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21st April ~ Optional memorial of St. Anselm, Bishop, Doctor of the Church. Born: 1033. Died: 1109. Canonised: 1494. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church: 1720. Born at Aosta in Alpine Italy in 1033 and educated in Normandy, Anselm became a Benedictine monk, teacher, and abbot at Bec and continued his ecclesiastical career in England. Having been appointed the second Norman archbishop of Canterbury in 1093, Anselm secured the Westminster Agreement of 1107, guaranteeing the (partial) independence of the church from the civil state. In a series of short works such as De Libertate Arbitrii (On Free Will), De Casu Diaboli (The Fall of the Devil), and the lengthier dialogue Cur Deus Homo (Why God became Man), Anselm propounded a satisfaction theory of the atonement, upon which the incarnation promises relief from the strict demands of divine justice. He defended a notion of the relation between philosophy and theology that, like Augustine's, emphasized the methodological priority of faith over reason, since truth is to be achieved only through "fides quaerens intellectum" ("faith seeking understanding"). Anselm Anselm's combination of Christianity, neoplatonic metaphysics, and Aristotelean logic in the form of dialectical question-and-answer was an important influence in the development scholasticism during the next several centuries. As a philosopher, Anselm is most often remembered for his attempts to prove the existence of god: In De Veritate (Of Truth) he argued that all creatures owe their being and value to god as the source of all truth, to whom a life lived well is the highest praise. In the Monologion he described deity as the one most truly good thing, from which all real moral values derive and whose existence is required by the reality of those values. Most famously, in the Proslogion (Addition), Anselm proposed the famous Ontological Argument, according to which god is understood as "aliquid quod maius non cogitari potest" ("that than which nothing greater can be conceived"). The being so conceived must necessarily exist in reality as well as in thought, he argued, since otherwise it would in fact be possible to conceive something greater—namely, something exactly similar except that it really does exist. Thus, at least for Anselmian believers guided by a prior faith, god must truly exist as the simple, unified source of all perfections, a reality that excludes corruption, imperfection, and deception of every sort. Anselm died at Canterbury in 1109, was canonized in 1494 by Pope Alexander III, and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI. Almighty and ever living God, you called Saint Anselm to study and teach the sublime truths that you have revealed, grant that the gift of faith may come to the aid of our understanding. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01546a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anselm_of_Canterbury |
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23rd April ~ Solemnity of St. George, Martyr, Patron of England. Born - Cappadocia Died - 23 April 303, Nicomedia, Bithynia, Roman Empire Venerated in - Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Church of the East, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism, Umbanda, Druze faith Major shrine - Church of Saint George, Lod, St. George's Monastery, Al-Khader, St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally, St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Pally, St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura, St. George Forane Church, Edathua, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Feast - 23 April (Saint George's Day), 6 May (Gregorian when Julian date is observed), 23 Parmouti (Coptic calendar, 1 May), Saturday before third Sunday of Exaltation of the Cross (Armenian Church calendar). Attributes - Clothed as a crusader in plate armour or mail, often bearing a lance tipped by a cross, riding a white horse, often slaying a dragon. In the Greek East and Latin West he is shown with St George's Cross emblazoned on his armour, or shield or banner. Patronage - Many Patronages of Saint George exist around the world Strange as it may seem, St. George was not actually English. Tradition places him in Palestine in the Middle East in the late third or early fourth century. According to legend the dragon, which terrorised the country, was first appeased by an offering of two sheep. When these grew scarce, a human victim was chosen. The lot fell to the king’s daughter who went to face her fate dressed as a bride. George pierced the dragon with his lance and led it captive with the princess’s girdle as if it were tame. He told the people not to be afraid and that he would rid them of the beast if they believed in Jesus Christ and were baptised. The king and people agreed, George killed the dragon and 15,000 men were baptised. George would take no reward other than a promise from the king to maintain churches, to honour priests and to show compassion to the poor. According to tradition George underwent martyrdom during the persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian. His cult spread to England following the Crusades. During the siege of Antioch and the defeat of the Saracens the morale of the Crusaders is supposed to have been boosted by a vision of St. George and St. Demetrius. “Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ. Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to be poor. Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the think of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ. Clearly what he did serves to teach us a valuable lesson: if we are afraid to strip ourselves of out worldly possessions, then we are unfit to make a strong defence of the faith. Dear brothers, let us not only admire the courage of this fighter in heaven’s army, but follow his example. Let us be inspired to strive for the reward of heavenly glory. We must now cleanse ourselves, as Saint Paul tells us, from all defilement of body and spirit, so that one day we too may deserve to enter that temple of blessedness to which we now aspire.” – from a sermon by Saint Peter Damian Almighty and ever living God, the heart of St. George bore witness to the risen Lord. Grant that through his intercession that same power of love we may be led with him in triumph to share in the fullness of the resurrection. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06453a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George_and_the_Dragon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George_in_devotions,_traditions_and_prayers https://catholicsaints.info/saint-george/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/george.htm https://www.bartleby.com/210/4/231.html https://catholicsaints.info/the-life-of-saint-george-martyr-patron-of-england-by-father-william-fleming/ |
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24th April ~ Optional memorial of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and Martyr. Born - 1577, Sigmaringen, Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Died - April 24, 1622, Grüsch, Seewis im Prättigau,, Free State of the Three Leagues Beatified - March 24, 1729, by Pope Benedict XIII Canonized - June 29, 1746, Rome by Pope Benedict XIV Major shrine - Capuchin friary of Weltkirchen (Feldkirch), Austria Attributes - sword, palm of martyrdom; heretics; the Morning Star; trampling on the word "heresy"; with a club set with spikes; with a whirl bat; with an angel carrying a palm of martyrdom; with Saint Joseph of Leonessa Born in 1577, Fidelis was born at Sigmaringen (Hohenzollern) and was educated at Freiburg-in-Breisgau receiving doctorates in philosophy and law. Between 1604 and 1610 he was tutor to some Swabian young men on their travels. Soon afterwards he was ordained priest and joined the reformed Capuchin branch of the Franciscan Order. He was the head of three houses in succession and became famous as a preacher and for his care of the sick. He was sent to preach to the Zwinglians of the Grisons region with the aim of reconciling them to Rome. At Zwinglian instigation he was killed by enraged peasants in 1622 in the church at Seewis in Switzerland. He was canonised in 1746. Almighty and ever living God, you granted the palm of martyrdom to St. Fidelis as he propagated the faith. Grant, we pray, that through his intercession and grounded in charity we may merit to now with him the power of the resurrection of your Son. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06069a.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelis_of_Sigmaringen |
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25h April ~ Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist. Born - c. 12 AD, Cyrene, Pentapolis of North Africa, according to Coptic tradition Died - c. 68 AD (aged c. 56), Alexandria, Egypt, Roman Empire Venerated in - All Christian churches that venerate saints Major shrine - St Mark's Basilica, Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Alexandria) Feast - 25 April (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox), 30 Parmouti or 8 May (Coptic Orthodox) Patronage - Barristers, Venice, Egypt, Copts, Mainar Major works - Gospel of Mark Mark is usually identified with John Mark, whose mother’s house in Jerusalem was a meeting place for the Apostles and by some commentators as the young man dressed in the linen cloth, who flees when Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was later the companion of St. Peter and St. Paul. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas (his cousin) on the first missionary journey but turned back at Perga (Pamphylia). A falling out with St. Paul resulted in Mark and Barnabas preaching in Cyprus (Acts 13 and 15). Later, when St. Paul was in prison in Rome, Mark, who is described as the cousin of Barnabas, is known to have been with him (Colossians 4: 10). In the First Letter of St. Peter (5: 13), Mark is referred to as " . . . my son, Mark" and according to tradition Mark’s Gospel represents the teaching and memoirs of St. Peter, whose interpreter Clement of Alexandria and Papias say he was. It is believed that the Gospel was written in Italy, possibly in Rome itself. Eusebius records Mark as the first Bishop of Alexandria although neither Clement of Alexandria, nor Origen mention this. Mark is traditionally supposed to have met is death in the eighth year of the reign of the Emperor Nero. In the ninth century his relics were brought to Venice, whose patron saint he is. Butler has the following account of his martyrdom: "On his return to Alexandria, the heathens called him a magician on account of his miracles, and resolved upon his death. God, however, concealed him long from them. At last, on the pagan feast of the idol Serapis, some that were employed to discover the holy man found him offering to God the prayer of oblation, or the Mass. Overjoyed to find him in their power, they seized him, tied his feet with cords and dragged him about the streets, crying that the ox must be led to Bucoles, a place near the sea, full of rocks and precipices, where probably oxen were fed. This happened on Sunday, the 24th of April, in the year of Christ 68, of Nero the fourteenth, about three years after the death of SS. Peter and Paul. The saint was thus dragged the whole day, staining the stones with his blood and leaving the ground strewn with pieces of his flesh; all the while he ceased not to praise and thank God for his sufferings. At night he was thrown into prison, in which God comforted him with two visions, which Bede has mentioned in his true Martyrology. The next day the infidels dragged him, as before, till he happily expired on the 25th of April, on which day the Oriental and Western churches keep his festival." Almighty and ever living God, you raised St. Mark, your Evangelist, and gave him the grace to preach your Gospel. Grant, we pray, that we may profit from his teaching and so faithfully follow in the footsteps of our Lord, Jesus Christ. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09672c.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_the_Evangelist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Evangelists https://catholicsaints.info/saint-mark-the-evangelist/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/mark.htm https://www.bartleby.com/210/4/251.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2012/05/st-mark.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Saint_Mark https://www.newadvent.org/bible/mar001.htm |