EMBER FRIDAY – FAST and ABSTINENCE,
The Feast of the Sacred Lance and Nails – Friday after the 1st Sunday in Lent:
The Supreme Pontiff, Innocent VI, in his Decree establishing the Feast and Office of the Lance and Nails which pierced the Body of our Crucified Lord Jesus Christ, exhorts all the faithful to have a special veneration for and devotion to, all the Sacred Instruments of our Saviour’s Passion.
The following are the Holy Father’s words:
“We should honour the most holy Passion of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in such manner that, meditating on all the mysteries and merits of the same Passion, we venerate also each Sacred Instrument thereof.”
Then this holy and zealous Pontiff, coming more directly to the honour due to the Lance and Nails, says:
“Although the Lance and Nails and the other Sacred Instruments of the Passion, should be enerated everywhere, by the faithful of Christ and although every year the Church celebrates the Solemn Offices of the same Passion, yet, we deem it proper and fitting, that a special Solemn Feast should be instituted and celebrated in honour of those particular Instruments of the Passion, more especially, in those places wherein these salutary Instruments are preserved. Hence, we wish to encourage this devotion by a special Office and privileges.” (Innocent VI in Decret. de Fest. Lane, et Clav. Domini).
The Lance, also known as “The Spear of Longinus” is kept in the Vatican Basilica, given to Innocent VIII in 1492. The Nails were kept with the Crown of Thorns, along with a small piece of the Lance of Longinus at Saint Chapelle, France and were subsequently lost during the French Revolution. The Crown of Thorns was the only Relic saved and is now kept at Notre Dame Cathedral.
NOVENA to ST JOSEPH
DAY FIVE – Click Link HERE: DAY FIVE
Notre Dame de la Breche, Our Lady of the Breach, Chartres, France (1568) – 14 March:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/03/14/fourth-sunday-of-lent-laetare-sunday-2021-notre-dame-de-la-breche-chartres-france-1568-and-memorials-of-the-saints-14-march/
St Agno of Zaragoza
St Alexander of Pydna
St Aphrodisius of Africa
Blessed Arnaldo (c1185-1255) Abbot in Padua
St Boniface Curitan
St Diaconus
St Eutychius of Mesopotamia
Blessed Eva of Liège (c 1205-1265) Virgin, Recluse, “Apostle of the Blessed Sacrament” and assistant to St Juliana of Cornillon in the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Dear Holy Eva:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/14/saint-of-the-day-14-march-blessed-eva-of-liege-c-1205-1265-virgin/
St Lazarus of Milan (Died c449) Archbishop of Milan – This Saint has 2 Feast Days, today and 11 February — the latter is the day celebrated in Milan in the Ambrosian Rite and the day on which I had previously prepared his Biography.
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/11/saint-of-the-day-11-february-saint-lazarus-of-milan-died-449-archbishop-of-milan/
St Leo of the Agro Verano
St Leobinus of Chartres (Died c 558) Bishop of Chartres
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/14/saint-of-the-day-14-march-saint-leobinus-of-chartres-died-c-558/
St Matilda of Saxony (c 894-968) Queen, Apostle of Prayer and Almsgiving, Foundress.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/saint-of-the-day-14-march-st-matilda-of-saxony/
St Maximilian
St Pauline of Thuringia (Died 1107) Widow, Mother, Nun.
The Devout Life of St Pauline:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/14/saint-of-the-day-14-march-saint-pauline-of-thuringia-died-1107-widow/
St Peter of Africa
St Philip of Turin
St Talmach
Bl Thomas Vives
47 Martyrs of Rome – Forty-seven people who were Baptised into the Faith in Rome, Italy by Saint Peter the Apostle and were later Martyred together during the persecutions of Nero. Martyred c67 in Rome, Italy
Martyrs of Valeria – Two Monks Martyred by Lombards in Valeria, Italy who were never identified.
After the monks were dead, their killers could still hear them singing Psalms. They were hanged on a tree in Valeria, Italy.
AnaStpaul 