Something to honour the Octave of All Saints

[pmcleanj]

Most of us, I believe, will not have had our All Saints worship yet, as (unfortunately!) most of us don't have access to weekday services. All Saints Sunday is designated as the Sunday in the Octave (and for those of us who keep it -- mostly CCM parishes or sojourners like me -- that conveniently leaves the Sunday before All Saints free to be Reformation Sunday, with no conflicts).

So, while we celebrate this Octave, why not prepare for Sunday's worship by remembering each day a favourite Saint, and listing them here. (If you want, you can take two today, since we missed yesterday). If you like, tell your favourite Saint's story, mention his or her name-day, and/or describe how he or she is iconographically depicted.

Who'll play with me?

Oh -- another thought. Since all believers are saints, in each post you may also want to commemorate one of the saints who has personally witnessed to you: a departed grandparent, catechist, mentor, elder, evangelist or witness -- or even a still-living saint.

[Songspinner]

Well I would have to mention My Patron St. Michael the Archangel...Captain of Gods Army...How cool is that

[pmcleanj]

Well I would have to mention My Patron St. Michael the Archangel...Captain of Gods Army...How cool is that
And his festival day, September 29. A lot of our hallowe'en customs are actually borrowed from Michaelmas, which is also traditionally the start of the fall school term. It was Michael who cast the beast out of heaven.

On Michaelmas, my daughters dress up in mummer's gowns (kept in a styrene box in the basement and taken out only for this purpose) and act out their current version of the Battle of Heaven -- or whatever other Saint's tale or drama takes their fancy. Their adherence to strict literalism is loose at best on these occasions. There's always a new set of school clothes for a Michaelmas gift. And we make a huge dragon-shaped pastry, and "help out" the archangel by defeating the dragon with our teeth!

Here's a picture of such a dragon, complete with four heavenly warriors assisting in its defeat:http://www.logrus.ca/PhotoAlbum/2004Michaelmas/IMGP1203.JPG

[pmcleanj]

Saint Martha, patron (matron?) Saint of Canadian Engineers.

Everyone knows the story of how Martha, frustrated by Mary's indifference to the demands of housekeeping, took her complaints to the Lord for support, and heard instead that Mary's was "the better part". This is the theme of Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Sons of Martha" -- usually read to Canadian Engineers before they make their Iron Ring obligation (a service oath similar to the Hippocratic Oath or the Florence Nightengale Oath made by members of the medical professions). "The Sons of Martha" declares that it's the job of engineers to take care of the dangerous and messy details of life that let "the Sons of Mary" get on with "the better part".

A lesser known story of Saint Martha is of her taming a dragon. Like other members of the Johannine branch of the infant church, Martha is said to have become a missionary, and is said to have travelled to Marseilles, where the town (actually, two or three different towns lay claim to these events) was being terrified by a fearsome dragon. Martha courageously confronted the dragon and -- unlike Saint George who simply slew such things! -- preached the Gospel to it, so that it was tamed and returned with her to the town, tied to her apron strings. When I tell this story to my daughters, I usually point out that her reknowned housekeeping skills probably included baking cookies, which may have played as much of a role in the dragon's conversion, as her sweet voice and fearless evangelism. After all, who wants to eat virgins when they can eat gingersnaps?

I don't know what the traditional iconography for Saint Martha is, but we usually show her in an apron, with a dragon peaking out from behind her skirts. Saint Martha's day is July 29.

[Bonifatius]

Most of us, I believe, will not have had our All Saints worship yet, as (unfortunately!) most of us don't have access to weekday services.


Hi PMCLEANJ,

as All Saints is a public holiday in this part of the world I had enough time to go to Mass. :P :P :P

I went to a cathedral church of St. Peter in Fritzlar which was founded by St. Bonifatius (or Winfrith) in the 8th century. Bonifatius was born in Wessex (England) and came as an Anglosaxon missionary to Germany to evangelize the pagan Germans in central Germany. After preaching and baptizing thousands of Germans and laying the foundations of several German dioceses he was murdered by Frisians 1250 years ago in 754 near Dokkum (Netherlands). He is also called "Apostle of the Germans".

The feast of St. Bonifatius is celebrated on June 5.

Greetings
Bonifatius

[Songspinner]

Pmjclean...I love the dragon...we always have a potluck on Michaelmas to celebrate...I know what I'm bringing next year!! :thumbsup:

[pmcleanj]

Pmjclean...I love the dragon...we always have a potluck on Michaelmas to celebrate...I know what I'm bringing next year!! :thumbsup:
Thanks! The best part is that it's really easy to make. The secret to its realism (can anything respecting a dragon be "realistic"?) is to give it scales all over of sliced almonds. Children are great at that part.

To make the body, just roll out a large equilateral triangle of pastry, about half a metre tall (give or take). Pile the pie-filling down the centre-line of the triangle, fold the two sides to the middle, and pinch together so there's a spine running along what has just become the centre-back. With kitchen-scissors, cut the spine of pastry into triangular spine-plates. Pinch flat along the base of the triangle.

You now have a sort of tapering, fruit-stuffed pastry-wrapped sausage. Carefully lift it onto a baking sheet, arranging it sinuously. Make and add wings, eye-horns, feet, out of scrap pastry. Stud it all over with almond-scales, and add eyes from raisins or other small fruits. Ta-da!

[LADY DI]

pmcleanj, I love the wonderful things you do with your children on these special holidays!!!!

St. Michael has been mentioned--my oldest son Michaels' favorite saint.

My son Nicolas' would be St. Nicholas


ST. NICHOLAS OF MYRA

Nicholas was born in Patara ( a small village in what is now modern Turkey ) in 260 a.d. He was orphaned at an early age. His parents had raised him to be a devout Christian. While still young Nicholas obeying Jesus' teaching 'to sell all thy possessions and give to the poor', Nicholas used his whole inhertance to assist the needy, the sick and those who suffered.
He dedicated his life to serving God and was eventually made Bishop of Myra while he was still a young man.
Upon hearing that a man with three daughters fell on hard times and couldn't provide a dowry was planning to sell his daughters into prostitution, Nicholas went by night to the house and threw three bags of gold into the window, saving them ( the girls ) from a terrible life.
Under the emperor Diocletian, who persecuted Christians ruthlessly,Nicholas was one of those who suffered for his faith. Nicholas was exiled, tortured and imprisoned.
Later he was freed by the Emperor Constantine. After his release, Nicholas attended the council of Nicaea in 325 a.d. He died in December 6 a.d. 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance was to have healing powers, which fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.
Later the city of Myra was taken by the Saracens in 1034. The Italians rallied to gather his relics, which they buried in the Italian city of Bari, on the west coast of Italy, and where they can be found today.
There are thousands of churches named in his honor.

[TomUK]

My mention is to St Alban, the first English Martyr
The commonly received account of the martyrdom of St. Alban meets us as early as the pages of Bede's "Ecclesiastical History" (Bk. I, chs. vii and xviii). According to this, St. Alban was a pagan living at Verulamium (now the town of St. Albans in Hertfordshire), when a persecution of the Christians broke out, and a certain cleric flying for his life took refuge in Alban's house. Alban sheltered him, and after some days, moved by his example, himself received baptism. Later on, when the governor's emissaries came to search the house, Alban disguised himself in the cloak of his guest and gave himself up in his place. He was dragged before the judge, scourged, and, when he would not deny his faith, condemned to death. On the way to the place of execution Alban arrested the waters of a river so that they crossed dry-shod, and he further caused a fountain of water to flow on the summit of the hill on which he was beheaded. His executioner was converted, and the man who replaced him, after striking the fatal blow, was punished with blindness.

[AveMaria]

This is an awesome thread! I'll be sure to check in with one of my favorite saints, soon. And I LOVE the picture of the dragon-pastry!

[pmcleanj]

Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia

Saint Elisabeth was a mediaeval noblewoman, who chose, while remaining a countess and continuing in her duties as such, to live with the simplicity of a peasant. She refused to eat any food that was not freely given, which meant that while others in her castle feasted on goods wrested from the peasantry as taxation she often went without food. She founded a hospital for the poor, and worked in it herself caring for the lowliest of patients.

It is said that she gave so much in charity to the poor of her district, that her husband the count forbade her to continue in such giving. Nonetheless, hearing of a poor family in desperate need, shee filled her apron with loaves of bread and crept out of the castle. Her husband, overtaking her, demanded to know what was in her apron. "Roses", she replied. And when he demanded that she show him, she opened her apron and it was indeed filled with roses, miraculously transformed from the bread. Whereupon knowing that God had, by his miracle, saved her from the disobedience of lying to her husband, she confessed that she had been taking bread to the poor, and received his permission to continue.

A musical, “Elisabeth of Thuringia” by Hermann Schulze Berndt (text) and Peter Janssens (music)celebrates the life of Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia. Saint Elisabeth's day is November 17 or November 19. She is usually shown with an apron full of roses.

[Bonifatius]

Hi PCMCLEANJ,

thanks for your posting about St. Elisabeth!!!!!! I have lived for three years in Marburg (central Germany) where she lived and died. There is a beautiful church of St. Elisabeth which was the centra point of a medieval pilgrimage (she was the most popular German saint in the late middle ages!) and a magnificent golden relic shrine. During Reformation this church became Protestant and the duke of Hesse took her bones and threw them into the nearby river (the Lahn) because he didn't like the idea of venerating the saints. How sad!

[Father Rick]

St. Thomas More (of course) patron saint of lawyers, politicians, adopted children, large families, and difficult marriages.

STM was the chancellor of England who refused to agree with Henry VIII when he wanted a divorce and started the Anglican church (oops!.. this is the Anglican forum)

The main thing is that he stood up for the sanctity of marriage and the family. He was a widower with children who married a widow with children and together they raised a huge family (the original Brady Bunch!)

[Bonifatius]

STM was the chancellor of England who refused to agree with Henry VIII when he wanted a divorce and started the Anglican church (oops!.. this is the Anglican forum)

:)

Don't worry, Father Rick, we'll burn you at the stake for this remark :D :D :D
(remember, remember, the 5th of November ...)

Happy Guy Fawkes Day to you all! :wave:

Greetings
Bonifatius

[LADY DI]

pmcleanj, I love the stories of St. Martha and St. Elizabeth---where did you find them?? Are they in a certain book???

[pmcleanj]

pmcleanj, I love the stories of St. Martha and St. Elizabeth---where did you find them?? Are they in a certain book???
I did read a lovely novelization of the life of Saint Elisabeth. It was in a stack of casual reading that came from the library and went back, and I didn't notice either the title or the author, but the story stuck with me. Saint Martha, I think I learned about orally, probably during one or another event during the Ecumenical Decade of the Churches in Solidarity with Women.

[pmcleanj]

Saint John the Evangelist

Among the first of the apostles to be called by Christ, John became known as "the beloved disciple". The only disciple to remain beside Jesus at the foot of the cross, John received Jesus command to take the Blessed Virgin into his home and care for her as his own mother. The church in that household grew to include many of Jesus close friends and family, among them Mary and Martha and Lazarus and Saint Joseph of Arimethea.

Missionaries sent out from the Johannine church brought the Gospel to coastal western Europe during the first century. In the inner Hebrides, an ancient Lord of the Isles adopted the patronym "Mac ghille Eothain", or "The Son of John's Servant" in honour of the Johannine missionary, or "servant of John" who led him to Christ. The name is proudly carried by the Mac 'l' E'an clan today. These Johannine missionaries brought with them a mystic spirituality that proved deeply compatible with the indiginous Celtic spirituality of Northwestern Europe.They can be creditted with founding the original Anglican church(;) are you listening Father Rick?), which survived both the papally sponsored invasion by the Plantagenets, and the subsequent repudiation of papal power under the Tudors. Many in the Celtic church today continue to consider themselves Johannine, as distinct from the Petrine church centred in Rome. This deep reverence for Saint John was cemented in England by Saint Edward the Confessor, who himself deeply reverenced the Evangelist.

The gospel of John, written near the end of his life, is distinct from the other three gospels in that, rather than giving a synopsis of Jesus life, it attempts to illustrate at a spiritual, mystic level, who Jesus was. In the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary, we read the Gospel of John every year during high feasts and festal seasons (the synoptic Gospels are read during ordinary time, a different one during each year of the three-year cycle).

Saint John is depicted carrying a cup to signify his sharing in the cup of Christ's sacrifice (and to some, in oblique reference to his sending the Grail to England in the hands of Saint Joseph of Arimethea), and accompanied by an Eagle as a symbol of his role as evangelist. His feast day is December 27 and he is a "White Saint" -- the paraments and vestments for his feast are white rather than red -- because he was not martyred.

[Father Rick]

(;) are you listening Father Rick?), **Father Rick sticks his fingers in both ears**

I can't hear you!

[Father Rick]

St. Francis of Assisi...

For a life of compassion

[Songspinner]

St. Francis of Assisi...

For a life of compassion



:thumbsup: Most definaltly... i love the stories of the "new madness" and the spinning monks

[pmcleanj]

Saint Hild of Whitby

Another "White Saint", this one native to Northumbria, where the ancient Celtic Christianity -- already several hundred years old by Hild's time, was engaged in evangelising the influx of invading pagan Anglo-Saxons.

Hild established a double monastery, of both monks and nuns: each in their own house with a chapel between the two houses, and Hild as abbess ruling both houses. The Abbey of Whitby was the most renouned house of learning in Britain, and hosted the Council of Whitby at which Northumbria and most of southern Britain agreed to abandon their Celtic liturgies and praxis in favour of standardizing with the new practices being brought into Britain from the continent.

Hild herself preferred the Celtic liturgy, but for the sake of peace and agreement within the church accepted the Council's decision.

A patron of learning and the arts, Hild mentored the famous Anglo-Saxon poet Caedmon, who created metrical paraphrases of several Biblical passages. She counselled kings as well as commoners, and is remembered as peacemaker and scholar.

Saint Hild's Day is November 18th. She is depicted wearing a nun's veil and carrying an abbess's crook in one hand; and often carrying the Abbey of Whitby in the other hand.