Day 208 -- Blessed Bonaventure Tornielli

Blessed Bonaventure Tornielli was born around the year 1411 in Forli, Italy. He joined the Servite Order in 1448 and became known as a Bible expert. Although he was noted by his brothers for his love of contemplative silence, he became one of the greatest Servite preachers throughout southern Italy and the Papal States. He always preached on the theme of repentance. Pope Sixtus IV referred to him as the Apostolic Preacher. He served as vicar general of his Order for several years. He died on March 31, 1491 of natural causes. He was beatified in 1911 by Pope Saint Pius X.

PRAYER
Oh God, who didst impart to Blessed Bonaventure, the Confessor, the grace of recalling sinners to repentance, grant we beseech thee, through his merits and intercession, that we may also weep over our sins, so that, renewed in heart and will, we may serve thee faithfully until death. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Day 207 -- Blessed Mary Restituta Kafka

"I have lived for Christ; I want to die for Christ."
her last words

Blessed Mary Restituta Kafka was the 6th daughter of a shoemaker born on May 1, 1894 in Brno, Czechoslovakia (modern day Czech Republic) as Helena. She grew up in Vienna, Austria. She worked as a sales clerk and then a nurse.

She joined the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in 1914 and took the name Restituta who was a martyr of the early Church. Beginning in 1919, she worked as a surgical nurse for 20 years. She was known as a protector of the poor and oppressed. She was a vocal opponent of the Nazis. Sister Restituta hung a crucifix in every room of the new hospital wing. The Nazis ordered them to be removed and she refused. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 and was sentenced to death on October 28, 1942 for "aiding and abetting the enemy in the betrayal of the fatherland and for plotting high treason." However, Martin Bormann decided that her execution would provide "effective intimidation" for other Nazi opponents. Therefore she spend the rest of her life in prison caring for other prisoners, even Communist prisoners spoke well of her. She was offered freedom if she would abandon her religious community; she declined and died a martyr. She was beheaded on March 30, 1943 in Vienna, Austria. She was beatified on June 21, 1998 and awaits canonization.

Day 206 -- Saint Secundus of Asti

Saint Secundus of Asti lived in the 1st and 2nd centuries. He was a soldier and officer in the imperial Roman army which was a low rake which means he was probably a young man. He converted to Christianity and was baptized in Milan, Italy. He illegally gave a Christian burial to martyr Saint Marcian of Tortona and then his family fled to Asti, Italy. It was there that he was arrested, tortured, and beheaded. He died a martyr. There are a few legends about him. His relics are in the cathedral in Asti.

Day 205 -- Pope Saint Sixtus III

Pope Saint Sixtus III was born in Rome, Italy and was elected as the 44th pope on July 31, 432. He approved the results of the Council of Ephesus. He corresponded a lot with Saint Augustine of Hippo. He restored several Roman basilicas including Saint Peter's and Saint John Lateran. He defended the supremacy of the pope over local bishops. He died on August 18, 440 in Rome of natural causes.

Day 204 -- Saint Augusta of Treviso

There are not many saints for today; I have chosen Saint Augusta of Treviso. She lived in the 5th century. She was the daughter of the Teutonic duke of Friuli. She converted to Christianity and this enraged her father. Unfortunately it enraged him so much that he killed her. She was buried at Treviso in northern Italy.

Day 203 -- Blessed Maddalena Caterina Morano

Blessed Maddalena Caterina Morano was only 8 years old when her father and older sister died and the young girl had to work to support her large family. She was born on November 15, 1847 in Chieri, Italy. She worked and studied and graduated in 1866 as an elementary school teacher. She wanted to enter religous life, but her family needed her so she worked for 12 years to support them.

By 1878 she helped raising her siblings and saved enough to ensure her mother's future, so Maddalena entered the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. The congregation founded 6 years earlier by Saint John Bosco. In 1881 she went to Trecastagni in Sicily and was in charge of the institute for women there.

Sicily became her second home. She opened new houses, set up after school activities and sewing classes, trained teachers, and taught catechism. She spend 25 years in Sicily and served her community as the local and provincial superior, guiding the novices, and lived the charism of Mother Maria Mazzarello, co-foundress of the institute. She died on March 26, 1908 in Catania, Sicily. She was beatified on November 5, 1994 by Pope John Paul II and awaits canonization.

Day 202 -- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

While we do have saints feast days for today and this is a saints blog, I wanted to write about Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The annunciation remembers Mary's fiat to the Lord..."Let it be done according to thy word." We thank Mary for her yes because our world today would be a lot different if she had said no. What will be your YES to our Lord?

I have read some good quotes and watched this video from YouTube a few times today. And "The Angel Gabriel" is one of my favorite songs. I hope you enjoy them too!

‎"Through Mary, we come to her Son more easily." -Pope John Paul II

"You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us. Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word. Why do you delay, why are you afraid?" ~Saint Bernard of Clairva

Day 201 -- Saint Catherine of Sweden

Saint Catherine of Sweden was born around the year 1331. She was the 4th of 8 children of Saint Bridget of Sweden and Ulf Gudmarsson. She was educated at the convent of Riseberg. By the age of 13 she had an arranged marriage to a pious German noble Eggart von Kürnen. Soon after their marriage they both took vows of chastity. She traveled to Rome in 1350 to be with her mother and she was widowed soon after.

For the next 25 years, they used Rome as the place for many pilgrimages. They also traveled to Jerusalem. When they were home, they spent much time in prayer and meditation and worked with the poor and teaching children religion. They had to fend off unwanted advances from men.

When her mother died, Catherine took her body back to Sweden and buried her at the convent of the Order of the Holy Savior (Brigittines). Catherine became the superior of the Order and served as the abbess. She wrote a work entitled Sielinna Troëst (Consolation of the Soul). She attained papal approval of the Brigittine Order in 1375. She also worked on the of canonization of her mother. She died on March 24, 1831 of natural causes. She was canonized by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. She is patron against abortions and miscarriages.

One place I would like to visit that is local to me is the Convent of Saint Birgitta.

Day 200 -- Saint Rafqa

Wow, 200 days! It has been a great 200 days learning about the saints.

Today we have Saint Rafqa who was born on June 20, 1832 in Lebanon with the name of Boutrossieh Ar-Rayes. She was the only child of her parents. Her mother died when she was only six years old. She and her step-mother did not get a long and worked as a maid from ages 11 to 15. When she was 14 she told her father that she felt she had a call to religious life. He objected, but at age 21 she became a nun in the Marian Order of the Immaculate Conception in Bikfaya and took the name Anissa (Agnes). She made her final vows in 1856.

In 1871 her Order and the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus merged. The sisters were given the choice of joining the new combined order, joining others, or be released from their vows. Following a dream from Saint Anthony the Great appeared to her, she joined the Lebanese Order of Saint Anthony of the Maronites on July 12, 1871. She was a novice at age 39 and took the new name of Rafqa (Rebecca).

On the feast of the Holy Rosary in 1885, she prayed that she might share Christ's sufferings. Soon her health began to deteriorate and soon she was blind and crippled. She spent as much time as she could in prayer and wanted to work in the convent, usually by spinning wool and knitting. By 1907 she was completely blind and paralyzed. In 1981 during the canonization process, specialists in ophthalmology, neurology, and orthopedics diagnosed the most likely cause as tuberculosis with ocular localization and multiple bony excrescences. The pain was unbearable, but she was thankful for the communion that she had with Christ.

Toward the end of her life, close friend, Mother Superior Ursula Doumit, ordered her to dictate her autobiography, and of course Rafqua complied. Near the time of her death, she prayed that her sight be restored for one hour so she might see Mother Ursula again; it happened.

She died on March 23, 1914 at the convent of Saint Joseph Grabta in Lebanon. Four days after her death, miraculous cures were recorded at her grave, and the first was to Mother Ursula whose throat was closing. The miracle for her beatification was to Elizabeth En-Nakhel from Tourza, Lebanon who was cured from uterine cancer in 1938. She was canonized on June 10, 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

She is the patron against bodily ills and sickness; loss of parents; and sick people.

Day 199 -- Saint Darerca of Ireland

Saint Darerca of Ireland was sister of Saint Patrick. She was married to Conis and she was the mother of 19 children, 10 of whom became bishops, 3 who are saints as well. She was a miracle worker and said to have the gift of prophecy. Not much else is known about her history. She died in the 5th century and is patron of Valentina Island in Ireland.

Day 198 -- Saint Benedicta Cambiagio Frassinello

Born on October 2, 1791 as Benedetta Cambiagio in Campomorone , Italy was Saint Benedicta Cambiagio Frassinello. At age 20 she had a profound mystical experience which left her devoted to prayer and desiring a religious life. But she went with her family's wishes and married Giovanni Battista Frassinella in 1816. The lived a normal married life for two years, but Giovanni was impressed with his wife's holiness and desire for religious life. The couple took care of her little sister until she died from cancer in 1825. Giovanni joined the Somaschan Fathers and Benedetta became an Ursuline nun.

Benedicta's started to grow ill in 1826 and she returned home and she began to work with other young women in the area. The work was going so well that her husband was assigned to help. The schools continued to grow and prosper and Sister Benedicta was appointed Promoter of Public Instruction. Even though they lived a chaste life, the unusual relationship developed into gossip from civil and Church authorities. To make sure she did not get in the way of the work, in 1838 Benedicta turned the work over to the bishop and went to live as a nun in Ronco Scrivia.

She did not want to withdraw from the world and start over again, she and five companions founded the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence who are dedicated to teaching and they opened another school. She lived alone and the authorities did not have cause for gossip, and Benedicta spend the rest of her life in prayer and service. She died on March 21, 1858 in Ronco Scrivia of natural causes. She was canonized on May 19, 2002 by Pope John Paul II in Rome.

Day 197 -- Saint Jósef Bilczewski

Saint Jósef Bilczewski was born on April 26, 1860 in Wilamowice, Austria which is modern-day Ukraine. He was the oldest of nine children in a peasant family. He entered the seminary at Krakow, Poland and was ordained on July 6, 1884. He earned a doctorate in theology from the University of Vienna in 1886. He then went onto study dogmatic theology and Christian archaeology in Rome and Paris. He became a professor of theology from the University of Lviv in 1891. He became archbishop of Leopoli in 1900. He worked hard to intervene with civil authorities between Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews. During WWI he guided his flock, and during the Polish-Ukrainian War, the Bolshevik invasion, and the anti-Catholic terror started by the Communists. Between the years 1918 and 1921 his diocese lost about 120 priests. He wanted to protect everyone in his diocese no matter race or religion. He died on March 20, 1923 in Lviv, Ukraine. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 23, 2005 in Rome.

Day 196 -- Saint Joseph

Today we celebrate the feast day of one of my favorite saints...Saint Joseph. He has been an integral part of my life...attending Saint Joseph Parish, Saint Joseph School, and Saint Joseph College. He is the model of what a good man and father should be.

He is the descendant of the house of David. He was carpenter by trade and Jesus followed in his footsteps. There are no words recorded of him in Scripture. He was a quiet man. He was the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. He received visions from God to reveal God's plan for all of humanity. Saint Joseph is noted for his willingness to get up immediately and follow what God told him to do. His name means "whom the Lord adds."

Saint Joseph is the patron of many things, but the one that I learned today and which will help me and I will pray to him for is "against doubt and hesitation."


Prayer to Saint Joseph
Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day. You protected and cherished the Virgin; loving the Child Jesus as your Son, you rescued Him from the danger of death. Defend the Church, the household of God, purchased by the blood of Christ. Guardian of the Holy Family, be with us in our trials. May your prayers obtain for us the strength to flee from error and wrestle with the powers of corruption so that in life we may grow in holiness and in death rejoice in the crown of victory. Amen.


Prayer to Saint Joseph for the Whole Church
O Glorious Saint Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, and the head of the Holy Family. You have been chosen by Christ's Vicar as the heavenly Patron and Protector of the Church founded by Christ. Protect the Sovereign Pontiff and all bishops and priests united with him. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life; and grant that all peoples of the world may be docile to the Church without which there is no salvation. Dear Saint Joseph, accept the offering I make to you. Be my father, protector, and guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me purity of heart and a love for the spiritual life. After you example, let all my actions be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart. Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.


Prayer to Saint Joseph
O Blessed Saint Joseph, faithful guardian and protector of virgins, to whom God entrusted Jesus and Mary, I implore you by the love which you did bear them, to preserve me from every defilement of soul and body, that I may always serve them in holiness and purity of love. Amen.


Prayer to Know One's Vocation
O Great Saint Joseph, you were completely obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Obtain for me the grace to know the state of life that God in his providence has chosen for me. Since my happiness on earth, and perhaps even my final happiness in heaven, depends on this choice, let me not be deceived in making it. Obtain for me the light to know God's Will, to carry it out faithfully, and to choose the vocation which will lead me to a happy eternity.


Prayer to Saint Joseph for Protection
Gracious Saint Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family. Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you. Amen.

"A spirituality must be lived that will help believers to sanctify themselves through their work, imitating St. Joseph, who every day had to provide for the needs of the Holy Family with his hands…. Contemplating this great saint, may Christians learn to witness in all labor realms the love of Christ, source of true solidarity and stable peace." -Pope Benedict XVI

Day 195 -- Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

"Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence of their own, even when the tongue is silent. For deeds prove the lover more than words."

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was born around the year 315. He is one of my patron saints at work since I run the Saint Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Program. (The other is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.) Cyril was well educated and became a priest, ordained by Saint Maximus. He was a great teacher to the catechumens and Cyril's instructions are still the source documents as the Church's early teachings. He became bishop of Jerusalem in 348. He was exiled three times by the Arians. He attended the Council of Seleucia in 359 and the Council of Constantinople in 381. He is a Father and Doctor of the Church. He died of natural causes in 386.

"A man may even be justified by money: I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat (Matthew 25:35-36): that certainly was from money. I was naked, and you clothed Me: that certainly was by money. And would you learn that money may become a door of the kingdom of heaven? Sell, says He, that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven."

Day 194 -- Saint Patrick

“Whatever will come my way, whether good or bad, may I accept it calmly, and always give thanks to God, who has ever shown me how I should believe in God, unfailing and without end.”

Saint Patrick is a very well-known and popular saint. He was born between the years 387 and 390 in Scotland as Maewyn Succat. Around the age of 16 he was kidnapped from the British mainland and shipped to Ireland as a slave. He was sent to the mountains and worked as a shepherd and spent much time in prayer while in the fields. After six years he had a dream in which he was commanded to return to Britain. He took that as a sign and escaped. He studied in different monasteries in Europe and became a priest and eventually a priest. Pope Celestine sent him to England then Ireland to evangelize. He was there for 33 years and converted Ireland. In the Middle Ages, Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and during the Dark Ages, the monasteries were great places of learning in Europe as a result of Saint Patrick's ministry. Saint Patrick died between the years 461 and 164 in Saul, County Down of natural causes.

When I was in Ireland in 2003, I had the opportunity to visit the Hill of Tara where it is said that Saint Patrick preached. It was very humbling to be there and to know I stood where a great saint once was and converted thousands to Christianity.





Prayer for God's Protection and Christ's Presence

As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today...Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen.

Day 193 -- Blessed John Amias and Blessed Robert Dalby

Today we have two saints who were martyred together: Blessed John Amias and Blessed Robert Dalby.

John was born in West Riding, England. He was a cloth merchant. He was married and the father of several children. He was a widower and he then divided his property among his children, and studied for the priesthood in Rheims, France. He was ordained in 1581. He returned to England and worked as a missionary to covert Catholics.

Blessed Robert Dalby was born in Yorkshire, England and was a protestant minister and converted to Catholicism. He studied in Rheims as well and was ordained in 1588. He also ministered to covert Catholics and was arrested and martyred.

They were arrested in the home of Mr. Murton and Lancashire for the crimes of being a priest and martyred on March 16, 1589 in York, England. They were beatified on December 15, 1929 by Pope Pius XI.

Let us always remember and pray for those who have suffered martyrdom and let us be thankful that we can worship God through our Catholic faith.

Day 192 -- Saint Louise de Marillac

"Be diligent in serving the poor.

Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself."

Saint Louise de Marillac was a sickly children and her ill health prevented her from taking a religious vows, which she thought she had a religious vocation from her youth. She was born on August 12, 1591 in Meux, France. She married Antony LeGras, an official to the queen, in 1611. She was widowed in 1625. She was the spiritual student of Saint Vincent dePaul and with him they founded the Daughters of Charity in 1642. They received approval in 1655. She then founded the Sisters of Charity and took her vows in that order. She was the spirtual guide for groups of lay women. She served as the order's superior until her death on March 15, 1660 in Paris. She died of natural causes and her body is incorrupt. She was canonized on March 11, 1934 by Pope Pius XI. She is the patron saint of the loss of parents, sick people, widows, people rejected by religious orders, and social workers which was declared on February 2, 1960 by Pope John XXIII. She could be one of my patrons since I was a social work major in college.

When learning about Saint Louise I cannot help but think that if she were not an ill child and be rejected by religious orders then she may have not met Saint Vincent and God's plan for her life may not have been fulfilled. When we want something really bad we have to think, is it God who wants this for my life or is it me? How will I best serve those around me?


PRAYER
O God, You inspired Saint Louise to strive for perfect charity, and so attain Your Kingdom at the end of her pilgrimage on earth. Strengthen us through her intercession that we may advance rejoicing in the way of love and service to our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Day 191 -- Saint Matilda of Saxony

Saint Matilda of Saxony was raised by her grandmother, the abbess of Eufurt. She was born around the year 895 in Westphalia, Germany. In 913 Matilda left the abbey and married King Henry I. He had received an annulment from a previous marriage. She became the Queen of Germany and was the mother of many: Otto, Holy Roman Emperor, Henry, Duke of Bavaria, Saint Bruno the Great, Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, Gerberga, wife of King Louis IV of France; Hedwig, mother of Hugh Capet.

Matilda founded several Benedictine abbeys and was known for her generosity. She was a teacher, comforted the sick and visited prisoners.

She was betrayed by her own son, Otto, after his father's death when he falsely accused her of financial mismanagement.

She died on March 14, 968 in Quedlinburg, Germany of natural causes. She is buried in the monastery at Quedlinburg.

She is the patron of large families, queens, second marriages, widows, and people who are ridiculed for their piety.

Day 190 -- Saint Ramirus of Léon

Saint Ramirus of Léon lived in the late 6th century. He was a monk and and prior of the Saint Claudius Abbey in Leon, Spain. He and his brother monks were martyred by Arian Visigoths around the year 600. They died while chanting the Nicene Creed in the choir of the church of Saint Claudis Abbey.

Day 189 -- Saint Luigi Orione

"Engage always in good works to everyone but never do harm to anybody."
his motto

Here is the story of another Italian saint: Saint Luigi Orione. Luigi was born on June 23, 1872 in Allessandria, Italy. He joined the Franciscans at a young age, but developed severe health problems and he went back home to his family. He studied under Saint John Bosco and was there when he died. At the funeral he was cured of his illness. He was able to return to seminary and Tortona, Italy. While still a layman and student, he opened Sain Luigi House in San Bernardino in 1893 which was a home for the poor, homeless and abandoned. He was ordained on April 13, 1895.

He went on to found the Hermits of Divine Providence congregation, the Ladies of Divine Providence, and an orphanage in Rome in 1899. Under the patronage of Pope Saint Pius X he founded the Little Missionaries of Charity. He build a Marian shrine which became a point for people during times of unrest. He was able to travel the world visiting the houses of his congregations--Wales, Brazil, and the USA, and others in Italy. He died on March 12, 1940 in San Remo, Italy from heart disease. He is interred at the shrine of Our Lady of Safe Keeping in Tortona. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2004.


"Without Prayer nothing good is done. God’s works are done with our hands joined, and on our knees. Even when we run, we must remain spiritually kneeling before Him."

Day 188 -- Saint Eulogius of Cordoba

Not much is known about the early life of Saint Eulogius of Cordoba, but he was the son of a senatorial family from Cordoba, Spain. He was well educated and ordained a priest. He became head of an ecclesiastical school and worked to support the families of martyrs during the Islamic persecutions in Moorish occupied Spain. He was arrested several times for the faith and wrote an Exhortation to Martyrdom while in prison. He was appointed to succeed the Archbishop of Toledo, Spain, but was never consecrated. He was imprisoned again because he gave shelter to Saint Leocritia of Cordoda. He preached the Gospel in court and was eventually martyred on March 11, 859 in Cordoba, Spain.

Day 187 -- Saint Attalas of Bobbio

Saint Attalas of Bobbio was born in Burgundy, France and lived in the 7th century. He was a monk in Lérins, France in Luxeuil Abbey. He helped Columbanus build the abbey in Bobbio, Italy and served as its abbot beginning in 1615. His monks stood out against the severity of the Columbanian Rule. Monks included Saint Valery and Saint Blitmund of Bobbio. He died on 627 of natural causes. His relics are in Bobbio, Italy.

Day 186 -- Saint Catherine of Bologna

Saint Catherine of Bologna was the daughter of a diplomat born on September 8, 1413 in Bologna, Italy as Caterina dei Vigri. It has been said that her father received a vision telling him of her birth. She became a Franciscan tertiary at 14 years old. She then became a Poor Clare nun. She was the novice mistress. She established a Poor Clare convent in Bologna in 1456 and served as it abbess. She was a miracle worker, prophetess, visionary, and mystic. She was also a painter and a manuscript illuminator. She received a vision of Jesus in Mary's arms on Christmas Day. She died on March 9, 1463 of natural causes in Bologna. She was buried without a coffin or being embalmed. Her body was exhumed 18 days after her death due to miracles near her grave; the odor perfume came from it and her body was incorrupt. Her body is now in her cell in which she lived. She was canonized on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI.



PRAYER
Dear saintly Poor Clare, so rich in love for Jesus and Mary, you were endowed with great talents by God and you left us most inspiring writings and paintings fo wondrous beauty. You were chosen as Abbess in the monastery of Poor Clares at Bologna. You did all for God's greater glory and in this you are a model for all. Make artists learn lessons from you and use their talents to the full.

QUOTE
"It is proper for us to exercise with true discretion all the spiritual and temporal virtues. However, when the enemy sees that he cannot impede the servant of Christ from doing good, he will seek to entice her with doing too much. So exercise all the virtues in proper measure that the weapon of true and diligent discretion may be exercised by us for our salvation and for the praise of Christ."

Day 185 -- Saint John of God

"Labor without stopping;

do all the good works you can while you still have the time."

Saint John of God died on his birthday. He was born on March 8, 1495 in Evora, Portugal and grew up working as a shepherd in the Castile region of Spain. During his wild youthful days, he travelled much across Europe and north Africa as a soldier in the army of Charles V. He sold religious books but he was not religious himself. In his forties, he received a vision of the Infant Jesus who called him John of God. He left the military and rented a house in Granada, Spain and began caring for the sick, poor, and homeless. As he cared for those in his care, he converted them. He was a friend of Saint John of Avila, someone whom he tried to model his life after. He founded the Order of Charity and Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of God. He died on March 8, 1550 in Granada while praying before a crucifix from an illness he had contracted while saving a man from drowning. His relics are in Granada. He was canonized on October 16, 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII.

He is the patron of heart patients, firefighters, nurses, printers.

QUOTE
"If we look forward to receiving God's mercy, we can never fail to do good so long as we have the strength. For if we share with the poor, out of love for God, whatever he has given to us, we shall receive according to his promise a hundredfold in eternal happiness. What a fine profit, what a blessed reward!"

PRAYER
O God, You filled Saint John with the spirit of compassion. Grant that by practicing works of charity we may deserve to be numbered among the elect in Your Kingdom. Amen.

Day 184 -- Saints Felicity and Perpetua

Today we remember two saints, Felicity and Perpetua, who were friends and died, martyred, together. Felicity was a laywoman and maid to Perpetua. Perpetua was born into a noble, pagan family. She was a wife and mother. Both converted to Christianity. They were martyred together by being mauled by wild beasts and were beheaded on March 7, 203 in Carthage, North Africa.

Day 183 -- Saint Rose of Viterbo

This woman, Saint Rose of Viterbo, sounds like a remarkable person, even from her early youth. She was born in 1234 in Viterbo, Italy. It is said that at age 3 she brought a person back to life. By age 10 she was preaching on the streets. She was a prophetess and a Francisian tertiary. She tried many times, but was repeatedly refused entrance into the Poor Clares. After her death, Pope Alexander IV ordered that her body be laid to rest in the convent that refused her. She died on March 6, 1252. She was canonized in 1457 by Pope Callistus III. She is the patron of exiles, people rejected by religious orders, tertiaries, and her hometown of Viterbo, Italy.

Day 182 -- Saint Kieran

I chose today's saint, Kieran, because he was ordained by Saint Patrick. He was a convert to Christianity and made a pilgrimage to Rome. He was the first bishop of Ossory, Ireland and is the patron of that diocese. He was the founder of Saighir monastery. There are several healing wells that are named for Kieran. He died around the year 530 of natural causes.

His name means little dark one; dark prince; dark haired one.

It makes me thinks of how extremely different his pilgrimage from Ireland to Rome was than any pilgrimage I have take or will take. That is a true pilgrimage!

Day 181 -- Blessed Christopher Bales

Blessed Christopher Bales was born in Durham, England, and educated in Rome, Italy and Rheims, France. He was ordained in Douai, France in 1587. He returned to England in 1588 to minister to convert Catholics and used the name Christopher Evers. He was arrested and martyred (hanged, drawn, and quartered) on March 4, 1590 on Fleet Street in London for the crime of being a priest. He was beatified on December 15, 1929.


Today, let us pray for our priests and all those young men in seminaries and those discerning the priesthood. May they respond generously to God's call.

Day 180 -- Saint Katharine Drexel

Today we have a saint who is more well-known. Saint Katharine Drexel was born on November 26, 1858 in Philadelphia, PA. She was born into wealth to her parents Francis Anthony and Emma (Bouvier) Drexel. From an early age her parents taught her to use her wealth to benefit others. They even opened their home to the poor several days a week. One of her sisters founded a trade school for orphans and another sister founded a liberal arts and vocational school for poor black children in Virginia. Katharine nursed her mother through a three-year illness before she was able to set out on her own. Her mother died in 1883.

She was interested in Native Americans and their conditions. And during an audience in 1887 she asked Pope Leo XIII to send more missionaries to Wyoming for her friend Bishop O'Connor. And the pope responded "Why don’t you become a missionary?"

She visited the Dakotas, met the Sioux chief and became aid to the Indian missions. She spent millions of the family fortune. She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy, but founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored but now they are known as Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Mother Frances Cabrini advised her of getting the Order's rule approved in Rome. She received approval in 1913.

By 1942 she had black Catholic schools in 13 states, 40 mission centers, 23 rural schools, 50 Indian missions, and Xavier University in New Orleans. She was harassed by segregationists for her work. After having suffered a heart attack, she spent her last 20 years in prayer and meditation. Her shrine at the mother-house was declared a National Shrine in 2008. This is one place that is on my list of pilgrimages.

She died on March 3, 1955 at the mother-house in Bensalem, PA. She was almost 100 years old.

"If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is Joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing."


What impressed me what that she had an audience with the pope before she was even a professed religious sister. I know I have said he before in this blog, but one of my dreams is to meet the Holy Father.

Day 179 -- Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero

Today's saint, Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero, was born on January 30, 1846 as Maria of the Angels Guerrero Gonzalez in Seville, Spain. She was one of 14 children to a poor family; only 5 of her siblings survived into adulthood. Her father was a cook and her mother was a laundress. Angela had to quit school at 12 years old to work in a shoe factory to help support her family. She received her first Communion at age 8 and confirmation at 9. She prayed the rosary daily and had a great devotion to the crucified Christ. At age 16 she had a spiritual director, Father José Torres Padilla and he helped Angela discern if she had a call to religious life.

She first tried to join the Carmelites, but was refused, but at age 19 when she was accepted she became sick that she was forced to return to her family. When she recovered, she cared for cholera victims, and those poorer than herself. In 1868 she entered the convent of the Daughters of Charity of Seville, but her health failed again and went back to her parents. In 1871 with Father Padilla's blessed she lived at home under a particular Rule and yearly renewed her vows. In 1873 while in prayer, Angela received a vision and she understood it has a calling to mission work with the poor. She began keeping a diary to understand what God was calling her to. Others were attracted to her life, and on August 2, 1875 Congregation of the Cross was born. They work with the sick, poor, orphans, and homeless. Work started with Mother Angela and 3 other sisters, but in her lifetime they grew to 23 convents, and today continue their good works. Mother Angela died on March 2, 1923 in Seville. She was canonized on May 4, 2003 in Madrid, Spain.

"The nothing keeps silent, the nothing does not want to be, the nothing suffers all. The nothing does not impose itself, the nothing does not command with authority, and finally, the nothing in the creature is practical humility."

Day 178 -- Blessed Giovanna Maria Bonomo

I chose today's saint because of her beautiful name...nice Italian name of Blessed Giovanna Maria Bonomo. Giovanna was born on August 15, 1606 in Asiago in Vicenza, Italy. She was educated by the Poor Clares of Trent, Italy. She became a Benedictine nun in Bassano, Italy in 1622. She went into ecstasy the first time right before the ceremony for her profession. She became the novice mistress, then prioress, and was abbess at three different times. She was persecuted by members of her own religious community for her dedication and mystical experiences. Many nuns thought she was making it up to get attention. She died on March 1, 1670 of natural causes. She was beatified on June 9, 1783 by Pope Pius VI.