Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton The First American Saint
1774-1821
January 4
“Unite me to yourself, O adorable victim, life-giving heavenly bread, feed me, sanctify me, reign in me, transform me to yourself – live in me, and let me live in you, let me adore you in your life-giving sacraments as my God – listen to you as to my Master – obey you as my King – imitate you as my Model – follow you as Shepherd – love you as my Father – seek you as my Physician who will heal all the maladies of my soul – be indeed my way, truth, and life, sustain me O heavenly manna through the desert of this world, till I shall behold you unveiled in your glory.” (Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton)
Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in 46 years while raising her five children. Canonized in 1975, she was the first American to be named a Saint.
For gifts related to the Catholic Faith please visit Lynn's Timeless Treasures
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Elizabeth Ann Seton - by Sister M. Fides Glass, SC - available from
Sisters of Charity Gift Shop
Say once a day for nine days
during the month of January
O Merciful Jesus, Who didst in Thy early infancy commence Thy office of Savior by shedding Thy Precious Blood, and assuming for us that Name which is above all names; we thank Thee for such early proofs of Thine infinite love. We venerate Thy sacred Name, in union with the profound respect of the Angel who first announced it to the earth, and unite our affections to the sentiments of tender devotion which the adorable name of Jesus has in all ages enkindled in the hearts of Thy Saints.
Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerring word, and penetrated with confidence in Thy mercy, we now most humbly remind Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that where two or three should assemble in Thy Name, Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst of them. Come, then, into the midst of us, most amiable Jesus, for it is in Thy sacred Name we are here assembled; come into our hearts, that we may be governed by Thy holy spirit; mercifully grant us, through that adorable Name, which is the joy of Heaven, the terror of Hell, the consolation of the afflicted, and the solid ground of our unlimited confidence, all the petitions we make in this novena.
Oh! blessed Mother of our Redeemer! Who didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings of thy dear Son when He shed His Sacred Blood and assumed for us the Name of Jesus, obtain for us, through that adorable Name, the favors we petition in this novena.
Beg also, that the most ardent love may imprint on our hearts that sacred Name, that it may be always in our minds and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense and our refuge in the temptations and trials of life, and our consolation and support in the hour of death. Amen.
The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
In the 12th century, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) composed the hymn Jesu Dulcis Memoria praising the Holy Name of Jesus.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy Presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' Name,
The Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.
The devotion to the holy name of Jesus though, didn't became popular until the preaching of Saint Bernardine of Siena, a 15th-century Franciscan.
“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” (St. Bernardine of Siena).
The feast of the Holy Name is associated with Jesus’ circumcision, for it was on the 8th day after his birth, that he received his holy name.
“When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21)
When I was young the Sisters of Mercy taught us to bow our head when we said the name of Jesus. Over 50 years later, my body continues to take this posture whenever I utter His name “that name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9), in prayer.
“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
It is “in His name the Gentiles will hope (Matthew 12:21); “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend...and every tongue confess (Philippians 2:10-11); “in the name of Jesus Christ” Peter, Paul and the apostles baptized, healed, and cast out demons (Acts2:37-38, 3:6, 16:18).
We should strive never to say His precious Holy Name in vain (Exodus 20:7), for it is in His adorable Holy Name we should place our faith(1 John 3:23), do his work, spread His Gospel message (Colossians 3:17) and pray. Jesus, I Trust in You!
“Never yet was human being in urgent need, and on the point of perishing, who invoked this help-giving Name, and was not powerfully sustained. It was given us for the cure of all our ills; to soften the impetuosity of anger, to quench the fire of concupiscence, to conquer pride, to mitigate the pain of our wounds, to overcome the thirst of avarice, to quiet sensual passions, and the desires of low pleasures. If we call to our minds the Name of Jesus, it brings before us His most meek and humble heart, and gives us a new knowledge of His most loving and tender compassion. The Name of Jesus is the purest, and holiest, the noblest and most indulgent of names, the Name of all blessings and of all virtues; it is the Name of the God-Man, of sanctity itself. To think of Jesus is to think of the great, infinite God Who, having given us His life as an example, has also bestowed the necessary understanding, energy and assistance to enable us to follow and imitate Him, in our thoughts, inclinations, words and actions. If the Name of Jesus reaches the depths of our heart, it leaves heavenly virtue there.” St. Bernard of Clairvaux
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IHS is associated with the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. The name of Jesus in Greek is written ιησους and pronounced iēsous. In Hebrew the name Jesus is written ישוע which is transliterated as yeshu‘a, and pronounced yeshūa. In Latin Jesus is written lesus. The insignia IHS comes from the Latinized version of the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus ιησους. ι becomes i or j, η becomes h, and σ becomes s, or IHS.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Saint Basil the Great
Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Basil the Great (329-379) and St. Gregory Nazianzen (329-389), two friends who became bishops and doctors of the Church.
O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church
by the example and teaching
of the Bishops Saints Basil and Gregory,
grant, we pray,
that in humility we may learn your truth
and practice it faithfully in charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.Amen.
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Art
Basil and Gregory of Nazianzus, Byzantine Fresco, Unknown Artist
I greet you, ever-bless Virgin, Mother of God,
throne of grace, miracle of almighty power!
I greet you, sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity
and Queen of the Universe,
Mother of mercy and refuge of sinners!
Most loving Mother, attracted by your beauty and sweetness,
and by your tender compassion,
I confidently turn to you,
and beg of you to obtain for
me of your dear Son,
the favor I request in this novena:
(Mention your request)
Obtain for me also, Queen of Heaven,
the most lively contrition for my many sins
and the grace to imitate closely those virtues
which you practiced so faithfully,
especially humility, purity, and obedience.
Above all, I beg you to be my mother
and protectress, to receive me into the number
of your devoted children,
and to guide me from your high throne of glory.
Do not reject my petitions, mother of mercy!
Have pity on me, and do not abandon me
during life or at the moment of my death.
Daughter of the Eternal Father,
Mother of the Eternal Son,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit,
Temple of the Adorable Trinity, pray for me.
Immaculate and tender heart of Mary,
refuge of the needy and hope of sinners,
filled with the most lively respect, love,
and gratitude, I devote myself
forever to your service,
and offer you my heart
with all that I am and all that is mine.
Accept this offering, sweet Queen of Heaven
and Earth, and obtain for me
of your dear Son, Jesus Christ,
the favors I ask through
your intercession in this novena.
Obtain for me also a generous,
constant love of God,
perfect submission to His adorable Will,
the true spirit of a Christian,
and the grace of final perseverance. Amen.
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence
I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come; before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
A novena is nine days of prayer for a special intention, petition, grace or thanksgiving. To make a novena means to persevere in prayer fulfilling our Lord’s teaching to continue praying and never lose confidence in our Lord’s providence.
“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For whoever asks receives; whoever seeks finds; whoever knocks is admitted.” (Luke 11:9-10)
Saying a novena for a specific request does not mean that your request will be granted. A novena is not magic, nor should they be treated in a superstitious manner. A novena is a prayer in which we petition always for the will of God and for His great glory.
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Mother of God
World Day of Peace
January 1
On this day, the birth of a new year, let us pray for a world renewed in the peace of God through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God.
Jesus, Son of Mary and Son of God, let your face shine upon us and be gracious to us.
Today’s feast the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the Catholic belief that Mary is the Mother of God. This Catholic Dogma originates in the Bible passage from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.
After the archangel Gabriel spoke to Mary telling her that she would conceive in her womb and bear a son by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth greeted Mary with the words, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43) In this passage, Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit proclaimed Mary to be “the mother of my Lord,” and Jesus in the womb, she proclamed blessed and Lord.
At the Council of Ephesus in 431, the title Mother of God was given to Mary. In the Greek the term is Theotokos which translates to Birthgiver of God. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 affirmed the Divine Motherhood of Mary as an official doctrine of the Catholic Church.
“Called in the Gospels “the mother of Jesus,” Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as “the mother of my Lord.” (Luke 1:43) In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father’s eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly “Mother of God” Theotokos.” (Council of Ephesus 431, Council of Chalcedon 451, Catechism of the Catholic Church 495, 467)
“Because she gives us Jesus, her son, Mary is Mother of God and our mother; we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us as she prayed for herself: “Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her: “Thy will be done.”” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2677)
