Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of the Snow
by VP
Posted on Tuesday August 05, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
The Blessed Virgin Mary overlooking Pope Liberius scrapes the outline of the foundation of the basilica into the snow.
By Italian artist Masolino da Panicale, circa 15th century, Museo di Capodimonte.
"A FEAST in memory of a church built and dedicated to Almighty God, in honor of the Blessed Virgin by a special revelation. The church is called St. Mary Major, or the Greater, because it is the oldest and most important of those dedicated in honor of our Blessed Lady. It is also called St. Mary ad Nives, or at the Snow, from a popular tradition that the Mother of God chose this place for a church under her invocation, by a miraculous snow, which fell upon this spot on this day, when the heat is greatest at Rome, and by a vision in which she appeared to a patrician named John, who munificently founded and endowed this church in the time of Pope Liberius, in 385.
Give thanks to God for all his wonders, and recommend yourself to the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, whom God was pleased to honor this day with so signal a miracle. Pray that her innocence and virtue may be the model of your life. The greatest honor which you can shew her, is in the imitation of her sanctity: and without this, all other acknowledgments are vain. On this dedication, examine your behavior in the house of God. See whether it be always with that decency and reverence which becomes the presence of God. Can you expect blessings from his hands, if you are there affronting him to his face? And what else is your talking and idle gazing about in that holy place? His awful majesty fills the church, and so it ought to do your heart, as long as you are there. If your thoughts or eyes are fixed on any other, is it God whom you then adore? Or may you not fear that you have other gods besides him? Be severe with yourself in this point: banish all manner of levity and disrespect: let a true sense of God command your whole behavior. Be there as a criminal before his judge, as a poor helpless creature before his sovereign Lord. Thus you will honor your God, and render him propitious in hearing and granting your petitions." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
DEVOTION TO BLESSED MARY. - The chief of all the sanctuaries throughout the Christian world dedicated in honour of Blessed Mary, is beyond doubt the church in Rome, bearing the name of St. Mary Major. The tradition relating to its foundation is as follows:-" In the fourth century, during the pontificate of Pope Liberius, the Blessed Virgin appeared to a pious Christian, bearing the name of John, and belonging to one of the first families of Rome, and directed him to build a church in a spot which she pointed out, signifying, as a proof of the reality of the revelation, that on the night following, which was the 5th of August, snow would cover the spot. The church was founded, and bears the name of "Our Lady of Snows.” The devotion of the faithful, upheld by the frequent miracles wrought there, had rendered it, long antecedently to the erection of that of "Our Lady of Loretto," the privileged sanctuary under Her special invocation. In this church is moreover preserved the cradle wherein the Infant Jesus slumbered. This hallowed object had, from the same epoch, attracted the veneration of the most learned and holy personages of the Christian world, among whom may be mentioned the learned St. Jerome.
MORAL REFLECTION.-How comforting is it to the heart of the true Christian to call to mind that this homage paid to the "Mother of pure love and holy hope" is a traditional dogma co-extensive with the Church, and time-honoured as Christianity itself!—(Eccles. xxiv. 24.) Pictorial Half Hours with the Saints, by Fr. Lecanu
St. Dominic, Confessor, A.D. 1221.
by VP
Posted on Monday August 04, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"A HOLY man, born in Spain, who having applied to learning, was first made a canon, and afterwards became the founder of the Order of Preachers,
from him called Dominicans. He was eminent for his zealous labours in
reclaiming those who had been misled into error or vice; and by himself and his followers he had great success in reviving the spirit of the gospel, and establishing the faithful in the love of virtue and truth. Having for many years been an example to his disciples of charity, humility, and poverty, and to the world a rule of innocence and piety, he departed this life in the year 1221.
Pray for all the religious of this holy Order, that the spirit of their founder may be their rule; that they may edify all by their regularity and strict discipline, and be as so many lights to the world. Pray that you may be exact in all the observances of a Christian life. Living amidst the disorders and solicitude of the world, you have much greater difficulties to overcome than religious, who by retiring from the world, are freed from a great part of the dangers to which you are daily exposed. Ought not then your care and watchfulness to be proportioned to your dangers, and your labours to the difficulties of your life? How can you otherwise hope to overcome? The world is a torrent, and you are bound to stand against it. This cannot be done without perpetual resistance, which must cost you trouble and pains. Be therefore constant in your prayers, watchful over all your inclinations, resolute in self-denials, exact in all discipline. Learn to contemn the goods of this life, and to be solicitous for those of the next. This is the life of religious; and this must be yours, if you expect your portion with them. A life of sloth, self-love, and ease becomes not the followers of Christ and his saints. They are called forth into the field of battle; they have many enemies to overcome, many temptations to resist, and many great duties to perform." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
DEVOTION TO BLESSED MARY.- St. Dominic, born at Osma in 1170, was destined by Almighty God to convert a vast multitude of sinners, as well by his own labours as through the agency of the Order that bears his name. The first efforts of his zeal were displayed in Languedoc, which was then beset by a vast number of heretics, known as the Albigenses. There it was and on that account that he founded the Order of Dominicans, specially charged with preaching in Christian countries, and also with the seeking out or inquisition of heretics, with the view to lead them back to God. The superadding of torture which was subsequently resorted to against such as did not yield to conversion, was in nowise the work of St. Dominic; the Church has never allowed any means to be availed of more urgent than simple persuasion. To his zeal for the conversion of sinners and a great love for the poor, Dominic united a tender piety to the Blessed Virgin. It was he who instituted the devotion of the Rosary, and the custom of saluting Blessed Mary at the beginning of the sermon. He died at Rome in 1221, illustrious for miracles.
MORAL REFLECTION.- It is to the whole human race in the person of the beloved disciple that the Son of God said, in speaking of Mary: "Son! behold thy mother." - (John xix. 27.) Pictorial Half Hour with the Saints by Fr. Lecanu
Finding of the Body of St. Stephen, THE FIRST MARTYR, A.D. 415.
by VP
Posted on Sunday August 03, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"A FESTIVAL in memory of that day, when by divine revelation the body of St. Stephen, the first martyr, mentioned in the Acts, was found at Jerusalem, together with the bodies of Nicodemus, Gamaliel, and his son Abibas, in the year 415, under the Emperor Honorius. Upon the opening of St. Stephen's coffin, the earth shook, and there came from it so agreeable an odor, that no one remembered any thing like it. Seventy-three persons, afflicted with various distempers, recovered their health upon the spot. The sacred relics were removed with great solemnity by the Christians into the church of Sion; afterwards to Constantinople, under Theodosius the younger; and at length to Rome, in the time of Pelagius I. At the removal of this sacred body, God was pleased to work many miracles, by giving sight to the blind, and health to the sick, as recorded by St. Augustin in his book Of the City of God, and by other writers of those primitive times. Bless God in his saints, for all his graces bestowed on them, and for all his wonders wrought by them. Revive this day in your mind the virtues of St. Stephen, his great zeal for the faith of Christ, his patience in suffering, and wonderful charity in praying for his enemies, even those who stoned him. Pray that on this day of miracles, God would work one more o you, by changing your obstinate and rebellious heart, and subjecting it entirely to the impression of his grace and the accomplishment of his holy will. Pray for the zeal, patience, and charity of this saint. Offer yourself to do and suffer whatever your profession of a Christian, and the obligations of your state call you to; for this is the manifest will of God Pardon all your enemies, and pray for them. Depart not from your prayers, till this perfect charity be wrought in you. Admit of no false coloring or pretexts to disguise your passion. Resolve to speak freely to those who seem averse to you, and never permit yourself in discourse, to express any resentments, or dislike of them, If this be hard, the difficulty is from the corruption and pride of your heart: pray for remedy." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
St. Alphonsus Liguori, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR, A.D. 1787.
by VP
Posted on Saturday August 02, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
" If Priests and Religious did all recite the Office as it ought to be recited, the Church would not behold herself in the miserable state to which she is reduced. How many sinners would be delivered from the slavery of the devil, and how many souls would love God with much greater fervor! And how would priests themselves not find themselves ever the same, imperfect, irritable, jealous, attached to their own interests, and led away by vanities! Our Lord has promised to hear every one who prays to him. (Luke xi. 10).
And how comes it that a priest offering up so many prayers in a day, were it only in the Office which he recites, is yet never heard? He is always the same, as weak and prone as ever to fall not only into slight sins (to which he is habituated, and takes neither pains nor care to correct himself of them,) but into grievous sins against charity, justice, or chastity; hence when he recites the Office, he pronounces sentence of condemnation against himself, in these words: Maledicti qui declinant a mandatis tuis. And what is still worse, he feels little remorse, excusing himself as being of the same flesh and blood as other men, and not able to restrain himself.
But if he said the Office with fewer distractions and less negligence, accompanying with his heart the many prayers which he offers to God in reciting it, he certainly would not be so weak but would acquire fortitude and strength to resist all temptations, and to lead a holy life, such as becometh a Priest of God." Source: Sacerdos sanctificatus; or, Discourses on the Mass and Office by Saint Alphonse de Liguori
Biography: "He was born near Naples in the year 1696. His mother instilled into him a tender piety, and particularly a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and great zeal for the glory of God. He embraced the profession of the law, and soon rose to great eminence. But he ever preserved the strictest justice, and practiced the most exemplary virtue. He heard Mass every morning before going into court, and punctually observed the fasts and other precepts of the Church. He approached to the Sacraments every week, and made a spiritual retreat every year.
St. Alphonsus was advancing to the highest degree of professional eminence, when he determined to abandon all his temporal prospects, and embrace the ecclesiastical state. From the moment that he was ordained priest, his life became a continual exhortation to virtue. In the year 1732, he founded the congregation of our most Holy Redeemer, whose members were to employ themselves in preaching to the poor, and affording the comforts of religion to those deprived of them. He surpassed all his companions in the exact observance of rule; and it was a wonder how he could live considering his severe fasts and mortification. He wore continually rough hair shirts with small iron chains, and a girdle of camel's hair. He rose early to meditation, and his prayer was unceasing. He consecrated all his actions to the glory of God, to whom he often turned by fervent ejaculations and aspirations. His whole demeanor breathed devotion and edification.
His wonderful life and apostolic labors made many dioceses wish to have him for their bishop. He was appointed to the see of St. Agatha of the Goths, and consecrated bishop in 1762. He continued to practice the same rigid poverty. He slept, as before, upon a straw bed, and his rooms were quite unfurnished. His food was of the most inferior kind, and even this he sprinkled with bitter herbs.
It may be easily conceived with what zeal he labored to extirpate scandals from his diocese, and to propagate virtue and piety. He expelled a company of players from his diocese, lest they should corrupt his flock; and he converted many bad women and public sinners. He gave all to the poor, except a small sum for his own support, and other necessary expenses. He suffered much in his bodily health for many years; but persevered in performing all the duties of his office. At length, on account of his declining health, and earnest entreaties, he was permitted by Pope Pius VI. to resign his bishopric, and retired to a house of his order in 1775. There he still preached and instructed the faithful, particularly the poor, and composed many works of theology and piety. After a long and fervent preparation for eternity, he passed to the glory of Jesus, and the peace of the saints, on the 1st of August, 1787, in the ninety-first year of his age." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
- "Unless a Priest esteem the Holy Sacrifice as it deserves, he can never celebrate it with suitable devotion. Assuredly there is no action, which man can perform, so sublime, so sacred, as the celebration of Mass. God Himself could not enable a man to perform anything greater than the celebration of Mass." Source: Sacerdos sanctificatus; or, Discourses on the Mass and Office, St. Alphonsus Liguori 1861
- "The entire Church cannot give to God as much honor, nor obtain so many graces, as a single priest by celebrating a single Mass; for the greatest honor that the whole Church without priests could give to God would consist in offering to Him in sacrifice the lives of all men." Source: St. Alphonsus Liguori (The Dignity and Duties of the Priest)
Holy Name Cathedral, Raleigh NC, TLM Sept 14, 2017
Prayer for Priests (St. Alphonsus Liguori): My God, I believe in the sublime dignity
conferred on Thy ministers by priesthood – the supreme dignity of all,
says St. Ignatius; a divine dignity says St. Denis; a dignity surpassing
that of kings and angels, says St. Ambrose. O my God! Thy priests are
the leaders of Thy people (St. P. Damian), the guardians of Thy Church
(St. Bernard), the light of the world (Matt. V. 14), the dispensers of
the sacraments (St. P. Damian,) the vicars of Jesus Christ (St.
Augustine), and His coadjutors in the work of salvation (1 Cor. iii 9).
I believe, O Lord! That at the very instant when Thy priest
consecrates, the Incarnate Word makes it a duty to obey him by coming
into his hands under the sacramental species; I also believe that at the
moment when the priest gives absolution to a penitent sinner, that
sinner is changed from being an enemy of God and a slave of hell into
being an inheritor of heaven, and that thus the priest may indeed be
rightly named the door-keeper of heaven (St. Prosper).
Grant then, O Lord, to me and to all the faithful, to have the same
respect and submission to the person, words, and counsels of Thy
ministers as for Thine own, since Thou Thyself didst say to them: “He
that heareth you heareth Me, and he that despiseth you despiseth Me”
(Luke x .26).
Lastly, my God, I ask of Thee for all the priests in the world, and
specially for those who have done any good to my soul, by seeking to
sanctify it, the grace of loving Thee much and making Thee to be loved
by others, so that by their piety, their virtues, and the ardor of their
zeal they may merit a place with Thy apostles and most faithful
servants.
O Mary, Mother of Jesus! Do thou second the efforts of all thy Son’s priests, and sanctify their lives and souls. Amen
St. Alphonsusʼ Prayer Book by Father Edward Saint Omer, Redemptorist. 1888
St. Peter's Chains.
by VP
Posted on Friday August 01, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"A DAY in memory and honor of St. Peter's sufferings for Christ; when to oblige the Jews, he was imprisoned by Herod, and bound in chains, as it is related in the 12th chapter of the Acts; and from which he was delivered by an angel. This festival was instituted in the year 438, when the Empress Eudoxia, wife of Theodosius the younger, having gone in pilgrimage to Jerusalem, had these chains presented to her by the Christians of that city. She afterwards sent them to Rome to her daughter Eudoxia, wife of the Emperor Valentinian. Two churches were afterwards erected in memory of them, one at Constantinople, the other at Rome; and many miracles were wrought by them.
Give thanks to God for the miraculous deliverance of his apostles, for the good of His Church. Pray for the relief of all those who suffer for their faith throughout the world, as the Christians then did for St. Peter. Pray for all in captivity and prison, that God would be their comforter, preserve them from the too common dangers and contagion of those places, and teach them by his grace to sanctify all their sufferings. Pray for all, who living in habitual sin, are slaves to the devil. Their misery is of all the greatest, and demands your compassion and prayers.
They have evil spirits to keep them in their
chains: beseech God to send his angels to disengage them. Pray for
yourself, to be delivered from all oppression, spiritual and temporal.
Remember not to be discouraged at any difficulties. For what is there
that you may not hope for, when you see both guards and gates of iron yield to the command of God If you are in the sleep and bonds of sin, beseech God to awaken you, and that his light may shine upon you. Pray for the present successor of St. Peter, and for all the pastors of God's Church; that as they are Christ's vicegerents, so they may be ever mindful of the charge which they have undertaken, and perform it with a holiness becoming Him, whose ministers they are." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
