Saint Longinus the Centurion. Photo taken in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Nov. 2014. If you look closely you can see bees sculpted into the pedestal. There are many of these Saint Peter’s…. a subject for an upcoming post.
Saint
Gen. Jaruzelski Dies
Those of us of a certain age may remember the name of Wojciech Jaruzelski from the news. He died yesterday at the age of 90.
In case you are much younger than I and don’t recall the name… he had something to do with a brand new saint: Pope Saint John Paul II. Here is an interview with Cdl. Dziwisz, and you can Google for much more.
More here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/pope/communism/
Here is his obit in the New York Times. According to that, he was originally Catholic. So, one could say a prayer for his soul, and a prayer of thanks for the life of Pope Saint John Paul II.
UPDATE: NCR has a good article out today: The Death the Life of Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski: Another Look.
Solemnity of St. Joseph
On this Solemnity of St. Joseph, here are some wonderful prayers for priests, from the Silverstream Priory.
Here is a wonderful Litany of St. Joseph.
Here in the mid-Atlantic of the US, we are getting just a bit weary of the winter. I find a litany like that one to be an excellent tonic for the spirits!
Saint Scholastica Statue
This is a statue of Saint Scholastica, sister, perhaps twin sister, of Saint Benedict. The statue is in a side altar of Saint Benedict Catholic Church, Richmond, Virginia, whose priest has now joined the blogosphere!
We don’t know a lot about Saint Scholastica, but this story about her is wonderful. Click through, choose Office of Readings, scroll to the Second Reading, and read it all, and then the beautiful Responsory.
From the books of Dialogues by Saint Gregory the Great, pope
‘When she heard her brother refuse her request, the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray. As she raised her head from the table, there were such brilliant flashes of lightning, such great peals of thunder and such a heavy downpour of rain that neither Benedict nor his brethren could stir across the threshold of the place where they had been seated. Sadly he began to complain: “May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?” “Well,” she answered, “I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery.”
RESPONSORY
When the saintly nun begged the Lord that her brother might not leave her,
– she received more than her brother did from the Lord of her heart because she loved him so much.
How good, how delightful it is for brothers and sisters to live in unity.
– She received more than her brother did from the Lord of her heart because she loved him so much. ‘
Feast of Saint Andrew
Happy Feast of Saint Andrew!
Here are some facts and early traditions about St. Andrew, from Jimmy Akin, and more traditions and patronage information from saints.sqpn.com .
There is a very beautiful Christmas Novena starting today, here. God is not a cosmic vending machine, and he answers prayers only as is best for his designs. But sometimes… The whole homily is good, but you can start at 7:40.
Forma Fidei 