Day by Day with the Saints

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Day 365 -- Saint Rosalia

I cannot believe that today is the last day to write my saint blog. It has been very good to write everyday for a whole year and share the saints with you. May we always try to emulate them and pray to them when we need help and discernment.

Today, on my last entry, I will write about Saint Rosalia, in honor of my grandmother, Rosale or Rose as she is known. I saw my Grama today, who is 91 and in a nursing home.

Saint Rosalia was born around the year 1130 in Palermo to Sicilian nobility. She was raised in the royal Sicilian court. From when she was a child, she knew she was called to dedicate her life to God. When she was grown, she moved to a cave near her parents' home and lived there for the rest of her life. Tradition says that she was led to the cave by two angels. On the cave wall she wrote “I, Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, Lord of Roses, and Quisquina, have taken the resolution to live in this cave for the love of my Lord, Jesus Christ.” She remained apart from the world and dedicated her life to prayer and works of penance for the sake of Jesus. She died alone in the cave around the year 1160 of natural causes. She was buried in the cave by workers collapsing it.

In 1625, during the plague, it is said that she appeared in a vision to a hunter near her cave. Her relics were discovered and brought to Palermo and paraded through the street. Three days later, the plague ended, and intercession to Rosalia was credited with saving the city. She is the city's patroness. There are traditional celebrations lasting for days, involving fireworks and parades.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Day 364 -- Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Pope Saint Gregory the Great was born in Rome around the year 540. His mother is also a saint: Saint Silvia of Rome, and he is nephew of Saint Emiliana, and Saint Tarsilla. He is the great-grandson of Pope Saint Felix III. He was educated by the finest teachers in Rome. He was a Benedictine monk and then turned his home into a Benedictine monastery and used his money to build six more. When he said English children being sold in the Roman Forum, he became a missionary to England.

On September 3, 590, he was elected the 64 pope and the first monk to be chosen. He sent Saint Augustine of Canterbury and other monks to evangelize England, and other places including France, Spain, and Africa. He is one of the great four doctors of the Latin Church. He wrote works on the Mass and Divine Office. He died on March 12, 604 in Rome.

He is the patron of masons, against gout, England, singers, students and teachers.

"When Job is said to have feared God, it is rightly related that he also shunned evil. Fear comes first and charity follows later; and when that has happened, the offense which is left behind in the mind is trodden underfoot by the desires of the heart."

Prayer
O God, You look upon Your people with compassion, and rule them with love. Through the intercession of Pope Saint Gregory, give wisdom to the leaders of Your Church that the growth of Your people in holiness and love of You may be the everlasting joy of our pastors. Amen.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Day 363 -- Martyrs of September

The Martyrs of September is a group of 191 martyrs who died in the French Revolution. They were imprisoned in the Abbey of St-Germain-des-Prés, Hôtel des Carmes in the rue de Rennes, Prison de la Force, and Seminaire de Saint-Firmin in Paris. They refused to take the oath to support the civil constitution of the clergy. This placed all priests under the control of the state and had been condemned by the Vatican. They were massacred by a mob on September 2 and September 3, 1792. They were beatified on October 17, 1926 by Pope Pius XI and await canonization.

The compete list is here:

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Day 362 -- Blessed Juliana of Collalto

Blessed Juliana of Collalto was born into nobility in the year 1186 in Treviso, Italy. At the age of 10 she became a Benedictine nun in Salarola. She was friends with Blessed Beatrix of Este. She founded the convent of Saint Biagio and the Cataldo convent in Venice. She also became an abbess. She died on September 1, 1262 in Venice. She was beatified and canonized on May 20, 1753 by Pope Benedict XIV.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Day 361 -- Saint Cyprian of Carthage

Saint Cyprian of Carthage was born around the year 190 in Carthage, North Africa. He was an adult convert to the faith in 246. He was ordained a year later and two years later he became bishop of Carthage. Beginning the following year, he lived in hiding and ministered to his flock because of the persecution of Decius. He was a writer of great importance, only second to Tertullian. He supported Pope Saint Cornelius. In 257, during the persecutions of Valerian he was exiled to Curubis, he was then brought back to Carthage, and then was martyred in 258 on September 14.

"God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body…. If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace."

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Day 360 -- Saint Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran

I learned about today's saint from a friend of mine who went to Ecuador and sent be back a prayer card of Saint Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran. She was actually born on my friend's birthday, October 29, 1832 in Guayas, Ecuador. Her family were farmers and her parents died when she was only a child. She moved to Guayaquil and worked as a seamstress for the next 15 years to raise her younger siblings. She lived a single life, helped those who were even poorer than herself, and spent much time in prayer.

In 1868 she moved to Lima, Peru and worked in a convent of Dominican nuns. She never took vows and remained a lay person her whole life, but spent eight hours a day in prayer. She died on December 8, 1869 in Lima of natural causes. Her remains were transferred to Guayaquil in 1955. She was canonized on October 12, 2008.

Reading more about Saint Narcisa de Jesus today, allowed me to pray for my friend who I miss very much.

Saint Narcisa de Jesus, pray for all laywomen in the Church!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Day 359 -- Saint John the Baptist

Today we remember the death of Saint John the Baptist. It is interesting to note that he, Jesus, and Mary are the only people who the Catholic Church remember birthdays too. John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus. He was the son of Zachary who was a priest, and Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron. When Zachary was ministering in the Temple, an angel brought him the news that Elizabeth would bear a child in her old age. Zachary doubted and was unable to speak until after John was born.

John was a prophet and began his ministry around the age of 27 by heralding the name of Jesus Christ. He lived off of locusts and wild honey. He preached a message of repentance to the people of Jerusalem. He baptized Jesus.

He was imprisoned by King Herod and died as a victim of the vengeance of a jealous woman around the year 30. He was beheaded and his head was brought to her on a platter. He was buried in Samaria and his relics are in Rome and Amiens (France).

Here is the account of his death:
Mark 6:17-29
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Day 358 -- Saint Augustine of Hippo

"I will suggest a means whereby you can praise God all day long, if you wish. Whatever you do, do it well, and you have praised God."

Today we remember a saint who I should pray to every day and for my mission at work. Saint Augustine of Hippo is the patron saint of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Saint Augustine was born on November 13, 354 in Numidia, North Africa as Aurelius Augustinus. His father was a pagan who converted on his death bed and his mother is Saint Monica who was a devout Christian. He was raised Christian, but lost his faith as a youth and then led a wild life. From the ages of 15 to 30 he lived with a woman and fathered a son named Adeotadus, which means gift of God. He investigated and experimented with several philosophies.

After the prayers of his mother and Saint Ambrose of Milan for many years, he converted and Ambrose baptized him. After his mother died, he returned to Africa, sold his property and gave the proceeds to the poor and founded a monastery. He became a monk, priest, preacher and then bishop of Hippo in 396. He founded religious communities and fought against heresies. He is a Doctor of the Church. One of his famous line (which is also my screensaver at work) is "Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in You." He died on August 28, 430 in Hippo.

Saint Augustine's famous books include Confessions and City of God.

Below are some of Saint Augustine's famous prayers:

Prayer to Holy Spirit
Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy; Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy; Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy; Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy; Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Act of Hope
For your mercies' sake, O Lord my God, tell me what you are to me. Say to my soul: "I am your salvation." So speak that I may hear, O Lord; my heart is listening; open it that it may hear you, and say to my soul: "I am your salvation." After hearing this word, may I come in haste to take hold of you. Hide not your face from me. Let me see your face even if I die, lest I die with longing to see it. The house of my soul is too small to receive you; let it be enlarged by you. It is all in ruins; do you repair it. There are thing in it - I confess and I know - that must offend your sight. But who shall cleanse it? Or to what others besides you shall I cry out? From my secret sins cleanse me, O Lord, and from those of others spare your servant. Amen.

Prayer to Seek God Continually
O Lord my God, I believe in you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Insofar as I can, insofar as you have given me the power, I have sought you. I became weary and I labored.

O Lord my God, my sole hope, help me to believe and never to cease seeking you. Grant that I may always and ardently seek out your countenance. Give me the strength to seek you, for you help me to find you and you have more and more given me the hope of finding you.

Here I am before you with my firmness and my infirmity. Preserve the first and heal the second.

Here I am before you with my strength and my ignorance. Where you have opened the door to me, welcome me at the entrance; where you have closed the door to me, open to my cry; enable me to remember you, to understand you, and to love you. Amen.

Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy
Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.

Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Day 357 -- Saint Poemen

Saint Poemen was a leader of his day. He was the leader of a group of hermits in the desert of Skete in Egypt. They lived in abandoned ruins of a pagan temple. He was noted for his strong discipline. He permitted he and his brothers to sleep only 4 hours a day. They spent the rest of time doing chores, praying, and studying He urged frequent Communion for everyone. He was known for his wise sayings. Some are below.

The beginning of evil is the lack of vigilance.

Silence is not a virtue when charity calls for speech.

A living faith consists of thinking little of self, and showing consideration for others.

Teach your heart to guard that which your tongue teaches.

Do not lay open your conscience to anyone whom you do not trust in your heart.

To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul.

If you are silent, you will possess peace wherever you live.

"The nature of water is soft, and the nature of stone is hard; but if a bottle is hung above the stone, allowing the water to fall down drop by drop, it wears away the stone. So it is with the Word of God: it is soft and our heart is hard, but the man who hears the Word of God often opens his heart to the fear of God."

Friday, August 26, 2011

Day 356 -- Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified

Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified was born as Mary Baouardy on January 5, 1846 in Palestine to Greek Melchite Catholic parents. Twelve of her thirteen brothers died in infancy and her birth was an answer to a prayer to Our Lady. Her parents died when Mary was only 2 years old and she was raised by her uncle. She was betrothed in an arranged married at the age of 13, but refused to go along with it and insisted on a religious life. As a punishment, her uncle hired her our as a servant and made sure she had the lowest of jobs. Mary met a Muslim friend who tried to convert her from Christianity. On September 8, 1858 she convinced him that she would never abandon her faith and he cut her throat and left her in an alley. She lived, an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary treated her wound, and left her uncle's house forever.

In 1860 she moved in with the Sisters of Saint Joseph, but they would not let her join their house because of supernatural events that began. In 1867 she was taken in by a sister in Pau and became a lay sister. Later she entered the cloister and took the name Mary of Jesus Crucified and made her final profession on November 21, 1871.

She received the stigmata, was known to levitate, had the gift of prophecy, and other things. She helped found the missionary Carmel in India and went to France in 1872. She built a Carmelite monastery in Bethlehem in 1875. She was known for her devotion to the Holy Spirit and even sent words to Pope Pius IX that the Holy Spirit was not emphasized enough in the seminaries. She died on August 26, 1878 in Bethlehem of gangrene following an injury at the construction of the Bethlehem monastery. She was beatified on November 13, 1983 and awaits canonization.

"The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water: it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire: it dries up, it burns. The humble soul is like a grain of wheat thrown into the earth: it descends, it hides itself, it disappears, it dies but to revive in heaven."

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Day 355 -- Saint Vincent

I chose today's saint for the obvious reason that my dad and him share the same name. Thereis not much known about Saint Vincent other than that he was martyred with Saint Pontian, Saint Eusbius, and Saint Peregrinus under the persecution of Emperor Commodus. They died in the year 192 in Rome. They were buried in the catacombs in Rome, where I have been.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Day 354-- Saint Bartholomew the Apostle

Saint Bartholomew the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles and was a close friend of Saint Philip--his name is mentioned with Philip's in the Gospels. It was Philip who brought Saint Bartholomew to Jesus. He may have preached in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India, and Armenia. He died a martyr in Armenia. They really do have patron saints for everything becuase he is the patron saint of Florentine cheese merchants!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Day 353 -- Saint Rose of Lima

"Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart."

Today on the day I end my pilgrimage to Portugal and Spain for WYD, we remember one of the patron saints of WYD 2011: Saint Rose of Lima. She was born in Lima, Peru as Isabel on April 20, 1586 to Spanish immigrants to the New World. She was a beautiful girl and devoted daughter. She was very devoted to her vow of chastity that she used pepper and lye to run her complexion so she would not be attractive. She lived and meditated in a garden, growing vegetables and embroidered items to sell to support her family and the poor. In 1606 she became a Dominican tertiary. She was a mystic and a visionary and received the invisible stigmata. She is the founder of social work in Peru. She had a great devotion to Saint Catherine of Siena. She died on August 24, 1617 in Lima or natural causes. She was canonized in 1671. She is the first saint born in the Americas.

She is the patron of florists, gardeners, needle workers, Lima, Peru, and WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011!!

"Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven."

Monday, August 22, 2011

Day 352 -- Blessed Richard Kirkman

Blessed Richard Kirkman was born in Yorkshire, England and studied in France and was ordained there in 1579. He returned to England to minister to covert Catholics. He was arrested near Wakefield in 1582 for treason for not accepting the Queen as head of the Church. He died a martyr in 1582 in York, England.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Day 351 -- Our Lady of Knock

The apparition of Our Lady of Knock occurred on Thursday, August 21, 1879 at 8pm and was approved by Archbishop Thomas Gilmartin, in the Archdiocese of Tuam, Ireland in 1936. Our Lady, Saint Joseph, and Saint John the Evangelist appeared in a blaze of light at Saint John the Baptist Church in Knock. They appeared to float about two feet off the ground and would move toward the visionaries. Mary was clothed in white with a brilliant crown on her head. She was praying with her eyes and hands raised to heaven. Saint Joseph wore white robes and stood on Mary's right and was turned toward her in respect. Saint John was dressed in white and stood on Mary's left and resembled a bishop, with a small mitre. He appeared to be preaching with an open book in his left hand. Behind them was a plain altar with a cross and lamb and adoring angels. The apparition was witnessed by 15 people. Healings were reported and now it is a major pilgrimage destination.

Today while in Madrid with the Holy Father, I will be praying to Our Lady, whom I have grown close to over the past year, to continue reveal our Heavenly Father's Plan for my life and to have the courage to life it.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Day 350 -- Blessed James Bell

Blessed James Bell grew up in England in the 1500s when people had to conform to the rules of the state church under Queen Elizabeth, which he did, but eventually returned to his Catholic faith. He was a priest and was educated at Oxford. On April 20, 1584 with Blessed John Finch, they were hanged in Lancaster, England. He was beatified in 1929.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Day 349 -- Saint Louis of Toulouse

Saint Louis of Toulouse is the patron of Valencia, Spain and I will be there as part of our World Youth Day pilgrimage on August 22. Saint Louis was born to nobility in February 1274 in Nocera, Italy. He was the great-nephew of Saint Louis IX and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. He grew up in modern day France. He spent seven years as a hostage for his father in Barcelona and Tarragona Spain. He was ordained at the age of 23 and was a Friar Minor. He was bishop of Toulouse, France for the last six months of his life. He died on August 19, 1297. He was canonized in 1317.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Day 348 -- Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga

"I am happy, Lord."

I first learned of Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga when a friend went to Chile and she brought a rosary I made her out of red, white, and blue twine. Those are the same colors as the Chilean flag and she said the kids loved the rosary. Saint Hurtado was born on January 22, 1901 in Vina del Mar, Chile. His father died when he was only four years old and he grew up in poverty. He was educated in the Jesuit College in Santiago. He felt a call early in life to religious life and entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1923 and was ordained ten years later. He taught religion and trained teachers, led retreats for young men and worked in the poor areas of the city. In 1944 he became the chaplain of Catholic Action. In 1947 he founded the Chilean Trade Union Association. He died of pancreatic cancer on August 18, 1952 in Santiago. He was canonized on October 23, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Day 347 -- Saint Juliana

Saint Juliana was sister of Saint Paul and was martyred with him under the persecutions of Aurelian in Ptolemais, Palestine.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Day 346 -- Blessed Angelus Agostini Mazzinghi

Blessed Angelus Agostini Mazzinghi was born in 1377 in Florence, Italy. He was a Carmelite priest and a theology professor. He was the first member of the reformed observance of Our Lady of the Wood. He was the Prior of many houses. He was a noted preached. He retired to the Carmelite house in Florence and spent his last years in prayer. He died on August 17, 1438 in Florence. He was beatified on March 7, 1761.