|
|
 |
|
|
May 1 |
back to top |
St. Joseph the Worker
|
This is St. Joseph’s second feast day on the
Church calendar of celebrations. We honor him also
on March 19. St. Joseph is a very important saint. He
is the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.
Today we celebrate the witness of Joseph’s hard
work. He was a carpenter who worked long hours in
his little shop. St. Joseph teaches us that the work we do
is important. Through it we give our contribution and
our service to our family and society. But even more
than that, we follow God’s plan for us by carrying out
the special work he has given us to do. That is why we
want to try to always do our work carefully and well.
Many countries set aside one day a year to honor
workers. This encourages people to appreciate the
dignity and importance of work. The Church has
given us St. Joseph as a wonderful example to follow
in doing our own work. In 1955, Pope Pius XII proclaimed
that this feast of St. Joseph the Worker
should be celebrated every year.
St. Joseph will be glad to help us become more
conscientious in our study and our work if we ask
him to. Let’s always try our best, no matter what
we’re doing.
|
|
May 2 |
back to top |
St. Athanasius
|
Athanasius was born around 297 in Alexandria,
Egypt. He devoted his life to proving that Jesus is
truly God. This was important because some people
called Arians were denying this truth. Even before he
became a priest, Athanasius had read many books on
Scripture and theology. That is why he could explain
the faith so easily.
This saint became the archbishop of Alexandria
before he was thirty years old. For forty-six years, he
was a brave shepherd of his flock. Four Roman
emperors could not make him stop writing his clear
and beautiful explanations of our holy faith. His enemies
persecuted him in every way.
Archbishop Athanasius was sent out of his own
diocese five times. His first exile lasted two years. He
was sent to the city of Trier in Germany in 336. A
kindly bishop, St. Maximinius, welcomed him warmly.
Other exiles lasted longer. Athanasius was even
hunted by people who wanted to kill him. During
one tense exile, monks kept him hidden from his enemies
in the desert for six years.
Once the emperor’s soldiers were chasing
Athanasius down the Nile River. ”They’re catching up
to us!” cried the saint’s friends. Athanasius was not
worried. ”Turn the boat around,” he said calmly, ”and
row toward them.”
The emperor’s soldiers shouted, “Have you seen
Athanasius?”
“You’re not far from him!” Athanasius’s friends
shouted back. The enemy boat sped by them faster
than ever, and the saint was safe.
The people of Alexandria loved their archbishop.
He was a real father to them. As the years passed, they
appreciated more and more how much he suffered for
Jesus and the Church. It was the people who stepped
in and saw to it that Athanasius had some well-deserved
peace. He spent the last seven years of his life safe with
them. His enemies searched for him but could never
find him. During that time, Athanasius wrote The Life of
St. Anthony the Hermit. Anthony had been his personal
friend when Athanasius was young. (St. Anthony’s
feast day is celebrated on January 17.)
St. Athanasius died quietly on May 2, 373. He
remains one of the greatest, bravest saints of all time.
Today’s saint challenges us to be more enthusiastic
about studying our faith. We can ask St. Athanasius to
give us his love for Jesus. This love will lead us to want
to know as much as we can about the Lord.
|
|
May 3 |
back to top |
St. Philip and St. James
|
Both of these saints were part of the original
group of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Philip was one of the
first apostles chosen. He was born at Bethsaida, in
Galilee. When Jesus met him, he said, “Follow me.”
Philip was so happy to be with Jesus that he wanted
to share his happiness with his friend, Nathaniel. ”We
have found the one Moses and the prophets wrote
about,” Philip explained. ”He is Jesus of Nazareth.”
Nathaniel wasn’t at all excited. Nazareth was just a
little village. It wasn’t big and important like
Jerusalem. So Nathaniel said, ”Can any good come out
of Nazareth?” But Philip did not become angry at his
friend’s answer. He just said, “Come and see.” So
Nathaniel went to see Jesus. After he had spoken with
him, he, too, became a zealous follower of the Lord.
St. James was also one of Jesus’ twelve apostles.
He was the son of Alpheus and a cousin of Jesus. After
Jesus ascended into heaven, James became the bishop
of Jerusalem. People thought so much of him that
they called him “James the Just,” which means “James
the Holy One.” He is also called “James the Less,”
because he was younger than the other apostle
named James, who was called “James the Greater.”
St. James was very gentle and forgiving. He prayed
very much. He kept begging God to forgive the peo-
ple who persecuted the followers of Jesus. Even
when Jesus’ enemies were putting James to death, he
asked God to pardon them. St. James died as a martyr
in the year 62.
We can all be apostles of Jesus in our own way.
We can show our faith in Jesus by the way we live.
That’s how we can imitate St. Philip and St. James.
|
|
May 4 |
back to top |
Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla
|
Ceferino Giménez Malla was a gypsy (a member
of a nomadic people who move from place to place)
who was born in Spain in August of 1861. After they
were married, he and his wife Teresa moved to
Barbastro. They had no children of their own, but
they adopted Teresa’s niece, Pepita.
Ceferino was a horse trader who became well
known for his fairness and his ability to settle disagreements.
People who knew him were impressed
by his kindness and prayerfulness. Even though he
could not read or write, he was very wise, and even
the bishop would come to him for advice. He was
involved in his community as a city council member,
and he also belonged to the Franciscan Third Order.
Ceferino lived at the time of the Spanish Civil
War. Certain revolutionaries targeted anyone they
suspected of siding with their opponents. This
included the Catholic Church. A revolutionary movement
called the Red Terror burned down churches
and convents and put thousands of priests and nuns
to death. One day, Ceferino noticed a young priest
who was being bullied by some revolutionaries. In
trying to defend the priest, Ceferino was arrested.
Imprisoned for fifteen days, he remained strong in his
faith and continued to pray, reciting the rosary each
day. On August 9, 1936, he was taken to the cemetery
of Barbastro and shot to death by a firing squad
because he would not renounce his Catholic faith.
Eighteen other people, mostly priests and religious,
were put to death with him too. Ceferino was seventy-
five years old.
Ceferino Giménez Malla was beatified on May 4,
1997, as the second lay martyr of the Spanish Civil
War. He is the first gypsy to be beatified.
The story of Blessed Ceferino shows that all people
are called by Jesus to lead holy lives. Our
Church is made up of a wonderful variety of races
and cultures. We should respect and appreciate
them all.
|
|
May 5 |
back to top |
St. Mary Mazzarello
|
Mary Mazzarello was born in 1837 near Genoa,
Italy. She was the daughter of hardworking peasants,
and she herself worked in the fields as a child. When
she was seventeen, she joined a group of women
devoted to our Lady. The group was called the
Daughters of Mary Immaculate.
In 1860, Mary came down with a sickness
called typhoid. She was no longer able to work in
the fields. She decided to start a dressmaking business
with her friend, Petronilla. The two young
women would pray together as they did their
sewing. They talked about a holy priest they knew
named Don Bosco, who was working with boys
who needed help. Soon they had the idea to begin
a school for girls.
Don Bosco liked their idea and asked Pope Pius IX
for permission to start a new order of sisters who
would teach young girls. In 1872, Don Bosco (now
known as St. John Bosco) founded the Daughters of
Our Lady Help of Christians, also called the Salesian
Sisters. Mother Mary Mazzarello became their superior.
The community grew quickly. By 1900 there were
nearly 800 convents and schools. The sisters carried
out other works of charity in addition to their teaching
ministry.
Mother Mary Mazzarello died at the motherhouse
at Nizza Monferrato on April 27, 1881. She was canonized
by Pope Pius XII in 1951.
From her childhood, St. Mary Mazzarello did
whatever work she had to do with great love. When
she was unable to do one kind of work, she found
something else she could do. Because she was ready
to serve, God entrusted her with an important
work in the Church.
|
|
May 6 |
back to top |
Blessed Francois de Montmorency Laval
|
Francois was born in 1623 in a small town in
France. He received a good Catholic education. He
studied with the Jesuits and then went to Paris to
complete his preparation for the priesthood. Francois
became a priest in May, 1647, and a bishop on
December 8, 1658. He arrived in Canada in 1659 to
serve as Quebec’s first bishop.
Bishop Laval had a missionary spirit. He shared
the pioneer life of his people. He took on the huge
task of organizing the Church in Canada, which was
still mission territory. Bishop Laval asked the Jesuit
missionaries to minister to the native people. He created
new parishes for the French-speaking Catholics.
He started the Seminary of Quebec in 1663. This was
of great importance because a good seminary would
train future priests for God’s people.
Bishop Laval loved the people of his vast territory.
He was a caring bishop and a prayerful man. He
spoke out against the harmful abuse of alcohol,
which was a great problem in his area at that time.
The way that the civil authorities constantly interfered
with the life of the Church also made him suffer
very much.
In 1688, Bishop Laval retired. He was replaced by
Bishop de Saint-Vallier. Bishop Laval devoted the last
twenty years of his life to charitable and spiritual
works. He died in 1708. People came from all over to
pray at his tomb, and miracles were reported. Pope
John Paul II declared Bishop Laval “blessed” on June
22, 1980.
Blessed Francois helps us understand what it
means to be a missionary. He had the courage to
leave his own country to go to Canada when it was
still a mission land. We can ask Blessed Francois to
make us aware of the Church all around the world.
Let’s remember to pray that people in every country
will come to learn about Jesus.
|
|
May 7 |
back to top |
Blessed Rose Venerini
|
Rose was born in Viterbo, Italy, in 1656. Her father
was a doctor. Rose entered the convent but returned
home after a few months. Her father had died and she
felt responsible for the care of her mother.
Rose, who would remain single, recognized her
own leadership qualities. She gathered the young
women in her neighborhood to pray the rosary in
the evenings. As they all got to know each other,
Rose became aware of how little the young people
knew about their Catholic faith. Rose and two of
her friends opened a free school for girls in 1685.
The parents who sent their daughters there were
very pleased with the quality of education and the
atmosphere.
Rose was a gifted educator. Above all, she was
able to teach others to teach. In 1692, Cardinal
Barbarigo invited Rose to his diocese. He wanted her
to organize his schools and train his teachers. It was
in his diocese that she became a friend and teacher
of Lucy Filippini. Lucy later started her own religious
order and was proclaimed a saint in 1930.
Rose organized schools in various places. Some
people didn’t like her work, and they said unkind
things about her and her teachers. But Rose never
gave up. Rose even opened a school in Rome in 1713.
Pope Clement XI praised Rose for starting such a
wonderful school.
This dedicated teacher died in Rome on May 7,
1728, at the age of seventy-two. After Rose’s death,
her group of teachers became a religious community
known as the Venerini Sisters. They continue to
teach in the spirit of Rose Venerini. Rose was
declared “blessed” by Pope Pius XII in 1952.
Blessed Rose realized the value of education
and dedicated her life to the teaching ministry.
Today, think of a teacher who has made a difference
in your life and thank God for her or him.
|
|
May 8 |
back to top |
Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine
|
Catherine was born on May 3, 1632, in a little village
in France. She was baptized the same day.
Catherine came from a religious family. Her grandparents
set a wonderful example for her, especially
because of their genuine care for the poor. Catherine
watched wide-eyed as her grandmother invited a
handicapped beggar into her home. She offered him
a bath, clean clothes, and a delicious meal. As
Catherine and her grandparents sat around the fire
that night, they prayed the Our Father out loud. They
thanked God for his blessings.
Because there was no hospital in their small town,
the sick were nursed back to health in the home of
Catherine’s grandparents. Catherine was just a little girl
but she prayed to ask Jesus to make people suffer less.
When she was still quite young, Catherine joined
a new order called the Sisters of St. Augustine. They
took care of the sick in hospitals. Catherine received
the religious habit on October 24, 1646. Her older sister
pronounced her vows the same day. In 1648,
Catherine listened to the missionary priests begging
sisters to come to Canada, which was mission territory
at that time. Catherine’s sister was chosen to be
one of the first sisters of their order to go as a missionary
to Canada. Sister Catherine begged to be chosen
too. She pronounced her vows on May 4, 1648.
She sailed for Canada the very next day. It was the day
before her sixteenth birthday.
Life was hard in Quebec, Canada. But Sister
Catherine loved the people. The native people were
so grateful for her cheerful ways. She cooked and
cared for the sick in the order’s simple hospital
building. But Sister Catherine learned about fear, too.
The Iroquois were killing people and burning villages.
She prayed to St. John Brebeuf, one of the
Jesuit priests who had recently been killed by the
Iroquois in 1649. She asked him to help her be true
to her calling. She heard him speaking in her heart,
telling her to remain in Canada. Food became scarce,
and the winters were terribly cold. Some of the sisters
could not take the harsh life and constant fear of
death. Sadly, they returned to France. Sister Catherine
was afraid, too. She found it hard to pray. And while
she smiled at all her patients at the hospital, she felt
sad inside. It was then, when things were darkest for
her, that Sister Catherine made a vow to remain in
Canada, performing works of charity for the rest of
her life. She was just twenty-two years old.
Despite the hard pioneer life of the French
colony, more people came. The Church grew. God
blessed the new land with more missionaries. In
1665, Sister Catherine became the novice directress
of her community. She kept up her life of prayer and
hospital ministry until her death. Sister Marie
Catherine of St. Augustine died on May 8, 1668. She
was thirty-six years old. She was declared “blessed” by
Pope John Paul II in 1989.
Jesus never promised that our lives would be
easy and without pain or trouble. But he did promise
to be with us always. When we become afraid or
downhearted, we can ask Blessed Catherine to help
us to be as courageous as she was.
|
|
May 9 |
back to top |
Blessed Nicholas Albergati
|
Nicholas was born in Bologna, Italy. His family
could afford to send him to the university where he
began to study law. But after a few years, he decided
not to become a lawyer. At the age of twenty, Nicholas
joined the Carthusian Order. In 1417, he was chosen
to be bishop of his native diocese. He had not counted
on that at all. He could not even believe it could be
God’s will. But his superiors assured him it was.
People liked Bishop Nicholas. He lived in a small,
plain house. He was like them. He began to visit the
people of his diocese. He went to the poorest families
first. He talked with them and helped them with their
needs. He blessed their homes. The people were very
grateful.
Bishop Nicholas became a cardinal in 1426. He
was known to be wise and holy. Two popes, Martin V
and Eugene IV, consulted him about important
Church matters. Nicholas also encouraged learning.
In fact, he wrote several books himself.
Bishop Nicholas died in 1443, while on a visit to
Siena, Italy. Pope Eugene IV had his body brought
back to Bologna. The pope himself participated in
the funeral Mass and burial.
Do you ever feel upset when you don’t get attention?
That’s the time to pray to Blessed Nicholas. He
didn’t even want the attention he received. Blessed
Nicholas will show us how much better it is to
spend our time praising God.
|
|
May 10 |
back to top |
Blessed Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai
|
Joseph de Veuster was born in 1840, the son of
Belgian farmers. He and his brother, Pamphile, joined
the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
These missionaries were responsible for bringing the
Catholic faith to the Hawaiian Islands.
Joseph chose the name “Damien” when he
entered the Sacred Hearts Congregation. Brother
Damien was tall and strong. His years of helping on
the family farm had given him a healthy look.
Everybody liked him because he was good-natured
and generous.
More missionaries were needed in the kingdom
of Hawaii (Hawaii was not a state at that time). In
1864, a group of Sacred Hearts priests and brothers
were chosen to go. Pamphile, Damien’s brother, was
selected. Just before the departure date, Pamphile
came down with typhoid fever. He could no longer
consider going to the missions. Brother Damien, still
studying to become a priest, asked to take his place.
The father general accepted Damien’s offer. Damien
went home to his family to say goodbye. Then he
took the ship from Belgium to Hawaii. The voyage
lasted eighteen weeks. Damien finished his studies
and was ordained a priest in Hawaii. He spent nine
years among the people of three districts. He traveled
on horseback and by canoe.
The people loved this tall, generous priest. He
saw that they responded to ceremonies. He used the
little money he could raise to build chapels. He and
volunteer parishioners built the chapels themselves.
But the most incredible part of Damien’s life was
soon to begin. The bishop asked for a volunteer
priest to go to the island of Molokai. The very name
struck the people with fear and dread. They knew
that the section of the island called Kalawao was the
“living graveyard” of people dying of leprosy. There
was so much ignorance about the disease and such
great fear of contagion that lepers were mostly abandoned.
Many just despaired. There was no priest, no
law enforcement agent on Molokai, no doctor or hospital.
The Hawaiian government sent some food and
medical supplies to the lepers, but it was not
enough. And there was no organized way of distributing
these goods.
Father Damien volunteered to go to Molokai.
Faced with the poverty, corruption and despair, he felt
afraid at first. But he made up his mind that for him
there was no turning back. The people were desperately
in need of help. He went to Honolulu to confront
the members of the board of health. They told
him that he could not travel back and forth to Molokai
for fear of contagion. Their real reason was that they
didn’t want him on Molokai. They didn’t want to be
reminded that they were responsible for the lepers. So
Damien had to make a choice: if he went back to
Molokai, he could never leave again. The board of
health didn’t know Damien. He chose Molokai.
Father Damien worked hard for eighteen years
until his death on Molokai. With the help of the lepers
and generous volunteers, Molokai was transformed.
The word Molokai took on a whole different
meaning. It became an island of Christian love. Father
Damien eventually became a leper himself. He died
on April 15, 1889, at the age of forty-nine and was
buried on the island. He was proclaimed “blessed” by
Pope John Paul II in 1994.
Let’s ask Blessed Damien to give us some of his
bravery and generosity. There are so many people
who need our love and support. Blessed Damien
will help us respond to them with joy and kindness.
|
|
May 11 |
back to top |
St. Ignatius of Laconi
|
Ignatius was the son of a poor farmer in Laconi,
Italy. He was born on December 17, 1701. When he
was about seventeen, he became very ill. He promised
to become a Franciscan if he would get better.
But when the illness left him, his father convinced
him to wait. A couple of years later, Ignatius was
almost killed when he lost control of his horse.
Suddenly, however, the horse stopped and trotted on
quietly. Ignatius was convinced that God had saved
his life. He made up his mind to follow his religious
vocation at once, and he joined the Franciscans.
Brother Ignatius never held any important position
in the Franciscan Order. For fifteen years he
worked as a weaver. Then for forty years he carried
out the task of asking for donations. He went from
house to house requesting food and offerings to support
the friars. Ignatius visited families and received
their gifts. But the people soon realized that they
received a gift in return. Brother Ignatius consoled
the sick and cheered up the lonely. He made peace
between enemies, converted people hardened by sin,
and advised those in trouble. The people began to
wait for his visits.
There were some difficult days too. Once in a
while, a door was slammed in his face, and often the
weather was bad. Always, there were miles and miles
to walk. But Ignatius remained kind and faithful. He
died at the age of eighty, on May 11, 1781. Ignatius
was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1951.
St. Ignatius was a happy, dedicated Franciscan.
He makes us realize that the best gift we can give
anyone is our good example.
|
|
May 12 |
back to top |
St. Pancras
|
Pancras, a fourteen-year-old orphan, lived in the
late third century. He was not a native of Rome. He
was brought there by his uncle who looked after
him. Pancras became a follower of Jesus and was
baptized. Although just a boy, he was arrested for
being a Christian during the reign of the emperor
Diocletian. Pancras refused to give up his faith. For
that, he was sentenced to death and was beheaded.
He became a very popular martyr in the early
Church. People admired him for being so young and
so brave. In 514, a large church was built in Rome to
honor him. In 596, the famous missionary, St.
Augustine of Canterbury, went to bring the Christian
faith to England. He named his first church there
after St. Pancras.
St. Pancras and the other martyrs we remember
today remind us of the importance of our Catholic
faith. It should mean as much to us as it did to each
of them. If we need to grow stronger in our faith,
let’s ask St. Pancras to help us.
Today is also the feast day of St. Nereus and St.
Achilleus.
|
|
May 13 |
back to top |
Our Lady of Fatima
|
On May 13, 1917, three children were watching
their sheep in a valley called the Cova da Iria, near the
town of Fatima, in Portugal. They were ten-year-old
Lucia dos Santos, and her cousins, nine-year-old
Francisco and seven-year-old Jacinta Marto.
A flash of lightning suddenly startled them. The
children thought a storm was coming, so they quickly
began herding their sheep toward home. A second
flash made them look around. They saw a beautiful
young woman standing above a small oak tree.
“Don’t be afraid,” she called reassuringly. ”Come closer.“
The woman wore a robe and mantle of white,
with gold trim. Her hands, joined in prayer, were
holding a rosary. She shone with a light that was
brighter than the sun.
Lucia asked the woman, ”Who are you? What do
you want?”
She answered, ”I am from heaven. Come here on
the thirteenth of each month for five months. On
October 13, I will give a sign that will make everyone
believe.”
The Blessed Mother kept her promise. The children
saw her once more on June 13 and July 13.
The mayor of the nearby town of Ourem didn’t
like this story of a heavenly lady appearing to chil-
dren. On the morning of August 13, he offered Lucia
and her cousins a ride to the Cova, where they were
supposed to meet the lady again. But once he had
them in his car, he brought them to the police station
instead, and kept them in custody for two days. He
couldn’t outsmart the Blessed Virgin, though. She simply
appeared to the children several days later!
A priest of the diocese questioned Lucia about
the visions. How many times had they seen the
Blessed Virgin? How long did she stay with them?
What did she look like? Lucia answered all the questions.
The priest also knew that Mary had told the
children a secret. But he did not pressure Lucia to
tell him what it was. Lucia told the priest a little
prayer that Mary had taught them: ”My Jesus, forgive
us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all
souls to heaven, especially those in most need of
your mercy.”
The Blessed Virgin again visited the children at
the Cova on September 13. On October 13, 1917,
70,000 people came to the Cova to witness the miracle
that Mary had promised. It was a rainy day. But
Lucia asked the people to close their umbrellas. The
rain stopped. Mary appeared to the children.
Suddenly, the clouds left the sky and the sun came
out. The crowds saw it spinning and shooting out
flames like a fireworks display. One by one the sun
took on all the colors of the rainbow. This happened
three times and the scene lasted for ten minutes.
Then the sun seemed to fall from the sky toward the
earth. The people fell to their knees. Many thought it
was the end of the world. They wept and asked forgiveness
for their sins. Suddenly the sun stopped its
fall and returned to its normal color and its usual
place in the sky.
While the sun had been spinning and changing
colors, only Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta had seen
Mary appear as Our Lady of the Rosary, with St.
Joseph beside her holding the Child Jesus. Then
Jesus alone appeared and blessed the crowd. Mary
also appeared as Our Lady of Sorrows and then
dressed as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mary told the
children what she wanted: She asked that people
pray the rosary and change their lives. They should
ask forgiveness for sins. She also asked that a chapel
be built at the Cova da Iria. The chapel was begun in
1919. Together with Lourdes, Fatima has become the
most popular place of pilgrimage for Christians.
In December, 1918, both Francisco and Jacinta
became very sick with the flu. In those days they
didn’t have the medicines we have today, and
Francisco’s illness turned into pneumonia. He died
on April 4, 1919. A few months later, Jacinta’s sickness
developed into pleurisy, a disease which seriously
affected her lungs. She underwent surgery, but
died on February 20, 1920. Lucia entered the convent
in 1928, becoming a Sister of St. Dorothy. In 1948 she
transferred to the Carmelite monastery in Coimbra,
Portugal. As of the date this book was printed, she is
still living there as a Carmelite nun.
Our Lady came to Fatima as a loving mother.
She wants us to be truly happy and reminds us that
this can only happen when we live as Jesus taught.
Let’s pray the rosary often, thinking about the lives
of Jesus and Mary.
|
|
May 14 |
back to top |
St. Matthias
|
Matthias was one of the Lord’s seventy-two disciples.
He had been a follower of Jesus before the crucifixion.
While waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit,
120 of Jesus’ followers gathered to pray. St. Peter asked
them to choose an apostle to replace Judas. This was
very important because that man would be a bishop,
as the other apostles were. Peter said that they should
choose someone who had been with Jesus from his
baptism in the Jordan River until his resurrection.
The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles tells
us what happened. The group proposed two names.
One was Matthias, the other was Joseph, also called
Barsabbas. Then everyone prayed and asked the Lord to
let them know which of the two men should take the
place of Judas. Next they cast lots, and Matthias’ name
was chosen. He became one of the twelve apostles.
St. Matthias was a dedicated apostle. He preached
the Good News in Judea, Cappadocia (modern-day
Turkey), and on the Caspian seashore. Many people
listened to Matthias. They believed his wonderful
message. The enemies of Jesus grew furious when
they saw how people listened to Matthias. They
decided to stop him by putting him to death.
Matthias died a martyr at Colchis.
The story of St. Matthias reminds us that we are
fortunate to be followers of Jesus and members of
his Church. Let’s ask St. Matthias to show us how to
be more grateful for all that we have received.
|
|
May 15 |
back to top |
St. Isidore the Farmer
|
This saint was born in 1070, in Madrid, Spain. His
parents were very religious. They named their baby
after the great St. Isidore, archbishop of Seville, Spain.
(We celebrated his feast on April 4.) Isidore’s parents
wanted to offer their son a good education, but they
could not afford it because they were tenant farmers.
When Isidore was old enough, he went to work
for a rich landowner in Madrid. This man’s name was
John de Vargas. Isidore worked all his life for Mr. de
Vargas. He married a good woman named Maria
Torribia, who was from a family as poor as his own.
The couple loved each other very much. They had
one child, a boy, who died as a baby. Isidore and his
wife offered to Jesus their sadness over the child’s
death. They trusted that their son was happy with
God forever.
Isidore began each day at Mass. Then he would
go to his job. He tried to work hard even if he didn’t
feel like it. He plowed and planted and prayed. He
called on Mary, the saints and his guardian angel.
They helped him turn ordinary days into special, joyful
times. The world of faith became very real to
Isidore, as real as Mr. de Varga’s fields. When he had a
day off, Isidore made it a point to spend extra time
adoring Jesus in church. Sometimes, on holidays,
Isidore and Maria would visit a few neighboring
parishes on a one-day pilgrimage of prayer.
Once the parish held a dinner. Isidore got there
early and went into the church to pray. He arrived in
the parish hall late. He didn’t come in alone. He
brought a group of beggars with him. The parishioners
were upset. What if there wasn’t enough food
for all those beggars? But the more they filled up
their plates, the more there was for everyone else!
“There is always enough for the poor of Jesus,”
Isidore kindly explained.
Stories of miracles began to circulate about this
farm-worker saint. Isidore was totally unselfish. He
was a loving and compassionate human being. He is
one of Spain’s most popular saints. Isidore died on
May 15, 1130. In March, 1622, Pope Gregory XV proclaimed
five new saints in the same ceremony. They
were St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Teresa
of Avila, St. Philip Neri and St. Isidore the Farmer.
St. Isidore let his faith in Jesus and the Church
light up his whole life. We can ask him to help us
love the Lord and put our faith into practice as he
did.
|
|
May 16 |
back to top |
St. Felix of Cantalice
|
Felix was born in Cantalice, Italy, in 1515. His parents
were poor peasants, and as a boy, Felix worked
as a shepherd and then as a farm laborer. Even so, he
managed to begin each day by attending Mass. As he
worked in the fields, he prayed continually.
Felix joined the Capuchins in Anticoli. He soon
became a model of prayer and penance, humility and
charity. He was sent to the Capuchin monastery in
Rome, where he spent the rest of his life carrying out
the office of questor. This meant that he would go out
of his monastery every day, traveling through nearby
towns asking people for donations to help support his
community. The superiors were careful to choose a
very holy brother who would not give in to greediness,
or be tempted to forget his daily prayers because
he spent so much time outside the monastery. They
trusted Brother Felix so much that he had permission
to use some of the donations he collected to help the
poor and sick people he met each day. One day a
brother asked Brother Felix how he was not distract-
ed by all the things he saw each day. Brother Felix
answered, “Every creature in the world will lift our
hearts to God if we look at it with a good eye.”
While he was in Rome, Brother Felix became
friends with St. Philip Neri. When St. Charles
Borromeo asked St. Philip Neri’s advice in revising
the rule of life for his Oblates, St. Philip gave the book
to Brother Felix and asked him to look it over. St.
Charles was amazed at Brother Felix’s insights and
grateful for his help.
Brother Felix died on May 18, 1587, when he was
seventy-two years old. He was canonized in 1709.
St. Felix teaches us that we can be united to God
in any place and at any time. Whether we find ourselves
in a quiet church or on a busy street, we can
always raise our minds and hearts to God.
|
|
May 17 |
back to top |
St. Paschal Baylon
|
Paschal, a Spanish saint, was born in 1540. From
the time he was seven, he worked as a shepherd. He
never had the opportunity to go to school. Yet he
taught himself to read and write. He did this mainly
by asking everyone he met to help him. He wanted to
learn to read religious books. As he tended sheep
each day, he would also spend his time praying.
When he was twenty-four, Paschal became a
Franciscan brother. Paschal was kind and easy to
get along with. His companions liked him. They
noticed that he often chose the hardest and most
unpleasant chores. He was known for his spirit of
penance. Yet he was a happy person. As a shepherd,
Paschal had wished he could be in church,
praying to Jesus. At that time he couldn’t. Now he
could. He loved to keep Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament company. He considered it an honor to
be a server at Mass.
Brother Paschal’s two great loves were the Holy
Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. Every day Paschal
prayed the rosary with great love. He also wrote
beautiful prayers to our heavenly Mother.
Paschal made himself a little notebook out of
some scraps of paper. In it, he wrote down some
beautiful thoughts and prayers. After he died, his
superior showed the little book to the archbishop.
The archbishop read the book and said, ”These simple
souls are stealing heaven from us!”
Paschal died in 1592 at the age of fifty-two. He
was proclaimed a saint by Pope Alexander VIII in
1690.
What does it take to be a saint? St. Paschal had
the strength to live his religious vocation because of
his devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and the
Blessed Mother. Let’s ask St. Paschal to help us grow
closer to Jesus and Mary.
|
|
May 18 |
back to top |
St. John I
|
John I was a priest of Rome. He became pope
after the death of Pope St. Hormisdas in 523. At that
time, Italy’s ruler was Theodoric the Goth, an Arian.
(The Arians did not believe that Jesus is God.)
In 523 Emperor Justin of Constantinople decreed
that the Arians had to give back to the Catholics the
church buildings they had taken. This made
Theodoric angry. He forced Pope John to go with a
delegation of five bishops and four senators to speak
to the emperor. The emperor and all the people of
Constantinople went out to meet the pope with a
joyful welcome. Justin listened to Pope John, and
decided to change his harsh policy.
But Theodoric was not satisfied. He imagined
there was a conspiracy against him. He thought that
Pope John and Justin I were against him. When the
pope was returning to Rome he was kidnapped in
Ravenna, Theodoric’s capital. Pope John was thrown
into prison by Theodoric’s soldiers. There the pope
died of thirst and starvation in 526.
When we’re tempted to have mean thoughts
about others, we can pray to St. John. He’ll help us
avoid Theodoric’s terrible mistake of acting upon
our angry or jealous thoughts.
|
|
May 19 |
back to top |
St. Celestine V
|
Peter di Morone was the eleventh of twelve children.
He was born around 1210 in Isernia, Italy. His
father died when he was small. The family was poor,
but Peter’s mother raised her children with great
love. She sent Peter to school because he showed
such promise and an eagerness to learn. Once she
asked, ”Which one of you is going to become a saint?”
Little Peter answered with all his heart, ”Me, Mama!
I’ll become a saint!”
When he was twenty, Peter became a hermit. He
spent his days praying, reading the Bible and doing
his work. Other hermits kept coming to him and asking
him to guide them. Eventually, he started a new
order of monks.
When Peter was eighty-four years of age, he was
made pope. It came about in a very unusual way.
For two years there had been no pope. This was
because the cardinals could not agree on whom to
choose. Peter sent them a message. He warned
them to decide quickly, because God was not
pleased with the long delay. The cardinals did as
the monk said. Then and there, they chose Peter
the hermit to be the pope! The poor man wept
when he heard the news. He accepted sadly and
took the name Celestine V.
He was pope for only about four months. Because
he was so humble and simple, King Charles of Naples
and others took advantage of him. Trusting too much
in others, Pope Celestine did whatever they suggested.
Soon there was great confusion. Pope Celestine
felt responsible for all the trouble. He decided that
the best thing he could do for the Church was give
up his position. He asked forgiveness for not having
governed the Church well.
All St. Celestine wanted was to live in one of his
monasteries in peace. But the new pope, Boniface VIII,
thought it would be safer to keep him hidden in a
small room in one of the Roman palaces. St. Celestine
spent the last ten months of his life in a plain room. But
he became his cheerful self again. ”All I wanted in this
world was a cell, and that is what they have given me,”
he would repeat to himself. He died on May 19, 1296.
He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement V in 1313.
St. Celestine was a great monk. The way he handled
his painful time as pope proved that he really
was holy. He shows us that when we try our best, we
can leave the results up to God and be in peace.
|
|
May 20 |
back to top |
St. Bernardine of Siena
|
St. Bernardine of Siena was born in 1380 in a
town near Siena, Italy. He was the son of an Italian
governor. His parents died when he was seven, and
his aunt took him in and raised him. She loved him
as if he were her own child. His relatives also gave
him a good education. He grew up to be a tall, handsome
boy. He was so much fun that his friends
loved to be with him. Yet they knew better than to
use bad language when he was around. He would
not allow it.
This saint had a special love for the Blessed
Mother. She was the one who kept him pure. Even
when he was a teenager, Bernardine would pray to
her as a child talks to his mother.
Bernardine had a kind heart. He felt great pity for
the poor. Once his aunt had no extra food to give a
beggar. The boy cried, “I’d rather go without food
myself than leave that poor man with none.” When a
plague struck the area in 1400, Bernardine and his
friends volunteered their services at the hospital.
They helped the sick and dying day and night for four
months until the plague had ended.
Bernardine joined the Franciscan Order when he
was twenty-two. He became a priest. After several
years, he was assigned to go to towns and cities to
preach. The people needed to be reminded about
the love of Jesus. Bad habits were ruining both young
and old people. “How can I save these people by
myself?” Bernardine asked the Lord in prayer. ”With
what weapons can I fight the devil?” And God
answered, ”My Holy Name will be enough for you.” So
Bernardine spread devotion to the Holy Name of
Jesus. He used this Name a great many times in every
sermon. He asked people to print Jesus’ name over
the gates of their cities, over their doorways—everywhere.
Through devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
and devotion to the Blessed Mother, Bernardine
brought thousands of people from all over Italy back
to the Church.
St. Bernardine spent forty-two years of his life as a
Franciscan. He was offered the opportunity to
become a bishop three times, but declined each time.
In 1430 he was elected vicar general and for twelve
years he worked to reform his Order. As a result of
his efforts, the number of members grew from three
hundred to over four thousand! He died at the age of
sixty-four in Aquila, Italy, on May 20, 1444. He was
declared a saint just six years later, in 1450, by Pope
Nicholas V.
St. Bernardine devoted himself to serving Jesus
and making everyone love his holy name. We can
learn from him to respect the Lord’s name and
avoid the bad habit of using bad language.
|
|
May 21 |
back to top |
St. Christopher Magallanes
|
The beginning of the twentieth century was a
time of social problems and political unrest in
Mexico. With the Constitution of 1917, the Mexican
government sought to drive the Catholic Church out
of the country. But many devout Catholics continued
to practice their faith in secret. And many dedicated
Mexican priests risked their lives in ministering to
the underground or hidden Church.
Padre Christopher Magallanes was one of those
priests. He belonged to the Cristeros Movement. This
was an organization of Catholic priests and laypeople
who had the courage to stand up to the anti-Catholic
government during the 1920s. Padre Magallanes
opened an underground seminary at Totatiche. Here
with other priests he preached the Gospel in secret
and celebrated Mass for the faithful. The people
knew they could go to Padre Christopher to receive
the sacraments and to be strengthened in their faith
during those difficult times of persecution.
Padre Christopher Magallanes was finally arrested
by government authorities and put in prison.
People could hear their beloved priest cry out with
conviction from his jail cell, ”I am innocent and I will
die innocent! With all my heart I forgive those
responsible for my death, and I ask God that the
shedding of my blood will bring peace to our divided
Mexico!”
Padre Christopher was put to death with twenty-one
other diocesan priests and three laymen. They
were all members of the Cristeros Movement.
Pope John Paul canonized Padre Christopher and
the other martyrs on May 21, 2000.
St. Christopher will help us to be true to our
faith, even when it doesn’t seem “popular.” His story
also helps us to be grateful that we are able to practice
our faith in freedom.
|
|
May 22 |
back to top |
St. Rita of Cascia
|
Rita was born in 1381 in a little Italian village.
Her parents, who were elderly, had begged God to
send them a child. They loved Rita and brought her
up well. When she was twelve, Rita wanted to enter
the convent, but her parents decided that she should
marry instead. The man they chose for Rita turned
out to be a cruel and angry husband. He had such a
violent temper that everyone in the neighborhood
was afraid of him. Yet for eighteen years his wife
patiently put up with his insults. Her prayers, gentleness
and goodness finally won his heart. He apologized
to Rita for the way he had treated her and he
returned to God. Rita’s happiness over her husband’s
conversion did not last long. One day, shortly after,
he was murdered. Rita was shocked and heartbroken.
But she forgave the murderers, and tried to
make her two sons forgive them too. She saw that
the boys, instead, were determined to avenge their
father’s death. Rita prayed that they would not commit
murder. Within several months, both boys
became seriously ill. Rita nursed them lovingly.
During their illness, she persuaded them to forgive,
and to ask God’s forgiveness for themselves. They
did, and both died peacefully.
Now that her husband and her children were
dead, Rita asked several times to enter the convent of
the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. But the rules of the
convent did not permit a woman who had been married
to join even if her husband had died. Rita didn’t
give up, however. At last the nuns made an exception
for her. In the convent, Rita stood out for her prayer,
mortification and charity. She had great devotion to
the crucified Jesus. Once, while praying in front of a
crucifix, she asked Jesus to let her share some of his
pain. One thorn from Jesus’ crown of thorns pierced
her forehead and made a wound that never healed. In
fact, it grew so bad that Rita had to stay away from the
other sisters, who were afraid of contagion. But she
was happy to suffer to show her love for Jesus.
Rita died on May 22, 1457, when she was seventy-six.
Like St. Jude, St. Rita is often called the “Saint of
the Impossible.”
Maybe someone we know and love is not living
close to God. We can ask St. Rita to help us know
how to pray for that person. Our kindness and
understanding can be a reflection of God’s love for
that person.
|
|
May 23 |
back to top |
St. John Baptist Rossi
|
John Baptist Rossi was born in 1698 in a village
near Genoa, Italy. His family loved him. They were
grateful when a wealthy couple that they knew hired
John to serve in their household. John was happy to
go to their house in Genoa because then he could
attend school. When he was thirteen, he began studying
for the priesthood at the Roman College. He realized
that studies were easy for him and he signed up
for more and more subjects.
Then John became very sick and had to stop his
studies for a while. After he recovered enough, he
completed his preparation and became a priest. Even
though his health was always poor, Father John did
much good for the people of Rome. He knew what it
was like not to feel well, so he took a special interest
in sick people. He was a frequent visitor to Rome’s
hospitals. Father John especially loved to spend time
with the poor people at the Hospice of St. Galla. This
was a shelter for the poor and homeless. But Father
John became aware of poor people who had no one
to look after their spiritual needs. He noticed those
who brought cattle and sheep to sell at the market.
What hard lives they had. They came in the morning
with their herds. Father John would walk among
them and stop and talk with them. When possible, he
would teach them about the faith and offer them the
sacrament of Reconciliation. Father John’s priestly
ministry made a big difference in their lives.
The priest also felt a deep compassion for the
homeless women and girls. They wandered through
the streets day and night begging. This was dangerous
and very sad. The pope gave Father John money
to open a shelter for homeless women. It was right
near the hospice of St. Galla. Father John placed the
house under the protection of one of his favorite
saints, Aloysius Gonzaga. (The feast of St. Aloysius is
June 21.) Father John became best known for his
kindness and gentleness in confession. People
formed lines near his confessional and waited
patiently for their turn. He once said to a friend that
the best way for a priest to reach heaven was to help
people through the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Another favorite assignment given him by Pope
Benedict XIV was to teach courses of spiritual
instruction to prison officials and state employees.
Father John suffered a stroke in 1763. He never
regained his health. He was able to celebrate Mass
but he suffered greatly. This wonderful priest died at
the age of sixty-six. It was May 23, 1764. He was proclaimed
a saint by Pope Leo XIII in 1881.
We can learn from the life of St. John Baptist to
be grateful for priests and for the sacrament of
Reconciliation. We can also pray to this saint and
ask him to console priests for all the good they do.
|
|
May 24 |
back to top |
Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis
|
Elodie Paradis was born on May 12, 1840, in the
village of L’Acadie in Quebec, Canada. Her parents
were poor and devout Catholics. They loved their little
girl. When Elodie was nine, her parents decided to
send her to a boarding school. They wanted her to
have an excellent education. The sisters of Notre
Dame warmly received the new student. But Elodie
and her family missed each other very much.
Mr. Paradis worked hard running a mill. But times
were bad, and there was not enough work to support
his wife and children. He heard wonderful reports of
the gold rush in California. He was so desperate that
he decided to go. In California, Mr. Paradis did not
find the wealth he had hoped for. When he returned
to L’Acadie, he was shocked to find that his Elodie
had entered the convent. She had joined the Holy
Cross congregation on February 21, 1854. Mr. Paradis
went to the convent. He begged his daughter to
return home, but she chose to remain. Finally, her
father accepted her decision. Elodie pronounced her
vows in 1857, taking the name Sister Marie-Leonie.
She taught school in different cities. She prayed and
lived her life joyfully.
As time went on, Sister Marie-Leonie was led by
Jesus to begin a new religious order in the Church.
The Little Sisters of the Holy Family were begun in
1880. These loving sisters are devoted to the priesthood.
They do the household tasks so that priests will
be able to devote more time to their people. The Little
Sisters of the Holy Family now have many convents in
Canada, the United States, Rome and Honduras.
Mother Marie-Leonie worked for her sisters until
the last few hours of her life. She was always frail and
often ill. But she never stopped caring for God’s people.
She put the finishing touches on the pages of the
rule of life she had written. She had it sent to the
print shop. That book would give her sisters the
guidance they would need to live their religious life.
On Friday, May 3, 1912, Mother Marie-Leonie said she
felt very tired. She went to rest and died a few hours
later. She was seventy-one years old.
Mother Marie-Leonie was declared “blessed” by
Pope John Paul II. The joyful event took place at Jarry
Park, Montreal, Canada, on September 11, 1984.
Little tasks that seem unimportant can be worth
a lot when they’re done with love. When we are carrying
out chores that seem boring or insignificant,
let’s offer them to God with the same spirit Blessed
Marie-Leonie had in doing her work.
|
|
May 25 |
back to top |
St. Bede the Venerable
|
This saint is famous as a priest, a monk, a teacher
and a writer of history. He was born in England
around 672. His parents sent Bede to school at the
nearby Benedictine monastery. He loved the life of
the monks so much that when he grew up he too
became a monk. He remained in that same monastery
for the rest of his life.
Bede loved the Holy Bible very much. He tells us
that it was a joy for him to study the Bible. He loved to
teach it and write about it. When he grew older, sickness
forced him to stay in bed. His pupils came to study
by his bedside. He kept on teaching them and working
on his translation of St. John’s Gospel into English. Many
people could not read Latin. He wanted them to be able
to read the words of Jesus in their own language.
As he grew sicker, Bede realized that he was about
to go back to God. The monks would miss him very
much. He kept on working even when he was seriously
ill. At last, the boy who was doing the writing for him
said, ”There is still one sentence, dear Father, which is
not written down.” “Write it quickly,” answered the
saint. When the boy said, ”It is finished,” the saint said,
“Good! You are right—it is finished. Now please hold
my head up. I want to sit facing the place where I used
to pray. I want to call on my heavenly Father.”
Bede died shortly after, on May 25, 735. He is
thought to be the most learned man of his time. His
most famous book, Church History of the English
People, is the only source for much of early English
history. People call Bede by the respectful title of
“venerable.” He is also a Doctor of the Church.
If St. Bede were alive today, how much time do
you think he would spend watching TV? How much
time do you spend in front of the TV set each day?
What adjustments can you make to allow time for
important things like study, playing with friends,
good reading and household chores?
Today is also the feast day of St. Gregory VII and
St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi.
|
|
May 26 |
back to top |
St. Philip Neri
|
St. Philip Neri was born in Florence, Italy, in 1515.
As a child, his nickname was “Good little Phil.” He was
always so cheerful and friendly that everyone he met
loved him. Philip went to Rome as a teenager. He
studied theology and philosophy for three years and
was a good student. Above all, Philip was a very
active Christian. He lived simply and worked hard.
But he also did much good for the people around
him. He helped poor children. He donated his time to
the sick. He was a friend to people who were troubled
and lonely. In fact, he reached out to everybody
he could for the love of Jesus.
Philip helped start an organization of lay people
to take care of needy pilgrims. That ministry gradually
continued as a famous hospital in Rome. The
priest who guided him realized that Philip was doing
so much to help the Christians of Rome become fervent
again. But it was obvious that Philip had the call
to be a priest. He was ordained in 1551, at the age of
thirty-six, and quickly became sought after as a confessor.
He was available for the sacrament of
Reconciliation for several hours every day. The lines
of people who came to him grew longer. But Father
Philip was never in a hurry. He never ran out of
patience and gentleness.
People began to notice that he could read their
minds at times. He could also in some circumstances
predict the future. The Lord even worked miracles
through him. But all Philip wanted to do was bring
Jesus to the people. To avoid their admiration, he
acted silly once in a while. He wanted people to
laugh and forget that they thought he was holy.
Philip was making a difference in Rome. He founded
a society of priests called the Oratorians, and the
whole city was renewing its faith and devotion. Once
he started to think about being a missionary to far-off
lands. He was very impressed by the life of St. Francis
Xavier, who had died in 1552 at the gate of China.
Philip had been a priest for just one year at the time
of St. Xavier’s death. Should he leave Rome and volunteer
for the missions? A holy Cistercian monk told
him, ”Rome is to be your mission land.” In fact, Father
Philip had become known as “the apostle of Rome.”
Philip spent the last five years of his life offering
the sacrament of Reconciliation to the people. He
died at the age of eighty in 1595. He was proclaimed
a saint by Pope Gregory XV in 1622.
Cheerfulness is an important part of holiness. St.
Philip Neri’s story teaches us that the way to be
really happy is to put God and other people first in
our lives. If we only think about ourselves we’ll
never feel satisfied.
|
|
May 27 |
back to top |
St. Augustine of Canterbury
|
Augustine was the abbot of St. Andrew’s
monastery in Rome. Pope Gregory the Great chose
him and forty other monks for an important mission.
They were to go and preach the Gospel to the people
of England. Abbot Augustine and the monks started
on their journey. When they reached southern
France, people warned them that the English were
fierce. The monks felt discouraged. They asked
Augustine to go back and obtain the pope’s permission
to give up the whole idea. He did, but the pope
wanted the monks to go to England just the same.
Pope Gregory knew that the people were ready to
accept the Christian faith. And so the monks continued
their journey. They arrived in England in 597.
The missionary monks were kindly received by
King Ethelbert, whose wife was a Christian princess
from France. The monks formed a procession when
they arrived. They walked along singing psalms.
They carried a cross and a picture of our Lord. Many
people welcomed the monks’ message. King
Ethelbert himself was baptized on Pentecost, 597.
That year Abbot Augustine became a bishop.
Augustine often wrote to the pope. And Pope St.
Gregory gave him much holy advice. Speaking about
the many miracles Augustine worked, the pope said:
“You must rejoice with fear and fear with joy for that
gift.” He meant that Augustine should be happy that
through the miracles the English people were putting
faith in the Gospel. But he should be careful not to take
credit for the miracles, because they were from God.
At Canterbury, Augustine built a church and
a monastery, which became the most important
in England. It was there that he was buried.
St. Augustine died on May 26, 604, seven years after
his arrival in England.
If our parents or teachers ask us to do something
that seems difficult or uninteresting, we
should do it as best as we can. St. Augustine will
help us because he knows how it feels to be given a
difficult assignment.
|
|
May 28 |
back to top |
St. Mariana of Quito
|
Mariana de Paredes y Flores was born at Quito,
Ecuador, in 1618. At that time Ecuador was part of
Peru. Mariana’s parents were Spanish nobles, but they
died when she was a child. Mariana’s married sister
took her into her home and raised her.
From her early years, Mariana was drawn to a life of
prayer. She chose to stay at home, doing humble chores
and devoting her time to prayer and acts of penance.
She placed herself under the guidance of a Jesuit priest.
Mariana became known for her holiness of life.
She had the gift of prophecy and worked miracles. In
1645, Quito was badly shaken by an earthquake. This
was followed by an epidemic. Mariana offered her life
to make up for the sins of the people of Quito. As
soon as she made her offering, the epidemic came to
an end. Mariana died on May 26 of the same year.
The people of Ecuador lovingly call St. Mariana
the “Lily of Quito.” She was canonized in 1950.
St. Mariana can help us to have faith in the
power of prayer and penance. There are many
needs to pray for in the world today. We can do our
part by offering up prayers and little sacrifices for
the needs of others.
|
|
May 29 |
back to top |
Blessed Eugene de Mazenod
|
Eugene was born in France in 1782. He became a
priest in 1811. Father Eugene was sensitive to the
needs of the poor, and he ministered to them. He was
always eager to find new ways to reach out to young
people, too. He wanted to bring them to the love and
practice of their faith. Father Eugene believed in the
value of parish missions. He realized that missionary
priests in a parish could help the people to better
love and appreciate their Catholic faith.
Father Eugene began a new religious order of
priests and lay brothers in 1816. They were missionaries
called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Their special
work was to go to people who had never heard of
Jesus and his Church. Father Eugene and the members
of his order were courageous in answering the
requests of bishops who needed their help. Bishop
Ignace Bourget of Montreal was especially eager to
have the help of the Oblates. He must have been very
convincing because Father Eugene sent several of his
members to Montreal. Within ten years, the Oblates
had grown rapidly. They reached all of Canada and had
begun to minister in the United States, too.
In 1837, Father Eugene was consecrated bishop
of Marseilles, France. He became known for his loyalty
and love for the pope. He was also a gifted
organizer and educator. Bishop Eugene remained
superior of his order until he died in 1861.
The great work Bishop Eugene de Mazenod started
continues today through the Oblate missionaries
around the world. They staff many mission posts,
parishes and universities.
saint of Paris.
Blessed Eugene had the courage to respond to
the needs of God’s people as he saw them. Let’s ask
him to show us how we too can help the people
around us.
|
|
May 30 |
back to top |
St. Joan of Arc
|
Joan was born in 1412. Her hometown was
Domremy, a little village in France. Jacques d’Arc, her
father, was a hardworking farmer. Her mother was
gentle and loving. She taught Joan many practical
things so that Joan could later say, ”I can sew and spin
as well as any woman.” Joan loved to pray, especially
at the shrines of our Blessed Mother. But this honest
little peasant girl was to become a heroine....
One day while Joan was watching her sheep, St.
Michael the Archangel, the patron of her country, told
her, ”Daughter of God, go save France!” For three years
she heard the voices of saints calling her to action.
When she was sixteen, she began her mission.
At that time, there was a war going on between
France and England. It was called the Hundred Years’
War. England had won so much French land that the
king of England called himself the king of France, too.
The real French king was weak and selfish. He
thought that the French armies would never be able
to save the country.
After being examined by many priests and
experts to make sure that she really was seeing
visions of the saints and really had been given a special
mission to carry out, Joan received permission to
lead an army into the French city of Orleans, which
the English had almost captured. In her white, shining
armor, this young teenager rode with her banner
flying above her. On it were the names of JESUS and
MARY. Joan was wounded by an arrow in the great
battle of Orleans, but she kept on urging the men in
her army to victory. At last they won! Then Joan and
her army went on to win more and more battles. The
English armies had to retreat.
After the victories, Joan’s time of suffering began.
She was captured and sold to the British. The
ungrateful French king did not even try to save her.
She was put in prison and falsely charged as being
guilty of witchcraft and heresy (denying or doubting
a truth of the Catholic faith).After an unfair trial Joan
was burned at the stake on May 29, 1431. Joan was
not even twenty, yet she went bravely to her death.
The last word on her lips was “Jesus.” Four hundred
and eighty-nine years later, on May 16, 1920, Pope
Benedict XV proclaimed Joan a saint.
St. Joan was asked by God to accomplish a very
difficult, nearly impossible task. She trusted God
and did what he asked. When we have to do something
hard, we can ask St. Joan to help us.
|
|
May 31 |
back to top |
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
|
When the archangel Gabriel announced to the
Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of
the Savior, he also told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth
was going to have a baby. Elizabeth was an older
woman. Mary knew that she would appreciate some
help. So she started out at once on the journey to
Elizabeth’s house.
Mary’s trip was long and dangerous. Riding on a
donkey, it was uncomfortable too. But that didn’t stop
her. Mary reached her cousin’s house and greeted
Elizabeth. At that moment, God revealed to Elizabeth
that Mary had become his mother. Elizabeth asked
joyfully, ”How have I deserved that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?” Mary remained humble.
She quickly gave all the credit to God. She exclaimed:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior, for he has regarded the lowliness of
his handmaid, and holy is his name.”
What graces the Blessed Mother brought to the
home of her cousin! St. John the Baptist, while still
hidden in his mother’s womb, was cleansed of original
sin. Zachary, Elizabeth’s husband who had
become mute for doubting the angel of God, was able
to speak again. And Elizabeth was filled with the gifts
of the Holy Spirit.
Mary stayed three months at her cousin’s home.
With great kindness and love, she helped Elizabeth. It
was a wonderful time for them both.
Elizabeth’s home was filled with grace through
Mary’s visit. We will receive many blessings too if
we love and pray to our heavenly Mother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
