Illuminated by Joy - a Group for Catholic Teens discussion

Here is the saint Advent Calendar! Come here each day and find a new saint with inspiring quotes!

1: St Edmund Campion.
St Edmund was a martyr for the faith in England during the persecution of Catholics under Elizabeth.
"To be a Catholic
is my greatest glory.”
"Between optimism and pessimism, is confidence in God"
"We human beings are story-tellers, we pass on our values through the stories we tell. This is particularly true of Catholics, who get their identity through their histories, which they see as salvation history linking them to the saving actions of Christ. So, for Catholics, doing history – passing on the values by telling stories – is a pastoral imperative. We must look where we have been in order to know where we are going.”

I love St. Edmund Campion! Benson tells the story of his martyrdom in By What Authority-it is really so touching. When they condemned him to death, he said, "In condemning us, you condemn all your own ancestors, all our ancient bishops and kings, all that was once the glory of England—the island of saints, and the most devoted child of the See of Peter."
Here is the account of his martrydom from the book:
"'Spectaculum facti sumus Deo, angelis et hominibus.' These are the words of Saint Paul, Englished thus, 'We are made a spectacle or sight unto God, unto His angels, and unto men';—verified this day in me, who am here a spectacle unto my Lord God, a spectacle unto His angels, and unto you men, satisfying myself to die as becometh a true Christian and Catholic man."

He was interrupted by cries from the gentlemen beneath, and turned a little, looking down to see what they wished.

"You are not here to preach to the people," said Sir Francis Knowles, angrily, "but to confess yourself a traitor."

Campion smiled and shook his head.

"No, no," he said: and then looking up and raising his voice,—"as to the treasons which have been laid to my charge, and for which I am come here to suffer, I desire you all to bear witness with me, that I am thereof altogether innocent."

There was a chorus of anger from the gentlemen, and one of them called up something that Anthony could not hear. Campion raised his eyebrows.

"Well, my lord," he cried aloud, and his voice instantly silenced again the noisy buzz of talk, "I am a Catholic man and a priest: in that faith have I lived, and in that faith do I intend to die. If you esteem my religion treason, then am I guilty; as for other treason, I never committed any, God is my judge. But you have now what you desire. I beseech you to have patience, and suffer me to speak a word or two for discharge of my conscience."

There was a furious burst of refusals from the officers.

"Well," said Campion, at last, looking straight out over the crowd, "it seems I may not speak; but this only will I say; that I am wholly innocent of all treason and conspiracy, as God is my judge; and I beseech you to credit me, for it is my last answer upon my death and soul. As for the jury I do not blame them, for they were ignorant men and easily deceived. I forgive all who have compassed my death or wronged me in any whit, as I hope to be forgiven; and I ask the forgiveness of all those whose names I spoke upon the rack."

Then he said a word or two more of explanation, such as he had said during his trial, for the sake of those Catholics whom this a concession of his had scandalised, telling them that he had had the promise of the Council that no harm should come to those whose names he revealed; and then was silent again, closing his eyes; and Anthony, as he watched him, saw his lips moving once more in prayer.

Then a harsh loud voice from behind the cart began to proclaim that the Queen punished no man for religion but only for treason. A fierce murmur of disagreement and protest began to rise from the crowd; and Anthony turning saw the faces of many near him frowning and pursing their lips, and there was a shout or two of denial here and there. The harsh voice ceased, and another began:

"Now, Mr. Campion," it cried, "tell us, What of the Pope? Do you renounce him?"

Campion opened his eyes and looked round.

"I am a Catholic," he said simply; and closed his eyes again for prayer, as the voice cried brutally:

"In your Catholicism all treason is contained."

Again a murmur from the crowd.

Then a new voice from the black group of ministers called out:

"Mr. Campion, Mr. Campion, leave that popish stuff, and say, 'Christ have mercy on me.'"

Again the priest opened his eyes.

"You and I are not one in religion, sir, wherefore I pray you content yourself. I bar none of prayer, but I only desire them of the household of faith to pray with me; and in mine agony to say one creed."

Again he closed his eyes.

"Pater noster qui es in cælis."...

"Pray in English, pray in English!" shouted a voice from the minister's group.

Once more the priest opened his eyes; and, in spite of the badgering, his eyes shone with humour and his mouth broke into smiles, so that a great sob of pity and love broke from Anthony.

"I will pray to God in a language that both He and I well understand."

"Ask her Grace's forgiveness, Mr. Campion, and pray for her, if you be her true subject."

"Wherein have I offended her? In this I am innocent. This is my last speech; in this give me credit—I have and do pray for her."

"Aha! but which queen?—for Elizabeth?"

"Ay, for Elizabeth, your queen and my queen, unto whom I wish a long quiet reign with all prosperity."

There was the crack of a whip, the scuffle of a horse's feet, a rippling movement over the crowd, and a great murmured roar, like the roar of the waves on a pebbly beach, as the horse's head began to move forward; and the priest's figure to sway and stagger on the jolting cart. Anthony shut his eyes, and the murmur and cries of the crowd grew louder and louder. Once more the deep sweet voice rang out, loud and penetrating:

"I die a true Catholic...."

Anthony kept his eyes closed, and his head bent, as great sobs began to break up out of his heart....

Ah! he was in his agony now! that sudden cry and silence from the crowd showed it. What was it he had asked? one creed?—

"I believe in God the Father Almighty." ...

The soft heavy murmur of the crowd rose and fell. Catholics were praying all round him, reckless with love and pity:

"Jesu, Jesu, save him! Be to him a Jesus!"...

"Mary pray! Mary pray!"...

"Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem."...

"Passus sub Pontio Pilato."...

"Crucified dead and buried."...

"The forgiveness of sins."...

"And the Life Everlasting."...

Anthony dropped his face forward on to his horse's mane.

I love By What Authority!!!! It's one of my favourite books ever!!
It is so beautiful.
Thanks for posting it Clare!

Hmm, yes I have been meaning to read By What Authority, but have not yet got around to it.
Did you know I read somewhere that, ''Unlike her Catholic sister, Bloody Mary, Elisabeth tried to be tolerant of other religions, especially Catholicism. However, once they started plotting against her, this proved to be impossible.''
What I don't get, is why Mary I is called Bloody Mary, and not Elisabeth Bloody Bess or something. Elisabeth actually tortured and killed over four hundred Catholics, whereas Mary only executed one hundred and fifty Protestants.

Most people are quite ridiculous about "England's Golden Age".

Yeah I totally agree!!! Don't get me started about misinformation about the Inquisition and Reformation...😅

And yes, Elisabeth!! By What Authority is one of my favorite books ever too!!

Plenty of rant material there.

It is the best!

2:
The feast day of St. Bibiana is celebrated on December 2. She was a virgin and a martyr in the year 361.



St. Bibiana was born in Rome. Her father was a knight, whose name was Flavian. Her mother’s name was Dafrosa. When Apronianus was named the Governor of Rome he persecuted the Christians mercilessly. Flavian was arrested and tortured. He fled into exile where he died from his wounds. Bibiana’s mother, Dafrosa, was beheaded.

Bibiana and her sister Demetria were robbed of all their possessions leaving them in poverty. They did however, stay in their house, spending much time in prayer.

They were summoned by Apronianus. Demetria confessed her Faith and then fell dead at the governors feet. Bibiana was given to a woman named Rufina who tortured her unsuccessfully. Apronianus ordered her to be tied to a pillar and beaten with scourges laden with lead plummets until she died. St. Bibiana endured the torture with joy until her death.

Two days later, a priest buried her next to her mother and sister. A church was built over her grave.

St Bibiana, pray for us!
Source: https://catholicfaithpatronsaints.com...

3
St Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier, venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was a Navarrese Catholic missionary and saint who was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus
“Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians.”
"Prayer is powerful!
It fills the earth with mercy,
it makes the Divine clemency
pass from generation to generation,
right along the course of the centuries.
wonderful works have been achieved.
through prayer.”

4
St Barbara
The feast day of St. Barbara is celebrated on December 4. She is one of the Holy Helpers who are known for the healing power of prayer. She is invoked to prevent sudden death.

St. Barbara was a virgin and a martyr. She lived in Sicily in the third century. Her father was a wealthy Syrian. When his wife died he devoted himself to his only daughter. Because Barbara was so beautiful, her father (Dioscorus) decided he needed to protect her from strangers and built her a tower. She was educated by pagan tutors.

From the tower, Barbara had a wonderful view of the meadows, hills and river. She developed a spirituality which focused on the beauty of creation by our creator. She also decided to devote herself to God and to remain a virgin. Because of her beauty she had many suitors, but she refused to marry.

Barbara’s father wanted her to marry, so he decided to let her come down from the tower and socialize. Barbara became friends with some Christians. While her father was away she was baptized after being instructed in the faith by a priest.

At the time, a bathhouse was being built on their property. It had two windows. Barbara requested a third window to create a trinity of light. Barbara traced the sign of the cross on one of the walls and it left an imprint on the marble. The water in the bathhouse became known for its healing power.

When her father returned from his traveling, he was furious to learn Barbara had converted to Christianity. He became enraged and almost struck her with a sword. Barbara fled into the hills and hid in a cave. She was eventually found and severely beaten. She was then turned over to the city prefect. Barbara was then tortured and had her wounds rubbed with a hair cloth. During the night, after praying for relief, Jesus appeared to her and healed them. The next day she was beaten again. A woman in the crown named Juliana denounced the torturers and she was also seized and tortured.

Barbara and Juliana were both tortured and paraded through town naked. An angel appeared after hearing Barbara’s prayers and gave them splendid robes. Both Barbara and Juliana were beheaded. St. Barbara was beheaded by her own father. Immediately, after the execution, he was struck by lightning.

The relics of St. Barbara were moved in the sixth century to Constantinople. Six hundred years later they were moved to Kiev.

St. Barbara is known for protecting against sudden death.

5
Today is the feast day of St. Sabas. Sabas was born in 439 in Mutalaska, Cappadocia (modern day Turkey). Sabas had a very unhappy childhood because of the abuse he received from his family and tried running away several times. One time, he ran away to a monastery. His family tried to persuade him to come home, but Sabas would not come home because he loved monastic life. Even though he was the youngest one in the monastery, he was very virtuous. When he was 18, Sabas went to Jerusalem to try to live a more solitary life. He first lived in a monastery where he worked most of the day and prayed during the night because he was regarded as too young to live completely as a hermit. At 30, he was allowed to spend five day a week in a cave where he wove baskets and prayed. After St. Euthymius, his mentor, died Sabas moved into the deserts of Jericho. He lived there for several years and gained a group of 150 followers. He was ordained a priest in 491. He preached throughout Palestine, and converted many. At the age of 91, he journeyed to Constantinople to ask Emperor Justinian to suppress a Samaritan revolt. After his trip, he fell ill and died in the monastery of Mar Saba (which is still standing and used today by monks of the Eastern Orthodox Church) in 1591.