Tag: stmilburga

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, LENT, LENT 2024, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The PASSION

EMBER FRIDAY – FAST and ABSTINENCE, Nuestra Señora de la Peña / Our Lady of the Rock (1434), The Feast of the Sacred Lance and Nails – Friday after the 1st Sunday in Lent, St Peter Damian and the Saints for 23 February

Posted on by AnaStpaul

EMBER FRIDAY – FAST and ABSTINENCE
In case you have forgotten about Ember Days as they are not promoted or encouraged since Vatican II, here is a reminder:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/16/today-is-an-ember-day-did-you-remember/

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.

In a Leap Year, the Vigil of St Matthias, Apostel, is not announced today because it is transferred to the 24th.

St Peter Damian OSB (1007-1072) Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, Benedictine Monk, Confessor, Theologian, Reformer, Writer, Teacher, Preacher, Poet, Papal Envoy, Father and Doctor of the Church. Dante placed him in one of the highest circles of Paradiso as a great predecessor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Peter was acclaimed as “one of the most accomplished Latinists of his time, one of the greatest writers of medieval Latin.”
The wonderful St Peter here:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/saint-of-the-day-21-february-st-peter-damian/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/21/saint-of-the-day-21-february-st-peter-damian-osb-1007-1072-doctor-of-the-church/

Nuestra Señora de la Peña / Our Lady of the Rock, Pena de Francia, near Salamanca, Spain (1434) – 23 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/23/our-lady-of-the-rock-pena-de-francia-near-salamanca-spain-1434-and-memorials-of-the-saints-23-february/

St Alexander Akimetes
St Boswell
St Dositheus of Egypt
St Felix of Brescia
St Florentius of Seville
St Giovanni Theristi (1049–1129) Monk
Bl John of Hungary

St Lazarus Zographos (c810-c 867) Priest, Monk known as “the Painter and the Iconographer.” Lazarus lived before and during the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm.
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “St Lazarus, a Monk, whom the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus ordered to be put to torture for having painted holy images. His hand was burned with a hot iron but, being healed by the power of God, he painted anew the holy images which had been defaced and finally rested in peace.”
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-lazarus-zographos-810-865/

St Martha of Astorga
St Medrald

St Milburga (Died 715) Virgin, Prioress, Abbess, Miracle-worker.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-saint-milburga-died-715-abbess/

St Milo of Benevento (Died c1077) Bishop
St Ordonius
St Polycarp of Rome
St Romana

St Serenus the Gardener (Died 307) Martyr. Serenus was by birth a Grecian. He left his family estate, friends and country to serve God in celibacy, penance and prayer. With this design he bought a garden in Sirmium in Pannonia, which he cultivated with his own hands and lived on the fruits and herbs it produced.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-serenus-the-gardener-died-307-martyr/

St Willigis of Mainz (c940-1011) Archbishop of Mainz, Reformer, builder of the Cathedral of Mainz and many Churches, bridges and roads throughout his Diocese, de facto Regent of Germany during the minority of Otto III, to whom he was Guardian.
About St Willigis:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-saint-willigis-of-mainz-c-940-1011-archbishop/

St Zebinus of Syria

Martyrs of Syrmium – 73 Christians who were Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know no details about them, and only six of their names – Antigonus, Libius, Rogatianus, Rutilus, Senerotas and Syncrotas.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 23 February – Saint Milburga (Died 715) Abbess

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 23 February – Saint Milburga (Died 715) Virgin, Prioress, Abbess, Miracle-worker. Born in the 7th Century England and died in 715 at the Much Wenlock Abbey, Shropshire, England of natural causes. Patronage – of birds. Also known as – Milburg, Milburge, Mildburg, Mildburga, Milburgh. Additional Memorial – 25 June (translation of relics).

Milburga lived when the peoples of Anglo-Saxon England were being converted to Christianity. Of royal birth, Milburga’s family was distinguished by its holiness. She was the daughter of King Merewald of Magonset and his wife, St Ermenburga (alias Aebbe of Minster-in-Thanet) and, therefore, sister of Sts Mildred and Milgitha.

Her father, Merewalh and Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury, founded a Monastery on the borders of Wales, under a French Abbess, Liobinde of Chelles. at Wenlock (in Shropshire) in about 670–80. Milburga became its second Abbess, governing a community – a so-called ‘dual house’ – of both Nuns and Monks, who worshipped in separate Churches and would also have had their own dormitories and refectories.

Milburga eventually succeeded Abbess Liobinde of Chellesher in this office. Shortly afterward, a neighbouring Prince attempted to compel her to become his wife and, with that intent, pursued her with an armed force. She fled across a river, which at once rose into an impassable flood and discouraged her pursuers.

Most of what we know about Milburga comes from a ‘Life,’ written in Latin by a Monk called Gocelin in the late 11th Century. It describes Milburga’s miracle-working powers, which included raising the dead. It also recounts how, through Milburga’s prayers, geese which were destroying the Abbey’s corn were banished, never to return. Because of this, Milburga is depicted in art as an Abbess accompanied by geese or other wild birds.

A poor widow came to her in her oratory, bringing the body of her little dead son. Throwing herself at the feet of the abbess, she besought her to raise the child to life. “You must be mad!” exclaimed Milburga, “How can I raise your child? Go and bury him and submit to the bereavement sent to you by God!”. “No,” said the sorrowing mother, “I will not leave you until you give me back my son!” The Abbess prayed over the little corpse and, while doing so, she suddenly appeared to the poor supplicant to be raised from the earth and surrounded by lovely flames – the living emblem of the fervour of her prayer. Within a few minutes, the child had recovered.

Unsurprisngly, Milburga was immediately regarded as a Saint after her death in 715. Her remains were buried in the Nuns’ Church at Wenlock. By the 11th Century, this had fallen into ruins and the location of Milburga’s grave forgotten.

The Ruins of St Milburga’s Priory at Wenlock, Shropshire

Between 1080–82, a community of Cluniac Monks settled at Wenlock, building their Church on the site of the former Anglo-Saxon one. Soon after 1100, boys playing amid the ruins of the ancient Nuns’ Church fell into a tomb where the bones of Milburga were rediscovered. Esteemed as holy Relics, these were solemnly enshrined in the Monks’new Church. Numerous miracles were attributed to them, including the healing of lepers and the curing of the blind.

The Cluniac Monastery at Wenlock was dedicated to St Milburga and St Michael, both of whom were depicted on the Priory’s seal. Feasts, or holy days, in honour of St Milburga are celebrated by the Monks on 23 February and 25 June.

St Milburga Patchwork Collage at St Milburga Parish, Shropshire
Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

A Day of Fasting, The Vigil of the Apostle Saint Matthias, Nuestra Señora de la Peña / Our Lady of the Rock, Spain (1434), St Peter Damian (1007-1072) and Memorials of the Saints – 23 February

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thursday after Ash Wednesday – A Day of Fasting

The Vigil of the Apostle Saint Matthias

St Peter Damian OSB (1007-1072) Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, Benedictine Monk, Confessor, Theologian, Reformer, Writer, Teacher, Preacher, Poet, Papal Envoy, Doctor of the Church. Dante placed him in one of the highest circles of Paradiso as a great predecessor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Peter was acclaimed as “one of the most accomplished Latinists of his time, one of the greatest writers of medieval Latin.”
The wonderful St Peter here:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/saint-of-the-day-21-february-st-peter-damian/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/21/saint-of-the-day-21-february-st-peter-damian-osb-1007-1072-doctor-of-the-church/

Nuestra Señora de la Peña / Our Lady of the Rock, Pena de Francia, near Salamanca, Spain (1434) – 23 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/23/our-lady-of-the-rock-pena-de-francia-near-salamanca-spain-1434-and-memorials-of-the-saints-23-february/

St Alexander Akimetes
St Boswell
St Dositheus of Egypt
St Felix of Brescia
St Florentius of Seville
St Giovanni Theristi (1049–1129) Monk
Bl John of Hungary

St Lazarus Zographos (c 810-c 867) Priest, Monk known as “the Painter and the Iconographer.” Lazarus lived before and during the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm.
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “St Lazarus, a Monk, whom the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus ordered to be put to torture for having painted holy images. His hand was burned with a hot iron but, being healed by the power of God, he painted anew the holy images which had been defaced and finally rested in peace.”
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-lazarus-zographos-810-865/

St Martha of Astorga
St Medrald
St Milburga (Died 715) Abbess
Bl Milo of Benevento
St Ordonius
St Polycarp of Rome
St Romana

St Serenus the Gardener (Died 307) Martyr. Serenus was by birth a Grecian. He left his family estate, friends and country to serve God in celibacy, penance and prayer. With this design he bought a garden in Sirmium in Pannonia, which he cultivated with his own hands and lived on the fruits and herbs it produced.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-st-serenus-the-gardener-died-307-martyr/

St Willigis of Mainz (c 940-1011) Archbishop of Mainz, Reformer, builder of the Cathedral of Mainz and many Churches, bridges and roads throughout his Diocese, de facto Regent of Germany during the minority of Otto III, to whom he was Guardian.
About St Willigis:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/23/saint-of-the-day-23-february-saint-willigis-of-mainz-c-940-1011-archbishop/

St Zebinus of Syria

Martyrs of Syrmium – 73 Christians who were Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know no details about them, and only six of their names – Antigonus, Libius, Rogatianus, Rutilus, Senerotas and Syncrotas.