Why pray the Rosary every day for a year?


Each time the Blessed Virgin has appeared-- whether it be to Saint Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes; to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco at Fatima; or to Mariette Beco at Banneux-- she has asserted the importance, saving grace, and power of praying the Holy Rosary on a daily basis. Based upon her words, the Rosary is penance and conversion for sinners, a pathway to peace, an end to war, and a powerful act of faith in Jesus Christ. Pope Paul VI presented the Rosary as a powerful means to reach Christ "not merely with Mary but indeed, insofar as this is possible to us, in the same way as Mary, who is certainly the one who thought about Him more than anyone else has ever done."

To show us how this is done, perhaps no one has been more eloquent than the great Cardinal Newman, who wrote: "The great power of the Rosary consists in the fact that it translates the Creed into Prayer. Of course, the Creed is already in a certain sense a prayer and a great act of homage towards God, but the Rosary brings us to meditate again on the great truth of His life and death, and brings this truth close to our hearts. Even Christians, although they know God, usually fear rather than love Him. The strength of the Rosary lies in the particular manner in which it considers these mysteries, since all our thinking about Christ is intertwined with the thought of His Mother, in the relations between Mother and Son; the Holy Family is presented to us, the home in which God lived His infinite love."

As Mary said at Fatima, "Jesus wants to use you to make Me known and loved. He wishes to establish the devotion to My Immaculate Heart throughout the world. I promise salvation to whoever embraces it; these souls will be dear to God, like flowers put by Me to adorn his throne."



May 18: Saint Venantius of Camerino, Miraculous Martyr

Posted by Jacob


O God, who hast hallowed this day by the triumph of Thy blessed Martyr Venantius: graciously hear the prayers of Thy people and grant that we who venerate his merits, may also imitate the constancy of his faith. Through Christ, Our Lord.  Amen.

Today, May 18, we celebrate the feast of Saint Venantius of Camerino (235-250), a teenage martyr for the faith.  Even as a boy of fifteen, Saint Venantius preached and lived the word of God.  His suffering was only exceeded by his Love for the Lord, earning him the golden martyr’s crown.

Venantius was born at Camerino in Italy, during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Decius.  Venantius was to be taken into custody at the age of fifteen, having been caught preaching the Gospel of Christ to all who would listen. The events of his martyrdom are nothing short of miraculous, and continue to inspire us today.
   
Having learned that he was about to be arrested, Venantius instead presented himself to the governor of Camerino, Antiochus.  There, outside the city gates, Venantius preached the Gospel to the governor, comparing the sinful Roman gods to the one, true Lord, Jesus Christ.  The governor, irate, made every effort to get this confident boy to recant his preaching and sacrifice to the gods.  However, Venantius stood firm in his conviction, withstanding horrible threats and generous promises of wealth and power.  Out of options, the governor ordered him arrested and scourged, but every stroke of the whip was miraculously blocked by an angel who appeared from heaven.

Antiochus then ordered Venantius to be burnt with torches and suspended over a low fire that he might be suffocated by the smoke. Again, an angel, as reported by the judge’s secretary, saved the young saint.  While admiring the steadfastness of the boy, he observed an angel robed in white, who stamped out the fire and again set free the youthful martyr. This man proclaimed his faith in Christ immediately and was baptized with his whole family. Shortly afterwards he was martyred for his beliefs.
   
Venantius was then summoned again to appear before Antiochus. Unable to make him renounce his faith, the governor cast him into prison, but he held firm to his beliefs. It was then ordered that his teeth and jaws to be broken, and that he be thrown into a furnace to burn to death. Again, an angel of the Lord rescued him.

The governor was at a loss of what to do next, given that every attempt to harm the youth had failed.  He sent him to the city magistrate to be condemned to death, but Venantius converted the magistrate, eloquently proclaiming the Gospel.  It is said that the judge, upon hearing his testimony, fell from his seat and died, saying, “The God of Venantius is the true God; let us destroy our idols.”
   
Having returned to Antiochus, Venantius was ordered to be sacrificed to the lions.  However, the beasts failed to attack, instead reclining docilely by his feet as common pets.  Venantius was then dragged through a heap of brambles and thorns, until he was bruised and broken, and near death.  Being a hot day, the soldiers who dragged him outside the city over stones and rocks to inflict his wounds, were suffering from thirst and heat exhaustion, and complained of their ailments.  Despite his suffering, Venantius knelt on a rock, made the sign of the cross, and immediately a stream of cool water welled up on the spot.  The soldiers drank, many of them converted.  The rock itself remained imprinted by his knees and was placed in the Basilica in Camerino, where it still remains. 

Returned to his cell, near death, the governor was convinced he had achieved his goals.  However, the following morning, Venantius was found unscathed and healthy, miraculously cured of all his wounds.  Along with many of the soldiers who had been converted, Venantius was beheaded that morning. Christians in the community gave an honorable burial to the bodies of these martyrs, who now rest in Camerino, in the church dedicated to Saint Venantius.  The spring, which had miraculously been produced, has been recorded to have healing powers.

The brief life of Saint Venantius is one of love, praise of the Lord, suffering, and eventual martyrdom.  Throughout, Venantius never wavered from his convictions, holding true to the truth of the Gospel.  He was willing to patiently suffer, awaiting the glory of his reunification with the Risen Lord. 



Church of Saint Venantius


Saint Venantius, whom reflected the love of suffering marks; the most perfect degree in the love of our God. Our Lord Himself was consumed with the desire to suffer, because He burnt with the love of God. Pray for us to begin with patience and detachment. So we may at last shall learn to love the sufferings which conform us to the Passion of our Redeemer. Amen

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September 12: Saint Guy of Anderlecht

Posted by Jacob

Today, September 12, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Guy of Anderlecht (also Saint Guido, 950-1012), a Belgian Christian known as the “Poor Man of Anderlecht.” Saint Guy was poor in material possessions throughout his life, but rich in the love, generosity, and grace of God. He worked tirelessly at the most menial of tasks, and gained a reputation for almsgiving, despite his own lack of the most basic needs. Although he never joined a particular religious order, Saint Guy was visited for spiritual direction by many, and through his model, brought many closer to Christ.


Born in Anderlecht, Belgian, a small village outside of Brussels, Guy was raised and instructed by poor, but pious parents. From an early age, he demonstrated great devotion to the Lord, and to Our Blessed Mother Mary. He proclaimed while still a child his wish to count himself among the special flock of Christ—the poor—for his entire life, and dedicated himself to a life of poverty and service to those who had nothing. Throughout his childhood, he gave away all he had, and spent his days visiting the sick and elderly of the town. It is said that when he worked the fields of his parents, an angel came and pushed the plow so that he might better pray undisturbed. Guy came to be recognized as a saint by many!

As Guy matured, his devotion only multiplied. He spent hours in prayer each day, rarely sleeping but instead contemplating the Lord. He traveled frequently to the church of Our Lady at Laeken, outside Brussels, and demonstrated such devotion to Mary that the priest approached him, and asked him to stay and serve the Church. It was with tremendous joy that Saint Guy remained in the church, constantly cleaning, sweeping, polishing the altars, and attending to the most menial needs during the day—stopping only to befriend and serve those who were poor and came on foot to the church looking for assistance. Each night he spent in prayer, rarely sleeping, but instead could be found kneeling at the foot of the cross, praying for the poor.

Chapel of Saint Guy
After many years of service, a savvy merchant from Brussels sought to take advantage of Guy, and offering him a share of his business, convinced him that through making more money, he could help more people. Guy wished nothing more than to remain in the church, but he saw the benefit in helping others and left his post. Almost immediately the business failed, and Guy, realizing his mistake, returned to the church only to find his position filled. Guy engaged in severe acts of penance for the remainder of his life, offering all he had to the Lord for his inconstancy. He traveled on pilgrimage—on foot—for seven years, visiting Rome and then the Holy Land, returning to Belgium and serving as a guide at the holy shrines.

A merchant of Brussels, hearing of the generosity of this humble sacristan, was prompted by a demon to go to Laeken and offer him a share of his business, telling him he would have the means thereby to give more to the poor. Guy had no desire to leave the church, but the offer seemed providential and he accepted it. The first ship bearing a cargo in which Guy had an interest, however, was lost, and he realized he had made a mistake. When he returned to Laeken, he found his place at the church filled. The rest of his life was one long penance for his inconstancy. For seven years he made pilgrimages of penance, visiting Rome and the Holy Land and other famous shrines.

Eventually, in his early 60s, Guy returned to Anderlecht, and died soon thereafter. In death, a golden light shone around him, and a heavenly voice was heard my many, proclaiming his eternal reward in heaven. He was buried in Anderlecht, and many miracles were attributed to his intercession at his grave. Saint Guy is the patron saint of Anderlecht, animals with horns, bachelors, convulsive children, epileptics, laborers, protection of outbuildings, protection of sheds, protection of stables, sacristans, sextons, work horses; and is invoked against epilepsy, against rabies, against infantile convulsions, and against mad dogs.




Year 2: Day 253 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Lives of charity, constancy, and devotion to the Lord
Requested Intentions: Clear speech for a child (C); Conversion of a family (A); Successful employment (S); For the healing of impaired vision (F); For a couple experiencing difficulties (L); Successful employment after finishing college (M); Mother’s health (A); Financial security, freedom from anxiety (S); For a son and cousins (L); Peace and civility (B); Successful examination results (D); Safety of family, strength, courage, wisdom (C); For the souls of a departed father and brother, finding of a suitable marriage partner (R); Successful pilgrimage, deepening of prayer life (R); Restoration of health (J); Restoration of health (S); Freedom from pride (A); For children and marriage (M); For the birth of a healthy baby (Y); For personal family intentions, for the sick, poor, hungry, and homeless (G); Financial security and peace (J); Grace, peace, and obedience to the will of God in a marriage (H); Successful and blessed marriage for sin, freedom from anxiety for husband, spiritual contentedness for family (N); Employment and health for a husband (B); Recovery and health of a mother (J); For a family to grow closer to the Church, salvation for all children (D); Successful employment (L); Successful employment (S); Renewal of faith life (A); Support for an intended marriage, health for friend and aunt (J); Mental health assistance for son (G); Freedom from illness (S); Successful employment (C).

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