BIG C CATHOLICS

On November 12th, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Josaphat, (1584-1623) the 17th century Orthodox monk, archbishop and martyr of the Ruthenian rite, (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) who died seeking unity with Rome. He was born, Josaphat Kuntsevych, in Vladimir, a city in ancient Poland (now the Ukraine). At the time of his birth, the Ruthenian Church was nominally unified. St. Josaphat was the first saint of the Eastern Church to be formally canonized by Rome. His father, Gabriel Kuntsevych held the office of town-councilor. His mother raised him to fear God and instilled in his heart the first longings for virtue. Josaphat was never frivolous, but often separated from the games of his childhood companions to pray. Possessing an intellectually curious mind, he made excellent progress in his studies. From his youth, he recited the Divine Office which he learned by heart. Owing to his parent’s poverty, Kuntsevych apprenticed under a merchant named Papovič in Vilnius. Th

November 11, 2016 Christ the King Novena Prayer,  Day 1 Christ, our Savior and our King, renew in me allegiance to Your Kingship. I pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in my life and in the life of the world. Christ, my King, please answer these petitions if they be in accordance with Your Holy Will… [Mention your intentions here] As I reflect on Your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, I beg You to show me mercy and give me the grace to become a great saint. I pray that not only will I spend eternity with You but that You may use me – a sinner – to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory. Christ the King, Your Kingdom come. Amen. Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in Your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render Your majesty service and ceaselessly p

On November 11th, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Martin of Tours . St. Martin was born (c. 316) at Sabaria, a town in Pannonia near the famous Benedictine monastery dedicated to his name. Against the wishes of his parents he associated with Christians and became a catechumen at the age of ten. At fifteen he entered the army and served under the Emperors Constantius and Julian. While in the service he met a poor, naked beggar at the gates of Amiens who asked alms in Christ's Name. Martin had nothing with him except his weapons and soldier's mantle; but he took his sword, cut the latter in two, and gave half to the poor man. During the following night Christ appeared to him clothed with half a mantle and said, "Martin, the catechumen, has clothed Me with this mantle!" Martin was eighteen years old when he received the sacrament of holy baptism. At the pleading of his superior officer, he remained two years longer in the army. Then, upon requesting dis

Lord God, Almighty Father, Creator of mankind and Author of peace. We are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess. We ask You to bless the members of our armed forces, both past and present. Give them courage, hope and strength. May they experience Your firm support, gentle love and compassionate healing. Look kindly upon your departed who gave their lives in the service of our country. Be their power and protector, leading them from darkness to light. Grant that through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of your Son they may share in the joy of your heavenly kingdom and rejoice in You with your saints forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. To You be all glory, honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.

This feast day was instituted by Pope Pius XI on December 11th, in 1925, within the encyclical letter Quas Primas . The Holy Father was responding to the fact that the world was becoming increasingly nationalistic and secular. Governments were claiming more and more allegiance from citizens and attempting to replace God. While nations insult the beloved name of our Redeemer by suppressing all mention of it in their conferences and parliaments, we must all the more loudly proclaim his kingly dignity and power, all the more universally affirm his rights. – Quas Primas , 25 Pope Pius XI, therefore, created this feast to help the faithful to remember that allegiance to Christ is above any allegiance to government of a nation. "The faithful, moreover, by meditating upon these truths, will gain much strength and courage, enabling them to form their lives after the true Christian ideal. If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his

November 10th, is the memorial of Saint Leo the Great, aka Pope St. Leo I, (c. 400 – 461) the 5th century pontiff and Doctor of the Church. He is regarded as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church and was a tireless defender of doctrinal orthodoxy. He fought against the heresies of Arianism, Pelagianism, Manichaeism, Priscillianism, Nestorianism and Eutychism. St. Leo’s eloquent homilies (96 of his homilies and 143 of his letters are extant) on Christ’s incarnation, the unity of the Church and the primacy of the papacy as the Vicar of Christ on earth, are a treasure from the Patristic Age. Little is known about his formative years. Born at the end of the fourth century, the Liber Pontificalis states that he was "of Tuscan nationality from his father Quintian." Since he spent his early years in Rome, St. Leo considered the Eternal City his homeland. As a young man, he joined the Roman clergy and was ordained a deacon. In this capacity, he served Pope S

"The beauty and harmony of the churches, destined to give praise to God, also draws us human beings, limited and sinful, to convert to form a 'cosmos,' a well-ordered structure, in intimate communion with Jesus, who is the true Saint of saints. This happens in a culminating way in the Eucharistic liturgy, in which the ' ecclesia ,' that is, the community of the baptized, come together in a unified way to listen to the Word of God and nourish themselves with the Body and Blood of Christ. From these two tables the Church of living stones is built up in truth and charity and is internally formed by the Holy Spirit transforming herself into what she receives, conforming herself more and more to the Lord Jesus Christ. She herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal unity, in this way becomes the spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God. Dear friends, today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world