St. Andrew Bobola - May 21st
Andrew was born in Poland, and after he became a Jesuit priest, people began to realize what a great preacher he was. For twenty years, he traveled from one village to the next, converting those who had left the Catholic Church. Then he was made Superior of one of the house of his Order. A terrible sickness spread through that land, and St. Andrew risked his own life to help the sick and the dying.
After being Superior, he went back to preaching and was so successful that enemies of the Church tried in every way to stop him. For several years, in every village, they trained groups of children to follow him, calling him names and shouting to drown out his voice when he tried to preach. Still the Saint never lost patience with them or quit.
At last, Father Bobola was captured by those who hated him and the Catholic Church. He was beaten without mercy, but he would not give up the Faith. Then they began to torture him in ways too cruel to describe. Because he kept calling on Jesus and Mary, they tore out his tongue. They wounded him in every part of his body. Finally they ended the Saint’s life by cutting of his head.
Let us bravely and patiently offer up our small sufferings for the love of Jesus, Who died on the cross for love of us.