Blessed Urban the V – December 19th
Blessed Urban’s name before he became Pope was William de Grimoard. He was born in France and became a Benedictine monk. After being given many high positions, he was elected Pope.
At this time, the Popes lived in a city called Avignon, but Urban made up his mind to go to Rome, because that is where the Pope should live. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and Urban knew that his place was there in Rome. There were many difficulties, and people in France objected to his going, but Urban did what he felt was right.
The people of Rome were overjoyed to have the Pope back, and especially such a holy man as was Urban V. He set about at once to repair the great churches of Rome, to help the poor, and to make the people fervent and devout again. The Emperor Charles V showed great respect to the Holy Father, too.
But Urban had a great many problems, and he was getting sicker and weaker all the time. Many of his Cardinals kept urging him to go back to Avignon, and at last he gave in. As he prepared to leave Rome, the people of the city begged him to stay. He was very sad and moved, but he left, anyway. About three months later, he died.
It was wrong for Urban to leave Rome, but aside from this weakness, he was a very holy and good man. He did much for the Church, for schools and universities, and for the people. He was called “a light of the world and a way of truth.”
Let us pray for our Holy Father the Pope: “Lord, cover with Thy protection our Holy Father the Pope; be his light, his strength, his consolation.”