July 1
Saint Junipero Serra
July 1
Daily Saints – 1 July.
Happy feast of Saint Junipero Serra.
Junipero was born on 24 November 1713 at Petra, Spanish Majorca as ‘Miguel Jose Serra’. He entered the Franciscan University at Palma, Spain at age 15, and joined the Order at age 17, taking the name Junipero after the friend of Saint Francis.
Junipero was Ordained in 1737, and taught philosophy and theology at the Lullian University. Until he was 35, he spent most of his time in the classroom—first as a student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his preaching.
Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solano in South America. Junipero’s desire was to convert native peoples in the New World.
In 1749, Serra was sent to the missionary territories of the west of North America. Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City.
On the way Junipero’s left leg became infected by an insect bite; this and his asthma would remain a cross, sometimes life-threatening, for the rest of his life. For 18 years, he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions there.
When there was the threat of a Russian invasion south from Alaska, Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the territory. So the last two conquistadors, one military, one spiritual, began their quest.
José de Galvez persuaded Junipero to set out with him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the 900-mile journey north was San Diego in 1769. That year a shortage of food almost canceled the expedition.
Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero and another friar began a novena in preparation for St. Joseph’s day, March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived.
Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero sought: the famous “Regulation” protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California, a “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans.
Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after baptism lest they be corrupted in their former haunts—a move that has brought cries of “injustice” from some moderns.
A tireless worker, Serra was largely responsible for the foundation and spread of the Church on the West Coast of the United States: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782).
Junipero founded twenty-one missions, converted thousands of Native Americans, and trained many of them in European methods of agriculture, cattle husbandry, and crafts.
Junipero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn.
Junipero baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death.
Junipero was a dedicated religious and missionary, penitent and austere in all areas of his life. “Always forward, never back” was his motto. He died on 28 August 1784 of tuberculosis at Mission San Carlos, California.
Happy feast of Saint Junipero Serra.
Junipero was born on 24 November 1713 at Petra, Spanish Majorca as ‘Miguel Jose Serra’. He entered the Franciscan University at Palma, Spain at age 15, and joined the Order at age 17, taking the name Junipero after the friend of Saint Francis.
Junipero was Ordained in 1737, and taught philosophy and theology at the Lullian University. Until he was 35, he spent most of his time in the classroom—first as a student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his preaching.
Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solano in South America. Junipero’s desire was to convert native peoples in the New World.
In 1749, Serra was sent to the missionary territories of the west of North America. Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City.
On the way Junipero’s left leg became infected by an insect bite; this and his asthma would remain a cross, sometimes life-threatening, for the rest of his life. For 18 years, he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions there.
When there was the threat of a Russian invasion south from Alaska, Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the territory. So the last two conquistadors, one military, one spiritual, began their quest.
José de Galvez persuaded Junipero to set out with him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the 900-mile journey north was San Diego in 1769. That year a shortage of food almost canceled the expedition.
Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero and another friar began a novena in preparation for St. Joseph’s day, March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived.
Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero sought: the famous “Regulation” protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California, a “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans.
Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after baptism lest they be corrupted in their former haunts—a move that has brought cries of “injustice” from some moderns.
A tireless worker, Serra was largely responsible for the foundation and spread of the Church on the West Coast of the United States: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782).
Junipero founded twenty-one missions, converted thousands of Native Americans, and trained many of them in European methods of agriculture, cattle husbandry, and crafts.
Junipero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn.
Junipero baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death.
Junipero was a dedicated religious and missionary, penitent and austere in all areas of his life. “Always forward, never back” was his motto. He died on 28 August 1784 of tuberculosis at Mission San Carlos, California.
Close
July 2
Daily Saints – 2 July.
Feast of St. Bernadine Realino.
Bernadine Realino was born on 1 December 1530 in Carpi, Modena, Italy to the Italian nobility. He was the first child of Francisco and Elisabetta Bellentani Realino. His father was master of Horse to the Gonzaga family.
When Bernardine Realino was sixteen, he was sent to school in Modena, and then to the University of Bologna where he studied philosophy and medicine. Ten years later, in 1556, he received doctoral degrees in canon and civil law from the same university.
Finishing his studies, he was made tax collector in Alessandri and then mayor of Cassene; in both positions he was known for his kindness and his justice. In succession, Realino served as mayor of Felizzano (near Milano).
In 1562, Realino was made mayor of Castelleone, and office he held for two terms. In a letter to his brother regarding this appointment, Bernardine wrote: “I have no desire for the honors of this world, but solely for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul.”
Realino strove to be “an instrument of Divine Providence,” and often gave his entire salary for the care of the poor.
In 1564, the marquis named him superintendent of his estates in the Kingdom of Naples. When he was in Naples, he frequented the Jesuit Church. In August of that year he encountered two Jesuit novices and learned that the Society of Jesus had only recently arrived in Naples.
A sermon by a Jesuit preacher moved him deeply and led him to ask the Jesuit to hear his confession. The priest recognized Realino’s religious inclinations and asked him to make an eight-day retreat.
Realino experienced great peace and had a vision of our Lady commanding him to enter the Jesuits. On October 13, 1564, Realino entered the Jesuit novitiate in Naples, and made his profession of vows two years later. After the novitiate, he was sent to Rome to study theology.
Realino initially asked to be a brother but superiors told him he should be ordained. He made his profession of vows in October 1566, and was ordained on May 24 the following year. From this time on there was “a happiness and a joy about him,” and a “genius” for making friends.
Four years later, in 1570, the Father General, Francis Borgia appointed Realino Master of Novices in Naples, even though he had not finished the usual course of theology studies.
He was known for his study of ascetical theology, his prudence and sound judgment, and his abilities as a spiritual director. He is also described as “one of the most affable characters of his day,” and as being “as approachable as a puppy”!
On May 1, 1570, Realino made his vows as a professed member of the Society of Jesus. He remained in Naples where he was known for his preaching, counseling, visiting the sick and imprisoned, giving conferences in convents and monasteries, and especially for his role as a confessor.
In 1574, Realino was named the superior of a newly opened Jesuit house and school in Lecce, where he remained for over forty years in the roles of either rector or vice-rector. In 1580, his ministry changed to spiritual ministries.
When his superiors decided to move him from the city, Realino either became ill or the weather prohibited travel. He then devoted himself to spiritual rather than educational ministries visiting hospitals, jails, and slave “pens.”
His confessional was described as “besieged.” He admitted to his provincial superior that “the confessional was his Calvary,” and he described his “greatest penance” as that of “availability to people…the clamorous needs of souls.”
In 1583 he began a sodality for diocesan priests to foster their own priestly virtues and to improve their moral theology so they could be better confessors.
One of the more interesting miracles attributed to him concerned his small pitcher of wine which was never empty until everyone present had had enough.
On June 11, 1616 Father Realino developed a strong fever and lost his speech, but not his consciousness. He was anointed on June 29, and died on July 2, 1616, whispering the names of Jesus and Mary. He is known as the ‘Apostle of Lecce’ (Italy).
Feast of St. Bernadine Realino.
Bernadine Realino was born on 1 December 1530 in Carpi, Modena, Italy to the Italian nobility. He was the first child of Francisco and Elisabetta Bellentani Realino. His father was master of Horse to the Gonzaga family.
When Bernardine Realino was sixteen, he was sent to school in Modena, and then to the University of Bologna where he studied philosophy and medicine. Ten years later, in 1556, he received doctoral degrees in canon and civil law from the same university.
Finishing his studies, he was made tax collector in Alessandri and then mayor of Cassene; in both positions he was known for his kindness and his justice. In succession, Realino served as mayor of Felizzano (near Milano).
In 1562, Realino was made mayor of Castelleone, and office he held for two terms. In a letter to his brother regarding this appointment, Bernardine wrote: “I have no desire for the honors of this world, but solely for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul.”
Realino strove to be “an instrument of Divine Providence,” and often gave his entire salary for the care of the poor.
In 1564, the marquis named him superintendent of his estates in the Kingdom of Naples. When he was in Naples, he frequented the Jesuit Church. In August of that year he encountered two Jesuit novices and learned that the Society of Jesus had only recently arrived in Naples.
A sermon by a Jesuit preacher moved him deeply and led him to ask the Jesuit to hear his confession. The priest recognized Realino’s religious inclinations and asked him to make an eight-day retreat.
Realino experienced great peace and had a vision of our Lady commanding him to enter the Jesuits. On October 13, 1564, Realino entered the Jesuit novitiate in Naples, and made his profession of vows two years later. After the novitiate, he was sent to Rome to study theology.
Realino initially asked to be a brother but superiors told him he should be ordained. He made his profession of vows in October 1566, and was ordained on May 24 the following year. From this time on there was “a happiness and a joy about him,” and a “genius” for making friends.
Four years later, in 1570, the Father General, Francis Borgia appointed Realino Master of Novices in Naples, even though he had not finished the usual course of theology studies.
He was known for his study of ascetical theology, his prudence and sound judgment, and his abilities as a spiritual director. He is also described as “one of the most affable characters of his day,” and as being “as approachable as a puppy”!
On May 1, 1570, Realino made his vows as a professed member of the Society of Jesus. He remained in Naples where he was known for his preaching, counseling, visiting the sick and imprisoned, giving conferences in convents and monasteries, and especially for his role as a confessor.
In 1574, Realino was named the superior of a newly opened Jesuit house and school in Lecce, where he remained for over forty years in the roles of either rector or vice-rector. In 1580, his ministry changed to spiritual ministries.
When his superiors decided to move him from the city, Realino either became ill or the weather prohibited travel. He then devoted himself to spiritual rather than educational ministries visiting hospitals, jails, and slave “pens.”
His confessional was described as “besieged.” He admitted to his provincial superior that “the confessional was his Calvary,” and he described his “greatest penance” as that of “availability to people…the clamorous needs of souls.”
In 1583 he began a sodality for diocesan priests to foster their own priestly virtues and to improve their moral theology so they could be better confessors.
One of the more interesting miracles attributed to him concerned his small pitcher of wine which was never empty until everyone present had had enough.
On June 11, 1616 Father Realino developed a strong fever and lost his speech, but not his consciousness. He was anointed on June 29, and died on July 2, 1616, whispering the names of Jesus and Mary. He is known as the ‘Apostle of Lecce’ (Italy).
Close
July 2
Saint Bernadine Realino
July 3
Daily Saints – 3 July.
Feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle.
He is the patron saint of people in doubt; against doubt, architects, blind people and against blindness, builders, workers, geometricians, stone masons and stone cutters, surveyors, theologians, carpenters.
Thomas was probably born in Galilee to a humble family, but there is no indication that he was a fisherman. He was a Jew, but there is no account of how he became an apostle to Christ. Nevertheless, thanks to the fourth Gospel his personality is clearer to us than some of the other Twelve.
Ever present in the four lists compiled by the New Testament, in the first three Gospels he is placed next to Matthew (cf. Mt 10: 3; Mk 3: 18; Lk 6: 15), whereas in Acts, he is found after Philip (cf. Acts 1: 13). But in the Gospel of John he plays a particularly distinctive part.
His name derives from a Hebrew root, ta’am, which means “paired, twin”. In fact, John’s Gospel several times calls him “Dydimus” (cf. Jn 11: 16; 20: 24; 21: 2), a Greek nickname for, precisely, “twin”. The reason for this nickname is unclear.
Thomas is often condemned for his lack of belief, but Thomas was equally courageous, willing to stand by Jesus in dangerous times. He also relentlessly sought the Truth. Like an inquisitive child, he constantly asked questions. And, his wonderful profession, “My Lord and my God,” is the clearest declaration of Jesus’ divinity in Holy Scripture.
The Apostle Thomas was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ’s wounds.
An ancient tradition claims that Thomas first evangelised Syria and Persia (mentioned by Origen, according to Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History 3, 1) then went on to Western India (cf. Acts of Thomas 1-2 and 17ff.), from where also he finally reached Southern India.
According to the Acta Thomae, the apostles divided up the world for their missionary labors, and India fell to Thomas. However, he was reluctant to start the mission. Thomas claimed that he was not healthy enough and that a Hebrew could not teach Indians; even a vision of Christ could not change his mind.
Christ then appeared to a merchant and sold Thomas to him as a slave for his master, a king who ruled over part of India. He eventually gave in to God’s will, was freed, and planted the new Church over a wide area. He formed many parishes and built many churches along the way.
An old tradition says that Thomas baptised the wise men from the Nativity into Christianity.
His symbol is the builder’s square; there are several stories that explain it:
• he built a palace for King Guduphara in India
• he built the first church in India with his own hands
• it is representative building a strong spiritual foundation as he had complete faith in Christ (though initially less in the Resurrection)
• he offered to build a palace for an Indian king that would last forever; the king gave him money, which Thomas promptly gave away to the poor; he explained that the palace he was building was in heaven, not on earth.
There is a large population of native Christians in India who call themselves ‘the Christians of St Thomas’. They have an ancient oral tradition that he landed at Cranganoreon, the west coast and established seven churches in Malabar though his landing on the west coast is disputed today, the rest is not.
He then passed eastward to the Coromandel Coast. He was stabbed with a spear c.72 while in prayer on a hill in Mylapur, India. He is known as the ‘Apostle of India’.
Saint Thomas was mentioned in several texts, including one document called ‘The Passing of Mary’, which claims then-apostle Thomas was the only one to witness the Assumption of Mary into heaven, while the other apostles were transported to Jerusalem to witness her death.
While the other apostles were with Mary, Thomas was left in India until after her first burial, when he was transported to her tomb and he saw her bodily assumption into heaven, when her girdle was left behind. In versions of the story, the other apostles doubted Thomas’ words until Mary’s tomb was discovered to be empty with the exception of her girdle.
“Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (Jn 11:16)
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (Jn 14:5-7)
Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:27-28).
There are several medieval references to the tomb of St Thomas in India, some of which name Mylapore and in 1522 the Portuguese discovered the tomb there, with certain small relics now preserved in the cathedral of St Thomas at Mylapore.
But the bulk of his relics were certainly at Edessa in the fourth century, as the Acta Thomae relate. They were later translated from Edessa to the island of Khios in the Aegean and from thence to Ortona in the Abruzzi, where they are still venerated.
When St Francis Xavier came to India, the signs of blood were still to be seen on the cross where the murderous deed of the martyrdom of St Thomas was committed and more than once drops of blood appeared on this cross during the celebration of Mass, when crowds of people were present.
St Xavier, shortly after his arrival in India, went to the tomb of St Thomas, and passed many days and nights there in prayer. He begged God fervently to bestow upon him the Spirit and zeal of this holy Apostle, that he might be able to restore the Christian faith which St Thomas had preached there but which had gradually been entirely exterminated.
Before undertaking any important work, he went, if possible, to the tomb of St Thomas and when this was impossible, he invoked the holy Apostle’s intercession, and endeavoured to follow his example in all things.
“The Lord waits for us to offer Him our failings so that He can help us experience His mercy.” Pope Francis, 19/04/2020
“When God becomes my God… we begin to accept ourselves and to love life as it is.” Pope Francis, 19/04/2020
“Thomas placed his fingers in the Lord’s wounds. But he did not say: “it’s true, the Lord is risen”. He went further; he said: “My Lord and my God”. Starting with his disbelief the Lord led him to profess not only his belief in the Resurrection, but above all, his belief in the divinity of the Lord. How can I find the wounds of Jesus today? I cannot see them as Thomas saw them. I find them in doing works of mercy, in giving to the body — to the body and to the soul, but I stress the body — of your injured brethren, for they are hungry, thirsty, naked, humiliated, slaves, in prison, in hospital. These are the wounds of Jesus in our day.” – Pope Francis, Morning meditation in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, 3 July 2013
“Jesus can now be recognised by his wounds rather than by his face.” – Pope Benedict XVI, general audience on September 27, 2006
“The Apostle Thomas’ case is important to us for at least three reasons. First, because it comforts us in our insecurity; second, because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and, lastly, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere, despite the difficulty, along our journey of adhesion to him.” – Pope Benedict XVI, general audience on September 27, 2006
“In fact, with this remark he places himself at a rather low level of understanding but his words provide Jesus with the opportunity to pronounce His famous definition: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14: 6). Thus, it is primarily to Thomas that He makes this revelation but it is valid for all of us and for every age. Every time we hear or read these words, we can stand beside Thomas in spirit and imagine that the Lord is also speaking to us, just as He spoke to him. At the same time, his question also confers upon us the right, so to speak, to ask Jesus for explanations. We often do not understand Him. Let us be brave enough to say: “I do not understand you, Lord, listen to me, help me to understand”. In such a way, with this frankness which is the true way of praying, of speaking to Jesus, we express our meagre capacity to understand and at the same time place ourselves in the trusting attitude of someone who expects light and strength from the One able to provide them.” – Pope Benedict XVI, general audience on September 27, 2006
“What conclusion, dear brethren, do you come to? Surely it was not by chance that this chosen disciple, was missing in the first place? Or that on his return he heard, that hearing he doubted, that doubting he touched, and that touching he believed? It was by divine dispensation and not by chance that things so fell out. God´s Mercy worked wonderfully, for when that doubting disciple touched his Master´s wounded flesh he cured the wound of our disbelief. So this doubting disciple, who actually touched, became a witness to the reality of the resurrection.” – Pope St Gregory the Great
Feast of St. Thomas, the Apostle.
He is the patron saint of people in doubt; against doubt, architects, blind people and against blindness, builders, workers, geometricians, stone masons and stone cutters, surveyors, theologians, carpenters.
Thomas was probably born in Galilee to a humble family, but there is no indication that he was a fisherman. He was a Jew, but there is no account of how he became an apostle to Christ. Nevertheless, thanks to the fourth Gospel his personality is clearer to us than some of the other Twelve.
Ever present in the four lists compiled by the New Testament, in the first three Gospels he is placed next to Matthew (cf. Mt 10: 3; Mk 3: 18; Lk 6: 15), whereas in Acts, he is found after Philip (cf. Acts 1: 13). But in the Gospel of John he plays a particularly distinctive part.
His name derives from a Hebrew root, ta’am, which means “paired, twin”. In fact, John’s Gospel several times calls him “Dydimus” (cf. Jn 11: 16; 20: 24; 21: 2), a Greek nickname for, precisely, “twin”. The reason for this nickname is unclear.
Thomas is often condemned for his lack of belief, but Thomas was equally courageous, willing to stand by Jesus in dangerous times. He also relentlessly sought the Truth. Like an inquisitive child, he constantly asked questions. And, his wonderful profession, “My Lord and my God,” is the clearest declaration of Jesus’ divinity in Holy Scripture.
The Apostle Thomas was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ’s wounds.
An ancient tradition claims that Thomas first evangelised Syria and Persia (mentioned by Origen, according to Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History 3, 1) then went on to Western India (cf. Acts of Thomas 1-2 and 17ff.), from where also he finally reached Southern India.
According to the Acta Thomae, the apostles divided up the world for their missionary labors, and India fell to Thomas. However, he was reluctant to start the mission. Thomas claimed that he was not healthy enough and that a Hebrew could not teach Indians; even a vision of Christ could not change his mind.
Christ then appeared to a merchant and sold Thomas to him as a slave for his master, a king who ruled over part of India. He eventually gave in to God’s will, was freed, and planted the new Church over a wide area. He formed many parishes and built many churches along the way.
An old tradition says that Thomas baptised the wise men from the Nativity into Christianity.
His symbol is the builder’s square; there are several stories that explain it:
• he built a palace for King Guduphara in India
• he built the first church in India with his own hands
• it is representative building a strong spiritual foundation as he had complete faith in Christ (though initially less in the Resurrection)
• he offered to build a palace for an Indian king that would last forever; the king gave him money, which Thomas promptly gave away to the poor; he explained that the palace he was building was in heaven, not on earth.
There is a large population of native Christians in India who call themselves ‘the Christians of St Thomas’. They have an ancient oral tradition that he landed at Cranganoreon, the west coast and established seven churches in Malabar though his landing on the west coast is disputed today, the rest is not.
He then passed eastward to the Coromandel Coast. He was stabbed with a spear c.72 while in prayer on a hill in Mylapur, India. He is known as the ‘Apostle of India’.
Saint Thomas was mentioned in several texts, including one document called ‘The Passing of Mary’, which claims then-apostle Thomas was the only one to witness the Assumption of Mary into heaven, while the other apostles were transported to Jerusalem to witness her death.
While the other apostles were with Mary, Thomas was left in India until after her first burial, when he was transported to her tomb and he saw her bodily assumption into heaven, when her girdle was left behind. In versions of the story, the other apostles doubted Thomas’ words until Mary’s tomb was discovered to be empty with the exception of her girdle.
“Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (Jn 11:16)
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (Jn 14:5-7)
Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:27-28).
There are several medieval references to the tomb of St Thomas in India, some of which name Mylapore and in 1522 the Portuguese discovered the tomb there, with certain small relics now preserved in the cathedral of St Thomas at Mylapore.
But the bulk of his relics were certainly at Edessa in the fourth century, as the Acta Thomae relate. They were later translated from Edessa to the island of Khios in the Aegean and from thence to Ortona in the Abruzzi, where they are still venerated.
When St Francis Xavier came to India, the signs of blood were still to be seen on the cross where the murderous deed of the martyrdom of St Thomas was committed and more than once drops of blood appeared on this cross during the celebration of Mass, when crowds of people were present.
St Xavier, shortly after his arrival in India, went to the tomb of St Thomas, and passed many days and nights there in prayer. He begged God fervently to bestow upon him the Spirit and zeal of this holy Apostle, that he might be able to restore the Christian faith which St Thomas had preached there but which had gradually been entirely exterminated.
Before undertaking any important work, he went, if possible, to the tomb of St Thomas and when this was impossible, he invoked the holy Apostle’s intercession, and endeavoured to follow his example in all things.
“The Lord waits for us to offer Him our failings so that He can help us experience His mercy.” Pope Francis, 19/04/2020
“When God becomes my God… we begin to accept ourselves and to love life as it is.” Pope Francis, 19/04/2020
“Thomas placed his fingers in the Lord’s wounds. But he did not say: “it’s true, the Lord is risen”. He went further; he said: “My Lord and my God”. Starting with his disbelief the Lord led him to profess not only his belief in the Resurrection, but above all, his belief in the divinity of the Lord. How can I find the wounds of Jesus today? I cannot see them as Thomas saw them. I find them in doing works of mercy, in giving to the body — to the body and to the soul, but I stress the body — of your injured brethren, for they are hungry, thirsty, naked, humiliated, slaves, in prison, in hospital. These are the wounds of Jesus in our day.” – Pope Francis, Morning meditation in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, 3 July 2013
“Jesus can now be recognised by his wounds rather than by his face.” – Pope Benedict XVI, general audience on September 27, 2006
“The Apostle Thomas’ case is important to us for at least three reasons. First, because it comforts us in our insecurity; second, because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and, lastly, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere, despite the difficulty, along our journey of adhesion to him.” – Pope Benedict XVI, general audience on September 27, 2006
“In fact, with this remark he places himself at a rather low level of understanding but his words provide Jesus with the opportunity to pronounce His famous definition: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14: 6). Thus, it is primarily to Thomas that He makes this revelation but it is valid for all of us and for every age. Every time we hear or read these words, we can stand beside Thomas in spirit and imagine that the Lord is also speaking to us, just as He spoke to him. At the same time, his question also confers upon us the right, so to speak, to ask Jesus for explanations. We often do not understand Him. Let us be brave enough to say: “I do not understand you, Lord, listen to me, help me to understand”. In such a way, with this frankness which is the true way of praying, of speaking to Jesus, we express our meagre capacity to understand and at the same time place ourselves in the trusting attitude of someone who expects light and strength from the One able to provide them.” – Pope Benedict XVI, general audience on September 27, 2006
“What conclusion, dear brethren, do you come to? Surely it was not by chance that this chosen disciple, was missing in the first place? Or that on his return he heard, that hearing he doubted, that doubting he touched, and that touching he believed? It was by divine dispensation and not by chance that things so fell out. God´s Mercy worked wonderfully, for when that doubting disciple touched his Master´s wounded flesh he cured the wound of our disbelief. So this doubting disciple, who actually touched, became a witness to the reality of the resurrection.” – Pope St Gregory the Great
Close
July 3
Saints Thomas, the Apostle
July 4
Daily Saints – 4 July.
Feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal.
Patron saint of brides, charitable societies and their workers, difficult marriages, falsely accused people, queens, tertiaries, victims of adultery, victims of jealousy, victims of unfaithfulness, widows and against jealousy. She is invoked in time of war and for peace.
Elizabeth was born in 1271. She was the daughter of King Pedro III of Aragon and his wife Constantia. Even in her youth, Elizabeth showed a notable devotion to God through fasting, regular prayer, and a sense of life’s seriousness. She quickly learned self-discipline and acquired a taste for spirituality.
Elizabeth was very beautiful and very lovable. She was also very devout, and went to Mass every day. While still very young, she was married to King Diniz of Portugal, a marriage that would put her faith and patience to the test.
The first years of her married life were happy ones, her husband loved her, and God blessed the marriage with two sons. While Elizabeth fulfilled her duties as wife and mother, she contrived to find time to devote herself with holy zeal to practices of piety and charity.
Elizabeth was a holy wife, but although her husband was fond of her at first, he soon began to cause her great suffering. Though a good ruler, he did not imitate his wife’s love of prayer and other virtues. In fact, his sins of impurity gave great scandle to the people.
Many members of the king’s court likewise embraced or accepted various forms of immorality, and it would have been easy for the young queen to fall into these vices herself.
But Elizabeth remained intent on doing God’s will with a humble and charitable attitude. Rather than using her status as queen to pursue her own satisfaction, she sought to advance Christ’s reign on earth.
Like her great-aunt Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth of Portugal was a devoted patroness and personal friend of the poor and sick, and she compelled the women who served her at court to care for them as well.
The queen’s bishop testified that she had a custom of secretly inviting in lepers, whom she would bathe and clothe, even though the law of the land barred them from approaching the castle.
One day she was washing the feet of a sick lady. When Saint Elizabeth of Portugal had washed one foot, the patient refused to extend the other because it was badly eaten by a cancerous sore. But the saintly queen urged her to comply. Then she carefully washed the ugly wound, and lovingly pressed her lips upon it. At that very moment the wound disappeared.
Later, to make matters worse, the King believed a lie told about Elizabeth and one of her pages by another page, who was jealous of his companion. In great anger the King ordered the one he believed guilty, to be sent to a lime-burner. The lime-burner was commanded to throw into his furnace the first page who came.
The good page set out obediently, not knowing death was waiting for him. On his way he stopped for Mass, since he had the habit of going daily. The first Mass had begun, so he stayed for a second one.
In the meantime, the King sent the wicked page to the lime-burner to find out if the other had been killed. And so it was this page who was thrown into the furnace! When the King learned what had happened, he realized that God had saved the goodpage, punished the liar, and proven Queen Elizabeth to be innocent.
This amazing event helped greatly to make the King live better. He apologized to his wife in front of everyone and began to have a great respect for her. Thereafter she was frequently to play the role of peacemaker.
Her husband quarreled seriously with his brother over certain estates. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal offered her brother-in-law an estate out of her own possessions and thus restored peace between the two brothers.
Later her own son Alphonse became ambitious and rose against his father. All his mother’s efforts to effect a change of mind in him were in vain. Alphonse, supported by powerful foes of the king, collected an army and was ready for war against his father and the royal army.
Then Elizabeth, mounting her charger, rode between the lines of battle, and spoke so impressively to her son that he cast himself repentantly at the feet of his father, and in the sight of the two armies they were reconciled to each other.
Not long after, King Denis became sick. In his last sickness, she never left his side, except for Mass, until he died a holy death.
After the death of the king in 1325, she distributed her property to the poor, became a Franciscan tertiary, and retired to a monastery of Poor Clares she had founded at Coimbra.
Elizabeth lived for eleven more years, doing even greater charity and penance. She was a wonderful model of kindness toward the poor and a successful peacemaker between members of her own family and between nations.
In 1336 her son, now King Affonso IV, marched against his son-in-law, the King of Castile to punish him for being a negligent and abusive husband. Despite her age and ill health, Elizabeth hurried to the battlefield at Estremoz, Portugal, and again managed to make peace in her family, and thus maintain peace in her land.
Elizabeth died on 4 July 1336 at Estremoz, Portugal of fever.
Feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal.
Patron saint of brides, charitable societies and their workers, difficult marriages, falsely accused people, queens, tertiaries, victims of adultery, victims of jealousy, victims of unfaithfulness, widows and against jealousy. She is invoked in time of war and for peace.
Elizabeth was born in 1271. She was the daughter of King Pedro III of Aragon and his wife Constantia. Even in her youth, Elizabeth showed a notable devotion to God through fasting, regular prayer, and a sense of life’s seriousness. She quickly learned self-discipline and acquired a taste for spirituality.
Elizabeth was very beautiful and very lovable. She was also very devout, and went to Mass every day. While still very young, she was married to King Diniz of Portugal, a marriage that would put her faith and patience to the test.
The first years of her married life were happy ones, her husband loved her, and God blessed the marriage with two sons. While Elizabeth fulfilled her duties as wife and mother, she contrived to find time to devote herself with holy zeal to practices of piety and charity.
Elizabeth was a holy wife, but although her husband was fond of her at first, he soon began to cause her great suffering. Though a good ruler, he did not imitate his wife’s love of prayer and other virtues. In fact, his sins of impurity gave great scandle to the people.
Many members of the king’s court likewise embraced or accepted various forms of immorality, and it would have been easy for the young queen to fall into these vices herself.
But Elizabeth remained intent on doing God’s will with a humble and charitable attitude. Rather than using her status as queen to pursue her own satisfaction, she sought to advance Christ’s reign on earth.
Like her great-aunt Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth of Portugal was a devoted patroness and personal friend of the poor and sick, and she compelled the women who served her at court to care for them as well.
The queen’s bishop testified that she had a custom of secretly inviting in lepers, whom she would bathe and clothe, even though the law of the land barred them from approaching the castle.
One day she was washing the feet of a sick lady. When Saint Elizabeth of Portugal had washed one foot, the patient refused to extend the other because it was badly eaten by a cancerous sore. But the saintly queen urged her to comply. Then she carefully washed the ugly wound, and lovingly pressed her lips upon it. At that very moment the wound disappeared.
Later, to make matters worse, the King believed a lie told about Elizabeth and one of her pages by another page, who was jealous of his companion. In great anger the King ordered the one he believed guilty, to be sent to a lime-burner. The lime-burner was commanded to throw into his furnace the first page who came.
The good page set out obediently, not knowing death was waiting for him. On his way he stopped for Mass, since he had the habit of going daily. The first Mass had begun, so he stayed for a second one.
In the meantime, the King sent the wicked page to the lime-burner to find out if the other had been killed. And so it was this page who was thrown into the furnace! When the King learned what had happened, he realized that God had saved the goodpage, punished the liar, and proven Queen Elizabeth to be innocent.
This amazing event helped greatly to make the King live better. He apologized to his wife in front of everyone and began to have a great respect for her. Thereafter she was frequently to play the role of peacemaker.
Her husband quarreled seriously with his brother over certain estates. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal offered her brother-in-law an estate out of her own possessions and thus restored peace between the two brothers.
Later her own son Alphonse became ambitious and rose against his father. All his mother’s efforts to effect a change of mind in him were in vain. Alphonse, supported by powerful foes of the king, collected an army and was ready for war against his father and the royal army.
Then Elizabeth, mounting her charger, rode between the lines of battle, and spoke so impressively to her son that he cast himself repentantly at the feet of his father, and in the sight of the two armies they were reconciled to each other.
Not long after, King Denis became sick. In his last sickness, she never left his side, except for Mass, until he died a holy death.
After the death of the king in 1325, she distributed her property to the poor, became a Franciscan tertiary, and retired to a monastery of Poor Clares she had founded at Coimbra.
Elizabeth lived for eleven more years, doing even greater charity and penance. She was a wonderful model of kindness toward the poor and a successful peacemaker between members of her own family and between nations.
In 1336 her son, now King Affonso IV, marched against his son-in-law, the King of Castile to punish him for being a negligent and abusive husband. Despite her age and ill health, Elizabeth hurried to the battlefield at Estremoz, Portugal, and again managed to make peace in her family, and thus maintain peace in her land.
Elizabeth died on 4 July 1336 at Estremoz, Portugal of fever.
Close
July 4
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
July 5
Daily Saints – 5 July.
Feast of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria.
Patron saint of Physicians.
Anthony Mary Zaccaria was born into an Italian family of nobility in Cremona during 1502. His father Lazzaro died shortly after Anthony’s birth.
His mother Antonietta Pescaroli, left a widow at 18 years of age, might have accepted any of the numerous suitors for her hand, for with her great attractions, her gifted mind and vast wealth, there was every promise of a brilliant future before her, but she refused every offer in order that she might devote herself entirely to works of charity and the education of her son.
Antonietta’s son took after her in devotion to God and generosity toward the poor. In his home, there was a small chapel with an altar of the Madonna. Anthony delighted in adorning it with festive decorations or, otherwise, according to his own devotion of’ the feast celebrated by the church.
Here he used to come with his mother for morning and night prayers and often passed long hours of the day, and a part also of the night, in devout recollection. The more the love of God increased in his heart, the more also it increased in him the desire to draw all hearts to God.
One winter’s day, returning alone from the church, he met on the road a poor half-naked beggar who asked an alms. The sight of the unfortunate man, whose teeth were chattering with cold, touched the child to the heart, but that day he had not even a halfpenny in his pocket, so he passed on with his head bent and his heart aching.
He had only gone on a few steps when he felt an inspiration from heaven and turned back. Approaching the beggar, he began to speak words of comfort to him and, then making sure no one saw him, he took from his shoulders his rich silk mantle and threw it over the beggar and ran home as quickly as he could.
But arriving at the threshold of his home, he began to fear that he would be severely reproved by his mother for having thus acted without her permission. But no such thing! On the contrary the pious mother listened, deeply touched at his account of what had passed and much gratified at this virtuous act.
She praised him for it, and as a reward increased his pocket money, which he made over at once for the relief of the poor.
He studied Latin and Greek with tutors in his youth, and was afterward sent to Pavia to study philosophy. He went on to study medicine at the University of Padua, earning his degree at age 22 and returning to Cremona.
Despite his noble background and secular profession, the young doctor had no intention of either marrying or accumulating wealth. While caring for the physical conditions of his patients, he also encouraged them to find spiritual healing through repentance and the sacraments.
Anthony also taught catechism to children, and went on to participate in the religious formation of young adults. He eventually decided to withdraw from the practice of medicine, and with the encouragement of his spiritual director he began to study for the priesthood.
Ordained a priest at age 26, Anthony is said to have experienced a miraculous occurrence during his first Mass, being surrounded by a supernatural light and a multitude of angels during the consecration of the Eucharist. Contemporary witnesses marveled at the event, and testified to it after his death.
Church life in Cremona had suffered decline in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The new priest encountered widespread ignorance and religious indifference among laypersons, while many of the clergy were either weak or corrupt.
In these dire circumstances, Anthony Mary Zaccaria devoted his life to proclaiming the truths of the Gospel both clearly and charitably. Within two years, his eloquent preaching and tireless pastoral care is said to have changed the moral character of the city dramatically.
In 1530, Anthony moved to Milan, where a similar spirit of corruption and religious neglect prevailed. There, he decided to form a priestly society, the Clerics Regular of St. Paul and later became commonly known as the “Barnabites.”
The priest also founded a women’s religious order, the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul; and an organization, the Laity of St. Paul, geared toward the sanctification of those outside the priesthood and religious life.
Anthony pioneered the “40 Hours” devotion, involving continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. His holiness moved many to reform their lives, but as with all saints, it also moved many to oppose him. Twice his community had to undergo official religious investigation, and twice it was exonerated.
While on a mission of peace, Anthony became seriously ill and was brought home for a visit to his mother. He died at the age of 36, on 5 July 1539, during the liturgical octave of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
“Anyone willing to become a spiritual person begins a series of surgical operations in his soul. One day he removes this, another day he removes that, and relentlessly proceeds until he lays aside his old self.”
“That which God commands seems difficult and a burden. The way is rough; you draw back; you have no desire to follow it. Yet do so and you will attain glory.”
“Let me tell you and assure you before Christ that, if you want to, you can… give me the joy of seeing you behave sincerely and simply with everyone.”
“Neither you nor we need to worry about the present troublesome situations and any future ones… for Jesus Crucified will take care of the matter.”
“It is enough and, I would say, more than enough, that we follow the way of the cross, according to which it is sufficient to know whether it is a virtue or a fault to do something or to omit it.”
“Discuss with Christ everything that may be happening to you.”
“You have decided to give yourselves to Christ and I desire that you do not fall victims to lukewarmness, but rather that you grow more and more fervent. For if you let lukewarmness ensnare you, your life in the spirit will be overcome by the flesh, and—to use the proper word—you will be Pharisees rather than Christians and spiritual persons.”
“Do not think that my love for you or the good qualities you are endowed with, may have me desire that you be just little saints. No, I greatly desire that you become great saints, since you are well equipped to reach this goal, if you will it.”
“I have decided to devote myself to the care of the spiritual welfare of my neighbor. By so doing, I hope to grow in Jesus’ love; and the good Lord crucified will give me back the spiritual light and fervor, which used to keep me spiritually alive.”
“And if you are generous, you will learn to conduct yourselves with the law engraved in your hearts, rather than with external laws. Thus you will move forward to fulfill not so much the word of the law but its spirit.”
“Do make progress, and help the others make progress as well. And all of you do the same.”
“The teacher of justice, of holiness, and of perfection: the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,… will not let you go wrong; rather He will teach you everything. He will not let you lose heart, but will always remain with you. He will not leave you in need, but will provide you with everything. He will grant you, in particular, a continuous spirit of self-abandonment on the ignominious cross, and lead you to a life conformed to Christ’s according to the pattern of the great saints.”
Feast of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria.
Patron saint of Physicians.
Anthony Mary Zaccaria was born into an Italian family of nobility in Cremona during 1502. His father Lazzaro died shortly after Anthony’s birth.
His mother Antonietta Pescaroli, left a widow at 18 years of age, might have accepted any of the numerous suitors for her hand, for with her great attractions, her gifted mind and vast wealth, there was every promise of a brilliant future before her, but she refused every offer in order that she might devote herself entirely to works of charity and the education of her son.
Antonietta’s son took after her in devotion to God and generosity toward the poor. In his home, there was a small chapel with an altar of the Madonna. Anthony delighted in adorning it with festive decorations or, otherwise, according to his own devotion of’ the feast celebrated by the church.
Here he used to come with his mother for morning and night prayers and often passed long hours of the day, and a part also of the night, in devout recollection. The more the love of God increased in his heart, the more also it increased in him the desire to draw all hearts to God.
One winter’s day, returning alone from the church, he met on the road a poor half-naked beggar who asked an alms. The sight of the unfortunate man, whose teeth were chattering with cold, touched the child to the heart, but that day he had not even a halfpenny in his pocket, so he passed on with his head bent and his heart aching.
He had only gone on a few steps when he felt an inspiration from heaven and turned back. Approaching the beggar, he began to speak words of comfort to him and, then making sure no one saw him, he took from his shoulders his rich silk mantle and threw it over the beggar and ran home as quickly as he could.
But arriving at the threshold of his home, he began to fear that he would be severely reproved by his mother for having thus acted without her permission. But no such thing! On the contrary the pious mother listened, deeply touched at his account of what had passed and much gratified at this virtuous act.
She praised him for it, and as a reward increased his pocket money, which he made over at once for the relief of the poor.
He studied Latin and Greek with tutors in his youth, and was afterward sent to Pavia to study philosophy. He went on to study medicine at the University of Padua, earning his degree at age 22 and returning to Cremona.
Despite his noble background and secular profession, the young doctor had no intention of either marrying or accumulating wealth. While caring for the physical conditions of his patients, he also encouraged them to find spiritual healing through repentance and the sacraments.
Anthony also taught catechism to children, and went on to participate in the religious formation of young adults. He eventually decided to withdraw from the practice of medicine, and with the encouragement of his spiritual director he began to study for the priesthood.
Ordained a priest at age 26, Anthony is said to have experienced a miraculous occurrence during his first Mass, being surrounded by a supernatural light and a multitude of angels during the consecration of the Eucharist. Contemporary witnesses marveled at the event, and testified to it after his death.
Church life in Cremona had suffered decline in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The new priest encountered widespread ignorance and religious indifference among laypersons, while many of the clergy were either weak or corrupt.
In these dire circumstances, Anthony Mary Zaccaria devoted his life to proclaiming the truths of the Gospel both clearly and charitably. Within two years, his eloquent preaching and tireless pastoral care is said to have changed the moral character of the city dramatically.
In 1530, Anthony moved to Milan, where a similar spirit of corruption and religious neglect prevailed. There, he decided to form a priestly society, the Clerics Regular of St. Paul and later became commonly known as the “Barnabites.”
The priest also founded a women’s religious order, the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul; and an organization, the Laity of St. Paul, geared toward the sanctification of those outside the priesthood and religious life.
Anthony pioneered the “40 Hours” devotion, involving continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. His holiness moved many to reform their lives, but as with all saints, it also moved many to oppose him. Twice his community had to undergo official religious investigation, and twice it was exonerated.
While on a mission of peace, Anthony became seriously ill and was brought home for a visit to his mother. He died at the age of 36, on 5 July 1539, during the liturgical octave of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
“Anyone willing to become a spiritual person begins a series of surgical operations in his soul. One day he removes this, another day he removes that, and relentlessly proceeds until he lays aside his old self.”
“That which God commands seems difficult and a burden. The way is rough; you draw back; you have no desire to follow it. Yet do so and you will attain glory.”
“Let me tell you and assure you before Christ that, if you want to, you can… give me the joy of seeing you behave sincerely and simply with everyone.”
“Neither you nor we need to worry about the present troublesome situations and any future ones… for Jesus Crucified will take care of the matter.”
“It is enough and, I would say, more than enough, that we follow the way of the cross, according to which it is sufficient to know whether it is a virtue or a fault to do something or to omit it.”
“Discuss with Christ everything that may be happening to you.”
“You have decided to give yourselves to Christ and I desire that you do not fall victims to lukewarmness, but rather that you grow more and more fervent. For if you let lukewarmness ensnare you, your life in the spirit will be overcome by the flesh, and—to use the proper word—you will be Pharisees rather than Christians and spiritual persons.”
“Do not think that my love for you or the good qualities you are endowed with, may have me desire that you be just little saints. No, I greatly desire that you become great saints, since you are well equipped to reach this goal, if you will it.”
“I have decided to devote myself to the care of the spiritual welfare of my neighbor. By so doing, I hope to grow in Jesus’ love; and the good Lord crucified will give me back the spiritual light and fervor, which used to keep me spiritually alive.”
“And if you are generous, you will learn to conduct yourselves with the law engraved in your hearts, rather than with external laws. Thus you will move forward to fulfill not so much the word of the law but its spirit.”
“Do make progress, and help the others make progress as well. And all of you do the same.”
“The teacher of justice, of holiness, and of perfection: the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,… will not let you go wrong; rather He will teach you everything. He will not let you lose heart, but will always remain with you. He will not leave you in need, but will provide you with everything. He will grant you, in particular, a continuous spirit of self-abandonment on the ignominious cross, and lead you to a life conformed to Christ’s according to the pattern of the great saints.”
Close
July 5
Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria
July 6
Daily Saints – 6 July.
Feast of St. Maria Goretti.
She is the patron saint of children, girls, martyrs, poor people, rape victims, young people in general, and against poverty, against the death of parents.
Maria Goretti was born on October 16 1890 in Corinaldo, in the Ancona Province in Italy. She was affectionately called Marietta by her family. She was one of five children of Luigi and Assunta Goretti. Her father was a poor Italian tenant farmer.
She had no chance to go to school and so, never learned to read or write. Her father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. When he died of malaria, Maria’s mother had to struggle to feed her children.
Maria Goretti was afraid that her father’s soul would remain in Purgatory for too long, so she prayed constantly. This habit of prayer led to long, practiced meditation on the Paschal Mystery.
The rosary was constantly tied around her wrist since, and she could not go long without praying it. Maria was a diligent daughter who cared for her mother and helped with the other children.
Maria’s mother, brothers, and sisters worked in the fields while she cooked, sewed, kept the house clean, and watched her youngest sister Teresa. Though the family’s circumstances were extremely difficult, they were very close and loved God. It was from her mother Assunta that Maria learned never to sin “at any cost.”
Maria was also a girl of strong will. The age for reception of first communion was eleven in those days, and Maria insisted on receiving.
Her mother, however, was dead set against it since there was no time for preparation, no money to pay for the proper dress and veil, and no way that Maria could read or write well enough to learn her catechism. Undaunted, Maria found a way and received first communion in May 1902 just a few weeks before her martyrdom.
Now, when the Goretti family had first moved to Ferriere, Luigi Goretti, Maria’s father, had partnered with Giovanni Serenelli to help share the cropping labor. Giovanni had a son named Alessandro and lived with him next to the Goretti’s. Although they had separate apartments, they shared a common kitchen.
Luigi Goretti was soon to regret this partnership with the Serenelli’s as Giovanni was a drinker and prone to loud and immodest language.
Alessandro was the typically depressed young teenager. His mother had died in a psychiatric hospital while he was young. Following his father’s footsteps, he drank too much. Although he was once Catholic, he had fallen away.
Alessandro became quickly attracted to eleven year old Maria Goretti and but was unhappy that she did not feel the same way about him.
On a hot afternoon in July 5, 1902, Maria was sitting at the top of the stairs of her house, mending a shirt. She was not quite 12 years old, but physically mature.
A cart stopped outside, and a neighbor, 18-year-old Alessandro, ran up the stairs. He seized her and pulled her into a bedroom. She struggled and tried to call for help. “No, God does not wish it,” she cried out. “It is a sin. You would go to hell for it.” Alessandro began striking at her blindly with a long dagger.
Maria was taken to a hospital. Her last hours were marked by the usual simple compassion of the good—concern about where her mother would sleep, forgiveness of her murderer and her devout welcoming of Viaticum, her last Holy Communion. She died about 24 hours after the attack.
Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison. For eight years of his thirty year sentence he was unrepentant. However, one night he had a dream about Maria in which she handed him 14 white lilies. Then she said to him “Alessandro, as I have promised, your soul shall someday reach me in heaven.”
And with those words, Alessandro lost the bitterness of soul that had plagued him since youth. He now hoped. He awoke a completely changed man.
When he was released after 27 years, his first act was to go to beg the forgiveness of Maria’s mother. He later became a laybrother of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, where he lived in a monastery and worked as its receptionist and gardener until his death.
Devotion to the young martyr grew, miracles were worked, and in less than half a century she was canonized. At her beatification in 1947, her 82-year-old mother, two sisters and a brother, appeared with Pope Pius XII on the balcony of St. Peter’s. Three years later at Maria’s canonization, a 66-year-old Alessandro Serenelli knelt among the quarter-million people and cried tears of joy.
“I forgive Alessandro Serenelli … and I want him with me in heaven forever.”
“The Holy Eucharist is the perfect expression of the love of Jesus Christ for man.”
“He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant.”
Feast of St. Maria Goretti.
She is the patron saint of children, girls, martyrs, poor people, rape victims, young people in general, and against poverty, against the death of parents.
Maria Goretti was born on October 16 1890 in Corinaldo, in the Ancona Province in Italy. She was affectionately called Marietta by her family. She was one of five children of Luigi and Assunta Goretti. Her father was a poor Italian tenant farmer.
She had no chance to go to school and so, never learned to read or write. Her father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. When he died of malaria, Maria’s mother had to struggle to feed her children.
Maria Goretti was afraid that her father’s soul would remain in Purgatory for too long, so she prayed constantly. This habit of prayer led to long, practiced meditation on the Paschal Mystery.
The rosary was constantly tied around her wrist since, and she could not go long without praying it. Maria was a diligent daughter who cared for her mother and helped with the other children.
Maria’s mother, brothers, and sisters worked in the fields while she cooked, sewed, kept the house clean, and watched her youngest sister Teresa. Though the family’s circumstances were extremely difficult, they were very close and loved God. It was from her mother Assunta that Maria learned never to sin “at any cost.”
Maria was also a girl of strong will. The age for reception of first communion was eleven in those days, and Maria insisted on receiving.
Her mother, however, was dead set against it since there was no time for preparation, no money to pay for the proper dress and veil, and no way that Maria could read or write well enough to learn her catechism. Undaunted, Maria found a way and received first communion in May 1902 just a few weeks before her martyrdom.
Now, when the Goretti family had first moved to Ferriere, Luigi Goretti, Maria’s father, had partnered with Giovanni Serenelli to help share the cropping labor. Giovanni had a son named Alessandro and lived with him next to the Goretti’s. Although they had separate apartments, they shared a common kitchen.
Luigi Goretti was soon to regret this partnership with the Serenelli’s as Giovanni was a drinker and prone to loud and immodest language.
Alessandro was the typically depressed young teenager. His mother had died in a psychiatric hospital while he was young. Following his father’s footsteps, he drank too much. Although he was once Catholic, he had fallen away.
Alessandro became quickly attracted to eleven year old Maria Goretti and but was unhappy that she did not feel the same way about him.
On a hot afternoon in July 5, 1902, Maria was sitting at the top of the stairs of her house, mending a shirt. She was not quite 12 years old, but physically mature.
A cart stopped outside, and a neighbor, 18-year-old Alessandro, ran up the stairs. He seized her and pulled her into a bedroom. She struggled and tried to call for help. “No, God does not wish it,” she cried out. “It is a sin. You would go to hell for it.” Alessandro began striking at her blindly with a long dagger.
Maria was taken to a hospital. Her last hours were marked by the usual simple compassion of the good—concern about where her mother would sleep, forgiveness of her murderer and her devout welcoming of Viaticum, her last Holy Communion. She died about 24 hours after the attack.
Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison. For eight years of his thirty year sentence he was unrepentant. However, one night he had a dream about Maria in which she handed him 14 white lilies. Then she said to him “Alessandro, as I have promised, your soul shall someday reach me in heaven.”
And with those words, Alessandro lost the bitterness of soul that had plagued him since youth. He now hoped. He awoke a completely changed man.
When he was released after 27 years, his first act was to go to beg the forgiveness of Maria’s mother. He later became a laybrother of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, where he lived in a monastery and worked as its receptionist and gardener until his death.
Devotion to the young martyr grew, miracles were worked, and in less than half a century she was canonized. At her beatification in 1947, her 82-year-old mother, two sisters and a brother, appeared with Pope Pius XII on the balcony of St. Peter’s. Three years later at Maria’s canonization, a 66-year-old Alessandro Serenelli knelt among the quarter-million people and cried tears of joy.
“I forgive Alessandro Serenelli … and I want him with me in heaven forever.”
“The Holy Eucharist is the perfect expression of the love of Jesus Christ for man.”
“He loves, He hopes, He waits. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting an instant.”
Close
July 6
Saint Maria Goretti
July 7
Daily Saints – 7 July.
Feast of Saint Willibald of Eichstätt.
Willibald was born on 21 October 700 in Wessex, England. He was born a prince, the son of Saint Richard the King and brother of Saint Winnebald of Heidenheim and Saint Walburga. He was also related to Saint Boniface.
Willibald nearly died as an infant, leading his parents to pray for his life, vowing that he would be dedicated to God if he survived. He entered the Abbey of Waltham, Hampshire, England at age of five. He was educated by Egwald and became a Benedictine monk.
Willibald made a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy in 722 with Saint Richard and Saint Winnebald. His father died on the way, and Willibald suffered from malaria while there.
Willibald also made a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands in 724. He reached Jerusalem on 11 November 725, and is the first known Englishman in the Holy Land; the book of his travels, Hodoeporicon, is the first known English travelogue.
Willibald visited assorted holy sites throughout Europe. At one point he was arrested by Saracens at Emessa as a Christian spy, and imprisoned in Constantinople.
Willibald then spent ten years helping Saint Petronax restore the monastery of Monte Cassino. He served there as sacristan, dean, and porter.
In 740 he was sent by Pope Gregory III to help Saint Boniface evangelize the area that is modern Germany. He was Ordained on 22 July 741 by Saint Boniface, and consecrated as a missionary bishop by him on 21 October 741.
Willibald founded a missionary monastery in Eichstätt, Franconia in modern Germany. He worked with Saint Sebaldus. He was the first bishop of the diocese of Eichstätt. With Saint Winnebald, he founded the double monastery at Hiedenheim in 752. He died on 7 July 781.
Feast of Saint Willibald of Eichstätt.
Willibald was born on 21 October 700 in Wessex, England. He was born a prince, the son of Saint Richard the King and brother of Saint Winnebald of Heidenheim and Saint Walburga. He was also related to Saint Boniface.
Willibald nearly died as an infant, leading his parents to pray for his life, vowing that he would be dedicated to God if he survived. He entered the Abbey of Waltham, Hampshire, England at age of five. He was educated by Egwald and became a Benedictine monk.
Willibald made a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy in 722 with Saint Richard and Saint Winnebald. His father died on the way, and Willibald suffered from malaria while there.
Willibald also made a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands in 724. He reached Jerusalem on 11 November 725, and is the first known Englishman in the Holy Land; the book of his travels, Hodoeporicon, is the first known English travelogue.
Willibald visited assorted holy sites throughout Europe. At one point he was arrested by Saracens at Emessa as a Christian spy, and imprisoned in Constantinople.
Willibald then spent ten years helping Saint Petronax restore the monastery of Monte Cassino. He served there as sacristan, dean, and porter.
In 740 he was sent by Pope Gregory III to help Saint Boniface evangelize the area that is modern Germany. He was Ordained on 22 July 741 by Saint Boniface, and consecrated as a missionary bishop by him on 21 October 741.
Willibald founded a missionary monastery in Eichstätt, Franconia in modern Germany. He worked with Saint Sebaldus. He was the first bishop of the diocese of Eichstätt. With Saint Winnebald, he founded the double monastery at Hiedenheim in 752. He died on 7 July 781.
Close
July 7
Saint Willibald of Eichstätt
July 8
Daily Saints – 8 July.
Feast of Sts. Aquila and Priscilla.
Aquila was a Jew, born in Pontus in what is now Turkey. He emigrated to Rome where he met and fell in love with Priscilla. After they were married, they worked together as tent-makers; together they converted to Christianity.
When the emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome in 49 AD, they were forced to leave the City. They are known through the Letters of St Paul, their close friend, and from his testimony in the Acts of Apostles.
Aquila and Priscilla moved to the Greek city of Corinth, a cosmopolitan city where the cult of Aphrodite was very strong. There they met Paul, who was working as a tent-maker to provide for his necessities so as not to be a burden on anyone.
After he was expelled from the synagogue, Paul established himself in the house of Titius Justus, near the home of Aquila and Pricilla. When Paul decided to return to Syria, the couple accompanied him on part of the journey, but stopped at Ephesus.
The three friends met again later in Ephesus, a meeting point of culture, religion, and commerce. In fact, St. Paul founded a church there, and lived there himself for two years.
Although continuing to work as tent-makers, Priscilla and Aquila helped in the instruction of converts, most notably Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew who was well-versed in Scripture. Their catechetical instruction was made credible by their love for one another.
Their home became a point of reference for the new Christian community, a domestic church, where followers of Christ met to listen to the Word of God and celebrate the Eucharist.
They are mentioned a few times in the New Testament in glowing terms by their friend Paul, who calls them “my helpers in Christ, who have for my life laid down their own necks” (Romans 16:3-4). They were tentmakers, thus sharing the same profession as Paul, and because of this it is thought that Paul may have worked with them (Acts 18: 2-3). Acts 18:18-19 tells us that they accompanied Paul to Ephesus and stayed there with him for three years.
Aquila and Priscilla returned to Rome after the expulsion order against the Jews was lifted. Throughout their life they worked as missionaries, always bearing witness to the Risen Christ.
According to tradition they were martyred in Rome on their return, probably around the same time as St. Paul.
Feast of Sts. Aquila and Priscilla.
Aquila was a Jew, born in Pontus in what is now Turkey. He emigrated to Rome where he met and fell in love with Priscilla. After they were married, they worked together as tent-makers; together they converted to Christianity.
When the emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome in 49 AD, they were forced to leave the City. They are known through the Letters of St Paul, their close friend, and from his testimony in the Acts of Apostles.
Aquila and Priscilla moved to the Greek city of Corinth, a cosmopolitan city where the cult of Aphrodite was very strong. There they met Paul, who was working as a tent-maker to provide for his necessities so as not to be a burden on anyone.
After he was expelled from the synagogue, Paul established himself in the house of Titius Justus, near the home of Aquila and Pricilla. When Paul decided to return to Syria, the couple accompanied him on part of the journey, but stopped at Ephesus.
The three friends met again later in Ephesus, a meeting point of culture, religion, and commerce. In fact, St. Paul founded a church there, and lived there himself for two years.
Although continuing to work as tent-makers, Priscilla and Aquila helped in the instruction of converts, most notably Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew who was well-versed in Scripture. Their catechetical instruction was made credible by their love for one another.
Their home became a point of reference for the new Christian community, a domestic church, where followers of Christ met to listen to the Word of God and celebrate the Eucharist.
They are mentioned a few times in the New Testament in glowing terms by their friend Paul, who calls them “my helpers in Christ, who have for my life laid down their own necks” (Romans 16:3-4). They were tentmakers, thus sharing the same profession as Paul, and because of this it is thought that Paul may have worked with them (Acts 18: 2-3). Acts 18:18-19 tells us that they accompanied Paul to Ephesus and stayed there with him for three years.
Aquila and Priscilla returned to Rome after the expulsion order against the Jews was lifted. Throughout their life they worked as missionaries, always bearing witness to the Risen Christ.
According to tradition they were martyred in Rome on their return, probably around the same time as St. Paul.
Close
July 8
Saints Aquila and Priscilla
July 9
Daily Saints – 9 July.
Feast of Saint Veronica Giuliani.
Feast of Saint Veronica Giuliani.
Veronica was born on 1660 at Mercatello, Duchy of Urbino (part of modern Italy) as ‘Ursula Giuliani’ in a wealthy devout family. She was the daughter of Francesco Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini. She was the last of seven sisters, three of whom were to embrace the monastic life.
As a child she, too, was of a devout disposition, but inclined to be quite irritable, and, as she herself admits, would stamp her feet at the least provocation.
Her mother, Benedetta Mancini, was a deeply religious woman who used to read the lives of saints and martyrs to Veronica and her four sisters (two other siblings had died).
This led Veronica to start doing some rather harsh penances and desire to suffer out of love for Jesus at an early age following the example of St. Rose of Lima.
Veronica’s mother died when she was only four years old. In her last moments she assigned each of her five children to one of the five wounds of Christ and bade them take their refuge there whenever they were troubled. Veronica was the youngest. She was assigned to the wound in the side of our Lord, and from that time on her heart became more tempered.
Co-operating with the grace of God, her soul gradually went through a refining process by which she became an object of admiration in later years.
Ursula had longed to receive Holy Communion and finally at the age of ten she was able to make her First Holy Communion on February 2, 1670.
This is how she described her experience: “Going for the first time to Communion, it seemed to me that at that act I felt outside of myself. I seem to remember that when I took the Holy Host, I felt such a great heat that flared up inside of me, especially, my heart was burning…I felt that the Lord had really come to me, and with my whole heart I told him, “My God, it is now time to take complete possession of me. I give myself only to You and it is only You I want.” I seem to remember that He answered, “You are Mine and I am all yours.”
When she went home afterwards, she felt different, transformed, and she realized she had a vocation to the consecrated life, “Oh God! What joy! I cannot explain what I felt. I only know that I was left with an ardent longing to become a nun, and that I could not wait for the moment to marry God.”
When Veronica came of age, her father believed she should marry, and so he desired her to take part in the social activities of the young people. But she had been made aware of another call, and she pleaded so earnestly with her father that, after much resistance, he finally permitted her to choose her own state in life.
At the age of 17, Veronica entered the convent of the Capuchin nuns at Citta di Castello in Umbria, where the primitive rule of St. Clare was observed. She was to remain here for the rest of her life. Here she received the name of “Veronica”, which means “true image” and she was in fact to become a true image of the Crucified Christ.
In her first years in the monastery, she worked in the kitchen, infirmary, sacristy, and also served as portress.
Imbued with sincere humility she considered herself the lowliest member of the community. At the same time she greatly edified all by her obedience and love of poverty and mortification. Sometimes she was favored with interior conversations and revelations.
Veronica resolved that she would reveal all such matters to her superiors and her confessor; she had neglected to do that when she was still in the world, and as a result she had often been misled by the father of lies.
When Veronica had spent 17 years in various offices in her community, she was entrusted with the guidance of the novices. She endeavored to imbue them with the spirit of simplicity and to lay a firm foundation for humility.
Veronica directed them to the truths of the Faith and the rules of the order as their safest guides on the way of perfection, and warned them against reading idly speculative books as well as against everything unusual.
Meanwhile, extraordinary things were beginning to happen to Veronica. On Good Friday she received the stigmata, and later the Crown of Thorns was impressed on her head amid untold sufferings.
Later she wrote: “I saw five radiant rays issue from his most holy wounds; and they all shone on my face. And I saw these rays become, as it were, little tongues of fire. In four of them were the nails; and in one was the spear, as of gold, red hot and white hot: and it went straight through my heart, from one side to the other … and the nails pierced my hands and feet. I felt great pain but in this same pain I saw myself, I felt myself totally transformed into God.”
Veronica also experienced a mystical espousal, as she was given a mystical ring by Our Lord’s own hand. One eye-witness said: “This ring encircled her ring finger as ordinary rings do. On it there appeared to be a raised stone as large as a pea and of a red color.”
After careful examination of the matters, the bishop sent a report to Rome. Then Rome appointed a commission, which was to put her humility to the severest test, in order to determine whether she was an imposter, a person deluded by the devil, or a person favored by God.
Veronica was deposed from her office as novice mistress, and deprived of every suffrage in the community. She was even imprisoned in a remote cell. No sisters were permitted to talk to her, and a lay sister who was made her warden was ordered to treat her like a deceiver.
Finally, she was even deprived of Holy Communion and was permitted to attend holy Mass only on Sundays and holy days near the door of the church.
At the conclusion of these trials, the bishop reported to Rome that she scrupulously obeyed every one of his ordinances, and showed not the least sign of sadness amid all his harsh treatment, but rather an inexpressible peace and joy of spirit.
The test had proved the admirable manifestations to be the work of God, but Veronica did not on that account deem herself a saint, but rather a great sinner, whom God was leading on the way to conversion by means of His holy wounds.
Having filled the office of novice mistress during a space of 22 years, Veronica was unanimously elected abbess. Only in obedience could she be prevailed upon to accept the responsibility. She held the position for 11 years until her death.
Veronica placed the keys of the convent in the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary and said, “You are the Abbess, I will do as you order me.” To which the Virgin Mary replied, “I am the superior, you must accept my guidance in everything.”
Veronica was very devoted to the Eucharist and to the Sacred Heart. She offered her sufferings for the missions.
Veronica also experienced a relationship of profound intimacy with the Virgin Mary, attested by the words she heard Our Lady say one day, which she reports in her Diary: “I made you rest on my breast, you were united with my soul, and from it you were taken as in flight to God.”
Veronica’s guardian angel had an important role in her life. He helped her get up when she fell under the weight of the Cross, defended her when she was attacked by the devil, and helped her with the chores. Later on during her life the Blessed Virgin Mary appointed another guardian angel to her because she was so much attacked by the devil. Her angels accompanied her on her visits to hell.
Veronica wrote prolifically: letters, autobiographical reports, poems. She also kept a Diary, which she began in 1693: about 22,000 handwritten pages that cover a span of 34 years of cloistered life.
On June 6th, at the moment of Holy Communion she had a stroke. From that time she suffered for 33 days a purgatory on Earth.
Purified more and more by many sufferings, to which she added many austere mortifications, she went to her eternal reward on July 9, 1727, after spending 50 years in the convent. Her last words were: “I have found Love, Love has let himself be seen! This is the cause of my suffering. Tell everyone about it, tell everyone!”
“O sinners… all men and all women, come to Jesus’ heart; come to be cleansed by his most precious blood…. He awaits you with open arms to embrace you.”
“We cannot go about the world preaching to convert souls but are bound to pray ceaselessly for all those souls who are offending God… particularly with our sufferings, that is, with a principle of crucified life.”
“His Eternal Father made them see and feel the extent of all the suffering that his chosen ones would have to endure, the souls dearest to him, that is, those who would benefit from his Blood and from all his sufferings.”
“My soul was bound to the divine will and I was truly established and fixed for ever in the will of God. It seemed to me that I should never again have to beseparated from this will of God and I came to myself with these precise words: nothing will be able to separate me from the will of God, neither anxieties, nor sorrows nor toil nor contempt nor temptation nor creatures nor demons nor darkness, not even death itself, because, in life and in death, I want all, and in all things, the will of God.”
“My God, I ask you for souls. Let these Your Wounds be voices for me and say with me: O souls redeemed by the Blood of Christ, come to this source of love. I am calling you and these Holy Wounds speak for me, but all of you come.”
Close
July 9
Saint Veronica Giuliani
July 10
Daily Saints – 10 July.
Feast of Sts. Rufina and Secunda.
Rufina and Secunda were sisters, daughters of Asterius, a Roman senator. Their parents had betrothed them to Armentarius and Verinus. They were Christians but when the persecution of the Emperor Valerian fell upon the Church, these two men apostatized.
The two sisters refused to follow them down their treacherous path. They refused to marry, saying that they had consecrated their virginity to Jesus Christ.
They were, therefore, apprehended during the reign of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus. When Junius, the prefect, saw he could not shake their resolution either by promises or by threats, he first ordered Rufina to be beaten with rods.
While she was being scourged, Secunda thus addressed the judge: “Why do you treat my sister thus honorably, but me dishonorably? Order us both to be scourged, since we both confess Christ to be God.”
Enraged by these words, the judge ordered them both to be cast into a dark and fetid dungeon; immediately a bright light and a most sweet odor filled the prison. They were then shut up in a bath, the floor of which was made red-hot; but from this also they emerged unhurt.
Next they were thrown into the Tiber with stones laid to their necks, but an angel saved them from the water. In a last ditch effort to kill the sisters, the judge had them taken ten miles outside of the city, on a road called Aurelian Way, and he ordered that they be beheaded.
They were martyred in 257 in Rome, Italy. Afterwards their bodies were buried by a matron named Plautilla on her estate.
Feast of Sts. Rufina and Secunda.
Rufina and Secunda were sisters, daughters of Asterius, a Roman senator. Their parents had betrothed them to Armentarius and Verinus. They were Christians but when the persecution of the Emperor Valerian fell upon the Church, these two men apostatized.
The two sisters refused to follow them down their treacherous path. They refused to marry, saying that they had consecrated their virginity to Jesus Christ.
They were, therefore, apprehended during the reign of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus. When Junius, the prefect, saw he could not shake their resolution either by promises or by threats, he first ordered Rufina to be beaten with rods.
While she was being scourged, Secunda thus addressed the judge: “Why do you treat my sister thus honorably, but me dishonorably? Order us both to be scourged, since we both confess Christ to be God.”
Enraged by these words, the judge ordered them both to be cast into a dark and fetid dungeon; immediately a bright light and a most sweet odor filled the prison. They were then shut up in a bath, the floor of which was made red-hot; but from this also they emerged unhurt.
Next they were thrown into the Tiber with stones laid to their necks, but an angel saved them from the water. In a last ditch effort to kill the sisters, the judge had them taken ten miles outside of the city, on a road called Aurelian Way, and he ordered that they be beheaded.
They were martyred in 257 in Rome, Italy. Afterwards their bodies were buried by a matron named Plautilla on her estate.
Close
July 10
Saints Rufina and Secunda
July 11
Daily Saints – 11 July.
Feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Western Monasticism.
Patron saint of students, school children, architects, dying people, cavers, spelunkers, monks, people in religious orders, servants who have broken their master’s belongings, speliologists, agricultural and farm workers, civil engineers, coppersmiths and against erysipelas, against fever, against gall stones, against inflammatory diseases, against kidney disease, against nettle rash, against poison, against temptations, against witchcraft.
Benedict and his twin sister St. Scholastica were born in Nursia (modern day Norcia), Italy, in c. 480 AD into a noble family. His father Euprobo and mother Claudia Abundantia were Christians.
After attending primary schools in Norcia, Benedict went to Rome to broaden his knowledge of literature and law. Once he had reached his higher studies, Benedict grew weary of life in Rome.
Benedict found his companions’ lives were dissolute and immoral and he himself had been struck by love for a woman. He found his teachers unchristian and corrupt. All of these things led St. Benedict to abandon his studies in Rome to pursue a spiritual life.
Benedict left Rome, probably between 500 and 510 AD, with his faithful family nurse Cirilla. He retired to Affile with a group of priests.
At Affile, Saint Benedict worked his first miracle, restoring to perfect condition an earthenware wheat sifter which his man-servant had accidentally broken. The notoriety which this miracle brought drove Benedict to withdraw further from social life.
Benedict took shelter in a cave in the ruins of Nero’s village, near Subiaco, where he began to live as a hermit. Immersed in loneliness, his only contact with the outside world was with a monk called Romanus, whose monastery was nearby. He gave Saint Benedict a monk’s habit and provided for his spiritual and material needs.
Three solitary years followed. Some shepherds befriended Benedict. They began to follow his teachings and the pastoral and apostolic principles of the Benedictine Order took root.
One day, during his time living in a cave above a lake as a hermit, the Devil presented Benedict’s imagination with a beautiful, tempting woman. Benedict resisted by rolling his body into a thorn bush until it was covered in scrapes. It is said through these body wounds, he cured the wounds of his soul.
After resisting the strong temptation against chastity, Benedict prepared to live through a new experience, following the example of the ancient Fathers of Christian Monasticism.
Upon the death of the abbot of a nearby monastery of Vicovaro, Benedict who was known by now for his sanctity was asked to become their new abbot. But some of the wicked monks were not happy with him.
It is said that one of the monks attempted to poison Benedict’s drink, but when he prayed a blessing over the cup – it shattered. Benedict miraculously escaped harm and returned to his cave.
Afterwards, he founded twelve monasteries and assigned twelve monks to each of them. In addition, he founded a thirteenth monastery for novices and those needing education.
Benedict’s fame spread so rapidly, even in Rome, that two illustrious men, Equizius and the nobleman Tertullus, entrusted him with their two sons, Maurus and Placidus. They were to become the first two gems of the Benedictine family.
During his life, Saint Benedict performed many miracles. He found water on a desolate mountaintop to quench the thirst of his monks. He retrieved a bill hook’s iron from the bottom of a lake and rejoined its handle. He prevented a monk from leading a dissolute life through intervention. In addition, he made Maurus walk on water to save the young Placidus from drowning.
Unfortunately, a priest called Florentius was envious of Benedict’s popularity and his envy forced Benedict to depart in spite of insistence from his disciples.
After leaving Subiaco, Benedict went towards Cassino. In the period between 525 and 529 AD he founded the Abbey of Montecassino. It would become the most famous abbey in continental Europe.
Under Benedict’s direction, the old acropolis-sanctuary towering above the declined Roman municipium of Casinum was turned into a monastery that was much bigger than those built at Subiaco. On the remains of the altar of Apollo he built a chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, while the temple of Apollo itself was turned into an oratory for the monks which was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours.
At Montecassino Benedict displayed prodigious activity. He supervised the building of the monastery, established a monastic order. Here he wrote the supremely influential and important Rule and served as the young monastery’s first abbot until his death.
Benedict performed many miracles. He brought back from death a youngster, miraculously supplied the monastery with flour and oil in its time of need and displayed the gift of prophecy.
In one story of Benedict’s life, a poor man came to the monastery begging for a little oil. Although Benedict commanded that the oil be given, the cellarer refused – because there was only a tiny bit of oil left. If the cellarer gave any oil as alms there would be none for the monastery.
Angry at this distrust of God’s providence, Benedict knelt down to pray. As he prayed a bubbling sound came from inside the oil jar. The monks watched in fascination as oil from God filled the vessel so completely that it overflowed, leaked out beneath the lid and finally pushed the cover off, cascading out on to the floor.
In autumn of 542 AD, while the Goth King Totila was passing through Cassino en route to Naples to attack it, he decided to test Benedict because he had already heard of his gifts and charisms. As a consequence, Totila sent his squire dressed as a king to greet the monk; but Benedict soon unmasked him.
When he finally met Totila, he warned him with a dire prediction: “You have hurt many and you continue to do it, now stop behaving badly! You will enter Rome, you will cross the vast sea, you will reign for nine years; however in the tenth year, you will die.” And that is exactly what happened.
Benedict showed the same virtue as he cried bitterly when confronted wiht the vision of the first destruction of his monastery. Notwithstanding, he received from God the grace to save all the monks.
Benedict devoted himself to evangelizing the local population who practiced pagan worship. Shortly before he died, Benedict saw the soul of his sister Saint Scholastica rising to heaven in the form of a dove. This vision happened a few days after their last talk together at the foot of Montecassino.
In a vision, Benedict saw the soul of Bishop Germanus of Capua taken by angels in a fire globe. These visions, for Pope Saint Gregory the Great, showed a close union between Benedict and God, a union so intense that the Saint was given the share of an even more magnificent vision, the whole of creation as gathered in a sunbeam.
Benedict had the ability to read consciences, the gift of prophesy, and could forestall attacks of the devil. He Destroyed pagan statues and altars, drove demons from groves sacred to pagans.
Benedict died on March 21, 547 AD. He foresaw his coming death, informing his close and faraway disciples that the end was near. Six days before dying, he had the grave which he was to share with his deceased sister Saint Scholastica, opened.
Then, completely exhausted, he asked to be taken into his oratory where, after taking his last Holy Communion, he died supported by his monks. It is said he died with high fever on the very day God told him he would.
“He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.”
“Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.”
“Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine grace.”
“The first step of humility is unhesitating obedience which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all.”
“The prophet shows that, for the sake of silence, we are to abstain even from good talk. If this be so, how much more needful is it that we refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of the sin!”
“Before all, and above all, attention shall be paid to the care of the sick, so that they shall be served as if they were Christ Himself.”
“The first degree of humility is prompt obedience.”
“And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in peace.”
“Whatever good work you begin to do, beg of God with most earnest prayer to perfect it.”
“He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy.”
“The abbot ought ever to bear in mind what he is and what he is called; he ought to know that to whom more is entrusted, from him more is exacted.”
“Girded with a faith, and the performance of good works, let us follow in Christ’s path by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him “who has called us into his kingdom.” If we wish to attain a dwelling place in his kingdom, we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds. Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervor which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life.” – from the Rule of Saint Benedict
Feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Western Monasticism.
Patron saint of students, school children, architects, dying people, cavers, spelunkers, monks, people in religious orders, servants who have broken their master’s belongings, speliologists, agricultural and farm workers, civil engineers, coppersmiths and against erysipelas, against fever, against gall stones, against inflammatory diseases, against kidney disease, against nettle rash, against poison, against temptations, against witchcraft.
Benedict and his twin sister St. Scholastica were born in Nursia (modern day Norcia), Italy, in c. 480 AD into a noble family. His father Euprobo and mother Claudia Abundantia were Christians.
After attending primary schools in Norcia, Benedict went to Rome to broaden his knowledge of literature and law. Once he had reached his higher studies, Benedict grew weary of life in Rome.
Benedict found his companions’ lives were dissolute and immoral and he himself had been struck by love for a woman. He found his teachers unchristian and corrupt. All of these things led St. Benedict to abandon his studies in Rome to pursue a spiritual life.
Benedict left Rome, probably between 500 and 510 AD, with his faithful family nurse Cirilla. He retired to Affile with a group of priests.
At Affile, Saint Benedict worked his first miracle, restoring to perfect condition an earthenware wheat sifter which his man-servant had accidentally broken. The notoriety which this miracle brought drove Benedict to withdraw further from social life.
Benedict took shelter in a cave in the ruins of Nero’s village, near Subiaco, where he began to live as a hermit. Immersed in loneliness, his only contact with the outside world was with a monk called Romanus, whose monastery was nearby. He gave Saint Benedict a monk’s habit and provided for his spiritual and material needs.
Three solitary years followed. Some shepherds befriended Benedict. They began to follow his teachings and the pastoral and apostolic principles of the Benedictine Order took root.
One day, during his time living in a cave above a lake as a hermit, the Devil presented Benedict’s imagination with a beautiful, tempting woman. Benedict resisted by rolling his body into a thorn bush until it was covered in scrapes. It is said through these body wounds, he cured the wounds of his soul.
After resisting the strong temptation against chastity, Benedict prepared to live through a new experience, following the example of the ancient Fathers of Christian Monasticism.
Upon the death of the abbot of a nearby monastery of Vicovaro, Benedict who was known by now for his sanctity was asked to become their new abbot. But some of the wicked monks were not happy with him.
It is said that one of the monks attempted to poison Benedict’s drink, but when he prayed a blessing over the cup – it shattered. Benedict miraculously escaped harm and returned to his cave.
Afterwards, he founded twelve monasteries and assigned twelve monks to each of them. In addition, he founded a thirteenth monastery for novices and those needing education.
Benedict’s fame spread so rapidly, even in Rome, that two illustrious men, Equizius and the nobleman Tertullus, entrusted him with their two sons, Maurus and Placidus. They were to become the first two gems of the Benedictine family.
During his life, Saint Benedict performed many miracles. He found water on a desolate mountaintop to quench the thirst of his monks. He retrieved a bill hook’s iron from the bottom of a lake and rejoined its handle. He prevented a monk from leading a dissolute life through intervention. In addition, he made Maurus walk on water to save the young Placidus from drowning.
Unfortunately, a priest called Florentius was envious of Benedict’s popularity and his envy forced Benedict to depart in spite of insistence from his disciples.
After leaving Subiaco, Benedict went towards Cassino. In the period between 525 and 529 AD he founded the Abbey of Montecassino. It would become the most famous abbey in continental Europe.
Under Benedict’s direction, the old acropolis-sanctuary towering above the declined Roman municipium of Casinum was turned into a monastery that was much bigger than those built at Subiaco. On the remains of the altar of Apollo he built a chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, while the temple of Apollo itself was turned into an oratory for the monks which was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours.
At Montecassino Benedict displayed prodigious activity. He supervised the building of the monastery, established a monastic order. Here he wrote the supremely influential and important Rule and served as the young monastery’s first abbot until his death.
Benedict performed many miracles. He brought back from death a youngster, miraculously supplied the monastery with flour and oil in its time of need and displayed the gift of prophecy.
In one story of Benedict’s life, a poor man came to the monastery begging for a little oil. Although Benedict commanded that the oil be given, the cellarer refused – because there was only a tiny bit of oil left. If the cellarer gave any oil as alms there would be none for the monastery.
Angry at this distrust of God’s providence, Benedict knelt down to pray. As he prayed a bubbling sound came from inside the oil jar. The monks watched in fascination as oil from God filled the vessel so completely that it overflowed, leaked out beneath the lid and finally pushed the cover off, cascading out on to the floor.
In autumn of 542 AD, while the Goth King Totila was passing through Cassino en route to Naples to attack it, he decided to test Benedict because he had already heard of his gifts and charisms. As a consequence, Totila sent his squire dressed as a king to greet the monk; but Benedict soon unmasked him.
When he finally met Totila, he warned him with a dire prediction: “You have hurt many and you continue to do it, now stop behaving badly! You will enter Rome, you will cross the vast sea, you will reign for nine years; however in the tenth year, you will die.” And that is exactly what happened.
Benedict showed the same virtue as he cried bitterly when confronted wiht the vision of the first destruction of his monastery. Notwithstanding, he received from God the grace to save all the monks.
Benedict devoted himself to evangelizing the local population who practiced pagan worship. Shortly before he died, Benedict saw the soul of his sister Saint Scholastica rising to heaven in the form of a dove. This vision happened a few days after their last talk together at the foot of Montecassino.
In a vision, Benedict saw the soul of Bishop Germanus of Capua taken by angels in a fire globe. These visions, for Pope Saint Gregory the Great, showed a close union between Benedict and God, a union so intense that the Saint was given the share of an even more magnificent vision, the whole of creation as gathered in a sunbeam.
Benedict had the ability to read consciences, the gift of prophesy, and could forestall attacks of the devil. He Destroyed pagan statues and altars, drove demons from groves sacred to pagans.
Benedict died on March 21, 547 AD. He foresaw his coming death, informing his close and faraway disciples that the end was near. Six days before dying, he had the grave which he was to share with his deceased sister Saint Scholastica, opened.
Then, completely exhausted, he asked to be taken into his oratory where, after taking his last Holy Communion, he died supported by his monks. It is said he died with high fever on the very day God told him he would.
“He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.”
“Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.”
“Prayer ought to be short and pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine grace.”
“The first step of humility is unhesitating obedience which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all.”
“The prophet shows that, for the sake of silence, we are to abstain even from good talk. If this be so, how much more needful is it that we refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of the sin!”
“Before all, and above all, attention shall be paid to the care of the sick, so that they shall be served as if they were Christ Himself.”
“The first degree of humility is prompt obedience.”
“And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in peace.”
“Whatever good work you begin to do, beg of God with most earnest prayer to perfect it.”
“He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy.”
“The abbot ought ever to bear in mind what he is and what he is called; he ought to know that to whom more is entrusted, from him more is exacted.”
“Girded with a faith, and the performance of good works, let us follow in Christ’s path by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him “who has called us into his kingdom.” If we wish to attain a dwelling place in his kingdom, we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds. Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervor which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life.” – from the Rule of Saint Benedict
Close
July 11
Saint Benedict
July 12
Daily Saints – 12 July.
Feast of St. John Gualbert.
Patron saint of Forest workers, Foresters, Park rangers, Parks.
John was born into a noble family in Florence, Italy, around the year 993. He was educated and raised in the faith but in his adolescence cared little for faith. He was instead focused on frivolous things and was concerned with vain amusements and romantic intrigues. But his dedication to his parents and his brother was great despite these vanities.
A painful incident was the means God made use of, to open his eyes. Hugo, his only brother, had been murdered. John was so overtaken with grief that he vowed to avenge him. His only desire was to find the murderer and kill him.
On one particular Good Friday he was entering Florence alongside armed followers when in a narrow lane he happened to come across the man who had killed his brother.
John was about to kill the man with his sword in revenge when the other fell upon his knees with arms outstretched in the form of a cross and begged for him to be merciful in the name of Jesus Christ bearing in mind that He had died on that day.
Gualberto was touched at the words, forgave the man and extended his hand to him to pick him up from the floor. The two embraced and Gualberto offered him his friendship.
John entered the Benedictine church at San Miniato to pray and the figure on the crucifix bowed its head to him in recognition of his generous and merciful outreach to the man. He begged God in tears to pardon him of his sins and that week cut off his hair and began to wear an old habit that he had borrowed.
Against his family opposition, he became a Benedictine monk at the San Miniato del Monte monastery. At first, the abbot was reluctant to admit John because he feared the displeasure of his influential father.
But when the abbot understood the will of God, he agreed and John lived in the monastery for a few years before moving on to find a more solitary and strict life.
John founded and built by hand the monastery in Vallombrosa, Italy in 1038. The rule of John’s order was an austere form of the Benedictine Rule. It included an order of lay brothers, and received papal approval in 1070.
When it seemed he would be appointed abbot, John fled. He founded abbeys at at San Salvi, Moscetta, Rozzuolo, Monte Salario, and Passignano, though did not do all the construction himself.
It is reported that he had the gift of prophecy. People claims of miracles throughout his intercession in life and after. The humility of the saint was such that he would never be promoted, even to Minor Orders.
His charity for the poor caused him to make a rule that no indigent person should be sent away without an alms. He founded several monasteries, reformed others, and succeeded in eradicating the vice of simony from the part of the country where he lived.
John was known for his humility, holiness of life, and his wisdom. He refused any office of privilege, and declined to receive holy orders of any kind. He was often consulted by popes.
Once the enemies of the Saint came to his convent of St. Salvi, plundered it, and set fire to it, and having treated the monks with ignominy, beat them and wounded them. John rejoiced. “Now,” he said, “you are true monks. Would that I myself had had the honor of being with you when the soldiers came, that I might have had a share in the glory of your crowns! ”
John died on July 12, 1073, at about 80 years of age.
Feast of St. John Gualbert.
Patron saint of Forest workers, Foresters, Park rangers, Parks.
John was born into a noble family in Florence, Italy, around the year 993. He was educated and raised in the faith but in his adolescence cared little for faith. He was instead focused on frivolous things and was concerned with vain amusements and romantic intrigues. But his dedication to his parents and his brother was great despite these vanities.
A painful incident was the means God made use of, to open his eyes. Hugo, his only brother, had been murdered. John was so overtaken with grief that he vowed to avenge him. His only desire was to find the murderer and kill him.
On one particular Good Friday he was entering Florence alongside armed followers when in a narrow lane he happened to come across the man who had killed his brother.
John was about to kill the man with his sword in revenge when the other fell upon his knees with arms outstretched in the form of a cross and begged for him to be merciful in the name of Jesus Christ bearing in mind that He had died on that day.
Gualberto was touched at the words, forgave the man and extended his hand to him to pick him up from the floor. The two embraced and Gualberto offered him his friendship.
John entered the Benedictine church at San Miniato to pray and the figure on the crucifix bowed its head to him in recognition of his generous and merciful outreach to the man. He begged God in tears to pardon him of his sins and that week cut off his hair and began to wear an old habit that he had borrowed.
Against his family opposition, he became a Benedictine monk at the San Miniato del Monte monastery. At first, the abbot was reluctant to admit John because he feared the displeasure of his influential father.
But when the abbot understood the will of God, he agreed and John lived in the monastery for a few years before moving on to find a more solitary and strict life.
John founded and built by hand the monastery in Vallombrosa, Italy in 1038. The rule of John’s order was an austere form of the Benedictine Rule. It included an order of lay brothers, and received papal approval in 1070.
When it seemed he would be appointed abbot, John fled. He founded abbeys at at San Salvi, Moscetta, Rozzuolo, Monte Salario, and Passignano, though did not do all the construction himself.
It is reported that he had the gift of prophecy. People claims of miracles throughout his intercession in life and after. The humility of the saint was such that he would never be promoted, even to Minor Orders.
His charity for the poor caused him to make a rule that no indigent person should be sent away without an alms. He founded several monasteries, reformed others, and succeeded in eradicating the vice of simony from the part of the country where he lived.
John was known for his humility, holiness of life, and his wisdom. He refused any office of privilege, and declined to receive holy orders of any kind. He was often consulted by popes.
Once the enemies of the Saint came to his convent of St. Salvi, plundered it, and set fire to it, and having treated the monks with ignominy, beat them and wounded them. John rejoiced. “Now,” he said, “you are true monks. Would that I myself had had the honor of being with you when the soldiers came, that I might have had a share in the glory of your crowns! ”
John died on July 12, 1073, at about 80 years of age.
Close
July 12
Saint John Gualbert
July 13
Daily Saints – 13 July.
Feast of Saint Clelia Barbieri.
Patron saint of people ridiculed for their piety.
Clelia Mary Rachel was born in the small northern town of Budrie in Italy on February 13, 1847. Her parents, Joseph Barbieri and Hyacinthia Nanetti, were a pious couple who lived a very modest life.
Giuseppe Barbieri came from perhaps the poorest family of “Budrie” while Giacinta from the most important family in town. After her much-contested wedding, the wealthy Giacinta accepted the poverty of a laborer’s life and moved from a comfortable home to the humble cottage.
The mother taught Clelia to love God early in her life placing in her heart the desire for sanctity. One day Clelia asked her, “Mother, how can I become a saint?” In the meantime Clelia also learned the art of sewing, spinning and weaving kemp which was the most important work of the district.
In 1855, during a cholera epidemic, Joseph Barbieri died when Clelia was only eight years old. Without him, Clelia’s mother, her two sisters and her seventy-five-year-old grandfather were faced with a difficult future. But Clelia was a great consolation for her mother and assisted her by learning to use the loom and weave hemp.
Even at this age Clelia was devout and learned all she could about the Catholic faith from her mother and the parish priest. After she had learned to read and write, Clelia’s favorite book was her catechism, because it taught her about God and encouraged her in the way of virtue.
For Clelia the days became more saintly and dedicated. Anyone who wanted to see her could always find her either at home weaving and sewing or in church praying.
Clelia made her First Communion on June 17th, 1858, at only eleven years of age. This was a decisive day for Clelia’s future since it was then that she had her first mystic experience: exceptional contrition and repentance for her own sins and those of the world.
She underwent anguish and suffering for the sins that crucified Christ and so sorrowed Our Lady. From the day of her First Communion, the crucifix and Our Lady of Sorrows inspired her saintly soul.
At the same time she had a first inspiration as to her future which she perceived as based on prayer and good works. In adoration before the Holy Tabernacle she was motionless, rapt in prayer, while at home she was the companion and model for the other working girls.
Far more mature than her years, she found in her work the first contact with the girls of “Budrie” where working hemp fibers was the main occupation and where all were engaged in this hard work.
Clelia began to dedicate herself to the work of propagating the faith in her own parish, and shortly thereafter became a catechist. At first, Clelia was admitted as an assistant teacher and was the least important member, but soon her surprising talents and preparation evidenced themselves so that the senior members placed themselves under her leadership.
Her remarkable piety and humble dedication brought her to the attention of her parish priest, Fr. Gaetano Guidi, who began to see great potential in her.
Having given herself completely to Jesus, she refused at least two marriage proposals and in prayer she asked God for a spiritual friend who would join her and help her to live fraternally together a life in common. Theodora Beraldi who was six years older than Clelia became that special friend.
The Parish Priest urged her and her close friend, Teodora Baraldi, to undertake the education of the young girls of the parish whose families were too poor to have them otherwise educated. They were soon joined by Orsola Donati.
Inspired by Clelia’s exceptional virtue and piety, other girls also joined them. During this time, Clelia took private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience under the guidance of her parish priest and spiritual director, Father Guidi.
On May 1st, 1868, Clelia and her young friends moved into the so-called “teacher’s house” where the Workers for Christian Catechism had formerly met.
This was the humble beginning of Clelia Barbieri’s religious family which later was to be named the religious community of the “Suore Minime dell’Addolorata” (Sisters Minims of Our Lady of Sorrows).
This name was given them by the Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Lucinda Maria Parocchi, whose blessing and support they enjoyed from the outset of their vocations.
This was to be a life of service which would spring from the Eucharist with daily Holy Communion and would ennoble itself with the teaching of catechism to the farmers and laborers of the area.
Clelia was only twenty-one. Though young in years, Clelia’s piety and devotion, especially to Christ present in the Blessed Eucharist, was profoundly deep.
Soon after the foundation of the Community, many unusual things began to take place. When there was no food in the house, led by Clelia the community prayed, and moments later the doorbell rang, and a gift of food was given to them.
Clelia took St. Francis of Paola to be the Communities heavenly patron, and by praying to him for his intercession there were several occasions were they obtained bread, flour, wine and other staples in a most extraordinary manner.
Slowly, the people began to see Clelia as a leader and teacher of the faith. They started calling her “Mother” although she was only twenty-two years old. Mother Clelia cured many people by using the oil from the lamp that burned before the portrait of St. Francis of Paola.
She was seen in ecstasy and often credited with the ability to read hearts. Amidst the founding of her community in 1867 she became very ill with tuberculosis, and upon examination by a physician it was discovered that she was wearing a penitential chain with spikes on it that was wound three times around her body. Thus one of the penances that she practiced became known.
She became so ill that her family called a priest to give her the last Sacraments, and just as he was about to do so, miraculously, she recovered her senses.
Clelia died of tuberculosis on July 13, 1870 when she was only 23 years old.
Feast of Saint Clelia Barbieri.
Patron saint of people ridiculed for their piety.
Clelia Mary Rachel was born in the small northern town of Budrie in Italy on February 13, 1847. Her parents, Joseph Barbieri and Hyacinthia Nanetti, were a pious couple who lived a very modest life.
Giuseppe Barbieri came from perhaps the poorest family of “Budrie” while Giacinta from the most important family in town. After her much-contested wedding, the wealthy Giacinta accepted the poverty of a laborer’s life and moved from a comfortable home to the humble cottage.
The mother taught Clelia to love God early in her life placing in her heart the desire for sanctity. One day Clelia asked her, “Mother, how can I become a saint?” In the meantime Clelia also learned the art of sewing, spinning and weaving kemp which was the most important work of the district.
In 1855, during a cholera epidemic, Joseph Barbieri died when Clelia was only eight years old. Without him, Clelia’s mother, her two sisters and her seventy-five-year-old grandfather were faced with a difficult future. But Clelia was a great consolation for her mother and assisted her by learning to use the loom and weave hemp.
Even at this age Clelia was devout and learned all she could about the Catholic faith from her mother and the parish priest. After she had learned to read and write, Clelia’s favorite book was her catechism, because it taught her about God and encouraged her in the way of virtue.
For Clelia the days became more saintly and dedicated. Anyone who wanted to see her could always find her either at home weaving and sewing or in church praying.
Clelia made her First Communion on June 17th, 1858, at only eleven years of age. This was a decisive day for Clelia’s future since it was then that she had her first mystic experience: exceptional contrition and repentance for her own sins and those of the world.
She underwent anguish and suffering for the sins that crucified Christ and so sorrowed Our Lady. From the day of her First Communion, the crucifix and Our Lady of Sorrows inspired her saintly soul.
At the same time she had a first inspiration as to her future which she perceived as based on prayer and good works. In adoration before the Holy Tabernacle she was motionless, rapt in prayer, while at home she was the companion and model for the other working girls.
Far more mature than her years, she found in her work the first contact with the girls of “Budrie” where working hemp fibers was the main occupation and where all were engaged in this hard work.
Clelia began to dedicate herself to the work of propagating the faith in her own parish, and shortly thereafter became a catechist. At first, Clelia was admitted as an assistant teacher and was the least important member, but soon her surprising talents and preparation evidenced themselves so that the senior members placed themselves under her leadership.
Her remarkable piety and humble dedication brought her to the attention of her parish priest, Fr. Gaetano Guidi, who began to see great potential in her.
Having given herself completely to Jesus, she refused at least two marriage proposals and in prayer she asked God for a spiritual friend who would join her and help her to live fraternally together a life in common. Theodora Beraldi who was six years older than Clelia became that special friend.
The Parish Priest urged her and her close friend, Teodora Baraldi, to undertake the education of the young girls of the parish whose families were too poor to have them otherwise educated. They were soon joined by Orsola Donati.
Inspired by Clelia’s exceptional virtue and piety, other girls also joined them. During this time, Clelia took private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience under the guidance of her parish priest and spiritual director, Father Guidi.
On May 1st, 1868, Clelia and her young friends moved into the so-called “teacher’s house” where the Workers for Christian Catechism had formerly met.
This was the humble beginning of Clelia Barbieri’s religious family which later was to be named the religious community of the “Suore Minime dell’Addolorata” (Sisters Minims of Our Lady of Sorrows).
This name was given them by the Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Lucinda Maria Parocchi, whose blessing and support they enjoyed from the outset of their vocations.
This was to be a life of service which would spring from the Eucharist with daily Holy Communion and would ennoble itself with the teaching of catechism to the farmers and laborers of the area.
Clelia was only twenty-one. Though young in years, Clelia’s piety and devotion, especially to Christ present in the Blessed Eucharist, was profoundly deep.
Soon after the foundation of the Community, many unusual things began to take place. When there was no food in the house, led by Clelia the community prayed, and moments later the doorbell rang, and a gift of food was given to them.
Clelia took St. Francis of Paola to be the Communities heavenly patron, and by praying to him for his intercession there were several occasions were they obtained bread, flour, wine and other staples in a most extraordinary manner.
Slowly, the people began to see Clelia as a leader and teacher of the faith. They started calling her “Mother” although she was only twenty-two years old. Mother Clelia cured many people by using the oil from the lamp that burned before the portrait of St. Francis of Paola.
She was seen in ecstasy and often credited with the ability to read hearts. Amidst the founding of her community in 1867 she became very ill with tuberculosis, and upon examination by a physician it was discovered that she was wearing a penitential chain with spikes on it that was wound three times around her body. Thus one of the penances that she practiced became known.
She became so ill that her family called a priest to give her the last Sacraments, and just as he was about to do so, miraculously, she recovered her senses.
Clelia died of tuberculosis on July 13, 1870 when she was only 23 years old.
Close
July 13
Saint Clelia Barbieri
July 14
Daily Saints – 14 July.
Feast of St. Camillus of Lellis.
He is the patron saint of hospitals, hospital workers, nurses, nursing associations, sick people and against illness, sickness or bodily ills.
Camillus was born on 25 May 1550 at Bocchiavico, Abruzzi, kingdom of Naples, Italy. He was the son of Giovanni de Lellis, a military officer who had served both for Naples and France.
His mother died when he was 13, his father neglected him, and he grew up with an excessive love for gambling. Reported as a large individual, perhaps as tall as 6’6″ (2 metres), and powerfully built.
Following in the footsteps of his father Camillus joined the army. Camillus served in the Venetian army for three years. He spent his youth as a soldier, fighting for the Venetians against the Turks, and then for Naples.
Camillus fought in various wars throughout the Italian peninsula until 1574. He distinguished himself with his violent temper and reckless habits.
At 17, Camillus contracted a wound in his leg that would define him for the rest of his life. Sources disagree on exactly how and when he was wounded: the Camillans say he was hurt during a military engagement, and the wound became infected. Other sources say it was caused by an illness (abscesses on his feet).
But the wound never fully healed and that remained with him for life. In Rome he entered the San Giacomo Hospital for Incurables as both patient and servant, but was dismissed after nine months due to his quarrelsome attitude; he picked fights often, and with anyone.
After his father died, Camillus’ gambling problem worsened. Then in the winter of 1574, when he was 24, Camillus gambled away everything he had—savings, weapons, literally down to his shirt. He lost so much he had to take a job working construction on a building belonging to the Capuchins.
One day in 1575, Camillus was so moved by a sermon of the superior that he began a conversion that changed his life.
Camillus entered the Capuchin noviate three times, but a nagging leg injury, received while fighting the Turks, coupled with his lack of education, each time forced him to give it up.
Camillus went to Rome, Italy for medical treatment where Saint Philip Neri became his priest and confessor. He moved into San Giacomo Hospital for the incurable.
Through his persistent work, Camillus eventually became superintendent of the hospital. With the advice of his friend Saint Philip Neri, he studied for the priesthood. Though he still occasionally gambled and fought, he eventually completed his studies for the priesthood and was ordained at age 34, in 1584.
Motivated by his work in the hospital, Father Camillus assembled a group of Catholic religious and lay followers to help tend to the needs of suffering patients.
Camillus left San Giacomo and founded a congregation of his own: Congregation of the Servants of the Sick (the Camillians or Fathers of a Good Death) who, naturally, care for the sick both in hospital and home.
Camillus honoured the sick as living images of Christ, and hoped that the service he gave them did penance for his wayward youth. It is reported that he had the gifts of miraculous healing and prophecy.
Charity was his first concern, but the physical aspects of the hospital also received his diligent attention. Camillus insisted on cleanliness and the technical competence of those who served the sick.
In 1586, Pope Sixtus V approved Camillus’ group, and in 1591 Pope Gregory XIV confirmed the Servants of the Sick— with the name changed to the ‘Order of the Ministers of the Infirm’— as a religious order. Members of the order wear a red cross on their black cassocks and capes, which Camillus reportedly said was to “frighten the devil.”
The members of his community bound themselves to serve prisoners and persons infected by the plague as well as those dying in private homes. Some of his men were with troops fighting in Hungary and Croatia in 1595, forming the first recorded military field ambulance.
In Naples, he and his men went onto the galleys that had plague and were not allowed to land. He discovered that there were people being buried alive, and ordered his brothers to continue the prayers for the dying 15 minutes after apparent death.
Camillus himself was totally devoted to the poor and sick, and though he himself was very ill, he would spend time with the sick even while unable to walk, by crawling from bed to bed to see if the other patients needed help.
Upon learning that he himself was incurably ill, Camillus responded: “I rejoice in what has been told me. We shall go into the house of the Lord.”
Upon receiving the Eucharist one last time, he said: “O Lord, I confess that I am the most wretched of sinners, most undeserving of thy favor; but save me by thy infinite goodness. My hope is placed in thy divine mercy by thy precious blood.” He died on 14 July 1614 at Genoa, Italy.
“Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.”
“I don’t put a penny’s value on this life if only our Lord will give me a tiny corner in Paradise.”
Feast of St. Camillus of Lellis.
He is the patron saint of hospitals, hospital workers, nurses, nursing associations, sick people and against illness, sickness or bodily ills.
Camillus was born on 25 May 1550 at Bocchiavico, Abruzzi, kingdom of Naples, Italy. He was the son of Giovanni de Lellis, a military officer who had served both for Naples and France.
His mother died when he was 13, his father neglected him, and he grew up with an excessive love for gambling. Reported as a large individual, perhaps as tall as 6’6″ (2 metres), and powerfully built.
Following in the footsteps of his father Camillus joined the army. Camillus served in the Venetian army for three years. He spent his youth as a soldier, fighting for the Venetians against the Turks, and then for Naples.
Camillus fought in various wars throughout the Italian peninsula until 1574. He distinguished himself with his violent temper and reckless habits.
At 17, Camillus contracted a wound in his leg that would define him for the rest of his life. Sources disagree on exactly how and when he was wounded: the Camillans say he was hurt during a military engagement, and the wound became infected. Other sources say it was caused by an illness (abscesses on his feet).
But the wound never fully healed and that remained with him for life. In Rome he entered the San Giacomo Hospital for Incurables as both patient and servant, but was dismissed after nine months due to his quarrelsome attitude; he picked fights often, and with anyone.
After his father died, Camillus’ gambling problem worsened. Then in the winter of 1574, when he was 24, Camillus gambled away everything he had—savings, weapons, literally down to his shirt. He lost so much he had to take a job working construction on a building belonging to the Capuchins.
One day in 1575, Camillus was so moved by a sermon of the superior that he began a conversion that changed his life.
Camillus entered the Capuchin noviate three times, but a nagging leg injury, received while fighting the Turks, coupled with his lack of education, each time forced him to give it up.
Camillus went to Rome, Italy for medical treatment where Saint Philip Neri became his priest and confessor. He moved into San Giacomo Hospital for the incurable.
Through his persistent work, Camillus eventually became superintendent of the hospital. With the advice of his friend Saint Philip Neri, he studied for the priesthood. Though he still occasionally gambled and fought, he eventually completed his studies for the priesthood and was ordained at age 34, in 1584.
Motivated by his work in the hospital, Father Camillus assembled a group of Catholic religious and lay followers to help tend to the needs of suffering patients.
Camillus left San Giacomo and founded a congregation of his own: Congregation of the Servants of the Sick (the Camillians or Fathers of a Good Death) who, naturally, care for the sick both in hospital and home.
Camillus honoured the sick as living images of Christ, and hoped that the service he gave them did penance for his wayward youth. It is reported that he had the gifts of miraculous healing and prophecy.
Charity was his first concern, but the physical aspects of the hospital also received his diligent attention. Camillus insisted on cleanliness and the technical competence of those who served the sick.
In 1586, Pope Sixtus V approved Camillus’ group, and in 1591 Pope Gregory XIV confirmed the Servants of the Sick— with the name changed to the ‘Order of the Ministers of the Infirm’— as a religious order. Members of the order wear a red cross on their black cassocks and capes, which Camillus reportedly said was to “frighten the devil.”
The members of his community bound themselves to serve prisoners and persons infected by the plague as well as those dying in private homes. Some of his men were with troops fighting in Hungary and Croatia in 1595, forming the first recorded military field ambulance.
In Naples, he and his men went onto the galleys that had plague and were not allowed to land. He discovered that there were people being buried alive, and ordered his brothers to continue the prayers for the dying 15 minutes after apparent death.
Camillus himself was totally devoted to the poor and sick, and though he himself was very ill, he would spend time with the sick even while unable to walk, by crawling from bed to bed to see if the other patients needed help.
Upon learning that he himself was incurably ill, Camillus responded: “I rejoice in what has been told me. We shall go into the house of the Lord.”
Upon receiving the Eucharist one last time, he said: “O Lord, I confess that I am the most wretched of sinners, most undeserving of thy favor; but save me by thy infinite goodness. My hope is placed in thy divine mercy by thy precious blood.” He died on 14 July 1614 at Genoa, Italy.
“Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.”
“I don’t put a penny’s value on this life if only our Lord will give me a tiny corner in Paradise.”
Close
July 14
Saint Camillus of Lellis
July 15
Daily Saints – 15 July.
Feast of St. Bonaventure.
He is the patron saint against intestinal problems.
Bonaventure was born at Bagnoregio, in the Lazio region of central Italy, in 1221. His parents were Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritell. He was baptized John di Fidensa, named after his father. His father was a man of some means and was the local physician. Both his parents were devout, his mother especially so.
Young John had the usual childhood and was growing into a healthy young man, when, at the age of eleven, in the year 1228 he was struck by a terrible illness and was given up by the physicians.
Then his mother Maria hastened to St Francis, who was preaching in the vicinity just then, and begged him to come and heal her child. The saint acceded to her request; he prayed over the child, and immediately he was cured.
St Francis is said then to have uttered the prophetic words: “O buona ventura – O blessed things to come!” For that reason the child was called Bonaventure.
Bonaventure continued to grow into a healthy teenager. He attended school at the local Franciscan friary where it soon became evident that he had a very brilliant mind. Then at the age of seventeen, the time came for him to pursue higher studies. His father sent him to study at the University of Paris.
At the age of twenty-two Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order. Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies under the celebrated doctor Alexander of Hales, an Englishman and a Franciscan. After the latter’s death he continued his course under his successor, John of Rochelle.
During his student years, Saint Bonaventure devoted many an hour to the contemplation of Christ’s suffering and he was a zealous client of our Blessed Lady. It is reported that once when Bonaventure abstained from Holy Communion for several days from a sense of humility, an angel placed the consecrated Host on his tongue.
In Paris he became the intimate friend of the great St. Thomas Aquinas. He received the degree of Doctor, together with St. Thomas Aquinas. Like St. Thomas Aquinas, he enjoyed the friendship of the holy King, St. Louis.
Saint Thomas Aquinas once visited Saint Bonaventure while he was engaged in writing the life of St Francis. He found Saint Bonaventure raised in ecstasy above the earth. Reverently he withdrew, saying to his companion: “Let us leave a saint to write about a saint.”
On another occasion St Thomas asked St Bonaventure from which books he obtained his unparalleled knowledge. Saint Bonaventure pointed to the crucifix as his library.
A senior faculty member at the University of Paris, Saint Bonaventure certainly captured the hearts of his students through his academic skills and insights. But more importantly, he captured their hearts through his Franciscan love for Jesus and the Church.
Bonaventure went about his daily tasks as always with his deep sense of humility. Because of his great personal holiness and the great respect he commanded, plus his ability to see both sides of an issue, more and more often he was called upon to arbitrate whenever arguments arose.
At the age of thirty-five he was chosen General of his Order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did much for his Order and composed The Life of St. Francis.
His 17 years of service were not easy as the Order was embroiled in conflicts over the interpretation of poverty. Some friars even ended up in heresy. But because he was a man of prayer and a good administrator, Bonaventure managed to structure the Order through effective legislation.
But more importantly, he offered the Friars an organized spirituality based on the vision and insights of Saint Francis. Always a Franciscan at heart and a mystical writer, Bonaventure managed to unite the pastoral, practical aspects of life with the doctrines of the Church.
Bonaventure also assisted at the translation of the relics of St. Anthony of Padua. He was nominated Archbishop of York by Pope Clement IV, but he begged not to be forced to accept that dignity.
Gregory X obliged him to take upon himself a greater one, that of Cardinal and Bishop of Albano, one of the six suffragan Sees of Rome. The following year, Bonaventure assisted the Pope in the preparations for the Second Council of Lyons. He also played a major role in the Council, especially in its various reforms and reconciliation movements.
Bonaventure died suddenly while he was assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, on July 15, 1274. He is known as “the seraphic doctor”.
One of Bonaventure’s most helpful ideas was to show people how to find God by passing through three stages: “Calm of peace,” the first stage, happens when we are purified of sin. We can do this today by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation or by telling someone we are sorry and then change our hurtful ways. Bonaventure called the second stage “splendor of the truth.” In this stage, we live our lives by imitating Jesus. Our path is lit by the light of Jesus showing us the way. The third and final stage, “sweetness of love,” comes when we are united with God.
“Your heart is to be an altar of God. It is here that the fire of intense love must burn always. You are to feed it every day with the wood of the cross of Christ and the commemoration of his passion.”
“If you do not know your own dignity and condition, you cannot value anything at its proper worth.”
“Chastity without charity is a lamp without oil.”
“When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth.”
“If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything.”
“The best perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner. A constant fidelity in small things is a great and heroic virtue.”
“Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.”
“The proud demons flee before the lofty virtues of the humble.”
“No one can become blessed, unless he ascends above his very self, not by an ascent with the body, but with the heart.”
“Christ has something in common with all creatures. With the stone he shares existence, with the plants he shares life, with the animals he shares sensation, and with the angels he shares intelligence. Thus all things are transformed in Christ since in the fullness of his nature he embraces some part of every creature.”
“Therefore he who is not brightened by such splendours of created things is blind; he who does not awake at such clamours is deaf; he who does not praise God on account of all these effects is mute; he who does not turn toward the First Principle on account of such indications is stupid.”
“To know much and taste nothing-of what use is that?”
“In all your deeds and words you should look upon this Jesus as your model. Do so whether you area walking or keeping silence, or speaking, whether you are alone or with others. He is perfect, and thus you will be not only irreprehensible, but praiseworthy.”
“As “pride is the beginning of all sin,” (Eccl. x, 15) so humility is the foundation of all virtue. Learn to be really humble and not, as the hypocrite, humble merely in appearance.”
“Since happiness is nothing else than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good, and the Supreme Good is above us, no one can enjoy happiness unless he rises above himself.”
“it was whispered unto his spirit that spiritual merchandise hath its beginning in the contempt of the world, and that the warfare of Christ is to be begun by victory over self.”
“We must beg the Holy Spirit, with ardent longing, to give us these fruits. The Holy Ghost alone knows how to bring to light the sweetness hidden away under the rugged exterior of the words of the Law. We must go to the Holy Ghost for interior guidance.”
“Meditation on Christ in His humanity is corporeal in deed, in fact, but spiritual in mind. . . . By adopting this habit, you will steady your mind, be trained to virtues, and receive strength of soul….Let meditation of Christ’s life be your one and only aim, your rest, your food, your desire, your study.”
Prayer of St. Bonaventure to the Holy Spirit:
Lord, Jesus, as God’s Spirit came down and rested upon you.
May the same Spirit rest on us,
Bestowing his seven fold gifts.
First, grant us the gift of understanding, by which your precepts may enlighten our minds.
Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness.
Third, grant us courage, by which we may ward off the enemy’s attacks.
Fourth, grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish good from evil.
Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts.
Sixth, grant us fear, by which we may draw back from evil and submit to what is good,
Seventh, grant us wisdom, that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.
Feast of St. Bonaventure.
He is the patron saint against intestinal problems.
Bonaventure was born at Bagnoregio, in the Lazio region of central Italy, in 1221. His parents were Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria Ritell. He was baptized John di Fidensa, named after his father. His father was a man of some means and was the local physician. Both his parents were devout, his mother especially so.
Young John had the usual childhood and was growing into a healthy young man, when, at the age of eleven, in the year 1228 he was struck by a terrible illness and was given up by the physicians.
Then his mother Maria hastened to St Francis, who was preaching in the vicinity just then, and begged him to come and heal her child. The saint acceded to her request; he prayed over the child, and immediately he was cured.
St Francis is said then to have uttered the prophetic words: “O buona ventura – O blessed things to come!” For that reason the child was called Bonaventure.
Bonaventure continued to grow into a healthy teenager. He attended school at the local Franciscan friary where it soon became evident that he had a very brilliant mind. Then at the age of seventeen, the time came for him to pursue higher studies. His father sent him to study at the University of Paris.
At the age of twenty-two Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order. Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies under the celebrated doctor Alexander of Hales, an Englishman and a Franciscan. After the latter’s death he continued his course under his successor, John of Rochelle.
During his student years, Saint Bonaventure devoted many an hour to the contemplation of Christ’s suffering and he was a zealous client of our Blessed Lady. It is reported that once when Bonaventure abstained from Holy Communion for several days from a sense of humility, an angel placed the consecrated Host on his tongue.
In Paris he became the intimate friend of the great St. Thomas Aquinas. He received the degree of Doctor, together with St. Thomas Aquinas. Like St. Thomas Aquinas, he enjoyed the friendship of the holy King, St. Louis.
Saint Thomas Aquinas once visited Saint Bonaventure while he was engaged in writing the life of St Francis. He found Saint Bonaventure raised in ecstasy above the earth. Reverently he withdrew, saying to his companion: “Let us leave a saint to write about a saint.”
On another occasion St Thomas asked St Bonaventure from which books he obtained his unparalleled knowledge. Saint Bonaventure pointed to the crucifix as his library.
A senior faculty member at the University of Paris, Saint Bonaventure certainly captured the hearts of his students through his academic skills and insights. But more importantly, he captured their hearts through his Franciscan love for Jesus and the Church.
Bonaventure went about his daily tasks as always with his deep sense of humility. Because of his great personal holiness and the great respect he commanded, plus his ability to see both sides of an issue, more and more often he was called upon to arbitrate whenever arguments arose.
At the age of thirty-five he was chosen General of his Order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did much for his Order and composed The Life of St. Francis.
His 17 years of service were not easy as the Order was embroiled in conflicts over the interpretation of poverty. Some friars even ended up in heresy. But because he was a man of prayer and a good administrator, Bonaventure managed to structure the Order through effective legislation.
But more importantly, he offered the Friars an organized spirituality based on the vision and insights of Saint Francis. Always a Franciscan at heart and a mystical writer, Bonaventure managed to unite the pastoral, practical aspects of life with the doctrines of the Church.
Bonaventure also assisted at the translation of the relics of St. Anthony of Padua. He was nominated Archbishop of York by Pope Clement IV, but he begged not to be forced to accept that dignity.
Gregory X obliged him to take upon himself a greater one, that of Cardinal and Bishop of Albano, one of the six suffragan Sees of Rome. The following year, Bonaventure assisted the Pope in the preparations for the Second Council of Lyons. He also played a major role in the Council, especially in its various reforms and reconciliation movements.
Bonaventure died suddenly while he was assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, on July 15, 1274. He is known as “the seraphic doctor”.
One of Bonaventure’s most helpful ideas was to show people how to find God by passing through three stages: “Calm of peace,” the first stage, happens when we are purified of sin. We can do this today by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation or by telling someone we are sorry and then change our hurtful ways. Bonaventure called the second stage “splendor of the truth.” In this stage, we live our lives by imitating Jesus. Our path is lit by the light of Jesus showing us the way. The third and final stage, “sweetness of love,” comes when we are united with God.
“Your heart is to be an altar of God. It is here that the fire of intense love must burn always. You are to feed it every day with the wood of the cross of Christ and the commemoration of his passion.”
“If you do not know your own dignity and condition, you cannot value anything at its proper worth.”
“Chastity without charity is a lamp without oil.”
“When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth.”
“If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything.”
“The best perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner. A constant fidelity in small things is a great and heroic virtue.”
“Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.”
“The proud demons flee before the lofty virtues of the humble.”
“No one can become blessed, unless he ascends above his very self, not by an ascent with the body, but with the heart.”
“Christ has something in common with all creatures. With the stone he shares existence, with the plants he shares life, with the animals he shares sensation, and with the angels he shares intelligence. Thus all things are transformed in Christ since in the fullness of his nature he embraces some part of every creature.”
“Therefore he who is not brightened by such splendours of created things is blind; he who does not awake at such clamours is deaf; he who does not praise God on account of all these effects is mute; he who does not turn toward the First Principle on account of such indications is stupid.”
“To know much and taste nothing-of what use is that?”
“In all your deeds and words you should look upon this Jesus as your model. Do so whether you area walking or keeping silence, or speaking, whether you are alone or with others. He is perfect, and thus you will be not only irreprehensible, but praiseworthy.”
“As “pride is the beginning of all sin,” (Eccl. x, 15) so humility is the foundation of all virtue. Learn to be really humble and not, as the hypocrite, humble merely in appearance.”
“Since happiness is nothing else than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good, and the Supreme Good is above us, no one can enjoy happiness unless he rises above himself.”
“it was whispered unto his spirit that spiritual merchandise hath its beginning in the contempt of the world, and that the warfare of Christ is to be begun by victory over self.”
“We must beg the Holy Spirit, with ardent longing, to give us these fruits. The Holy Ghost alone knows how to bring to light the sweetness hidden away under the rugged exterior of the words of the Law. We must go to the Holy Ghost for interior guidance.”
“Meditation on Christ in His humanity is corporeal in deed, in fact, but spiritual in mind. . . . By adopting this habit, you will steady your mind, be trained to virtues, and receive strength of soul….Let meditation of Christ’s life be your one and only aim, your rest, your food, your desire, your study.”
Prayer of St. Bonaventure to the Holy Spirit:
Lord, Jesus, as God’s Spirit came down and rested upon you.
May the same Spirit rest on us,
Bestowing his seven fold gifts.
First, grant us the gift of understanding, by which your precepts may enlighten our minds.
Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness.
Third, grant us courage, by which we may ward off the enemy’s attacks.
Fourth, grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish good from evil.
Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts.
Sixth, grant us fear, by which we may draw back from evil and submit to what is good,
Seventh, grant us wisdom, that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.
Close
July 15
Saint Bonaventure
July 16
Daily Saints – 16 July.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
She is specially invoked for the protection from harm, protection from dangerous situations, deliverance from Purgatory.
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated on July 16, was first instituted in the late 14th century in commemoration of the approval of the rule of the Carmelite Order a hundred years earlier. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel entered the Calendar of the universal Church in the early 18th century.
The title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel can be traced back to the hermits living on Mount Carmel in Israel during the Old Testament.
This ancient community prayed for the advent of the Virgin-Mother through whom salvation was promised to mankind. In Hebrew, “Carmel” means “garden”. In ancient times this mountain was celebrated for its lush, verdant, flowery beauty.
It was also on Mount Carmel that the Prophet Elijah prayed to God for rain during a terrible drought afflicting Israel for its sins and idolatry of Baal. The first sign that his prayer was answered was a tiny cloud that appeared in the sky out over the Mediterranean, the precursor of a great rainfall.
Elias saw the cloud as a symbol of the Virgin mentioned in the prophecies of Isaiah (7:14). The hermits took after his example and prayed likewise for the advent of the much-awaited Virgin who would become the mother of the Messiah. Praying thus became their spiritual mission.
Theologians see in that little cloud a figure of Mary, bringing salvation in the seventh age of the world. As the clouds arise out of the sea without the weight and the salinity of the waters, so has Mary arisen out of the human race without its stains.
In the twelfth century, St. Berthold, a Frenchman, pilgrim or crusader, came to Mount Carmel seeking to visit Elijah’s cave, and ended by founding a community imbued with the Marian spirit of the holy prophet and the hermits of old.
St. Brocard, successor of St. Berthold, set their way of life to a Rule, which was approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1247. From the time of St. Brocard, these monks were known as the “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”
Mount Carmel was taken by the Muslims in 1291, and the brothers were killed and the convent burned. The assorted political and religious strife had caused the Carmelites to depart from Mt. Carmel and travel to Europe. Some Carmelites established monasteries as far north as England.
In the 13th century, during the Crusades, St. Simon Stock joined a group of hermits on Mount Carmel during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In 1247, he was elected the 6th superior-general of the Carmelites at the first chapter held in Aylesford, England.
However, the order had difficulty gaining general acceptance and suffered much persecution and oppression from secular clergy and other orders which prompted the monks to have recourse to the Blessed Virgin in the year 1251.
During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on 16 July 1251, while Saint Simon Stock was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular.
On one arm she held the Child Jesus and on the other a brown garment called a scapular, to be draped over the front and back of a person.
As she showed him this garment she said, “Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time. Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.”
“This shall be the privilege for you and for all the Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall be saved.”
The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapulae, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders.
Another important aspect of wearing the Scapular is the Sabbatine Privilege. This concerns a promise made by Our Lady to Pope John XXII. In a papal letter he issued, he recounted a vision that he had had.
He stated that the Blessed Virgin had said to him in this vision, concerning those who wear the Brown Scapular: “I, the Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after their death and whomsoever I shall find in Purgatory, I shall free, so that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life everlasting.”
This privilege is extended to lay persons who, wishing to participate in this promise, choose to be enrolled in a small version of the scapular by an officiating priest or deacon.
This practice must not be understood superstitiously or “magically”, but in light of Catholic teaching that perseverance in the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity are required for salvation.
According to Church tradition, there are three conditions necessary to participate in this Privilege and share in the other spiritual benefits of the Scapular: wear the Brown Scapular, observe chastity according to your state in life, and pray the Rosary.
In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every member must:
• Shun sin, and, according to his state of life, live chastely.
• Say every day, if possible, seven times, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
• Strive to serve God by venerating Mary, and imitating her virtues.
• These rules, it is true, are not binding under penalty of sin, but the breach of them deprives us of all merit; and is not this something to be taken into account? “He who sowetb sparingly shall also reap sparingly.” (II Corinthians 9:6)
The scapular stands for:
– A commitment to follow Jesus, like Mary, the perfect model of all the disciples of Christ. This commitment finds its origin in baptism.
– It leads into the community of Carmel, a community of religious men and women, which has existed in the Church for over eight centuries.
– It reminds of the example of the saints of Carmel, with whom it establishes a close bond as brothers and sisters.
– It is an expression of the belief that the bearers of the scapular will meet God in eternal life, aided by the intercession and prayers of Mary.
The Carmelites insist that the scapular is not:
– A magical charm to protect someone.
– An automatic guarantee of salvation.
– An excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life
It is instead a sign which has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries and which stands for the decision to:
– Follow Jesus like Mary:
– Be open to God and to his will.
– Be guided by faith, hope, and love.
– To pray at all times
– To discover God present in all that happens around us.
Saint Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” Saint John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion day, Thérèse dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.
“Our Lady of Mount Carmel is an antidote for the culture of death today. On Mount Carmel Elijah called the people of Israel to abandon the worship of false gods and the associated sexual immorality and human sacrifice associated with it. In many ways the United States and Europe are like Israel in the times of Elijah. Compared to former times we live in an age of peace and prosperity, but many abandoned the worship of the true God and follow false gods of materialism, pleasure, absolute personal autonomy. Our Lady of Mount Carmel calls us to stop straddling the issue of who is the real God. We cannot have one foot in the culture of death that tolerates the killing of unborn children by abortion and other attacks on life, chastity and the family and be a true Christian.” – Fr. Peter West
“Our Lady of Mount Carmel embraces us and whispers in our ears that Jesus is always with us, and never abandons us.” – message from the Standing Committee of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference
“In the Carmelite liturgy for the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel we contemplate Our Lady as being “near the Cross of Christ”. This is also the place of the Church: close to Christ. It is also the place for every faithful member…. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel, accompany your steps and make fruitful your daily journey to the Mountain of God.” – Pope Francis, Vatican, 22 August 2013
“Therefore two truths are evoked by the sign of the Scapular: on the one hand, the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin, not only on life’s journey, but also at the moment of passing into the fullness of eternal glory; on the other, the awareness that devotion to her cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honour on certain occasions, but must become a “habit”, that is, a permanent orientation of one’s own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life, through frequent reception of the sacraments and the concrete practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In this way the Scapular becomes a sign of the “covenant” and reciprocal communion between Mary and the faithful: indeed, it concretely translates the gift of his Mother, which Jesus gave on the Cross to John and, through him, to all of us, and the entrustment of the beloved Apostle and of us to her, who became our spiritual Mother.” – Pope John Paul II, Vatican, 25 March 2001
“O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity; there are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein that you are my Mother. Our Lady, Queen and beauty of Carmel, pray for me and obtain my requests. Sweet Mother, I place this cause into your hands.”
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
She is specially invoked for the protection from harm, protection from dangerous situations, deliverance from Purgatory.
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated on July 16, was first instituted in the late 14th century in commemoration of the approval of the rule of the Carmelite Order a hundred years earlier. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel entered the Calendar of the universal Church in the early 18th century.
The title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel can be traced back to the hermits living on Mount Carmel in Israel during the Old Testament.
This ancient community prayed for the advent of the Virgin-Mother through whom salvation was promised to mankind. In Hebrew, “Carmel” means “garden”. In ancient times this mountain was celebrated for its lush, verdant, flowery beauty.
It was also on Mount Carmel that the Prophet Elijah prayed to God for rain during a terrible drought afflicting Israel for its sins and idolatry of Baal. The first sign that his prayer was answered was a tiny cloud that appeared in the sky out over the Mediterranean, the precursor of a great rainfall.
Elias saw the cloud as a symbol of the Virgin mentioned in the prophecies of Isaiah (7:14). The hermits took after his example and prayed likewise for the advent of the much-awaited Virgin who would become the mother of the Messiah. Praying thus became their spiritual mission.
Theologians see in that little cloud a figure of Mary, bringing salvation in the seventh age of the world. As the clouds arise out of the sea without the weight and the salinity of the waters, so has Mary arisen out of the human race without its stains.
In the twelfth century, St. Berthold, a Frenchman, pilgrim or crusader, came to Mount Carmel seeking to visit Elijah’s cave, and ended by founding a community imbued with the Marian spirit of the holy prophet and the hermits of old.
St. Brocard, successor of St. Berthold, set their way of life to a Rule, which was approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1247. From the time of St. Brocard, these monks were known as the “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”
Mount Carmel was taken by the Muslims in 1291, and the brothers were killed and the convent burned. The assorted political and religious strife had caused the Carmelites to depart from Mt. Carmel and travel to Europe. Some Carmelites established monasteries as far north as England.
In the 13th century, during the Crusades, St. Simon Stock joined a group of hermits on Mount Carmel during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In 1247, he was elected the 6th superior-general of the Carmelites at the first chapter held in Aylesford, England.
However, the order had difficulty gaining general acceptance and suffered much persecution and oppression from secular clergy and other orders which prompted the monks to have recourse to the Blessed Virgin in the year 1251.
During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and on 16 July 1251, while Saint Simon Stock was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular.
On one arm she held the Child Jesus and on the other a brown garment called a scapular, to be draped over the front and back of a person.
As she showed him this garment she said, “Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time. Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.”
“This shall be the privilege for you and for all the Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall be saved.”
The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapulae, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders.
Another important aspect of wearing the Scapular is the Sabbatine Privilege. This concerns a promise made by Our Lady to Pope John XXII. In a papal letter he issued, he recounted a vision that he had had.
He stated that the Blessed Virgin had said to him in this vision, concerning those who wear the Brown Scapular: “I, the Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after their death and whomsoever I shall find in Purgatory, I shall free, so that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life everlasting.”
This privilege is extended to lay persons who, wishing to participate in this promise, choose to be enrolled in a small version of the scapular by an officiating priest or deacon.
This practice must not be understood superstitiously or “magically”, but in light of Catholic teaching that perseverance in the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity are required for salvation.
According to Church tradition, there are three conditions necessary to participate in this Privilege and share in the other spiritual benefits of the Scapular: wear the Brown Scapular, observe chastity according to your state in life, and pray the Rosary.
In order to have a share in the merits of the sodality every member must:
• Shun sin, and, according to his state of life, live chastely.
• Say every day, if possible, seven times, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
• Strive to serve God by venerating Mary, and imitating her virtues.
• These rules, it is true, are not binding under penalty of sin, but the breach of them deprives us of all merit; and is not this something to be taken into account? “He who sowetb sparingly shall also reap sparingly.” (II Corinthians 9:6)
The scapular stands for:
– A commitment to follow Jesus, like Mary, the perfect model of all the disciples of Christ. This commitment finds its origin in baptism.
– It leads into the community of Carmel, a community of religious men and women, which has existed in the Church for over eight centuries.
– It reminds of the example of the saints of Carmel, with whom it establishes a close bond as brothers and sisters.
– It is an expression of the belief that the bearers of the scapular will meet God in eternal life, aided by the intercession and prayers of Mary.
The Carmelites insist that the scapular is not:
– A magical charm to protect someone.
– An automatic guarantee of salvation.
– An excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life
It is instead a sign which has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries and which stands for the decision to:
– Follow Jesus like Mary:
– Be open to God and to his will.
– Be guided by faith, hope, and love.
– To pray at all times
– To discover God present in all that happens around us.
Saint Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” Saint John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel, and helping him escape from prison.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion day, Thérèse dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.
“Our Lady of Mount Carmel is an antidote for the culture of death today. On Mount Carmel Elijah called the people of Israel to abandon the worship of false gods and the associated sexual immorality and human sacrifice associated with it. In many ways the United States and Europe are like Israel in the times of Elijah. Compared to former times we live in an age of peace and prosperity, but many abandoned the worship of the true God and follow false gods of materialism, pleasure, absolute personal autonomy. Our Lady of Mount Carmel calls us to stop straddling the issue of who is the real God. We cannot have one foot in the culture of death that tolerates the killing of unborn children by abortion and other attacks on life, chastity and the family and be a true Christian.” – Fr. Peter West
“Our Lady of Mount Carmel embraces us and whispers in our ears that Jesus is always with us, and never abandons us.” – message from the Standing Committee of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference
“In the Carmelite liturgy for the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel we contemplate Our Lady as being “near the Cross of Christ”. This is also the place of the Church: close to Christ. It is also the place for every faithful member…. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel, accompany your steps and make fruitful your daily journey to the Mountain of God.” – Pope Francis, Vatican, 22 August 2013
“Therefore two truths are evoked by the sign of the Scapular: on the one hand, the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin, not only on life’s journey, but also at the moment of passing into the fullness of eternal glory; on the other, the awareness that devotion to her cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honour on certain occasions, but must become a “habit”, that is, a permanent orientation of one’s own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life, through frequent reception of the sacraments and the concrete practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In this way the Scapular becomes a sign of the “covenant” and reciprocal communion between Mary and the faithful: indeed, it concretely translates the gift of his Mother, which Jesus gave on the Cross to John and, through him, to all of us, and the entrustment of the beloved Apostle and of us to her, who became our spiritual Mother.” – Pope John Paul II, Vatican, 25 March 2001
“O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity; there are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein that you are my Mother. Our Lady, Queen and beauty of Carmel, pray for me and obtain my requests. Sweet Mother, I place this cause into your hands.”
Close
July 16
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 17
Daily Saints – 17 July.
Feast of St. Alexius of Rome.
Patron saint of beggars, belt makers, nurses, pilgrims, travellers.
Alexius was the only son of a wealthy senator of Rome, Euphemian, and his wife, Aglaë. He was born and educated in that capitol in the fifth century. From the charitable example of his parents he developed a compassionate attitude at an early age.
Fearing that earthly honors might draw his heart from noble objects, he decided to renounce the advantages of his birth and retire from the world. Having, in compliance with the will of his parents, married a wealthy girl, Marina.
On his wedding day his fiancee agreed to release him and let him follow his vocation. He fled his parent’s home disguised as a beggar, and lived near a church in Syria.
A vision of Our Lady at the church pointed him out as exceptionally holy, calling him the “Man of God”. This drew attention to him, which caused him to return to Rome, Italy where he would not be known. He came as a beggar to his own home. His parents did not recognize him, but were kind to all the poor, and let him stay there.
Alexis lived for seventeen years in a corner under the stairs, praying, and teaching catechism to small children. At his death an unseen voice was heard to proclaim him ‘The Man of God’, and afterwards his family found a note on his body which told them who he was and how he had lived his life of penance from the day of his wedding until then, for the love of God.
Feast of St. Alexius of Rome.
Patron saint of beggars, belt makers, nurses, pilgrims, travellers.
Alexius was the only son of a wealthy senator of Rome, Euphemian, and his wife, Aglaë. He was born and educated in that capitol in the fifth century. From the charitable example of his parents he developed a compassionate attitude at an early age.
Fearing that earthly honors might draw his heart from noble objects, he decided to renounce the advantages of his birth and retire from the world. Having, in compliance with the will of his parents, married a wealthy girl, Marina.
On his wedding day his fiancee agreed to release him and let him follow his vocation. He fled his parent’s home disguised as a beggar, and lived near a church in Syria.
A vision of Our Lady at the church pointed him out as exceptionally holy, calling him the “Man of God”. This drew attention to him, which caused him to return to Rome, Italy where he would not be known. He came as a beggar to his own home. His parents did not recognize him, but were kind to all the poor, and let him stay there.
Alexis lived for seventeen years in a corner under the stairs, praying, and teaching catechism to small children. At his death an unseen voice was heard to proclaim him ‘The Man of God’, and afterwards his family found a note on his body which told them who he was and how he had lived his life of penance from the day of his wedding until then, for the love of God.
Close
July 17
Saint Alexius of Rome
July 18
Daily Saints – 18 July.
Feast of Saint Frederick of Utrecht.
He is the patron saint against deafness.
Frederick was born around the year 780 in Friesland in the Netherlands. He was grandson of King Radbon of the Frisians and was educated by the clergy where he grew up in Utrecht. During his growth and education he was reputed for wisdom and piety.
Frederick was ordained by Bishop Rickfield and given the task of instructing catechumens. In 825, Frederick succeeded the same prelate as Bishop of Utrecht.
Frederick was consecrated in the presence of the Emperor, Louis the Debonair, who advised him to stamp out the remaining vestiges of idolatry in Friesland. Frederick took the advise and sent zealous laborers into the north to extirpate the paganism still lurking there.
As a result of his courage in standing up to sin, he was not a popular prelate. He was also not afraid to deal with paganism personally.
Frederick reserved for himself the most troublesome territory, Walcheren, an island belonging to Netherlands that was rampant with incestuous marriages contracted within the forbidden degrees.
Frederick worked unceasingly to eradicate this evil from the people, by means of assiduous exhortations, tears, watching, prayer and fasting. He called an assembly of the principal people of the land and sent forth the ways and means by which such and abomination could be eliminated for good.
In this way, he put an end to many such marriages and brought back to God numberless persons who were truly contrite.
Frederick also made an enemy of Empress Judith, who was married to Emperor Louis the Debonair. The Empress and her husband were engaged in a disagreement with the Emperor’s sons, which Frederick became involved in.
During the feud the sons of Louis accused their stepmother Judith of a number of sins including adultery. When St Frederick rebuked Judith for her behaviour she became resentful towards him, though he endeavoured to be charitable and fair.
On July 18, 838, as Frederick stepped down from the altar after saying Mass and was on his way to the side chapel to make his thanksgiving, that he was set upon by two assassins and stabbed to death. He died with the words of Psalm 116 on his lips: “I shall praise the Lord in the land of the living.”
Feast of Saint Frederick of Utrecht.
He is the patron saint against deafness.
Frederick was born around the year 780 in Friesland in the Netherlands. He was grandson of King Radbon of the Frisians and was educated by the clergy where he grew up in Utrecht. During his growth and education he was reputed for wisdom and piety.
Frederick was ordained by Bishop Rickfield and given the task of instructing catechumens. In 825, Frederick succeeded the same prelate as Bishop of Utrecht.
Frederick was consecrated in the presence of the Emperor, Louis the Debonair, who advised him to stamp out the remaining vestiges of idolatry in Friesland. Frederick took the advise and sent zealous laborers into the north to extirpate the paganism still lurking there.
As a result of his courage in standing up to sin, he was not a popular prelate. He was also not afraid to deal with paganism personally.
Frederick reserved for himself the most troublesome territory, Walcheren, an island belonging to Netherlands that was rampant with incestuous marriages contracted within the forbidden degrees.
Frederick worked unceasingly to eradicate this evil from the people, by means of assiduous exhortations, tears, watching, prayer and fasting. He called an assembly of the principal people of the land and sent forth the ways and means by which such and abomination could be eliminated for good.
In this way, he put an end to many such marriages and brought back to God numberless persons who were truly contrite.
Frederick also made an enemy of Empress Judith, who was married to Emperor Louis the Debonair. The Empress and her husband were engaged in a disagreement with the Emperor’s sons, which Frederick became involved in.
During the feud the sons of Louis accused their stepmother Judith of a number of sins including adultery. When St Frederick rebuked Judith for her behaviour she became resentful towards him, though he endeavoured to be charitable and fair.
On July 18, 838, as Frederick stepped down from the altar after saying Mass and was on his way to the side chapel to make his thanksgiving, that he was set upon by two assassins and stabbed to death. He died with the words of Psalm 116 on his lips: “I shall praise the Lord in the land of the living.”
Close
July 18
Saint Frederick of Utrecht
July 19
Daily Saints – 19 July.
Feast of Saint Peter Crisci of Foligno.
Peter was born in c. 1243 in Foligno. As a young man, Peter lived a wild, profane, and dissolute life. Around the age of thirty his parents died. He came into his inheritence, contemplated his parents’ deaths, and came to understand the emptiness of his life.
Peter had a conversion experience, sold all that he had, gave it away to the poor. He even sold himself into slavery as an act of penance and to get more to give away, but his “owner” freed him.
Peter became a penitent beggar, an urban hermit who devoted himself to the care and cleanliness of the cathedral in Foligno, Italy. He wore sack cloth, lived in its bell tower, and slept on the steps, open to the elements.
Peter had a great dedication to the spirituality of Blessed Angela of Foligno and Saint Chiara of Montefalco. He made several barefoot pilgrimages to Rome and Assisi, Italy.
He was so odd, so open about his penance, and attracted so much attention from the faithful that the Inquisition investigated him; they were particularly concerned with his habit of praying while staring at the sun; but they determined that his was an orthodox faith, just extreme in its penance.
Peter is considered one of the “mad saints” or “holy idiots” or “fools for Christ”. He died on 19 July 1323 in the cathedral of Foligno, Umbria, Italy.
Feast of Saint Peter Crisci of Foligno.
Peter was born in c. 1243 in Foligno. As a young man, Peter lived a wild, profane, and dissolute life. Around the age of thirty his parents died. He came into his inheritence, contemplated his parents’ deaths, and came to understand the emptiness of his life.
Peter had a conversion experience, sold all that he had, gave it away to the poor. He even sold himself into slavery as an act of penance and to get more to give away, but his “owner” freed him.
Peter became a penitent beggar, an urban hermit who devoted himself to the care and cleanliness of the cathedral in Foligno, Italy. He wore sack cloth, lived in its bell tower, and slept on the steps, open to the elements.
Peter had a great dedication to the spirituality of Blessed Angela of Foligno and Saint Chiara of Montefalco. He made several barefoot pilgrimages to Rome and Assisi, Italy.
He was so odd, so open about his penance, and attracted so much attention from the faithful that the Inquisition investigated him; they were particularly concerned with his habit of praying while staring at the sun; but they determined that his was an orthodox faith, just extreme in its penance.
Peter is considered one of the “mad saints” or “holy idiots” or “fools for Christ”. He died on 19 July 1323 in the cathedral of Foligno, Umbria, Italy.
Close
July 19
Saint Peter Crisci of Foligno
July 20
Daily Saints – 20 July.
Feast Saint Margaret of Antioch.
She is the patron saint against kidney disease, against loss of milk by nursing mothers, against sterility, dying people, for escape from devils, expectant mothers, pregnant women, falsely accused people, for safe childbirth, martyrs, nurses, peasants, people in exile, women, women in labour.
She is also called “Marina”. Her father was a pagan priest in Pisidian Antioch, Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Her mother died when Margaret was an infant, and the girl was raised by a Christian woman.
Margaret’s father disowned her, her nurse adopted her. Margaret was converted, consecrating herself and her virginity to God.
One day a Roman prefect saw the beautiful young Margaret as she was tending sheep, and tried to get her into his bed. When she refused, the official denounced her as a outlaw Christian, and she was brought to trial. He had her tortured and then imprisoned.
While she was in prison she had an encounter with the devil in the form of a dragon. According to the legend, he swallowed her, but the cross she carried in her hand so irritated his throat that he was forced to disgorge her (because of this she is the patroness of childbirth, association with pregnancy, labour).
Greek tradition does not mention this incident of Saint Marina emerging from the stomach of the dragon, but instead through the cross she transforms the dragon into a dog which she strikes with a hammer.
When she refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, the authorities tried to burn her, but the flames left her unharmed. She was then bound hand and foot and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, but at her prayer her bonds were broken and she stood up uninjured and converted thousands of spectators.
She was finally martyred by beheading. She was one of the saints who appeared to Saint Joan of Arc. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Feast Saint Margaret of Antioch.
She is the patron saint against kidney disease, against loss of milk by nursing mothers, against sterility, dying people, for escape from devils, expectant mothers, pregnant women, falsely accused people, for safe childbirth, martyrs, nurses, peasants, people in exile, women, women in labour.
She is also called “Marina”. Her father was a pagan priest in Pisidian Antioch, Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Her mother died when Margaret was an infant, and the girl was raised by a Christian woman.
Margaret’s father disowned her, her nurse adopted her. Margaret was converted, consecrating herself and her virginity to God.
One day a Roman prefect saw the beautiful young Margaret as she was tending sheep, and tried to get her into his bed. When she refused, the official denounced her as a outlaw Christian, and she was brought to trial. He had her tortured and then imprisoned.
While she was in prison she had an encounter with the devil in the form of a dragon. According to the legend, he swallowed her, but the cross she carried in her hand so irritated his throat that he was forced to disgorge her (because of this she is the patroness of childbirth, association with pregnancy, labour).
Greek tradition does not mention this incident of Saint Marina emerging from the stomach of the dragon, but instead through the cross she transforms the dragon into a dog which she strikes with a hammer.
When she refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, the authorities tried to burn her, but the flames left her unharmed. She was then bound hand and foot and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, but at her prayer her bonds were broken and she stood up uninjured and converted thousands of spectators.
She was finally martyred by beheading. She was one of the saints who appeared to Saint Joan of Arc. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Close
July 20
Saint Margaret of Antioch
July 21
Daily Saints – 21 July.
Feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi.
Lawrence was born on July 22, 1559. His parents William and Elizabeth Russo gave him the name of Julius Caesar, Caesare in Italian. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by his uncle at the College of St. Mark in Venice.
When he was just 16, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Venice and received the name of Lawrence. He completed his studies of philosophy and theology at the University of Padua and was ordained a priest at 23.
With his facility for languages Lawrence was able to study the Bible in its original texts. At the request of Pope Clement VIII, he spent much time preaching to the Jews in Italy. So excellent was his knowledge of Hebrew, the rabbis felt sure he was a Jew who had become a Christian.
Perhaps, the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his outstanding gift of languages. In addition to a thorough knowledge of his native Italian, he had complete reading and speaking ability in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish, and French.
Lawrence was the Chaplain of the army of the Holy Roman Empire in 1601. He rallied the German princes to fight a superior Turkish force, and was asked to lead the army into battle at Stuhlweissenburg (modern Székesfehérvár, Hungary) carrying no weapon but a crucifix; the Turks were completely defeated.
Lawrence was elected major superior of the Capuchin Franciscan province of Tuscany at the age of 31. He had the combination of brilliance, human compassion, and administrative skill needed to carry out his duties.
In rapid succession he was promoted by his fellow Capuchins and was elected minister general of the Capuchins in 1602. In this position he was responsible for great growth and geographical expansion of the Order.
Lawrence became known for his goodness, his simplicity, and his prudence as a teacher. He was especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin.
Lawrence is also remembered for his sanctity and miracle working. While he was Provincial Superior of his order he cured a blind man in front of many witnesses. At the court of Philip III of Spain he cured a woman who was paralyzed.
Once while stopping with some companions at an inn a rowdy customer began to ridicule the friars. Getting no reaction he resorted to blasphemy and even mocked the crucifix that the saint was wearing. “To vindicate the honor of this cross which you have blasphemed, may God punish you!” Immediately the man dropped dead to the floor before the stunned diners.
At Milan, there was a young boy covered with sores and so deformed that he could not remove his head from his left shoulder while his right arm was held fast to his chest. After receiving a blessing from Father Lawrence the boy’s wounds dried up and his head and limbs were set free in the sight of family and neighbors.
His Masses often lasted six to ten hours, the longest taking sixteen hours. One witness observed him levitate three feet above the floor for an hour and a half while celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Frequently Lawrence was so affected during the celebration of holy Mass that he shed copious tears. Altar linens thus moistened with his tears were later used on the sick, and they were cured.
While he was saying holy Mass in Munich in the chapel of the duke of Bavaria, our Lord appeared after the elevation in the form of a resplendent Child, who lovingly caressed the saint.
Lawrence was appointed papal emissary and peacemaker, a job which took him to a number of foreign countries. An effort to achieve peace in his native kingdom of Naples took him on a journey to Lisbon to visit the king of Spain.
The trip in the sweltering heat of summer exhausted him and fell very ill at Lisbon. He knew that his end was drawing near and told his companions so. After devoutly receiving the last sacraments, he fell into ecstasy, during which he went to the sweet embrace of his Lord exactly on his birthday, 22 July 1619, at the age of 60.
In 1956, the Capuchins completed a 15-volume edition of Lawrence’s writings. Eleven of these 15 contain his sermons, each of which relies chiefly on scriptural quotations to illustrate his teaching.
“All things are possible for him who believes, more to him who hopes, even more to him who loves.”
“The Holy Spirit sweetens the yoke of the divine law and lightens its weight, so that we may observe God’s commandments with the greatest of ease and even with pleasure.”
“The Angels in Heaven were created, to be servants of Christ; man was formed from the earth, in order to be the image of Christ.”
“For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. It enables man to know God and to love him. And for the interior man who lives by the Spirit of God through grace, it is bread and water… For the soul is a spiritual treasure of merits yielding an abundance of gold and precious stones. Against the hardness of heart that persists in wrongdoing, it acts as a hammer. Against the world, the flesh and the devil it serves as a sword that destroys all sin.”
“God is love, and all his operations proceed from love. Once he wills to manifest that goodness by sharing his love outside himself, then the Incarnation becomes the supreme manifestation of his goodness and love and glory. So, Christ was intended before all other creatures and for his own sake. For him all things were created and to him all things must be subject, and God loves all creatures in and because of Christ. Christ is the first-born of every creature, and the whole of humanity as well as the created world finds its foundation and meaning in him. Moreover, this would have been the case even if Adam had not sinned.”
Feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi.
Lawrence was born on July 22, 1559. His parents William and Elizabeth Russo gave him the name of Julius Caesar, Caesare in Italian. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by his uncle at the College of St. Mark in Venice.
When he was just 16, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Venice and received the name of Lawrence. He completed his studies of philosophy and theology at the University of Padua and was ordained a priest at 23.
With his facility for languages Lawrence was able to study the Bible in its original texts. At the request of Pope Clement VIII, he spent much time preaching to the Jews in Italy. So excellent was his knowledge of Hebrew, the rabbis felt sure he was a Jew who had become a Christian.
Perhaps, the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his outstanding gift of languages. In addition to a thorough knowledge of his native Italian, he had complete reading and speaking ability in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish, and French.
Lawrence was the Chaplain of the army of the Holy Roman Empire in 1601. He rallied the German princes to fight a superior Turkish force, and was asked to lead the army into battle at Stuhlweissenburg (modern Székesfehérvár, Hungary) carrying no weapon but a crucifix; the Turks were completely defeated.
Lawrence was elected major superior of the Capuchin Franciscan province of Tuscany at the age of 31. He had the combination of brilliance, human compassion, and administrative skill needed to carry out his duties.
In rapid succession he was promoted by his fellow Capuchins and was elected minister general of the Capuchins in 1602. In this position he was responsible for great growth and geographical expansion of the Order.
Lawrence became known for his goodness, his simplicity, and his prudence as a teacher. He was especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin.
Lawrence is also remembered for his sanctity and miracle working. While he was Provincial Superior of his order he cured a blind man in front of many witnesses. At the court of Philip III of Spain he cured a woman who was paralyzed.
Once while stopping with some companions at an inn a rowdy customer began to ridicule the friars. Getting no reaction he resorted to blasphemy and even mocked the crucifix that the saint was wearing. “To vindicate the honor of this cross which you have blasphemed, may God punish you!” Immediately the man dropped dead to the floor before the stunned diners.
At Milan, there was a young boy covered with sores and so deformed that he could not remove his head from his left shoulder while his right arm was held fast to his chest. After receiving a blessing from Father Lawrence the boy’s wounds dried up and his head and limbs were set free in the sight of family and neighbors.
His Masses often lasted six to ten hours, the longest taking sixteen hours. One witness observed him levitate three feet above the floor for an hour and a half while celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Frequently Lawrence was so affected during the celebration of holy Mass that he shed copious tears. Altar linens thus moistened with his tears were later used on the sick, and they were cured.
While he was saying holy Mass in Munich in the chapel of the duke of Bavaria, our Lord appeared after the elevation in the form of a resplendent Child, who lovingly caressed the saint.
Lawrence was appointed papal emissary and peacemaker, a job which took him to a number of foreign countries. An effort to achieve peace in his native kingdom of Naples took him on a journey to Lisbon to visit the king of Spain.
The trip in the sweltering heat of summer exhausted him and fell very ill at Lisbon. He knew that his end was drawing near and told his companions so. After devoutly receiving the last sacraments, he fell into ecstasy, during which he went to the sweet embrace of his Lord exactly on his birthday, 22 July 1619, at the age of 60.
In 1956, the Capuchins completed a 15-volume edition of Lawrence’s writings. Eleven of these 15 contain his sermons, each of which relies chiefly on scriptural quotations to illustrate his teaching.
“All things are possible for him who believes, more to him who hopes, even more to him who loves.”
“The Holy Spirit sweetens the yoke of the divine law and lightens its weight, so that we may observe God’s commandments with the greatest of ease and even with pleasure.”
“The Angels in Heaven were created, to be servants of Christ; man was formed from the earth, in order to be the image of Christ.”
“For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. It enables man to know God and to love him. And for the interior man who lives by the Spirit of God through grace, it is bread and water… For the soul is a spiritual treasure of merits yielding an abundance of gold and precious stones. Against the hardness of heart that persists in wrongdoing, it acts as a hammer. Against the world, the flesh and the devil it serves as a sword that destroys all sin.”
“God is love, and all his operations proceed from love. Once he wills to manifest that goodness by sharing his love outside himself, then the Incarnation becomes the supreme manifestation of his goodness and love and glory. So, Christ was intended before all other creatures and for his own sake. For him all things were created and to him all things must be subject, and God loves all creatures in and because of Christ. Christ is the first-born of every creature, and the whole of humanity as well as the created world finds its foundation and meaning in him. Moreover, this would have been the case even if Adam had not sinned.”
Close
July 21
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi
July 22
Daily Saints – 22 July.
Feast of St. Mary Magdalen
She is the patron saint of apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists, contemplative life, contemplatives, converts, glove makers, hairdressers, hairstylists, penitent sinners, penitent women, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumeries, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women and against sexual temptation.
Mary Magdalen was from Magadala, a small fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Tiberias.
Scripture introduces her as a woman “who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Lk. 8:2).
Some scholars identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ with oil in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Lk. 7:36-50).
Others associate her with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Lk. 10:38-42, Jn. 11).
Some believe the three figures to be one person, while others believe them to be three distinct individuals.
What the Scriptures make certain about Mary Magdalene is that she was a follower of Christ, who accompanied and ministered to him (Lk. 8:2-3). The Gospels record her as being one of the women present at Christ’s crucifixion.
In addition, she was the first recorded witness of the Resurrection. The Gospels all describe Mary Magdalene going to the tomb on Easter morning. When she saw that the tomb was empty, she stood outside, weeping.
Jesus appeared to her and asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (Jn. 20:15) She did not recognize him, however, and thought he was the gardener, until he said her name, “Mary!” (Jn. 20:16) Upon hearing this, Mary recognized him. She returned to the grieving disciples to announce to them the message of the Resurrection.
There are also arguments about her life after the Crucifixion. The Greek Church maintains that she retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and lived there the rest of her life.
A French tradition says that Mary, Lazarus, and some companions were forced by Jews who had persecuted them to get into a boat and set out to sea without sails or oars. The group landed in Marseilles, France. They evangelized and converted the whole Provence region.
She, then, retired to live 30 years as a penitent hermitess at La Sainte-Baume. Mary lived in a cave, so she could spend most of her time in spiritual contemplation.
Tradition says that angels came to her every day to give her Communion in the cave and that angels miraculously transported her from the cave to the chapel of St. Maximin, where she received the last sacraments from a priest before dying at age 72.
The feast of St. Mary Magdalene is considered one of the most mystical of feasts, because her love was so great. That love was praised by Jesus Himself who said that because much was forgiven her, she loved much.
Christian tradition says that when Mary met the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar at a banquet, she held up a plain egg and told him: “Christ is risen!”. The emperor laughed and told Mary that the idea of Jesus Christ rising from the dead was as unlikely as the egg she held turning red in her hands. But the egg did turn a bright shade of red while Tiberius Caesar was still speaking. That miracle caught the attention of everyone at the banquet, which gave Mary the opportunity to share the Gospel message with everyone there.
She is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Precisely since she was an eyewitness to the Risen Christ, she was also the first to testify before the apostles. She fulfils the mandate the Risen Christ gives her. In this way she becomes an evangelist, or rather a messenger who announces the good news of the resurrection of the Lord.
St. Thomas Aquinas said, ‘apostolorum apostola’, as she announces to the apostles what they in turn will announce to all the world. She is the witness to the Risen Christ and announces the message of the resurrection of the Lord, like the other apostles.
According to Pope Francis “Mary Magdalene is an apostle of hope”.
Her tears at Christ’s empty tomb are a reminder that “sometimes in our lives, tears are the lenses we need to see Jesus.” – Pope Francis, April 2, 2013, during Mass in his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Pope Benedict XVI spoke about Mary Magdalene in his address before the Angelus on July 23, 2006. He referred to her as “a disciple of the Lord who plays a lead role in the Gospels.” The Pope recalled Mary Magdalene’s presence “beneath the Cross” on Good Friday, as well as how “she was to be the one to discover the empty tomb” on Easter morning.
“The story of Mary of Magdala reminds us all of a fundamental truth. A disciple of Christ is one who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for his help, has been healed by him and has set out following closely after him, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love that is stronger than sin and death.” – Pope Benedict XVI
“When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: “The disciples went back home,” and it adds: “but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.” We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.” – from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great
“She experienced Christ’s compassion and mercy. St. Luke and St. Mark tell us that she had had seven demons cast out from her. She had in some way been under the hold of the devil. Some saints throughout the centuries said that these seven demons may have been the seven deadly sins. Regardless of what their manifestation was, she had experienced the healing power of the Lord. In order to relate appropriately to the Lord, we, too, need to relate to him in his saving mercy. Prior to the papacy, Pope Francis in the Book length interview ‘El Jesuita’ said that it’s only great sinners forgiven by the Lord who have the experience of who they really are and how much they’re love. Mary Magdalene had that grace. She knew she had been saved and healed. And that’s an experience all of us should begin with if we’re going to imitate the saint.” – Fr. Roger J. Landry
“How nice it is to think that the first apparition of the Risen One — according to the Gospels — took place in such a personal way! To think that there is someone who knows us, who sees our suffering and disappointment, who is moved with us and calls us by name. It is a law which we find engraved on many pages of the Gospel. There are many people around Jesus who search for God, but the most prodigious reality is that, long before that, in the first place there is God, who is concerned about our life, who wants to raise it, and to do this, he calls us by name, recognizing the individual face of each person. Each person is a love story that God writes on this earth. Each one of us is God’s love story. He calls each of us by our name: he knows us by name; he looks at us; he waits for us; he forgives us; he is patient with us. Is this true or not true? Each of us experiences this…. Mary would like to embrace her Lord, but he is already oriented towards the heavenly Father, whereas she is sent to carry the news to the brethren. And so that woman, who, before encountering Jesus, had been at the mercy of evil (cf. Lk 8:2) now becomes the Apostle of the new and greatest hope. May her intercession also help us live this experience: in times of woe and in times of abandonment, to listen to the Risen Jesus who calls us by name and, with a heart full of joy, to go forth and proclaim: “I have seen the Lord!” (v. 18). I have changed my life because I have seen the Lord! I am now different than before. I am another person. I have changed because I have seen the Lord. This is our strength and this is our hope.” – Pope Francis, General audience, Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Feast of St. Mary Magdalen
She is the patron saint of apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists, contemplative life, contemplatives, converts, glove makers, hairdressers, hairstylists, penitent sinners, penitent women, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumeries, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women and against sexual temptation.
Mary Magdalen was from Magadala, a small fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Tiberias.
Scripture introduces her as a woman “who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Lk. 8:2).
Some scholars identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ with oil in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Lk. 7:36-50).
Others associate her with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Lk. 10:38-42, Jn. 11).
Some believe the three figures to be one person, while others believe them to be three distinct individuals.
What the Scriptures make certain about Mary Magdalene is that she was a follower of Christ, who accompanied and ministered to him (Lk. 8:2-3). The Gospels record her as being one of the women present at Christ’s crucifixion.
In addition, she was the first recorded witness of the Resurrection. The Gospels all describe Mary Magdalene going to the tomb on Easter morning. When she saw that the tomb was empty, she stood outside, weeping.
Jesus appeared to her and asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (Jn. 20:15) She did not recognize him, however, and thought he was the gardener, until he said her name, “Mary!” (Jn. 20:16) Upon hearing this, Mary recognized him. She returned to the grieving disciples to announce to them the message of the Resurrection.
There are also arguments about her life after the Crucifixion. The Greek Church maintains that she retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and lived there the rest of her life.
A French tradition says that Mary, Lazarus, and some companions were forced by Jews who had persecuted them to get into a boat and set out to sea without sails or oars. The group landed in Marseilles, France. They evangelized and converted the whole Provence region.
She, then, retired to live 30 years as a penitent hermitess at La Sainte-Baume. Mary lived in a cave, so she could spend most of her time in spiritual contemplation.
Tradition says that angels came to her every day to give her Communion in the cave and that angels miraculously transported her from the cave to the chapel of St. Maximin, where she received the last sacraments from a priest before dying at age 72.
The feast of St. Mary Magdalene is considered one of the most mystical of feasts, because her love was so great. That love was praised by Jesus Himself who said that because much was forgiven her, she loved much.
Christian tradition says that when Mary met the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar at a banquet, she held up a plain egg and told him: “Christ is risen!”. The emperor laughed and told Mary that the idea of Jesus Christ rising from the dead was as unlikely as the egg she held turning red in her hands. But the egg did turn a bright shade of red while Tiberius Caesar was still speaking. That miracle caught the attention of everyone at the banquet, which gave Mary the opportunity to share the Gospel message with everyone there.
She is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Precisely since she was an eyewitness to the Risen Christ, she was also the first to testify before the apostles. She fulfils the mandate the Risen Christ gives her. In this way she becomes an evangelist, or rather a messenger who announces the good news of the resurrection of the Lord.
St. Thomas Aquinas said, ‘apostolorum apostola’, as she announces to the apostles what they in turn will announce to all the world. She is the witness to the Risen Christ and announces the message of the resurrection of the Lord, like the other apostles.
According to Pope Francis “Mary Magdalene is an apostle of hope”.
Her tears at Christ’s empty tomb are a reminder that “sometimes in our lives, tears are the lenses we need to see Jesus.” – Pope Francis, April 2, 2013, during Mass in his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Pope Benedict XVI spoke about Mary Magdalene in his address before the Angelus on July 23, 2006. He referred to her as “a disciple of the Lord who plays a lead role in the Gospels.” The Pope recalled Mary Magdalene’s presence “beneath the Cross” on Good Friday, as well as how “she was to be the one to discover the empty tomb” on Easter morning.
“The story of Mary of Magdala reminds us all of a fundamental truth. A disciple of Christ is one who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for his help, has been healed by him and has set out following closely after him, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love that is stronger than sin and death.” – Pope Benedict XVI
“When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: “The disciples went back home,” and it adds: “but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.” We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.” – from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great
“She experienced Christ’s compassion and mercy. St. Luke and St. Mark tell us that she had had seven demons cast out from her. She had in some way been under the hold of the devil. Some saints throughout the centuries said that these seven demons may have been the seven deadly sins. Regardless of what their manifestation was, she had experienced the healing power of the Lord. In order to relate appropriately to the Lord, we, too, need to relate to him in his saving mercy. Prior to the papacy, Pope Francis in the Book length interview ‘El Jesuita’ said that it’s only great sinners forgiven by the Lord who have the experience of who they really are and how much they’re love. Mary Magdalene had that grace. She knew she had been saved and healed. And that’s an experience all of us should begin with if we’re going to imitate the saint.” – Fr. Roger J. Landry
“How nice it is to think that the first apparition of the Risen One — according to the Gospels — took place in such a personal way! To think that there is someone who knows us, who sees our suffering and disappointment, who is moved with us and calls us by name. It is a law which we find engraved on many pages of the Gospel. There are many people around Jesus who search for God, but the most prodigious reality is that, long before that, in the first place there is God, who is concerned about our life, who wants to raise it, and to do this, he calls us by name, recognizing the individual face of each person. Each person is a love story that God writes on this earth. Each one of us is God’s love story. He calls each of us by our name: he knows us by name; he looks at us; he waits for us; he forgives us; he is patient with us. Is this true or not true? Each of us experiences this…. Mary would like to embrace her Lord, but he is already oriented towards the heavenly Father, whereas she is sent to carry the news to the brethren. And so that woman, who, before encountering Jesus, had been at the mercy of evil (cf. Lk 8:2) now becomes the Apostle of the new and greatest hope. May her intercession also help us live this experience: in times of woe and in times of abandonment, to listen to the Risen Jesus who calls us by name and, with a heart full of joy, to go forth and proclaim: “I have seen the Lord!” (v. 18). I have changed my life because I have seen the Lord! I am now different than before. I am another person. I have changed because I have seen the Lord. This is our strength and this is our hope.” – Pope Francis, General audience, Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Close
July 22
Saint Mary Magdalen
July 23
Daily Saints – 23 July.
Feast of St. Bridget of Sweden.
She is the patron saint of windows.
Bridget was born in 1303 at Finsta Castle, Uppsala, Sweden. She was the daughter of Birger Persson, the governor and provincial judge of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter.
Her father was one of the greatest landowners in the country, her mother was known widely for her piety, and the family were descendants of the Swedish royal house. Her father went to confession every Friday and made long and arduous pilgrimages as far away as the Holy Land.
At the age of seven she began to experience mystical revelations; in one vision, she claimed, the Virgin Mary came to her and placed a crown on her head.
When she was only ten, it is recorded that she had a vision of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter.” “Who has treated you like this?” cried little Bridget. Jesus answered, “Those who despise me and refuse my love for them.” From that moment on, Bridget tried to stop people from offending Jesus.
Her mother died c.1315 when the girl was about twelve years old, and she was raised and educated by an equally pious aunt. As she entered her teens she hoped to enter a religious order. But Bridget’s father opposed the idea of her entering a convent.
In 1316, at age thirteen, Bridget wed prince Ulfo of Nercia in an arranged marriage. Fortunately, her husband was similarly devout in his faith. Both joined the Third Order in order to strengthen themselves in the works of piety and the practice of penance.
God blessed their marriage with eight children, including Saint Catherine of Sweden; some of the other children ignored the Church. Known as a devoted mother to four sons and four daughters, she refused to use physical discipline on them. Bridget made it her sacred duty to raise them in the fear of God.
Outside the castle, she became known for her works of charity, particularly toward unwed mothers and their children. It is said that she even arranged for a hospital to be built on their estate. The hospital was open to all.
Word of Bridget’s piety and charitable works spread throughout Sweden, and she befriended prominent theologians and clerics. Chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur in 1335, from which position she counseled and guided the Queen and King Magnus II.
In the early 1340s Bridget and her husband made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Bridget’s husband fell ill on the way home at Arras. St Denis then appeared to Bridget at night and assured her that her husband would recover. He also foretold events which would take place in their lives.
Ulf soon afterwards entered the Cistercian monastery of Alvastra, where he died in the odor of sanctity in 1344.
By now in her early 40s, Bridget devoted herself to religious work in earnest. She divided her estate among her children and the poor, clothed herself in a coarse garment with a cord for a girdle, and began to lead a very austere life.
She pursued a religious life, for which she was harassed by others at the court. She eventually renounced her title of princess. She became a Franciscan tertiary and a Cistercian.
She was a Mystic, visionary, and a mystical writer. She recorded the revelations given her in her visions, and these became hugely popular in the Middle Ages.
She founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines) at Vadstena, Sweden in 1346. She claimed that Christ had told her in a vision that its mission was to plant a “a new vineyard.”
When Bridget learned of an epidemic in Rome, she made a pilgrimage there to assist the sick and dying. While in Rome, she spoke out against the injustices she saw and worked to change situations that kept all people from living a good life. Her words and actions influenced government and Church officials, even the pope!
Bridget made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to see the places where Jesus taught, died, and rose from the dead. During her pilgrimage Bridget experienced Christ’s presence in prayer visions.
Chastened and counseled kings and Popes Clement VI, Gregory XI, and Urban VI, urging each to return to Rome from Avignon. She encouraged all who would listen to meditate on the Passion, and of Jesus Crucified.
A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, affected her health. Upon her return to Italy she was stricken with a grievous illness, which afflicted her for an entire year. Having foretold the day of her death, she passed into the joys of eternity on July 23, 1373, at the age of 71 years.
In 1999, Bridget, Saints Catherine of Siena and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, were named co-patronesses of Europe.
“There is no sinner in the world, however much at enmity with God, who cannot recover God’s grace by recourse to Mary, and by asking her assistance.”
“To write well and speak well is mere vanity if one does not live well.”
“The world would have peace if only men of politics would follow the Gospels.”
“True wisdom, then, consists in works, not in great talents, which the world admires; for the wise in the world’s estimation . . . are the foolish who set at naught the will of God, and know not how to control their passions.”
“The source of justice is not vengeance but charity.”
“Let everyone who has the grace of intelligence fear that, because of it, he will be judged more heavily if he is negligent.”
“O Lord, make haste and illumine the night. Say to my soul that nothing happens without You permitting it, and that nothing of what You permit is without comfort. O Jesus, Son of God, You Who were silent in the presence of Your accusers, restrain my tongue until I find what should say and how to say it. Show me the way and make me ready to follow it. It is dangerous to delay, yet perilous to go forward. Answer my petition and show me the way. As the wounded go to the doctor in search of aid, so do I come to You. O Lord, give Your peace to my heart. Amen.” – Saint Bridget
Feast of St. Bridget of Sweden.
She is the patron saint of windows.
Bridget was born in 1303 at Finsta Castle, Uppsala, Sweden. She was the daughter of Birger Persson, the governor and provincial judge of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter.
Her father was one of the greatest landowners in the country, her mother was known widely for her piety, and the family were descendants of the Swedish royal house. Her father went to confession every Friday and made long and arduous pilgrimages as far away as the Holy Land.
At the age of seven she began to experience mystical revelations; in one vision, she claimed, the Virgin Mary came to her and placed a crown on her head.
When she was only ten, it is recorded that she had a vision of Jesus on the cross and heard him say, “Look at me, my daughter.” “Who has treated you like this?” cried little Bridget. Jesus answered, “Those who despise me and refuse my love for them.” From that moment on, Bridget tried to stop people from offending Jesus.
Her mother died c.1315 when the girl was about twelve years old, and she was raised and educated by an equally pious aunt. As she entered her teens she hoped to enter a religious order. But Bridget’s father opposed the idea of her entering a convent.
In 1316, at age thirteen, Bridget wed prince Ulfo of Nercia in an arranged marriage. Fortunately, her husband was similarly devout in his faith. Both joined the Third Order in order to strengthen themselves in the works of piety and the practice of penance.
God blessed their marriage with eight children, including Saint Catherine of Sweden; some of the other children ignored the Church. Known as a devoted mother to four sons and four daughters, she refused to use physical discipline on them. Bridget made it her sacred duty to raise them in the fear of God.
Outside the castle, she became known for her works of charity, particularly toward unwed mothers and their children. It is said that she even arranged for a hospital to be built on their estate. The hospital was open to all.
Word of Bridget’s piety and charitable works spread throughout Sweden, and she befriended prominent theologians and clerics. Chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur in 1335, from which position she counseled and guided the Queen and King Magnus II.
In the early 1340s Bridget and her husband made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Bridget’s husband fell ill on the way home at Arras. St Denis then appeared to Bridget at night and assured her that her husband would recover. He also foretold events which would take place in their lives.
Ulf soon afterwards entered the Cistercian monastery of Alvastra, where he died in the odor of sanctity in 1344.
By now in her early 40s, Bridget devoted herself to religious work in earnest. She divided her estate among her children and the poor, clothed herself in a coarse garment with a cord for a girdle, and began to lead a very austere life.
She pursued a religious life, for which she was harassed by others at the court. She eventually renounced her title of princess. She became a Franciscan tertiary and a Cistercian.
She was a Mystic, visionary, and a mystical writer. She recorded the revelations given her in her visions, and these became hugely popular in the Middle Ages.
She founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines) at Vadstena, Sweden in 1346. She claimed that Christ had told her in a vision that its mission was to plant a “a new vineyard.”
When Bridget learned of an epidemic in Rome, she made a pilgrimage there to assist the sick and dying. While in Rome, she spoke out against the injustices she saw and worked to change situations that kept all people from living a good life. Her words and actions influenced government and Church officials, even the pope!
Bridget made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to see the places where Jesus taught, died, and rose from the dead. During her pilgrimage Bridget experienced Christ’s presence in prayer visions.
Chastened and counseled kings and Popes Clement VI, Gregory XI, and Urban VI, urging each to return to Rome from Avignon. She encouraged all who would listen to meditate on the Passion, and of Jesus Crucified.
A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, affected her health. Upon her return to Italy she was stricken with a grievous illness, which afflicted her for an entire year. Having foretold the day of her death, she passed into the joys of eternity on July 23, 1373, at the age of 71 years.
In 1999, Bridget, Saints Catherine of Siena and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, were named co-patronesses of Europe.
“There is no sinner in the world, however much at enmity with God, who cannot recover God’s grace by recourse to Mary, and by asking her assistance.”
“To write well and speak well is mere vanity if one does not live well.”
“The world would have peace if only men of politics would follow the Gospels.”
“True wisdom, then, consists in works, not in great talents, which the world admires; for the wise in the world’s estimation . . . are the foolish who set at naught the will of God, and know not how to control their passions.”
“The source of justice is not vengeance but charity.”
“Let everyone who has the grace of intelligence fear that, because of it, he will be judged more heavily if he is negligent.”
“O Lord, make haste and illumine the night. Say to my soul that nothing happens without You permitting it, and that nothing of what You permit is without comfort. O Jesus, Son of God, You Who were silent in the presence of Your accusers, restrain my tongue until I find what should say and how to say it. Show me the way and make me ready to follow it. It is dangerous to delay, yet perilous to go forward. Answer my petition and show me the way. As the wounded go to the doctor in search of aid, so do I come to You. O Lord, give Your peace to my heart. Amen.” – Saint Bridget
Close
July 23
Saint Bridget of Sweden
July 24
Daily Saints – 24 July.
Feast of Saint Christina the Astonishing.
She is the patron saint against insanity, madness, mental disorders, mental handicaps or mental illness, lunatics, mentally ill people, mental health caregivers, professionals, psychiatrists and therapists.
Christina Mirabilis was born in Belgium, sometime during the year 1150. She was the youngest of three daughters, and her parents were devoutly religious people. Christina and her sisters lost their parents when Christina was only 15.
Christina was very devout and did the best she could to get to Mass and the sacraments as often as she could. However, to take care of herself, she took a position as a shepherdess taking care of sheep. The long hours sometimes interfered with her getting to Mass.
Shortly after she turned twenty-one, she suffered a massive seizure. When people found her lying in the field, she was limp and unresponsive. It seemed as if she was not breathing. Everyone assumed that Christina had died. A funeral was planned and held at the local parish.
The Mass had only started when Christina suddenly woke up. She stood up as if nothing had happened. She was unaware of where she was and saw a crowd of people staring at her. Frightened, she began levitating and floated up to the church ceiling.
After a while, she came back down. The people were speechless and the priest, sensing the spirituality of the moment, went over to her. He reached out to her and asked her if she was all right.
She told him that she had been to Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. She also told him that she had levitated to get away from the stench of all the sins within the people there.
She went on to say that God had given her a choice: either she could remain dead and go to Heaven, or remain on earth and do penance for the poor souls in Purgatory. She chose to stay, and that was the point in time she awoke.
From that moment on, Christina’s only focus in life was to rescue as many departed souls as possible and to convert living sinners back to God.
Christina embraced severe poverty as a way of life. She rejected all comforts of life. Her clothes were old and tattered, and she hid from people as much as possible. She would even climb trees or hide in closets and ovens and all sorts of strange places to avoid others. She also was continually on a quest to increase the penance she felt she must endure.
It was reported that she was seen intentionally throwing herself into fires, remaining in the flames, screaming in pain, only to come out completely unscathed.
In winter, she would get into the freezing waters of a nearby river and stay in there for hours on end. She even allowed herself to get sucked into the water wheels of the nearby mills and get spun around. As horrendous as all of this might seem, she was never harmed.
There was mixed opinions about Christina. Was she insane? Was she possessed? Or was she truly a holy woman who was sent to warn people about the fires of Purgatory? She was jailed twice for her actions albeit only briefly. Upon her release the second time she joined a Dominican monastery.
Catherine’s convent testified that no matter how bizarre or excessive Christina’s reported actions, she was always completely obedient to the orders of the prioresses of the convent. Christina was a friend of Louis, Count of Looz, whose castle she visited, and whose actions she rebuked.
Her reputation spread far and wide and rulers and holy people from other countries came to her for advice. She lived there the rest of her life dying at the age of 74 on 24 July 1224 at Saint Catherine’s convent, Sint-Truiden, Belgium.
Feast of Saint Christina the Astonishing.
She is the patron saint against insanity, madness, mental disorders, mental handicaps or mental illness, lunatics, mentally ill people, mental health caregivers, professionals, psychiatrists and therapists.
Christina Mirabilis was born in Belgium, sometime during the year 1150. She was the youngest of three daughters, and her parents were devoutly religious people. Christina and her sisters lost their parents when Christina was only 15.
Christina was very devout and did the best she could to get to Mass and the sacraments as often as she could. However, to take care of herself, she took a position as a shepherdess taking care of sheep. The long hours sometimes interfered with her getting to Mass.
Shortly after she turned twenty-one, she suffered a massive seizure. When people found her lying in the field, she was limp and unresponsive. It seemed as if she was not breathing. Everyone assumed that Christina had died. A funeral was planned and held at the local parish.
The Mass had only started when Christina suddenly woke up. She stood up as if nothing had happened. She was unaware of where she was and saw a crowd of people staring at her. Frightened, she began levitating and floated up to the church ceiling.
After a while, she came back down. The people were speechless and the priest, sensing the spirituality of the moment, went over to her. He reached out to her and asked her if she was all right.
She told him that she had been to Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. She also told him that she had levitated to get away from the stench of all the sins within the people there.
She went on to say that God had given her a choice: either she could remain dead and go to Heaven, or remain on earth and do penance for the poor souls in Purgatory. She chose to stay, and that was the point in time she awoke.
From that moment on, Christina’s only focus in life was to rescue as many departed souls as possible and to convert living sinners back to God.
Christina embraced severe poverty as a way of life. She rejected all comforts of life. Her clothes were old and tattered, and she hid from people as much as possible. She would even climb trees or hide in closets and ovens and all sorts of strange places to avoid others. She also was continually on a quest to increase the penance she felt she must endure.
It was reported that she was seen intentionally throwing herself into fires, remaining in the flames, screaming in pain, only to come out completely unscathed.
In winter, she would get into the freezing waters of a nearby river and stay in there for hours on end. She even allowed herself to get sucked into the water wheels of the nearby mills and get spun around. As horrendous as all of this might seem, she was never harmed.
There was mixed opinions about Christina. Was she insane? Was she possessed? Or was she truly a holy woman who was sent to warn people about the fires of Purgatory? She was jailed twice for her actions albeit only briefly. Upon her release the second time she joined a Dominican monastery.
Catherine’s convent testified that no matter how bizarre or excessive Christina’s reported actions, she was always completely obedient to the orders of the prioresses of the convent. Christina was a friend of Louis, Count of Looz, whose castle she visited, and whose actions she rebuked.
Her reputation spread far and wide and rulers and holy people from other countries came to her for advice. She lived there the rest of her life dying at the age of 74 on 24 July 1224 at Saint Catherine’s convent, Sint-Truiden, Belgium.
Close
July 24
Saint Christina the Astonishing
July 25
Daily Saints – 25 July.
Feast of St. James the Greater.
He is the patron saint of apothecaries, druggists or pharmacists, arthritis and rheumatism sufferers, blacksmiths, equestrians, horsemen, riders, furriers, knights, laborers, pilgrims, soldiers, tanners, veterinarians and against arthritis or rheumatism.
James was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of Saint John the Apostle, and may have been Jesus’ cousin. John and James were followers of John the Baptist and later, Jesus.
James is called “the Greater” simply because he became an Apostle before Saint James the Lesser. It is also said that the title “the Greater” was added to St. James’ name to help distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Less,” who is believed to have been shorter than James “the Greater.”
His parents seem to have been people of means. Zebedee, his father, was a fisherman of the Sea of Galilee, who probably lived in or near Bethsaida, present Galilee, Israel, perhaps in Capernaum, and had some boatmen or hired men.
Salome, his mother, was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and “ministered unto him of their substance”, and his brother John was personally known to the high-priest, and must have had the wherewithal to provide for the Mother of Jesus.
It is probable that his brother had not received the technical training of the rabbinical schools; in this sense they were unlearned and without any official position among the Jews.
But, according to the social rank of their parents, they must have been men of ordinary education, in the common walks of Jewish life.
James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus.
The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him [Mt. 4:21-22; Mk. 1:19-20].
“He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20).
James was one of the favored three who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemani.
Two incidents in the Gospels describe the temperament of this man and his brother. Saint Matthew tells that their mother came—Mark says it was the brothers themselves—to ask that they have the seats of honor in the kingdom.
“Jesus said in reply, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We can’” (Matthew 20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink the cup and share his baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was not his to give—it “is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” (Matthew 20:23b). It remained to be seen how long it would take to realize the implications of their confident “We can!”
On another occasion, James and John gave evidence that the nickname Jesus gave them—“sons of thunder”—was an apt one. The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them…” (Luke 9:54-55).
The Acts of the Apostles records that “Herod the king” (traditionally identified with Herod Agrippa) had James executed by the sword. He is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament. He is, thus, traditionally believed to be the first of the twelve apostles martyred for his faith [Acts 12:1-2].
It is said that following Christ’s Ascension, James spread the Gospel across Israel and the Roman kingdom as well. He traveled and spread the Word for nearly forty years in Spain.
It is believed that one day, as he prayed, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and asked him to build her a church, which he did. According to this legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on the bank of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta. She appeared upon a pillar, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, and that pillar is conserved and venerated within the present Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, in Zaragoza, Spain.
Later, James returned to Jerusalem but was martyred for his faith by King Herod (King Herod Agrippa I), who decapitated him in 44 at Jerusalem. As he was not allowed to be buried following his martyrdom, his remains were taken to Compostela, Spain, by some of his followers, who buried him.
According to legend, his body, along with his followers, sailed to the Iberian Peninsula on a rudderless ship with no sail. Landing on the northwest coast of the peninsula they proceeded up the River Ulla to land at Iria Flavia, (modern-day Padron).
The Celtic Queen Lupia ruled these lands, and when asked by James’ followers if they could bury his body she refused and sent troops after them. While chasing the followers of James with his body across a bridge, it collapsed, killing her troops.
Queen Lupia then converted to Christianity and provided an ox and cart for the followers of James to transport the body. Unsure of where they should bury the sacred remains, his followers prayed on this and decided to let the ox continue until it chose a place to rest.
After pausing at a stream the ox finally came to rest under an oak tree at the top of a hill. It’s here that the Cathedral of Santiago stands today.
During the celebrated battle of Clavijo, he suddenly appeared on a milk-white charger, waving aloft a white standard, and leading the Christians to victory.
This manifestation was a response to the soldiers’ invocation of his name, “Sant lago!”, as the battle-cry of the day. Hence, the name of the ancient city (Santiago) where the cathedral was founded in his honour.
Feast of St. James the Greater.
He is the patron saint of apothecaries, druggists or pharmacists, arthritis and rheumatism sufferers, blacksmiths, equestrians, horsemen, riders, furriers, knights, laborers, pilgrims, soldiers, tanners, veterinarians and against arthritis or rheumatism.
James was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of Saint John the Apostle, and may have been Jesus’ cousin. John and James were followers of John the Baptist and later, Jesus.
James is called “the Greater” simply because he became an Apostle before Saint James the Lesser. It is also said that the title “the Greater” was added to St. James’ name to help distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Less,” who is believed to have been shorter than James “the Greater.”
His parents seem to have been people of means. Zebedee, his father, was a fisherman of the Sea of Galilee, who probably lived in or near Bethsaida, present Galilee, Israel, perhaps in Capernaum, and had some boatmen or hired men.
Salome, his mother, was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and “ministered unto him of their substance”, and his brother John was personally known to the high-priest, and must have had the wherewithal to provide for the Mother of Jesus.
It is probable that his brother had not received the technical training of the rabbinical schools; in this sense they were unlearned and without any official position among the Jews.
But, according to the social rank of their parents, they must have been men of ordinary education, in the common walks of Jewish life.
James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus.
The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him [Mt. 4:21-22; Mk. 1:19-20].
“He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20).
James was one of the favored three who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemani.
Two incidents in the Gospels describe the temperament of this man and his brother. Saint Matthew tells that their mother came—Mark says it was the brothers themselves—to ask that they have the seats of honor in the kingdom.
“Jesus said in reply, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We can’” (Matthew 20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink the cup and share his baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was not his to give—it “is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” (Matthew 20:23b). It remained to be seen how long it would take to realize the implications of their confident “We can!”
On another occasion, James and John gave evidence that the nickname Jesus gave them—“sons of thunder”—was an apt one. The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them…” (Luke 9:54-55).
The Acts of the Apostles records that “Herod the king” (traditionally identified with Herod Agrippa) had James executed by the sword. He is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament. He is, thus, traditionally believed to be the first of the twelve apostles martyred for his faith [Acts 12:1-2].
It is said that following Christ’s Ascension, James spread the Gospel across Israel and the Roman kingdom as well. He traveled and spread the Word for nearly forty years in Spain.
It is believed that one day, as he prayed, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and asked him to build her a church, which he did. According to this legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on the bank of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta. She appeared upon a pillar, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, and that pillar is conserved and venerated within the present Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, in Zaragoza, Spain.
Later, James returned to Jerusalem but was martyred for his faith by King Herod (King Herod Agrippa I), who decapitated him in 44 at Jerusalem. As he was not allowed to be buried following his martyrdom, his remains were taken to Compostela, Spain, by some of his followers, who buried him.
According to legend, his body, along with his followers, sailed to the Iberian Peninsula on a rudderless ship with no sail. Landing on the northwest coast of the peninsula they proceeded up the River Ulla to land at Iria Flavia, (modern-day Padron).
The Celtic Queen Lupia ruled these lands, and when asked by James’ followers if they could bury his body she refused and sent troops after them. While chasing the followers of James with his body across a bridge, it collapsed, killing her troops.
Queen Lupia then converted to Christianity and provided an ox and cart for the followers of James to transport the body. Unsure of where they should bury the sacred remains, his followers prayed on this and decided to let the ox continue until it chose a place to rest.
After pausing at a stream the ox finally came to rest under an oak tree at the top of a hill. It’s here that the Cathedral of Santiago stands today.
During the celebrated battle of Clavijo, he suddenly appeared on a milk-white charger, waving aloft a white standard, and leading the Christians to victory.
This manifestation was a response to the soldiers’ invocation of his name, “Sant lago!”, as the battle-cry of the day. Hence, the name of the ancient city (Santiago) where the cathedral was founded in his honour.
Close
July 25
Saint James the Greater
July 26
Daily Saints – 26 July.
Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As Joachim and Ann are the grandparents of Jesus, today has traditionally been a day to honor one’s grandparents.
St. Anne is the patron saint of broommakers, cabinetmakers, carpenters, childless people, equestrians, expectant mothers; pregnant women, grandmothers, grandparents, homemakers, horse men and women, housewives; homemakers, lace makers or workers, lost articles, miners, mothers, old-clothes dealers, poor people, pregnancy, riders, seamstresses, stablemen, turners, women in labour and against poverty, against sterility or infertility.
St. Joachim is the patron saint of fathers, grandfathers, grandparents.
The New Testament contains no specific information about the lives of the Virgin Mary’s parents, but other documents outside of the Biblical canon do provide some details, especially “Protoevangelium of James”.
According to tradition, Anne was born in Bethlehem, and married Joachim of Nazareth, both descendants of David. In the ‘Protoevangelium of James’, Joachim is described as a rich and pious man, who regularly gave to the poor and to the synagogue at Sepphoris.
Tradition holds that these saints struggled with infertility and were childless for decades. Like other barren couples in Scripture (eg. Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah), sterility was a great burden to Joachim and Anne and even a hindrance to their participation in community life.
Tradition has it that the parents of the Blessed Virgin, who, apparently, first lived in Galilee, came later on to settle in Jerusalem. However, the high priest rejected Joachim and his sacrifice, as their childlessness was interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure.
Joachim consequently withdrew to the desert where he fasted and did penance for forty days. Angels then appeared to both Joachim and Anne to promise them a child. Joachim later returned to Jerusalem and embraced Anne at the city gate.
Months later, Mary, our Blessed Mother, was born. Tradition tells us that when Mary was three years old, Anne and Joachim took her to the temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her for special service to the Lord. We call this celebration the “Presentation of the Virgin Mary.” It means that Mary was to play an important part in God’s loving plan for the world.
There was ancient belief that a child born of an elderly mother who had given up hope of having offspring was destined for great things.
Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As Joachim and Ann are the grandparents of Jesus, today has traditionally been a day to honor one’s grandparents.
St. Anne is the patron saint of broommakers, cabinetmakers, carpenters, childless people, equestrians, expectant mothers; pregnant women, grandmothers, grandparents, homemakers, horse men and women, housewives; homemakers, lace makers or workers, lost articles, miners, mothers, old-clothes dealers, poor people, pregnancy, riders, seamstresses, stablemen, turners, women in labour and against poverty, against sterility or infertility.
St. Joachim is the patron saint of fathers, grandfathers, grandparents.
The New Testament contains no specific information about the lives of the Virgin Mary’s parents, but other documents outside of the Biblical canon do provide some details, especially “Protoevangelium of James”.
According to tradition, Anne was born in Bethlehem, and married Joachim of Nazareth, both descendants of David. In the ‘Protoevangelium of James’, Joachim is described as a rich and pious man, who regularly gave to the poor and to the synagogue at Sepphoris.
Tradition holds that these saints struggled with infertility and were childless for decades. Like other barren couples in Scripture (eg. Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah), sterility was a great burden to Joachim and Anne and even a hindrance to their participation in community life.
Tradition has it that the parents of the Blessed Virgin, who, apparently, first lived in Galilee, came later on to settle in Jerusalem. However, the high priest rejected Joachim and his sacrifice, as their childlessness was interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure.
Joachim consequently withdrew to the desert where he fasted and did penance for forty days. Angels then appeared to both Joachim and Anne to promise them a child. Joachim later returned to Jerusalem and embraced Anne at the city gate.
Months later, Mary, our Blessed Mother, was born. Tradition tells us that when Mary was three years old, Anne and Joachim took her to the temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her for special service to the Lord. We call this celebration the “Presentation of the Virgin Mary.” It means that Mary was to play an important part in God’s loving plan for the world.
There was ancient belief that a child born of an elderly mother who had given up hope of having offspring was destined for great things.
Close
July 26
Saints Joachim and Anne
July 27
Daily Saints – 27 July.
Feast of Saint Panteleon.
He is the patron saint against consumption or tuberculosis, bachelors, doctors, physicians, midwives, torture victims, against headaches, locusts, witchcraft, accidents and loneliness, helper for crying children.
Pantaleon was born in c 275 in the city of Nicodemia, now Izmit, in northern Turkey near the Black Sea. His mother, Eubula, was a devout Christian while his father, Eustorgius, did not convert until much later.
Sadly, Eubula died while Pantaleon was still quite young. While he had been exposed to Christianity, Pantaleon did not practice his faith. His father Eustorgus, sent him to study under a famous physician, and eventually he was appointed royal physician to the court of Emperor Maximian.
In the court he met a holy Priest named Hermolaus, who became his advisor and friend. Hermolaos made him realize what a sin he had committed.
Hermolaus told him that although the famous physicians of ancient times knew how to cure bodies, Jesus Christ was a far more excellent physician, able to cure not only bodies, but souls, by His divine doctrine.
In the course of his work, Pantaleon then experienced a miraculous healing, saving a child from certain death after being bitten by a viper. Needing no further proof of the power of the Lord, he was baptized.
Pantaleon undertook a rigorous course of study of his new faith. He subsequently cured a man of blindness. When his father, heard of his son’s healings, he also became a Christian.
When his father, died, Saint Pantaleon liberated all his slaves on the family estate, sold most of his possessions, and gave the money to the freed slaves and the poor.
In the meantime, he imitated Our Lord’s charity by taking care of poor sick people, treated them medically, and never charged. Some of his cures were miraculous, being accomplished by prayer.
Pantaleon cured other illnesses and soon became renowned in Nicodemia. His success as a doctor attracted the jealousy of other physicians who denounced him as a Christian.
When the Emperor Diocletian began his persecution, Pantaleon at once gave away everything he owned to the poor. Not long afterwards, he was accused of being a Christian. He was given the choice of denying his Faith or being put to death.
At trial he offered a contest to see whose prayers would cure the incurable – his or the pagan priests’. The pagans failed to help the man, a palsied paralytic, but Pantaleon cured the man by mentioning the name Jesus and many of the witnesses converted.
The authorities tried to bribe him to denounce the faith, but failed. They then threatened him, that also failed. They followed up the threats with torture. When that failed, he was nailed to a tree and beheaded in c.305. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Feast of Saint Panteleon.
He is the patron saint against consumption or tuberculosis, bachelors, doctors, physicians, midwives, torture victims, against headaches, locusts, witchcraft, accidents and loneliness, helper for crying children.
Pantaleon was born in c 275 in the city of Nicodemia, now Izmit, in northern Turkey near the Black Sea. His mother, Eubula, was a devout Christian while his father, Eustorgius, did not convert until much later.
Sadly, Eubula died while Pantaleon was still quite young. While he had been exposed to Christianity, Pantaleon did not practice his faith. His father Eustorgus, sent him to study under a famous physician, and eventually he was appointed royal physician to the court of Emperor Maximian.
In the court he met a holy Priest named Hermolaus, who became his advisor and friend. Hermolaos made him realize what a sin he had committed.
Hermolaus told him that although the famous physicians of ancient times knew how to cure bodies, Jesus Christ was a far more excellent physician, able to cure not only bodies, but souls, by His divine doctrine.
In the course of his work, Pantaleon then experienced a miraculous healing, saving a child from certain death after being bitten by a viper. Needing no further proof of the power of the Lord, he was baptized.
Pantaleon undertook a rigorous course of study of his new faith. He subsequently cured a man of blindness. When his father, heard of his son’s healings, he also became a Christian.
When his father, died, Saint Pantaleon liberated all his slaves on the family estate, sold most of his possessions, and gave the money to the freed slaves and the poor.
In the meantime, he imitated Our Lord’s charity by taking care of poor sick people, treated them medically, and never charged. Some of his cures were miraculous, being accomplished by prayer.
Pantaleon cured other illnesses and soon became renowned in Nicodemia. His success as a doctor attracted the jealousy of other physicians who denounced him as a Christian.
When the Emperor Diocletian began his persecution, Pantaleon at once gave away everything he owned to the poor. Not long afterwards, he was accused of being a Christian. He was given the choice of denying his Faith or being put to death.
At trial he offered a contest to see whose prayers would cure the incurable – his or the pagan priests’. The pagans failed to help the man, a palsied paralytic, but Pantaleon cured the man by mentioning the name Jesus and many of the witnesses converted.
The authorities tried to bribe him to denounce the faith, but failed. They then threatened him, that also failed. They followed up the threats with torture. When that failed, he was nailed to a tree and beheaded in c.305. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Close
July 27
Saint Panteleon
July 28
Daily Saints – 28 July.
Feast of St. Alphonsa.
She is the patron saint of sick people and against bodily ills, against illness, against sickness, against the death of parents, diseases related to feet.
Alphonsa was born in Kudamalur, Kerala, India, on 19 August 1910, of the ancient and noble family of Muttathupadathu. She was the last of five children born to Joseph and Mary.
Her mother, Maria Puthukari, gave birth to her prematurely, in her eight month of pregnancy, as a result of a fright she received when, during the sleep, a snake wrapped itself around her waist.
Eight days later, the 28 of August, the child was baptised according to the Syro-Malabar rite by the Fr. Joseph Chackalayil, and she received the name Annakutty, a diminutive of Anne.
Anna’s mother died leaving 3 months old child. After her mother’s death, young Annakutty was first sent to live with her grandparents in Elumparambil. Her mother’s absence affected her deeply, and the new family atmosphere and interactions with others disrupted her family life.
Her grandmother often took her to the Holy Mass, even during the week, and taught her the basics of the Catholic faith. The young Annakutty learned many of the basic prayers of the Catholic Church and began to lead the family’s evening prayer by the time she was five.
At age 3 she contracted an infected eczema from which she suffered for over a year.
She made her first Communion on 27 November 1917. She used to say to her friends: “Do you know why I am so particularly happy today? It is because I have Jesus in my heart!”
When her fourth grade elementary education ended in 1920, Annakutty was transferred to Muttachira, and then went to live with her aunt, Anna Murickal. Her aunt, who was her new guardian, was a very strict disciplinarian, who was very demanding and expected her to obey all matters great and small.
Anna Murickal was a very religious person, and through her example, Annakutty became even more dedicated to her faith, and began to spend time with the Carmelite nuns.
Impressed by the life story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who also lost her mother at a young age, Annakutty resolved to model herself after her, and she sought to become a saint herself through prayer and penance.
In the meantime, Annakutty grew beautiful, both inside and out. Many young men wanted to marry her, and she began to receive numerous marriage proposals.
Annakutty’s aunt worked relentlessly to find her a suitable husband, but Annakutty showed no interest in marriage. She felt that her calling was to become a religious sister.
Against her wishes, at the age of twelve, Annakutty’s aunt and uncle set a wedding date for her to marry a young man from a reputed family. Annakutty came to know about her marriage only when her aunt and uncle informed her of the date of the engagement.
When she found out about her engagement, she went to her uncle and pleaded with him, and asked him not to go through with it. Her uncle was more understanding of his niece’s desires and wishes in life, that she wanted to be a religious nun. He tried to influence his wife to go along with their niece’s wish.
Anna thought her physical beauty or attractiveness was the cause of her adopted parents’ push for her to get married. So she began to think of ways to destroy her physical beauty.
She thought about ancient saints who had experienced similar struggles in their lives, and how they managed to survive them. She went to a nearby fire pit, where people burned chaffs and husks. She decided to burn just one of her feet, so that she would not be able to walk to the church for the engagement.
While sitting on the edge of the pit, thinking and praying, she accidentally slipped in, burning her feet and legs, as well as her skirt and the ends of her hair.
She tried to get back home to change her clothes so that her aunt and uncle would not find out what had happened; but on her way, she fainted. It took several months of recovery before she regained her ability to walk.
Even though Annakutty became the victim of so much misfortune and disfigurement, her aunt still wanted her to get married. At this time, her uncle intervened and convinced her to allow Annakutty to enter into a religious life, which was what she always wanted.
With much hesitation, her aunt allowed her to try the religious life. With their permission, Annakutty joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.
It was Fr. James Muricken, her confessor, who directed her towards Franciscan spirituality and put her in contact with the Congregation of the Franciscan Clarists.
On August 2, 1928, she began her postulancy, as a candidate seeking admission into a religious order; and she took the name of the saint of the day, Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Since then, she has become known as Sister Alphonsa.
During her postulancy, Alphonsa was allowed to visit her home occasionally. Her aunt still had not given up the idea of marriage for her niece. When Alphonsa visited her home for the first time during her postulancy, she saw a goldsmith on the porch making ornaments for her marriage.
Her aunt once again insisted that she was already promised in marriage, and that it would be practically impossible to back down. At this time, her uncle, who knew that Alphonsa absolutely did not want marry, and that she wanted to lead a religious life, stepped in and intervened in the matter and told his wife not to pursue marriage for their niece anymore.
After her postulancy, Alphonsa took her brown habit of her order as her religious clothing. Ever since her burn pit incident, she had been suffering from numerous bodily ailments.
Though in constant pain, she taught in a High School at Vazhappally in 1932, and developed a deep relationship of love and care with her students.
When Alphonsa became further ill, her students visited and checked on her constantly, and offered her help when needed. They also requested Alphonsa’s prayers and advice in their lives as well.
It was said that those who came to her for advice found her guidance uplifting and profound, and her prayers on their behalf were quickly answered.
However, due to her constant illness, she was relieved of her teaching job. She was reassigned as an assistant teacher, catechist, and secretary for the school.
Her religious superiors delayed Alphonsa’s entrance into the novitiate, the period or state of being a novice, until August 12, 1935, because of her frequent illnesses, though her novitiate should have begun in 1934.
Only a week into her novitiate, she once again deteriorated into illness, hemorrhaging from her nose and eyes, and with open wounds on her legs. With much difficulty and struggle, on August 12, 1936, Alphonsa made her final (perpetual) vows with the Clarist Sisters of the Syro-Malabar Rite.
In December 1936 she was miraculously cured from her ailments through the intervention of St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
Jesus, however, wished to lead His spouse to perfection through a life of suffering. Painful illnesses followed each other: typhoid fever, double pneumonia, and, the most serious of all, a dramatic nervous shock, the result of a fright on seeing a thief during the night of the 18th of October 1940.
Her state of psychic incapacity lasted for about a year, during which she was unable to read or write.
In every situation, Sister Alphonsa always maintained a great reservation and charitable attitude towards the Sisters, silently undergoing her sufferings.
In 1945 she had a violent outbreak of illness. A tumour, which had spread throughout her organs, transformed her final year of life into a continuous agony. Gastroenteritis and liver problems caused violent convulsions and vomiting up to forty times a day.
She wrote to her spiritual director: “Dear Father, as my good Lord Jesus loves me so very much, I sincerely desire to remain on this sick bed and suffer not only this, but anything else besides, even to the end of the world. I feel now that God has intended my life to be an oblation, a sacrifice of suffering.”
Alphonsa had sickness and pain as her companions of life. The bed of thorns, and acute pain never discouraged her instead it helped her to rejoice in the Lord and to praise Him. She realized that suffering is good and valuable for her own growth in holiness and that of the world.
She became a little ambassador among her companions and novices and encouraged them to embrace suffering cheerfully.
It was said that Alphonsa had the gift of prophecy. In a reported vision of St. Therese, the Little Flower, Alphonsa was told that she would not suffer from contagious diseases, but that she would continue to suffer in some way throughout the remainder of her life.
There is a story about Alphonsa that says that she asked God to remove the malaria from a Bishop and a teaching sister and put those symptoms on her as part of her suffering. The story is that God answered her prayers and she became the bearer of those illnesses.
She received extreme unction on 29 September 1941. The next day it is believed that she regained her memory, though not complete health.
Her health improved over the next few years, until in July 1945 she developed a stomach problem that caused vomiting. She died on 28 July 1946, at the age of 35 in the convent of the Franciscan Clarists at Bharananganam at 12.30.
“Whatever you do, do it for the love of Jesus. Don’t work only to please your superiors.”
“I feel that the Lord has destined me to be an oblation, a sacrifice of suffering… I consider a day in which I have not suffered as a day lost to me”.
“Jesus shows us His love, by giving us crosses. He sends crosses and sorrows only to those whom He loves. As for me, suffering is delightful. I consider that day when I don’t have the chance to suffer, as a day which is lost.”
“It seems, I was entrusted with a part of the cross of Christ. There are abundant occasions of suffering… I have a great desire to suffer with joy. It seems that my Spouse wishes to fulfil this desire”.
“I do not wish to act or speak according to my inclinations. Every time I fail, I will do penance… I want to be careful never to reject anyone. I will only speak sweet words to others. I want to control my eyes with rigour. I will ask pardon of the Lord for every little failure and I will atone for it through penance. No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus”
“The leaves that are put at the base of the plants decay to become manure for it. Then new flowers blossom on it which adds joy to human heart. But who bothers about that foliage that have become manure for the plant? I prefer always to become the manure.”
“When the grains of wheat are crushed and ground, wheat flour is obtained. We bake it to form the host for the Holy Eucharist. Similarly we too should be crushed in the mill of suffering and transformed to become like hosts.”
“The grapes are crushed in the wine press to get juice. When we preserve and purify this juice, it becomes inebriating wine. Even so, we mature into spiritual fortitude when purified through miseries and sufferings.”
“Words cannot communicate the ineffable joy of the success of forgiving. When I share my pain and affliction with others, I might get some worldly consolation. But what is the use of that? All complaints are to be narrated only before my Lord. I shall try not to hamper it.”
“I have the deep conviction that whatever misunderstandings happen in my community life, God has ordained some people to affect my life so that I may progress to higher perfection.”
“I have chosen novel flowers of sufferings and mortification to offer to my beloved Lord each day. I shall try to collect more and more flowers daily.”
“The Food I relish most is the Holy Eucharist. Ineffable joy wells up my soul every time the Lord who said ‘I am the Living Bread’ descends into me.”
“The only thing I wish for in this life is to bear suffering for the sake of God’s love and to rejoice in it. I am fully convinced that the worldly pleasures are not for me.”
“O Lord Jesus, Hide me in the wound of your sacred heart,
Free me from my desire to be loved and esteemed,
Guard me from my evil attempts to win fame and honour,
Make me humble till I become a small spark in the flame of love in your Sacred Heart,
Grant me the grace to forget myself and all worldly things,
Jesus, sweet beyond words, convert all worldly consolations into bitterness for me,
O my Jesus, Sun of Justice, enlighten my intellect and mind with your sacred rays,
Purify my heart, consume me with burning love for you, and make me one with you. Amen.”
Feast of St. Alphonsa.
She is the patron saint of sick people and against bodily ills, against illness, against sickness, against the death of parents, diseases related to feet.
Alphonsa was born in Kudamalur, Kerala, India, on 19 August 1910, of the ancient and noble family of Muttathupadathu. She was the last of five children born to Joseph and Mary.
Her mother, Maria Puthukari, gave birth to her prematurely, in her eight month of pregnancy, as a result of a fright she received when, during the sleep, a snake wrapped itself around her waist.
Eight days later, the 28 of August, the child was baptised according to the Syro-Malabar rite by the Fr. Joseph Chackalayil, and she received the name Annakutty, a diminutive of Anne.
Anna’s mother died leaving 3 months old child. After her mother’s death, young Annakutty was first sent to live with her grandparents in Elumparambil. Her mother’s absence affected her deeply, and the new family atmosphere and interactions with others disrupted her family life.
Her grandmother often took her to the Holy Mass, even during the week, and taught her the basics of the Catholic faith. The young Annakutty learned many of the basic prayers of the Catholic Church and began to lead the family’s evening prayer by the time she was five.
At age 3 she contracted an infected eczema from which she suffered for over a year.
She made her first Communion on 27 November 1917. She used to say to her friends: “Do you know why I am so particularly happy today? It is because I have Jesus in my heart!”
When her fourth grade elementary education ended in 1920, Annakutty was transferred to Muttachira, and then went to live with her aunt, Anna Murickal. Her aunt, who was her new guardian, was a very strict disciplinarian, who was very demanding and expected her to obey all matters great and small.
Anna Murickal was a very religious person, and through her example, Annakutty became even more dedicated to her faith, and began to spend time with the Carmelite nuns.
Impressed by the life story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who also lost her mother at a young age, Annakutty resolved to model herself after her, and she sought to become a saint herself through prayer and penance.
In the meantime, Annakutty grew beautiful, both inside and out. Many young men wanted to marry her, and she began to receive numerous marriage proposals.
Annakutty’s aunt worked relentlessly to find her a suitable husband, but Annakutty showed no interest in marriage. She felt that her calling was to become a religious sister.
Against her wishes, at the age of twelve, Annakutty’s aunt and uncle set a wedding date for her to marry a young man from a reputed family. Annakutty came to know about her marriage only when her aunt and uncle informed her of the date of the engagement.
When she found out about her engagement, she went to her uncle and pleaded with him, and asked him not to go through with it. Her uncle was more understanding of his niece’s desires and wishes in life, that she wanted to be a religious nun. He tried to influence his wife to go along with their niece’s wish.
Anna thought her physical beauty or attractiveness was the cause of her adopted parents’ push for her to get married. So she began to think of ways to destroy her physical beauty.
She thought about ancient saints who had experienced similar struggles in their lives, and how they managed to survive them. She went to a nearby fire pit, where people burned chaffs and husks. She decided to burn just one of her feet, so that she would not be able to walk to the church for the engagement.
While sitting on the edge of the pit, thinking and praying, she accidentally slipped in, burning her feet and legs, as well as her skirt and the ends of her hair.
She tried to get back home to change her clothes so that her aunt and uncle would not find out what had happened; but on her way, she fainted. It took several months of recovery before she regained her ability to walk.
Even though Annakutty became the victim of so much misfortune and disfigurement, her aunt still wanted her to get married. At this time, her uncle intervened and convinced her to allow Annakutty to enter into a religious life, which was what she always wanted.
With much hesitation, her aunt allowed her to try the religious life. With their permission, Annakutty joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.
It was Fr. James Muricken, her confessor, who directed her towards Franciscan spirituality and put her in contact with the Congregation of the Franciscan Clarists.
On August 2, 1928, she began her postulancy, as a candidate seeking admission into a religious order; and she took the name of the saint of the day, Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Since then, she has become known as Sister Alphonsa.
During her postulancy, Alphonsa was allowed to visit her home occasionally. Her aunt still had not given up the idea of marriage for her niece. When Alphonsa visited her home for the first time during her postulancy, she saw a goldsmith on the porch making ornaments for her marriage.
Her aunt once again insisted that she was already promised in marriage, and that it would be practically impossible to back down. At this time, her uncle, who knew that Alphonsa absolutely did not want marry, and that she wanted to lead a religious life, stepped in and intervened in the matter and told his wife not to pursue marriage for their niece anymore.
After her postulancy, Alphonsa took her brown habit of her order as her religious clothing. Ever since her burn pit incident, she had been suffering from numerous bodily ailments.
Though in constant pain, she taught in a High School at Vazhappally in 1932, and developed a deep relationship of love and care with her students.
When Alphonsa became further ill, her students visited and checked on her constantly, and offered her help when needed. They also requested Alphonsa’s prayers and advice in their lives as well.
It was said that those who came to her for advice found her guidance uplifting and profound, and her prayers on their behalf were quickly answered.
However, due to her constant illness, she was relieved of her teaching job. She was reassigned as an assistant teacher, catechist, and secretary for the school.
Her religious superiors delayed Alphonsa’s entrance into the novitiate, the period or state of being a novice, until August 12, 1935, because of her frequent illnesses, though her novitiate should have begun in 1934.
Only a week into her novitiate, she once again deteriorated into illness, hemorrhaging from her nose and eyes, and with open wounds on her legs. With much difficulty and struggle, on August 12, 1936, Alphonsa made her final (perpetual) vows with the Clarist Sisters of the Syro-Malabar Rite.
In December 1936 she was miraculously cured from her ailments through the intervention of St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara.
Jesus, however, wished to lead His spouse to perfection through a life of suffering. Painful illnesses followed each other: typhoid fever, double pneumonia, and, the most serious of all, a dramatic nervous shock, the result of a fright on seeing a thief during the night of the 18th of October 1940.
Her state of psychic incapacity lasted for about a year, during which she was unable to read or write.
In every situation, Sister Alphonsa always maintained a great reservation and charitable attitude towards the Sisters, silently undergoing her sufferings.
In 1945 she had a violent outbreak of illness. A tumour, which had spread throughout her organs, transformed her final year of life into a continuous agony. Gastroenteritis and liver problems caused violent convulsions and vomiting up to forty times a day.
She wrote to her spiritual director: “Dear Father, as my good Lord Jesus loves me so very much, I sincerely desire to remain on this sick bed and suffer not only this, but anything else besides, even to the end of the world. I feel now that God has intended my life to be an oblation, a sacrifice of suffering.”
Alphonsa had sickness and pain as her companions of life. The bed of thorns, and acute pain never discouraged her instead it helped her to rejoice in the Lord and to praise Him. She realized that suffering is good and valuable for her own growth in holiness and that of the world.
She became a little ambassador among her companions and novices and encouraged them to embrace suffering cheerfully.
It was said that Alphonsa had the gift of prophecy. In a reported vision of St. Therese, the Little Flower, Alphonsa was told that she would not suffer from contagious diseases, but that she would continue to suffer in some way throughout the remainder of her life.
There is a story about Alphonsa that says that she asked God to remove the malaria from a Bishop and a teaching sister and put those symptoms on her as part of her suffering. The story is that God answered her prayers and she became the bearer of those illnesses.
She received extreme unction on 29 September 1941. The next day it is believed that she regained her memory, though not complete health.
Her health improved over the next few years, until in July 1945 she developed a stomach problem that caused vomiting. She died on 28 July 1946, at the age of 35 in the convent of the Franciscan Clarists at Bharananganam at 12.30.
“Whatever you do, do it for the love of Jesus. Don’t work only to please your superiors.”
“I feel that the Lord has destined me to be an oblation, a sacrifice of suffering… I consider a day in which I have not suffered as a day lost to me”.
“Jesus shows us His love, by giving us crosses. He sends crosses and sorrows only to those whom He loves. As for me, suffering is delightful. I consider that day when I don’t have the chance to suffer, as a day which is lost.”
“It seems, I was entrusted with a part of the cross of Christ. There are abundant occasions of suffering… I have a great desire to suffer with joy. It seems that my Spouse wishes to fulfil this desire”.
“I do not wish to act or speak according to my inclinations. Every time I fail, I will do penance… I want to be careful never to reject anyone. I will only speak sweet words to others. I want to control my eyes with rigour. I will ask pardon of the Lord for every little failure and I will atone for it through penance. No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus”
“The leaves that are put at the base of the plants decay to become manure for it. Then new flowers blossom on it which adds joy to human heart. But who bothers about that foliage that have become manure for the plant? I prefer always to become the manure.”
“When the grains of wheat are crushed and ground, wheat flour is obtained. We bake it to form the host for the Holy Eucharist. Similarly we too should be crushed in the mill of suffering and transformed to become like hosts.”
“The grapes are crushed in the wine press to get juice. When we preserve and purify this juice, it becomes inebriating wine. Even so, we mature into spiritual fortitude when purified through miseries and sufferings.”
“Words cannot communicate the ineffable joy of the success of forgiving. When I share my pain and affliction with others, I might get some worldly consolation. But what is the use of that? All complaints are to be narrated only before my Lord. I shall try not to hamper it.”
“I have the deep conviction that whatever misunderstandings happen in my community life, God has ordained some people to affect my life so that I may progress to higher perfection.”
“I have chosen novel flowers of sufferings and mortification to offer to my beloved Lord each day. I shall try to collect more and more flowers daily.”
“The Food I relish most is the Holy Eucharist. Ineffable joy wells up my soul every time the Lord who said ‘I am the Living Bread’ descends into me.”
“The only thing I wish for in this life is to bear suffering for the sake of God’s love and to rejoice in it. I am fully convinced that the worldly pleasures are not for me.”
“O Lord Jesus, Hide me in the wound of your sacred heart,
Free me from my desire to be loved and esteemed,
Guard me from my evil attempts to win fame and honour,
Make me humble till I become a small spark in the flame of love in your Sacred Heart,
Grant me the grace to forget myself and all worldly things,
Jesus, sweet beyond words, convert all worldly consolations into bitterness for me,
O my Jesus, Sun of Justice, enlighten my intellect and mind with your sacred rays,
Purify my heart, consume me with burning love for you, and make me one with you. Amen.”
Close
July 28
Saint Alphonsa
July 29
Daily Saints – 29 July.
Feast of Saint Martha of Bethany.
She is the patron saint of housewives, butlers, cooks, dieticians, domestic servants, homemakers, hotel-keepers, housemaids, innkeepers, laundry workers, maids, manservants, servants, servers, single laywomen, travellers.
Martha was from Bethany, a village a few kilometers from Jerusalem. The sister of Lazarus and Mary, she was considered diligent and meticulous; she was certainly one of the first to believe in Jesus. The Lord was often a guest in her home, especially during the time of His preaching in Jerusalem.
In the incident described by Luke 10:38-42, Martha is introduced as the woman who “welcomed Jesus into her house”. So hospitality is her paramount virtue. In Aramaic, the name Martha means “the lady, the mistress”, the feminine counterpart of “the master”.
Martha is the patron saint of active, practical women, perhaps unfairly contrasted with her more laid back and “contemplative” sister Mary.
But Martha is also the woman of faith, who said: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
We hear about Martha in the simple statement: “Martha served.” She isn’t in the spotlight, she doesn’t do showy things, she doesn’t receive spectacular miracles. She simply serves Jesus.
Martha is mentioned in three Gospel passages: Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9, and the type of friendship between her and her siblings, Mary and Lazarus, with the Lord Jesus is evident in these passages.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus visits the home of two sisters named Mary and Martha. The two sisters are contrasted: Martha was “cumbered about many things” while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen “the better part”, that of listening to the master’s discourse.
In the Gospel of John, Martha and Mary appear in connection with two incidents: the raising from the dead of their brother Lazarus (John 11) and the anointing of Jesus in Bethany (John 12:3).
When Lazarus had died and was buried, it is Martha who goes out to meet Jesus when he was coming to their house and accosts him (Jn 11:21-22): “If you had been here my brother would not have died, but I know that even now whatever you ask of God, he will grant you”.
And when questioned by Jesus, she shows she is a woman of faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, the one who was to come into this world.”
John’s Gospel tells us, “Martha served” (Jn 12). She is revealed here performing the same task as when we first saw her, but now her service is infused with her faith, and the brevity of the description suggests the silence and peace in which she serves as opposed to the nervous anxiety she displayed earlier.
Martha, whom we have seen serving, in Luke, and then believing, earlier in John, is now seen expressing her belief in the action of serving the Lord. “Martha served,” and in doing so teaches us the way of Christian life.
Orthodox tradition also relates that Martha’s brother Lazarus was cast out of Jerusalem in the persecution against the Jerusalem Church following the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
His sister Martha fled Judea with him, assisting him in the proclamation of the Gospel in various lands, while Mary Magdalene remained with John the Apostle and assisted him with the Church of Jerusalem.
The three later came to Cyprus, where Lazarus became the first Bishop of Kittim (modern Larnaca). All three died in Cyprus.
According to medieval legend, Martha, Mary and Lazarus went to France after the death of Jesus. Martha evangelized Provence where she is credited with slaying “La Tarasque”, the man-eating dragon (half-animal, half-fish) with horns and the tail of a serpent.
This confrontation with a cross and holy water was in the Rhone valley. The story goes like this:
The dragon was said to have traveled by sea from Asia. People pleaded with Martha to find someone, to rid their village of this foul creature. The dragon killed people and sank their boats.
Martha sprinkled holy water and made the sign of the cross over him, then tied him up in her girdle. While he was weakened, the people slew him with spears and stones.
Martha and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and both served him harmoniously when he was among them.
Martha welcomed him as travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while she was to be fed by the Spirit. No one of you should say, “Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!” Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, “Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me.” – from a sermon by Saint Augustine.
“Martha and Mary are serve respectively as examples of the active and the contemplative life; the life of external activity and the life of prayer. In the life of a Christian, neither should be lacking; activity and contemplation should be seen as complementary, and not opposed to one another.”
“We should ponder first her hospitality. St. Luke tells us, “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.” The evangelist features that is was Martha — not Martha, Mary and Lazarus — who welcomed Jesus, because she was the one who really put in the effort of hospitality…. And once we learn how to receive Jesus in that way, then it becomes so much easier to extend a similar hospitality to others because, as Jesus said, whenever we welcome a stranger, Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”…. Second, we should ponder St. Martha’s loving service. St. John says that after the raising of Lazarus she threw a reception for Jesus and she was “ministering” to the guests present (Jn 12:2). We see her doing the same when she and Martha received Jesus into their home in St. Luke’s Gospel (10:38-42)…. Jesus had elsewhere praised feeding the hungry, saying, “I was hungry and you fed me.”…. The third virtue we should ponder is St. Martha’s faith. We see that faith on display in the great miracle of the raising of Lazarus in today’s Gospel…. Martha responded with words that show the meaning of real faith: “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Because she believed in Christ, she believed in what he said, even if it far exceeded her human experience. She believed in everything Jesus said he could do, including raising people from the dead…. her conclusion that Jesus’ presence “can change everything, including death.”…. The fourth and final virtue we can examine is Martha’s desire to share the grace of Jesus’ presence and power with others. Once this dialogue was over, she ran to her sister, Mary, who was in the house, and said, “The Master is here and he is calling you.” She became, in essence, a vocation director. The Lord, the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world, comes precisely in order to call us to himself. And Martha wanted to make sure her sister knew of that call….” – Fr. Roger J. Landry
Feast of Saint Martha of Bethany.
She is the patron saint of housewives, butlers, cooks, dieticians, domestic servants, homemakers, hotel-keepers, housemaids, innkeepers, laundry workers, maids, manservants, servants, servers, single laywomen, travellers.
Martha was from Bethany, a village a few kilometers from Jerusalem. The sister of Lazarus and Mary, she was considered diligent and meticulous; she was certainly one of the first to believe in Jesus. The Lord was often a guest in her home, especially during the time of His preaching in Jerusalem.
In the incident described by Luke 10:38-42, Martha is introduced as the woman who “welcomed Jesus into her house”. So hospitality is her paramount virtue. In Aramaic, the name Martha means “the lady, the mistress”, the feminine counterpart of “the master”.
Martha is the patron saint of active, practical women, perhaps unfairly contrasted with her more laid back and “contemplative” sister Mary.
But Martha is also the woman of faith, who said: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
We hear about Martha in the simple statement: “Martha served.” She isn’t in the spotlight, she doesn’t do showy things, she doesn’t receive spectacular miracles. She simply serves Jesus.
Martha is mentioned in three Gospel passages: Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9, and the type of friendship between her and her siblings, Mary and Lazarus, with the Lord Jesus is evident in these passages.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus visits the home of two sisters named Mary and Martha. The two sisters are contrasted: Martha was “cumbered about many things” while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen “the better part”, that of listening to the master’s discourse.
In the Gospel of John, Martha and Mary appear in connection with two incidents: the raising from the dead of their brother Lazarus (John 11) and the anointing of Jesus in Bethany (John 12:3).
When Lazarus had died and was buried, it is Martha who goes out to meet Jesus when he was coming to their house and accosts him (Jn 11:21-22): “If you had been here my brother would not have died, but I know that even now whatever you ask of God, he will grant you”.
And when questioned by Jesus, she shows she is a woman of faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, the one who was to come into this world.”
John’s Gospel tells us, “Martha served” (Jn 12). She is revealed here performing the same task as when we first saw her, but now her service is infused with her faith, and the brevity of the description suggests the silence and peace in which she serves as opposed to the nervous anxiety she displayed earlier.
Martha, whom we have seen serving, in Luke, and then believing, earlier in John, is now seen expressing her belief in the action of serving the Lord. “Martha served,” and in doing so teaches us the way of Christian life.
Orthodox tradition also relates that Martha’s brother Lazarus was cast out of Jerusalem in the persecution against the Jerusalem Church following the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
His sister Martha fled Judea with him, assisting him in the proclamation of the Gospel in various lands, while Mary Magdalene remained with John the Apostle and assisted him with the Church of Jerusalem.
The three later came to Cyprus, where Lazarus became the first Bishop of Kittim (modern Larnaca). All three died in Cyprus.
According to medieval legend, Martha, Mary and Lazarus went to France after the death of Jesus. Martha evangelized Provence where she is credited with slaying “La Tarasque”, the man-eating dragon (half-animal, half-fish) with horns and the tail of a serpent.
This confrontation with a cross and holy water was in the Rhone valley. The story goes like this:
The dragon was said to have traveled by sea from Asia. People pleaded with Martha to find someone, to rid their village of this foul creature. The dragon killed people and sank their boats.
Martha sprinkled holy water and made the sign of the cross over him, then tied him up in her girdle. While he was weakened, the people slew him with spears and stones.
Martha and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and both served him harmoniously when he was among them.
Martha welcomed him as travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while she was to be fed by the Spirit. No one of you should say, “Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!” Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, “Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me.” – from a sermon by Saint Augustine.
“Martha and Mary are serve respectively as examples of the active and the contemplative life; the life of external activity and the life of prayer. In the life of a Christian, neither should be lacking; activity and contemplation should be seen as complementary, and not opposed to one another.”
“We should ponder first her hospitality. St. Luke tells us, “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.” The evangelist features that is was Martha — not Martha, Mary and Lazarus — who welcomed Jesus, because she was the one who really put in the effort of hospitality…. And once we learn how to receive Jesus in that way, then it becomes so much easier to extend a similar hospitality to others because, as Jesus said, whenever we welcome a stranger, Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”…. Second, we should ponder St. Martha’s loving service. St. John says that after the raising of Lazarus she threw a reception for Jesus and she was “ministering” to the guests present (Jn 12:2). We see her doing the same when she and Martha received Jesus into their home in St. Luke’s Gospel (10:38-42)…. Jesus had elsewhere praised feeding the hungry, saying, “I was hungry and you fed me.”…. The third virtue we should ponder is St. Martha’s faith. We see that faith on display in the great miracle of the raising of Lazarus in today’s Gospel…. Martha responded with words that show the meaning of real faith: “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Because she believed in Christ, she believed in what he said, even if it far exceeded her human experience. She believed in everything Jesus said he could do, including raising people from the dead…. her conclusion that Jesus’ presence “can change everything, including death.”…. The fourth and final virtue we can examine is Martha’s desire to share the grace of Jesus’ presence and power with others. Once this dialogue was over, she ran to her sister, Mary, who was in the house, and said, “The Master is here and he is calling you.” She became, in essence, a vocation director. The Lord, the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world, comes precisely in order to call us to himself. And Martha wanted to make sure her sister knew of that call….” – Fr. Roger J. Landry
Close
July 29
Saint Martha of Bethany
July 30
Daily Saints – 30 July.
Feast of Saint Peter Chrysologus.
He is the patron saint against fever and against mad dogs.
Peter was born in the Italian town of Imola in either the late fourth or early fifth century. He studied under Cornelius, bishop of that city, who ordained him deacon.
Bishop Cornelius taught him the value of humility and self-denial. The lessons of his mentor inspired Peter to live as a monk for many years, embracing a lifestyle of asceticism, simplicity, and prayer.
In 433, the archbishop of Ravenna died, and when a successor had been chosen by the clergy and people of Ravenna, they asked Bishop Cornelius to obtain confirmation of their choice from Pope Sixtus III.
On his trip to Rome, Cornelius took his deacon, Peter, as his companion; upon seeing Peter, the Pope chose him for the see of Ravenna instead of the one selected by the clergy and people of Ravenna.
Tradition relates that the Pope had experienced a vision from God on the night before the meeting, commanding him to overrule Ravenna’s choice of a new archbishop. The Pope declared that Peter, instead, was to be ordained as John’s successor.
Peter was consecrated and was accepted somewhat grudgingly at first by both the clergy and the people. Peter, however, soon became the favorite of Emperor Valentinian III, who resided at Ravenna and was also highly regarded by Pope St. Leo the Great, the successor of Pope Sixtus.
There were still traces of paganism in Peter’s diocese, and his first effort was to establish the Catholic faith everywhere, rooting out abuses and carrying on a campaign of preaching and special care of the poor.
His principal weapon was the short sermon. They do not contain great originality of thought. They are, however, full of moral applications, sound in doctrine, and historically significant in that they reveal Christian life in fifth-century Ravenna.
Many of his sermons still survive, and it is on the basis of these that he came to be known as “the golden word.”
In addition to his zeal in the exercise of his office, Peter Chrysologus was distinguished by a fierce loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but in its authority as well.
He looked upon learning not as a mere opportunity but as an obligation for all, both as a development of God-given faculties and as a solid support for the worship of God.
One of the major heresies of his age, monophysitism, held that Christ did not possess a distinct human nature in union with his eternal divine nature. Peter laboured to prevent the westward spread of this error, promoted from Constantinople by the monk Eutyches.
In his concern for the unity of the Church, Peter Chrysologus opposed the teaching of Eutyches, who asked for his support. Peter also received St. Germanus of Auxerre to his diocese and officiated at his funeral.
Knowing that his own death was near, Peter returned to his own city of Imola and after urging great care in the choice of his successor he died at Imola about the year 450 and was buried in the church of St. Cassian.
The saint’s title, Chrysologus, signifies “golden speech” in Greek. He is named as a Doctor of the Church in 1729 and he is distinguished as the “Doctor of Homilies” for the concise but theologically rich reflections he delivered during his time as the Bishop of Ravenna.
His surviving works offer eloquent testimony to the Church’s traditional beliefs about Mary’s perpetual virginity, the penitential value of Lent, Christ’s Eucharistic presence, and the primacy of St. Peter and his successors in the Church.
“Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ.”
“God desires not death, but faith; God thirsts not for blood, but for self-surrender; God is appeased not by slaughter, but by the offering of your free will.”
“Each of us is called to be both a sacrifice to God and his priest.”
“If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.”
“For he who touches the Body of Christ unworthily, receives his damnation.”
“Now that we are reborn,… in the likeness of our Lord and have indeed been adopted by God as his children, let us put on the complete image of our Creatorso as to be wholly like Him, not in the glory that He alone possesses but in innocence, simplicity, gentleness, patience, humility, mercy, harmony, those qualities in which He chose to become and to be, one with us.”
“The poor stretch out the hand but God receives what is offered.”
“The Magi are filled with awe by what they see; heaven on earth and earth in heaven; man in God and God in man; they see enclosed in a tiny body the One whom the entire world cannot contain.”
” If you want God to know that you are hungry,
know that another is hungry.
If you hope for mercy, show mercy.
If you look for kindness, show kindness.
If you want to receive, give.
If you ask for yourself what you deny to others,
your asking is a mockery.”
“He is the Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, moulded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful.”
“Each of us is called to be both a sacrifice to God and His priest. Do not forfeit what divine authority confers on you. Put on the garment of holiness, gird yourself with the belt of chastity. Let Christ be your helmet, let the cross on your forehead be your unfailing protection. Your breastplate should be the knowledge of God
that He Himself has given you. Keep burning continually the sweet smelling incense of prayer. Take up the sword of the Spirit.
Let your heart be an altar. Then, with full confidence in God, present your body for sacrifice. God desires not death but faith; God thirsts not for blood but for self-surrender; God is appeased not by slaughter but by the offering of your free will.”
Feast of Saint Peter Chrysologus.
He is the patron saint against fever and against mad dogs.
Peter was born in the Italian town of Imola in either the late fourth or early fifth century. He studied under Cornelius, bishop of that city, who ordained him deacon.
Bishop Cornelius taught him the value of humility and self-denial. The lessons of his mentor inspired Peter to live as a monk for many years, embracing a lifestyle of asceticism, simplicity, and prayer.
In 433, the archbishop of Ravenna died, and when a successor had been chosen by the clergy and people of Ravenna, they asked Bishop Cornelius to obtain confirmation of their choice from Pope Sixtus III.
On his trip to Rome, Cornelius took his deacon, Peter, as his companion; upon seeing Peter, the Pope chose him for the see of Ravenna instead of the one selected by the clergy and people of Ravenna.
Tradition relates that the Pope had experienced a vision from God on the night before the meeting, commanding him to overrule Ravenna’s choice of a new archbishop. The Pope declared that Peter, instead, was to be ordained as John’s successor.
Peter was consecrated and was accepted somewhat grudgingly at first by both the clergy and the people. Peter, however, soon became the favorite of Emperor Valentinian III, who resided at Ravenna and was also highly regarded by Pope St. Leo the Great, the successor of Pope Sixtus.
There were still traces of paganism in Peter’s diocese, and his first effort was to establish the Catholic faith everywhere, rooting out abuses and carrying on a campaign of preaching and special care of the poor.
His principal weapon was the short sermon. They do not contain great originality of thought. They are, however, full of moral applications, sound in doctrine, and historically significant in that they reveal Christian life in fifth-century Ravenna.
Many of his sermons still survive, and it is on the basis of these that he came to be known as “the golden word.”
In addition to his zeal in the exercise of his office, Peter Chrysologus was distinguished by a fierce loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but in its authority as well.
He looked upon learning not as a mere opportunity but as an obligation for all, both as a development of God-given faculties and as a solid support for the worship of God.
One of the major heresies of his age, monophysitism, held that Christ did not possess a distinct human nature in union with his eternal divine nature. Peter laboured to prevent the westward spread of this error, promoted from Constantinople by the monk Eutyches.
In his concern for the unity of the Church, Peter Chrysologus opposed the teaching of Eutyches, who asked for his support. Peter also received St. Germanus of Auxerre to his diocese and officiated at his funeral.
Knowing that his own death was near, Peter returned to his own city of Imola and after urging great care in the choice of his successor he died at Imola about the year 450 and was buried in the church of St. Cassian.
The saint’s title, Chrysologus, signifies “golden speech” in Greek. He is named as a Doctor of the Church in 1729 and he is distinguished as the “Doctor of Homilies” for the concise but theologically rich reflections he delivered during his time as the Bishop of Ravenna.
His surviving works offer eloquent testimony to the Church’s traditional beliefs about Mary’s perpetual virginity, the penitential value of Lent, Christ’s Eucharistic presence, and the primacy of St. Peter and his successors in the Church.
“Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ.”
“God desires not death, but faith; God thirsts not for blood, but for self-surrender; God is appeased not by slaughter, but by the offering of your free will.”
“Each of us is called to be both a sacrifice to God and his priest.”
“If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.”
“For he who touches the Body of Christ unworthily, receives his damnation.”
“Now that we are reborn,… in the likeness of our Lord and have indeed been adopted by God as his children, let us put on the complete image of our Creatorso as to be wholly like Him, not in the glory that He alone possesses but in innocence, simplicity, gentleness, patience, humility, mercy, harmony, those qualities in which He chose to become and to be, one with us.”
“The poor stretch out the hand but God receives what is offered.”
“The Magi are filled with awe by what they see; heaven on earth and earth in heaven; man in God and God in man; they see enclosed in a tiny body the One whom the entire world cannot contain.”
” If you want God to know that you are hungry,
know that another is hungry.
If you hope for mercy, show mercy.
If you look for kindness, show kindness.
If you want to receive, give.
If you ask for yourself what you deny to others,
your asking is a mockery.”
“He is the Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, moulded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful.”
“Each of us is called to be both a sacrifice to God and His priest. Do not forfeit what divine authority confers on you. Put on the garment of holiness, gird yourself with the belt of chastity. Let Christ be your helmet, let the cross on your forehead be your unfailing protection. Your breastplate should be the knowledge of God
that He Himself has given you. Keep burning continually the sweet smelling incense of prayer. Take up the sword of the Spirit.
Let your heart be an altar. Then, with full confidence in God, present your body for sacrifice. God desires not death but faith; God thirsts not for blood but for self-surrender; God is appeased not by slaughter but by the offering of your free will.”
Close
July 30
Saint Peter Chrysologus
July 31
Daily Saints – 31 July.
Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
He is the patron saint of soldiers, Jesuits, Retreats, Spiritual Exercises, Educators and Education.
He was born to the Spanish nobility on 1491 at Loyola, Guipuzcoa, Spain as Inigo Lopez de Loyola. Inigio was the youngest of thirteen children. His mother died when he was just seven, and he was then raised by Maria de Garin, who was the wife of a blacksmith.
His last name, “Loyola” was taken from the village of his birth. Despite the misfortune of losing his mother he was still a member of the local aristocracy and was raised accordingly. Inigo was an ambitious young man who had dreams of becoming a great leader.
At the age of sixteen, he began a short period of employment working for Juan Velazquez, the treasurer of Castile.
As a member of the Velazquez household, he was frequently at court and developed a taste for all it presented, especially the ladies. He was much addicted to gambling, very contentious, and not above engaging in swordplay on occasion.
By the time he was eighteen, he became a soldier and would fight for Antonio Manrique de Lara, Duke of Nájera and Viceroy of Navarre.
Seeking wider acclaim, he began referring to himself as Ignatius. Ignatius was a variant of Inigo. The young Ignatius also gained a reputation as a duelist.
According to one story, he killed a Moor with whom he argued about the divinity of Jesus. His talent earned him promotions and soon he commanded his own troops.
Eventually he found himself at the age of 30 in May of 1521 as an officer defending the fortress of the town of Pamplona against the French, who claimed the territory as their own against Spain.
The Spaniards were terribly outnumbered and the commander of the Spanish forces wanted to surrender, but Ignatius convinced him to fight on for the honor of Spain, if not for victory.
During the battle a cannon ball struck Ignatius, wounding one leg and breaking the other. Because they admired his courage, the French soldiers carried him back to recuperate at his home, the castle of Loyola, rather than to prison.
To save his life and possibly his legs, doctors performed several surgeries. His leg was set but did not heal, so it was necessary to break it again and reset it.
There were no anesthetics during this time, so each surgery was painful. Despite their best efforts, Ignatius’ condition deteriorated. After suffering for a month, his doctors warned him to prepare for death.
On June 29, 1521, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Ignatius began to improve. As soon as he was healthy enough to bear it, part of one leg was amputated which while painful, sped his recovery.
During the long weeks of his recuperation, he was extremely bored and asked for some romance novels to pass the time. The only books he had access to were ‘The Golden Legend’, a collection of biographies of the saints, and the Life of Christ by Ludolph the Carthusian.
Desperate, Ignatius began to read them. These stories had a profound impact on him, and he became more devout. The more he read, the more he considered the exploits of the saints worth imitating.
However, at the same time, he continued to have daydreams of fame and glory, along with fantasies of winning the love of a certain noble lady of the court. The identity of this lady has never been discovered but she seems to have been of royal blood.
He noticed, however, that after reading and thinking of the saints and Christ he was at peace and satisfied. Yet when he finished his long daydreams of his noble lady, he would feel restless and unsatisfied.
Not only was this experience the beginning of his conversion, it was also the beginning of spiritual discernment, or discernment of spirits.
While reading the life of Christ our Lord or lives of the saints, he would reflect and reason with himself: “What if I should do what Saint Francis or Saint Dominic did?”
These books, and the time spent in contemplation, changed him. Eventually, he completely converted from his old desires and plans of romance and worldly conquests. Ignatius discerned God’s call, and began a new way of life, following God.
By the spring of 1522, Ignatius had recovered enough to leave bed. On his recovery he took a vow of chastity. He had decided that he wanted to go to Jerusalem to live where our Lord had spent his life on earth. As a first step he began his journey to Barcelona.
Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. He made a general confession, and knelt all night in vigil before Our Lady’s altar, following the rites of chivalry.
He left his sword and knife at the altar, went out and gave away all his fine clothes to a poor man, and dressed himself in rough clothes with sandals and a staff.
He then walked to a hospital in the town of Manresa. In exchange for a place to live, he performed work around the hospital. He begged for his food. When he was not working or begging, he would go into a cave and practice spiritual exercises.
He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper’s hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying.
After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned.
It was also on the banks of this river that he had a vision which is regarded as the most significant in his life. The vision was more of an enlightenment, about which he later said that he learned more on that one occasion that he did in the rest of his life.
Ignatius never revealed exactly what the vision was, but it seems to have been an encounter with God as He really is so that all creation was seen in a new light and acquired a new meaning and relevance, and experience that enabled Ignatius to find God in all things.
It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises.
He made a Pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land in 1523, where he worked to convert Muslims. He wanted to remain, but was asked to leave because the situation was too dangerous.
By now he was 33 years old and determined to study for the priesthood. However, he was ignorant of Latin, a necessary preliminary to university studies in those days. So he started back to school studying Latin grammar with young boys in a school in Barcelona.
After two years he moved on to the University of Alcala. There his zeal got him in trouble, a problem that continued throughout his life. He would gather students and adults to explain the Gospels to them and teach them how to pray.
His efforts attracted the attention of the Inquisition and he was thrown into jail for 42 days. When he was released he was told to avoid teaching others.
Because he could not live without helping souls, Ignatius moved on to the University of Salamanca. There, within two weeks, the Dominicans had thrown him back into prison again.
Though they could find no heresy in what he taught, he was told that he could only teach children and then only simple religious truths. Once more he took to the road, this time for Paris.
At the University of Paris he began school again, studying Latin grammar and literature, philosophy, and theology. It was also in Paris that he began sharing a room with Francis Xavier and Peter Faber. He greatly influenced a few other fellow students: James Lainez, Alonso Salmerón, Nicholas Bobadilla, Simón Rodriguez.
Eventually six of them plus Ignatius decided to take vows of chastity and poverty and to go to the Holy Land. If going to the Holy Land became impossible, they would go to Rome and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope for whatever he would want them to do. They did not think of doing this as a religious order or congregation, but as individual priests.
For a year they waited, however no ship was able to take them to the Holy Land because of the conflict between the Christians and Muslims.
It was during this time of waiting that Ignatius was ordained a priest, but he did not say Mass for another year. It is thought that he wanted to say his first Mass in Jerusalem in the land where Jesus himself had lived.
Ignatius, along with two of his companions, Peter Faber and James Lainez, decided to go to Rome and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope. It was a few miles outside of the city that Ignatius had the second most significant of his mystical experiences.
At a chapel at La Storta where they had stopped to pray, God the Father told Ignatius, “I will be favorable to you in Rome” and that he would place Ignatius with His Son.
When they met with the Pope, he very happily put them to work teaching scripture and theology and preaching. It was here on Christmas morning, 1538, that Ignatius celebrated his first Mass at the church of St. Mary Major in the Chapel of the Manger.
During the Lent of 1539, Ignatius asked all of his companions to come to Rome to discuss their future. They had never thought of founding a religious order, but now that going to Jerusalem was out, they had to think about their future–whether they would spend it together.
After many weeks of prayer and discussion, they decided to form a community, with the Pope’s approval, in which they would vow obedience to a superior general who would hold office for life. They would place themselves at the disposal of the Holy Father to travel wherever he should wish to send them for whatever duties.
A vow to this effect was added to the ordinary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Formal approval of this new order was given by Pope Paul III the following year on September 27, 1540. Since they had referred to themselves as the Company of Jesus (in Latin Societas Jesu).
He never used the term Jesuit, which was coined as an insult by his opponents; the Society today uses the term with pride.
When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents.
He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. He travelled Europe and the Holy Lands, then settled in Rome to direct the Jesuits.
Ever since his student days in Paris, Ignatius had suffered from stomach ailments and they became increasingly troublesome in Rome. In the summer of 1556 his health grew worse.
Ignatius passed away on July 31, 1556, at the age of 64. He was nearly blind at death.
“Love is shown more in deeds than in words.”
“Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.”
“Go forth and set the world on fire.”
“Speak little, listen much.”
“If our church is not marked by caring for the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, we are guilty of heresy.”
“For those who love, nothing is too difficult, especially when it is done for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“When taking the first steps on the road of virtue the old man must be mortified, but in such a way as not to slay the new man.”
“He who carries God in his heart bears heaven with him wherever he goes.”
“If you promise anything for tomorrow, do it today rather than put it off.”
“The servant of God earns half a doctorate through illness.”
“It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.”
“When the devil wants to attack anyone, he first of all looks to see on what side his defenses are weakest or in worst order; then he moves up his artillery to make a breach at that spot.”
“As for joy, as little as one can have of it in this life, experience shows that it is not the idle who possess it, but those who are zealous in the service of God.”
“The man who sets about making others better is wasting his time, unless he begins with himself.”
“So you lay your affairs aside till next month or next year? Why, where do you get your confidence that you will live so long?”
“To conquer himself is the greatest victory that man can gain.”
“He who is not getting better is getting worse.”
“He who is devout to the Virgin Mother will certainly never be lost.”
“Idleness is hells fishhook for catching souls.”
“God gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will, and to do it fully.”
“Charity and kindness unwedded to truth are not charity and kindness, but deceit and vanity.”
“Undertake nothing without consulting God.”
“As far as possible give no foothold to sloth, the source of all evils.”
“If you want to make progress in love, speak about love; for holy conversation, like a breeze, fans the flame of charity.”
“Nothing is hard to a man whose will is set on it, especially if it be a thing to be done out of love.”
“If you find you have fallen, do not despair; even falls are an aid to well-being.”
“A little holiness and great health of body does more in the care of souls than great holiness and little health.”
“If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity.”
“God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever. God’s purpose in creating us is to draw forth from us a response of love and service here on earth, so that we may attain our goal of everlasting happiness with him in heaven. All the things in this world are gifts of God, created for us, to be the means by which we can come to know him better, love him more surely, and serve him more faithfully. As a result, we ought to appreciate and use these gifts of God insofar as they help us toward our goal of loving service and union with God. But insofar as any created things hinder our progress toward our goal, we ought to let them go.”
“He who goes about to reform the world must begin with himself, or he loses his labor.”
“Love consists in a mutual sharing of goods, for example, the lover gives and shares with the beloved what he possesses, or something of that which he has or is able to give; and vice versa, the beloved shares with the lover. Hence, if one has knowledge, he shares it with the one who does not possess it; and so also if one has honors, or riches. Thus, one always gives to the other.”
“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.”
“O my God, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve to be served; to give without counting the cost to fight without fear of being wounded; to work without seeking rest
and to spend myself without expecting any reward; but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will. Amen”
Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
He is the patron saint of soldiers, Jesuits, Retreats, Spiritual Exercises, Educators and Education.
He was born to the Spanish nobility on 1491 at Loyola, Guipuzcoa, Spain as Inigo Lopez de Loyola. Inigio was the youngest of thirteen children. His mother died when he was just seven, and he was then raised by Maria de Garin, who was the wife of a blacksmith.
His last name, “Loyola” was taken from the village of his birth. Despite the misfortune of losing his mother he was still a member of the local aristocracy and was raised accordingly. Inigo was an ambitious young man who had dreams of becoming a great leader.
At the age of sixteen, he began a short period of employment working for Juan Velazquez, the treasurer of Castile.
As a member of the Velazquez household, he was frequently at court and developed a taste for all it presented, especially the ladies. He was much addicted to gambling, very contentious, and not above engaging in swordplay on occasion.
By the time he was eighteen, he became a soldier and would fight for Antonio Manrique de Lara, Duke of Nájera and Viceroy of Navarre.
Seeking wider acclaim, he began referring to himself as Ignatius. Ignatius was a variant of Inigo. The young Ignatius also gained a reputation as a duelist.
According to one story, he killed a Moor with whom he argued about the divinity of Jesus. His talent earned him promotions and soon he commanded his own troops.
Eventually he found himself at the age of 30 in May of 1521 as an officer defending the fortress of the town of Pamplona against the French, who claimed the territory as their own against Spain.
The Spaniards were terribly outnumbered and the commander of the Spanish forces wanted to surrender, but Ignatius convinced him to fight on for the honor of Spain, if not for victory.
During the battle a cannon ball struck Ignatius, wounding one leg and breaking the other. Because they admired his courage, the French soldiers carried him back to recuperate at his home, the castle of Loyola, rather than to prison.
To save his life and possibly his legs, doctors performed several surgeries. His leg was set but did not heal, so it was necessary to break it again and reset it.
There were no anesthetics during this time, so each surgery was painful. Despite their best efforts, Ignatius’ condition deteriorated. After suffering for a month, his doctors warned him to prepare for death.
On June 29, 1521, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Ignatius began to improve. As soon as he was healthy enough to bear it, part of one leg was amputated which while painful, sped his recovery.
During the long weeks of his recuperation, he was extremely bored and asked for some romance novels to pass the time. The only books he had access to were ‘The Golden Legend’, a collection of biographies of the saints, and the Life of Christ by Ludolph the Carthusian.
Desperate, Ignatius began to read them. These stories had a profound impact on him, and he became more devout. The more he read, the more he considered the exploits of the saints worth imitating.
However, at the same time, he continued to have daydreams of fame and glory, along with fantasies of winning the love of a certain noble lady of the court. The identity of this lady has never been discovered but she seems to have been of royal blood.
He noticed, however, that after reading and thinking of the saints and Christ he was at peace and satisfied. Yet when he finished his long daydreams of his noble lady, he would feel restless and unsatisfied.
Not only was this experience the beginning of his conversion, it was also the beginning of spiritual discernment, or discernment of spirits.
While reading the life of Christ our Lord or lives of the saints, he would reflect and reason with himself: “What if I should do what Saint Francis or Saint Dominic did?”
These books, and the time spent in contemplation, changed him. Eventually, he completely converted from his old desires and plans of romance and worldly conquests. Ignatius discerned God’s call, and began a new way of life, following God.
By the spring of 1522, Ignatius had recovered enough to leave bed. On his recovery he took a vow of chastity. He had decided that he wanted to go to Jerusalem to live where our Lord had spent his life on earth. As a first step he began his journey to Barcelona.
Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. He made a general confession, and knelt all night in vigil before Our Lady’s altar, following the rites of chivalry.
He left his sword and knife at the altar, went out and gave away all his fine clothes to a poor man, and dressed himself in rough clothes with sandals and a staff.
He then walked to a hospital in the town of Manresa. In exchange for a place to live, he performed work around the hospital. He begged for his food. When he was not working or begging, he would go into a cave and practice spiritual exercises.
He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper’s hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying.
After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned.
It was also on the banks of this river that he had a vision which is regarded as the most significant in his life. The vision was more of an enlightenment, about which he later said that he learned more on that one occasion that he did in the rest of his life.
Ignatius never revealed exactly what the vision was, but it seems to have been an encounter with God as He really is so that all creation was seen in a new light and acquired a new meaning and relevance, and experience that enabled Ignatius to find God in all things.
It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises.
He made a Pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land in 1523, where he worked to convert Muslims. He wanted to remain, but was asked to leave because the situation was too dangerous.
By now he was 33 years old and determined to study for the priesthood. However, he was ignorant of Latin, a necessary preliminary to university studies in those days. So he started back to school studying Latin grammar with young boys in a school in Barcelona.
After two years he moved on to the University of Alcala. There his zeal got him in trouble, a problem that continued throughout his life. He would gather students and adults to explain the Gospels to them and teach them how to pray.
His efforts attracted the attention of the Inquisition and he was thrown into jail for 42 days. When he was released he was told to avoid teaching others.
Because he could not live without helping souls, Ignatius moved on to the University of Salamanca. There, within two weeks, the Dominicans had thrown him back into prison again.
Though they could find no heresy in what he taught, he was told that he could only teach children and then only simple religious truths. Once more he took to the road, this time for Paris.
At the University of Paris he began school again, studying Latin grammar and literature, philosophy, and theology. It was also in Paris that he began sharing a room with Francis Xavier and Peter Faber. He greatly influenced a few other fellow students: James Lainez, Alonso Salmerón, Nicholas Bobadilla, Simón Rodriguez.
Eventually six of them plus Ignatius decided to take vows of chastity and poverty and to go to the Holy Land. If going to the Holy Land became impossible, they would go to Rome and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope for whatever he would want them to do. They did not think of doing this as a religious order or congregation, but as individual priests.
For a year they waited, however no ship was able to take them to the Holy Land because of the conflict between the Christians and Muslims.
It was during this time of waiting that Ignatius was ordained a priest, but he did not say Mass for another year. It is thought that he wanted to say his first Mass in Jerusalem in the land where Jesus himself had lived.
Ignatius, along with two of his companions, Peter Faber and James Lainez, decided to go to Rome and place themselves at the disposal of the Pope. It was a few miles outside of the city that Ignatius had the second most significant of his mystical experiences.
At a chapel at La Storta where they had stopped to pray, God the Father told Ignatius, “I will be favorable to you in Rome” and that he would place Ignatius with His Son.
When they met with the Pope, he very happily put them to work teaching scripture and theology and preaching. It was here on Christmas morning, 1538, that Ignatius celebrated his first Mass at the church of St. Mary Major in the Chapel of the Manger.
During the Lent of 1539, Ignatius asked all of his companions to come to Rome to discuss their future. They had never thought of founding a religious order, but now that going to Jerusalem was out, they had to think about their future–whether they would spend it together.
After many weeks of prayer and discussion, they decided to form a community, with the Pope’s approval, in which they would vow obedience to a superior general who would hold office for life. They would place themselves at the disposal of the Holy Father to travel wherever he should wish to send them for whatever duties.
A vow to this effect was added to the ordinary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Formal approval of this new order was given by Pope Paul III the following year on September 27, 1540. Since they had referred to themselves as the Company of Jesus (in Latin Societas Jesu).
He never used the term Jesuit, which was coined as an insult by his opponents; the Society today uses the term with pride.
When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents.
He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. He travelled Europe and the Holy Lands, then settled in Rome to direct the Jesuits.
Ever since his student days in Paris, Ignatius had suffered from stomach ailments and they became increasingly troublesome in Rome. In the summer of 1556 his health grew worse.
Ignatius passed away on July 31, 1556, at the age of 64. He was nearly blind at death.
“Love is shown more in deeds than in words.”
“Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.”
“Go forth and set the world on fire.”
“Speak little, listen much.”
“If our church is not marked by caring for the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, we are guilty of heresy.”
“For those who love, nothing is too difficult, especially when it is done for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“When taking the first steps on the road of virtue the old man must be mortified, but in such a way as not to slay the new man.”
“He who carries God in his heart bears heaven with him wherever he goes.”
“If you promise anything for tomorrow, do it today rather than put it off.”
“The servant of God earns half a doctorate through illness.”
“It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.”
“When the devil wants to attack anyone, he first of all looks to see on what side his defenses are weakest or in worst order; then he moves up his artillery to make a breach at that spot.”
“As for joy, as little as one can have of it in this life, experience shows that it is not the idle who possess it, but those who are zealous in the service of God.”
“The man who sets about making others better is wasting his time, unless he begins with himself.”
“So you lay your affairs aside till next month or next year? Why, where do you get your confidence that you will live so long?”
“To conquer himself is the greatest victory that man can gain.”
“He who is not getting better is getting worse.”
“He who is devout to the Virgin Mother will certainly never be lost.”
“Idleness is hells fishhook for catching souls.”
“God gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will, and to do it fully.”
“Charity and kindness unwedded to truth are not charity and kindness, but deceit and vanity.”
“Undertake nothing without consulting God.”
“As far as possible give no foothold to sloth, the source of all evils.”
“If you want to make progress in love, speak about love; for holy conversation, like a breeze, fans the flame of charity.”
“Nothing is hard to a man whose will is set on it, especially if it be a thing to be done out of love.”
“If you find you have fallen, do not despair; even falls are an aid to well-being.”
“A little holiness and great health of body does more in the care of souls than great holiness and little health.”
“If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His own great sacrifice of boundless charity.”
“God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever. God’s purpose in creating us is to draw forth from us a response of love and service here on earth, so that we may attain our goal of everlasting happiness with him in heaven. All the things in this world are gifts of God, created for us, to be the means by which we can come to know him better, love him more surely, and serve him more faithfully. As a result, we ought to appreciate and use these gifts of God insofar as they help us toward our goal of loving service and union with God. But insofar as any created things hinder our progress toward our goal, we ought to let them go.”
“He who goes about to reform the world must begin with himself, or he loses his labor.”
“Love consists in a mutual sharing of goods, for example, the lover gives and shares with the beloved what he possesses, or something of that which he has or is able to give; and vice versa, the beloved shares with the lover. Hence, if one has knowledge, he shares it with the one who does not possess it; and so also if one has honors, or riches. Thus, one always gives to the other.”
“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.”
“O my God, teach me to be generous, to serve you as you deserve to be served; to give without counting the cost to fight without fear of being wounded; to work without seeking rest
and to spend myself without expecting any reward; but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will. Amen”
Close
July 31
Saint Ignatius of Loyola