St. Januarius and His Companions – September 19
St. Januarius, bishop of Benevento, was beheaded at Pozzuoli near Naples at the beginning of the 4th century. Among his companions in martyrdom the Roman martyrology names Socius, Proculus, Eutychius and Acutius. The fame of St. Januarius rests chiefly on the miracle of the liquefaction of his blood, which still occurs in the cathedral of Naples. The dry blood, coagulated in a dark lump, is kept in a glass phial; when this is placed near the martyr’s head, the blood becomes liquid, increasing in weight and volume, and takes on the bright red colour of fresh blood, while its surface bubbles so that it is said to boil. This phenomenon takes place three times a year: during nine days festival beginning on the first Sunday of May; during the octave of his feast from September 19 to 26; and on December 16.
9/19/08
St. Emily de Rodat
St. Emily de Rodat – September 19th
Emily was a lively little French girl who sometimes had temper tantrums, but still was very devout. A cousin who once tried to kiss her received a hard slap. Yet when she was a young lady of sixteen, she began to cut short her prayers and think more of having fun and carefree times. For one year, she was like this, and felt restless and bored. Then she began to see that only God could make her happy and never again did she change her mind.
For a number of years, Emily was not sure what kind of a nun she should be. But in her twenty-eighth year, she suddenly decided her mission would be to teach poor children. She began with the help of other young women, and soon the Congregation of the Holy Family had been founded. Like all holy Foundresses, Emily had to face many sufferings and trials, but her Congregation grew steadily. When some people told lies about her and others wrote insulting letters to her, the Saint used these occasions to humble herself. She would answer respectfully and gently, and when one of the Sisters was upset at that, Mother Emily said, “Don’t you know that we are the scum of the earth, and that anyone can trample on us?”
As a young girl, she had once been quite proud of herself, but now she paid so little attention to her appearance that at times, she looked ridiculous! Although St. Emily was a strong woman, she was also a very cheerful soul. “Keep your enthusiasm, and be brave,” she once wrote to a postulant. “Put all your trust in God, and preserve a holy cheer.” This she herself did through her every trial and suffering.
I will never shorten my prayers, and I will keep my mind on them, so God will hear me and bless me in my life.
Emily was a lively little French girl who sometimes had temper tantrums, but still was very devout. A cousin who once tried to kiss her received a hard slap. Yet when she was a young lady of sixteen, she began to cut short her prayers and think more of having fun and carefree times. For one year, she was like this, and felt restless and bored. Then she began to see that only God could make her happy and never again did she change her mind.
For a number of years, Emily was not sure what kind of a nun she should be. But in her twenty-eighth year, she suddenly decided her mission would be to teach poor children. She began with the help of other young women, and soon the Congregation of the Holy Family had been founded. Like all holy Foundresses, Emily had to face many sufferings and trials, but her Congregation grew steadily. When some people told lies about her and others wrote insulting letters to her, the Saint used these occasions to humble herself. She would answer respectfully and gently, and when one of the Sisters was upset at that, Mother Emily said, “Don’t you know that we are the scum of the earth, and that anyone can trample on us?”
As a young girl, she had once been quite proud of herself, but now she paid so little attention to her appearance that at times, she looked ridiculous! Although St. Emily was a strong woman, she was also a very cheerful soul. “Keep your enthusiasm, and be brave,” she once wrote to a postulant. “Put all your trust in God, and preserve a holy cheer.” This she herself did through her every trial and suffering.
I will never shorten my prayers, and I will keep my mind on them, so God will hear me and bless me in my life.
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