Saint John Paul II Canonization Day

27 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by Brian in Our Lady of Czestochowa, Saints

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canonization, Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine, Pauline Fathers, Saint, Saint John Paul II, Shrine, St. Faustina, St. John XXIII, St. Paul the Hermit, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Saint John Paul II, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Yes, April 27 is the day St. Pope John Paul II was canonized. He attended the Second Vatican Council initiated by Pope John XXIII, who also was canonized on this day.

Born Karl Wojtyla, Pope John Paul was an actor, poet, athlete, playwrite, priest and philosopher.

As Charles Chaput, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia stated: He proved by his life the words of St. Irenaeus that “the glory of God is man fully alive.”

St. John Paul II visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa on two occasions while a cardinal. Karol Cardinal Wojtyla first visit was in 1969 and again in 1976 while attending the Eucharistic Congress held in Philadelphia. He became the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church two years later in 1978. John Paul II was the first non Italian pope since Pope Adrian VI who died in 1523.

Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II with the Marian Cross. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion.

John Paul II created Divine Mercy Sunday which is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. It is originally based on the devotion to the Divine Mercy that Saint Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus.

St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun reported visions and visitations from Jesus and conversations with Him. She could read souls!

sainte-faustine_int

John Paul II beatified Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska on April 18, 1993 and canonized her on April 30, 2000.

St. Paul the Hermit, a strong influence at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa.

The Pauline Fathers, like John Paul II, have a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their main monastery is in Czestochowa, Poland, where they continue to reside. The Pauline Order received permission from the Holy See to establish a monastery in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and subsequently built Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine.

In the main church is the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, which was blessed by Pope John XXIII on February 10, 1962, who also became a saint. The Icon of Our Lady hangs behind the altar in the main nave and depicts the Holy Trinity. God the Father, with His arms stretched out like the wings of a large bird, enfolds Jesus Christ and all God’s people. Above them is shown a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Below them, a choir of angels, with their golden horns, extol the glory of God.

The Chapel of Divine Mercy, within The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. John Paul II died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, April 2, 2005.

Entrance to the shrine complex.

Saint John Paul II
Feast day is October 22nd, the anniversary of his inauguration to Pope in 1978.

World Day of the Sick and Our Lady of Lourdes

11 Saturday Feb 2017

Posted by Brian in Saints

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Our Lady of Lourdes, Saint, Shrine, St. Bernadette, World Day of the Sick

World Day of the Sick feast day on February 11 coincides with Our Lady of Lourdes from the many healings reported at the shrine.

shrine-at-lourdes-2 Shrine at Lourdes in France.

our-lady-of-lourds
There were eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette Soubiroux between February and July 1858.

early-bernadette

A young Bernadette as a French peasant girl. (actual photo)

lourders-2

There was a spring flowing near the grotto where the 9th apparition, where the Lady suggested that Bernadette take a drink. There have been many cures of ailments here, even though Bernadette said there was nothing special in the water, only that it allowed pilgrims to have faith through prayer.

grotto
Grotto with small stream at Lourdes France.

chapel
During the 13th apparition, Bernadette was told to build a chapel at the grotto.
Current chapel built up over the years is now a major pilgrimage destination for Catholics.

On left, actual photo of St. Bernadette at passing. On right incorruptible body and her incorruptible face.

pope-benedict-xvi-lourdes-france_large

Pope Bendedict XVI resigned on this date due (February 11) to poor health. Here is Pope Benedicts homily at Lourdes in 2008. Below his prayer at Lourdes ending the homily:

“Because you are the smile of God, the reflection of the light of Christ, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit,

Because you chose Bernadette in her lowliness, because you are the morning star, the gate of heaven and the first creature to experience the resurrection,

Our Lady of Lourdes, with our brothers and sisters whose hearts and bodies are in pain, we pray to you!” – Pope Benedict

St. John Neumann: From Manhattan to Buffalo NY to Philadelphia PA

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by Brian in Saints, Shrines of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann

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Buffalo NY, John the Evangelist Church, National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, Philadelphia, Saint, St. John Neumann, St. Peter the Apostle Church, Williamsville NY

Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral 1811, Manhattan, NYC

St. John Neumann was ordained in June 1836 at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

Father Neumann celebrated his First Mass on Sunday, June 26. He wrote home, “Now, my dearest Jesus, I have obtained that for which my soul yearned. What I have always believed so far away, You have now given me.”

The Neumann Chapel, Buffalo NY.

Just 16 days after his arrival in Manhattan, John was ordained a priest and sent to rural Buffalo.

Father John established himself in a small log parish house. He hardly ever lit a fire and often lived on only bread and water.

Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Williamsville NY. (today)

While in Williamsville New York, Father Neumann started the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, which is in existence today (above). He also taught school four hours a day and used his knowledge of botany to make medicines from local herbs.

Village of Williamsville NY (Buffalo) today, where John Neumann was a priest.

He was assigned to the Buffalo, New York region which was a boomtown in the mid and late 1830s with commerce on the Erie Canal and stagecoach routes.

Creek in Williamsville NY that John Neumann would have surely saw.

The Sisters of Mercy were instrumental in working with Father Neumann while in the Williamsville New York region.

Glenn Falls Creek today, by Michael Frank Jr.

Father Neumann made rounds to attend to the sacramental life of about 400 families. A journal entry shows John’s concern for the German immigrants: “They have not received any schooling. They speak German poorly, and English just as poorly. The will soon have to work, and there will be no thought of religious instruction.” This thinking was the start of the Catholic Parochial school system.

Redemptorist seal at The National Shrine of St. John Neumann, located at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Father John joined the Redemptorist order and continued his missionary work until he was elected bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. Bishop Neumann was in attendance for Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Saint John Nepomucene Neumann.

Cross at St. John the Evangelist Church, Philadelphia,

Bishop Neumann took up residence at St. John the Evangelist parish in downtown Philadelphia.

Also in the 1850’s a young Katharine Drexel received First Holy Communion at St. Johns the Evangelist Church. She later became founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and a saint, St. Katharine Drexel!

Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia. The upper church is where St. John worshiped in Philadelphia.

Pulpit where St. John Neumann preached. Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia.

Lower church is the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann.

Under the altar are the remains of St. John Neumann in a glass reliquary.

St. John Neumann body incorrupt, (face with mask).

Bishop Neumann passed away in Philadelphia while doing errands on January 5, 1860. St. John collapsed and died due to a stroke, a few blocks from Logan Street, where he was building the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, the regional Church that stands today. He is a patron of immigrants and of sick children.

Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop is January 5.

A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.

– Saint John Neumann

Saint John Paul II Embraces The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

26 Saturday Apr 2014

Posted by Brian in Our Lady of Czestochowa, Saints

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canonization, Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine, Pauline Fathers, Saint, Saint John Paul II, Shrine, St. Faustina, St. John XXIII, St. Paul the Hermit, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Saint John Paul II, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

On April 27, 2014, Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis canonized Blessed Pope John Paul II. He attended the Second Vatican Council initiated by Pope John XXIII, who is also being canonized on this day. Born Karl Wojtyla, Pope John Paul was an actor, poet, athlete, playwrite, priest and philosopher. As Charles Chaput, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia stated: He proved by his life the words of St. Irenaeus that “the glory of God is man fully alive.”

Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II with the Marian Cross. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion.

John Paul II created Divine Mercy Sunday which is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. It is originally based on the devotion to the Divine Mercy that Saint Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus. St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun reported visions and visitations from Jesus and conversations with Him. John Paul II beatified Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska on April 18, 1993 and canonized her on April 30, 2000.

St. Paul the Hermit, a strong influence at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa.

The Order of St. Paul the Hermit was founded during the first half of the 13th century in Hungary. The members of the Order were actual hermits who lived in the caves in Hungary. For their patron they chose St. Paul the Hermit, thereby acquiring the name “Pauline Fathers”. John Paul II had an affection for the Pauline Fathers religious order, and helped persevere the order in Poland. The Pauline Fathers, like John Paul II, have a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their main monastery is in Czestochowa, Poland, where they continue to reside. The Pauline Order received permission from the Holy See to establish a monastery in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and subsequently built Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa, located at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa on Adoration Day.

This chapel is a replica of the chapel found at the Jasna Góra Shrine in Poland. At the heart of the chapel is a copy of the Miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, blessed by Pope John Paul II, now a Saint.

The Chapel of Divine Mercy, within The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. John Paul II died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, April 2, 2005.

Entrance to the shrine complex.

Saint John Paul II
Feast day is October 22nd, the anniversary of his inauguration to Pope in 1978.

John Neumann’s World

22 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Brian in Saints, St. John Neumann

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Alphonsus Liguori, Cathedral Basillica of St. Peter and Paul, John Nuemann, National Shrine of John Neumann, Redemptorist, Saint, Shrine of Philadelphia, St. Peter the Apostle Church

St. Peter the Apostle church, Upper Church of St. John Neumann Shrine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, built in 1843.

John Neumann (1811-1860) celebrated Midnight Mass (Christmas) in 1859, a few days before his death. After his funeral services he was laid to rest in a grave in the basement of St. Peter the Apostle church. The body now lies in state, enclosed in glass under the altar at what has become the world renowned National Shrine of St. John Neumann. Feast day is January 5.

National Shrine of St. John Neumann, in Lower Church.

Prayer requests can be made to John Neumann for intersession by God to make the request realized. Saints themselves do not perform miracles, but recognized in Heaven as Saints, they can request from God to intercede on their behalf. The National Shrine of John Neumann has on record many of these realized prayer requests.

Alphonsus Liguori is the founder of the Redemptorist religious order. (1732)

Saint Alphonsus Liguori is also a Doctor of the Church. Liguori was influenced by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) and St. Vincent de Paul. (1581-1660). As Neumann became a Redemptorist and eventually its leader, he spread knowledge about these great saints.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, in state in Italy.

Pope Pius IX proclaimed Liguori a Doctor of the Church in 1871. In his book Preparation for DeathLiguori says, “While we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” (2 Cor. v. 6). While the soul is united to the body, it is at a distance from the vision of God, as if in a strange land, and excluded from its true country. Hence, according to St. Bruno, the departure of the soul from the body should not be called death, but the beginning of life.”

Neumann in St. Peter the Apostle church, Upper Church of the Neumann Shrine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A large diocese to manage.

First appointed Superior of the Redemptorist American Mission in 1850, then on March 19, 1852 Nuemann was consecrated bishop of Philadelphia, a role he really didn’t want.

At Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul, St. John Neumann Chapel.

Opened in 1864, the Cathedral is the motherchurch of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. One of the first tasks when Neumann became Bishop was to complete the Cathedral. Unfortunately due to money constraints, the Cathedral completion was delayed. The cathedral was finally dedicated on November 20, 1864, where it stands today.

More of Neumann in the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul.

The interior of the Basilica is in Roman-Corinthian style with a dome at 156 feet high. St. Katherine Drexel, a contemporary of John Nuemann, also has a side chapel, one in which she donated while she was alive! The Basilica is one of the finest east coast examples of architecture expressing our Catholic faith.

The future planned entrance of the St. John Neumann Shrine.
The Shrine continues to thrive and remains active in the local community, much as Nuemann did while alive.

In St. John Nuemann Shrine, looking up, in all its glory.

All Around St. Katharine Drexel Shrine

03 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Brian in Saints, St. Katharine Drexel

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Bensalem PA, Drexel Mission Center, Drexel Shrine, monastery, Saint, Shrine of Philadelphia, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Katharine Drexel

Celebrating the feast day of St. Katharine Drexel, March 3.

Katharine Drexel Shrine looks like a medieval monastery from this side view.

The modern front entrance. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament operate the St. Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine in Bensalem PA.

The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament motto: Guided by the spirit of Katharine Drexel, we are called to share the Gospel message with the poor, especially among the Black and Native American peoples and to challenge the deeply rooted injustice in the world today.

Windows outside gift shop.

From the Osservatore Romano:

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. on 26 November 1858, Katharine was the second daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel, a wealthy banker, and his wife, Hannah Jane. The latter died a month after Katharine’s birth, and two years later her father married Emma Bouvier, who was a devoted mother, not only to her own daughter Louisa (born 1862), but also to her two step-daughters. Both parents instilled into the children by word and example that their wealth was simply loaned to them and was to be shared with others.

Katharine was educated privately at home; she traveled widely in the United States and in Europe. Early in life she became aware of the plight of the Native Americans and the Blacks; when she inherited a vast fortune from her father and step-mother, she resolved to devote her wealth to helping these disadvantaged people. In 1885 she established a school for Native Americans at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Later, during an audience with Pope Leo XIII, she asked him to recommend a religious congregation to staff the institutions which she was financing. The Pope suggested that she herself become a missionary, so in 1889 she began her training in religious life with the Sisters of Mercy at Pittsburgh.

In 1891, with a few companions, Mother Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. The title of the community summed up the two great driving forces in her life—devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and love for the most deprived people in her country.

Requests for help reached Mother Katharine from various parts of the United States. During her lifetime, approximately 60 schools were opened by her congregation. The most famous foundation was made in 1915; it was Xavier University, New Orleans, the first such institution for Black people in the United States.

In 1935 Mother Katharine suffered a heart attack, and in 1937 she relinquished the office of superior general. Though gradually becoming more infirm, she was able to devote her last years to Eucharistic adoration, and so fulfill her life’s desire. She died at the age of 96 at Cornwell Heights, Pennsylvania, on 3 March 1955. Her cause for beatification was introduced in 1966; she was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on 26 January 1987, by whom she was also beatified on 20 November 1988.

The design of St. Elizabeth Chapel is similar to other monasteries, where the pews are aligned to the center of the chapel. In this way, the religious face each other, to know and pray with their neighbor. The hexagon arrangement in modern churches also utilizes this concept of parishioners facing their neighbor.

A closeup of St. Katharine.

Pictured diligently in front of the crypt of St. Katharine Drexel is Sister Anne, who knew the saint personally. She describes Katharine as frugal, hard working, yet joyous and liked to joke.

When Sister Anne joined the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, she requested her religious name be Sister Basil. St. Katharine tried to dissuade Anne of this name, but to no avail. Anne explained her strong devotion to St. Basil. It was elevated to the local Bishop for a decision. Again Anne, determined to be called Sister Basil, made her case. Seeing the determination of this young sister, the bishop gave in and allowed her to be called Sister Basil. Years later, on religious assignment in Louisiana, Sister Basil decided to revert back to her baptized name, Anne.

The frugality of St. Katharine can be seen in the pencil stubs.

Inscription on stone of Drexel Shrine, “And it shall be in the place where it was said unto them, ‘you are not my people’, there they shall be called the sons of the living God.”
Romans Chap IX

This chair inscribed with the date, 1892, was used by Saint Katharine during her life.

For more on Katharine Drexel, see

http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2010/03/urban-legend-global-saint.html

St. John Neumann and the SJN National Shrine

05 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by Brian in Saints, Shrines of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann

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40 Hours Devotion, Buffalo NY, John the Evangelist Church, Philadelphia, Saint, St. John Neumann, St. Peter the Apostle Church

Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop January 5.

The National Shrine of St. John Neumann, in the spirit of the Redemptorist order, is located at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In the lower church, under the altar are the remains of St. John Neumann in a glass reliquary. The upper church is where St. John worshiped.

St. John was ordained in June 1836 at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

He was assigned to the Buffalo New York region which was a boomtown in the mid and late 1830s with commerce on the Erie Canal and stagecoach routes. Father Neumann made rounds of attend to the sacramental life of about 400 families. A journal entry shows John’s concern for the German immigrants: “They have not received any schooling. They speak German poorly, and English just as poorly. The will soon have to work, and there will be no thought of religious instruction.” This thinking was the start of the Catholic Parochial school system.

While in Williamsville New York, Father Neumann started the parish of SS’s Peter and Paul, a parish in existance today. He also taught school four hours a day and used his knowledge of botany to make medicines from local herbs.

The Sisters of Mercy were instrumental in working with Father Neumann while in the Williamsville New York region. Several of the quotes in this article are from the Sisters research. For more info on the buffalo NY connection see http://jruthgang.wordpress.com/article/st-john-neumann-in-western-new-york-35d4f9dma4dbf-194/

A huge accomplishment for Father Neumann is the starting of the 40 Hours Devotion, practiced worldwide in the Catholic faith.

John became the fourth bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. Bishop Neumann was in attendance for Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Bishop Neumann took up residence at St. John the Evangelist parish in downtown Philadelphia. Also in the 1850’s a young Katharine Drexel received First Holy Communion at St. Johns Church. She later became founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and a saint – St. Katharine Drexel.

“A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.” – Saint John Neumann

For more information, see:

http://www.stjohnneumann.org/index.html

http://catholicgene.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/st-john-neumann/

Shrine Tower

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Tag Archives: Saint

Saint John Paul II Canonization Day

World Day of the Sick and Our Lady of Lourdes

St. John Neumann: From Manhattan to Buffalo NY to Philadelphia PA

Saint John Paul II Embraces The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa

John Neumann’s World

All Around St. Katharine Drexel Shrine

St. John Neumann and the SJN National Shrine