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17th February - Memorial at choice of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary Active: 13th century. Devout Florentines on the thirteenth century and coming from some of the most famous families in the city, Buonfiglio dei Monaldi (Bonfilius), Giovanni di Buonagiunta (Bonajuncta), Amadeus of the Amidei (Bartolomeus), Ricovero dei Lippi-Ugguccioni (Hugh), Benedetto dell' Antella (Manettus), Gherardino di Sostegno (Sostene), and Alessio de' Falconieri (Alexius), were moved by the Cathar heresy and lax morality, joined a confraternity of the Blessed Virgin and began to lead a life of prayer, solitude and austerity on Monte Sennario where they built a church and a hermitage. Initially they refused to accept novices until the intervention of the Bishop and Cardinal Castiglione. After 1240 they adopted a way of life based on the Rule of St. Augustine and on the Dominican Constitutions and adopted a black habit. They made foundations at Siena, Pistoia, Arezzo, Carfaggio and Lucca while their most famous church, the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata in Florence is still served by the order. The new order was recognized in 1259 and was solemnly approved by Pope Benedict XI in 1304. A principal devotion of the Servites is of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin which grew out of the late medieval devotion to Our Lady of Pity offering a counterpoint to the Seven Joys of Mary. They were canonized in 1887. Butler has the following account of their lives: "Between the years 1225 and 1227 seven young Florentines joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin—popularly known as the 'Laudesi' or Praisers. It was a period when the prosperous city of Florence was being rent by political factions and distracted by the heresy of the Cathari: it was also a time of general relaxation of morals even where devotional practices were retained. These young men were members of the most prominent families of the city. Whether they were all friends before they joined the Laudesi is not clear, but in that confraternity they became closely allied. The eldest was Buonfiglio Monaldo, who became their leader. The others were Alexis Falconieri, Benedict dell' Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Ricovero Uguccione, Gerardino Sostegni, and John Buonagiunta. They had as their spiritual director James of Poggibonsi, who was chaplain of the Laudesi, a man of great holiness and spiritual insight. All of them came to realize the call to a life of renunciation, and they determined to have recourse to our Lady in their perplexity. On the feast of the Assumption, as they were absorbed in prayer, they saw her in a vision, and were inspired by her to withdraw from the world into a solitary place and to live for God alone. There were difficulties, because, though three of them were celibates, four had been married and had ties, although two had become widowers. Suitable provision for their dependents was arranged, and with the approval of the bishop they withdrew from the world and betook themselves to a house called La Carmarzia, outside the gates of Florence, twenty-three days after they had received their call. Before long they found themselves so much disturbed by constant visitors from Florence that they decided to withdraw to the wild and deserted slopes of Monte Senario, where they built a simple church and hermitage and lived a life of almost incredible austerity. In spite of difficulties, visitors sometimes found their way to the hermits and many wished to join them, but they refused to accept recruits. So they continued to live for several years,—until they were visited by their bishop, Ardingo, and Cardinal Castiglione, who had heard about their sanctity. He was greatly edified, but made one adverse criticism: 'You treat yourselves in a manner bordering on barbarity: and you seem more desirous of dying to time than of living for eternity. Take heed: the enemy of souls often hides himself under the appearance of an angel of light . . . Hearken to the counsels of your superiors.' Again the solitaries gave themselves up to prayer for light, and again they had a vision of our Lady, who bore in her hand a black habit while an angel held a scroll inscribed with the title of Servants of Mary. She told them she—had chosen them to be her servants, that she wished them to wear the black habit, and to follow the Rule of St. Augustine. From that date, April 13, 1240, they were known as the Servants of Mary, or Servites. They were clothed by the bishop himself, Buonfiglio being elected their superior. According to custom they selected names by which they should thenceforth be known, and became Brothers Bonfilius, Alexis, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostenes, Manettus and Buonagiunta. By the wish of the bishop, all except St. Alexis, who in his humility begged to be excused, prepared to receive holy orders, and in due time they were fully professed and ordained priests. The new order, which took a form more like that of the mendicant friars than that of the monastic orders, increased amazingly, and it soon became necessary to form fresh houses. Siena, Pistoia and Arezzo were the first places chosen, and afterwards the houses at Carfaggio, the convent and church of the Santissima Annunziata in Florence, and the convent at Lucca were established. Meanwhile, although the Servites had the approval of their immediate superiors, they had not been recognized by the Holy See. It was only in 1259 that the order was practically recognized by Alexander IV, and not until 1304 over sixty years after its foundation-that it received the explicit and formal approbation of Bd. Benedict XI. St. Bonfilius had remained as prior general until 1256, when he begged to be relieved owing to old age. He died on new year's night, 1261. St. Buonagiunta, the youngest of the seven, was the second prior general, but not long after his election he breathed his last in chapel while the gospel of the Passion was being read. St. Amadeus ruled over the important convent of Carfaggio, but returned to Monte Senario to end his days. St. Manettus became fourth prior general and sent missionaries to Asia, but he retired to make way for St. Philip Benizi, upon whose breast he died. St. Hugh and St. Sostenes went abroad—Sostenes to Paris and Hugh to found convents in Germany. They were recalled in 1276, and, being attacked by illness, they passed away side by side the same night. St. Alexis, the humble lay-brother outlived them all, and he was the only one who survived to see the order fully and finally recognized. He is reported to have died at the age one hundred and ten. Almighty and ever living God, impart to us by your kindness, the love with which the seven founders venerated devoutly the Mother of God so that through her many may come to the knowledge of your Son. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13736a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servite_Order https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Holy_Founders_of_the_Servite_Order https://catholicsaints.info/servites/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-alexis-falconieri/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-bartholomew-degli-amidei/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-benedict-dellantella/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-buonfiglio-monaldi/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-gherardino-sostegni/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-hugh-dei-lippi-uguccioni/ https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-buonagiunta-monetti/ https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2015/02/seven-holy-founders-of-servite-order.html |
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21st February - Commemoration of St. Peter Damian, Bishop, Doctor of the Church. Born - c. 988, Ravenna Died - 22 February 1072 or 1073, Faenza Canonized - 1823 by Pope Leo XII (cultus confirmation) Venerated in - Roman Catholic Church Feast - 21 February, earlier 23 February (General Roman Calendar, 1823-1969) Attributes - represented as a cardinal bearing a knotted rope in his hand; also as a pilgrim holding a papal Bull; Cardinal's hat, Benedictine monk's habit A monk, bishop and cardinal, Peter Damian was born at Ravenna in 1007 into a large and comparatively poor family. Losing both his parents in childhood he was brought up by a brother who was archpriest at Ravenna who gave him the best education that he could provide consisting of grammar, rhetoric, and law. He continued his studies at Faenza and Parma returning to his home town to become a teacher. Drawn towards the religious life he joined the Camaldolese Benedictine monastery at Fonte Avellana in 1035. There the extreme austere regime of fasting, abstinence and vigils led to a temporary breakdown in his health. He continued his studies focussing on Scripture and patristic theology. In 1043 he was elected abbot of this small and poor community. Insisting on keeping true to the ideals of their founder he would eventually make five foundations. At this time the state of the wider church was so critical that he was soon called to direct his energies towards a wider field and his eloquence was soon heard in the synods in Italy of reforming popes like Pope Leo IX preaching against simony, clerical marriage, and in favour of the reformed papacy as well as condemning the laxity in all kinds of monastic orders. In 1057 he was appointed bishop of Ostia and played a prominent role in the Gregorian Reform acting against various antipopes as well as going in diplomatic and ecclesiastical missions to Milan, Germany and France. In 1059 he took part in the Lateran Synod which confirmed the right of cardinals alone to elect the pope. All this time he remained a monk at heart and he asked several popes to relieve him of his Episcopal duties. This was eventually granted by Pope Nicholas II and Peter returned to his monastery at Fonte Avellana where, in his old age, be busied himself making wooden spoons and other artefacts. Relics moved several times, and since, 1898 has been in the Chapel of Saint Peter Damian in the cathedral of Faenza, Italy. Almighty and ever living God, grant that we may follow the teaching and example of Saint Peter Damian, putting nothing before Christ and that through ardent service to your Church, may come to the joys of eternal light. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Damian https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11764a.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-peter-damian/ https://www.bartleby.com/210/2/234.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/saint-peter-damian-bishop-confessor-and.html |
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22nd February - Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he said, “who do you say I am?” Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Instead of a piece of furniture, this ancient feast, which is thought to date the fourth century, celebrates the unity of the Church through the Primacy of St. Peter, mentioned in the quotation above, and his successors over the centuries to the present Pontiff, Francis, the 264th officially recognised Pope. The Roman Catholic doctrine on papal primacy has been at the heart of the last two ecumenical councils: Vatican I (1869-1870) and Vatican II (1962-1965). Its authentic meaning has to be discovered not only in the affirmations of Vatican I but also in the very important clarifications of Vatican II. The first of these Councils was the culmination of a long process of development in Western theology that had, since 1054, been isolated from any virtual dialogue with the Eastern churches. By contrast, Vatican II was deeply influenced by the old ecclesiology of communion where, without it being denied, the primacy of the Holy Father, as the Bishop of Rome, is related to the collegiality of all the bishops, and this collegiality of the bishops is related, in turn, to the synodality of the local churches. One of the key documents of the First Vatican Council "Pastor Aerternus", in one of its principal paragraphs defined that the Primacy of the Bishop pf Rome cannot be separated from the primacy of the local church in Rome, "We teach and declare that in the disposition of God the Roman Church holds the pre-eminence of ordinary power over all the other Churches and that this power of jurisdiction is immediate." (DS 3060). The constitution quotes from the Second Council of Lyons (1274) which states that: "The holy Roman Church possesses the supreme and full primacy and authority over the universal Catholic Church which it recognises in truth and humility to have received with fullness of power from the Lord himself in the person of Blessed Peter, Prince or head of the Apostles of whom the Roman Pontiff is the successor. And as it is bound above all to defend the truth of faith, so, too, if any questions should arise regarding the faith, they must be decided by its judgement." Because of his position as the Bishop of Rome, the Pope has a specific role concerning the communion of all the local churches in the apostolic faith; he is the first among all the bishops and has been called to be guardian of the supreme confession of the apostolic faith. To be in communion with him, any bishop and the local church that he represents, is in communion with all the bishops and with all the churches who confess, have confessed, and will confess this faith. Pastor Aerternus puts it in the following words, ". . . in order that the episcopate itself might be one and undivided, and that the whole community of believers might be preserved in unity of faith and communion by means of a closely united priesthood." (DS 3051). Almighty and ever living God, grant that we, with our faith set fast on the rock of Saint Peter's confession of faith, may weather the storms and tempests of this world. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03551e.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chair_of_Saint_Peter http://www.stpetersbasilica.info/Altars/Cathedra/Cathedra.htm https://catholicsaints.info/chair-of-peter/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/peterChair.htm https://www.bartleby.com/210/2/221.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2014/02/feast-of-chair-of-st-peter-apostle.html https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-02-22 |
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23rd February - Commemoration of St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr. Born - AD 69 Died - AD 155, Smyrna, Asia, Roman Empire Venerated in - Roman Catholic Church, Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church Feast - February 23 (formerly January 26) Attributes - Wearing the pallium, holding a book representing his Epistle to the Philippians Influences - John the Apostle Influenced - Irenaeus (?) Major works - Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians A disciple of St. John the Apostle and the most important link between the time of the Apostles and the earliest Christian Fathers, Polycarp was born c. 69 and would become bishop of Smyrna and one of the most important Christians in Roman Asia in the mid-second century. He defended orthodox Christian belief against the heresies of Marcion and Valentinus, the most influential of the Gnostics. His letter to the Philippians was so influential that it was read in the churches of Asia during his lifetime. The Martyr St. Ignatius, who met Polycarp on his last journey to Rome, recommended to his care the church at Antioch. Polycarp was martyred in c. 155. He was arrested on a farm close to Smyrna, neither provoking nor avoiding martyrdom, but calmly waiting. He invited his captors to eat a meal while he prayed alone for an hour, at his interrogation neither threats nor promises would shake his constancy and when ordered to execrate Christ he answered: “For 86 years I have been his servant and he has never done me wrong, how can I blaspheme my king who saved me? “He was taken to the amphitheatre for execution and when the crowd was told that Polycarp had confessed to being a Christian they called for him to thrown to the lions, then for him to be burnt at the stake. He was bound and an official killed him with a sword. His body was then burnt. His bones were collected by fellow Christians for burial. The account of his martyrdom, written shortly after the event, is the earliest authentic example of its kind. In it Polycarp utters the following prayer during his martyrdom, "O Lord God Almighty, Father of thy blessed and beloved Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have all been given knowledge of thyself; Thou art the God of angels and powers, of the whole creation, and of all the generations of the righteous who live in thy sight. I bless thee for granting me this day and hour, that I may be numbered amongst the martyrs, to share the cup of thine Anointed and to rise again unto life everlasting, both in body and soul, in the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received among them this day in thy presence, a sacrifice rich and acceptable, even as thou didst appoint and foreshow, and dost now bring it to pass, for thou art the God of truth and in thee there is no falsehood. For this, and for all else besides, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee; through our eternal High Priest in Heaven, thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom by glory to thee and to the Holy Ghost, now and for all ages to come. Amen." Almighty and ever living God, grant that through the intercession of your martyr, Saint Polycarp, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to the joys of eternal life. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12219b.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_of_Polycarp_to_the_Philippians https://www.bunkertownchurch.org/docs/ce/polycarp-philippians.pdf http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/polycarp.html https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0102.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-polycarp-of-smyrna/ https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2014/03/st-polycarp-of-smyrna.html |