Tag: stmaximusofaquila

Posted in "Follow Me", 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on SLOTH, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The BEATITUDES, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HEART, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 2 December – ‘ … And, the greater their purity, the more they will see!’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 2 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Bibiana (Died c 361) Virgin Martyr – Sirach 51:13-17; Matthew 13:44-52 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure, hidden in a field.” – Matthew 13:44

REFLECTION – “Some of the brethren think that they are excluded from the Holy Ghost’s gifts of grace. Because they neglect to practise the commandments, they do not know that he who has an unadulterated faith in Christ, has within himself, the sum total of all the Divine gifts. Since, through our laziness, we are far from having an active love for Him — a love which shows us the Divine Treasures within us — we naturally think that we are excluded from these gifts.

If, as St Paul says: “Christ dwells in our hearts through faith” (Eph 3:17) and, “all the treasures of wisdom and spiritual knowledge are hidden in Him” (Col 2:3), then, all the treasures of wisdom and spiritual knowledge are hidden in our hearts! They are revealed to the heart, in proportion to our purification by means of the commandments. This is the treasure, hidden in the field of your heart which you have not yet found because of your laziness. Had you found it, you would have sold everything and bought that field. But now, you have abandoned that field and give all your attention to the land nearby, where there is nothing but thorns and thistles! It is for this reason that the Saviour says: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8) for He is hidden in the hearts of those who believe in Him. They shall see Him and the riches that are in Him, when they have purified themselves, through love and self-control. And, the greater their purity, the more they will see!” – St Maximus the Confessor (c580-662) Abbot and Theologian (Centuries of love 4:69).

PRAYER – O God, giver of all good gifts, Thou Who in Thy servant, Bibiana, joined the flower of virginity with the palm of Martyrdom, by her intercession unite our hearts to Thee in charity, so that, saved from all dangers, we may obtain the rewards of eternal life. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 20 October – Saint Maximus of Aquila (c228-c250) Deacon Martyr.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 20 October – Saint Maximus of Aquila (c228-c250) Deacon Martyr. Born in c228 in Aveia, Italy and died by being cast off a cliff in Aveia, Italy in c250. Also known as – Maximus of Aveia, Maximus of Naples, Massimo… Additional Memorial – 10 June on which date he is celebrated by a Festival in Aquila (translation of Relics). Maximus is the Main Patron of both the City and Archdiocese of Aquila, L’Aquila and of Penne – Italy.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Aveia, near Aquila in Abruzzo, Italy, the birthday of blessed Maximus, Deacon and Martyr, who, through the desire of suffering, presented himself to the persecutors who sought him. After answering with great constancy, he was racked and tortured, then beaten with rods and finally, he died by being precipitated from an elevated place.”

Giulio Cesare Bedeschini, San Massimo, before 1613, from the Archbishopric of L’Aquila.

Maximus was born in the ancient City of Aveia (surrounding L’Aquila) in the first half of the 3rd Century (c228). It seems that he was born into a Christian family as demonstrated by his status as an aspirant to the Priesthood, the Relics of his father, also Maximus and his deposition before the Prefect of Aveia.

During the persecution of Decius which lasted from October 249 to November 251, he was Martyred. From a ‘Passio,’ we know that after various questions from the Governor of the City and the answers of loyalty to Jesus Christ, he was stretched out on the rack and tortured for a long time. The long torture was of no use, however. To dissuade him, the Governor even promised him his daughter, Cesaria, as a bride. The exasperated persecutor ordered Maximus to be thrown from the highest peak, which was called Temple Circle and Tower.
Perhaps it was due to this Martyrdom that the City of Aveia (today Fossa) became a Bishopric.

Statue of St Maximus of the Cathedral in L’Aquila (1153)

Upon the destruction of Aveia, during an invasion, Maximus’ Relics were taken to a nearby City “City of St Maximus” and, it was here that on 10 June 956, Emperor Otto I the Great and Pope John XII came to venerate the Relics of our Saint. In 1256 the See and the Relics were moved to the newly built City of L’Aquila and were placed in the new Cathedral there which was also dedicated to him.

Note from the local Daily News of L’Auila on some of the Festival Celebrations:
Saturday 10 June, at 11am, Holy Chapter Mass at the Church of the Anime Sante, presided over by Canon Sergio Maggioni , Archdeacon of the L’Aquila Chapter, while in the evening, at 9.45pm, the musical event “Galileo Queen Tribute band & DJ set Lorenzo Baglioni” in Piazza San Basilio, with a food and drink area from 7pm organised by Anbra brewery and Bivacco.

This is the St Maximus’ Processional Cross, in silver, enamel and copper. by Nicola Gallucci da Guardiagrele (1385-1462).

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Mater Admirabilis / Mother Most Admirable (1844), Dedication of the Abbey of Our Lady, Pontigny, France (1114), St John Cantius and the Saints for 20 October

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Mater Admirabilis / Mother Most Admirable (1844) – 20 October:
Mater Admirabilis is a fresco depicting the Virgin Mary, in the Monastery of the Trinità dei Monti, in Rome. It was painted by a young French artist, Pauline Perdrau and has been associated with several miracles.
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/20/dedication-of-the-abbey-of-our-lady-pontigny-france-1114-feast-of-mater-admirabilis-mother-most-admirable-1844-and-memorials-of-the-saints-20-october/

Dedication of the Abbey of Our Lady, Pontigny, France (1114) – 20 October:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/20/dedication-of-the-abbey-of-our-lady-pontigny-france-1114-and-memorials-of-the-saints-20-october/

St John Cantius (1390-1473) Confessor, Priest, Theologian, Scholastic Philosopher, Physicist, Teacher, Confessor, Philosopher, Apostle of Charity – Patron of Poland and Lithuania.
His Feast was moved after Vatican II to 23 December.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/12/23/saint-of-the-day-23-december-st-john-of-kanty-cantius-1390-1473/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/10/20/saint-of-the-day-20-october-st-john-cantius-1390-1473-confessor/

St Acca (c660-742) Bishop, Abbot, Missionary, Theologian, Musician.
About St Acca:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/10/20/saint-of-the-day-20-october-saint-acca-c-660-742/

St Adelina
St Aderald
St Aidan of Mayo
St Artemius Megalomartyr
St Barsabias
St Bernard of Bagnorea
St Bradan
St Caprasius of Agen

St Cornelius the Centurion (1st Century) traditionally believed to have become th First Bishop of Caesarea
About St Cornelius:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/20/saint-of-the-day-20-october-saint-cornelius-the-centurion-1st-century/

Bl Gundisalvus of Silos
St Irene

Blessed James Strepar OFM (c 1340-1409) Archbishop of Halicz, Poland from 1392 until his death Religious Priest of the Order of Friars Minor, Missionary. St Pius X proclaimed Blessed James, along with St Anthony of Padua, the Patrons of the Conventual Franciscan Order of Krakow Province. He was given the title of “Protector of the Kingdom, Defender and Guardian of the Homeland,” for his exceptional merits, including civil ones. Such was he considered by all. He was Canonised by by Pope Pius VI on 11 September 1791. His body is incorrupt.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/20/saint-of-the-day-20-october-blessed-james-strepar-ofm-c-1340-1409/

St Leopardo of Osimo
St Lucas Alonso Gorda
St Martha of Cologne + Virgin Martyr
St Maximus of Aquila (c228-c250) Deacon Martyr
St Orora
St Saula of Cologne + Virgin Martyr
St Sindulphus of Rheims
St Usthazanes
St Vitalis of Salzburg