The Patron Saints of Animals

Saint Modestos, the Healer of Animals

Saint Modestos Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Healer of Animals

Today, December 16, we celebrate the feast of Saint Modestos of Jerusalem!

Born in 292 AD, Saint Modesto has been known for years as the Orthodox Christian patron saint of animals. During his life, he was known both for his piety and for his respect for animals. His most famous animal prayer includes a request for the creator's protection of the animals we love from all illness and injury.

The Saint Guardian, Protector, and Healer of Animals

Learn more about Saint Modestus and his prayers at

http://cathedralofthesoul.org/2021/11/04/saint-modestos-patriarch-of-jerusalem-the-healer-of-animals/

Saints Cosmas and Damian: The Healers without Borders

Saints Cosmas and Damian: The Healers without Borders

Saints Cosmas and Damian were twins who practiced the healing arts throughout Asia Minor according to the Scriptural commandment: "Freely have ye received, freely in turn give." (Mt 10:8).

The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian were natives of Asia Minor, brothers by birth, and physicians by profession. Born around 270 A.D. in modern-day Syria and left fatherless at a young age, they were raised by a wealthy, pious Christian mother. She taught them that the greatest and most noble deeds were those accomplished in the name of Christ the Lord, in free and generous service to the poor and needy.

 To learn more about the Saints and our Animal Ministry Program, visit:

http://cathedralofthesoul.org/2021/11/05/saints-cosmas-and-damian-the-healers-without-borders/

Father Don Bosco His Animal Guardian Angel

Don Bosco and His Animal Guardian Angel

The lives of the Saints are full of stories of the extraordinary influence of the Saints over many different kinds of animals. In the case of Don Bosco, he had a familiar spirit that acted as a guardian angel to him. According to records of the time and tradition, those alleging to have had contact with familiar spirits reported that they could manifest in numerous forms, usually as animals. Contrary to superstition, they are not necessarily evil, they are not demons, but rather animals that also love and accompany us during our many lifetimes.

Don Bosco and his guardian angel, the wolf Grigio

 

Sometimes, to visibly protect the person entrusted to him – the guardian angel can take the form of animals.

A good example is the half dog and half wolf Grigio, who was a familiar spirit of Saint D. Bosco, which appeared at crucial moments, defending the Saint from bandits, assassins, and dangers of all kinds.

Grigio was described by many as a large wolf-like, dog German shepherd-looking dog, three feet tall, with gray fur, elongated snout, and pricked ears. He would appear out of nowhere to protect Father Bosco from the anti-clerical factions in Italy during the 19th century.

It started in one dark evening in 1852 as Father Bosco walked through the deserted streets of Turin, in northern Italy, a big grey dog approached him. At first, the priest was scared but quickly realized the dog was friendly as he gently greeted him with a wagging tail. The dog walked alongside Father Bosco and when they arrived at the gate to his home the dog trotted away.

That was the first of many encounters the two had when the priest would walk at night. The dog, who Father Bosco named Grigio (the Italian word for grey), would appear out of nowhere then disappear when the priest safely reached his destination. On two occasions Grigio fought off attackers by knocking them to the ground, and on another occasion, the dog's fierce look and savage growls were enough to scare a mob of assailants away.

When Father Bosco was asked to give an opinion on the nature of the grey dog "...he admitted that the dog was a creature worthy of note in his life. Don Bosco often thought about the origin of that dog, and he admitted that he had been a true gift from Providence."

Learn more about Don Bosco at http://cathedralofthesoul.org/2021/11/05/don-bosco-and-his-animal-guardian-angel/

Follow us at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stellar.soul

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofthesoul/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cathedralofthesoul/ 

Saint Joseph of Cupertino. the Patron Saint of Stable Animals

Saint Joseph of Cupertino. the Patron Saint of Stable Animals

Saint Joseph of Cupertino's influence over the animals

Today, September 18th, we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino and his influence over the animals

Saint Joseph was a notable saint for many accounts.  He was well known for performing many miracles and having many spiritual gifts such as bilocation and levitation.

We all know that Saint Francis of Assisi to have an extraordinary friendship with the animals. It was documented on numerous occasions how the birds often flocked to him and landed on his arms and shoulders, singing all the while sweetly.

He spoke to them, and they responded by singing and fluttering their wings. Saint Joseph, like St Francis, loved God's creatures, and for him, everything reflected the image of God. Animals were, for him, like a pair of eyeglasses, and he said: "Anyone who wears the eyeglasses to see only the eyeglasses and nothing else is out of his mind."

Joseph used his power playfully, as St. Francis used to do. He had control over nature, over the birds and beasts of the field, surpassing even that of his Father, St. Francis of Assisi.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino worked various marvels with the animals.

The birds had a great love for him. Finches and sparrows used to keep him company. People would call him "St Francis reincarnate." Together he and the birds would sing of the glory of God.

St. Joseph of Cupertino is known to Speak with animals and reportedly resurrected a flock of sheep. — Tradition says that he raised to life a flock of sheep that had been killed by enormous hailstones.

There are many stories of this wonderful saint and his special connection to animals.

Learn more about Saint Joseph Cupertino at http://cathedralofthesoul.org/2021/11/05/saint-joseph-of-cupertino-saint-of-stable-animals/

 

Follow us at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stellar.soul

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofthesoul/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cathedralofthesoul/ 

Father Paul of Moll and His Messenger Birds

Father Paul of Moll and His Messenger Birds

 

Today, February 24, we celebrate the blessed Soul of Father Paul de Moll.

The saintly Father Paul of Moll, known as "The Benedictine Wonder-Worker of the Nineteenth Century," also had a mysterious experience with birds. We are told in his biography that whenever he visited Antwerp, he would call upon a certain invalid lady and her servant, Theresa. In the year 1887, said the servant Theresa that she would know beforehand of his approaching visits.

At his next visit, he asked, "Well, have the little birds announced my coming?"

 

 Learn more about this blessed soul at http://cathedralofthesoul.org/2021/11/05/father-paul-of-moll-messenger-birds/

Follow us at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stellar.soul

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofthesoul/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cathedralofthesoul/ 

Saint Hilarion, the Great

Saint Hilarion, the Great

 Today, October 21rst, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Hilarion.

Saint Hilarion, the Great was one of the fathers of the desert and an anchorite. It is known that he spent most of his life in the desert, following the example of Anthony the Great. While St Anthony is considered to have established Christian monasticism in the Egyptian desert, St Hilarion is considered by some to be the founder of Palestinian monasticism. Saint Hilarion venerated the holy places in Jerusalem, then settled in a cave in the Jordan wilderness (according to tradition, the holy prophet Elijah had dwelt in that same cave).

He is venerated as a saint by the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church. The venerable Hilarion was born in the village of Tabatha, which is in Palestine near the city of Gaza.

During his lifetime, Saint Hilarion, the great, was known because of his Thaumaturgic powers. Thaumaturgy is the purported capability to work magic or other paranormal events or a saint to perform miracles.

But his healing powers did not consort only for Humans but also animals. It is said that he healed many people and expelled and exorcised many devils.
One time, upon hearing that Saint Anthony had a serious accident, Saint Hilarion rushed to assist him. Despite his own illness, using a half-broken chariot and tired and sick horses he journeyed to help his friend. With his blessings, the old horses were known to almost fly.

 To learn more about St Hilarion here: http://cathedralofthesoul.org/2021/10/22/saint-hilarion-the-great/

Follow us at
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stellar.soul
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofthesoul/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cathedralofthesoul/