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Contents1 Why is Mary called a queen?2 Encyclical Letter Ad Caeli Reginam3 Why August 22?4 How does Mary exercise this kingship of service and love? On August 22, we celebrate the Coronation of the Virgin, Mother of Jesus. What is the origin of this feast,…
Discover how the inventions of monks fostered technological and scientific development in medieval Europe and passed down ancient, valuable knowledge. We often hear the Middle Ages described as a dark era, during which technological progress and artistic development came to a halt, and widespread barbarism…
We have recounted the story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany in an article dedicated to friendship. Indeed, for Jesus, having friends was as important as it is for anyone. Yet, the story of the resurrection of Lazarus narrated in John 11:1-45 is much more than a simple tale of friendship. In fact, the theme of friendship takes a back seat since Lazarus does not speak, and the whole scene is dominated by Jesus, who, called by the two sisters of his friend to save him from the illness that had struck him and finding him already dead for four days, invokes the power of God the Father to bring him back to life. Yet, the love Jesus had for Lazarus is undeniable: Christ bursts into tears in front of Lazarus’s tomb, is troubled and moved by Mary’s despair, his sister, who begs Him to save her brother, while Martha, as always, remains confined at home, the guardian of the family and the shelter it provides.
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus: Friends of Jesus
On July 29, the memory of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany is celebrated. Here’s why…
John’s choice to recount this episode, which appears only in the Gospel bearing his name and is not mentioned in the other Gospels, has a deeper, symbolic, and prophetic significance. It is precisely at the moment when Jesus goes to Bethany and resurrects Lazarus that His destiny is fulfilled. By showing His power before the many Jews who had come to mourn the man’s death, Jesus reveals Himself, no longer masked, without limitations. From this moment on, He will become a target for His enemies. He consciously chooses to go to Judea, although He knows they hate Him there. The disciples indeed try to dissuade Him: “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” (John 11:8). But He has already made His choice.
He admits it Himself shortly after: “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’” (John 11:41-42)
In this perspective, the Resurrection of Lazarus becomes, like and even more than the other miracles, a demonstration by Jesus of the reason for His presence in the world, a declaration of intent that also becomes a message from God.
It is also significant that Jesus does not leave for Bethany as soon as He receives news of Lazarus’s condition. He waits two days, leaving only on the third day, and in this choice by the Evangelist John, we read a clear prophetic intention: the third day will be the one chosen for departure, just as the third day will be the one on which Christ will resurrect.
Jesus goes to the tomb followed by His disciples. “Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep; but I go to awaken him” (John 11:11). It is not a simple journey from one place to another; it is a point of no return crossed by the Savior, in the full awareness that He cannot turn back from this point onward. He waited two days because Lazarus’s death was instrumental to what He had in mind to accomplish; it was a necessary sacrifice to activate the disciples’ faith, to push them to believe. From here on, the Gospel of John accelerates, as if an irreversible mechanism has been triggered, a chain of increasingly close and frantic events destined to culminate in the Passion and death of Jesus.
The invitation that Jesus addresses to Lazarus, “Rise and come out” (John 11:43), is the fulfilment of what He had promised Martha: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’” (John 11:25-26)
From this point on, nothing can ever be the same.
The events of the Passion of Jesus: from the Last Supper to His Crucifixion
The Passion of Jesus is the highest and most terrible moment of his…
The resurrection of Lazarus has inspired many artists over the centuries. In particular, Caravaggio created a splendid painting in 1609 depicting this episode from the Gospel of John. The work, housed in the Regional Museum of Messina, was commissioned to the artist, just escaped from the prisons of Malta, by a Genoese merchant, Giovanni Battista de’ Lazzari. It is a painting of overwhelming realism, shrouded in a dark gloom, in which the figure of Lazarus, bathed in the divine light evoked by Christ, emerges with dramatic beauty and intensity, arms outstretched in a gesture that recalls the Cross. Legend has it that to portray the body of Lazarus, the famous painter demanded a real cadaver held up by porters.
The Fisherman’s ring is one of the oldest traditions related to the election of the pope. How is it made and what is it for? Few objects related to the religion and rites of Catholicism express a symbolic value and a fullness of meaning and…
On July 29, the memory of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany is celebrated. Here’s why these saints were among Jesus’ dearest friends. In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 30 as the International Day of Friendship. The goal of this observance is…
It is not easy to list all the feasts dedicated to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The devotion shown to her by the faithful has always manifested in various ways within the Catholic Church. The numerous Marian feasts that punctuate the Catholic calendar are moments when devotional acts, prayers, the recitation of the Rosary, and all expressions of faith and affection for the figure of the Mother of God take on a broader dimension that embraces all believers. It is hard to determine whether popular devotion to the Virgin, veneration offered by her humblest children, who have always turned to her, pleading and weeping for the comfort only a mother can provide, or the theology composed on Mary by great scholars and Church Fathers came first. Already in the Gospel of Luke, Mary is identified by the Archangel Gabriel as the “recipient of divine favour and grace” (Luke 1:28), and it is made clear from the outset that “the Lord is with her” (Luke 1:28).
The Catholic Church further ennobled her figure over the centuries, attributing to her the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception, at the centre of controversies for centuries and finally proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854 with the bull Ineffabilis Deus, and the Assumption, already recognized since the 5th century AD in popular devotion and proclaimed in 1950 by Pope Pius XII with the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. The veneration of Mary, recognized by dogma as the Mother of God since the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) and defined as the mother of the Church in the Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), has always been greatly encouraged. Certainly, it has never lost its character of affection and supplication, as no other figure in the history of Christianity has been able to embody mercy and the will to help and protect people, especially in times of greatest difficulty, like Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of all humanity.
In the past, we have virtually traveled among the many shrines dedicated to Our Lady in Italy, true beating hearts of this devotion, each with its own characteristics, its own history, and its own modes of worship. We have focused on Marian titles, the many names attributed to the Virgin over the centuries, and we have traced the apparitions of the Virgin around the world, from Loreto to Czestochowa, from Fatima to Lourdes to Guadalupe. As summer progresses and we approach the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) and that of the Coronation of Mary (22 August), we also want to focus on the main Marian Feasts, the special days dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin in the calendar. We have already dedicated an article to the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, instituted by Pope Francis in 2018. Let’s see which other important Marian feasts and observances there are. Although May is considered the Marian month par excellence, just as October is the month of the Holy Rosary, we will see that the feasts of Our Lady span the entire calendar.
Marian Titles: what are they and how many are all the names dedicated to Mary
Marian Titles: all the appellations with which Mary, mother of Jesus…
Traditionally, the month of January is dedicated to the Infant Jesus and particularly to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, but on 1 January, Mary Most Holy, Mother of God is celebrated, referring to the Divine Maternity of Mary, connecting to the dogma of Mary Theotokos, Mother of God. This dogma was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, during which it was debated whether the Madonna was only Christotokos, Mother of Jesus-Man, or also Theotokos, Mother of God. Initially fixed in October, the celebration of Mary, Mother of God was moved in 1969 to 1 January, a date already celebrated in the past as the Nativity of St. Mary, which later disappeared.
On 11 February, the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin to Bernadette Soubirous, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated. It was on 11 February 1858 that the girl claimed to have encountered, in the grotto of Massabielle, the “lady dressed in white,” destined to give rise to one of the most famous and heartfelt Marian devotions in the world and to transform that grotto into one of the main pilgrimage sites for Catholics.
On 25 March, the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated. Celebrated by both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, it is one of the Feasts of the Lord and thus dedicated to Jesus, but equally to His mother Mary. It commemorates the encounter between Mary and the Archangel Gabriel when the angel announced to the Virgin the coming of the Messiah and she accepted the role that God had chosen for her in the events to come.
Like the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, that of Our Lady of Fatima commemorates the first apparition of the latter, which took place on 13 May 1917. This time, the miraculous encounter involved three shepherd children from Aljustrel. Subsequent encounters occurred on the 13th of each month, and after various vicissitudes, the cult of Our Lady of Fatima was recognized and legitimized by the Church in 1930. To the three shepherd children, the Madonna revealed the so-called three secrets of Fatima, and generally conveyed a message of peace and a call to prayer.
Our Lady of Fatima: Penance and prayer are salvation
On 13 May we celebrate the Madonna of Fatima. Her invitation to penance and prayer as instruments of salvation today…
The Patronal Feast of the Virgin Mary Most Holy Mater Domini is one of the most important events in the city of Laterza, in the province of Taranto. On 20 May, the statue of the Virgin Mary Most Holy Mater Domini, Mary Mother of God, kept in the Sanctuary of Laterza, is carried in procession to the Mother Church of St. Lawrence. This ancient patronal feast is very dear to the inhabitants of Laterza, but also attracts pilgrims and curious visitors from Campania, Basilicata, and Lazio. The procession, named Peregrinatio Mariae, was first instituted in 1985.
The liturgical feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on 31 May and commemorates the meeting between Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary as narrated in the Gospel of Luke. Mary had just received the Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel and went to Judea to visit her relative Elizabeth, who had conceived in her old age. When Elizabeth saw her, the child in her womb, who would become John the Baptist, leaped, and Elizabeth greeted Mary as the future mother of the Saviour. On that occasion, the Madonna also expressed her gratitude to God with the canticle contained in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, known as the Magnificat.
The Marian title of Mary, Mother of the Church, Mater Ecclesiae, was long debated, but only in March 2018 did Pope Francis decree the obligatory celebration of the liturgical memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church on the Monday after Pentecost. This feast celebrates Mary’s dual role as Mother of God and Mother of the Church.
Pentecost: the day when we celebrate the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church
Pentecost is perhaps, after Easter, one of the most important festivities…
The observance of the Immaculate Heart of Mary varies each year but always falls the day after the celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The feast is recent, as it was Pope Pius XII who consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1942, following the celebrations in honour of the Apparitions of Fatima, and two years later, in 1944, instituted the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
On 16 July, the apparition of the Mother of Jesus on Mount Carmel to Simon Stock, then prior general of the Carmelites, is celebrated. It was 16 July 1251 when the Virgin appeared to the man, handing him a scapular and promising that anyone who died wearing it would be saved. This episode gave rise to the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the scapular remains today for the Carmelites the symbol of Mary’s maternal protection.
On 5 August 352 AD, the Madonna appeared to Pope Liberius and instructed him to build a church at the point where the following morning he would find snow. Thus, after a miraculous snowfall in August, the Basilica of St. Mary Major was born, one of the four papal basilicas of Rome, located on the Esquiline Hill. It is also the oldest Marian shrine in the West, dedicated to Mary, Mother of God.
15 August is the day of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. Although the dogma of the Assumption, according to which Mary ascended to heaven body and soul, was proclaimed only by Pope Pius XII, thanks to papal infallibility, it has very ancient origins and has always been linked to popular tradition. It is a solemnity celebrated by all Christian Churches.
Initially instituted on 31 May 1954 by Pius XII, the feast of the Queenship of Mary was later moved to 22 August, the octave day of the Assumption, as a recognition and consecration of the Virgin’s royal dignity. The foundation of such royal dignity of Mary has ancient origins, found in both liturgical texts and popular tradition.
On 8 September, both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anne, and the tradition that places Mary’s birth on 8 September is linked to the construction of the Basilica of St. Anne in Jerusalem in the 4th century AD. This basilica was built on the site where the house of Mary’s parents once stood, where the Mother of Jesus is believed to have been born. In the agricultural world, the celebration of Mary’s birth coincides with the harvest time and the end of summer.
The Nativity of Mary, when and why is it celebrated?
8 September is the birthday of Mary, the mother par excellence, the woman who changed the history of the Church and humanity…
Since the 12th century, there has been a strong devotion to the name of Mary, fostered by many popes who made it the focal point of various indulgences. An initial official feast was instituted but for some time remained confined to Spain. It was Pope Innocent XI Odescalchi who, in 1685, established the date of the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary on 12 September to commemorate the liberation of Vienna from the Turkish siege (12 September 1683). Pope John Paul II confirmed the feast as an optional memorial on 12 September.
On 15 September, the day after the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mater Dolorosa, is observed. Pope Pius X (1904-1914) established this date, recognising an ancient devotion dating back to the late 11th century, that of Our Lady of Sorrows and her Seven Sorrows. The sorrows of Mary are linked to various moments of her life recounted in the Gospels or passed down through popular devotion, associated with the Passion and death of Jesus, but not only. The sorrows of Mary were represented even then by swords piercing her heart.
To celebrate the victory against the Turks at Lepanto on 7 October 1571, Pope Pius V instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory, which his successor, Gregory XIII, renamed the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. According to legend, the pope, after recommending that all Christian forces recite the Rosary before the battle, was so confident in the intercession of the Madonna invoked through the Rosary to determine the outcome of the battle that he ordered the bells to be rung in victory even before it ended, so that all the way to Rome it was known that the Christians had won.
On 21 November, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated, a devotional liturgical memorial that commemorates the presentation of Mary to the priests of the Temple in Jerusalem by her parents, Anne and Joachim. On the same day in 543, the Basilica of Saint Mary New in Jerusalem was consecrated.
Devotion to the Immaculate Madonna is one of the most widespread and beloved in popular tradition. It stems from the dogma of the Catholic Church that Mary, although conceived and born of mortal parents, was born pure, never touched by original sin, unlike all other men and women. Mary is said to be the only creature granted this special privilege in view of her mission to become the Mother of Jesus. On 8 December 1857, Pope Pius IX recognised the dogma and defined the modes of celebration. He blessed a monument in Rome located in Piazza Mignanelli, near the Spanish Steps, dedicated to the Immaculate Mary, and honoured it with a floral offering. Since then, it has been a tradition that on 8 December, the Pope leaves the Vatican to go personally to the Spanish Steps, to bring fresh flowers as an offering to the Immaculate Madonna and lead popular prayer with a reading from the Holy Scriptures and a passage from Church Doctrine.
Immaculate Virgin Mary as a symbol of the Redemption
The immaculate Mary is a definition of the Virgin Mary that highlights her lack of original sin from birth…
On 10 December, the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Loreto is celebrated, which has ancient origins. For centuries, this feast has been marked by the lighting of fires that illuminate the night, recalling those that lit the way for the angels intent on transporting the Holy House of Mary from Nazareth to Loreto.
On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, protector of all Spanish-speaking peoples and patroness of the Americas, is celebrated. According to tradition, between 9 and 12 December 1531, the Madonna appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, one of the first Aztecs converted to Christianity, on the hill of Tepeyac north of Mexico City. Thus began the cult of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose Sanctuary, built on the site of the apparitions, is one of the most visited places of worship in the world, even more so than Lourdes and Fatima, and the foremost in the Americas.
Contents1 Pierina Gilli, the visionary of Montichiari2 Sanctuary of Maria Rosa Mystica in Fontanelle di Montichiari3 Maria Rosa Mystica: meaning of the three roses4 Prayer to Maria Rosa Mystica The apparitions of Maria Rosa Mystica to Pierina Gilli have given rise to a strong devotion…
Contents1 The Sacred Scriptures2 Authority of the Pope3 Purgatory4 The Sacraments5 The Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary6 The Saints The differences between Catholics and Protestants are fundamental to the history of the Christian religion and the birth of Europe as we know it.…
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The history of nard oil as a balsamic ointment and perfume is millenary. Already in ancient Egypt it was produced and used: the most ancient testimony of use comes from amphoras found in some Egyptian tombs. It is obtained from the nard plant and has a characteristic, sweet and spicy scent. The rhizome of Nardo is distilled in an amber essential oil intensely aromatic, and very dense. It is one of 11 herbs used as incense in the Temple of Jerusalem, according to the composition described by the rabbis of the Talmud. In ancient times it spread to the Middle East and was considered valuable, an ointment of the highest value. It is now known as a typical product of Israeli perfumery. Given the close link with Judaism, Christianity and the city of Jerusalem, Jerusalem nard oil is known in different parts of the world.
Nard oil was used to grease and rub the body already in ancient times. It has numerous benefits when used as body oil: it has calming properties, lowers blood pressure, and can be used as a massage oil and antiseptic. Its natural composition and intense scent make it particularly suitable for aromatherapy and use in the scent of environments. The aroma of nard, like other essential oils, promotes breathing.
Even without considering the beneficial properties, it can be a great choice for the scent of the house or the environment. The oil should be diluted in water and, as for other essences, it is necessary to have burner-essences that make the solution evaporate slowly. The scent thus spreads into the environment.
The aroma of nard is very recognizable and can also be familiar in the form of incense, also used for the scent of the rooms and for liturgical purposes. Incense has specific uses and meanings in the liturgy: we talked about it in an article on our blog.
The different uses of incense
Incense has always been linked to the idea of the sacred, and the divine. Since the earliest times, its use has been attested in ancient…
The perfume of nard is a recurring theme in the Bible. The value of nard oil was very high: almost as high as the annual salary of an average worker.
He is mentioned in the Song of Songs as a symbol of the faithful, pure and without measure love between the Bride and the Bridegroom. Also in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John is reported an episode, very well known, related to nard and its value. During a dinner, not long before the days of the Passion, a woman anoints Jesus with spikenard oil, breaking the alabaster jar that contained it. In Matthew and Mark, the woman is anonymous and anoints the head of Jesus; in John, she is identified as Mary of Bethany and anoints the feet of Christ, bathes them with tears and dries them with her own hair.
Precisely because of the high economic value of the ointment, this gesture is frowned upon by the diners: the precious oil could have been sold to obtain money to give to the poor. Jesus, instead, recognizes the greatness and goodness of the woman’s gesture. Breaking the jar of nard, so precious, and “wasting” the oil for one person is a symbol of the love without measure that Jesus has for his faithful and that we are called to have for him. It is the symbol of love to the point of giving life.
Another meaning linked to the anointing of Jesus is precisely the anticipation of his death. In fact, in the time of Jesus, it was common practice to anoint the bodies of the dead with scented oils for burial (women go to the tomb to do this, after the death of Jesus, and thus discover that he has risen). The gesture of the woman thus foretells the Passion and death of Jesus.
The episode of the anointing of Jesus is often taken as a reference talking about the holy oils, which are blessed during the Holy Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. This celebration resumes the episode of the woman who anoints Jesus during the supper and not by chance precedes the Mass in Cena Domini on Holy Thursday, in which another supper is remembered: the Last Supper, during which the institution of the Eucharist and the Washing of the Feet take place.
The sacred oils used in the liturgy are three: the Chrism, the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick. The Chrism is the scented oil used in Confirmation, and Baptism, for ritual anointing during the ordination of priests and bishops and for the consecration of sacred places. The Oil of the Catechumens is used in Baptism. The Oil of the Sick is used to administer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Within the Church, the episode of Jesus’ anointing by Mary of Bethany has been taken up as a reference to the spirituality of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is an institution of the laity that aims to help the works of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land and support the Christian presence in the territories of the people of Israel and the life of Jesus. Their spirituality is compared to Mary’s action: the Order is concerned with anointing the Body of Christ today, that is, the Church, as the woman did with the Body of Christ in life.
Who would have thought that behind a simple scented oil there was such a deep meaning?
Contents1 “Unless I See, I Will Not Believe”2 The Doubt of Saint Thomas3 Saint Thomas and His Evangelistic Work4 Gospel of Saint Thomas Let’s talk about Saint Thomas, the doubting apostle, a devoted follower of Jesus and a great evangelist, often remembered more for his…
Contents1 Why walk the Camino de Santiago2 The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela3 The pilgrim’s compostela4 The shell of Santiago For centuries, the Camino de Santiago has represented one of the most significant pilgrimages of faith that a person can undertake. Let’s see why embarking…
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When does a person become a saint? By studying and retracing the many stories of saints passed down through hagiographic documents with liturgical significance, such as martyrologies and calendars, and through devotional narrative texts, like the Passions, miracle stories, and relics, as well as iconographic representations in sacred art or those related to worship, we discover that for many saints, the path to holiness began in the family. Consider Saint Augustine, perhaps one of the most significant examples. His mother, Saint Monica, dedicated her entire life to correcting his bad habits and steering him away from sin and debauchery until she convinced him to seek guidance from Saint Ambrose and choose the path of holiness. Saint Augustine was eternally grateful to his mother, as he wrote in his Confessions.
Saint Monica: patron saint of mothers and example for women
Saint Monica of Tagaste was a woman endowed with extraordinary strength of mind and unwavering faith…
But there are also stories of saints who embarked on the path to Grace, and often to martyrdom, alongside their brother or sister. United in holiness as in life, serving as models and encouragement for one another, sometimes even martyred together in the name of their faith, these men and women represent an admirable example of how within the same family, not one but two, and sometimes more, instances of beatitude can emerge. It is natural to think that these saintly siblings inspired, encouraged, and supported each other, as only siblings can.
Holy Martyrs: sacrificing one’s life in the name of God
The Holy Martyrs are men and women, often very young, who sacrificed their lives for the love of God, and for this reason…
Let’s see the lives of the Famous Saintly Siblings
In Nantes, in the Loire Valley, two stone crosses commemorate Saints Donatian and Rogatian. Both were young—Donatian was already baptized, and Rogatian was still a catechumen—but both preached the Word of God. This drew the persecution of Emperor Maximinus upon them. Arrested together, they spent the night in prayer, then were tortured, flayed, and killed. Their remains were placed together in a stone sarcophagus, and their cult is one of the most widespread in the Loire Valley and France. Their liturgical memorial is on May 24.
When speaking of Saint Benedict, patron of Europe, it is inevitable to mention Saints Cyril and Methodius, his co-patrons. Originally from Thessalonica in Greece, they were among the principal evangelizers of the Slavic peoples in the 9th century AD and became their patrons. Sons of a military governor, they witnessed the conflicts and tensions between the Eastern and Western Churches and travelled to Rome, where they met Pope Nicholas I, who established the methods of evangelizing the Slavic populations and the appropriate language to use.
In Rome, Methodius took his vows, and so did Cyril (whose original name was Constantine), who fell ill and died, being buried at the Basilica of San Clemente. The two saintly brothers led very adventurous lives. At one point, they were even captured and sold as slaves in Venice. It was Pope John Paul II who, in 1980, declared them co-patrons of Europe, alongside Saint Benedict of Nursia.
The saints that changed the world
The history of Europe and of the Western world as we know them goes through many and constant political…
On July 29, we celebrate Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the holy friends of Jesus. We know they lived in Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. Martha was the caregiver, concerned with the house and the well-being of her brother, sister, and their guest, Jesus, ensuring He always had food and drink and could feel at home. Mary, seated at Jesus’ feet, eagerly absorbed His words, while Lazarus, discreet, watched over his sisters and friend like a silent guardian. When Lazarus suddenly fell ill and died, Martha wept before Jesus, saying that if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died. In response, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. According to the Golden Legend, after Jesus’ death, the three siblings from Bethany went to France to preach His Word, and Lazarus became the first bishop of Marseille.
Saint Benedict of Nursia, Patron of Europe, had a sister, in fact, a twin sister, who was also a saint: Saint Scholastica. She was devoted to religious studies from a young age, just like her twin brother, by their father’s will. Together with Benedict, she fled from Rome and its dissolute life to retire to a monastery near Nursia, where she took a vow of chastity and renounced worldly possessions. Although she couldn’t stay with Benedict, who had become a hermit, she never stayed far from him. Whenever possible, she visited him in Subiaco, where he was building the Abbey of Montecassino. Scholastica also established a monastery, just 7 kilometres from her brother’s, in Piumarola, where she founded the female branch of the Benedictine Order, the Benedictine nuns. The siblings would meet halfway from time to time to pray and talk together. When Scholastica felt her death approaching, she begged Benedict to stay with her. When he refused, unable to break the Rule he had written, Scholastica prayed fervently to God. A violent storm forced Benedict to delay his departure and stay by her side. A few days after their last meeting, Scholastica passed away.
St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict of Norcia
On Feb. 10, the Church commemorates St. Scholastica, sister of St. Benedict of Norcia, patroness of Benedictine…
Perhaps not everyone remembers that in the Gospels, the first apostle we meet is not Peter, chosen by Christ as His successor, nor John, the beloved disciple, but Andrew, the fisherman. And Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. Like his brother, Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee, following the teachings of John the Baptist. One day, he saw Jesus passing by, whom the Baptist called the Lamb of God. Inspired by these words, Andrew ran to his brother Simon Peter, declaring with conviction, “We have found the Messiah!” Andrew appears in other gospel passages and was, of course, present with the other Apostles and Mary in Jerusalem after the Ascension, on the day of Pentecost. He was martyred in Greece after spreading the Word in Asia Minor and Russia. He was crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross, which has since been known as St. Andrew’s Cross.
In the case of Saints Marcellina and Ambrose, there are actually three saintly siblings: Saint Satyrus, Ambrose’s twin brother, should also be counted among the family saints. Satyrus was a lawyer, provincial prefect, and administrator of the family estates. Marcellina was the eldest and raised her brothers after their father’s death. She consecrated her virginity to God, receiving the veil of virgins from Pope Liberius on Christmas Day in 353 AD. For this, her brother dedicated the treatise “De virginibus” to her. Marcellina devoted her life to study, prayer, and good works, always serving as a precious role model for her younger brothers, especially Saint Ambrose.
Lastly, we remember the saintly doctors, Cosmas and Damian, to whom we have dedicated a previous article. Also twins, they lived in the 4th century and were both physicians from Arabia. Along with their three younger brothers, Saints Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius, they preached the Word of God, saving souls in addition to curing bodies, often without asking for any compensation. All five were martyred during the terrible persecution initiated by Diocletian. Specifically, Saints Cosmas and Damian were stoned, flogged, crucified, struck with darts and spears, thrown into the sea with a rock tied around their necks, burned in a blazing furnace, and finally beheaded along with their younger brothers. They are celebrated on September 26.
The Fathers of the Church are the primary Christian writers, whose works form the foundations of the Church’s doctrine. Let’s get to know them. We have previously discussed the Doctors of the Church, those men and women who, by virtue of their holiness and wisdom,…
Giovanni, the beloved disciple of Jesus. A fisherman, like the brothers Simon Peter and Andrew, he had a special relationship with Christ. Here’s why We have seen on many occasions how much importance Jesus attributed to friendship and how much He valued His friends. This…
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Today we are discussing Priestly Ordination, one of the seven Sacraments. First, we need to understand what is meant by a presbyter in the Catholic Christian religion. A presbyter is a man of the Church endowed with the faculty to preside over religious ceremonies, lead the community, and preach the word of God. In practice, this is what we commonly call a priest, who is responsible for administering the Sacraments, performing all pastoral duties, and possibly presiding over a parish as a pastor. The word comes from the Greek “presbýteros,” meaning “elder,” which gave rise to the Latin word “presbyter,” from which the term “priest” is also derived.
Ecclesiastic hierarchy within the Catholic Church
The Church is a very wide and complex institution, and, as such, it needs a well-defined hierarchy that has developed throughout time…
The Rite of Priestly Ordination is the second level of Holy Orders and ordains Presbyters, men chosen to collaborate with Bishops, who, like the Bishops, can preach the Word, administer the Sacraments and the Eucharist, and manage a parish. What a Presbyter cannot do is confer Holy Orders themselves; this task, at all levels, is reserved for Bishops.
Usually, the person receiving Priestly Ordination is already a Deacon, having received the first level of Holy Orders and already collaborating with a priest. The Diocesan Bishop administers the Ordination in the cathedral during a grand solemn ceremony.
There is no real difference between a priest, a presbyter, and a presbyter: in all cases, we are talking about a man who has received the second level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The single Sacrament of Holy Orders is, in fact, divided into three levels: Diaconate, Presbyterate, and Episcopate.
The first level of Holy Orders is the Diaconate, designating Deacons as helpers of the Bishops. They can preach the word of God, administer Baptism, assist in other Sacraments, but they do not have the pastoral and sacred functions of Presbyters.
The second level, the Presbyterate, designates presbyters or priests, whom we are discussing in this article.
The third level, the Episcopate, is conferred upon Bishops, considered the successors of the Apostles. By virtue of this ordination, they are entrusted with the three ministries of teaching, pastoral governance, and sanctification.
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The rite of Ordination is divided into:
In the introductory rites, the Bishop’s Interrogation is particularly important, consisting of five questions concerning the future priest’s willingness to:
The candidates respond together saying, “Yes, I do.” To the last question, they respond, “Yes, with the help of God, I do.” The Interrogation is followed by the Promise of Obedience, in which each candidate places his hands between the Bishop’s hands and promises “filial respect and obedience” to him and his successors.
The Ordination Proper consists of the Laying on of Hands by the Bishop on each candidate’s head, followed by the Prayer of Consecration spoken by the ordaining Bishop alone.
This is followed by the Explanatory Rites:
At the end of the ritual, the Bishop embraces and kisses each candidate (the Kiss of Peace), and the new presbyters concelebrate the Eucharist with him and all the other priests present.
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Given the importance of Priestly Consecration in the life of a man who has chosen to dedicate his life to the priesthood, it is natural for friends and family to participate in this fundamental step. It is common to give a special gift to the young newly-ordained priest, usually items that might be useful in his new life as a priest or pastor.
These gifts range from clothing, such as the classic Clergyman Cassock or actual Sacred Vestments, like the Stole or Chasuble. Liturgical objects and accessories needed to celebrate Mass are also useful: chalice, ciborium, paten, and monstrance, which should be gold or silver; chasubles, tunicles, copes, humeral veils, which should be silk; albs, purificators, palls, altar cloths, and amices in linen or hemp.
For young priests or those intending to travel frequently, pilgrimage sets and travel cases are also useful. Books are timeless gifts, especially special editions of Liturgical Texts or a Bible to carry with them.
Other, more personal, gift ideas can include religious-themed art objects, from paintings to statues to sacred furnishings, as well as frames, fountain pens, and lecterns. Visit our online shop to discover many original and unforgettable ideas for this unique occasion.
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Contents
A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey that requires accurate and careful preparation. Preparing adequately for a pilgrimage, especially with the upcoming Jubilee 2025, whether heading to Rome or other sacred destinations, is fundamental for experiencing a deep and seamless spiritual journey. But what should you bring on a pilgrimage?
The items to pack vary based on the season and destination, but there are some common and specific elements for each destination. Make sure to bring everything necessary without overloading yourself with unnecessary weight, and adapt your gear to the specific needs of the journey. With a well-organized backpack and an open heart, you will be ready to embark on this journey of faith and discovery.
Before departing, it is important to inform yourself about the specific requirements and regulations of your chosen destination. Remember that a pilgrimage is both a physical and spiritual journey and good preparation can make the difference between a strenuous and an enriching experience. Plan carefully, bring only the essentials, and be prepared to face the journey with the right spirit.
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Here is a practical guide to best tackle this unique experience and carefully choose what to bring on a pilgrimage.
First of All, the Backpack
The pilgrimage backpack should be light yet spacious, equipped with a waterproof cover to protect the contents in case of bad weather and with space to hold a sleeping bag or sleeping sheet, essential depending on the facilities available along the route.
On the occasion of the upcoming Holy Year and the pilgrimages that will take place, Holyart offers the Pilgrim’s Backpack, an official product of Jubilee 2025, authorized by the Dicastery and equipped with an anti-counterfeit seal to ensure its authenticity and uniqueness. The backpack contains a Pilgrim’s Kit, integrating tradition with the needs of the modern pilgrim, designed to make the pilgrimage a comfortable and spiritually enriching experience.
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The backpack has a capacity of 28 litres and is made from RPET fabric, a material obtained through recycling processes of common PET, designed to have a low environmental impact. Available only in blue, the backpack is personalized with the colourful Jubilee logo and features a writable tag for personal data. Inside, there is a large main compartment with a zipper closure and foldable design, and a padded divider to store more fragile items like a laptop or tablet.
The Pilgrim’s Backpack also includes a series of accessories that, as we will see, are essential for embarking on a pilgrimage: a charming safari hat to protect yourself from the sun during the journey; an eco-friendly and durable aluminium water bottle to stay hydrated; a useful poncho to protect us in case of sudden rain; and a multifunctional scarf, which can be used as an accessory or to protect against the wind.
Completing the kit are the Jubilee magnet and pin, a silicone bracelet symbolizing belonging and faith, and a precious rosary bracelet to accompany prayers along the pilgrimage. What could be more appropriate than a prayer rosary with a crucifix for a journey that promises to be not only a physical challenge but above all a path of spiritual and inner growth in faith?
Now let’s see what to pack in the pilgrim’s backpack.
Starting with the basics: documents and money. Make sure you have your ID card or passport with you, ensuring they are not expired, as well as the European Health Insurance Card if you are travelling within the EU. It’s wise to make copies of these documents, perhaps storing them in a different pocket—just in case!
Cash and credit/debit cards should be stored in a secure compartment, easily accessible but only by you! Maps of the route you intend to take can also be helpful. Paper maps are always good, but to save space, you can opt for digital ones, like the handy downloadable PDF map of Rome.
Equally important is the Pilgrim’s Credential, which allows access to discounts and special offers at rest and lodging places and on transportation. Make sure to obtain it in advance.
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The clothing you bring will vary depending on whether you are travelling in summer or winter. For summer, light and breathable clothing is always recommended, possibly themed, like the beautiful Jubilee T-shirts, short-sleeved or long-sleeved sweatshirts. If you are travelling in winter or in particularly cold areas, choose thermal clothing and dress in layers.
As mentioned in the Pilgrim’s Kit contained in the official Jubilee Backpack, a hat or cap to protect yourself from the sun and a biodegradable K-way or poncho for rain, conveniently packaged in a compact space-saving pouch, are indispensable.
Shoes are one of the most important elements for anyone embarking on a long walk. They should be comfortable and durable for long walks and waterproof. Remember to pack a pair of sandals or slippers to let your feet breathe during rest moments.
Personal hygiene is also crucial when embarking on such a journey, as is staying healthy and in the best condition. Besides the essentials for washing, such as the classic toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and shampoo in travel sizes, and at least a couple of microfiber towels, it’s wise to have a first aid kit with band-aids, disinfectant, and basic medications. This kit should include something for blisters, an effective antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory drugs, and perhaps a natural product that provides immediate relief to tired feet and legs due to the long walks. For example, the menthol cream from the Camaldolese Monks is a massage cream designed for treating tired and strained muscles. Thanks to its unique formulation, combining menthol and natural essences, it relaxes smooth muscles, relieves strains, helps reduce rheumatic pains, promotes muscle relaxation, and tones and refreshes the skin. All these properties make it particularly suitable for athletes and those who, like pilgrims, engage in intense physical activity.
No one goes on a pilgrimage to stay glued to a smartphone, let alone to work on a computer or use a tablet. But technology can help, and staying in touch with those at home is important. So, we minimize electronic devices but make sure to have them with us, charged and functioning. For this purpose, besides a cellphone with its charger and possibly a laptop, it is useful to bring a power bank to ensure you never run out of charge, especially in isolated areas, and a power adapter if travelling to countries with different electrical outlets.
If heading to specific destinations, when deciding what to bring on a pilgrimage, you may need to add certain items to your backpack.
For the Camino de Santiago, given the many elevations, a good walking stick can be useful to help maintain balance and reduce fatigue. For this destination, more than others, the Pilgrim’s Credential is crucial, necessary for accessing hostels and obtaining the Compostela, the certificate of completion, upon arrival.
If departing for a pilgrimage to Lourdes, bring a container to collect water from the miraculous spring known for its healing properties. Additionally, given the many religious ceremonies often held there, it would be appropriate to adopt modest and suitable attire.
For a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a rosary will certainly be useful for prayers during the many celebrations and prayer meetings dedicated to the Madonna, and a good pair of trekking shoes for climbing the hills of the Apparitions and the Cross.
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