SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 15TH

FEAST AND SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST OF THE BLACK CHRIST OF ESQUIPULAS AND FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR | MEMORIAL OF SAINT PAUL OF THEBES, THE FIRST HERMIT; SAINT MAURUS OF SUBIACO, ABBOT; SAINT ARNOLD JANSSEN, PRIEST AND SAINT ITA (IDA), VIRGIN – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 15TH: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Black Christ of Esquipulas; Our Lady of Prompt Succor; Saint Paul of Thebes, the first hermit; Saint Maurus of Subiaco, Abbot; Saint Arnold Janssen, Priest and Saint Ita (Ida), Virgin.

THE BLACK CHRIST OF ESQUIPULAS: The statue of the Black Christ (El Cristo Negro) was commissioned by Spanish conquistadors for a church in Esquipulas. The sculpture of the Black Christ dates back to 1595. The Statue is a darkened wooden image of Christ made of cedar wood. It is enshrined within the Cathedral Basilica of Esquipulas in Esquipulas,  Guatemala. It is one of the famed black Christological images of Latin America. It was carved in 1594 by Quirio Cataño in Antigua and installed in the church on March 9, 1595. Nine years later, in 1603, at least one miracle had been attributed to the icon, and it attracted increasing numbers of pilgrims over the years. The history of the Basilica begins in 1735, when a priest named Father Pedro Pardo de Figueroa experienced a miraculous cure after praying before the statue. When he became Archbishop of Guatemala, he commissioned a beautiful basilica to properly shelter the beloved statue. The Bishop of Guatemala XV and first metropolitan Archbishop Fray Pedro Pardo de Figueroa began the process of the construction of a grand Baroque temple to house the Santo Cristo de Esquipulas. On November 4, 1758, the church was inaugurated, that now shelters the venerated image. It inspires one of the most important Catholic pilgrimages, topped only by the Virgin of Guadeloupe in Mexico.

The main church, which the Vatican upgraded to the category of Basilica in 1968, is the home of the “Cristo Negro de Esquipulas” or “Black Christ of Esquipulas,” in English. It is one of the most popular images of the Catholic faith, because of the many miracles attributed to it, devotees all over the country pray to the Black Christ for personal petitions. The Basilica Esquipulas is the second most important religious site in the Americas, after the Virgin of Guadeloupe in Mexico.

Lord, have mercy on us 🙏

OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR: Devotion to Our Lady of Prompt Succor dates back to 1802, when the Ursuline Order in New Orleans pleaded for help in sustaining the Order with new sisters from France. Their prayers were answered with papal permission for sisters to be transferred from France to New Orleans. In thanksgiving for this favor, the Ursulines dedicated a statue in their convent chapel to Our Lady of Prompt Succor in 1810.

​According to history, Mother Saint Andre Madier – one of seven Ursalines who did not flee Louisiana after the French regained control – sent a request to her cousin, Mother Saint Michel, in France to send more sisters to the New Orleans convent. As France was under the reign of Napoleon and in the midst of the French Revolution, the Bishop felt unable to afford the loss of more sisters and told Mother Saint Michel that the decision to send more sisters would have to be approved by the Holy Father alone. However, the Holy Father was a prisoner of Napoleon, and the chance of him receiving her letter, much less give an affirmative answer, was slim. Mother Saint Michel trusted in the intercession of Our Lady, and prayed before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary saying: “O most Holy Virgin Mary, if you obtain for me a prompt and favorable answer to this letter, I promise to have you honored at New Orleans under the title of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.” Mother received a letter from the Pope nearly a month letter granting her request.

​In thanksgiving, Mother St. Michel commissioned a statue of Our Lady holding the Child Jesus, with her flowing robes so that she would appear to be moving quickly, alluding to her “prompt succor.” When Mother St. Michel arrive in New Orleans, the statue was placed in the convent’s chapel. ​Our Lady continued to show her powerful and quick intercession to the city of New Orleans, in particularly on two separate occasions. The first instance was on Good Friday 1788, when a ravaging fire threatened the city. Residents joined the sisters in the convent chapel to beg Our Lady’s intercession. After placing a small statue in the convent window, within minutes, the wind turned back on itself and the fire burnt out, sparing the convent and the city from destruction. The second well-known intervention of Our Lady of Prompt Succor concerns the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, where Our Lady is credited with bringing about a victory for the out-numbered American troops over the British, keeping American control over the major port of the Mississippi River. During the Battle of New Orleans, the sisters again invoked the assistance of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. As the sound of guns and cannons thundered around the chapel during Mass, the Ursuline Superior, promised Our Lady and they vowed to have a Mass of Thanksgiving sung every year in memory of her saving help to the city on that day if the Americans were victorious. The victory came the day after the vigil Mass. At Communion time, a messenger arrived with the news that Gen. Andrew Jackson’s overmatched army had successfully driven the British from the city. Once again Our Lady had responded promptly.

In 1928, the Holy See approved the selection of Our Lady of Prompt Succor as the Patroness of the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The Mass of Thanksgiving is offered each January 8 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in New Orleans. Our Lady of Prompt Succor is celebrated in New Orleans on January 8th in memory of the Battle, and nationally on January 15th. We pray that she may continue to protect us and the world from all spiritual and physical, and quickly come to our aid in all that we implore of her. Patron Saint: State of Louisiana; the Archdiocese of New Orleans; City of New Orleans

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen🙏

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, ever Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God, you are most powerful against the enemy of our salvation. The divine promise of a Redeemer was announced right after the sin of our first parents; and you, through your Divine Son, crushed the serpent’s head. Hasten, then, to our help and deliver us from the deceits of Satan. Intercede for us with Jesus that we may always accept God’s graces and be found faithful to Him in our particular states of life. As you once saved our beloved city from ravaging flames and our country from an invading army, have pity on us and obtain for us protection from hurricanes and all other disasters. (Silent pause for individual petitions). Assist us in the many trials which beset our path through life. Watch over the Church and the Pope as they uphold with total fidelity the purity of faith and morals against unremitting opposition. Be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor now and especially at the hour of our death, that we may gain everlasting life through the merits of Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us! (Three times) Amen 🙏

PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, Lord God, that we who have been favored by the prompt succor of the Virgin Mother of your divine Son in war, in disasters, in epidemics and illness, may continue to merit her protection by fidelity to your word and to your law. Amen 🙏

SAINT PAUL OF THEBE, THE FIRST HERMIT: Saint Paul of Thebes’ life of solitude and penance gave inspiration to the monastic movement during its early years. Surviving in the Egyptian desert on a small amount of daily food, St. Paul the Hermit lived in close communion with God. Before the end of his life at age 113, he met with St. Anthony the Great, who led an early community of monks elsewhere in the Egyptian desert.

Born in approximately 230, the future hermit Paul received a solid religious and secular education, but lost his parents at age 15. During the year 250, the Roman Emperor Decius carried out a notorious persecution of the Church, executing clergy and forcing laypersons to prove their loyalty by worshiping idols. The state used torture, as well as the threat of death to coerce believers into making pagan sacrifices. St. Paul went into hiding during the Decian persecution, but became aware of a family member’s plan to betray him to the authorities. The young man retreated to a remote desert location, where he discovered a large abandoned cave that had once been used as a facility for making counterfeit coins. He found that he could survive on water from a spring. A raven brought him half a loaf of bread daily. Forced into the wilderness by circumstance, Paul found he loved the life of prayer and simplicity that it made possible. Thus, he never returned to the outside world, even though he lived well into the era of the Church’s legalization and acceptance by the Roman Empire. Later on, his way of life inspired Catholics who sought a deeper relationship with God through spiritual discipline and isolation from the outside world.

One of these faithful was Anthony of Egypt, born in the vicinity of Cairo around 251, who also lived to an old age after deciding during his youth to live in the desert out of devotion to God. Paul of Thebes is known to posterity because Anthony, around the year 342, was told in a dream about the older hermit’s existence, and went to find him. One day St. Anthony, then ninety, was divinely inspired to visit the hermit Paul. Though they had never met previously, each greeted the other correctly by name. While they were conversing at length on spiritual matters, the raven that had always brought Paul half a loaf of bread, came with a whole loaf. As the raven flew away, Paul said: “See, the Lord, who is truly good and merciful, has sent us food. Every day for sixty years I have received half a loaf, but with your arrival Christ sent His servants a double ration.” Giving thanks, they ate by a spring. After a brief rest, they again gave thanks, as was their custom, and spent the whole night praising God. At daybreak Paul informed Anthony of his approaching death and asked him to fetch the cloak he had received from St. Athanasius, that he might wrap himself in it. Later, as Anthony was returning from his visit, he saw Paul’s soul ascending to heaven escorted by choirs of angels and surrounded by prophets and apostles. Further traditional matter may be found in The Life of Paul the Hermit, written by St. Jerome about the year 376. He’s Patron Saint of Clothing industry; weavers.

SAINT MAURUS OF SUBIACO, ABBOT: St. Maurus of Subiaco, also called St. Maur, was the son of a Roman noble. He was the first disciple of Saint Benedict. In Benedictine history Maurus holds a distinguished place, taught and trained by St. Benedict himself and possibly succeeded him as abbot of Subiaco Abbey in 525. However, the tradition that Maurus later became abbot at Glanfeuil in France lacks historical support. While still very young, about the age of twelve, Maurus and another youth, Placid, were brought by their parents to be reared in monastic life by the Patriarch of Monks.

An incident reveals Maurus’ spirit of childlike obedience. One day Placid was sent to a near-by lake to draw water. Soon he was at the shore, where, boy that he was, he fell victim to his own heedlessness. Eager to fill the vessel quickly, he reached out too far and was dragged in by the rapidly filling jar. He was being borne along by the waves when from his cell St. Benedict realized what had happened. “Hurry, run to the lake! Placid has fallen in!” he called to Maurus. Stopping only for his spiritual father’s blessing, Maurus sped to the lake, seized Placid by the hair and brought him ashore. Imagine his shock and amazement when he realized that he had run some distance on water! His explanation? Such a miracle could not have happened save by virtue of his master’s command! St. Gregory relates the incident in his Second Book of Dialogues along with much other interesting detail from the life of St. Benedict. The Martyrology makes this comment on the miracle: How greatly he advanced in faith under his teacher (St. Benedict) is attested by an occurrence unheard of since the days of St. Peter; for, on one occasion he walked upon water as though it were dry land. He’s Patron Saint Against cold; against gout; against hoarseness; charcoal burners; cobblers; cold; coppersmiths; gout; shoemakers.

Saint Maurus of Subiaco, Abbot ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT ARNOLD JANSSEN, PRIEST: St. Arnold Janssen (1837–1909) was born in Germany to a large Catholic family. He was a man of simple faith who studied theology, entered the priesthood, and served as a school teacher. He had a profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which awakened in him an increasing desire for missionary work. This led him to found The Little Messenger of the Sacred Heart, a monthly magazine sharing news of the Church’s missionary activities and encouraging German Catholics to do more to help the missions. This was during a time of anti-Catholic persecution in Germany, and many priests were expelled from the country. Arnold suggested that these expelled priests serve in the missions, and for this purpose he founded the Society of the Divine Word, known as the Divine Word Missionaries, a religious congregation of missionary priests and lay brothers. He also founded two Orders of religious sisters associated with this missionary activity. Today more than 6,000 Divine Word Missionaries are active in 63 countries. St. Arnold was canonized in 2003 by Pope St. John Paul II. His feast day is celebrated on January 15.

SAINT ITA (IDA), VIRGIN: St. Ita (Ida) also known as Íte ingen Chinn Fhalad (d. 570) was born at Decies, Waterford, Ireland toward the end of the 6th century. and was reputedly of royal lineage.Though she came from a noble family she decided early in life to dedicate herself to God, refused to be married, and secured her father’s permission to live a virginal life. She moved to Killeedy, Limerick, and founded a community of women dedicated to God. She organized a convent in Killeedy, County Limerick, where she remained all her life, and which became famous as a training school for little boys.

St. Ita’s counsel was sought by bishops and she was instrumental in training two boys who went on to become Saints: Brendan and Mochoemoc. One day Brendan asked her what three things God loved in a special way, and her reply was: “True faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a religious spirit, and an open hand inspired by charity.” Asked which three things God especially abhorred, she responded: “A scowling face, obstinacy in wrongdoing, and arrogant trust in the power of money.” Many extravagant miracles were attributed to her (in one of them she is reputed to have reunited the head and body of a man who had been beheaded; in another she lived entirely on food from heaven), and she is widely venerated in Ireland. She is also known as Deirdre and Mida. St. Ita died on January 15, 570, and is known as the second Bridgid. The are the most glorious women Saints of the Celtic Church.

PRAYER: Lord God, You showed heavenly gifts on St. Ita the Virgin. Help us to imitate her virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with her in heaven. Amen🙏