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Religion
From The Work of God's Children
Contents[hide]
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[edit] Introduction and Statistics
According to the 2006 Annuario Pontificio, the official yearbook of the Vatican, the membership of the Catholic Church was approximately 1,098,000,000 in 2004. There were 405,891 priests, 32,324 permanent deacons, and 113,044 seminarians when the data was compiled [1][2].
[edit] The Hierarchy of the Church
[edit] Overview
The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Saint Peter the Apostle, is the supreme pastor over the Catholic Church. Bishops, as the successors of the Apostles, share in the authority of the Roman Pontiff when they are united to him. Priests and deacons are appointed to assist each bishop in the administering of the care of the faithful. Certain Rites of the Catholic Church may be organized in a different manner.[3]
[edit] The Pontiff
The succession of pontiffs has continued from St. Peter to Benedict XVI who is considered the 265th pontiff [4]. (Footnote: some calculations by other scholars differ, as one pontiff died before his coronation and another held the office at three separate times.) To protect the purity of the Truth handed onward from the Apostles, the Pontiff is infallible in matters of Faith and Morals in virtue of his office.[5] (Footnote: Pope Vigilius may be an example of this power at work.) The Pontiff is popularly referred to as the Pope (who should not be confused with the Coptic Pope or the Eastern Orthodox Pope of Alexandria.). The pontiff is also known by several other titles (but no longer Patriarch of the West).
The pontiff often writes documents for the instruction and management of the Church. Some of these documents are: Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Exhortations, Apostolic Letters (some of which are given Motu Proprio), and Encyclicals.
[edit] The Cardinals
The Cardinals are chosen by the pontiff to be the electors of the succeeding pontiff upon the death or resignation of the pontiff. The choosing of cardinals is sometimes called the giving of red hats--referring to the official garb of cardinals. The cardinals are assigned to one of three categories: the episcopal order, the presbyteral order, and the diaconal order. The pontiff may choose any ordained priest to be a cardinal; however, the person must be consecrated a bishop if this has not yet been done. The pontiff may also choose to designate a cardinal in pectore, in which it is publicly announced that an appointment has been made, but the name is not revealed and the person is not notified until a later date. This is frequently used in the case of appointments of clergy from countries where the Church is persecuted. Although cardinals are frequently appointed to metropolitan sees and Magisterial offices, the designation as a cardinal does not give any other significant hierarchial faculties other than the electoral function. All cardinals who are not diocesan bishops are required to reside in Rome.[6] Upon the death or resignation of the pontiff, the cardinals assemble in a conclave to elect the next pope.
At the time of this book's publication, the Apostolic Constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis, written by Pope John Paul II, governed the process of electing a new Pontiff upon the vacancy of the Holy See. Any subsequent Pontiff may revoke, amend, or replace these rules at any time he chooses.
[edit] The Bishops
Bishops are usually the head of a see, a regional area called a diocese, which may vary greatly in size. In the case of certain papal delegates and officials, an appointment may be made to a "Titular See." Bishops in union with the Pontiff also share in the reception of the divine assistance of infallibility regarding faith and morals in virtue of their office.[7]
[edit] Priests
Bishops ordain priests through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Two categories of priests exist: diocesan and religious. A man may not be ordained a priest unless he is at least twenty-six years old, and there has been an interval of at least six months between his ordination to the diaconate and his ordination to the priesthood.[8]
[edit] Diocesan Priests
Diocesan priests are usually assigned to one or more parishes to administer the majority of the sacraments to the faithful. Occasionally, the bishop may determine to assign a priest to assist in another diocesan task such as the administration of tribunals, the spiritual direction of an organization, or the formation or education of seminarians. Diocesan priests are directly responsible to their bishop, and take vows of chastity and obedience.
[edit] Religious Priests
Religious priests usually live in a communal atmosphere, such as in a monastery. They may, however, be assigned to a parish or another diocesan task with the approval of the local bishop (also called the "ordinary"). Religious priests are primarily subject to the authority of a superior of the order. They may also be subject to the authority of the bishop in whose diocese they are residing and, in the case with some orders, to the bishop who has given the order permission to be founded in and andministrated from his diocese.
[edit] Deacons
Deacons were first appointed by the Apostles to assist in the care of the temporal needs of the faithful. Currently, they may also partake in other duties, especially in the Liturgy of the Mass, the administering of Baptism, and the instruction of the faithful. There are two categories of deacons: transitional and permanent.
[edit] Transitional Deacons
Transitional deacons are candidates for the priesthood who have been ordained deacons and administer in this capacity until they are ordained to the priesthood. A man may not be ordained as a transitional deacon unless he has attained the age of twenty-three. Ordination may not take place until after the fifth year of theological and philosophical studies has been completed.[9]
[edit] Permanent Deacons
Permanent deacons may be either married or unmarried men who have devoted themselves to the work of the Church. An unmarried man must be at least twenty-five years old to be ordained. A permanent deacon must be at least thirty-five years old, must have the consent of his wife,[10] and may not marry again if his wife dies.
[edit] Other Rites of the Catholic Church
Other Rites may be organized in a different manner. There are twenty-one Eastern Rites. One of these is the Maronite Rite.
[edit] Doctrines of the Church
[edit] Attributes of the Catholic Church
The four attributes of the Catholic Church are: it is One, Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic.[11]
[edit] The Trinity and the two natures of Jesus
There is one God in three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine is also called the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity (the Son) assumed a human nature by being born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was free from all stain of original sin.
[edit] The Life of Christ
1)The
Annunciation
2) The Visitation
3) The Nativity
4) The Presentation
5) The Finding in the Temple
 The Annunciation |
 The Visitation |
 The Nativity |
 The Presentation |
 The Finding in the Temple |
6)The
Baptism of Christ (Lk 2,41-50)
7)Jesus Calls the Apostles
8) The Miracle at Cana (Jn
2,1-12)
9) Proclamation of the Coming
of the Kingdom (Mk 1,15; Lk 7,47-48; Jn 20,22-23)
10)Jesus walks on water and
other miracles of Jesus
11) The Transfiguration
(Lk9,35)
12)The Triumphal Entry into
Jerusalem
13) The Last Supper (Jn 13,1)
 The Baptism of Christ (Lk 2,41-50) |
 Jesus Calls the Apostles |
 The Miracle at Cana (Jn 2,1-12) |
 Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom (Mk 1,15; Lk 7,47-48; Jn 20,22-23) |
 Jesus Walks on Water |
 The Transfiguration (Lk9,35) |
 The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem |
 The Last Supper (Jn 13,1) |
For our redemption He was crucified on Calvary, died, and was buried in a tomb.
14)The Agony in the Garden
15) The Scourging at the
Pillar
16) The Crowning of Thorns
17) The Way of the Cross
18) The Crucifixion
 The Agony in the Garden |
 The Scourging at the Pillar |
 The Crowning of Thorns |
 The Way of the Cross |
 The Crucifixion |
On Easter Sunday He rose from the dead.
19)
The Resurrection
20) Appearance to Saint Mary
Magdalene
He ascended into heaven on Ascension Thursday, forty days after the Resurrection.
21) The Ascension
 The Resurrection |
 Appearance to Saint Mary Magdalene |
 The Appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus |
 The Ascension |
He ascended into heaven on Ascension
Thursday, forty days after the Resurrection.
[edit] Marian Doctrines
The doctrine of Mary being conceived without original sin is the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, a dogma of the Faith. Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, also a dogma of the Faith. She has also been proclaimed as the "Mother of God by the Council of Ephesus(?).
[edit] The Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains much of the Church's teaching. This is available on the Vatican's website.
[edit] The Creeds
Two Creeds are used on a frequent basis in the Catholic Church: the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. The Athanasian Creed is also used.
[edit] The Apostles' Creed / Credo
I believe in
God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
 I believe in God, the Father Almighty |
 Creator of |
 heaven |
 and earth |
 and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, |
 who was conceived by the Holy Spirit |
born of the Virgin Mary, |
 suffered under Pontius Pilate, |
 was crucified, |
died |
 and was buried. |
 He descended into hell; |
|
the third day He rose again from the dead. |
He ascended into heaven |
 and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; |
 from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. |
 I believe in the Holy Spirit |
 the Holy Catholic Church, |
 the communion of Saints, |
 the forgiveness of sins |
 the resurrection of the body, |
 and life everlasting. Amen. |
[edit] Bible References for The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God
the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth (Gen.
1:1, Isa. 44:6; 45:5; Neh. 9:6; Jn. 1:1-3; Acts 14:15; Mt. 5:45; 1 Pt.
1:17; Mt. 6:7-13; Rom. 1:20).
I believe in Jesus Christ (Lk. 2:11; Jn.
2028; Mt. 3:17; Phil. 2:11),
His only Son (Jn. 1:18; 3:16; Prov.
30:4),
our Lord (Jn. 20:28).
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:35; Mt. 1:20),
born of the Virgin Mary (Lk. 1:17; 2:7;
Isa. 7:14),
He suffered under Pontius Pilate (Lk.
23:23-25; Jn. 19:16),
was crucified (Mt. 27:33-61; Mk.
15:22-47; Lk. 23-56; Jn. 19:18-42),
died (1 Cor. 15:3),
and was buried (1 Cor. 15:3).
He descended to the dead (1 Pt.
3:18-20).
On the third day He rose again from the dead (1 Cor. 15:4; Mt. 28:1-20; Jn. 20:1; Lk. 24:1-53; Mk.
16:1-20).
He ascended into heaven (Mk. 16:19; Lk.
24:41; Acts 1:11).
He is seated at the right hand of the Father Almighty (Mk. 16:19; Heb. 1:3).
He will come again to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1; Jn. 5:22; Mt. 16:27; Acts 10:39; 1 Cor. 15:51).
I believe in the Holy Spirit (Jn.
14:15-20; Jn. 15:26; 16:7-8; 13-14; Acts 1:7-8; Acts 13:2),
the Holy Catholic Church (Mt. 16:18-19;
19-20; Rom. 1:7-8; Acts 9:31; Gal. 3:26-29; Rev. 7:9; Eph. 5:26-27;
Col. 1:24),
the Communion of Saints (Heb. 10:25;
Heb. 12:1; Rev. 19:14; Mt. 28:19-20; 2 Cor. 11:13; 1 Cor. 15:33),
the forgiveness of sins (Isa. 1:18; Lk.
7:48; Jn. 20:22-23; 1 Jn. 1:9),
the resurrection of the body (1 Thes.
4:16; Jn. 6:39; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rom. 8:23,30),
and life everlasting. Amen. (Jn. 10:28;
17:2-3; 1 Jn. 5:20)
[edit] Suffering in God's Plan
For Roman Catholics, suffering is meant to bring them closer to God, to merit graces for others, and to give the opportunity to practice charity.
[edit] Sources of Truth
The Catholic Church uses two sources for its teaching: Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. Sacred Tradition could be described as the understanding of what Christ wanted for the Church as He communicated it to the Apostles being handed down through the centuries. Sacred Scripture is various writings of different authors at different times that the Catholic Church determined were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Sacred Scripture gives stability to the unchanging truths communicated through Sacred Tradition, and Sacred Tradition prevents a legalistic interpretation of Sacred Scripture.
The various writings of Sacred Scripture were compiled into one volume in the 4th Century AD. This volume of collective works is often called the Bible. A complete Catholic Bible contains the following books: Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel; 1 Kings and 2 Kings; 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Tobit; Judith; Esther; 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees; Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; The Song of Songs; The Wisdom of Solomon; Sirach (Ecclesiasticus); Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Baruch; Ezekiel; Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zachariah; Malachi; Gospel of St. Matthew; Gospel of St. Mark; Gospel of St. Luke; Gospel of St. John; Acts of the Apostles; Romans; 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter and 2 Peter; 1 John, 2 John and 3 John; Jude; and Revelation (Apocalypse).
[edit] The Angels
Angels are pure spirits without a body, created to adore and enjoy God in heaven. Angels appeared to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph; also to Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Tobiah, and others. The angels were also created to assist before the throne of God and to minister unto Him; they have often been sent as messengers from God to man; and are also appointed our guardians. The angels are not equal in dignity. There are nine choirs or classes mentioned in the Holy Scripture. The highest are called Seraphim and the lowest simply Angels. The Archangels are one class higher than ordinary Angels. The Archangel Michael drove Satan out of heaven; the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin that she was to become the Mother of God. The Archangel Raphael guided and protected Tobiah.
The Angels are pure spirits created by God who, unlike humans, have no physical bodies. There are two ways of classifying angels: by the choir to which an angel belongs by nature, and by whether or not the angel remained faithful to God.
It is taught that there are nine choirs of angels: Seraphim, Cherubim, Virtues, Dominations, Powers, Principalities, Thrones, Archangels, and Angels (might not be in correct order). The term angel broadly refers to any creature possessing an angelic nature, but specifially refers to the ninth choir.
The second manner of classifying distinguishes between the good angels and the bad angels, also called devils. It appears that all angelic beings were tested at a certain point, and that some chose to follow God and others rejected Him. It is speculated by many theologians (in a good sense of the term) that the event was probably as follows:
- God showed the angels that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity would become man. They were told that they must adore Him in His human nature, and that they would be expected to serve Him and any creatures He created that possessed a human nature. One of the Seraphim announced that he would not do it. One of the Archangels countered him with "Who is like unto God?" All the members of the nine choirs of angels irrevocably and with full knowledge made a determination as to whether or not they would serve God. A battle was then fought in heaven and the devils were driven out. When humans were created, the devils began to try to persuade them also to choose not to serve God, which they continue to do until this day.
[edit] The Sacraments
The seven Sacraments are: Baptism, Penance/Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Extreme Unction/Anointing of the Sick.
[edit] Baptism
Baptism is given "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Baptism is only given once and is permanent; even if a person later "leaves" the Catholic Church, he/she is still a member, and if the person repents and returns to the Church, no rebaptizing is necessary. If there is uncertainty of a person's baptism or lack thereof, "conditional baptism" is administered ("If you have not already been baptised, I baptise you in the Name...")
All properly baptized persons, even those not in complete communion with the Roman Pontiff, are members of the Church of Christ and may rightfully be called "Christians" and "brethren in Christ." [This can be found on www (then a period " . " ) vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1271] Baptism permanently makes one a Christian, cannot be undone, and never needs to be given a second time. [This can be found on www (then a period " . " ) vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1272] Although a person may enter into heresy or schism, or even completely reject Christianity and apostasize, the person will never be able to cease being a Christian. Although the Catholic Church may use penalties [This can be found on www (then a period " . " ) vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4Y.HTM Code of Canon Law, Canons 1336-1338] and censures [this can be found on www (then a period " . " )vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4X.HTM Code of Canon Law, Canons 1331-1335] to attempt to reform a person or minimize the harm a person can do, it does not have the power to revoke Baptism or expel a member from the Church.
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." -Romans 6:3-5
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." -1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Baptism is the first among three sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist). It is through the baptism of an individual person " . . .in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" that one enters the Christian community.
Baptism is a sacrament which nearly all Christian denominations share in common. It is a sacrament that does not need to be repeated. Once a person is baptized into Christ, it is forever.
Catholics believe baptism can happen at any point in a person's life. It can be the decision of parents to raise their children in a Christian community and so to baptize them as infants; or it can be the decision of a younger child, teenager or adult to be baptized.
By ancient Christian tradition, before baptism takes place, the individual to be baptized must participate in a Christian parish community, must be instructed in the Christian faith, and must be sponsored by at least one baptized Christian adult. For adults, instruction comes through the Rite of Christian Initiation Program (RCIA), for young children and infants, parents and sponsors (Godparents) attend preparation classes.
Baptism for those instructed through the RCIA Program is celebrated by the parish at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday). Baptisms are also celebrated at other times throughout the year. A baptismal preparation meeting for parents of infants and small children is usually held prior to the Baptism.
[edit] Penance / Reconciliation
In the Sacrament of Penance, a penitent is absolved "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." It is required that all mortal sins be confessed, and the confession of venial sins is encouraged. Catholic are required to make use of this sacrament at least once a year. There is no limit as to how many times this sacrament may be administered to a penitent.
[edit] Holy Eucharist
Bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Communion is usually received in the course of the Mass; however, it Communion may also be received in a Communion Service (and even outside of a Communion Service in some cases?) Catholics are required to receive Communion at least once in the course of the Easter period. Catholics must be in the state of grace to receive Communion. Currently, a person may receive communion twice a day, but the second time must be in the course of a complete Mass attended by the recipient.
"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
-1 Corinthians 11:23-26
"Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."
-Luke 22:19-20
"The Eucharist is the 'summit' of Christian initiation and all apostolic activity, because the Sacrament presupposes membership in the communion of the Church. At the same time, it is the 'source,' because the Sacrament is nourishment for the Church's life and mission."
- Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 47
The Eucharist we celebrate is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, our Lord, our God, and our King. The Eucharist is what we do and who we are as a Catholic parish community. Each Sunday we gather to celebrate the Eucharist and commemorate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
We are challenged as Catholics to, as St. Augustine said, "become what we receive," in the Eucharist. The Eucharist, also referred to as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, is celebrated to sustain us, but it also invigorates us to go back into the world and strive to bring Christ's presence into our homes, work places, schools, grocery stores, doctors and dentist's offices, and all the places we go to accomplish our daily duty.
The Eucharist is to be reserved in each parish church. This ancient custom of the Church began so that people who were not able to join the Christian community for the celebration of the Eucharist could receive Jesus in their homes at a later time. Today, the Eucharist is reserved in the Tabernacle, so that Jesus can be taken to the sick and those near the hour of their death, being called "Viaticum" at that point.
Great devotion to Christ's presence in the Eucharist arose and the practice of praying in the presence of the reserved Eucharist grew and continues to this day. Many churches have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Perpetual Adoration to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Catholics commit themselves to celebrate the Eucharist on Sunday, the Lord's Day, as it was named after the Resurrection. Many people are inspired to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist on a daily basis. As a sacrament of initiation, the Eucharist brings people into fuller communion with the Christian family. First Eucharist, or First Holy Communion, as it is usually referred to, may be celebrated as early as the second grade (7-9 years old). Reception of Holy Communion can also be celebrated for the first time anytime after that age.
[edit] Confirmation
Confirmation is given once in a person's lifetime and is permanent. If a person later "leaves" the Catholic Church, and later repents and returns to the Church, no reconfirmation is necessary.
"But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
"Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you." Rite of Confirmation
Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. The development of Confirmation as a rite and sacrament in itself coincides with the growth of the Christian Church. Confirmation is the anointing on the forehead of a baptized person with Chrism. From the beginning of the Church, those who were baptized were always given this seal by the head of a local Christian community (today called a bishop). As the Church grew, bishops appointed co-workers (priests) to celebrate the Sacraments on a day to day basis for parish communities. Bishops made it their practice as head of a local Church to visit all the communities of Christians under their care. During those visits, the bishop would confirm any baptisms that had taken place by sealing the baptized person with Chrism.
Confirmation deepens a baptized person's communion with the Christian community. It also connects the individual to the Church on a broader level. Confirmation celebrates a deepening of the gifts of the Holy Spirit first given to a person at baptism and renewed and enriched in each celebration of the Eucharist.
[edit] Matrimony
The Sacrament of Matrimony, when properly administered without impediments and consummated, is permanent until the death of one of the two spouses. If a marriage is not properly administered or there are impediments, an annulment is granted, which is a determination that the marriage was never valid in the first place. If a marriage is not consummated, it is possible to get what is called an ecclesiastical divorce. Marriage is only valid between one man and one woman.
[edit] Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the ordination of candidates to the priesthood. This sacrament is only given once and is permanent; if a priest later "leaves" the Catholic Church, he/she is still a priest, and if the priest repents and returns to the Church, no reordination is necessary. Even if a priest is laicised, he still may give the Last Rites to a person in danger of death. In general, those who are ordained priests are required to be unmarried. An exception is made for certain Protestant ministers who convert to Catholicism.
[edit] Extreme Unction/Anointing of the Sick
This Sacrament is given in cases of sickness, imminent death, or old age. It is usually given only once per occasion, but in the case of an extended illness, it is often received more than once. When it is administered, it is often given with the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist; the reception of these sacraments is often collectively called the Last Rites.
"Are any among you sick? They should call for the presbyters of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." -James 5:14-15
All who find themselves facing illness, surgery or other serious ailments are encouraged to celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It can be celebrated more than one time. It can be celebrated in the hospital, a nursing home or in the individual's home. It is only celebrated by a priest or bishop.
[edit] Morals
The Catholic Church teaches that, after the sin of Adam, each person who comes into the world inherits Original sin (correct?). Original sin is washed away in baptism. (?) Christ atoned for the sins of all, however man's cooperation is required in order to accept Christ's free gift of grace. Faith--which necessarily includes good thoughts, words, and actions--constitutes acceptance of this sanctifying grace. When a person performs an evil thought, word, or action, he commits a sin. Sin is classified into two categories: venial and mortal. A person who commits a venial sin weakens his soul, but has not rejected Christ's offer of sanctifying grace. Mortal sin constitutes a rejection of Christ's offer of grace and thus causes the individual to loose sanctifying grace until it is regained after reconciling with God (normally achieved through the making of a good confession). If a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he has failed to accept Christ's offer of salvation, and therefore has chosen eternal damnation in Hell over eternal life in Heaven with God. If a person dies who is in the state of grace but is not perfectly pure, he undergoes purification in Purgatory before entering Heaven. A person may remove the impurity resulting from sin in several ways. One of these ways is to gain an indulgence.
[edit] Indulgences
An indulgence may be gained by the recitation of certain prayers or the performance of certain acts. Indulgences are categorized as plenary and partial. Plenary indulgences completely remove the punishment due to sin. Certain conditions must be met to gain a plenary indulgence. A partial indulgence removes some of the punishment due to sin. Indulgences are administered by the Apostolic Penitentiary [12]. The Enchiridion is the current book of indulgences. The Fourth edition (first published in 1999) can be found on the Vatican's website in the Latin language.[13] A book called the Raccolta once served this purpose.
A summary of the moral requirements of Catholics is contained in the Gospel of Mark:
- And there came one of the scribes that had heard them reasoning together, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him which was the first commandment of all. And Jesus answered him: The first commandment of all is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord your God is one God. And you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. [This can be found on www (then a period " . ") gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=21402&pageno=34 Mark 12:28-31].
Aspects of this calling are highlighted and defined in the Ten Commandments and in other commandments, laws, and principles.
[edit] The Ten Commandments
In quotations of the Ten Commandments, the Catholic Church uses the division in Deuteronomy rather than Exodus. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, topics similar to the commandment are explained.
[edit] The First Commandment
Idolatry, love of possessions and persons over God, superstition, witchcraft, atheism, apostasy, and agnosticism are forbidden. The faithful and clergy may only worship God and Him alone; they may honor those of His servants who have set an heroic example of fidelity to God.[14]
[edit] The Second Commandment
Cursing, swearing, profanity, obscene speech, rash oaths, blasphemy, and improper use of God's name or the names of the saints are forbidden.[15]
[edit] The Third Commandment
A day of rest is to be observed on Sunday.[16]
[edit] The Fourth Commandment
Obedience and respect to lawful authority is required, except in the case where one would be required to commit a sin.[17]
[edit] The Fifth Commandment
Murder, suicide, abortion, contraception, euthanasia, and intentional physical injury of oneself or another is prohibited. Unjust wars are also forbidden, and the few cases when a war is undertaken for a just cause are explained.[18]
The Catholic Church teaches that life begins from conception and exists until natural death. Pope Paul VI wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae on the matter.
[edit] The Sixth Commandment
Adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, and homosexuality are forbidden.[19]
[edit] The Seventh Commandment
Theft, vandalism, and damage to the property of another are prohibited. Employers are required to pay just wages.[20]
[edit] The Eighth Commandment
False witness, perjury, detraction, calumny, slander, boasting, bragging, lies, and gossip are forbidden.[21]
[edit] The Ninth Commandment
Lust, impure thoughts, and impure desires are forbidden; purity and modesty are required.[22]
[edit] The Tenth Commandment
Envy is forbidden.[23]
[edit] The Six Precepts of the Church
- Catholics are required to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
- Catholics are required to confess their sins at least once a year in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
- Reception of communion at least once during the Easter Season is required.
- Holy Days of Obligation must be kept holy.
- Observation of the fast and abstinence laws is required.
- The faithful are obligated to provide for the temporal needs of the Church.[24]
[edit] Seven Corporal Works of Mercy
The seven corporal works of mercy are: give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned, visit the sick, and bury the dead.
[edit] Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy
The seven spiritual works of mercy are: ...Counsel the doubtful, admonish the ignorant,... forgive all injuries, and pray for the living and the dead.
[edit] Virtues
Certain good qualities that should be practiced by Catholics are often classified as virtues.
[edit] Theological Virtues
There are three Theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity. These qualities apply directly to a person's relationship with God.[25]
[edit] Cardinal Virtues
There are Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. These are qualities that are naturally necessary for any moral life.[26]
[edit] Prayers and Sacramentals
[edit] The Stations of the Cross
The fourteen Stations of the Cross are:
- Jesus is condemned by Pilate
- Jesus accepts His Cross
- Jesus falls the first time
- Jesus meets His Mother
- Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross
- Veronica wipes Jesus's face
- Jesus falls the second time
- Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem
- Jesus falls the third time
- Jesus is stripped of His garments
- Jesus is nailed to the Cross
- Jesus dies on the Cross
- Jesus is taken down from the Cross
- Jesus is buried in the Tomb.
Sometimes the Resurrection is added as a fifteenth station.
[edit] The Rosary
The rosary is a Marian prayer attributed to St. Dominic. It is begun with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles' Creed. One Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be are prayed. Fives sets of decades (composed of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be) are prayed. The Rosary is concluded with the Hail, Holy Queen and the optional prayers for the Pontiff. In 1917, our Blessed Mother requested that the Fatima Prayer--"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into Heaven, especially those in the most need of Your mercy."--be prayed after the "Glory Be" of each Mystery.
Currently there are twenty "mysteries" commonly used for meditation (there is also a more uncommon set of five called the Consolation Mysteries):
- The
Joyful Mysteries (prayed on Mondays and Saturdays)
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Birth of Jesus (also called the Nativity)
- The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
- The
Luminous Mysteries (prayed on Thursdays)
- The Baptism of Christ by Saint John the Baptist
- The Miracle at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Coming of the Kingdom of God
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
- The
Sorrowful Mysteries (prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays)
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning of Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
- The
Glorious Mysteries (prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays)
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
- The Assumption of Mary
- The Coronation of Mary
Although the standard order is used by most Catholics, the selection of which set of mysteries to pray on which day is not obligatory.
[edit] The Scapular
The scapular is a sacramental attributed to St. Simon Stock.
[edit] The Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal is attributed to St. Catherine Labouré. Around the edge of the medal is "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
[edit] Other Sacramentals
Other sacramentals are:
- Holy Water
- Blessed Salt
- Saint Benedict Medal
- Crucifix
- Other Medals
- Other scapulars (such as the green scapular)
[edit] Liturgies
The Sacrifice of the Mass is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Priests and certain members of religious congregations are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
[edit] The Liturgical Calendar
The Liturgical Year begins with the Season of Advent, followed by the Season of Christmas, followed by a period of Ordinary Time, followed by the Season of Lent, followed by the Easter Season, followed by another period of Ordinary Time which continues until the next Season of Advent. Select days of the year also commemorate specific Saints and the lives of Jesus and Mary.
[edit] Vessels and Vestments of the Mass and other Ceremonies
The vestments used in the Mass are the amice (optional), alb, cicture, stole, and chasuble. The vessels used in the Mass are the primarily the paten and chalice. Other textile items also used are the purificator, chalice veil, corporal, and burse (optional). The cope and humeral veil are used in Eucharistic processions and Benediction. A deacon wears a dalmatic, rather than a chasuble. Acolytes either wear cassocks and surplices (or sometimes capes/humerales?), or they wear albs. Lectors, cantors, and choristers may occasionally wear vestments similar to those worn by acolytes. Important sanctuary furniture includes the tabernacle, altar(s), lectern, and ambo (optional). Other furniture in the church includes the baptismal font, sanctuary lamp, holy water fonts (optional[27]), and pews.
[edit] The Order of the Mass
The Mass is begun with the Sign of the Cross and followed by the Penitential Rite. The Penitential Rite may have several different forms. It may be the Rite of Sprinkling, it may be the Confiteor (I Confess to Almighty God) followed by the Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), it may be the Kyrie combined with tropes (in this case, these tropes are usually statements about the different aspects of God), or it may be the simple Kyrie. For a few select days of the Liturgical Year (such as Ash Wednesday) a special rite proper to that day is substituted. The Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest) is recited Sunday Masses outside the Advent and Lenten Seasons,on solemnities, and on feasts. The Opening Prayer follows the Gloria (if the Gloria is omitted, it follows the Penitential Rite).
An excerpt from the Bible is read. If there are two readings, the first is from the Old Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Apocalypse (Revelation), and the second reading is from one of the Epistles. If there is only one reading, it may be from any book of the Bible other than the four Gospels. The first reading is followed by a responsorial psalm (or a portion of it; the Responsorial Psalm may also be from a book of the Bible other than the Psalms), which is followed by the second reading (if there is one). On select days (such as Easter and Corpus Christi) there is a sequence. Then there is the Gospel Acclamation, followed by an excerpt from one of the four Gospels. A homily may follow this.
On solemnities and Sundays the Nicene Creed is prayed (for Masses with children, the Apostles' Creed may be substituted). The General Intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Offertory. This is followed by the Prayer over the Gifts, the Preface, and the Sanctus (Holy, Holy). The priest may select from one of nine Eucharistic Prayers. Eucharistic Prayer I (also called the Roman Canon) is particularly suited to days when this Eucharistic Prayer has a special form (Christmas and Christmas Octave, Holy Thursday, Epiphany, Easter Vigil and Easter Octave, the Ascension, and Pentecost. Eucharistic Prayer II is particularly suitable for weekday Masses. Eucharistic Prayer III is particularly suitable for Sunday and holydays. Eucharistic Prayer IV recounts the history of salvation in greater detail and has a preface specifically assigned to it, and is suitable for days that are not assigned a preface. <ref>General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #322</ref> There are also two reconcilatory Eucharistic Prayers, and three for Masses with children.
The Our Father is prayed, which, after several other prayers, may be followed by the optional Sign of Peace [see The Sacramentary, page 563]. The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is prayed or sung. The first two verses may be repeated as many times as necessary until the ministers of the Eucharist are prepared, but the concluding verse always ends with grant us peace. The priest prays two inaudible prayers [see The Sacramentary, page 563] and, after the "This is the Lamb" and a prayer based on the statement of a centurion, the Eucharist is consumed by the priest and, in most cases, the faithful present who are in the state of grace and have prepared themselves by the proscribed fast.
The Prayer after Communion, followed by the Final Blessing, concludes the Mass.
[edit] The Liturgy of the Hours
The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed several timed during the course of a day. The key parts of the Liturgy of the Hours are the Invitatory, Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer, and the Office of Readings.
[edit] Invitatory
The Invitatory begins the prayer of every day. It is composed of the verse "Lord, open my lips" with the response "And my mouth will proclaim your praise," followed by a psalm (usually Psalm 95, but it can be substituted with Psalm 100, 67, or 24). It is combined to the period of prayer which follows it, which may be either Morning Prayer or the Office of Readings.
[edit] Morning Prayer
Morning prayer is composed of the following: a hymn (unless Morning Prayer both follows and is combined with the Office of Readings, in which case the hymn proper to Morning Prayer is moved to the beginning of the Office of Readings),a psalm, an Old Testament canticle, a second psalm, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Zechariah, a collection of intercessions, the Our Father, a concluding prayer, and the dismissal.
[edit] Daytime Prayer
Daytime prayer is composed of the following: a hymn, three psalms, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, a concluding prayer, and a final acclamation. Daytime Prayer can be a single period or three separate periods termed Midmorning, Midday, and Midafternoon. Diocesan priests pray one period of daytime prayer, and religious communities pray three. (?)
[edit] Evening Prayer
Evening prayer is composed of the following: a hymn, two psalms, a New Testament canticle, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Mary, a collection of intercessions, the Our Father, a concluding prayer, and the dismissal.
[edit] Night Prayer
Night Prayer is composed of: an introduction, an examination of conscience, a penitential rite or prayer, a hymn or poem, one or two psalms, a Biblical excerpt which serves as a reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Simeon, a concluding prayer, and a Marian prayer.
[edit] The Office of Readings
The Office of Readings is frequently combined with another period of prayer. It is composed of a hymn (it uses its own prescribed hymn if not combined to another period other than the invitatory, but it uses the hymn of the other period at its beginning if it is followed by and combined with another period), three psalms, a verse with a response, a Biblical reading, a responsory, a reading from one of the Church writers, a second responsory, the Te Deum (only recited on Sundays, solemnities, and feasts; maybe not during Lent and Advent?), a concluding prayer, and a final acclamation.
(Create a table which will help clarify this)
[edit] History
[edit] History of the Catholic Church
Several approaches to describing the history of the Catholic Church after Christ's Ascension may be used. Three different methods are currently in use in this page. The first is to organize it by the succession of each Roman Pontiff. The second way is to organize it by what was taking place within the Church at large. The third is to organize it by date.
[edit] Biographies of the Roman Pontiffs/Categorization by Pontificate
- Saint Peter
- Linus<ref>A large number of the early pontiffs were canonized Saints, and will be properly labeled in future editions of this book</ref>
- Anacletus
- Clement I
- Evaristus
- Alexander I
- Sixtus I
- Telesphorus
- Hyginus
- Pius I
- Anicletus <ref>This is the correct spelling, and this pope's name was slightly different than the name of Anacletus</ref>
- Soter
- Soter became Pope about the year 167, and was pope for about eight years. It appears that he was particularly known for his generosity, but this book currently has no information regarding any alms or kindness he bestowed. He either died or was martyred about the year 175.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia says a less likely source (Harnack) says he was pope from 166 to 174.</ref>[28]
- Eleuterus
- Victor I
- Zephyrinus
- Callixtus I
- Urban I
- Pontian
- Anterus
- Fabian
- Cornelius
- Lucius I
- Stephen I
- Sixtus II
- Dionysius
- Felix I
- Eutychian
- Caius
- Marcellinus
- Marcellus I
- Eusebius
- Miltiades
- Sylvester
- Mark
- Julius I
- Liberius
- Damasus I
- Siricius
- Anastasius I
- Innocent I
- Zosimus
- Boniface I
- Celestine I
- Sixtus III
- Saint Leo I the Great
- Saint Hilarius
- Simplicius
- Felix III
- Gelasius I
- Anastasius II
- Symmachus
- He was the son of Fortunatus and a native of Sardinia. He was elected to the papacy on November 22, 498 at the Lateran Basilica. On the day of his consecration, a faction went to Santa Maria Maggiore and elected Archpresbyter Laurentius as an antipope.[29]
- Hormisdas
- Saint John I
- Saint Felix IV
- Boniface II
- John II
- Saint Agapetus I (also "Agapitus")
- Saint Silverius
- Vigilius
- Pelagius I
- John III
- Benedict I
- Pelagius II
- Saint Gregory I the Great
- Saint Sabinian
- Boniface III
- Saint Boniface IV
- Adeodatus I
- Boniface V
- Honorius I
- Severinus
- John IV
- Theodore I
- Saint Martin I
- Saint Eugene I
- Saint Vitalian
- Adeodatus II
- Donus <ref>His name can also be written Domnus.[30]</ref>
- Donus became Pope on November 2, 676. While he was Pope he had the atrium in front of St. Peter's Basilica paved and St. Euphemia's on the Appian Way restored. He also had another church repaired which was either St. Paul's Outside the Walls or a church on the route to it. He died on April 11, 678 after a pontificate of one year, five months, and ten days.[31]
- Saint Agatho
- He was born in the late 500's and became Pope in 678. During his papacy he restored St. Wilfred to his see. He also had an ecumenical council held in Constantinople in 680 to suppress the Monothelite heresy, but died before he was able to sign the decrees of the council. He died in Rome in 681 and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica on January 10, 681. It appears he was responsible for a significant number of miracles and was sometimes called "Thaumaturgus" (Wonderworker), but this book currently has no information regarding what miracles he performed or which miracles were attributed to him.[32]
- Saint Leo II
- Saint Benedict II
- John V
- Conon
- Saint Sergius I
- John VI
- John VII
- Sisinnius
- Constantine
- Saint Gregory II
- Gregory III
- Saint Zachary
- Stephen II<ref>another Stephen was elected before him but died before episcopal consecration, so he is not classified as a pontiff for the purposes of this book. Numbering in this book is calculated as though he was not a pontiff. Old references (and maybe even some new ones) might include him as a pontiff.</ref>
- Saint Paul I
- Stephen III
- Adrian I
- Leo III
- Stephen IV
- Saint Paschal I
- Eugene II
- Valentine
- Gregory IV
- Sergius II
- Saint Leo IV
- Benedict III
- Saint Nicholas I the Great
- Adrian II
- John VIII
- Marinus I
- Saint Adrian III
- Stephen V
- Formosus
- Boniface VI
- Stephen VI
- Romanus
- Theodore II
- John IX
- Benedict IV
- Leo V
- Sergius III
- Anastasius III
- Lando
- Lando was the son of Taino and a native of the Sabina. It appears he became pope in either July or August of 913. He apparently granted a privilege of some variety to a church in Sabina. He died in either February or March of 914. He had a pontificate of slightly more than six months.[33]
- John X
- Leo VI
- Stephen VII
- John XI
- Leo VII
- Stephen VIII
- Marinus II
- Agapetus II
- John XII
- Benedict V
- Leo VIII
- John XIII
- Benedict VI
- Benedict VII
- John XIV
- John XV
- Gregory V
- Silvester II
- John XVII <ref>John XVII took the "XVII" because it was thought at the time that Antipope John XVI was a true Pope.</ref>
- John XVIII
- Sergius IV
- Benedict VIII
- John XIX
- Benedict IX
- Silvester III
- (second term of Benedict IX)
- Gregory VI
- Clement II
- (third term of Benedict IX)
- Damasus II
- Saint Leo IX
- Victor II
- Stephen IX
- Nicholas II
- Alexander II
- Saint Gregory VII
- Blessed Victor III
- Blessed Urban II
- He was born about 1042 with the name Otho<ref>or Otto or Odo</ref> of Lagery in Châtillon-sur-Marne in Champagne. He studied in Reims, and was promoted to the office of an archdeacon and canon while residing there. He went to Cluny about 1070 and joined the monastery there, and was later advanced to the position of prior. Saint Hugh sent him to Rome to assist Pope Gregory VII, and became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia in 1078. He was assigned to be the legate to Germany and France from 1082 to 1085. When he returned to Rome in 1085, Victor III had been elected to the papacy. After Pope Victor III died, Otho was elected to the papacy on March 12, 1088, and took the name Urban II. During the course of his papacy the possession of Rome frequently changed hands between him and the antipope Guibert of Ravenna. In November of 1095 he convened a council in Clermont, at which the First Crusade was proclaimed and Philip of France was excommunicated on account of adultery. Urban regained possession of the Castel Sant'Angelo in 1098, and convened a council in Bari to attempt a reconciliation with Eastern bishops by addressing the matter of the filioque clause. He died on July 29, 1099, was buried in the crypt of Saint Peter's Basilica, and was beatified on _______ by Pope Leo XIII. [34]
- Paschal II
- Gelasius II
- Callixtus II
- Honorius II
- Innocent II
- Celestine II
- Lucius II
- Blessed Eugene III
- Anastasius IV
- Adrian IV
- Alexander III
- Lucius III
- Urban III
- Gregory VIII
- Clement III
- Celestine III
- Innocent III
- Honorius III
- Gregory IX
- Celestine IV
- Innocent IV
- Alexander IV
- Urban IV
- Clement IV
- Blessed Gregory X
- Blessed Innocent V
- Adrian V
- John XXI
- Nicholas III
- Martin IV <ref>He took the "IV" because Marinus I and Marinus II were mistakenly considered Martin II and Martin III at the time. There is no Martin II or Martin III.</ref>
- Honorius IV
- Nicholas IV
- Saint Celestine V
- Boniface VIII
- Blessed Benedict XI
- Clement V
- John XXII
- Benedict XII
- Clement VI
- Innocent VI
- Blessed Urban V
- Gregory XI
- Urban VI
- Boniface IX
- Innocent VII
- Gregory XII
- Martin V
- Eugene IV
- Nicholas V
- Callixtus III
- Pius II
- Paul II
- Sixtus IV
- Innocent VIII
- Alexander VI
- Pius III
- Julius II
- Leo X
- Adrian VI
- Clement VII
- Paul III
- Julius III
- Marcellus II
- Paul IV
- Pius IV
- Saint Pius V
- Gregory XIII
- Sixtus V
- Urban VII
- Gregory XIV
- Innocent IX
- Clement VIII
- Leo XI
- Paul V
- He was originally born as Camillo Borghese on September 17, 1550 in Rome. He became a cardinal in 1596. He died on January 28, 1621.[35]
- Gregory XV
- Urban VIII
- Innocent X
- Alexander VII
- Clement IX
- Clement X
- Blessed Innocent XI
- Alexander VIII
- Innocent XII
- Clement XI
- Innocent XIII
- Benedict XIII
- Clement XII
- His original name was Lorenzo Corsini. He was born on April 7, 1652 in Florence. He became titular archbishop of Nicomedia in 1691 and a cardinal-deacon on May 17, 1706. He was elected to the papacy on July 12, 1730. During his pontificate he paved the streets of Rome and restored the Arch of Constantine. In 1738 he issued the first papal decree against the Freemasons. He died on February 6, 1740.[36]
- Benedict XIV
- Clement XIII
- Clement XIV
- Pius VI
- Pius VII
- Leo XII
- Pius VIII
- Gregory XVI
- Blessed Pius IX
- Pius IX was born with the name Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti in Sinigaglia on May 13, 1792. He ws ordained on April 10, 1819. He was promoted to the position of Archbishop of Spoleto by Pope Leo XII on May 21, 1827. He was assigned to the Diocese of Imola by Pope Gregory XVI.[37]
- Leo XIII
- Leo XIII was born with the name Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci on March 2, 1810 in Carpineto to Count Lodovico Pecci and Anna ProsperiBuzi. Gioacchino entered the Collegio Romano in 1824, and received his doctorate in 1832. He was promoted to the rank of domestic prelate in January of 1837 by Gregory XVI. He was ordained on December 31, 1837 by Cardinal Odeschalchi at the chapel of Saint Stanislaus on the Quirinal. Pope Gregory XVI assigned him to Benevento, where he worked diligently to annihilate the brigands and smugglers infesting the region. Pope Gregory XVI then assigned him to Perugia, where Gioacchino started a savings bank specifically to assist farmers and small businesses in obtaining low interest rates. In January of 1843 Gioacchino was promoted to the position of nuncio to Brussels, and was consecrated titular bishop of Damiata on February 19, 1843 by Cardinal Lambruschini. Pope Gregory XVI appointed Gioacchino to the See of Perugia when it became vacant, but permitted him to retain the title of Archbishop. He was created a cardinal on December 19, 1853 by Pope Pius IX. He was appointed to be the Camerlengo in August of 1877, and was elected to the papacy on February 20, 1878, taking the name Leo XIII. He wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum, dated May 18, 1891. He died in Rome on July 20, 1903.[38]
- Saint Pius X
- Benedict XV
- Pius XI
- Pius XII
- John XXIII
- Paul VI
- John Paul I
- John Paul II
- Benedict XVI
[edit] Organization by Era
After the Ascension of the Lord, the Apostolic Age was begun, which ended with the death of the last Apostle, Saint John the Evangelist.
This was followed by the Age of Martyrs.
- After the death of Nero, persecutions of Christians were intermittent, and varied in rigor. This period was ended with the Edict of Milan, which was promulgated by the Emperor Constantine in 313. [39]
This was followed by the Dawn of the Early Heresies.
- Soon after the Christians were no longer threatened with civil punishment on account of the Faith, heretical sects arose which frequently had a twofold aim: to both advance a particular doctrine and to also gain control of the Church through the aid of civil leaders sympathetic to their cause. Some of the principal heretical sects at this time were the Arians, the Nestorians, the Gnostics, and the Monophysites. An unusual reversal of the state of affairs occurred during the reign of Julian the Apostate, who attempted to restore paganism and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, of which both attempts failed.
This was roughly at the same time as the Conversion of Europe to Christianity.
- While large portions of the Roman Empire were coming under the control of heretical sects, large portions of Europe were also converting from paganism to Christianity, particularly Ireland, France, and Germany. Eventually Europe became, in a sense, a Christian continent in which most of the inhabitants were either Catholic or belonged to a heretical or schismatic sect.
This was followed by the Middle Ages and the Crusades.
- Hostility between nations, the possession of properties, and the quest for additional revenues and incomes frequently gave rise to clashes between the Church and rulers of nations and other principalities, particularly regarding the appointment of bishops. When the Muslims succeeded in their conquest of the Holy Land, Blessed Pope Urban II declared a crusade to regain the Holy Land in 1095, and subsequent crusades were declared when necessary. Toward the end of the Middle Ages the Bubonic Plague ravaged Europe, in which many pious clergy cared for the sick and also contracted the disease, while many of the less pious clergy fled and returned after the plague had subsided.
This was followed by the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation.
- Besides the bubonic plague, several factors also contributed heavily to the progression of the era: the "Avignon Captivity" and the "Great Schism," the conflicting interests of the Catholic Church and national governments (especially regarding revenues, property ownership, and the appointment of bishops), the conflicts between European nations (particularly the "Hundred Year's War" between France and England), the immoral lives of many of the clergy and many members of the upper classes, and the reintroduction of pagan culture. The French cardinal _________ was elected to the papacy on ___________ and took the name ______________, but Rome was the scene of much self-destruction by the local Italians. The French king __________ extended the invitation to Pope _________ to come to peaceful Avignon and take residence for a while, and the Popes did not want to leave Avignon and return to Rome for over one hundred years. When Pope _________ finally submitted to the entreaties and rebukes of Saint Catherine of Siena (?) and Saint Gertrude (?), it was only a few years before he was disgusted with the situation in Rome and wanted to return to Avignon, which was only prevented on account of his death. His successor, the Roman (?) cardinal _____________ was elected on _________ and took the name ___________, but the cardinals soon disliked him and elected the French cardinal __________ as an antipope, who took the name ________________. An attempt to solve this division of the Church was later made to persuade the successors to both simultaneously resign and permit the cardinals to elect a new pope, but this only resulted in three "popes." Eventually this situation was ended at a conclave (?) when the Roman pope and third "pope" (Pisan?) simultaneously resigned, the cardinals elected Cardinal ______________ to the papacy (who took the name _________), and the majority (or was it all?) of the European nations transferred their allegiance to the new pope.
- Saint Peter's Basilica was in the process of construction, and Pope ______________ announced that an indulgence (plenary or partial?, also, did one have to follow the usual conditions to obtain it: pray for the pope, confession, communion, no attachment to sin?) could be gained when a person contributed (how much?) to its construction. The pope appointed the Dominicans to handle the collection of the funds, which was greatly resented by the Augustinians. One of the Augustinians, Martin Luther, voiced his distaste of the situation differently than most and began condemning the indulgences themselves, and his superior ____________ was delighted and encouraged Martin Luther to continue his denunciation of the indulgences. The Dominicans in turn invoked higher authority, and when Luther's superior found that the papal authorities were determined to censure Luther if he continued, he privately advised Luther to cease the accusations. Luther, however, enjoyed the publicity and respect he received,<ref>History of England, Volume 4?, written by Lingard?,this was done from memory, not with the text in front of the contributor, so some facts may be inaccurate</ref> and decided to enter into complete rebellion instead. Flocks of commoners hastened to his side, and looted monasteries and churches to enrich themselves. A great number of princes declared their support of Luther, and hastily seized ecclesiastical properties for themselves.
- King Henry VII of England's son Arthur had married Catherine of Aragon (daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand), but Arthur died during his father's reign, so Arthur's brother Henry married Catherine (now his brother's widow). This Henry ascended to the throne as King Henry VIII of England. Some time after his ascension to the throne, he published a rebuttal of Luther's doctrines, and received the title "Defender of the Faith" from Pope ____________. At one point, Henry had a sinful relationship with Mary Boleyn, but did not publicize it. When he later wished to have a relationship with Mary Boleyn's sister Anne Boleyn, Anne Boleyn firmly said she would only do so if she was his queen. Henry VIII decided to try to get an annulment, and approached the matter by confiding to Cardinal Wolsey (the English Chancellor) that he was being tormented by scruples regarding the validity of his marriage to Catherine. Wolsey was delighted to hear this and proposed that the king marry the French princess ______________. Henry was not pleased and told Wolsey he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. Wolsey wished to object to Henry's marriage to a mere local noblelady rather than a marriage that would strengthen the bond between England and its most powerful ally at the time, but seeing the heightening anger of Henry, Wolsey acquiesced to his monarch's wishes. A delegation was sent to Pope ________ which related that Henry was concerned about his marriage to Catherine and asked about getting a n annulment. The pope's responded that he trusted Henry's judgment on the issue and told him to follow the normal local procedures to investigate whether the marriage was valid and issue an annulment if necessary, but the pope also asked Henry to wait until Charles V (Catherine's nephew) was defeated by the Italian and papal forces significantly enough in order that Charles V would not take revenge on the pope because of the annulment. After Charles V was no longer a threat, the process in England was started to investigate the validity of the marriage to Catherine, but soon was stalled by the lack of impediments in the marriage to Catherine and the existence of an impediment in the proposed marriage to Anne Boleyn. Another delegation was sent to the pope to request special permission to remove the impediment to the proposed marriage to Anne Boleyn, which the pope granted (?). The English bishops, however, were faced with a problem: to the best of their knowledge the marriage to Catherine was perfectly valid, but they knew Henry wished to get the annulment so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. Rather than attempt to declare a false annulment for which the bishops would be morally responsible, an attempt was made to deceive the pope into declaring an annulment through the pope's ignorance of the situation. (correct?) The pope, however, was growing suspicious of the matter and seriously began to doubt the honesty of Henry's statements regarding Anne Boleyn's exemplary virtue and piety. After being bombarded with a distasteful number of requests for the annulment,<ref>History of England, Volume 4?, written by Lingard?,this was done from memory, not with the text in front of the contributor, so some facts may be inaccurate</ref> Pope __________ determined that the marriage to Catherine was valid. Cranmer proposed to Henry VIII that he free himself from the moral jurisdiction by taking control of the Church of England, which Henry promptly did. After Henry's death and his son Edward's death, Queen Mary I of England attempted to restore Catholicism to England, but when she was ready to die, King Philip II of Spain (who was married to Queen Mary) did want the monarchy to pass to Mary of the Scots (who was married to the King of France), as it could be a powerful alliance against Spain. Mary selected Anne Boleyn's daughter Elisabeth to be her successor, and Elizabeth promised Mary to keep England Catholic. Upon Mary's death and Elisabeth's coronation, Elisabeth promptly disregarded her promise and, by the end of her life, had completely undone the work of Mary and firmly entrenched England in Anglicanism.
- The Council of Trent was convened in ________ and addressed many of the problems wrought by heresy and the immoral conduct of the clergy.
This was followed by the Enlightenment.
- Philosophers frequently clashed with the Catholic Church, and many times resorted to violence, particularly in the case of the French Revolution.
This was followed by the Industrial Revolution.
- Inventors were constantly discovering and designing faster and more efficient ways of performing common tasks which were frequently laborious, and were inventing new products to promote a better and higher standard of living. This era, which was so full of promise for the betterment of the whole human race, was instead beset by the poverty of many. In the United States a movement among workers called the Knights of Labor was begun to unite laborers together to require business owners to pay higher wages. Regarding this, Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum which required the laborers to respect the property of their employers and to work well, while also requiring employers to pay decent wages that would support the laborers and their families.
- Also in this era was the Reunification of Italy, which mostly took away the temporal power of the papacy and placed Italy and the Pope on bad terms with one another.
This was followed by the Modern Age:
- In this era Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, which allotted Vatican City to the popes with an annuity in recompense for the papal states. Pius XI then had the relative freedom to write encyclicals against the errors held by surrounding nations such as Germany, Russia, Spain, and even Italy itself. This sovereignty also assisted his successor Pope Pius XII in his protection of Jews from the Nazis during World War II.
- In 1962 Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council, which was originally convened to freshen the doctrine of the Church. In the course of the Council, Pope John XXIII died and was succeeded by Pope Paul VI, who wrote the encyclical Humanae Vitae while the Council was still in progress. This encyclical was greatly disliked by many of the bishops, who often voiced their opposition to it publicly. When the Council was finished in 1965, the bishops returned to their dioceses and implemented whatever they wished to implement.
- Beginning with Pope Paul VI, the popes began to visit countries on a regular basis. Pope John Paul II visited many countries during his pontificate, and even learned languages so that he would be able to speak to the people in their native tongue. Pope Benedict XVI followed a similar itinerary during the beginning years of his pontificate.
[edit] Chronological Organization of Facts
- 1st Century AD
- On Pentecost Sunday the Holy Spirit descended on the twelve Apostles in the Upper Room.
- Saint Paul is converted to Christianity.
- The Roman Emperor Nero begins his persecution of Christians after a fire devours much of the city of Rome.
- Saints Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome.
- Jerusalem is conquered by Roman forces
- 79 June 23 Emperor Vespasian dies. [40]
- 2nd Century AD
- 117 August 7 Emperor Trajan dies. [41]
- 3rd Century AD
- 4th Century AD
- 313 Diocletian dies. [42]
- 313 Constantine I legalizes Christianity by the Edict of Milan [43]
- 325 The first Council of Nicea was convened to make a determination on Arianism.
[44]
- 337 May Emperor Constantine the Great dies. [45]
- Emperor Julian the Apostate attempts to restore paganism and rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.
- 363 June 26 Emperor Julian the Apostate dies. [46]
- 387 Saint Augustine is baptized by Saint Ambrose.
- 5th Century AD
- Saint Jerome completes the Vulgate Bible.
- 6th Century AD
- 7th Century AD
- 8th Century AD
- 741 October 21 King Charles Martel of the Franks dies. [47]
- 768 September 24 King Pepin the Short of the Franks dies. [48]
- 800 Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III
- 9th Century AD
- 10th Century AD
- 973 May 7 Emperor Otto I the Great dies. [49]
- 11th Century AD
- 1095 Blessed Pope Urban II preaches the First Crusade to regain the Holy Land.
- 12th Century AD
- 13th Century AD
- 1216 June 16 Pope Innocent III dies. [50]
- St. Dominic founds the Dominican order. [51]
- 1226 October 3: St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan order, dies in Assisi. [52]
- 14th Century AD
- 1309 Pope Clement V moves Roman Curia from Rome to Avignon.
- 1378 Pope Gregory XI moves papacy back to Rome from Avignon.
- 15th Century AD
- Saint Joan of Arc mostly frees France from English rule.
- Johannes Gutenberg begins production of the Bible with the printing press.
- Columbus discovers America
- 16th Century AD
- 1547 January 28 King Henry VIII of England dies.[53]
- 1558 Charles V, former Holy Roman Emperor, dies. [54]
- 1558 November 17 Queen Mary Tudor of England dies. [55]
- The apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego
- The Jesuit order is founded. [56]
- 1598 September 13 King Philip II of Spain dies. [57]
- 17th Century AD
- 1626 November 18: St. Peter's Basilica dedicated by Urban VIII. [58]
- 18th Century AD
- American War for Independence begins
- French Revolution begins
- 19th Century AD
- The Louisiana Purchase is bought by the USA
- The American Civil War is fought
- Unification of Italy
- Marian apparitions to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes, France
- The Spanish-American War is fought
- 20th Century AD
- Pope St. Pius X dies during World War I, succeeded by Pope Benedict XV
- 1917: Marian apparitions at Fatima
- Lenin gains control of Russia
- Creation of Poland
- Pope Benedict XV dies, succeeded by Pope Pius XI
- Pius XI signs treaty with Italy, recognizing the existence of the Vatican City State
- Germany annexes Austria
- Pope Pius XI dies, is succeeded by Pope Pius XII
- World War II is declared
- World War II is ended, large sections of Europe are dominated by Communist rule.
- Pope Pius XII dies, is succeeded by Pope John XXIII
- Pope John XXIII opens the Second Vatican Council
- Pope John XXIII dies, is succeeded by Pope Paul VI
- Pope Paul VI writes the encyclical Humanae Vitae
- Pope Paul VI dies, is succeeded by Pope John Paul I
- Pope John Paul I dies shortly after the beginning of his pontificate, is succeeded by Pope John Paul II
- The Berlin Wall is razed.
- 21st Century AD
- Pope John Paul II dies, succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI
[edit] Biographies of the Saints
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Biographies of persons canonized by the Catholic Church are often used as reading materials to educate and inspire the faithful to greater acts of virtue. Some of the persons who are the subject of these biographies are:
- Saint Joachim
- Memorial on July 26
- Saint Anne
- Memorial on July 26
- Saint Joseph
- His role as husband of Mary is celebrated as a Solemnity on March 19, his career as a worker is celebrated as a Memorial on May 1
- Saint John the Baptist
- His birth is celebrated as a Solemnity on June 24, his Martyrdom as a Memorial on August 29
- Saint Peter
- Solemnity on June 29, the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter is February 22
- Saint Mark
- His Feast is on April 25. Mark was one of the four Evangelists.
- Saint Paul
- Solemnity on June 29, his conversion is celebrated as a Feast on January 25
- Saint James the Greater
- Feast on July 25; a son of Zebedee
- Saint Philip
- Feast on May 3
- Saint Matthias
- Feast on May 14
- Saint Thomas
- Feast on July 3
- Saint James the Lesser
- Feast on May 3
- Saint Bartholomew
- Feast on August 24
- Saint Matthew
- Feast on September 21
- Saint Simon the Zealot
- Feast on October 28
- Saint Jude
- Feast on October 28
- Saint Andrew
- Feast on November 30
- Saint John the Evangelist
- Feast on December 27
- Saint Stephen
- Stephen was one of the first deacons and the first Christian martyr; his day is celebrated as a feast on December 26. In the Acts of the Apostles the name of St. Stephen occurs for the first time on the occasion of the appointment of the first deacons (Acts 6:5). Dissatisfaction concerning the distribution of alms from the community's fund having arisen in the Church, seven men were selected and specially ordained by the Apostles to take care of the temporal relief of the poorer members. Of these seven, Stephen is the first mentioned and the best known. He was stoned to death after he was accused before the Sanhedrin, probably about the year 37.
- Saint Barnabas
- Memorial on June 11. Barnabas was the one who presented St. Paul to the Apostles. He was influential in the spread of the Church among the Gentiles, and accompanied St. Paul on his first missionary journey. He was martyred about the year 61 at Salamis.
- Saint Luke
- Feast on October 18. Luke was a physician who accompanied Saint Paul in some of his travels. It appears he probably joined Paul about the year 51. He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. An ox is frequently used to symbolize him.
- Saint Titus
- Memorial on January 26. Titus was the first bishop of Crete. Saint Paul addressed one of his epistles to him. He died about the year 96 in Goryna, Crete.
- Saint Martha
- Memorial on July 29. Martha was the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. She died about the year 80.
- Saint Mary Magdalene
- Memorial on July 22
- Saint Timothy
- Memorial on January 26. Timothy was born in Lystra in the first half of the first century. His father was a pagan and his mother was a Jewess. Saint Paul, a close friend of his, wrote Timothy two letters that are now known as the First and Second Epistles to Timothy.
- Saint Ignatius of Antioch
- Martyred in 107, Memorial on October 17
- Saint Lawrence
- Deacon and martyr, his day is a Feast on August 10. Lawrence was martyred during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Valerian on August 10, 258.
- Saint Lucy
- Virgin and martyr, Memorial on December 13. Lucy was born into a wealthy family about the year 283. After her father died, she persuaded her mother Eutychia to give a large portion of the family's wealth to the poor in thanksgiving for Eutychia's healing at the tomb of St. Agatha. Lucy's suitor was enraged that the wealth that might have been his was lost, and reported her to the governor of Sicily (another source says he reported her to a judge in Sicily). After several failed attempts to execute her, she was martyred by the sword.
- Saint Blase
- Martyred in the 300's, Optional Memorial on February 3. Blase is believed to have been a physician in Sebaste of Armenia before he became the city's bishop. During the persecution of Licinius, he was hunted down by order of Agricolaus, the governor. He was eventually found in a cave in the wilderness and imprisoned. While in prison, he cured a boy who was choking to death on a fishbone. He was martyred about the year 316. On his memorial day the blessing of throats is given with two crosses candles.
- Saint Sebastian
- Martyred in Diocletian's persecution. Optional Memorial on January 20. Sebastian was born in Narbonne, Gaul, and entered the Roman army about the year 283 under Emperor Carinus. Emperor Diocletian appointed him as captain of the Praetorian Guards, and Emperor Maximian retained him in that position. In 286 Sebastian was discovered to be a Christian, and was ordered to be executed by the Mauretanian archers. He was left for dead, but when St. Irene, the widow of St. Castulus, came to bury his body, she found him still alive and took care of him until he recovered. After he recovered he went to Diocletian and tried to gain clemency toward the Christians, but was beaten to death about the year 288.
- Saint Agnes of Rome
- Virgin and martyr. Memorial on January 21. Agnes was born either about the year 241 or about the year 291. When she refused to marry Procop, the governor's son, he accused her of being a Christian before her father, who had her put to death on either January 21, 254, or January 21, 304. She was buried beside the Via Nomentana in Rome. On her feast day two lambs are are blessed at Sant'Agnese fuori le mura by the pope, and their wool is used to make the palliums the Pope gives to new archbishops.
- Saint George
- Martyr. Optional Memorial on April 23. George was tortured and beheaded for the Faith about the year 304 in Lydda, Palestine, during the reign of Diocletian.
- Saint Cecilia
- Virgin and martyr (married, but lived celibately with her husband). Memorial on November 22. Cecilia was born about the turn of the second century (based on the date of the reign of Pope Urban I; another source places it about the turn of the first century) to a senatorial family. She had vowed to remain a virgin, but her parents decided to marry her to Valerian (Valerianus) of Trastevere, a noble pagan youth. After the wedding, Valerian was converted to Christianity and baptized by Pope Urban I, and Valerian's brother Tiburtius also converted to Christianity soon afterwards. Because the two brothers both gave alms and buried the bodies of the martyrs, the prefect, Turcius Almachius, had them condemned to death. St. Cecilia buried the bodies of her husband and brother-in-law, and was also condemned to be executed. After a failed attempt to suffocate her in her own house, she was ordered to be decapitated, but the soldier struck her neck three times and fled, leaving her neck only partially cut. She died three days later, some time between 222 and 230 (another source says about the year 117.) She was buried in the Catacomb of St. Callistus, and in 1599 she was found to be incorrupt.
- The Early Church Fathers, who wrote extensively to define Catholic doctrines
- Saint Anthony of the Desert
- (Born about 250, died in 356, Memorial on January 17)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Anthony was born in Coma in the mid-200's. He lived as a hermit for a significant number of years. Later, he also gave guidance to others practicing a secluded ascetic life. He died in the mid-300's.[59]
- Saint Helena
- Helena was born in the mid-200's. She and her husband Constantius Chlorus had a son, Constantine, in 274. Constantius became co-Regent of the West in 292, and he abandoned Helena to marry another woman. In 308 Constantine came to power and conferred the title of Augusta on his mother Helena. Helena converted to Christianity after her son's victory over Maxentius. She died about the year 330.[60]
- Saint Nicholas of Myra
- <ref>Also known as Nicholas of Bari because his relics are believed to be in Bari, Italy</ref> (died in mid-300's, Optional Memorial on December 6)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Nicholas was the bishop of Myra, Lycia. He died about the year 346.<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/saintn01.htm</ref>
- Saint Cyril of Alexandria
- (born in 370, died in 444, Optional Memorial on June 27)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Cyril of Alexandria was born in 376 to a family in Alexandria, Egypt. He was the nephew of Theophilus<ref>http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc15.htm</ref>, the Patriarch of Alexandria, and in 402 (another source says 403<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=616</ref>) he went with him to Constantinople when his uncle deposed St. John Chrysostom from the patriarchate of Constantinople. After his uncle died on October 15, 412,<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04592b.htm</ref> he was selected to succeed him, and was consecrated on October 18, 412. Some of his first acts as patriarch were to shut down the churches of the Novatian heretics and to expel the Jews from Alexandria after they had massacred Christians. Nestorius became the Patriarch of Constantinople in the winter of 427-428, and Cyril eventually became aware of the heretical teachings of Nestorius. After a period of correspondence between Nestorius and Cyril, Cyril asked Pope St. Celestine to intervene. Celestine responded that Cyril was to take the responsibility of admonishing Nestorius, and that Nestorius was to be excommunicated and deposed. Emperor Theodosius II summoned a council in Ephesus, and Cyril arrived with fifty of the bishops from his patriarchate, and bishops also came from Palestine, Crete, Greece, and Asia Minor. Nestorius also arrived in town, but the papal legates and Patriarch John of Antioch had not yet arrived when Cyril decided to begin the council on June 22, 431. He summoned Nestorius to appear, and when he did not, he pronounced Nestorius excommunicated and deposed. The papal legates arrived on July 10, 431, and confirmed the sentence of excommunication and deposition, but when Patriarch John of Antioch (who was on friendly terms with Nestorius) arrived with the bishops under him, he set up a council of his own and declared Bishop Memnon of Ephesus and Cyril deposed. Both sides appealed to the emperor, who took the peculiar position of considering all three bishops as deposed and arrested all three of them. The emperor also dissolved the council, but eventually released Cyril. He died in Alexandria, Egypt on either June 9 or June 27 of 444, and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1882 by Pope Leo XIII.
- Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
- (born in 315, died in 386, Optional Memorial is on March 18)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref><ref>St. Joseph Weekday Missal, Volume I</ref>
- Cyril of Jerusalem was born about the year 315. Acacius, bishop of Caesarea, exiled him in 357, but Acacius himself was deposed at the Council of Selucia in 359. The emperor then exiled Cyril again in 360, but Julian allowed him to return in 361. Acacius eventually died, and Cyril's nephew Gelasius replaced Acacius as bishop of Caesarea.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=40</ref> In 367 he was forced to leave again under the rule of Emperor Valens, but and this period ended when Valens was killed in 378. Cyril went to the Council of Constantinople in 381, and the Emperor Theodosius ordered that observance of the Nicene faith become law in the Roman Empire. The precise date of his death is not certain, but it is quite probable that he died on March 18, 386.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04595b.htm</ref>
- Saint Athanasius
- (born in 295, died in 373, Memorial on May 2)
- Athanasius was consecrated to the episcopate in 328. He was first exiled for nearly two and a half years during the reign of Emperor Conatantine I. About three weeks after Constantine I's death, his eldest son Constantine invited Athanasius to return to the see of Alexandria. He was exiled a second time during the reign of Emperor Constantius. Athanasius was exiled a third time in 356 for a period of about six years. Athanasius returned to Alexandria on February 22, 362. Athanasius died on May 2, 373.[61]
- Saint Ephrem of Syria
- (born about 306, died in 373, Optional Memorial on June 9)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Ephrem<ref>Also spelled Ephraem or Ephraim</ref> was born about the year 306 in Nisibis, Mesopotamia,<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/sainte02.htm</ref> while it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was the son of a pagan priest. Through the influence of St. James of Nisibis,<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05498a.htm</ref> the city's first bishop,<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/saintj0h.htm</ref>, he was baptised as a Christian when he was eighteen<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia mentions at least one other source said twenty-eight</ref>. He became a deacon, and apparently was influential in the repulse of the Persian armies of the pagan Shapur II who besieged the city in 338, 346, and 350. One biographer relates that on one occasion he brought a cloud of flies and mosquitoes on the army and forced it to withdraw, and he is also attributed with relieving the city in the 350 by his prayers,<ref>http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0609.htm#ephr</ref> when an attempt of the Persian engineers to flood the city backfired and the inhabitants of the city drove them away. In 363 the Emperor Jovian ceded Nisibis, Singara, and the four satrapies east of the Tigris to Shapur II in exchange for an unmolested retreat of the Roman army<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08529b.htm</ref>, and the majority of the city's Christian population abandoned the city before the arrival of the Persians, who were severely persecuting Christians in their empire. Ephrem and most of the Christian populace eventually settled at Edessa, where Ephrem spent the rest of his life as a hermit. He died on June 9, 373, at Edessa, and is buried at the Der Serkis monastery to the west of Edessa. He was declared a Doctor of the Church on October 5, 1920 by Pope Benedict XV<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/pope0258j.htm</ref>.
- Saint Martin of Tours
- (born about 316, died in 397, Memorial on November 11)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Martin was born in Sabaria about 316. Martin went to Italy and joined the Roman Army while an adolescent. He went to Poiters in 361 to see St. Hilary. He was consecrated a bishop on July 4, ______. He died in Touraine about 397.[62]
- Saint Ambrose
- (born about 340, died April 4, 397, Memorial on December 7)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Ambrose was the third and youngest child of Ambrosius, Prefect of Gallia (he had a sister named Marcellina and a brother named Satyrus). He was consecrated bishop of Milan on December 7, 374. He died April 4, 397.[63]
- Saint Basil the Great
- (born in 330, died on January 1, 379, Memorial on January 2)
- Basil the Great was born in the year 329<ref>Catholic.org says the year 330 http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=261</ref> in Caesarea, Cappadocia, Asia Minor. He was the son of St. Basil the Elder and Emmelia, the grandson of his paternal grandmother St. Macrina the Elder, and the brother of St. Gregory of Nyssa, St Macrina the Younger,<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=714</ref> and St. Peter of Sebastea.<ref>http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp1y.htm</ref> His father died when he was young, and the family moved to live with St. Macrina the Elder at her estate in Pontus, Asia Minor. He was educated first in Caesarea, then in Constantinople, and finally in Athens. After meeting with Bishop Dianius of Caesarea, Basil visited the monks of Egypt, Palestine, Coele-Syria, and Mesopotamia. He was ordained a priest, and in 363 he was appointed to an administrative position in the diocese by its new bishop, Eusebius. He became the bishop of Caesarea in 370, and died on January 1, 379.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02330b.htm</ref><ref>Catholic-Forum Saints Index places it at on June 14, 379 http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb05.htm</ref>
- Saint Gregory Nazianzen
- (also born in 330, died on January 25 of either 389 or 390, Memorial on January 2)
- Saint John Chrysostom
- (born about 349, died on September 14, 407, Memorial on September 13)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- John Chrysostom was born about the year 347<ref>Catholic.org says about the year 344 http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=64</ref> in the city of Antioch in Asia Minor.<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/saintj25.htm</ref> In 374 he began to live as an anchorite, and he did it for two years, after which his health compelled him to return to Antioch.<ref>One source incorrectly says this return to Antioch was in 386, which would mean he lived as an anchorite for twelve years</ref> He was ordained a priest in 386 by Bishop Flavian of Antioch. On September 27, 397, Patriarch Nectarius of Constantinople died, and after several months, the Emperor ordered the Prefect of Antioch to bring John Chrysostom outside the town secretly and to send him to Constantinople immediately. John Chrysostom arrived to find that he was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople, and was consecrated a bishop by Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria on February 26, 398. As a bishop, he terminated the frequent banquets of the episcopal household, reduced its expenditures, and lived much like he had as a priest and monk. He initiated reforms and made the monks remain in monasteries rather than roam the streets undisciplined. Patriarch Theophilus was summoned by the Emperor to appear at a synod to apologize for his false accusations against several Egyptian monks, but when he arrived in June of 403 he made alliances with Chrysostom's enemies, and when Chrysostom arrived to convene the synod, he found the bishops intended to prosecute him instead. Chrysostom left, and the synod declared him deposed. He was exiled, only to be recalled back by the Empress. After he returned, the Empress became upset with him again because he complained to the Prefect of Constantinople about a statue erected outside the cathedral. She told Theodosius to come depose him again, but Theododius replied that Chrysostom should not have returned to his see in the first place because of an article mandated by an Arian synod in 341. <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08452b.htm</ref> Chrysostom was exiled again on June 24, 404. The pope and the Italian bishops declared their support of Chrysostom, and broke off communion with the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Constantinople until they repented. Nevertheless, is enemies had him exiled further to Pythius, and he died on the way on September 14, 407.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=64</ref>
- Saint Monica
- Mother of Saint Augustine (born in 331, died in 387, Memorial on August 27)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Augustine of Hippo
- (born in 354, died in 430, Memorial on August 28)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Augustine was born on November 13, 354 in Tagaste. He was the son of Patricus (a pagan, and a member of the curial class) and Saint Monica. He and his son Adeodatus were baptized by Saint Ambrose in 387. Augustine was ordained by Valerius, Bishop of Hippo, in Hippo in 391. He was consecrated a bishop on __________. He died in Hippo on August 28, 430.[64]
- Saint Jerome
- author of the Vulgate Bible (born about 340, died in 420, Memorial on September 30)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Jerome was born in the mid-300's in Stridon. He was baptized in Rome. He was ordained in Antioch. He died in Bethlehem on September 30, 420.[65]
- Saint Benedict of Nursia
- founder of the Benedictine Order (born about 480, died March 21, 547, Memorial on July 11)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Benedict was born in Nursia about the year 480. His sister was Saint Scholastica. Benedict left Rome behind and went to Enfide, and later Subiaco. He lived as a hermit for three years. A community of monks asked Benedict to come be their abbot after the previous abbot had died. He consented, but the monks were immoral, and, after an attempt to poison Benedict, Benedict returned to his hermitage. He later founded monasteries of his own. After encountering hostility from the locals, he left for Monte Cassino, where he founded another monastery. He was visited by Totila, King of the Goths, in 543. Benedict died at Monte Cassino.[66]
- Saint Scholastica
- (born about 480, died about 547, Memorial on February 10)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Scholastica was born in the year 480 in Nursia,<ref>The conclusion that she was born in Nursia is based on the fact that her twin brother, St. Benedict, was born in Nursia.</ref> and was the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. Some time after her brother St. Benedict founded the monastery on Monte Cassino, she founded a convent for nuns at Plombariola, about five miles away from her brother's monastery.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=240</ref> She died in 543, and was buried in the tomb St. Benedict had prepared for himself.<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/saints06.htm</ref>
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
- (born in 1090, died in 1153, Memorial on August 20)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Bernard was born in 1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France. He was the third child of Lord Tescelin of Fontaines and Aleth of Montbard. In 1113,<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02498d.htm</ref> when he was twenty-two years old, he, four of his brothers, and twenty-five of his friends of noble birth<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/saintb08.htm</ref><ref>Catholic Encyclopedia and Catholic.org say he came with thirty other nobles, but they do not mention the makeup of the group.</ref> entered the Cistercian monastery at Cîteaux. Bernard made his profession in 1114. In 1115, he was sent by St. Stephen, the third abbot of Cîteaux, to found a monastery at the Vallée d'Absinthe in the Diocee of Langres with twelve other monks to accompany him. Bernard named the new monastery Claire Vallée on June 25, 1115, and the monastery came to be known as Clairvaux. His father and his remaining brother(s)<ref>Catholic-Forum Patron Saints index says one more brother joined; the Catholic Encyclopedia says all his brothers joined the monastery, which infers that two joined.</ref> joined the monastery, and many others flocked to join the monastery too. Because Clairvaux could no longer house all those who wanted to join, the Monastery of the Three Fountains was founded in the Diocese of Châlons in 1118. He died on August 20, 1153,<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=559</ref><ref>Catholic Encyclopedia says August 21, 1153.</ref> in Clairvaux.
- Saint Patrick
- (born about 385, died in 461, Optional Memorial on March 17)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref><ref>St. Joseph Weekday Missal, Volume I</ref>
- Patrick was born in 387 in Kilpatrick, Scotland. He was the son of Calphurnius and Conchessa. When Patrick was sixteen he was captured and sold as a slave in Ireland to Milchu, who was a chieftain and also a high priest of the Druids. He escaped after about six years. He was under the guidance of Saint Germain for several years, and was ordained a priest by him. At the suggestion of Saint Germain, Pope Saint Celestine I entrusted Patrick with the conversion of the Irish, a task originally assigned to Palladius. Patrick was consecrated a bishop by Saint Maximus in Turin, and arrived in Ireland in the summer of 433. Patrick decided to go to Dalriada to pay his ransom to his former master Milchu. He was intercepted on the way by Dichu, another chieftain, who wanted to slay Patrick, but Dichu's arm, sword in hand, was rendered immovable until Dichu promised his obedience to Patrick. Patrick later found that Milchu, aware of Patrick's coming, had gathered his belongings into his dwelling, set it on fire, and committed suicide. Dichu informed patrick of a pagan feast at Tara at which the Supreme Monarch of Ireland, Leoghaire, would be present. On his way there, Patrick stayed at the house of the chieftain Secsnen, who converted to Christianity and whose son Benen became a disciple of Patrick's. On the eve of Easter Patrick lit the Pascal Fire on the hill of Slane, on the other side of the valley from Tara, and the Druids were unable to extinguish it. In th morning Patrick and his companions advanced in a procession to Tara. The Druids summoned a dark cloud to cover the hill, but when challenged by Patrick to remove it they were unable to do so, after which Patrick prayed and light was restored. The Arch-Druid Lochru lifted himself high into the sky, but when Patrick prayer Lochru fell to his death. In the end, Leoghaire gave Patrick the freedom to preach thoughout all of Ireland. Patrick went to Tailten and baptized Leoghaire's brother Conall on April 5. He went to Killala and baptized about 12,000 persons. Patrick baptized two sons of the King of Leinster at Naas. Patrick's charioteer Odhran discovered a plot on the part of a local chieftain, Crom Cruach, to kill Patrick, so Odhran persuaded Patrick to take the reins of the chariot while Odhran took the place of honor. Unaware of either the plot or Odhran's true intentions, Patrick took the reins, and shortly thereafter Odhran was slain by a lance intended to kill Patrick. Patrick went to Munster, and while in the kingdom of Munster he baptised Aengus, son of the King of Munster. During the ceremony Patrick accidentally pierced the foot of Aengus with his crosier, which Aengus thought might be part of the ceremony. It is recorded that Patrick ordained at least 350 bishops before he died. Patrick died on March 17, 493 <ref>A editor's note in The Catholic Encyclopedia says some other sources say either 460 or 461.</ref>at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. [67]
- Saint Columban
- (died in 615, Optional Memorial on November 23)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Bede
- (commonly known as Venerable Bede, born in 673, died in 735, Optional Memorial on May 25)
- Saint Boniface
- (born about 673, martyred in 754, Memorial on June 5)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Boniface was originally born with the name Winfrid in England in the late 600's. He Joined the Benedictines and was ordained when he was thirty. He journeyed to Rome and on May 15, 719, he received Pope Gregory II's permission to preach to the pagan Germans on the east side of the Rhine. After successfuly converting many heathens and bringing many lapsed Christians back to the faith, he again returned to Rome and was consecrated a regional bishop. Boniface returned to Germany and continued his work in conversion and repentance, and also undertook the correction of heretics. Pope Gregory III appointed Boniface an Archbishop and permitted him to consecrate bishops as necessary. After further labors, Boniface went to Rome again to ask to resign, but Pope Gregory III congratulated Boniface for his work and would not permit Boniface to resign. Boniface returned to Germany again with additional authority as a legate of the Holy See and worked to reform the clergy. Boniface was appointed Archbishop of Mainz and Primate of Germany by Pope Zachary. Boniface resigned from the archbishopric of Mainz in 754 in order to work for the conversion of the Frisians. He was martyred by heathens while assembling new converts for confirmation.[68]
- Saints Cyril and Methodius, (Cyril died February 14, 869; Methodius died April 6, 885; Memorial on February 14) {In Slovakia, their feasts are celebrated on July 5 and February 14.]
- Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles of the Slavs, were born in Thessalonica, Greece. [Thessaloniki (in Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη, IPA: [θe̞salo̞ˈnikʲi]) or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece. It is currently the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region. It is the largest city in the Macedonian region and one of the largest cities in southeastern Europe.]
Methodius, whose baptismal name was probably Michael, was the older brother. It is thought he was born between 815 and 820. Cyril, whose baptismal name was Constantine, is thought to have been born in 827 or 828.
- They belonged to a senatorial family--their father being a senior official of the imperial administration. Because of his father's position, Methodius reached the rank of Archon or Prefect. But about the year 840, he decided to renounce his secular honors and remain at one of the monasteries in Bithynia at the foot of what was then known as the Holy Mountain (which is now known as Mount Olympus).
- Cyril [Constantine's religious name] received the sacrament of Holy Orders in Byzantium after refusing a political career. Due to the intellectual gifts and talents God bestowed on him, he was given the ecclesiastical apponintment of the Librarian of the Archive which was attached to the great church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople. At the same time, he also held the position of Secretary to the Patriarch in the same city. However, this did not last long, as Cyril did not want to be in any position of authority, but wanted to devote himself to the contemplative life, so he could concenrate on his studies learning more about God. Although he secretly went off to a monastery on the Black Sea coast, he was discovered about six months later and asked to teach philosophy at a school of higher learning in Constantinople. He became known as "The Philosopher" and the title remains his today. After this position, he was sent on a mission by the emperor and the Patriarch to the Saracens.
- After this mission, he joined Methodius in a monastery on the Bosphorous, when the Khazars sent to Constantinople for a Christian teacher. Cyril was selected and was accompanied by his brother. They learned the Khazar language and converted many of the people.
- At Kherson, they lodged at the Crimea and identified what was believed to be the church where Saint Clement, Pope of Rome and martyr, was buried. They returned to Rome and presented Saint Clement's relics to Pope Hadrian II at the end of their missionary journey to the West.
- Soon after the Khazar mission, there was a request from Prince Rastislav of Greater Moravia to the Emperor Michael III for a "Bishop and teacher" of the Gospel in their own language. German missionaries had already labored among them, but without success. The Moravians wished a teacher who could instruct them and conduct Divine service in the Slavonic tongue. On account of their acquaintance with the language, Cyril and Methodius were chosen for their work. In preparation for it, Cyril invented an alphabet and, with the help of Methodius, translated the Gospels and the necessary liturgical books into Slavonic. They went to Moravia in 863, and labored for four and a half years. Despite their success, they were regarded by the Germans with distrust, first because they had come from Constantinople where schism was rife, and again because they held the Church services in the Slavonic language. Methodius, at one point, was even cruelly imprisoned. On this account, the brothers were summoned to Rome by Nicholas I, who died, however, before their arrival. His successor, Pope Hadrian II, received them kindly. Convinced of their orthodoxy, he commended their missionary activity, sanctioned the Slavonic Liturgy, and ordained Cyril and Methodius bishops. He also recommmended that their followers be ordained priests. Cyril, however, was not to return to Moravia. He died in Rome, Italy, ahortly after becoming a bishop on February 14, 869.
- At the request of the Moravian princes, Rastislav and Svatopluk, and the Slav Prince Kocel of Pannonia, Adrian II formed an Archdiocese of Moravia and Pannonia, making it independent of the German Church. He also consecrated Methodius Archbishop of Moravia.
- In 870 King Louis and the German bishops summoned Methodius to a synod at Ratisbon. Here he was deposed and condemned to prison. After three years he was liberated at the command of Pope John VIII and reinstated as Archbishop of Moravia. He zealously endeavoured to spread the Faith among the Bohemians, and also among the Poles in Northern Moravia. Soon, however, he was summoned to Rome again in consequence of the allegations of the German priest Wiching, who impugned his orthodoxy, and objected to the use of Slavonic in the liturgy. But Pope John VIII, after an inquiry, sanctioned the Slavonic Liturgy, decreeing, however, that in the Mass the Gospel should be read first in Latin and then in Slavonic. Wiching, in the meantime, had been nominated one of the suffragan bishops of Methodius. He continued to oppose his metropolitan, going so far as to produce spurious papal letters. The Pope, however, assured Methodius that these letters were false. Methodius obtained from Pope John VIII the publication of the Bull Industriae Tuae. This restored, in writing, prerogatives to celebrate the liturgy in Slavonic that had been granted by Pope Hadrian II.
- Methodius went to Constantinople about this time, and with the assistance of several priests, he completed the translation of the Holy Scriptures, with the exception of the Books of Machabees. He also translated the "Nomocanon", i.e. the collection of Greek ecclesiastico-civil law [also known as ecclesiastical and Byzantine civil laws]. The enemies of Methodius did not cease to antagonize him. His health was worn out from the long struggle, and he died on April 6, 885, recommending as his successor Gorazd, a Moravian Slav who had been his disciple.
- Saint Bruno
- founder of the Carthusian Order (born about 1035, died in 1101, Optional Memorial on October 6)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Bruno was born in Cologne about 1030. He was ordained to the priesthood about 1055. Bishop Gervais assigned him to Reims in 1056 to help direct the school. He became the head of the school in 1057. In 1075 Bruno was appointed to the position of Chancellor of the church in Reims. Bruno left Reims and built a little monastery with six other followers. Eudes of Châtillon was elected to the papacy in 1088 and took the name Pope Urban II, and because he was a former student of Bruno's, he summoned Bruno to come be one of his advisors. He died on October 6, 1101.[69]
- Saint Wenceslaus
- (born about 907, assassinated in 935, Optional Memorial on September 28)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Wenceslaus was born to Duke Wratislaw and Dragomir, probably in 903 (other source says about 907). He was murdered by his brother Boleslaw and buried at the scene of the murder. Three years later his brother repented and ordered for his brother's remains to be moved to the church of St. Vitus.[70]
- Saint Margaret of Scotland
- (born about 1046, died in 1093, Optional Memorial on November 16)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Margaret was born about 1045 (about 1046 in another source) and was the daughter of Edward "Outremere." When attempting to leave England, the ship on which she was travelling was blown off course to Scotland. She married Malcolm III of Scotland some time between 1067 and 1070. She died in Edinburgh, Scotland on November 16, 1093. She was canonized by Innocent IV in 1250.[71]
- Saint Thomas Becket
- (born in 1118, martyred in 1170, Optional Memorial on December 29)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Thomas was born in London, possibly on December 21, 1118. He was ordained a deacon in 1154. When Thomas was thirty-six, King Henry II of England appointed him chancellor. After Archbishop Theobald died in 1161, Thomas was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1162, and was consecrated as archbishop the following day on June 3, 1162. Thomas resigned his position as chancellor. After several disputes with Henry II, Thomas fled England in late 1164 and went to see Pope Alexander III. Pope Alexander III refused to permit Thomas to resign his archbishopric, so on November 30, 1164, Thomas went to the Cistercians in Burgundy and lived with them for a year. Meanwhile, King Henry II of England confiscated the archbishop's property and banished Thomas Becket's relatives. Eventually, Thomas was required to leave the Cistercian abbey where he was residing, as King Henry threatened the Cistercian order with vengeance if they continued to permit Thomas to reside with them. Thomas returned to England after it appeared that a relative agreement on some of the disputes had been reached. He was martyred in Canterbury by four knights on December 29, 1170. He was canonized on February 21, 1173, and King Henry II of England performed public penance on July 12, 1174.[72]
- Saint Dominic
- founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominican Order, born about 1170, died August 6, 1221, Memorial on August 8)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Dominic was born at Calaroga, in Old Castile. He was the son of Felix Guzman and Blessed Joanna of Aza (beatified by Leo XII in 1828). Dominic entered the University of Palencia in 1184. He founded the first convent of the Order of Preachers on April 25, 1215. He died August 6, 1221. He was canonized by Gregory IX on July 13, 1234.[73]
- Saint Francis of Assisi
- founder of the Friars Minor (Franciscan Order)(born in 1182, died in 1226, Memorial on October 4)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- He was born in Assisi in the 1180's to Pietro and Pica Bernardone. He was originally baptized Giovanni, but his father soon changed the infant's name to Francis. While a young man, he went to fight against the Perugia, but was taken prisoner and held in custody for over a year. Francis later joined an expedition against the emperor, but in the course of the journey Francis was told in a dream to return to Assisi, which he did. Francis made a pilgrimage to Rome. Francis restored the church of San Damiano and several neighboring churches. After being joined by eleven other men, Francis and his companions journeyed to Rome and received the approval of Pope Innocent III. Francis founded the Second Franciscan Order of Poor Ladies in 1212 with Saint Clare. He attempted to journey to Syria to convert the Saracens, but was shipwrecked and forced to abandon the idea temporarily. He attempted to journey to Morocco in 1214, but was also prevented. In 1219 Francis and eleven companions managed to visit the sultan in Damietta, but appear to have accomplished little. When they returned to Italy, the Franciscan Orders were in disarray. Francis resigned as general of the order and Peter of Cattaneo became the next general of the order. Francis began the tradition of the Christmas scene in 1223, received the stigmata in 1224, and composed the Canticle of the Sun in 1225. He died on October 3, 1226 at the Porziunicola, and was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on July 16, 1228.[74]
- Saint Hyacinth
- Saint Hyacinth was born in 1185 in the castle of Lanka and was the son of Eustachius Konski. He studied in Cracow, Prague, and Bologna. He went to Rome with his uncle (who was bishop of Cracow) and met St. Dominic. Hyacinth joined the Dominicans in 1220. He founded several communities and preached in Prussia, Pomerania, Lituania, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Lower Russia. He died in Cracow on August 15, 1257.[75]
- Saint Clare of Assisi
- (born in 1193, died in 1253, Memorial on August 11)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Clare was born on July 16, 1194<ref>According to the Catholic Encyclopedia and Catholic-forum.com. The Brievary says 1193, but does not specify the month or the day.</ref> in Assisi to Count Favorino Scifi of Sasso-Rosso and Blessed Ortolana<ref>also spelled Hortulana (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01213a.htm)</ref> (from the Fiumi family). When she was eighteen years old, Saint Francis of Assisi came to preach at Saint Giorgio's in Assisi, and on March 20, 1212 (Palm Sunday night), she and her cousin Pacifica (accompanied by Clare's aunt Bianca went to the the Porziuncula<ref>also spelled Porzioncula, Porziuncola, and Portiuncula; sometimes also referred to as the church of Our Lady of the Angels (this can be researched further at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12286a.htm)</ref>, where Clare made her vows. Clare was originally placed with the Benedictine nuns of San Paolo (near Bastia), but on account of her father, who was against Clare's choice, she was moved to Sant Angelo' in Panzo, another Benedictine convent. She was joined by her younger sister St. Agnes of Assisi sixteen days later, and after the arrival of more women to the Franciscan way of life, they were allocated a dwelling at San Damiano. In 1234, soldiers from the army of Fredrick II were scaling the walls of San Damiano. Saint Clare went to the chapel and brought out a ciborium, and the soldiers fled. She died in Assisi on August 11, 1253,<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04004a.htm</ref> and was canonized on September 26, 1255 by Pope Alexander IV.<ref>http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc03.htm</ref>
- Saint Albert the Great
- (born about 1206, died in 1280, Optional Memorial on November 15)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Albert was born in either 1205 or 1206 at Lauingen, Swabia. He was the eldest son of the Count of Bollstädt. He joined the Dominicans in 1223. He taught theology in Hildesheim, Freiburg, Ratisbon, Strasburg, and Cologne. He was told to return to Paris in 1245, and received a doctorate. He was elected the Dominican Provincial of Germany in 1254. He resigned from his position as provincial in 1257. He was appointed Bishop of Ratisbon in 1260, and resigned from his position as bishop in 1262. He died in Cologne on November 15, 1280, was beatified by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and was canonized in 1931.[76]
- Saint Elisabeth of Hungary
- (born in 1207, died in 1231, Memorial on November 17)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Elisabeth was born in 1207 in Presburg<ref>Also spelled Pressburg</ref> (now known as Bratislava)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presburg</ref>, Hungary. She was the daughter of her father King Andrew II of Hungary and her mother Gertrude. In 1211, when Elisabeth was only four years old, an embassy from Thuringia came to arrange a marriage between Elisabeth and Hermann, the son of the Landgrave Herman I of Thuringia. Not long after she was sent to the Thuringian court to grow up. Her husband-to-be died in 1216, so it was determined that she would marry the next son, Ludwig (also known as Louis). Landgrave Hermann I died on April 25, 1217, and Ludwig assumed the throne as Ludwig IV. He married Elisabeth in 1221, and they had three children: Hermann II, Sophia, and Gertrude. She died on November 17, 1231. <ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05389a.htm</ref>
- Saint Louis IX of France
- (born in 1214, died in 1270, Optional Memorial on August 25)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Louis was born on April 25, 1215 (other source says 1214) in Poissy. He was the son of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile. Upon the death of his father King Louis VIII, he became king of France when he was eleven years old. While Louis was still a minor, his mother Blanche acted as regent from 1226 to 1234. Louis married Marguerite of Provence when he was nineteen and was the father of eleven children. He was involved in a crusade from 1248 to 1249. He concluded the treaty of Paris with King Henry III of England on May 28, 1258. He is remembered for the words of his mother which he followed: "I would rather see you dead at my feet than guilty of a mortal sin." While on another crusade in 1270, he succumbed to a plague and died near Tunis on August 25, 1270. He was canonized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297.[77][78]
- Saint Bonaventure
- (born about 1218, died in 1274, Memorial on July 15)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- He was born in 1221 (another source says 1218) in Bagnorea to Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritella. He was originally baptized with the name of John. He joined the Franciscans in either 1238 or 1243. He received the licentiate in 1248, and lectured at the University of Paris until 1256, when he was compelled to cease on account of the secular teachers.<ref>The Catholic Encyclopedia's article on St. Bonaventure had confused the date of the publication of William of St-Amour's book: it should be 1256, not 1265. The correct date is on the article about William of St-Amour</ref> Upon the resignation of John of Parma, Bonaventure was elected Minister General of the Franciscans on February 2, 1257,<ref>The Catholic Encyclopedia also confused this date in its article on Saint Bonaventure. It was 1257, not 1267. The article on Blessed John of Parma has the correct date.</ref> even though he was not even thirty-six years old, and he and Saint Thomas Aquinas received their doctorates on October 23, 1257.<ref>The Catholic Encyclopedia's article on Saint Bonaventure also had this date wrong, and it should have been 1257, not 1267. The correct date is on the article about Saint Thomas Aquinas.</ref> In 1263 a general chapter was convoked in Pisa, at which the provincial boundaries were determined, a law was made whereby a bell was required to be rung every nightfall in honor of the Annunciation, the direction of the Poor Clares was renounced, a determination was made that only the biography of Saint Francis of Assisi writen by Bonaventure was officially approved, and a determination was made that other accounts of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi were to be excluded. Due to Cardinal Cajetan's request, Bonaventure resumed the direction of the Poor Clares in 1264. Bonaventure founded the Society of the Gonfalone in honor of the Blessed Virgin in 1264. Clement IV wanted to appoint Bonaventure to the vacant see of York and issued a Bull dated November 23, 1265, but Bonaventure, on account of his humility, did not wish to be promoted to the position, so the pope permitted him to decline to accept the position. In 1266 a general chapter was convoked in Paris, which required that all "legends" about Saint Francis of Assisi were to be destroyed. Bonaventure convoked the fourth general chapter in Assisi in 1269, and required that a Mass was to be offered every Saturday in honor of the Blessed Virgin. In 1272 a general chapter at Pisa determined that an anniversary was to be celebrated on August 25 in honor of King Louis IX of France, an act instrumental in the king's process for canonization. Bonaventure was created a cardinal on June 23, 1273 by Pope Gregory X. While a cardinal, Bonaventure retained his governance of the Franciscans until the General Chapter of Lyons on May 20, 1274, at which Jerome of Ascoli was elected to replace him. He died in Lyons on July 16, 1274. He was canonized by Pope Sixtus IV on April 14, 1482, and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Sixtus V on March 14, 1557.[79][80][81][82]
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
- the writer of the Summa Theologica, a large set of volumes extensively used in theological studies (born about 1225, died March 7, 1274, Memorial on January 28)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Thomas Aquinas was born to Landulph, Count of Aquino, and Theodora, Countess of Teano, in the 1220's in Rocca Secca in the Kingdom of Naples. He was educated by the Benedictines at Monte Cassino, and attended the University of Naples. He entered the Dominican order, but while still a novice he was seized by his two elder brothers and confined in the family castle. Eventually he was released and sent to Rome. Thomas studied under St. Albert the Great, and went to Paris and Cologne. Thomas stopped writing the Summa Theologica on December 6, 1273, although he had not yet finished it. He died on March 7, 1274, in Fossa Nuova. His body was moved to Toulouse on January 28, 1369.[83]
- Saint Anthony of Padua
- (born in late 1100's, died in 1231, Memorial on June 13)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in the year 1195, and was originally given the name Ferdinand. He entered the Augustinians in 1210, when he was fifteen years old. Two years later, in 1212, he received permission to be transferred to the Convent of Sancta Croce in Cóimbra. He remained there eight years, then, when he was twenty-six, he joined the Franciscan order in 1220 and took the name Anthony. He then tried to sail for Morocco that same year (1220), but was struck by a severe illness, so resolved to go the following spring. When he attempted to sail there in 1221, a storm drove him to Sicily instead. When he heard that a general chapter was being held by the Franciscans at Assisi on May 30, he went there. Anthony was then assigned to Montepaolo. On one occasion he accompained his Provincial to an ordination in Forli, and when it was found that no one else had prepared a sermon or was willing to preach, he was commanded to preach. They were so astounded by his profound teaching that he was then assigned to preaching and instructing permanently. He taught in Bologna and Montpellier in 1224, and he later taught in Toulouse. He preached throughout Italy and France. He died on June 13, 1231, at Arcella. He was canonized on May 30, 1232, by Pope Gregory IX at Spoleto, Italy. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII. That Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church is inferred by the date of the declaration (on January 16, 1946).
- Saint Gertrude
- (born in 1256, died on November 17, 1301, Optional Memorial also on November 16)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Bridget of Sweden
- (born 1303, died in 1373, Optional Memorial on July 23)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Catherine of Siena
- (born in 1347, died in 1380, Memorial on April 29)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Catherine was born on March 25, 1347 in Siena, Tuscany, Italy.<ref>http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc02.htm</ref> She was the youngest in the family and the twenty-fifth child of her father Giacomo di Benincasa and her mother Lapa. In 1375, while she was in Pisa, she received the stigmata on the fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday). Due to her influence, Pope Gregory XI left Avignon and returned to Rome on January 17, 1377, ending the "Avignon Captivity." She died in Rome on April 29, 1380,<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03447a.htm</ref> was found to be incorrupt in 1430,<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9</ref> was canonized by Pope Pius II in 1461, and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI on October 4, 1970.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Siena</ref>
- Saint Vincent Ferrer
- (born in 1350, died in 1419, Optional Memorial is April 5)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Vincent was born on in Valencia, Spain<ref>http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv03.htm</ref> on January 23<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=723</ref> in the 1350's.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia and Catholic Forum Patron Saints Index say 1350, while Butler's Lives of the Saints and Catholic.org say 1357.</ref> He was the fourth child of William Ferrer and Constantia Miguel.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15437a.htm</ref> He received his education at Valencia, beginning his course of philosophy when he was twelve and his course of theology when he was fourteen.<ref>http://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/ferrer.htm</ref> He entered the Dominicans at the beginning of his eighteenth year,<ref>Catholic.org and Butler's Lives of the Saints say it was in 1374, while the Catholic Encyclopedia says 1367, which would also imply he was either sixteen or seventeen.</ref><ref>Butler's Lives of the Saints says his parents conducted him to the Dominican monastery with joy; Catholic Forum Patron Saints Index says he entered against his family's wishes</ref> and was later sent to Barcelona for further studies.<ref>The Catholic Encyclopedia says "the following year" after 1367, which would be 1368 and eighteen years after his birth; Butler's Lives of the Saints hints that he was at least twenty-four years of age, which would be about the year 1371 if he was born in 1367.</ref> He died on April 5, 1419 at Vannes, Brittany, France.
- Saint Joan of Arc
- Joan was born in Domremy in Champagne in the early 1400's. She lead the French forces that raised the siege of Orléans. Joan was captured on May 24, 1430 outside the walls of Compiègne. She was executed on May 30, 1431. Pope Benedict XV canonized her in 1920.[84]
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola
- founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order, born 1491, died in 1556, Memorial on July 31)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Ignatius was born in the Castle of Loyola to Don Beltrán Yañez de Oñez y Loyola and Marina Saenz de Lieona y Balda (their youngest son). He was originally baptized Iñigo (he took the name Ignatius later). On May 20, 1521 he was injured by a cannonball. He was taken to Loyola, and while convalescing, he read the lives of Christ and the Saints because there were no chivalric romances to read in the castle. He entered the University of Salamanca in 1527. He died in Rome on July 31, 1556. He was beatified on July 27, 1609 by Pope Paul V and canonized on May 22, 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.[85]
- Saint Francis Xavier
- one of the first members of the Society of Jesus (born in 1506, died in 1552, Memorial on December 3)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Francis was born in the castle of Xavier on April 7, 1506. He went to Paris in 1525 and entered the collège de Sainte-Barbe. Francis, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and five others took their vow on August 15, 1534. Francis left Paris on November 15, 1536. Francis and Saint Ignatius of Loyola were ordained on July 24, 1537. Francis left Rome for Lisbon, Portugal on March 16, 1540. Francis left for India by boat on April 7, 1541. He arrived at Goa on May 6, 1542. Francis landed in arrived in Kagoshima, Japan on August 15, 1549. Francis died on December 2, 1552 on the Island of Sancian. He was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, but the Bull was not published until the following year.[86]
- Saint Teresa of Avila
- (born in 1515, died in 1582, Memorial on October 15)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada was born on March 28, 1515, at Avila, Castile, Spain. She was the daughter of Don Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda and Doña Beatriz Davila y Ahumada. In November of 1535,<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14515b.htm</ref> when she was seventeen,<ref>Catholic.org says sixteen.</ref> she entered the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation, which was also in Avila<ref>The Catholic Encyclopedia and the Catholic-Forum.com Patron Saints index say that she entered the convent secretly against the will of her father, while Catholic.org says that her father forced her to enter because she was getting out of control.</ref> and was already inhabited by one hundred forty nuns. She eventually established reformed convents, which were greatly opposed by many of the other lax Carmelites.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=208</ref> She died at Alba de Tormes on October 4, 1582, was beatified by Pope Paul V on April 24, 1614, and was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. She was declared a Doctor of the Church on September 27, 1970, by Pope Paul VI.<ref>http://www.catholicforum.com/saints/saintt01.htm</ref>
- Saint Peter Canisius
- (born in 1521, died in 1597, Optional Memorial on December 21)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Charles Borromeo
- (born in 1538, died on November 3, 1584, Memorial on November 4)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Charles Borromeo was born on October 2, 1538 in the Castle of Arona in Italy. He was the son of Count Gilberto Borromeo and Margherita (of the Medici family). He received the tonsure when he was twelve, and eventually became the titular abbot of SS. Gratinian & Felinus. His uncle was elected pope in December of 1559, and Charles received a summons to Rome on January 3, 1560. Charles was assigned the administrative duties of the papal states, and was created a cardinal on January 31, 1560. Charles was made the Cardinal Protector[87] of the following: the Kingdom of Portugal, Lower Germany, the Catholic cantons of Switzerland, the Franciscans, the Carmelites, the Humiliati, the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra, the Knights of Jerusalem/Malta, and the Portuguese order of the Holy Cross of Christ <ref>might be the Croisers</ref>. He worked strenuously to reassemble the Council of Trent (which had been suspended since 1552), which resumed again on January 18, 1562. After his brother died on November 28, 1562, Charles was the head of his ancestral family and pressure was laid on him to get married, even from his uncle the pope. Charles did not wish to do so, however, and instead chose to be secretly ordained as priest by Cardinal Federigo Cesa at Santa Maria Maggiore on September 4, 1563.<ref>The source says September 4, 1563, but the source also says his first Mass was on the Assumption. There may be an error in this case.</ref> He was consecrated a bishop on December 7, 1563, received the pallium on March 23, 1564, and was preconized[88] on May 12. Charles finally received permission from the pope to visit his diocese, departed September 1, 1565, and arrived in Milan on September 23, 1565, becoming the first resident archbishop of Milan in eighty years. He was met with great rejoicing by the populace. The first provincial council met on October 15, 1565, and was finished on November 3, 1565. Charles then went to Trent as a legate on November 6, 1565. His uncle Pope Pius IV died on December 10, 1565. Cardinal Michele Ghislieri was elected pope on January 7, 1566, taking the name Pius V. Charles returned to Milan on April 5, 1566. Charles began his visits of the three Swiss valleys of Levantina, Bregno, and La Riviera. The second diocesan synod was held in August of 1568, and the second provincial council was held in April of 1569. In October of 1569 an attempt was made to take is life by a member of the Humiliati, and led to the suppression of the order by Pope Pius V (Bull dated February 7, 1571). Pope Pius V died on May 1, 1572, and Charles went to attend the conclave, in which Pope Gregory XIII was elected on May 13, 1572. He arrived again in Milan on November 12, 1572, held the third provincial council in April of 1573, and held the fourth diocesan synod in November of 1574. Charles began his journey to Rome on December 8, 1574 on account of the Jubilee Year of 1575. A plague came to Milan in August of 1576, began to abate in 1577, and mostly disappeared by early 1578. Charles held the fifth diocesan synod in 1578, and also made a pilgrimage to Turin in 1578. He set out for Rome in 1582, and left Rome in January of 1583. He visited the cantons of Switzerland again. He left Turin on October 8, 1584 and went to Monte Varallo. The Cardinal of Vercelli summoned him to Arona on October 18, 1584, and Charles returned to Monte Varallo on October 20, 1584. He died on November 3, 1584 in Milan. He was canonized by Pope Paul V on November 1, 1610.[89]
- Saint Robert Bellarmine
- (born in 1542, died in 1621, Optional Memorial on September 17)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint John of the Cross
- (born about 1542, died in 1591, Memorial on December 14)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
- (born in 1568, died in 1591, Memorial on June 21)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Aloysius was born on March 9, 1568 in the castle of Castiglione. Aloysius went to Spain with his father in 1581, and was made a page of Philip II's son James. He presented himself to the General of the Society of Jesus on November 25, 1585, and professed his vows on November 25, 1587. He died on June 21, 1591, was beatified by Pope Gregory XV in 1621, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.[90]
- Saint Thomas More
- Thomas was born to Sir John More and his wife Agnes in either 1477 or 1478 on February 7. He entered Caterbury hall at Oxford about the year 1492, and he entered New Inn as a law student about the year 1494. He became a member of Parliament in 1501, and was married in 1505. He became Under-Sheriff of London in 1515, and became Speaker of the House of Commons in 1523. In 1529, he succeeded Cardinal Wolsey as Chancellor of England, and became the first layman to hold the position. After King Henry VIII's determination to divorce his wife Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn, Thomas More resigned the chancellorship in 1532 and stayed out of the public scene. He was eventually imprisoned in the Tower of London, and was executed on July 6, 1535. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in the Decree of December 29, 1886, and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14689c.htm</ref>
- Saint Juan Diego
- Saint Juan Diego was born in Mexico.
- Saint Martin de Porres
- (born in 1579, died in 1639, Optional Memorial on November 3)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych
- (born about 1580, martyred in 1623, Memorial on November 12)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Josaphat was born in either 1580 or 1584 in Volodymyr, Lithuania. In 1604, He entered a Basilian Monastery when he was twenty-four. He was ordained in 1609, was consecrated as bishop of Vitebsk on November 12, 1617, and was made an archbishop in 1618. He was martyred on November 12, 1623. He was beatified in 1643 and canonized in 1867.[91]
- Saint Peter Claver
- (born in 1580, died on September 8, 1654, Memorial on September 9)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Vincent de Paul
- (born in 1581, died in 1660, Memorial on September 27)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Rose of Lima
- (born in 1586, died August 24, 1617, Optional Memorial on August 23)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Rose was born in Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586. She received the Dominican habit in her twentieth year. She died in Lima on August 30, 1617, was beatified by Pope Clement IX in 1667, and was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671.[92]
- Saint Isaac Jogues
- (martyred on October 18, 1647, Memorial in US dioceses)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint John de Brebeuf
- (martyred on March 16, 1648, Memorial in US dioceses also on October 19)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Louis de Montfort
- Louis was born in Montfort on January 31, 1673. He went to Paris when he was nineteen, and was ordained when he was twenty-seven. He founded the Company of Mary and the Sisters of Wisdom. He died on April 28, 1716 at Saint Laurent sur Sevre. He was beatified in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII and canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII.[93]
- Saint Philip Neri
- (born in 1515, died in 1595, Memorial on May 26)
- Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
- (born in 1647, died on October 17, 1690, Optional Memorial on October 16)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>)
- Saint Paul Miki
- (born between 1564 and 1566, martyred February 5, 1597, Memorial on February 6)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Francis de Sales
- (Born in 1567, died December 28, 1622, Memorial on January 24)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
- (born in 1572, died in 1641, Optional Memorial on December 12)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Alphonsus Liguori
- (born in 1696, died in 1787, Memorial on August 1)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Alphonsus was born on September 27, 1696 in Marianella. He was the son of Don Joseph de Liguori, the Captain of the Royal Galleys. He received his doctorate in Law on January 21, 1713, at the age of sixteen. He was extremely successful in his legal career, and won the majority of his cases. In 1723, a sudden loss of a case soured his interest in the legal profession. He was ordained a deacon on April 6, 1726, and a priest on December 21, 1726. In 1762 the Pontiff required Alphonsus to accept a bishopric. Pius VI permitted Alphonsus to resign his see in May of 1775. He died in Nocera de' Pagani on August 1, 1787, was beatified by Pope_________ in 1816, and was canonized by Pope___________ in 1839.[94]
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
- (born August 28, 1774, died January 4, 1821, Memorial is on January 4 in US dioceses)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint John Vianney
- parish priest (born in 1786, died in 1859, Memorial on August 4)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- John Vianney was born in Dardilly, France on May 8, 1786, to a poor farming family (he had other siblings). As a youth he worked as a shepherd, and did not begin his education until the age of 20. John entered the seminary when he was significantly older than many of the other students, and he had a very difficult time learning Latin. While a seminarian at _________, he was drafted into the Napoleonic army. He had gone into a church to pray, and the army had already left the town. The officers told him to follow after them until he rejoined them. In the course of the journey he stopped to rest and another man offered to lead him on the route. Rather than lead him to the army, the man lead John to a small town where deserters were gathered. The mayor of the town persuaded John to stay, and John remained hidden there until ____________. After reentering the seminary, he was ordained on August 13, 1815 by the Bishop of Grenoble (Mgr. Simon) at ___________. He was assigned as an assistant in Ecully, then as pastor to Ars in 1818. Although there were still a few faithful souls in Ars, it was a poor state of affairs when he arrived. John Vianney fasted greatly, eating a few boiled potatoes. He tried to leave Ars for good several times. He had the ability to read souls. He was frequently tormented by Satan through loud noises and disturbances. He spent about 18 hours a day in the confessional. He was instrumental in promoting devotion to St. Philomena. Eventually, a large number of penitents came to Ars to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation from him. He died on August 4, 1859 at Ars, was buried (where), was proclaimed Venerable by Pius IX on October 3, 1874, was beatified on January 8, 1905 by Pope _____________, and was canonized on May 31, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. He has been classified as one of the Incorruptibles.[95][96][97]]
- Saint Anthony Claret
- (born in 1807, died in 1870, Optional Memorial on October 24)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Catherine Labouré
- Saint Catherine was born in France.
- Saint John Neumann
- (born March 20, 1811, died January 5, 1860, Memorial on January 5 in US dioceses)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint John Bosco
- (born in 1815, died in 1888, Memorial on January 31)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Dominic Savio
- Saint Dominic Savio was one of the students of Saint John Bosco.
- Saint Charles Lwanga
- (Martyred in 1880's, Memorial on June 3)
- The Doctors of the Church
- Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
- (born in 1850, died on December 22, 1917, Memorial on November 13)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- (born in 1873, died September 30, 1897, Memorial on October 1)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Thérèse was born on January 2, 1873 to Louis and Zélie Martin in Alençon, France. She entered the Carmelite Order on April 9, 1888. She died in Lisieux on September 30, 1897. She was beatified by Pope ____________ on _________ and canonized by Pope Pius XI (?) on ____________.
- Saint Bernadette Soubirous
- Saint Bernadette Soubirous was born in France.
- Saint Maria Goretti
- (born in 1890, murdered in 1902, Optional Memorial on July 6)<ref>Liturgy of the Hours, 1976</ref>
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland.
(list is close to chronological, but may be slightly mixed up)
[edit] Other Topics
[edit] Saints
The pope beatifies and canonizes certain individuals who have led a life of heroic example. Recent canonizations and beatifications are documented on the Vatican website.[98]
[edit] Vatican City
Vatican City State is an independent nation where the pope resides. Saint Peter's Basilica and many of the papal offices are located in Vatican City State. Vatican City State is approximately 108 acres inside the city of Rome, Italy. Included in the nation are several non-adjacent basilicas and the pope's summer residence.
[edit] Ecumenical Councils
Currently there have been only twenty-one Ecumenical Councils. They were: First Council of Nicaea; First Council of Constantinople; Council of Ephesus; Council of Chalcedon; Second Council of Constantinople; Third Council of Constantinople; Second Council of Nicaea; Fourth Council of Constantinople; First Lateran Council; Second Lateran Council; Third Lateran Council; Fourth Lateran Council; First Council of Lyon; Second Council of Lyon; Council of Vienne; Council of Constance; Council of Basel, Ferrara, and Florence; Fifth Lateran Council; Council of Trent; First Vatican Council; Second Vatican Council.
An ecumenical council's decrees do not have an obligatory force unless they have been approved by both the council fathers and the pontiff, and the pontiff has ordered the decrees to be promulgated.[99]
[edit] The Evangelical Counsels
The evangelical counsels are poverty, chastity, and obedience. Priests in a religious order take vows to observe all three; diocesan priests take vows of only chastitiy and obedience. Although not an evangelical counsel, the Jesuits also take a fourth vow of obedience to the Pope regarding assignments.
[edit] Religious orders
Some major religious orders are the Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits, Trappists, Benedictines, Augustinians, and Carmelites. There are many more religious orders of many sizes, some of which are derived from another order.
[edit] The Code of Canon Law
The Code of canon Law is a policy book used in the Church's administration. The current version is available on the Vatican's website.[100]
[edit] The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The seven gifts of the Hoy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
[edit] The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, Chastity.
[edit] The Four Last Things
The Four Last things are: Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.
[edit] Marian Images
- Saint Juan Diego's Tilma (image of Our Lady of Guadalupe)
- The Black Madonna of Częstochowa
[edit] Footnotes
<references/>
Images > Religious > Persons in the History of Salvation
Images > Religious > Persons in the History of Salvation
Images > Religious > Saints
Religion
