Blessed Charles of Blois

Blessed Charles of Blois – September 29th

Charles was a French prince who would have liked to be a Franciscan friar, but spent most of his life on the battlefield. He was a nephew of King Philip VI of France, and when he was seventeen, he married Joan of Brittany. But there was another man who claimed he should be Duke of Brittany, instead of Charles. That is how all the fighting began, and it lasted his whole life.

Blessed Charles hated wars, for he saw how much suffering they bring. Once he offered to settle the whole matter by fighting alone against his rival, but the wars went on. The holy prince did all he could to help the wounded after every battle and to take care of the poor people in the towns he conquered. Barefoot he made pilgrimages and he built religious houses where monks and nuns would pray for him and for the soldiers who were killed in battle. Once, he held up a big battle in order to go to Mass first. One of his officers was angry at that, but Blessed Charles answered, “We can always get towns and castles. If we lose them, God will help us get them back again. But we cannot afford to miss Mass.”

Even while in prison for nine years in London, Charles won the admiration of his jailers because of his calm patience and his spirit of prayer. When he was set free, he went back to fight for his land again, and was finally killed on the battlefield. So many miracles took place at his tomb that the people of Brittany began calling him a saint right away.

Do I easily find excuses to miss Mass? How do I assist at Mass? Let us often remember the example of this Saint, who even held up a big battle in order to go to Mass first.

Dedication of St. Michael

Dedication of St. Michael – September 29th

There are more than ten Roman churches dedicated to St. Michael. To-day’s feast celebrates the consecration in 530 by Boniface II of the venerable sanctuary seven miles from the city on the Salarian way. The Mass now used for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost was composed for the occasion, which accounts for its many references to the consecration of a church. To-day’s Mass has much in common with that of the Guardian Angels, the two feasts having long been celebrated together.

The Name Michael means, in Hebrew, “who is like to God?” and recalls the battle in heaven between “the prince of the heavenly host”* and the devil, a battle which began with Lucifer’s rebellion and continues down the ages. In this tremendous struggle Michael and his angels together with the Church and her saints are Christ’s allies against Satan and his devils with all their henchmen. We are all involved in this fight, and St. Michael and the angels help us so that we may not perish in the day of God’s judgment (All.). When a Christian dies, the Church prays that God’s standard-bearer may lead him into heaven**, and so he is often represented bearing the scales of divine justice in which souls are weighed. St. Michael also presides over our worship of God, for he is the angel whom St. John saw in heaven near God’s altar, a golden censer in his hand, offering the fragrant incense of the prayers of the saints. (1st Ant. At Vespers; Off.; cf. the blessing of incense at the Offertory in the ordinary of the Mass). St. Michael’s name is mentioned in the Confiteor after that of Mary, the Queen of the angels. He is the angel protector of the Church as he formerly was of the Jewish people. The liturgy identifies him with the angel who gave God’s revelation to St. John in the Apocalypse (Ep.).

* Prayers for the agonizing and prayers after low Mass.

** Offertory of the Requiem Mass.

St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia

St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia - Patron of Czechoslovakia - September 28th

As a boy, this prince was brought up by his saintly grandmother, Ludmila. When his father died, his mother took over the rule of Bohemia. She was an evil woman, who tried to destroy Christianity in the land. And she was jealous of the great love and respect her oldest son had for his holy grandmother, St. Ludmila. St. Wenceslaus was urged by his grandmother to take the throne away from his mother, to save the Christian Church in Bohemia. In great anger, Wenceslaus’ mother and her wicked friends had St. Ludmila killed. But the people were disgusted with the evil woman, and they made St. Wenceslaus their ruler.

Wenceslaus was a wise, kind ruler, who loved peace. Yet he was strong and just. He had a great devotion to Holy Mass. Once, because he stopped for Mass, he was the last prince to arrive at an important meeting of the German Emperor and other rulers. They were offended at being kept waiting, and decided to show it by not speaking to him when he arrived. But no sooner had Wenceslaus stepped into the hall than they all changed their minds and showed him great love and respect instead. They could not help but admire him for his great love of God.

St. Wenceslaus knew that his brother Boleslaus was jealous of his power. He had been warned that his life was in danger. Yet he accepted Boleslaus’ invitation to a banquet and treated his brother as kindly as ever. Early the next morning, he was on his way to Mass as usual when his brother came up to him and struck him. The two brothers struggled until wicked friends of Boleslaus ran up and killed Wenceslaus. His last words as he fell were, “Brother, may God forgive you!”

At once the people of Bohemia began to go in great crowds to the young prince’s grave, for they knew he was a Saint.

St. Wenceslaus was noted for his habit of prayer. Prayer gave him the strength he needed to perform his very difficult duties towards his country and to forgive his own brother.

Sts. Cosmos and Damien

Sts. Cosmos and Damien - Patrons of Surgeons, Barbers, Doctors and Druggists - September 27th

These two Saints were twin brothers who were born in Arabia. They were very famous students of science and both became excellent doctors.

Cosmos and Damien saw in every patient a brother in Christ. For this reason, they showed great charity to all and treated their sicknesses to the best of their ability. Yet no matter how much care a patient required, neither Cosmas nor Damien ever accepted any money for their services. For this reason, they were called by a name in Greek which means, “the moneyless ones.”

Every chance they had, the two Saints told their patients about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and because the people all loved these twin doctors, they listened to them willingly. Cosmos and Damien often brought health back to both the bodies and the souls of those who came to them for help.

When the persecution of Christians began in their city, the Saints were arrested at once, for they had never tried to hide their great love for the Christian Faith. They were tortured, but nothing could make them give up their belief in Christ. They had lived for Him and had brought so many souls to His love. So at last, they were put to death. These holy martyrs are named in the Canon, the most solemn part of the Mass.

Let us perform a work of mercy today-either spiritual or material.

The North American Martyrs

The North American Martyrs – September 26th

Over three hundred years ago, six Jesuit priests and their two holy assistants, all from France, died as martyrs here in America. They were a group of the bravest and most daring missionaries in the New World, and they risked everything they had to bring Christ to the Indians. After much hard work, they converted many of the Huron tribe. But the Iroquois Indians, bitter enemies of the Hurons, put them all to death.

St. John de Brebeuf had tuberculosis and was so sickly in France that he could not even teach many classes. Yet he became a marvelous, valiant apostle, whose courage amazed the fierce Iroquois as they tortured him to death. St. Isaac Jogues was tortured by the Mohawks, an Iroquois tribe, too, but was freed by the Dutch. He got back to France and received special permission to say Mass even though his fingers had been badly bitten by his torturers. As soon as he could, he went back to the Indians, and was tomahawked by the Bear Clan of the Mohawks. St. Anthony Daniel had just finished celebrating Mass for his Huron converts when the Iroquois attacked the village. The Christian Indians begged him to try to escape, but he stayed to baptize all those who were crying to him to come to them before they were killed. The Iroquois burned him to death in his little chapel. St. Gabriel Lallemont was tortured to death with St. John de Brebeuf and had to undergo the worst torments anyone could imagine. St. Charles Garnier and St. Noel Chabenel were both tomahawked. St. Charles was first shot by an Iroquois musket during a surprise attack, but he still tried to crawl to help a dying man. Then, a hatchet put an end to him. Father Chabenel, who had found life very hard but had made a vow to stay with the Indians anyway, was killed by a Huron traitor. The two lay helpers, Rene Goupil and John Lalande were both tomahawked. So it was that these heroes of Christ gave their lives for the Indians, and after their death, new missionaries were able to convert almost every tribe that the martyrs had known.

If someone offends me, I will suffer the injury in silence and meekness, as a brave soldier of Jesus Christ.

St. Sergius of Radonezh

St. Sergius of Radonezh – September 25th

This famous Russian saint was given the name of Bartholomew when he was baptized. He was not as bright as his two brothers, but with God’s help, he learned to read and write, which made him very happy, because he greatly desired to be able to read the Holy Bible. Bartholomew’s parents were nobles, but while he was still a boy, the family had to flee from enemies and go to work as peasants. After his parents died, he and his brother Stephen went off to live as hermits. They built a little church of trees they had cut down, and had it dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity.

When his brother went to Moscow to enter a monastery, Bartholomew lived alone, but he received the habit of a monk and took the name, Sergius. He was a big, husky young man strong enough to stand the biting cold and fierce winds of his forest home. He was happy praying to God and loving Him with all his heart. He called fire and light his companions, and even made friends with bears!

Before too long, other young men came to share St. Sergius’ holy life. They asked him to be their abbot and he did. He was ordained a priest and ruled his monastery very wisely. Once when some of the monks together with his own brother Stephen-who had come back-disagreed with Sergius, he went away in order to keep peace. Four years later, when he was asked to return, the monks were so happy to see him that they kissed his hands, his feet and even his robe. Powerful rulers often went to ask St. Sergius’ advice, and he became so famous that he was asked to become bishop of the greatest Russian diocese, but he was too humble to accept. When the Prince of Moscow was not sure whether he should try to fight the terrible pagan Tartars, the Saint said, “Do not fear, sir. Go forward with faith against the foe. God will be with you.” And the Russians were victorious!

It was not great learning that made people trust St. Sergius and love him. It was his confidence in God and his desire to help everybody.

I will follow the example of this Saint. When someone disagrees with me and starts an argument, I will keep still. In this way both of us will be at peace.

St. Pacificus of San Severino

St. Pacificus of San Severino – September 24th

When a little Italian boy named Charles Anthony was just five years old, his good parents both died, and he was given to the care of his uncle. This uncle was a cross, mean man and he treated Charles worse than a servant. Yet the boy took this hard treatment quietly and patiently. When he was seventeen, Charles entered a monastery and took the name of Pacificus, which means “peaceful.” After he became a priest, he was made a teacher, but his great desire was to become a preacher. How happy he was when his superior sent him on a preaching mission to many little towns and villages!

St. Pacificus was very popular with the good country folk because his talks were simple and sweet. Besides that, he had the marvelous gift of reading consciences! Once, he reminded a man in confession that he had been unkind to his mother and had kept impure thoughts in his mind. Everywhere the Saint went to preach and hear confessions, he did much good.

But when he had been preaching only about six years, Pacificus had to give it up because he became blind, deaf and crippled. He spent his time praying and doing penance in his monastery, helping others in any way he could. God was always very close to this humble Saint and He gave him the gift of prophecy. St. Pacificus foretold the great victory of the Christian armies over the Turks at Belgrade. He also said to a Bishop: “Your Excellency-Heaven! Heaven! And I will follow you soon!” About two weeks later, the bishop died, and not long after, just as he had said, St. Pacificus died, too. Many miracles took place at his grave.

St. Pacificus’ rule of life, for himself and for the others, was: “Do well, moment by moment.” Let us, too, make this our own rule of perfection.

St. Thecla

St. Thecla – September 23rd

Thecla, the first women martyr, was a beautiful young pagan noblewoman of the city of Iconium, in Turkey. She did much reading in philosophy books, yet nothing satisfied her desire to know about her Creator. But when St. Paul the Apostle came to preach the Gospel of Jesus in Iconium, her prayer to know the one, true God was answered. From St. Paul she also learned that a young woman can become the Bride of Christ is she gives up marriage. By this time, Thecla desired nothing else than to give herself entirely to God.

Thecla’s pagan parents tried their best to make her give up her Christian Faith, but she would not. Her fiancé, Thamyris, begged her not to break their engagement, but Thecla wanted to be Christ’s bride, not his. At last, in great anger, Thamyris accused her to the judge, and when she still refused to give up her love for Jesus, she was ordered to be burned to death at the stake.

The beautiful young women bravely prepared to die, but no sooner had the fire been lit than a storm from Heaven put it out! Later, she was condemned to be eaten by lions, but once again, God saved Thecla’s life. Instead of clawing her, the fierce beasts walked gently up to her, lay down at her side, and licked her feet, like pet kittens! At last, in fear, the judge set the Saint free. Thecla went to live in a cave and teaching all the people who came to visit her about the Lord Jesus.

St. Thecla is honored as a martyr because she was ready to die for Jesus, even though God saved her by miracles.

The example of St. Thecla shows us how to keep the promises of Baptism. We have renounced the evil which is in the world and the devil once and for all. Now we must send away all temptations and advance in virtue day by day, until the time when God calls us to His glorious reward.

St. Thomas of Villanova

St. Thomas of Villanova – September 22nd

Thomas was born in Spain. His father was a miller in the town of Villanova, and from his kind parents, Thomas learned to be very charitable to the poor. He did very well in school and became a teacher of philosophy when he finished his studies. Next he joined the Augustinian Fathers. After he became a priest, he was given many important positions and finally was made Archbishop of the city of Valencia.

His priests tried to make him change his old, mended habit for more dignified robes, but St. Thomas told them his old clothes had nothing to do with his duty of taking care of souls. Every day, in his great charity, he fed several hundred poor people. When he received a large sum of money to buy furniture for his house, he gave it to a hospital, saying: “What does a poor monk like me want with furniture?” No wonder he was called the “father of the poor!”

St. Thomas was very gentle with sinners at a time when most people were not. Once when he tried to make one man change his sinful ways, the man angrily insulted him and furiously stormed out of the room. “It was my fault,” said the humble Archbishop. “I told him a little too roughly.” Never would he permit anyone to criticize someone absent. “He may have had a good intention in doing what he did,” the Saint would say. “I, for one, believe he did.”

Before he died, St. Thomas gave to the poor everything he had. He even directed that his bed was to be sent to the jail for the prisoners to use.

I will try not to be selfish anymore. This Saint once said, “If you want God to hear your prayers, you should help those who are in need.”

St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist - Patron of Bankers and Tax Collectors – September 21st

Matthew was a tax-collector in the city of Capharnaum, where Jesus was living. He was a Jew but he was working for the Romans, who had conquered the Jews. For this reason, his countrymen disliked him. They would not have anything to do with these “publicans”, as tax collectors like Matthew were called.

But Jesus did not feel that way about Matthew. One day, He saw him sitting in his office and He said, “Follow Me.” At once, Matthew got up and left his money and his position to follow Our Lord, Who seemed so holy and king-like. He gave a big supper for Jesus and invited other publicans like himself to meet Jesus and listen to Him teach. When some people criticized Our Lord for eating with sinners, Jesus answered, “They who are well do not need the doctor; the sick do. I have not come to call the just, but sinners to repentance.”

When Jesus went back to Heaven, St. Matthew stayed in Palestine for some time to preach about Our Lord. He also wrote his Gospel, which is the story of Jesus and what He taught. In his Gospel, St. Matthew showed his countrymen that Jesus is the Messias whom the Prophets had said would come to save us.

After preaching the Gospel to many people, Matthew ended his life as a glorious martyr for the Faith.

If my parents ask me to do something, I will obey promptly, without asking them any questions or giving any excuses.