No. 8965P Pewter Rosary Centerpiece, often used to make First Communion Rosaries.

A Saint is often an ordinary person who has lived an extraordinary life of virtue and faith. As Catholics we should use these exemplars to inspire us in our daily lives.

 St Serapion of Antioch (191 – 211)

 St Serapion of Antioch was an early Church leader who lived in the second century. Little is known about his early life but he did become the Patriarch of Antioch. He is considered a protector of the faith, since he played an important role in defending Church teachings from various heresies. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, an apologist, Biblical Scholar and Roman Historian tells us that St. Searpion of Antioch wrote a number of important theological works that circulated throughout Thrace and Asia. This was a formative time for Christian Theology and there were differing theories being expounded as truth. He attacked Docetism and the Montanist particularly the Docetic Gospel of Peter. Docetism taught the physical body of Jesus’ was merely an illusion and so was his crucifixion. He also attacked Gnosticism which taught that God did not directly create the world and that intuitive knowledge and not doctrine was the way for the soul to find salvation. St Serapion was also an inspiration to Christian during the early persecutions. He was a Martyr for the faith.

 This week pray a Rosary in his honor, his feast day is October 30 th.

Here is a picture of my Mother’s Rosary.

She will be 88 years old this week.  I love you Mom. 

A Saint is often an ordinary person who has lived an extraordinary life of virtue and faith. As Catholics we should use these exemplars to inspire us in our daily lives.

St..Pope Callistus I – (d. 222)

There is little known about the early life of this Pope and Martyr. It seems he had an interesting life with a bit of intrigue. He was a Christian slave in the imperial house of Rome. His owner made him the manager of a bank but he did not do well. He lost all of the bank’s money and fled in fear of his life. He was captured by his owner and imprisoned. He was released and attempted to regain the funds that had been lost but he caused more problems and was arrested again. This time he was sent to Sardinia to work as a prisoner in the mines, but once again he was released. After a time of retreat, he was appointed to manage the Cemetery that still bears his name in Rome. He became a deacon and was befriended by the Pope. After the Pope died he was elected Pope by both the clergy and people of Rome. This brought some enmity from Hippolytus who was also a candidate. He accused St Callistus of bending doctrine and relaxing the discipline of the Church. There was much debate and theological disagreement. Hippolytus created a schism, made himself bishop and became the first anti-pope. Hippolytus would later change his theology, reconcile with the Church, and become a Martyr and Saint. St. Pope Callistus experienced a similar end as he was Martyred during an uprising in Rome.

This week pray a Rosary in his honor, his feast day is October 14 th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjnK_NbkDvc&feature=youtu.be

A Saint is often an ordinary person who has lived an extraordinary life of virtue and faith. As Catholics we should use these exemplars to inspire us in our daily lives.

St. Jerome (345-420)

St Jerome was born in the city of Stridon, on the border of Dalmatia near the Adriatic Sea. His parents were affluent so he received a good education. He continued his education in Rome with a pagan scholar, Donatus. He would study Latin, Greek and the classics, which would serve him well later on. As a young man, he wandered from his early Christian roots and it took a sever sickness and a vision to return him to his early beliefs. He spent years in the desert as a hermit to purify himself. Noted as an effective writer and communicator, he again traveled to Rome where his talents were noticed by Pope Demasus. He became secretary to the Pope. After the Pope’s death, and due to his sharp personality and critical sense, he left Rome and traveled with St. Paula and her daughter Eustochium to Jerusalem, Egypt and Palestine. They established monasteries for men and women, a hospice and a free school in Bethlehem. His work included fighting early heresies, defending the Virginity of Mary and his ecclesiastical writings. He is best known for his translation of the Bible from Hebrew into Greek and what would become known as the Latin Vulgate Bible. It would become the scriptural authority of the Church. He was a scholar, defender of the faith and lived a life of simple purity. He was one of the greatest thinkers of the early Church and was named a Doctor of the Church.

This week pray a Rosary in his honor, his feast day is September 30 th

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