Saint James Vicariate For Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel
Faith and Practice
Feast of Saint Francis - October 4
October 4 is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francesco (as he is known is Italian) was born in 1181 and died in 1226. Born into wealth, he chose poverty and thus presented his contemporaries with a living image of what a disciple of Jesus should be. He and those who followed him owned nothing but were always cheerful in proclaiming the message of God’s love for all creatures.
Feast of Thérèse of Lisieux – October 1
Thérèse of the Infant Jesus, a Carmelite nun, lived in France in the 19th century. She became famous because of her autobiographical writings which revealed the life of holiness of a simple woman, full of energy, in a closed, contemplative Carmelite convent. Her autobiography became a source of inspiration to many Catholics.
Feast of Saint Jerome – September 30
Jerome was one of the most important Biblical commentators in the history of Christianity. He translated the Bible into Latin, and his translation served the Roman Catholic Church as its official translation for hundreds of years. He lived in Bethlehem, alongside the place of Christ's nativity.
Feast of the Archangels, Michael Gabriel and Raphael – September 29
In the Catholic calendar there are two feasts of the angels, one on September 29, of the Archangels, and one on October 2, of the Guardian Angels. Angels in the Bible are special messengers of God who come to the human person.
Feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz – September 28
Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino proclaimed a saint in the Catholic Church. He died as a martyr in the 17th century.
Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul – September 27
Sister Gabriele from the Benedictine Monastery on the Mount of Olives sent us a short biography of Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) in order to commemorate his feast day.
Feast of Saint Matthew the Evangelist – September 21
Saint Matthew, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, wrote one of the four books of the Gospel.
Feast of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon and companions – September 20
The first Catholics in Korea suffered terrible persecution but planted the seed for a thriving Church in Korea today.
Feast of Saint Hildegard von Bingen – September 17
Sister Gabriele of the Benedictine monastery on the Mount of Olives sent us this article for the feast of Saint Hildegard von Bingen.
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows - September 15
Myriam, from the Haifa kehilla, explains the significance of this feast commemorating the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.
Feast of the Glorious Cross – September 14
On September 14, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Glorious Cross. The cross, an awful tool to impose death from the Roman period, becomes the key to eternal life in the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The feast is celebrated exactly 40 days after the Feast of the Transfiguration (on August 6).
Feast of Saint Peter Claver – September 9
A Jesuit priest, Saint Peter Claver worked among the slaves of South America becoming patron saint of slaves.
Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary – September 8
The Catholic Church gives the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, a special place in her prayers. Her presence is noticeable in the liturgical calendar and there are many feasts that immortalize her memory. On September 8, the Church celebrates the birthday of Mary.
Feast of Mother Teresa of Calcutta – September 5
Lucia of the Jerusalem community wrote to us about Mother Teresa, a glowing icon of God's love for the poorest of the poor. Her feast is celebrated on September 5.
Feast of Moses Giver of the Law – September 4
On September 4, the Church celebrates the memory of Moses who gave the law. A central figure in the Old Testament, Moses is also mentioned many times in the New Testament.
Feast of Saint Gregory the Great – September 3
Pope Gregory I was a trained Roman lawyer and talented administrator, a monk, a missionary, a preacher, above all a physician of souls and a leader of men. His great claim to remembrance lies in the fact that he is the real father of the medieval papacy.
September 1, Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
In 2015 , September 1st was designated as the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Here is the prayer Pope Francis wrote for this day :
Feast of Saint Augustine – August 28
Augustine of Hippo (a city in Algeria today) is one of the most outstanding thinkers in the history of the Church. His many writings in Latin continue to influence Christian theology until today.
Feast of Mary of Jesus Crucified - August 26
On August 26, the entire Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the “Little Arab”, the Carmelite nun Mary of Jesus Crucified. The Arab nun from Galilee was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1983 and Pope Francis proclaimed her saint in 2015.
Feast of Bartholomew the Apostle – August 24
Bartholomew is counted among the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and ancient tradition identifies him with Nathanael in the Gospel according to Saint John.
