Saint Anthony of Padua, Buffalo NY

It’s the saint that founded my parish’s feast day!

Not a bad photo for being taken on my phone. 

St John Neumann (1811 - 1860)

He was born in Bohemia and studied for the priesthood. His bishop would not allow him to be ordained because he had too many priests already, and eventually he went to the United States and was ordained in New York in 1836. He was consecrated Bishop of Philadephia in 1852 and died there in 1860. 

The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ- January 1st, Tridentine calendar 

 is a Christian celebration of the circumcision of Jesus in accordance with Jewish tradition, eight days (according to the Semitic and southern European calculation of intervals of days) after his birth, the occasion on which the child was formally given his name.

The circumcision of Jesus has traditionally been seen as the first time the blood of Christ was shed, and thus the beginning of the process of the redemption of man, and a demonstration that Christ was fully human, and of his obedience to Biblical law.

Celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. 

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church on 1 January, the Octave Day of Christmas. 

Feast of Saint Andrew, November 30th

The First-called, an Apostle of Christ and the brother of Saint Peter.

Founder and first Bishop of the Church of Byzantium and is consequently the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Christ the King

Feast of Saint Luke,  October 18th 2011

Apocalypse 12:7, “And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon.”

St. John speaks of the great conflict at the end of time, which reflects also the battle in heaven at the beginning of time.

According to the Fathers there is often question of St. Michael in Scripture where his name is not mentioned. They say he was the cherub who stood at the gate of paradise, “to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24), the angel through whom God published the Decalogue to his chosen people, the angel who stood in the way against Balaam (Numbers 22:22 sqq.), the angel who routed the army of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35).  

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10275b.htm

καὶ ἐγένετο πόλεμος ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὁ Μιχαὴλ καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ τοῦ πολεμῆσαι μετὰ τοῦ δράκοντος. καὶ ὁ δράκων ἐπολέμησεν καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ 

And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. Revelation 12:7 

allaboutmary:

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Devotion to Mary’s sorrows dates back to the high Middle Ages, when popular piety focused on the suffering of Christ and his Mother. The Black Death was claiming many lives all over Europe at the time. People could easily identify themselves with the suffering endured on Mount Calvary.

Traditionally Mary’s sorrows were remembered by the Catholic Church on two different occasions during the liturgical year: during Passion Week (one week before Good Friday) and in September. In 1969 the Passion Week feast was taken off the calendar, so now only the September 15 feast remains.

Painting: Albrecht Durer