Monday the 2nd: Saints of the Week

*We are now in the season of Advent, the first season of the Church Year. We change reading cycles.

 *Tuesday is the memorial of St. Francis Xavier. This 16th century Spanish Jesuit died outside of China of a fever. He had a fever for missionary work, travelling incessantly to baptize and trusting that others would do catechesis behind him.

*Wednesday is the optional memorial of St. John Damascene, known as the Golden Stream Doctor and the Doctor of Christian art. This 7th-8th century saint in Syria defended the use of icons in prayer and worship (as long as one was using the icon as reminder of the divine, not praying to the icon itself).

*Friday is the optional memorial of St. Nicholas of Myra, but everyone celebrates him! This 4th century Bishop in Modern Turkey supposedly secretly left bags of gold to rescue girls from a life of sin, so he is honored with leaving gold coins or other treats in shoes or stockings.

*Saturday is the memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and Doctor of the Church from the 4th Century. He helped convert St. Augustine. He is known as the Honey-Tongued Doctor.

(Picture traced from Pinterest to http://orthodoxeducation.blogspot.com/2014/11/root-of-jesse-christmas-lesson.html)