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January 1 - MARY MOTHER OF GOD [Solemnity]- (Mass obligation dispensed in California) This title was defined by the Council of Ephesus (431) to emphasize the truth of the Incarnation and condemn the Nestorian heresy. It affirms indivisibility of human and divine in Jesus. Mother of God, not that the nature of the Word or His divinity received the beginning of its existence from the holy Virgin, but that, since the Holy Body animated by a rational soul, which the Word of God united to Himself according to the hypostatsis, was born from her, the Word is said to be born according to the flesh. (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph 466) For more see web link |
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January 2 - Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, (4th century) Bishops and Doctors of the Church. These close friends were early teachers in the Eastern Church. Saint Basil, later Bishop of Caesarea, wrote the most enduring of the Eastern monastic rules. Saint Gregory, initially a monk with Saint Basil, was constrained to become Bishop of Constantinople. For more see St Basil and St Gregory |
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January 4 - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton (1774-1821), Mother, Widow, Foundress of Sisters of Charity Saint Elizabeth was born into a distinguished Episcopalian family, married and raised five children. She became a Catholic while visiting Italy with her dying husband, William. She returned to the U.S. to found the first Catholic School in Baltimore and later founded the Sisters of Charity there. She was canonized in1975, the first US born saint For more web link |
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January 5 Saint John Neumann (1811-1860), Bishop Saint John was born in Bohemia and came to the U.S. to work as a missionary in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. He was the Fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, and initiated the Forty Hours Devotion in US. He was canonized in 1977. For more see web link |
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January 17 Saint Anthony (251-356), Abbot- Patron of Gravediggers Saint Anthony was an Egyptian and is considered the Founder of Monasticism. He gave all to poor and retired to desert to live as hermit when in his thirties. Many followers gathered in the same area and copied his regimen. In 305 he organized them into a religious community of cenobites. For more see web link |
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January 21 Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr (died about 304) - Patron of the Children of Mary. Saint Agnes was beheaded at about age 13 when suitors denounced her as Christian because she would not marry. She is perhaps the best known of the Roman Martyrs and is mentioned in 1st Eucharistic Prayer (Roman Canon). Because of the similarity of Agnes and Agnus (Latin for Lamb) two lambs will be blessed in St Agnes Church (Rome) today and their wool used for Palliums. The Pallium is a white band with six Black crosses, an ancient symbol of archbishops. (The palliums will be conferred on new archbishops on June 29, the Feast of Peter & Paul) For more see web link |
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January 24 Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622) , Bishop & Doctor of Church (1567-1622) - Patron of Writers Saint Francis worked hard to refute Calvinism in Switzerland and instruct faithful. He became Bishop of Geneva in 1602. He was notable for moderation in controversy and in practice of religion in a time of fanaticism. For more see web link |
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January 25 CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL, APOSTLE
[Feast] Author of most of the Epistles Saint Paul, born in Tarsus, Cilicia,
was a Roman Citizen from birth. He was a well educated Pharisee, student of
Gamaliel. He was converted to Christianity by a vision of Jesus, see Acts of
the Apostles 1:1-31.
For more see web link |
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January 26 Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops and Martyrs, Saint Timothy is Patron against stomach disorders, (1 Timothy 5:23) These were disciples of and fellow workers with St Paul. Saint Paul sent three Epistles to them. |
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January 28 Saint Thomas Acquinas (1226-1274) , Doctor of Church [the Angelic Doctor], Patron of Schools Saint Thomas, a student of Saint Albert the Great, introduced Greek Philosophy (Aristotle) into Church teaching. He is arguably the greatest Philosopher and writer of Church - Summa Theological - but declared it all nothing compared to heavenly vision. He became a Dominican over family objections. Because of his great resistance to the temptations they offered him he was given the gift of perfect chastity. For more see web link
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January 31 Saint John Bosco (1815-1888), Priest Saint John, born of poor parents, worked as a shepherd. He walked 4 miles to school half of each year to prepare for ordination. He devoted his life to care of youth and founded the Society of St Francis de Sales and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians [Salesians]. His greatest pupil St Dominic Savio (1842-1867) Memorial March 9. For more see web link |
