – January 5th


St. Simeon was born in Asia Minor of a poor family of shepherds. He became a shepherd like his father. One day, when he was still a young boy, he could not take his sheep out because it was snowing. So he went to church and there heard a reading of the Beatitudes-“Blessed are the poor in spirit…; Blessed are they who mourn…; Blessed are the clean of heart….” Not understanding these words of Jesus, he asked a holy old man for an explanation and then begged the Lord Himself to teach him how to become perfect. God in His goodness taught Simeon that he must first become very humble and then acquire the other virtues. At once Simeon asked to join a monastery.


Later he went to serve God in a lonely mountain spot, but he was so holy that people kept coming way up there to find him.


At last he had a very tall column built, and on the top of that pillar, he lived for forty years. He is called St. Simeon Stylite, from the word “stylos,” which means pillar. There was so little space on that pillar that he could never lie down. What a penance that was!


St. Simeon grew very close to God. He prayed constantly and taught the people who gathered beneath his pillar. Yet, no matter how many special favors God gave him, he never grew proud. He always stayed humble and held a very poor opinion of himself. That is why he became such a great Saint.


Today let us deny ourselves something like to do very much, so that we, too, may offer some penance to Our Lord to make us for our sins.

St. Titus

St. Titus – Patron of Crete – January 4th

St. Titus, a pagan, became a disciple of St. Paul. Titus labored hard, preaching with St. Paul on his missionary travels. Because of his extraordinary virtue, he was very close to the great Apostle. Paul sent Titus on many missions to the churches, to strengthen the faith and to bring peace when there were arguments among the Christians. It seemed that St. Titus had a special gift for bringing peace to troubled hearts. And this was another reason why he was dear to St. Paul. When he arrived among a group of Christians, the guilty had done, and accepted the punishment they deserved. After he finished his success and so bring him great happiness.

St. Paul made Titus Bishop of Crete and wrote a letter to him there. In it, he called him, “my beloved son.” St. Titus died at Crete.

Let us try to imitate this great saint by never quarreling with anyone and by trying to be peacemakers.

St. Genevieve

St. Genevieve - Patroness of Paris - January 3rd

St. Genevieve was born in Paris. While still very young, she desired to devote her life to Jesus. After her parents died, Genevieve went to live with her grandmother, where she led a life of prayer and performed works of charity. Genevieve was so pleasing to God that He gave her the power to know the future and to perform miracles.

When the people of Paris were going to run away from a terrible army coming to attack them, Genevieve encouraged them to trust in God. She said that if they did penance, they would be saved. The people did what she said, and the fierce army of Huns suddenly turned back. They did not attack the city at all.

St. Genevieve’s life was one of heroic charity and obedience to God’s holy will. At the age of eighty-nine, she died in an act of strong and pure love of God. Happily she went to meet Jesus, her Spouse, whom she had served faithfully in life.

One of the best ways for us to help our country is to pray for their leaders, that God may guide them for the good of us all.

St. Fulgentius

St. Fulgentius – January 2nd

St. Fulgentius was born of a noble family in Carthage. When he was very young, he was appointed an important officer of the Roman province of Carthage. Fulgentius was not satisfied, for his heart was full of spiritual desires. He decided to become a religious, and in the monastery he entered, he found great peace of mind and heart. Fulgentius was ordained a priest and later became a bishop.

He strongly corrected the heretics of his day with his books and letters. For this reason he was persecuted and exiled to distant lands.

After a life of loving service of God, Fulgentius fell very ill. He gave away all he had to the poor, forgave those who had persecuted him, and died a humble servant of Jesus.

Let us always study our lessons well so that we will know more about our faith, and be able to tell others about Jesus.

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - Sunday Occurring Between January 1 And 6 Otherwise On January 2 -

The Church reveals to us the wonders of the Incarnate Word by singing the glories of His name.

Among the Jews a child was named when he was circumcised, and for this reason the Church repeats to-day the Gospel appointed for the feast of the Circumcision giving particular emphasis to the final sentence: “His name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” *The name of Jesus means Savoiur and “there is no other name under heaven,” says St. Peter, “given to men, whereby we must be saved” (Epistle). “In the name of Jesus,” says St. Bernard, “the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear.” This name of Jesus, “a remedy for our souls, sweet to the lips like honey, tuneful to the ear, gladness to the heart,” should be often on our lips here below if we desire to have the joy of seeing our names written in heaven under His glorious Name (Postcommunion).

The origin of this feast goes back to the sixteenth century when it was already celebrated by the Franciscan Order. In 1721 Innocent XIII extended its observance to the whole world. Bd. Pius X fixed it at the present date.

There is an indulgence of 300 days for the pious invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus or Mary; plenary once a month for daily recitation under the usual conditions; plenary also at the moment of death under the usual conditions, for the invocation with the lips, or at least in the heart, with an act of acceptance of death as a punishment for sin.

* The angel of the Lord being sent by God to Mary, told her: “Thou shalt bring forth a Son and thou shalt call His name Jesus.” (St. Luke, 1. 31). Again: “Behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in his sleep, saying: “Joseph, Mary thy wife shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call His name Jesus” (St. Matt. 1. 20-21).

The Infant Jesus of Prague

The Infant Jesus of Prague



O Infant Jesus,


Have Mercy on Us!


The More You Honor Me, The More I Will Bless You


Feast Day: Replaces the Feast of the Holy Name, Sunday occurring between January 1 and 6 otherwise on January 2


Devotion to The Infant Jesus of Prague


DEVOTION TO THE Infant Jesus of Prague is devotion to the Child Jesus. It is veneration of the Son of God, Who in the form of an infant chose a stable for a palace, a manger for a cradle and shepherds for worshippers. Our Savior grants special graces to all who venerate His Sacred Infancy. The image of the Child Jesus known as the “Infant Jesus of Prague” was in reality of Spanish origin. In the 17th century, this beautiful statue was brought to Bohemia by a Spanish princess whose mother had given it to her as a wedding gift. This noble lady, in turn, presented the image to her daughter. When the latter’s husband died in 1623, she resolved to spend the remainder of her days in works of piety and charity. She was particularly generous to the Carmelite priests and brothers of Prague who, after Emperor Ferdinand II, their founder, had removed his residence to Vienna, fell into such utter destitution that at times they had scarcely enough to eat. Accordingly, she presented her beloved statue to the religious with these prophetic words: “I hereby give you what I prize most highly in this world. As long as you venerate this image, you will not be in want.” Her prediction was verified. As long as the Divine Infant was venerated, God showed Himself as a kind helper through His Son, and the community prospered both spiritually and temporally. But when the devotion to the Infant was relaxed, God’s blessing seemed to depart from the house. For many years this statue has been enshrined on a side altar in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in the city of Prague. It is of wax and is about nineteen inches high. It is clothed in a royal mantle and has a beautiful jeweled crown on its head. Its right hand is raised in blessing; its left holds a globe, signifying sovereignty. So many graces have been received by those who invoke the Divine Child before the original statue that it has been called “The Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague.” We read the following in an old book printed in Kempt: “All who approach the miraculous statue and pray there with confidence receive assistance in danger, consolation in sorrows, aid in poverty, comfort in anxiety, light in spiritual darkness, streams of grace in dryness of soul, health in sickness and hope in despair.” In thanksgiving for the numerous graces and cures received, the miraculous statue at Prague was solemnly crowned on the Sunday after Easter, in 1665. What is said of the original statue may be applied also to images of the “Little King” which are venerated the world over. From small beginnings, this devotion has grown to great proportions. The Divine Child attracts an ever-increasing number of clients, who appeal to Him in every need.



POWERFUL NOVENA TO THE INFANT JESUS


For Cases of Urgent Need
(In cases of great urgency, a novena of nine hours may be made instead of nine days. The prayers should, if possible, be repeated at the same time every hour for nine consecutive hours.)


O JESUS, Who hast said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open unto you,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy most holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.
(Mention your request)


O JESUS, Who hast said, “All that you ask of the Father in My Name He will grant you,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father in Thy Name that my prayer will be granted.
(Mention your request)


O JESUS, Who hast said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy most holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Mention your request)


Prayer of Thanksgiving for Graces Received from the Infant Jesus


I prostrate myself before Thy holy image, O most gracious Infant Jesus, to offer Thee my most fervent thanks for the blessings Thou hast bestowed upon me. I shall incessantly praise Thine ineffable mercy and confess that Thou alone art my God, my helper and my protector. Henceforth my entire confidence shall be placed in Thee! Everywhere I shall proclaim aloud Thy mercy and generosity, so that Thy great love and the great deeds which Thou dost perform through this miraculous image may be acknowledged by all. May devotion to Thy holy infancy increase more and more in the hearts of all Christians, and may all who experience Thine assistance preserve with me in showing unceasing gratitude to Thy most holy infancy, to which be praise and glory forever. Amen.



You may also find the little novena above and a rosary novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague at: http://thesaintsprayers.blogspot.com/2007/10/devotion-to-infant-jesus-of-prague.html

The Circumcision of Our Lord

The Circumcision of Our Lord – January 1st

On the eight day after His birth, Jesus was brought to the temple by Mary and Joseph to be circumcised. Circumcision was a painful religious ceremony performed on Jewish boys eight days after they were born. On that day they also received their name, and they became members of God’s Chosen People. St. Luke tells us: “And after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be circumcised, His name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel, before He was conceived in the womb.” The holy name of Jesus means “Savior,” and it is the sweetest and most powerful name.

Mary was not bound to bring Jesus to the temple, but out of her great love and respect for the Law of Moses, she did.

Jesus shed the first drops of His blood for our salvation in His circumcision. In His great love for us, He came on this earth to save us from our sins and show us the way to Heaven and happiness.

When we are told to do something hard today, let us think of how Jesus and Mary obeyed. Then we will do it well for love of Jesus, and it will bring us a great reward in Heaven.