Month: August 2019

Monday, August 26:  St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (1556-1648)

He was respected for his wisdom and administrative expertise. He put aside his career, because he was deeply concerned with the need for education of poor children.  He provided a free school for deprived children. He opened the first free public school in Rome

“Those who instruct many in virtue, will shine like the stars for all eternity”

Patron: Catholic Schools

.Tuesday, August 27:  St. Monica, wife, mother(322-387)

St. Monica was married by arrangement to a pagan, who although was generous, he was also violent tempered. She had three children; Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Through her patience and prayers, she was able to convert her husband and his mother to the Catholic faith. Perpetua and Navigius entered the religious Life. St Augustine was not living a Christian life and Monica prayed many years for his conversion.  One priest told her, “it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish.” St Augustine finally converted, and was baptized by St Ambrose.

“One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.”

Patron: of Wives and Abuse Victims

Wednesday, August 28:  St. Augustine, Priest,  Bishop(354-430)

 St Augustine lived a self satisfying life that didn’t include a faith in God.  His mother St Monica prayed devotedly for him for 17 years. He pursued many spiritualities and philosophies.  Through the intercession of St Monica and the instruction of St Ambrose he converted

He wrote many books teaching us how to live for Jesus and not fall into temptation and sin.

“A man may lose the good things of this life against his will; but if he loses the eternal blessings, he does so with his own consent.”  

Patron:  brewers, printers, theologians, sore eyes

Thursday, August 29:  The Passion of St. John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod, at the bidding of his stepdaughter. His wife didn’t like John, because he pointed out her adultery, so she conspired with her daughter to have him be headed. 

Friday, August 30:  St. Jeanne Jugan (1792-1879)

Jean had a passion for serving the poor and elderly. She became a nurse, and then joined a third order group founded by St John Eudes. She is the founders of The Little Sisters Of The poor

“Remain little, hidden by humility in all God wants from you, as being only the instruments of his work.”

Saturday, August 31:  Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (time of Christ)

Joseph was a respected, wealthy leader, who had become a disciple of Jesus. He requested the body of Jesus and wrapped him in his shroud and placed him in a tomb. According to some legends, Joseph was punished and imprisoned for such a bold act.

Patron: funeral directors, pallbearers

Nicodemuswas a Pharisee.  Nicodemus secret.y went to Jesus at nigh, to better understand his teachings. Later, Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus at the time of his arrest and assisted in Jesus’ burial.

Sunday, September 1:  St. Giles, (d. 710?)

He was one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages. He built a monastery that became a popular stopping-off point for pilgrims making their way to the Holy Land.   In England, many churches and hospitals were dedicated to Giles. He was  among the “14 Holy Helpers”, a p group of saints to whom people prayed, especially for recovery from disease and for strength at the hour of death. Such devotion made his popularity spread. 

Patron: poor, disabled, epileptic

Monday, August, 19:  St. John Eudes, Priest (1601-1680)

St. John Eudes was a French missionary.  At the age of fourteen he took a vow of chastity, and at age 24, he was ordained a priest at age 24.  He cared for plague victims risking his own life. He preached missions and was known as the greatest preacher of his age, throughout France. He founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, a refuge for prostitutes, and the Society of Jesus and Mary, to educate priests.  He wrote “Le Coeur Admirable de la Très Sainte Mère de Dieu”.

“Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in ourselves, to make his spirit, his devotion, his affections, his desires and his disposition live and reign there.”

Patron:  missionaries

Tuesday, August 20:  St. Bernard, Priest, Doctor (1091-1153)

 St. Bernard was born of noble parentage, under the care of his pious parents.  After the death of his mother, he joined the Cistercian Order, of which he persuaded his brothers and several of his friends to follow his example. The reputation of St Bernard spread far and wide; even the Popes were governed by his advice. He was credited with many miracles

“The man who is wise, therefore, will see his life as more like a reservoir than a canal. The canal simultaneously pours out what it receives; the reservoir retains the water till it is filled, then discharges the overflow without loss to itself … Today there are many in the Church who act like canals, the reservoirs are far too rare … You too must learn to await this fullness before pouring out your gifts, do not try to be more generous than God.” 

Patron:  bookkeepers, candlemakers

Wednesday, August 21 :  St. Pius X, Pope (1835-1914)

Two of the most outstanding accomplishments of this saintly Pope were the inauguration of the liturgical renewal and the restoration of frequent communion from childhood. He also waged taught against the heresy and evils of Modernism.   From St. Pius X we learn again that “the folly of the Cross”, simplicity of life, and humility of heart are still the highest wisdom and conditions of a perfect Christian life, for they are the very source of all apostolic fruitfulness.

“To heal the breach between the rich and the poor, it is necessary to distinguish between justice and charity.”

Patron: first communicants

Thursday, August 22:  The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Catholic teaching on this subject is expressed in the papal encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, issued by Pope Prius XII.  It states that Mary is called Queen of Heaven, because her son, Jesus Christ, is the king of Israel and heavenly king of the universe.  the Davidic tradition of Israel recognized the mother of the king as the Queen Mother of Israel.

The title, Queen of Heaven, has long been a Catholic tradition, from Middle Ages, long before it was given a formal definition status by the Church

Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. 

Friday, August 23:  St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617)

Rose was born in Peru to Spanish parents. Her parents tried to get Rose, a beauty, married, but she refused.  When they refused to let her enter the convent she became a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic. She set up a room in her house to care for those in need, orphans, homeless, elderly.

The first canonized saint of the New World has one characteristic of all saints—the suffering of opposition—and another characteristic which is more for admiration than for imitation—excessive practice of mortification.

She was born to parents of Spanish descent in Lima, Peru, at a time when South America was in its first century of evangelization. She seems to have taken Catherine of Siena (April 29) as a model, in spite of the objections and ridicule of parents and friends. When she died at 31, the city turned out for her funeral, and prominent men took turns carrying her coffin.

“The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.”

Patron:  embroiderers, sewing lace, gardeners, florist people ridiculed or misunderstood for their piety, for the resolution of family quarrels, vanity

Patron: Americas,

Saturday, August 24:  St. Bartholomew, Apostle (time of Christ)

Bartholomew was one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus. He has been identified with Nathaniel, who appears in the Gospel of John as being introduced to Jesus by Phillip.

Patron: butchers, leather workers, neurological diseases, shoemakers, plasterers 

Sunday, August 25:  St. Louis of France, king (1226-1270)

At his coronation as king of France, Louis IX bound himself by oath to behave as God’s anointed.as other kings had.  Louis was different, he actually interpreted his kingly duties in the light of faith. After the violence of two previous reigns, he brought peace and justice.

He replaced trial by battle with a form of examination of witnesses and encouraged the use of written records in court.  He was respectful of the papacy, founded hospitals for the sick and cared for lepers. He fed the hungry and helped the poor

“I advise you that you accustom yourself to frequent confession, and that you choose always, as your confessors, men who are upright and sufficiently learned, and who can teach you what you should do and what you should avoid.”

 “Fix your whole heart upon God, and love Him with all your strength, for without this no one can be saved.”

 Patron: Barbers, Grooms, Secular Franciscan Order

Monday, August 12th: St Jane Frances de Chantal, religious sister (1572-1641)

Jane was married to Christophe, a French baron of an estate in bad shape and financial trouble. She managed the household, such that those in her employ loved her, and conditions improved. Her husband was killed in a hunting accident, leaving Jane alone. She was very generous to the poor. 

Her spiritual director was St Francis de Sales, and they were also best friends.  With his help they started the order of the Visitation. Women who were widow, or those with health condition that couldn’t withstand the austerity of other orders were welcome here 

“Throw ourselves into God as a little drop of water into the sea, and lose ourselves indeed in the Ocean of the divine goodness.”

Patron: widows, forgotten people; in-law problems; loss of parents; parents separated from children 

Tuesday, August 13th: St Hippolytus, Martyr (170-235)

Hippolytus of Rome was a controversial person in the church.  He censured Pope Dt, Callistus I. He then, was first to be elected an antipope in the church. He was reconciled to the church, before his martyrdom. He had many writings. 

“Fly to the Catholic Church!  Adhere to the only faiths that continues to exist from the beginning, that faith that was preached by Paul, and is upheld by the chair of Peter.”

Patron:  horses; prison guards; prison officers; prison workers

Wednesday, August 14th: St. Maximillian Kolbe, Martyr (1894-1941)

Maximillian was frail as a result of a bout of tuberculosis. He became a Franciscan and priest in Poland. He founded the Immaculata Movement, a devotion to the Blessed Mother. 

Maximilian was born in 1894 in Poland and became a Franciscan. He contracted tuberculosis and, though he recovered, he remained frail all his life. Before his ordination as a priest, Maximilian founded the Immaculata Movement He took his devotion to India and Japan.  After the Nazi invasion, he was imprisoned, and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Fr Kolbe took the place of a married man, who was chosen to die.

“I pray you to tell the Brothers not to be afraid at all to love the Immaculate too much since . . . they will never love her like Jesus loved her.” 

Patron: drug addicts, prisoners, families, and the pro-life movement

Thursday, August 15th: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Pope Pius XII proclaimed ““We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.” What the pope declared was already a common belief in the Catholic Church.  There are homilies on the Assumption going back to the sixth century. 

Friday, August 16th: St Uguzo, Martyr (unknown)

St Uguzo is sometimes listed as Lucius. He was a shepherd in the Italian Alps, and was noted for giving to the poor and the Church. He was murdered by a former master. While there is no date connected with the saint, he was especially venerated at Milan from about 1280.

Saturday, August 17th: St Myron, Bishop (c 150-250)

St Myron is known as “the wonder worker”. He was a family man, and known for his generosity to the poor.   He even helped the thieves that broke into his home to a bag of wheat, converting the lives of the thieves.   The Cretan people urged him to accept ordination to the priesthood. He was then made a bishop of Raucia.  He is credited with stopping the flow of a flooding river.  He lived to be 100.

Sunday, August 18th: St Flores and St Lauras, maryrrs (2nd century)

They were martyrs with Maximus and Proculus. Venerated particularly by the Greeks, Florus and Laurus were twin brothers, who were stone masons.  They Christianized a pagan temple and were drowned in a well as a result.

Monday, August 5th: St Paris of Teano, Bishop (died 346)

Many legends exist about him.  The legends say that Paris was of Greek origin, and was the apostle and first bishop of Teano. His miracles included killing a dragon.  The dragon could have been a metaphor for paganism. 

Tuesday, August 6th: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.*

And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents* here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,* then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid.But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone

The Gospel of Matthew

Wednesday, August 7th: St Claudia (1st Century)

Claudia was the mother of the second Pope, St Linus.  There are many traditions surrounded St Claudia and who she was.  One such tradition has her the daughter of a captured British king and named for Emperor Claudius, who released her father.  She was then baptized in Rome, and mentioned in Paul’s second letter to Timothy.

Thursday, August 8th: St Dominic (1170-1221)

St. Dominic was born in Spain.  He was ordained, and was noted for his strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. He founded the order of the Dominicans. He was devoted to the conversion of the Albigensians. Dominic spent the last years of this life organizing the order, traveling all over Italy, Spain and France. His effort was very successful, as it applied Dominic’s concept of harmonizing the intellectual life with popular needs.

Patron:  astronomers, astronomy, falsely accused people

“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either command them or be enslaved to them.

Friday, August 9th: St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, Religious Sister, Martyr  (1892-1942)

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born in Poland, and the youngest child of a large Jewish family. She became interested in the Catholic Faith, and was then baptized.  Edith entered the Cologne Carmel, and took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.  She was arrested, and was sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Teresa died in the gas chambers. She  very intelligent, and well versed in philosophy with a particular interest in phenomenology. She has many written works. 

“The nation… doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are.”

Patron:  loss of parents, converted Jews, World Youth Day[

Saturday, August 10th: St Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (225-258)

Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy. As Pope St. Sixtus was led to his execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, “Father, where are you going without your deacon?” The Pope said,  “I am not leaving you, my son, in three days you will follow me.” Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand. The Prefect of Rome ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him. Lawrence went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick. He said: “This is the Church’s treasure!”

In anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death, of roasting over a fire God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!” And just before he died, he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus, and that the Catholic Faith might spread all over the world.

Patron:  comedians, librarians, students, miners, tanners, chefs, roasters, poor, firefighters

Sunday, August 11th: St. Clare, Founder Poor Clares (1194-1253)

When she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a poor humble life for Jesus. So one evening, she ran away from home, and in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not.

St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time.  Once, They we’re saved from an army of rough soldiers, who planned to raid the convent. Where the enemies could see it, Clare had the Blessed Sacrament placed, and begged God to save the Sisters.  At the same time, a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could.

“They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?”

Patron: sore eyes