Posted in MARIAN TITLES, MARTYRS, SAINT of the DAY, YouTube VIDEOS

The Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas, Santa María la Real de Uxue / Our Lady of Uxue (Uxue, Spain) (8th Century) and Memorials of the Saints – 31 December

The Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas

Santa María la Real de Uxue / Our Lady of Uxue (Uxue, Spain) (8th Century) – 31 December:

The Town of Uxue formed, according to legend, around the site of the discovery of the image of Our Lady of Uxue, whose site was designated by the flight of a dove. By the 8th century, the image was well-known.
The settlement takes the form of a fortress and the 11th Century, Church of St Mary, is a medieval jewel of Romanesque art of Navarra, which is very popular and protected by successive Monarchs.

The strong medieval devotion to this image has remained to our times. Among the celebrations and devotions, are the festivities of an annual pilgrimage and the pilgrimage of the Brotherhood of the Twelve of Uxué.
Uxué is a small medieval Town full of charm, located in the eastern middle of Navarra (north of Spain and on the border with France), 53 km from Pamplona and 20 km from Tafalla. Its location is unique, as it is located on the top of a mountain overlooking the Sierra de Uxué. With an altitude of 815 meters above sea level, Uxué constitutes an authentic watchtower from which on clear days you can see from the Pyrenean ridge to the north to the banks of the Ebro and the silhouette of the Moncayo to the south. The origins of this Town are unclear, the exact date of its foundation being unknown but the beginnings are attributed to the Virgin Mary accompanied by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.

Legend has it that a dove went in and out of the hole in a rock. A boy who was herding sheep, moved by curiosity, approached with the intention of scare the dove away.
But the dove continued with its insistent flapping, he approaches and found a beautiful Romanesque image of the Virgin Mary. This is how the Uxué was born. The name of the town comes from Uxua, the Basque language word for “dove“.
Already before Roman domination, there was a Basque population scattered throughout the mountains, as recent archaeological discoveries attest. A Sanctuary honouring the Blessed Virgin was immediately built and has retained it’s popularity amongst the pious faithful across the ages. Many miraculous graces and cures have been granted there.
A total of 44 members of the Brotherhood of the Twelve Apostles of Our Lady of Uxué, including the Chaplain, participate each year in their traditional night march to the sanctuary of the Virgin of Uxué. This Brotherhood has its origins in 1607 and therefore 2007 commemorated the fourth centenary of its foundation.

St Pope Sylvester I (Died 335) Papal Ascension 314. Bishop of Rome, Confessor. (Optional Memorial)
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/31/saint-of-the-day-st-pope-sylvester-i-died-335/

Blessed Alain de Solminihac OSA (1593-1659) Bishop of Cahors, Abbot, Reformer, Marian devotee most especially to Our Lady of Rocamadour, Apostle of the Holy Eucharist especially by his promotion of Adoration, he was also a member of the Compagnie du Saint-Sacrement.
His Story:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/31/saint-of-the-day-31-december-blessed-alain-de-solminihac-osa-1593-1659/
St Anton Zogaj
St Barbatian of Ravenna
St Columba of Sens (c 256-273) Virgin Martyr
Bl Dominic de Cubells
St Festus of Valencia
St Gelasius of Palestine
Bl Giuseppina Nicoli
St Hermes the Exorcist

St Melania the Younger (c 383-439) Foundress, Desert Hermit, Wife, Mother, Widow.
Her Life:

https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/31/saint-of-the-day-31-december-saint-melania-the-younger-c-383-439/

St Offa of Benevento
Bl Peter of Subiaco
St Pinian
St Potentian of Sens
St Sabinian of Sens
St Theophylact of Ohrid
Bl Walembert of Cambrai
Bl Wisinto of Kremsmünster
St Zoticus of Constantinople

Martyrs of Catania – 10 saints: A group of early Christians martyred together, date unknown. The only other information to survive are ten of their names – Attalus, Cornelius, Fabian, Flos, Minervinus, Pontian, Quintian, Sextus, Simplician and Stephen. They were martyred in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

Martyrs of Rome – 10 saints: A group of Roman women martyred in an early persecution, date unknown. We known the names of ten of them – Dominanda, Donata, Hilaria, Nominanda, Paolina, Paulina, Rogata, Rustica, Saturnina and Serotina.
Their relics were enshrined in the catacombs of Via Salaria, Rome, Italy.

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Leandro Gómez Gil
• Blessed Luis Vidaurrázaga González

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Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Memorials of the Saints – 31 December

The Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas

St Pope Sylvester I (Died 335) (Optional Memorial)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/31/saint-of-the-day-st-pope-sylvester-i-died-335/

Blessed Alain de Solminihac OSA (1593-1659)
His Story:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/31/saint-of-the-day-31-december-blessed-alain-de-solminihac-osa-1593-1659/
St Anton Zogaj
St Barbatian of Ravenna
St Columba of Sens
Bl Dominic de Cubells
St Festus of Valencia
St Gelasius of Palestine
Bl Giuseppina Nicoli
St Hermes the Exorcist
St Melania the Younger (c 383-439) Foundress, Desert Hermit
St Offa of Benevento
Bl Peter of Subiaco
St Pinian
St Potentian of Sens
St Sabinian of Sens
St Theophylact of Ohrid
Bl Walembert of Cambrai
Bl Wisinto of Kremsmünster
St Zoticus of Constantinople

Martyrs of Catania – 10 saints: A group of early Christians martyred together, date unknown. The only other information to survive are ten of their names – Attalus, Cornelius, Fabian, Flos, Minervinus, Pontian, Quintian, Sextus, Simplician and Stephen. They were martyred in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

Martyrs of Rome – 10 saints: A group of Roman women martyred in an early persecution, date unknown. We known the names of ten of them – Dominanda, Donata, Hilaria, Nominanda, Paolina, Paulina, Rogata, Rustica, Saturnina and Serotina.
Their relics were enshrined in the catacombs of Via Salaria, Rome, Italy.

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
• Blessed Leandro Gómez Gil
• Blessed Luis Vidaurrázaga González

Posted in MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WILL of GOD

Second Thought for the Day – 31 December – Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659) Bishop of Cahors

Second Thought for the Day – 31 December – The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas and the Memorial of Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659) Bishop of Cahors, France

2018 was the 400th Anniversary the Priestly Ordination of Blessed Alain de Solminihac. His Diocese of Cahors, France launched a Year of Vocations to conincide with this event of their former Bishop. One of their aims, besides promoting vocations, was to make known the life and holiness of Blessed Alain. Bishop Laurent Camiade, the current Bishop of Cahors, wrote:

“It is wonderful to know that you are called to holiness and it is inspiring to answer the call, to give your whole life, for consecration in the Church.   All Christians are concerned with the “universal vocation to holiness.”   Some are specifically called to give their whole life – religious consecration, or in an institute, hermit or order of the virgins, or commitment to celibacy with a view to being ordained a priest.

Providence wanted 2018 to be the 400th anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of Blessed Alain de Solminihac.   He was Ordained Deacon on 25 March 1617 and Priest on 22 September 1618.   In 1636, he was called again to become Bishop of Cahors.   This is why, after having spoken to different councils, I hope that we will take advantage of this Anniversary to return to listening to the teachings of Blessed Alain.   He teaches us with his vigorous and profound words … and by his exemplary life, to strive to be courageous, ardent and sober.

Today, as in Alain de Solminihac’s time, devoting his whole life to God involves difficulties.   Celibacy according to a sober lifestyle has never been obvious.   In the time of Blessed Alain, the choice of becoming a priest, religious or nun, made it possible to ensure material security, thanks to a system of benefits attached to abbeys or dioceses. As a result, in the 17th century, not all consecrated persons had internalised, the spiritual conditions, for living in accordance with their state and the clergy did not always give a good testimony.   It is in this context, that Blessed Alain would become a “reformer”, that is to say, a demanding promoter of coherence between vocation and lifestyle.

Alain de Solminihac put spirituality and fidelity to the duties linked to the received mission first.   “You must follow the good pleasure of God as soon as you know it , he wrote, and accomplish it by immediately turning your eyes to God, remaining in a simple expectation to receive another sign or command, without wasting time delight in the satisfaction of having accomplished this adorable Will of God.”

The requirements of Blessed Alain sometimes provoked reactions of opposition but they also attracted many young people, happy to give themselves, in a way that made sense and above all, pushed by the Holy Spirit who wanted this for the Church.   His motto was Faith and Valour! and he lived up to it!

It is clearly a current need to relaunch the call to specific vocations (priests, religious, nuns, consecrated).   The desire to give all of one’s life to follow Christ, exists in many young people (recent statistics prove it) but this is seldom realised, as we can see.

The priests and seminarians of our Diocese are deeply attached to Our Lady of Rocamadour, who played an often decisive role in their engagement.   Blessed Alain fought with all the vigour of his temper, to keep this sanctuary in the Diocese of Cahors. We are therefore grateful to him for these graces which, by the will of God, reflect from the pierced heart of Christ, to our local Church.   Blessed Alain considered Rocamadour to be the most famous Marian place in the kingdom  . He was very attached to Mary who, he explains, “had more humility than all the other saints, because, holier than the others, she had a more perfect knowledge of the excellence of God and by consequence of her own nothingness. “

relics of bl alain
Relics of Blessed Alain de Solminihac in Cahors

May Blessed Alain de Solminihac help us to share his missionary ardour and his discreet humility.”

Blessed Alain de Solminihac, Pray for Us!bl alain de solminihac pray for us 31 dec 2019

Posted in QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, SAINT of the DAY, The WILL of GOD

Quote of the Day – 31 December – Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659)

Quote of the Day – 31 December – The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas and the Memorial of Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659) Bishop of Cahors, France

“You must follow the good pleasure of God
as soon as you know it and accomplish it
by immediately turning your eyes to God,
remaining in a simple expectation,
to receive another sign or command,
without wasting time,
delight in the satisfaction of having accomplished
this adorable Will of God.”

Blessed Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659)you must follow the good pleasure of god - 31 dec 2019 bl alain de solminihac.jpg

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 31 December – Blessed Alain de Solminihac OSA (1593-1659)

Saint of the Day – 31 December – Blessed Alain de Solminihac OSA (1593-1659) Bishop of Cahors from 1636 until his death, religious of the Order of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in Périgueux (now the Confederation of St Augustine).    Blessed Alain was Abbot, Reformer, Marian devotee most especially to Our Lady of Rocamadour, Apostle of the Holy Eucharist especially by his promotion of Adoration, he was also a member of the Compagnie du Saint-Sacrement.   Born on 25 November 1593 in the family castle at Belet, Dordogne, France and died on 31 December 1659, aged 66, at Mercues, Lot, France of natural causes.   Patronage – the Diocese of Cahors.bl alaino desolminihac.jpg

Alain was born into an aristocratic family in castle Belet near Perigueux in France.

He wanted to become a member of the Knights of Malta in order to serve God but felt a strong call to the Priesthood and to the religious life so joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine of Chancelade in 1613 as a postulant.  The completion of his theological studies soon saw him Ordained to the Priesthood on 22 September 1618.  While still a young man he became the Abbot of Chancelade, which had fallen into disrepair as a result of the turmoil of the times.   He strove with great effort and effect to reform his brothers in the Congregation of the Canons Regular of Chancelade.

In 1636 he became Bishop of Cahors.   He was as a zealous shepherd of the flock with which he was entrusted.   As Bishop he visited each of his 800 parishes at least nine times during the course of his episcopate and he held an episcopal consecration on one occasion.bl alain de solminihac icon.jpg

His great devotion to the Holy Eucharist prompted him to promote Eucharistic Adoration as well as restoring a many pastoral devotions within his Diocese.

He attended the Council of Trent and followed the lead of Saint Charles Borromeo in enforcing it’s decrees in his diocese.   During this time, he met Saint Francis de Sales during Lent in 1619 and the two became friends and had many more meetings following this.   Another friendship was his close relationship with Saint Vincent de Paul.bl Alain_de_Solminihac_(1593-1659).jpg

His reform work not only blessed his Diocese but influenced other parts of France.

Moreover, he remained always faithful to the Holy See.   Misconceptions, which surrounded him, were resolved in his favour.   His convincing love of neighbour made him a brilliant light of faith in 17th Century France.   After a long, zealous, faithful and strenuous life he died on 31 December 1659.bl alain sml.jpg

He was declared a Servant of God after Pope Pius VI opened his cause for sainthood on 6 August 1783 and Pope Pius XI declared him to be Venerable on 19 June 1927.   St Pope John Paul II Beatified him on 4 October 1981.   The miracle required for his Beatification involved the cure of Marie Ledoux on 29 June 1661 in France.bl alain de solminihac book.jpg