February 2, 2010 - The Presentation of the Lord
According to Mosaic law, a new mother was 'unclean' for 40 days after she had given birth. She would then enter the temple with her child, bringing an offering of either a lamb and a dove or pigeon, to be cleaned by prayers. Today's feast commemorates Mary's purification and the presentation of Jesus in the temple

The observance of this feast began in 4th century Jerusalem and was celebrated in Rome by the 5th century. It is a feast of both Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin. In the Eastern Church, it was called 'The Meeting' of Jesus and Mary with Simeon and Anna, representatives of the Old Covenant.

In the Middle Ages, a tradition began of blessing candles and holding a procession of light on this day. As a result, this feast is also known as 'Candlemas': Christ our light has come to us.

February 3, 2010 - St. Blase
An Armenian bishop, Blase suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Licinius, in the early 4th century. According to legend, he performed a miraculous cure on a boy who was choking to death. Blase has long been associated with cures for afflictions of the throat, and the blessing of throats may take place on this day in his memory. He is the patron of wild animals, woolcombers and of all who suffer from afflictions of the throat.

February 5, 2010 - St. Agatha
Agatha is known mainly through legend. She died during the time of the Decian persecution (249-251). It is alleged that she was sent to a brothel to force her to give up her faith. After she was tortured, the Apostle Peter is supposed to have appeared and cured her. The following day she dies in prison of new cruelties.

Her intervention was credited with stilling the eruption of Mount Etna the year after her burial. In the Middle Age, especially in south Germany, bread, candles, fruit and letters were blessed in her name to ward off destruction by fire. She is considered the patroness of miners, alpine guides and nurses. She is mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer I.

February 8, 2010 - St. Jerome Emiliani & St. Josephine Bakhita
St. Jerome Emiliani
Jerome was born in Venice in 1486. He pursued a career in the military and gave very little thought to God. After an experience of conversion, he gave all his possessions to the poor, became a priest, and devoted himself to the instruction of orphans and the care of the poor. He founded an order, commonly called the Somaschi, to help with his work. One of the aquaintances was Pietro Carafa who later became Pope Paul IV. Jerome died on this day in 1537 of a plague. He is the patron of orphans and abandoned children.

St. Josephine Bakhita
Josephine was born in 1869 in Sudan, Africa. At age 9, she was kidnapped by slave traders who gave her the name "Bakhita" meaning "fortunate." She was sold as a slave several times until 1883, when she was sold to the Italian Consul who treated her with kindness and warmth. When she returned to Italy, she accompanied his family, and in 1888 she went to live at the Catechmenate of the Canossian Sisters in Venice. She was baptized in 1890, taking the name Josephine. According to Italian law, since she had reached the age of majority, she was now free. She chose to join the Canossian Daughters of Charity and lived 50 years in religious life in Schio (Vicenza). She led a simple life as a cook, seamstress and doorkeeper, but it was her gentleness and compassion for the poor and suffering that endeared her to all. She is still known today in Schio as "our Black Mother." She died in 1947, after a long illness, and was canonized in 2000.

February 10, 2010 - St. Scholastica
Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, the founder of Western monasticism, and she is the patroness of Benedictine nuns. What little is known about her life is found in St. Gregory the Great's book, the second Dialogue, which is an account of her brother's miracles. She died about 543 and was buried in Benedict's own tomb where he joined her in death soon after.

February 11, 2010 - Our Lady of Lourdes
The veneration of Mary as 'Our Lady of Lourdes' arose firs in popular devotion and soon afterward in the Church's liturgy. Beginning on this day in 1858, Mary the Mother of Jesus appeared to Bernadette Soubirous 18 times in a cave at Massabielle, near the town of Lourdes in France. This memorial honours the mystery of the Immaculate Conception, a dogma declared in 1854.

February 22, 2010 - Chair of St. Peter
Early Roman Christians celebrated on this day a feast in honour of their departed loved ones, including their predecessors in the faith, Peter and Paul. When, in the 4th century, the feast of these two saints was moved to June 29th, this day in February focused on celebrating Peter and his successors as bishops of Rome and expressing our gratitude for their service.

February 23, 2010 - St. Polycarp
Polycarp is one of the Fathers of the early Church. A disciple of the apostle John, he was a leader of the second generation of Christians, those who themselves were not eyewitnesses to the death and resurrection of Our Lord. He was very influential in the catechesis and initiation of new Christians, and was named bishop of Smyra. He was martyred for his faith about the year 155, at the age of 86.

 

 

 

*Source: Living With Christ. Vol. 34, No. 2. Toronto: Novalis, 2010.