St. Caterine de Ricci Pics

The Mystical Marraige of St. Catherine dei Ricci:

Born in Florence, April 23, 1522, St. Catherine was Baptized Alessandra Lucrezia Romola; she became a Dominican nun, of the Third Order, though enclosed and died February 2, 1590. She is chiefly known to the world for her highly mystical and miraculous life, and especially as the subject of a marvelous, but fully and most carefully authenticated ecstasy, into which she was rapt every week, from Thursday at noon till 4 p.m. on Friday, for several years.

In this state she went through all the stages of Our Lord's Passion, actually realizing, and showing forth to others with wonderful vividness, all that His Blessed Mother suffered in witnessing it. Her father, Pier Francesco dei Ricci, was one of an old and respected family of bankers and merchants. Her mother of the Ricasoli family, died when she was a small child, and she was brought up by a devoted stepmother, Fiammetta da Diacceto.

The latter soon observed the child's unusual tendency to holiness, in particular, solitary prayer, and did her utmost to foster and develop it. While still a child, Alessandra resolved to join some strictly observant religious order; but the state of relaxation just then was so universal that it was long before she could find what she desired. Her vocation was finally decided during a stay at Prato, where she made acquaintance with the Dominican Convent of San Vincenzio, founded in 1503 by nine ladies who had been devoted followers of Savonarola.

Alessandra there found the spirit of religious fervour high enough to satisfy even her ideal; and, after some difficulties with her father, she entered the novtiate, was clothed in 1535 [taking the name of Catherine], and professed in 1536.

Both during her novitiate and for four-five years after profession, she was subjected to humiliating trials from the community, owing to their misunderstanding of some of the high supernatural favors she received; but her holiness and humility eventually triumphed. She was then appointed to one important office after another, finally remaining prioress or sub prioress till her death. During all these years, while conscientiously fulfilling every religious duty, she was feeling and showing keen interest in all her relations-----especially her brothers-----and in numerous friends and "spiritual children".

The great "Ecstasy of the Passion", above referred to, happened for the first time in February, 1542, and was renewed every week afterwards for twelve years, when it ceased in answer to the prayers of Catherine herself and the community. The fame of it was bringing so many people of every rank and calling to Prato that the peace and strict observance of the convent were suffering.

Catherine dei Ricci lived in an age of great Saints; among her contemporaries were St. Charles Borromeo, St. Philip Neri, and St. M. Magdalen de Pazzi. With the two last named she is said to have held in different ways, miraculous acquaintances, never having met them in a natural way. She was beatified in 1732 by Clement XII, after many delays in the process, and canonized by Benedict XIV in 1746 on both occasions amid great rejoicings at Prato, where her memory is always kept fresh.

The lineal descendants of her community still inhabit the convent of San Vincenzio [now commonly called Santa Caterina], and there her body still reposes. Her Feast is observed on February 13.

B16 Entertained By Circus Act & Meets Haitian Bishop

In this photo made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, right, greets Haiti's Bishop Pierre Dumas, left, during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010. (Daylife-AP)


Pictures courtesy of Daylife

CNA:

Vatican City, Feb 3, 2010 / 01:56 pm (CNA).- At the general audience this morning, the Holy Father was treated to a circus spectacular. Artists from the group "Circo Americano" pleasantly surprised everyone with a choreographed performance, which Pope Benedict happily applauded.

The Togni Family and their "Circo Americano" entertained Benedict XVI and the thousands of pilgrims on hand for the audience on Wednesday at St. Paul VI Hall. They took over the stage with their juggling and acrobatics routine set to disco music.

Upon reaching the end of the show, Pope Benedict thanked the more than 50 artists with kind words and a smile, encouraging them, along with a soccer club in attendance, "to work with generous commitment in your respective fields to contribute to building a better future for all."

Concluding the audience, the Holy Father also recalled the several martyrs' feast days will be celebrated this week and expressed his wish that "the courage of these heroic witnesses of Christ help you, dear young people, to open your hearts to the heroism of holiness; supports you, dear sick, to offer the precious gift of prayer and suffering for the Church; and that it gives to you, dear newlyweds, the strength to impress Christian values upon your families."

VIS:

VATICAN CITY, 3 FEB 2010 (VIS) - In today's general audience, held in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the Pope spoke about the life and work of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, or Dominican Order.

St. Dominic was born in Caleruega, near the Spanish city of Burgos, in the year 1170. While still a student he "distinguished himself for his interest in the study of Sacred Scriptures and his love for the poor". Having been ordained a priest he was elected as canon of the cathedral of Osma, however "he did not consider this as a personal privilege, nor as the first step in a brilliant ecclesiastical career; rather, as a service to be rendered with dedication and humility. Do not career and power represent a temptation to which even those who have roles of leadership and government in the Church are not immune?" the Pope asked.

He then explained how the bishop of Osma "soon noted Dominic's spiritual qualities and sought his collaboration. Together they travelled to northern Europe on diplomatic missions. ... On his journeys Dominic became aware of ... the existence of peoples still un-evangelised, ... and of the religious divides that weakened Christian life in the south of France, where the activity of certain heretical groups created disturbance and distanced people from the truth of the faith".

Pope Honorius III asked Dominic "to dedicate himself to preaching to the Albigensians" and he "enthusiastically accepted this mission, which he undertook through the example of his own life of poverty and austerity, through preaching the Gospel and through public discussions".

"Christ", the Pope went on, "is the most precious treasure that men and women of all times and places have the right to know and love! It is consoling to see how also in today's Church there are many people (pastors and lay faithful, members of ancient religious orders and of new ecclesial movements) who joyfully give their lives for the supreme ideal of announcing and bearing witness to the Gospel".

As more and more companions joined him, Dominic established his first house in the French city of Toulouse, from which the Order of Preachers came into being. "He adopted the ancient Rule of St. Augustine, adapting it to the requirements of an itinerant apostolic life in which he and his confreres would move from one place to another preaching, but always returning to their convents, places of study, prayer and community life".

St. Dominic, the Holy Father continued, "was keen that his followers should have a solid theological formation, and did not hesitate to send them to the universities of the time". There they dedicated themselves to the study of theology, "founded on Holy Scripture but respectful of the questions raised by reason".

The Pope encouraged everyone, "pastors and lay people, to cultivate this 'cultural dimension' of the faith, that the beauty of Christian truth may be better understood and the faith truly nourished, strengthened and defended. In this Year for Priests, I invite seminarians and priests to respect the spiritual value of study. The quality of priestly ministry also depends on the generosity with which we apply ourselves to studying revealed truths".

Dominic died in Bologna in 1221 and was canonised in 1234. "With his sanctity, he shows us two indispensable means for making apostolic activity more incisive", the Pope concluded; "firstly, Marian devotion", especially the praying of the Rosary "which his spiritual children had the great merit of popularising", and secondly, "the value of prayers of intercession for the success of apostolic work".

Plus, the excellent Pontifical Choir:

St. Dominic

St. Dominic:

The Martyrology gives the following: "At Bologna (upper Italy) the holy confessor Dominic, the saintly and learned founder of the Order of Preachers. He preserved his virginity inviolate and gained for himself the grace of raising three dead persons to life. By his word he crushed heresy in the bud and led many souls to piety and to religious life."

Born about 1175 in Castile (Spain), Dominic hailed from the illustrious Guzman family. First he was a canon regular at Osma; then he founded the Dominican Order, which was approved in 1216. Alongside the Franciscans, it became the most powerful Order in medieval times, giving the Church illustrious preachers — St. Vincent Ferrer, and contemplatives, Sts. Thomas of Aquinas and Pius V — and contributing immeasurably to maintaining the purity of the faith. Through the example of apostolic poverty and the preaching of the word of God the Friar Preachers were to lead men to Christ. To St. Dominic is attributed the origin and spread of the holy rosary.

The two contemporaries, Dominic and Francis, effected a tremendous spiritual rejuvenation through their own spiritual personalities and through their religious foundations. Of the two, Dominic was the realist who surpassed the other intellectually and in organizational talent. His spirit of moderation, clarity of thought, and burning zeal for souls have become the heritage of the Dominican Order.

Legend has contributed the following rare anecdote as preserved in the Breviary: "During pregnancy, Dominic's mother dreamed she was carrying in her womb a little dog that held a burning torch between its teeth; and when she had given birth, it set the whole world on fire. By this dream it was made manifest beforehand how Dominic would inflame the nations to the practice of Christian virtue through the brightness of his holy example and the fiery ardor of his preaching."

He died at Bologna upon hearing the liturgy's prayer for the dying: "Come, ye saints of God, hasten hither, ye angels!"