Saint of the Day for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014: St. Bibiana

Saint of the Day for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014

St. Bibiana

St. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr (Feast day – December 2nd) Other than the name, nothing is known for certain about this saint. However, we have the following account from a later tradition. In the … continue reading

More Saints of the Day

St. Bibiana St. Chromatius St. Eusebius St. Evasius

Bl. Ivan Sleziuk St. Lupus of Verona Bl. Maria Angela Astorch St. Pontian

today’s holiday/celebration: Manger Yam

Manger Yam

Manger Yam is a harvest celebration of the yam crop observed in Haiti. It is considered taboo to eat any of the new yams before the festival for fear of falling ill or bringing ruin to the yam crop. In Vodoun belief, it is very important for people to maintain relationships with the dead, as well as with each other and the gods, so the deceased are included in the Manger Yam. In the Vodoun service, the priest or priestess leads prayers to the dead and to the gods and offers the first yams to them. After the ceremony, people feast on yam dishes and enjoy music and dancing. More… Discuss

today’s holiday: Jizo Ennichi

Jizo Ennichi

Tradition calls for Japanese Buddhists to honor Kshitigarba Jizo on the 24th day of each month with a ritual known as Jizo Ennichi. Kshitigarba Jizo is a Bodhisattva, or “Buddha-to-be.” Among Japanese Buddhists, he is known for helping children, women in labor, and the wicked. He is also believed to participate in ushering in the souls of the faithful when they die. His statue is most often found outside temples, where he can guide both the dead and the living. Shrines in his honor are set up along roadsides, since he protects travelers as well. More… Discuss

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today’s holiday/Feast of Saint: Feast of St. Frances Cabrini

Feast of St. Frances Cabrini

The first American citizen to be proclaimed a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, Francesca Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) was born in Italy. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1880 and went on to establish orphanages, schools, and hospitals in many American cities, as well as in Europe and South America. She was canonized on July 7, 1946. Her feast day is commemorated in many places, but particularly at Mother Cabrini High School in New York City, in whose chapel she is buried, and at every establishment of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. More… Discuss
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More Saints of the Day

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini St. Abbo St. Arcadius and Companions Bl. Vincent Bossilkov St. Brice St. Caillin St. Chillien St. Dalmatius of Rodez

St. Devinicus St. Didacus St. Gredifael St. Homobonus St. Maxellendis St. Mitrius St. Quintian

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today’s holiday: Guatemala All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

Guatemala All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

Throughout Latin America, All Saints’ Day, November 1, and All Souls’ Day, November 2, are treated like a single holiday. In Guatemala, the villagers of Todos Santos stretch these celebrations honoring the dead into a three-day-long affair by adding October 31. The highlight of the festival is the wild horse races, in which many of the riders have been drinking since the previous night. In the town of Santiago Sacatepéquez, people fly huge kites in the graveyard, and many attach prayers and notes for their deceased loved ones to the kites’ tails. More… Discuss