From the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary:
Main Entry: 1mar·tyr
Pronunciation: ˈmär-tər
Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness
Date: before 12th century
1: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion 2: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle
On this day, August 9, 1942,
Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) became a martyr for the faith in the Auschwitz death camp. She continues to witness today.
I’ve heard it said that every Orthodox Christian home is encouraged to have an image of the Transfiguration. It’s such a powerful moment.
The video below is from Sufjan Stevens. His song, called “The Transfiguration”, is put to famous works of art. Sufjan is very different in his styling. I find him very intriguing. You’ll find it different then the big Verdi-like orchestral “sacred” setting you may be expecting on this day. This piece of Sufjan’s music makes me stretch. And in some ways, wasn’t that the purpose of the day anyway? Expect the unexpected…
VATICAN CITY, 30 MAR 2011 (VIS) – In this Wednesday’s general audience, celebrated in St Peter’s Square, the Pope spoke about St. Alphonsus Maria of Liguori, bishop, Doctor of the Church and “outstanding moral theologian and master of spiritual life”.
“St. Alphonsus was born in 1696 to a rich and noble Neapolitan family”, and undertook a brilliant career as a lawyer, which he abandoned in order to become a priest in 1726.
The Holy Father explained that the saint “began his work of evangelisation and catechesis at the most humble levels of Neapolitan society, to whom he enjoyed preaching and whom he instructed in the basic truths of the faith”.
In 1732 he founded the religious congregation of the Holy Redeemer. Its members, “under the guidance of Alphonsus, were genuine itinerant missionaries, who travelled to the remotest villages exhorting conversion to the faith and perseverance in Christian life, above all by means of prayer”.
Benedict XVI recalled that St. Alphonsus died in 1787, was canonised in 1839 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871. This title was granted for a number of reasons. Firstly, for his valuable teachings in the field of moral theology, which accurately expressed Catholic doctrine and on account of which Pius XII proclaimed him as “patron of all confessors and moralists”.
“St. Alphonsus”, continued the Pope, “never tired of repeating that priests were a visible sign of the infinite mercy of God, Who pardons and illuminates the minds and hearts of sinners that they might convert and change their lives. In our age, in which there are clear signs of a loss of moral conscience and – it is necessary to note with some concern – a certain lack of respect for the Sacrament of Confession, the teaching of St. Alphonsus remains valid”.
Heart of Hope Part 5 – the purpose of life, the suffering of humanity and how it relates to the grace of God. Emotional Suffering, Purgation, Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, and Redemption.
Deacon James Keating, PhD, the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to “Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “The Heart of Hope”.
This extraordinarily popular series explores the work of suffering in the Christian life and how God can use it to transform the heart of the individual and the world.
The “Heart of Hope” tackles a very tough subject…the gift of suffering in the Christian life. Deacon Keating guides us well.
Heart of Hope Part 4 – The healing hand of Christ, seeing the will of God, and how we suffer love. The tale of the two criminals on the cross next to Christ on Gologotha.
Deacon James Keating, PhD, the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to “Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “The Heart of Hope”.
This extraordinarily popular series explores the work of suffering in the Christian life and how God can use it to transform the heart of the individual and the world.
The “Heart of Hope” tackles a very tough subject…the gift of suffering in the Christian life. Deacon Keating guides us well.
St. Bridget of Sweden…I never knew the power of the revelations to St. Bridget of Sweden until someone “reintroduced” them to me. I say “reintroduced”, because I had bought the Pieta Prayer booklet (where they can be found) back in 1987. I offered them, really, only for a short while before packing the book away. But years later, after seeing how the revelations touched the heart of others, I dug the booklet out and started praying them again (as faithfully as I could). They are very powerful and beautiful. Meditating on the Passion of our Lord with the intensity called for in this particular devotion will change your life…are you ready? How many of you out there have the Pieta prayer book and know the stories of St. Bridget of Sweden?
(oh, be sure not to confuse her with St. Brigid of Kildare…it happens all the time)
Here is the audio mp3 download of the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget
Here is the chapel in St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome where St. Bridget received the private revelation of the 15 prayers…….
Of course, St. Bridget is more than just her prayers…ordinary woman, extraordinary life!. To learn more about St. Bridget of Sweden, take a look at this:
St. Bridget of Sweden…I never knew the power of the revelations to St. Bridget of Sweden until my friend Denise “reintroduced” them to me. I say “reintroduced”, because I had bought the Pieta Prayer booklet (where they can be found) back in 1987. I offered them, really, only for a short while before packing the book away. But years later, after seeing how the revelations touched the heart of my dear friend, I dug the booklet out and started praying them again (as faithfully as I could). They are very powerful and beautiful. Meditating on the Passion of our Lord with the intensity called for in this particular devotion will change your life…are you ready? How many of you out there have the Pieta prayer book and know the stories of St. Bridget of Sweden?
(oh, be sure not to confuse her with St. Brigid of Kildare…it happens all the time)
Here is the audio mp3 download of the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget
Here is the chapel in St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome where St. Bridget received the private revelation of the 15 prayers…….
Of course, St. Bridget is more than just her prayers…ordinary woman, extraordinary life!. To learn more about St. Bridget of Sweden, take a look at this:
