ALL POSTS TAGGED: PRIEST



In the Mass on St. Philip Neri’s feast day, we pray, “Lord, keep us always cheerful in our work for the glory of your name and the good of our neighbor” (Sacramentary, page 638). Philip was known for his cheerfulness and sense of humor. He used these gifts to serve God and to help others to grow in their faith.


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Columba (521-597) was born of a royal family in Donegal, Ireland, but he is best known as one of the most famous Scottish saints. He became a monk at an early age and founded monasteries in different parts of Ireland. He was forced to leave Ireland because of a personal feud that turned into a war. Bishops and abbots exiled him from Ireland, and twelve companions from his monasteries went with him.


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John Vianney was born a peasant in Dardilly, France, in 1786. As a youth, John shepherded sheep on his father’s farm. It was during the French Revolution, and it was illegal for Catholics to attend Mass at the time. But the Vianney family traveled distances every Sunday to worship and pray in secret. Because of this, young John saw priests as particularly heroic to the people. Even after the revolution ended, when religion could again be practiced openly, John felt drawn to the vocation of the priesthood.


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Dominic was born in 1170 in Castile, Spain. It was said that at his baptism, the priest saw a star-shaped light on the baby’s forehead. You will sometimes see a star in artwork of St. Dominic, and he is the patron saint of astronomers.


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The Catholic Church calls Saint Francis Xavier “the Apostle to the Indies” and “the Apostle of Japan.” The word apostle means “one who is sent.” Jesus sent his twelve apostles out to announce the coming of God’s kingdom. Hundreds of years later, the Church sent Francis Xavier out to preach the same good news.


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John was born in 676 and raised in Damascus. His father worked for the Muslim government which controlled the city, but John’s family were faithful Christians and respected in the community. John inherited his father’s job, but he resigned when people began to complain that a Muslim, not a Christian, should have the job.


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Born in 1542, John was raised in Spain by a widowed mother who could barely provide for her sons. At a young age, he worked in a hospital and developed a great love for the poor and the sick. He sometimes felt that he was in the presence of Jesus when he was tending the patients. But John wanted to become even closer to God. He became a Carmelite friar when he was almost 20 years old.


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TAGS: Italy, Priest, Saint

Vincenzo Romano was born into a poor family in June of 1751. Despite this, he was able to study. He was impacted by the life and teachings of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, and he developed a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. In 1775, he was ordained a priest.
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TAGS: Italy, Priest, Saint

FrancescoSpinelli-180x300-2.jpgFeast Day: February 6
Canonized: October 14, 2018
Beatified: June 21, 1992
Venerated: March 3, 1990

 

Francesco Spinelli was born in Milan, Italy, on April 14, 1853. As a child, he would join his mother in visiting and helping the poor and the needy of Milan. He entertained other children by putting on puppet shows.

Francesco studied for the priesthood in Bergamo, Italy, and was ordained a priest in 1875. It was later in 1875 that he had a vision of women perpetually adoring the Blessed Sacrament. He was faithful to the duties of his ministry, teaching in the seminary during the day and running evening classes for the poor by night. In 1882, he helped found a religious order that dedicated itself to the Eucharist and to Eucharistic adoration. But this effort failed, and Father Spinelli left Bergamo greatly saddened by what had happened.

He moved to Cremona, Italy, and in 1892 he founded the Sisters Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. They were given diocesan approval in 1897. This order continues its ministry of adoring and praying before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the world.

Father Spinelli died on February 6, 1913.  On the path to sainthood, he was known for the way he lived the Theological and the Cardinal Virtues. On October 14, 2018, Pope Francis declared him a saint of the Church.

 

Continuing the Conversation . . .

Primary Grades: Saint Francesco Spinelli used a talent he had—putting on puppet shows—to entertain other children.

Invite the children to name talents they have and ways they can use their talents to bring joy to others.

 

Intermediate Grades: Saint Francesco Spinelli’s first efforts to found a religious order dedicated to the Eucharist failed.

                                                                 His second attempt to do so succeeded.

Share an age-appropriate example of a time when your first efforts at something failed, and how that experience made you feel. Then invite the young people to quietly reflect on a time when their first efforts at something failed, and how they felt. Invite volunteers to share what we can learn about handling failure from Saint Francesco Spinelli’s life story.

 

Junior High: On the path to sainthood, Francesco Spinelli was known for the way he lived the Theological and the Cardinal Virtues.

Review with the students the Theological Virtues and their meanings. Invite volunteers to name ways that Saint Francesco Spinelli lived these virtues, and how his life story can encourage young people to live these virtues too.

 


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