Day 238 -- Pope Saint Pius V

Today let us remember a former pope: Saint Pius V. He was born to an impoverished Italian family as Antoni Ghisleri on January 17, 1504 in Lombardy, Italy. When he was a boy he worked as shepherd. He went to school and learned from the Dominican friars and he joined the Order himself in 1518 taking the name Michele. He was ordained in 1528 and taught philosophy and divinity in Genoa. He then was a professor of theology in Pavia, Italy for 16 years. For the Dominicans he was the novice master and prior and worked to make the men adhere to the Order's Rule. He was consecrated, against his will, as bishop of Nepi e Sutri on September 4, 1556. He was then made cardinal on March 15, 1557. He was part of the conclave in 1559 which elected Pope Pius IV. He worked to lead his flock in his diocese through person piety and devotion to God. He was chosen as the 225th pope in 1566. As pope, immediately he had the task of enacting the reforms of the Council of Trent. Seminaries were opened, a new breviary, new missal, and new catechism were published. He helped spread the faith and preserve the doctrine of the Church. As pope, he personally worked with the needy by building hospitals. He was worked in a Christian European alliance to break the power of the Islamic states, but he died on May 1, 1572 in Rome of renal disorder. He is buried in the chapel of San Andrea, Saint Peter's Basilica. He was canonized on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI. He is patron of Bosco Marengo, Italy.

"Following the example of our predecessors, seeing that the Church militant, which God has placed in our hands, in these our times is tossed this way and that by so many heresies, and is grievously troubled and afflicted by so many wars, and by the deprave morals of men, we also raise our eyes, weeping but full of hope, unto that same mountain, whence every aid comes forth, and we encourage and admonish each member of Christ’s faithful to do likewise in the Lord."

Day 237 -- Saint Catherine of Siena

"If you are what you should be, you will set the world ablaze!"

Today we honor another one of my favorite saints, Saint Catherine of Siena. One of my favorite quotes is above. This quote is on the signature of my work email. Saint Catherine was the youngest child from a large family born in Siena, Tuscany, Italy on March 25, 1347. At the young age of 6 she had a vision that Jesus appeared and blessed her. Even though her parents wanted her to marry, she became a Dominican tertiary. She was a mystic and had the stigmata. She received another vision where she was in a mystical marriage with Christ and the Infant Christ gave her a wedding ring. She was a counselor to Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI. She died on April 29, 1380 from a mysterious and painful illness that came without notice and she was not properly diagnosed. She was canonized in July 1461. She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on October 4, 1970.


Prayer for the Gifts of Saint Catherine of Siena
God of Wisdom you made our sister Catherine burn with divine love in contemplating the Lord's passion and in serving your Church. With the help of her prayers may your people, united in the mystery of Christ, rejoice forever in the revelation of his glory, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

"To the servant of God ...

every place is the right place, and every time is the right time."

Day 236 -- Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort AND Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Today we honor two wonderful saints in our Catholic Church, and I could not choose which one to write about, so I will share a little bit about each one: Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and Saint Gianna Beretta Molla.

Saint Louis deMontfort was born on January 31, 1673 in Paris and ordained in 1700. He enjoyed reading about the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, and saints when they were related to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom, a religious institute of women. He began preaching about the rosary and Marian devotion. He preached about Mary to everyone he met. He was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. He wrote The Secret of the Rosary and founded a missionary band known as the Company of Mary. But the greatest contribution that Saint Louis de Montfort gave to the world is the Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin. Pope John Paul II used this consecration and to every place that he visited. He died on April 28, 1716 and was canonized on July 20, 1947. His cause for him to be added as a Doctor of the Church is now being pursued.


The other saint we remember today was a doctor and a young mother, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla. She was born on October 4, 1922 in Milan, Italy as the 10th of 13 children into a pious family. One sister became a nun and 2 became priests. She started a clinic Mero in 1950. Two years later and began working with mothers, babies, elderly, and the poor. She was active in Catholic Action and considered religious life, but married Pietro Molls on September 1955. She was the mother of 3 and continued her medical career which she considered a gift from God. During her pregnancy with her 4th child, she was diagnosed with a large ovarian cyst. Her surgeon recommended an abortion to save her life. She refused and a week after she gave birth, she died on April 28, 1962. Today her daughter is a doctor and involved in the pro-life movement. Saint Gianna was canonized on May 16, 2004.

"I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart, the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy Will, the grace to confide in You, the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms." -Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

I enjoyed reading about both of these saints and one thing I have wanted to do is the 33 day consecration to Mary and one begins on August 13, the day I leave for World Youth Day. I need more of the Blessed Virgin Mary in my life, leading her to her Son, Jesus Christ.

Day 235 -- Blessed Mariana of Jesus

Blessed Mariana of Jesus is also known as the Lily of Madrid. She was born on January 17, 1565 in Madrid, Spain with the birth name of Mariana Navarra de Guevara. She was the oldest child and the only daughter that her parents had. When she was 23 years old she turned down a marriage proposal to become a Discalced Meredarian nun in Madrid. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to a life of intense prayer and penance. She wrote her spiritual biography when she was ordered to by her superiors. She died on April 17, 1624 in Madrid of natural causes. Her body is incorrupt. She was beatified by Pope Pius VI and awaits canonization.

Day 234 -- Saint Rafael Arnáiz Barón

I chose the saint today because he is one of the patrons of World Youth Day 2011. Saint Rafael Arnáiz Barón was born in Burgos, Spain on April 9, 1911. Even though he studied architecture in Madrid and was an artistic person, he felt a call to religious life. On April 15, 1934 he became an oblate friar of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappist). He suffered from acute diabetes which forced him to leave the monastery three times, but each time he was healed and was able to return to the monastic life. He died only four years later on April 26, 1938 in Palencia, Spain. He was only 27 years old. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009.

In addition to being one of the patrons of WYD '11 he is also the patron against diabetes.


On the day of his canonization, Benedict XVI said, “Brother Rafael, living so close to our time, continues with his example and works to offer us an attractive way, especially for young people who are not only satisfied with little, but who aspire to the full truth, to the most unspeakable joy, which is achieved through the love of God.”

Day 233 -- Saint Mark the Evangelist

Today we honor one of the four Evangelists--Saint Mark. His name means God is gracious and is depicted with a lion. It is believed that he was the young man who ran away when Jesus was arrested in Mark 14. He was a disciple of Saint Peter and traveled with him to Rome. Peter often referred to him as "my son Mark." He was cousins with Saint Barnabas and traveled with him and Saint Paul through Cyprus. He evangelized in Alexandria, Egypt and established a Church there and served as the first bishop. He died as a martyr on April 25, 68 in Alexandria. His relics are in Venice, Italy.

He is the patron of many things:
--against insect bites
--attorneys / lawyers
--people imprisoned
--notaries
--stained glass workers
--Egypt and Venice, Italy


Mark begins his Gospel with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. He gets right to the heart of Jesus' ministry. Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. For commentary about the Gospel of Mark, visit the USCCB's website.


Here are some of my favorite lines from the Gospel of Mark:
Mark 1:11 -- "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Mark 1:17 -- "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Mark 9:24 -- "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief."
Mark 10:14 -- "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Mark 16:15 -- ""Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."

Day 232 -- Saint Benedetto Menni

Saint Benedetto Menni was born on March 11, 1841 in Milan, Italy as Angelo Ercole Menni Figini. He was 5th of 15 children to Luigi and Luisa. He was a brother in the Order of Saint John of God Hospitaler. He studied philosophy and theology at the seminary of Lodi and then the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome. He was ordained in 1866 and in 1867, by order of Pope Pius IX he began the restoration of the Saint John of God Order in Spain and Portugal. On May 31, 1881 he founded the Congregation of Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He cared for the elderly, abandoned children, polio victims, and mentally ill and made this his life's work. He died in 1914 in Dinan, France of natural cases. His relics are at the Motherhouse of the Congregation of Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Ciempozuelos, Spain. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on November 21, 1999.

Here is a longer biography from the Vatican.

Day 231 -- Blessed Maria Gabriella

"My desire is nothing else but to love."

Blessed Maria Gabriella was born into a family of shepherds in 1914 in Sardinia, Italy and was described as obstinate, critical, and rebellious-- but also loyal and obedient. At 18 she became gentler, became involved in prayer and charity and joined "Azione Cattolic" a Catholic youth movement. At 21 she entered the Trappestine monastery of Grottaferrata. When she was accepted her attitude was "now do what You will." When her Community explained a request for prayer and offering, she felt compelled to offer her young life to the cause. She suddenly developed tuberculosis and only 15 months later, it took her life. She died on April 23, 1939 during vespers. Her body was found incorrupt in 1957. Her relics are in the chapel of the monastery of Vitorchiano. She was beatified on January 25, 1983. She is the patron against bodily ills, against death of parents, and against poverty. For more information check out her website.


In simplicity of heart I gladly offer everything, O Lord. The Lord put me on this path, he will remember to sustain me in battle. To His mercy I entrust my frailty. I saw in front of me a big cross..., I thought that my sacrifice was nothing in comparison to His. I offered myself entirely and I do not withdraw the given word. God's will whatever it may be, this is my joy, my happiness, my peace. I will never be able to thank enough. I cannot say but these words:" My God, your Glory."

Day 230 -- Saint Epipodius of Lyon

Today on Good Friday, we have a saint who is the patron on torture and betrayal victims, Saint Epipodius of Lyon. He was friend of and worker with Saint Alexander of Lyon. He was imprisoned, tortured, and martyred during the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius. He never joined an order, but he was a celibate bachelor and devoted his time to work for God. He was beheaded in the year 178 in Lyon, France.

Day 229 -- Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Saint Anselm of Canterbury was born in 1033 in Aosta, Italy and was pious and liked to study and at 15 he wanted to enter religious life, but his father prevented it, so he became worldly for the next several years. After his mother died, Anselm argued with his father and he fled to France in 1056 and became a Benedictine monk in Normandy in 1060. He became prior of the house in 1063 and abbot of the house 1078.

He traveled frequently to Normandy and England and Anselm was in much contact with Church officials in England. He was chosen as reluctant Archbishop of Canterbury, England 1092. As bishop he fought King William Rufus' encroachment on ecclesiastical rights and independence of the Church, refused to pay bribes, and was exiled. He traveled to Rome and spend his time of exile as advisor to Pope Blessed Urban II. In 1100 King Henry II invited Anselm back to England, but they disputed and he was exiled again and returned in 1106 when the King agreed not to interfere with the selection of Church officials.

Anselm opposed slavery and supposed celibate clergy and approved the addition of several saints to the liturgical calendar of England. He was a great philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages. He became counsellor to Pope Gregory VII and was chosen as a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI. He died on Holy Wednesday, April 21, 1109 in Canterbury. He was canonized in 1492.

"O, Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth."

Day 228 -- Saint Agnes of Montepulciano

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano was born in 1268 in Tuscany, Italy as a wealthy, pious child and by the age of 6 she was nagging her parents to let her join the convent. And at age 9 she was admitted to the convent at Montepulciano, Italy. When her spiritual director was appointed abbess in Procena, she took Agnes with her. Her reputation for piety attracted other sisters. She was abbess at only age 15 after receiving special permission from Pope Nicholas IV. She insisted on greater austerities in the abbey, so she lived on bread and water, slept on the ground, and used a stone as a pillow. In 1298 she returned to Montepulciano to begin work in a new convent. She became prioress of the house for the last 17 years of her life. She made a pilgrimage to Rome. There are many stories that grew up around Agnes. She died on April 20, 1317 at the convent of Montepulciano after following a lengthy illness. Miracles were reported at her tomb and her body is incorrupt. Her relics are in the Dominican church in Orvieto, Italy. She was canonized in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII.


I cannot even imagine entering a convent at age 9, nor if I were in a convent living as an adult with a 9 year old and then taking orders from a 15 year old. But I guess having that deep of faith, one would not even see the age difference. We say that God has no sense of time.

Day 227 -- Saint Emma

There were only a few saints on the calendar today and I chose Saint Emma. She was an 11th century lay woman who married a man named Ludger. She was noted for her charity to the poor of Bremen. She was also a miracle worker.

Day 226 -- Blessed Marie of the Incarnation

Blessed Marie of the Incarnation was the daughter of a French government official and born on February 1, 1566 as Barbe Aurillot in Paris. She was educated at her aunt's convent and was attracted to religious life, but married Pierre Acarie, an aristocrat and treasury official, at age 16. She was the mother of six, and three became Carmelites and one priest.

When Henry became king he seized the Acarie estates, impoverished the family and exited them from Parish. She to court over the matter and won and reclaimed the family fortune!

She was devoted to the writing of Saint Teresa of Avila and she became active in charities. These good works won her the admiration and support of King Henry. She brought the Discalced Carmelites to France and founded 5 houses between 1604 and 1609. She was widowed at age 47 and she became a Carmelite lay sister in 1613 and took the name of Mary of the Incarnation. She was the spiritual student of Saint Francis de Sales. She died on April 18, 1618 in Pontoise, France. She was beatified in 1791 and awaits canonization.


She is the patron against impoverishment and loss of parents, also parents separated from their children, widows, and poor people.

Day 225 -- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

For those who know me you know I love to travel and twice I have been to the birthplace Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in Osserneon (Auriesville) -- modern-day New York. Kateri was the daughter of a Christian Algonquin woman who was captured by Iroquois and married her non-Christian Mohawk chief father. She was orphaned during a smallpox epidemic and it left her with a scarred face and impaired eyesight. She converted and was baptized in 1676 by Father Jacques de Lamberville, a Jesuit missionary. She was abused and shunned by her relatives for her faith. She escaped through 200 miles of wilderness to the Christian Native American village of Sault-Sainte-Marie. She took a vow of chastity in 1679. She was known for her austere lifestyle. She was known as the Lily of the Mohawks. She died on April 17, 1680 in Caughnawaga, Canada. Her grave became a pilgrimage site and a place of miracles for Christian Native Americans and French colonists. She is the first Native American for canonization which started in 1884 under Pope Leo XIII. She was beatified in 1980 by Pope John Paul II.

It was really something to be at the site of her birth and were several Jesuit's were martyred. The saying is true from Tertullian: “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.

Here is the website for the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs in New York.

Prayer for Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha's canonization
O God, who, among the many marvels of Your Grace in the New World, did cause to blossom on the banks of the Mohawk and of the St. Lawrence, the pure and tender Lily, Kateri Tekakwitha, grant we beseech You, the favor we beg through her intercession, that this Young Lover of Jesus and of His Cross may soon be counted among the Saints of Holy Mother Church, and that our hearts may be enkindled with a stronger desire to imitate her innocence and faith. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.

Day 224 -- Saint Bernadette of Lourdes

"The more I am crucified, the more I rejoice."

Today we honor the feast day of an incorruptable saints: Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. She was born on January 7, 1844 in Lourdes, France. She was the oldest of six children and grew up very poor. She worked as a servant from ages 12 to 14 and then a shepherdess. Around the time of receiving her First Holy Communion on February 11, 1858, she received a vision of the Blessed Mother and there are many writing from Saint Bernadette (one is the quote above). She received 17 more visions over the next five months and was led to a spring of healing waters. She moved into a house with the Sisters of Nevers in Lourdes and she worked, lived, and learned to read and write. She Sisters cared for the sick and when Bernadette was 22 they admitted her into their order. She was often sick and mistreated by her superiors. She died on April 16, 1879 with a prayer for Mary's aid. Her body is incorrupt and it is covered in wax and is on display in Nevers. Since Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette, more than 200 million people have visited the shrine of Lourdes. She was canonized on December 8, 1933 by Pope Pius XI. Her name means "brave as a bear." She is the patron against sickness, poverty, shepherds, people who are ridiculed because of their piety, and Lourdes, France.

You can listen to the Lourdes Hymn, Immaculate Mary here.

"Nothing is anything more to me; everything is nothing to me, but Jesus: neither things nor persons, neither ideas nor emotions, neither honor nor sufferings. Jesus is for me honor, delight, heart and soul."

Day 223 -- Saint Hunna

Saint Hunna was the daughter of the duke of Alsace. She was the wife of a nobleman and lived in the Diocese of Strasbourg. They had one child, Deodatus, who was baptized by Saint Deodatus of Nevers, and he became a monk. Saint Hunna was devoted to the poor and helped the less advantaged, and her neighbors with their laundry. She died in 679 of natural causes. She was canonized by Pope Leo X. She is the patron of laundry workers and laundresses. In paintings, she is represented by a noblewoman surrounded by linens or a woman washing clothes for the poor and sick.

Day 222 -- Saint Eustace of Vilna

Saint Eustace of Vilna was a young nobleman and chamberlain of the court of Duke Olgierd. He was a fire worshipper but converted to Christianity. He was martyred, by crucifixion on a tree on December 13, 1342 in Vilna, Lithuania for refusing to eat meat on a day of abstinence. The relics of his head are in the cathedral of Vilna. He is the patron of his home city of Vilna.

Day 221 -- Pope Saint Martin I

Pope Saint Martin I was born in Tuscany, Italy. He was chosen as the 74th pope in 649. He conducted the Lateran Council which condemned monothelitism which claimed that Christ had no human will. This put him in opposition to the emperor who had him arrested and tortured. Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople repented of his stance which saved the pope from execution, but the pope died soon after his imprisonment from starvation in 655. He is considered a martyr and is the last martyred pope.

I can't believe of living in a time when the pope was put in jail and died because of it. Let us pray for Pope Benedict XVI!

Day 220 -- Saint Teresa of the Andes

I first learned of Saint Teresa of the Andes when a friend of mine went to Chile and she sent me a prayer card of her. It was a joy today to write about Saint Teresa and to remember my friend. I made my friend a knotted rosary bead with the colors red, white, and blue and she told me the Chilean people loved it because those are the same colors as their flag.

Saint Teresa was born on July 13, 1900 in Santiago, Chile as Juanita Fernandez Solar into an upper class family. She was devoted to Christ from a young age. She was greatly influenced by the autobiography of Saint Therese de Lisieux and she entered the monastery of the Discalced Carmelite nuns at Los Andes on May 7, 1919. She was given the name of Teresa of Jesus. She died not even a year later on April 12, 1920 at the Carmelite convent of Los Andes, Chile of typhus. She was a model for young people. She was the first Chilean and first member of the Teresian Carmel in Latin America to be beatified. At her beatification on April 3, 1987 in Santiago, her brother, Luis, was there. She was canonized on March 21, 1993 by Pope John Paul II.

"Let's love the divine little Child who suffers so much without finding consolation in His creatures. May He find a refuge in our souls, a haven where He can heal in the midst of the hatred of His enemies and a garden of delights where he can forget the forgetfulness of His friends."

Day 219 -- Saint Barsanuphius of Gaza

Saint Barsanuphius of Gaza lived as a hermit for 50 years in absolute seclusion near the monastery of Saint Seridon of Gaza, Palestine. He was venerated by the Greeks. He wrote extensively and his letters have survived for 15 centuries now. He died around the year 540. His relics are in a village near Sipontum in southern Italy.

"Do not seek to be regarded as somebody, don’t compare yourself to others in anything. Leave the world, mount the cross, discard all earthly things."

Day 218 -- Saint Miguel de Sanctis

When Saint Miguel de Sanctis was 6 years old he decided he wanted to be a monk. He was born on September 29, 1591 in Catalonia, Spain. He was orphaned and became the apprentice of a merchant. At 12 years old, he tried to join the Trinitarian monastery in Barcelona. He took his vows at age 15 at the monastery of Saint Lambert at Zaragoza in 1607. He later felt drawn to the more austere Discalced Trinitarians and began his novitiate in Madrid and studied in Seville, then took vows in Alcala, Spain and became a priest. He led a life of prayer and great mortification. He was especially devoted to the Holy Eucharist. He was considered by his brothers to be a saint in life. He died on April 10, 1625 in Valladolid, Spain. He was canonized on June 8, 1862 by Pope Pius IX.

Day 217 -- Saint Mary of Cleophas

Little is know about Saint Mary of Cleophas. She was one of the Marys who followed Jesus and was at the foot of the cross with his mother Mary, Our Blessed Mother. She was the wife of Saint Cleophas, the mother of Saint James the Lesser.

Legend says that she went by boat with other Jews around the year 47 and sailed to France and landed on an island called les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (”the Holy Marys of the Sea”) because it was named for her, Saint Magdalen, and Saint Mary Salome.

Day 216 -- Saint Beata of Ribnitz

Saint Beata of Ribnitz was born into nobility--her father was the Duke of Heinrich of Mecklenburg--in the 14th century in Mecklenburg, Germany. She became a Poor Clare nun in the convent in Ribnitz, Germany. She became Abbess of the house in 1350. She died on April 8, 1399 in Ribnitz.


Oh, Saint Beata, help me to love our Lord and Savior with my whole heart. Allow me to feel the love of Christ in my life. When I feel away from Christ and the evil one is attacking me, help me to know He is always present and ready to help me know Christ loves me.

Day 215 -- Saint John Baptist de La Salle

Saint John Baptist de La Salle was born on April 30, 1651 and grew up and studied for the priesthood in France. But when his parents died, he quit school to care for his brothers and sisters. When they were grown, John returned to the seminary and was ordained in 1678 and was doctor of theology in 1680.

He was the spiritual director of the Sisters of the Holy Infant -- they were devoted to teaching poor girls. In 1681, he founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers) which supported the academic education for boys. He gave away his family's inheritance (about $400,000) to the poor in the form of bread during the great famine in 1683-1684. He instituted the process of dividing students into grades and established the first teacher's school, started high schools, and trade schools. Saint John died on April 7, 1719 in Rouen, France. He was canonized on May 24, 1900 by Pope Leo XIII. Because of his devotion to school children, he was proclaimed patron of all teachers by Pope Pius XII in 1950.


"Be driven by the love of God because Jesus Christ died for all, that those who live may live not for themselves but for him, who died and rose for them. Above all, let your charity and zeal show how you love the Church. Your work is for the Church, which is the body of Christ." -from a meditation by John Baptist de La Salle

Day 214 -- Blessed Zefirino Agostini

Blessed Zefirino Agostini was born in Verona, Italy on September 24, 1813. He was the oldest son of his parents; his father was a physician. His father died when Zefirino was very young. He was ordained on March 11, 1837. He was a youth minister and catechist for 8 years.

After that he was assigned to a very poor parish and established after-school programs for girls, religious education for mothers, and education for women. He began a devotion to Saint Angela Merici for the female parishioners and founded the Pious Union of Sisters Devoted to Saint Angela Merici whose rule was approved by Bishop Ricabona in 1856. On All Souls Day of that same year, he opened his first charitable school of poor girls. In 1860, local women who worked in the school chose community life and Father Agostini prepared the first rule for the community and on September 24, 1869, the first 12 Ursulines made their profession. On November 18, 1869, they founded the Congregation of Ursulines, Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

Father Agostini died on April 6, 1869 in Verona, Italy of natural causes. He was beatified on October 25, 1998 by Pope John Paul II.

"Do not be dismayed by toil or suffering, nor by the meager fruit of your labors. Remember that God rewards not according to results, but effort."

Day 213 -- Blessed Juliana of Cornillon

Born in 1192 in Flanders, Belgium, Blessed Juliana of Cornillon was orphaned when she was only 5 years old and her and her sister Agnes were raised by the nuns at the convent of Mount Cornillon. While very young, Juliana read the works of Saint Augustine and Saint Bernard. She became an Augustinian nun in Liege in 1206. She worked with the sick and in the convent's hospital. She became the prioress at Mount Cornillon in 1225.

She received a vision from Christ who pointed out that there was no feast in honor of the Blessed Sacrament and based on this she promoted the feast that became Corpus Christi. This feast was introduced in Liege in 1246. The office for the teast was later written by Saint Thomas Aquinas and was sanctioned for the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. The feast became mandatory in the Church in 1312. Juliana died on April 5, 1258 of natural causes.

Day 212 -- Saint Isidore of Seville

"When God’s grace touches our innermost minds to bring understanding, His Word which has been received by the ear sinks deep into the heart."

Saint Isidore of Seville was born around the year 560 in Cartagena, Spain. His parents were known for their piety. Three of his siblings became saints as well. While in school he was a poor student, but be gave the problem over to God and became one of the most learned men of his time. He became a priest and helped his brother, Leander, archbishop of Seville. Isidore became archbishop of Seville around the year 601; he succeeded his brother in the position. He required there be seminaries in every dioceses and wrote a rule for religious orders. He was an outstanding writer and wrote a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths, and history of the world, beginning with creation. Presided at the Second Council of Seville, and the Fourth Council of Toledo. Introduced the works of Aristotle to Spain. He died on April 4, 636, in Seville.

He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1722 and became patron of the computer and Internet in 1999. He is also patron of students. He is also one of the patrons of World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

Saint Isidore can be a model for us all...in how to hand over our problems to God. When we do, God's plans shine through and we are who God wants us to be.

Day 211 -- Saint Richard of Chichester

Saint Richard of Chichester was born as Richard de Wych around the year 1197 in Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. He was the second son to his parents; his father died when he was young. As soon as Richard was old enough he took over the management of their estates and brought the family back to profit. He was educated at Oxford, in Paris and in Bologna. He was the chancellor of Oxford and the legal advisor to Saint Edmund Rich and Saint Boniface of Savoy, the archbishops of Canterbury. He became the bishop of Chichester. Miracles and cures have occurred at his shrine in Chichester. He died in Kent, England on April 3, 1253 and was canonized in 1262 by Pope Urban IV in Italy.


Godspell made one of Saint Richard's prayers more famous. My blog "Day by Day with the Saints" should be dedicated to him. Listen to the song "Day by Day" here.

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits Thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults which Thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend, and Brother, may I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.

Day 210 -- Saint Francis of Paola

The parents of Saint Francis of Paola were childless for many years and following prayers through the intercession of Saint Francis of Assisi they had three children; Francis was the oldest, born on March 27, 1416 in Paola, Italy. He went on a pilgrimage in his teens to Rome and Assisi and became a hermit near Paola. Before he was even 20 years old he had followers. When he was in his 40s he had so many followers that he established a Rule for them and sought Church approval. The Hermits of Saint Francis of Assisi were approved in 1474 and they were renamed the Franciscan Order of Minim Friars. This means they count themselves the least of the family of God.

Franz Liszt wrote a piece of music inspired by the time when Francis wanted to cross the Straits of Messina to reach Sicily, but the boatman refused to take him. He laid his cloak on the water, tied one end to his staff to make a sail, and sailed across with his companions.

He was a defender of the poor. He traveled to Paris at the request of Pope Sixtus IV to help Louis XI prepare for death. He died on April 2, 1507, on Good Friday in Plessis, France.

"Take pains to refrain from sharp words. Pardon one another so that later on you will not remember the injury. The recollection of an injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, nurtures our sins and hates what is good. It is a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts all virtue to flight."

Day 209 -- Saint Macarius the Wonder Worker

Saint Macarius the Wonder Worker was born in the 9th century with the name of Christopher. He was a monk at the monastery and he took the name Macarius. He was ordained by Tarasius of Constantinople. He was a miracle worker. He was imprisoned and tortured for his opposition to Emperor Leo's orders of iconoclasm. He was released by Emperor Michael the Stammerer, then exiled for supporting icons still. He died on August 18, 850 on the island of Aphusia, Bithynia of natural causes.


QUOTE
To you, O Master, who loves all mankind
I hasten on rising from sleep.
By your mercy I go out to do your work
and I make my prayer to you.
Help me at all times and in all things.
For you are my Creator,
You inspire all good thoughts in me.
In you is all my hope and to you I give glory,
now and forever.