Feast of Saint Christopher of Lycia

IMPORTANT FACTS:

He met a King and the King was proud of him and kept him close and fed him well.One day a singer
visited the King and among the folk song he sung one on the influence of Satan.By the mention
of this name,the king blessed himself with the Sign of the Cross.Wondering,Reprobus asked him why
he did that and the king's reply was : "When I make this Sign,Satan has no power over me."
Reprobus was amazed and said:"So thou fearest the power of Satan? Then he is greater than 
thou,and I shall seek and serve him."

He left and searched for Satan.One night in darkness he met a band of wild fellows riding through
the forest.It was Satan and his escort.Reprobus bravely call to him,saying he wished to serve him.
He was accepted and so soon he was convinced that Satan was not the mightiest on earth because
one day while approaching a Crucifix by the wayside, Satan quickly ran far away and Reprobus asked
him for the reason.Satan replied:"That is the image of my greatest enemy,Who conquered me 
on the Cross.From Him I always flee." When Reprobus heard this,he left Satan and went away
to search for Christ.

While wandering alone,he came to small hut hidden in the forest.At the enterance sat a venerable hermit.
Reprobus told him about his desire in serving Christ,the Lord of Heaven and Earth.Reprobus cried out
and said:"Christ is He Whom I seek,for He is the strongest and the mightiest.Tell me where 
I can find Him."The hermit told him :"He who would serve Christ must offer himself entirely 
to Him,and do and suffer everything for His sake. His reward for this will be immense 
and will last forever." 

Reprobus knew that the hermit was wise and asked him to let him stay and learn the Catholic Faith
from him.Soon Reprobus was baptised and after that he transformed into a beautiful person.He was
no longer proud of his great size and strength,he became meek and humble.He asked the hermit to
give to him some task by which he might serve God,his master.He said: "For I can not pray and fast;therefore I must serve God in some other way." The hermit led him to a broad and swift river nearby, and said: "Here build thyself a hut, and when wanderers wish to cross the river, 
carry them over for the love of Christ." For there was no bridge across the river.

So each day,Reprobus will carry people across the river since there was no bridge.One night,he heard
a little child calling to be carried across the river.He felt pity for the child and went at once to place
the child on his stout shoulder.He took his staff and walked into the mighty current.They were soon
in the middle of the river when the water rose higher and higher,and the child became heavier and
heavier.Reprobus cried out:"O child,how heavy thou art!It seems I bear the weight of the 
world on my shoulder."

The Child Jesus replied: "Right thou art.Thou bearet not only the world,but the Creator 
of Heaven and Earth.I am Jesus Christ,thy King and Lord,and henceforth thous shalt be
called Christophorus,that is,Christ-bearer.Arrived on yonder shore,plant thy staff in the ground,and in token of My power and might tomorrow it shall bear leaves and blossoms"

While kneeling,he promised the Lord to serve Him ever faithfully.He kept his promise,and from
that day he became a zealous preacher of the Gospel.He became a martyred and was satisfied with
his achievement.

Christopher became a Saint without Pope's canonization because he died in the year 254 which
was in the very early days but we do know that many intercessions asked in his name has never
been failed to be heard so because of that he is still a very powerful Saint till today.Many saints
have asked for his intercession and has known that he has never failed to obtain a miracle
for them.Saint Christopher is always remembered as a great saint for travelers since he knows
well about travelling.

Saint Christopher,Holy Patron of Travelers,

Protect me and lead me 

safely to my destiny.

Amen

In Greece, many churches place the icon of St Christopher at the entrance so that people can see it
as they enter and leave the building. There is a small poem in Greek which says,

“When you see Christopher, you can walk in safety.” 

This reflects the belief that whoever gazes upon the icon of St Christopher will not meet with Sudden
or Accidental Death.

PRAYER TO SAINT CHRISTOPHER OF LYCIA:
O Holy Patron of Travelers,help us in our journery to Heaven.You who were a great pilgrim,traveled
far to search for the Mightiest Master and thou found him in the Child Jesus.Grant us to be like you and
never lose hope when the presence of Jesus seems far away;may we always continue searching for
Him until He takes pity on us like how he did with you.May through your intercession,we may believe
and trust in Christ Jesus and bear him on our souls like thou once did bear him on thy shoulder.Amen

Saint Christopher of Lycia,Giant of the Child Jesus,Guide us in our journey to Heaven!  

Feast of Saint Charbel Mahkluf

IMPORTANT FACTS:

Charbel was very kind and quiet for he was always praying within his heart.He sacrificed the main

thing that people cannot do that is SPEAKING to others.He rarely spoke and when the time he 

spoke was during mass or during his time spent with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Ever since small,he used to take his little herd daily to the grassland because he was 

a Little Shepherd Boy.He would take care of them well and after that,he would go to a grotto 

where he would kneel in front of the Virgin Mary Icon and pray and so this grotto became his altar

and his first hermit which became later a Chapel  for prayers and pilgrimage for Believers.

When he was a teenager,he continued his theological studies in the Monastery of Saint Kouberyanous

& Justina,Kfifan-Batroun,under the care of his teacher Nehemtallah Kassab Elhardiny(Saint),who was 

the ideal for the monks and a living image of the great Sanctified Monks in his private & public life.

His teacher Nehemtallah was a great teacher and taught him deep about the Catholic Faith.That is why

his teacher became a Saint too and was canonized by Pope John Paul II.

Father Charbel lived in St. Maroun’s Monastery-Annaya for a period of 16years.He was obedient to

his superiors, sticking to his monkhood law precisely.He was stern on himself by living strict austerity 

and mortification.He rejected all worldly materials and comfort in this earthly life,to go to serve his Lord 

and the salvation of his soul.

During the year 1875,God inspired Father Charbel to live in hermitage in St. Peter & Paul in spite of
the fact that the superiors usually,do not allow seclusion in the hermit easily.While the father superior
was hesitating, he received a sign from Heaven visualized by the miracle of the lamp.As one night,
Father Charbel asked the servant to fill the lamp with oil,but instead the servant decided to fill
it with water to prank him.When the lamp reached Father Charbel,he still could light the lamp even
it was filled with water rather than oil.The lamp gave light ordinarily.This miracle gave Father Charbel
the chance to start his destiny in being a Hermit to finally go to his desired secluded home.

Jesus making a miracle through Father Charbel's prayers

 and lit the lamp for him even without oil...

After his death spiritual lights radiated from his tomb,this was the reason for which his body was

incorrupted.It was perspiring sweat & blood;was transferred into a special coffin,after the permission 

of the Maronite patriarchate,and he was placed in a new tomb, inside the monastery.At that point 

groups of Pilgrims flocked soliciting his intercession.God blessed many of these by healing them and endowing them by other spiritual blessings.Finally on December 5,1965, Pope Paul VI presided the Beatification of Father Charbel at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council.On 9 October 1977,

Pope Paul VI presided the Canonization of Blessed Charbel.

Saint Charbel is very well known for his rapid prayers for the Conversion of Hardened Sinners due to
his life of sacrifice which was constantly offered up for poor sinners.His prayers are always heard by
God and are immediately transformed in a sinner during his lifetime and after his death.May those
who seek him be transformed by his prayers.

 

Saint Charbel Mahkluf,one who meditates deeply
 for sinners and pleads for God's mercy upon us,
Bring us safely to the Throne of God with your
Humble and Powerful prayers!

Quotes of Saint Charbel:

• " We cannot fight the evil one with his own weapon"
• Without always professing the 3 evangelical counsels publicly,hermits"devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world,the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance".

"The conversions of souls are numerous
 and still more precious
than the cures of bodies.

PRAYER TO SAINT CHARBEL:

Pure and Holy Saint Charbel,ever close to the Heart of Jesus and Mary,pray deeply for us to them.

May we be able to live a life of prayer and may our lives be shield by constant prayers offered up to

Jesus just like how you did during your lifetime.Grant us the spirit of prayer that we may draw closer 

to Jesus daily.Though we struggle to live a life of prayer,we trust that you may gain for us the graces 

necessary to make our prayer life stronger with Jesus.Amen.

Saint Charbel Mahkluf, Lover of Prayer and Meditations,pray for us daily to Jesus and Mary!

Feast of Saint Bridget of Sweden

IMPORTANT FACTS:

The 14th of June 1303, at the moment Bridget was born, Benedict, the curate of Rasbo,prayed for the

happy deliverance of Ingeborde.Suddenly he found himself enveloped by a luminous cloud out of which
Our Lady appeared:
                                

“A child has been born at Birger; her voice

 will be heard by the entire world.”

St. Ingrid,whose death had occurred about 20 years before Bridget's birth,was a near relative of
the family.So she did have a Saint in the midst of her relatives and she grew in a strong Catholic
background but she was still a normal person who struggled with her faith and she had a lot of questions
for Jesus.

She wanted to know all about Jesus that after her husband's death,she spent all her time in prayer.
She talked daily to Jesus like how you will normally talk to a friend and she asked Jesus daily.
Some friends will feel irritated but not Jesus.He instead was pleased by her questions that He came
down from Heaven which she saw in one of her visions.She saw Him stand on the clouds with Angels
by His side and He looked at her with loving eyes and told her how pleased He was with her questions
that He came to reveal it to her by Himself.She was filled with awe and she cried because she knew
how much Jesus' loved her that He took the time to come down specially for her to answer her
questions which she thought did not make sense but she just asked out of a strong desire.

After that incident,she would find time to spend it with Jesus in the tabernacle and there were times she
could not see Jesus but she felt Him deep within her soul.There were times when she felt miserable and
could not feel Him at all and these were the times she spent longer hours near the tabernacle.She never
lost hope in Jesus and knew how to be understanding towards Jesus' feelings and sorrows.She knew
how to be a divine spouse.She is an example for those who doubt that married life and divine favour
can go hand in hand.

Saint Bridget knew sorrow and she shared it with Jesus.Though some of her children were wayward
and not all became Saints,she loved them and offered them all to the will of God.Jesus in return took
care of all,even though her children was straying away.His invisible hand was always with them.
He protected them and strived to bring them all to Heaven even though not canonized as Saints;
they manage to meet all the Saints in Heaven due to the prayers and sufferings of Saint Bridget
(their mother).

Through the life of Saint Bridget,we can know that all silence and sufferings can be made beautiful if
only we be patient with our failures;God will turn all failures into beauty when our life here on
earth is over.So let us be patient with ourselves and pray the prayers written by Saint Bridget and
trust in the promises of Jesus like how she did and may God raises us high to be among the canonized
Saints just like He did with Saint Bridget of Sweden.

She was canonized,7 October, 1391,by Pope Boniface IX.In 1999,she,Saints Catherine of Siena
(April 29) and Teresa Benedicts of the Cross (Edith Stein, August 9) were named co-patronesses
of Europe.

Here is the chapel in St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome where St. Bridget 

received the private revelation of the 15 prayers

Visitors to the Church of St. Paul at Rome can see the crucifix, above the Tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, sculptured by Pierre Cavallini, before which St. Bridge knelt when she received 

these 15 prayers from Our Lord.The following inscription is placed in the church to commemorate 

the event: “Pendentis, Pendente Dei verba accepit aure accipit et verbum corde Brigitta Deum.

Anno Jubilei MCCCL.”

As St. Bridget for a long time wanted to know the number of blows Our Lord received during His 

Passion,He one day appeared to her and said: “I received 5480 blows on My Body.If you wish to

honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Mary’s with the following Prayers 

(which He taught her) for a whole year.When the year is up, you will have honored each one of 

My Wounds.”

Quote of Saint Bridget :

• “Blessed may you be, my Lord Jesus Christ.For our salvation you allowed your side and heart to be pierced with a lance and from that side water and your precious blood flowed out abundantly for our redemption.”

Saint Bridget of Sweden and around her are the 

Brigittines nuns and the Order of St.Saviour 

 which was founded by her..

PRAYER TO SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN:

O Heavenly Saint Bridget,you who dealt with failures but endured it with great patience,intercede for us.
We need your help to remain focus on Jesus and not on our failures.May we know that God can
change all failures into goodness just like how He did with your life.Please help us to be granted the
grace of being patience when God is being silent in answering our prayers and pray for us daily to Jesus with your powerful words which you wrote for us in prayers so that we may be transformed by Jesus like how He transformed you.Amen.
Saint Bridget of Sweden,the one who was filled with the Holy Spirit to write beautiful prayers,
Intercede for us!

Feast of Saint Maria Goretti

IMPORTANT FACTS:

Maria was a very simple and poor child but was a prayerful girl.She had a very beautiful attitude and she was transparent in her Faith.Her attitude reflected on God and Jesus' Divine image shone brightly
upon her little soul.

Little Maria had many difficulties in her life and if any child was in her place would have easily gave 
up on God but she was different because she never gave up! Problems became worse due to her
dad,Luigi who was poor in health,he needed 2 men to help him:Giovanni Serenelli & son,18-year-old Alessandro.They moved in with the Goretti’s,adding more work for little Maria and her mother.
Soon her dad contracted malaria and died.Before dying he told Assunta to take the children and leave
their home because he told her it was not safe but Maria refuse to leave because she knew she would
be far away from the place where she had so many memories with her dad.This made it worse for little Maria because she loved her dad and missed him.She would go daily to the Cemetery to visit her dad
and place flowers for him.She would explain how her day was to her dad and then return home happily.

Soon problems started to rise,her mum was forced to work in the fields by Giovanni who was
threatening to throw them out.Little Maria took over the care of the household and the younger children.Though she was little,she always had a strong motherly attitude towards her siblings.She
cared for each one and loved them deeply.She had a very selfless attitude towards them and gave
her all to take care of them.

Days passed by and Alessandro grew deeper in evil and lustful desires,he spent his free time reading
lurid magazines and decorated his room with impure pictures.He fixed his misguided affections on
little Maria.He thought she was small and knew nothing so it would be easy to catch her in his lustful
attempts and so he made her life a living Hell.He tried to be nice and trick her into his evil intentions.

Engulf  by the passions of his days and tempted by the Devil with impious reading and thoughts,
Alessandro Serenelli had been a thorn in little Maria's side.He propositioned her on several occasions
and harassed her with impure suggestions.On July 5, 1902, he would be denied no longer.As she
once again refused his sexual advance while she fought like a little tigress,shouting,

 "No! It is a sin! God does not want it!"

Alessandro lunged to the deed, stabbing Maria 14 times without mercy given and she fell to the ground bleeding in a pool of blood.She suffered terribly and he did not bother and he walked away while she

asked for his help.Soon her mother found out but it was late,she lost too much of blood.Her mother was in shock to find her in such a state,she questioned her little Maria,who answered in a weak voice,

"It was Alessandro, Mama... Because he wanted me to 
commit an awful sin and I would not."

She was then quickly rushed to the Hospital.On her way to the hospital,her mum heard her pray this words:

"Jesus you have suffered so much for me,
please help me in my suffering for you"

At the hospital,she was thirsty and begged for water.She cried: "I thirst',but even in their pity they could

not give her water because due to the severe stabs that pierced her heart,her lungs and her intestines
were severed.Her mother only could soaked her handkerchief with Holy Water and touch it to little
Maria's lips.Little Maria lived 24 hours just enough to receive the Last Sacraments.She was made a
Child of Mary and was given the Medallion with a blue ribbon to be placed around her neck.Little Maria
kissed it gently and prayed:

" Mary conceived without sin pray for us

who have recourse to Thee"

On the Sunday morning,6 July 1902,she was given her Holy Communion and suddenly her face glowed

with a supernatural light.She gently said: 

" I forgive my murderer out of my love for Jesus.

Alessandro will join me in Heaven,as I have forgiven

 him and I pray that God will too.Soon I will meet

 him face to face!"

She whispered:"The Madonna is waiting for me"...
July 6,1902,at 3.45pm,little Maria at age 11 and 9 months old died while she kissed the cross.After her death an enormous public outpouring of devotion took place.Many knelt to the ground praying and
crying at her graveside;many asked for her intercession and received an answer immediately.
She was beatified on April 27,1947 by the Roman Catholic Church.She was then canonized on
June 24,1950 and finally was declared a Saint in St. Peter's Square by Pope Pius XII,becoming the
youngest officially recognized Roman Catholic saint ever. 

“Behold, now she follows the Lamb who
 was crucified for us,powerful in virginity,
modesty her offering,a sacrifice on
 the altar of chastity.”

Quotes of Saint Maria Goretti:

• "He loves,He hopes,He waits.Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years than keep us waiting an instant.." 

PRAYER TO SAINT MARIA GORETTI:
Heroic Martyr of Purity,protect us in this world of darkness.Pray for us to be granted
grace to grow deeper in love with Jesus and to avoid whatever that will tarnish our 
souls with sin.Prevent us from being damned to Hell due to the sins of the flesh and 
shield us with the Blood of Jesus which defended you from being tarnished by the sin
of lust.Intercede for us and the world until we are all gathered safely in the Heavenly Kingdom of God.Amen
Saint Maria Goretti,Virgin that was in the Blood of the Lamb,shield us with the
Blood of Christ Jesus!