St. Aidan

St. Aidan – August 31st

Aidan was an Irish monk who lived at the great monastery of Iona, which St. Columba had founded. One day the King of the northern part of England, St. Oswald, asked for the missionaries to preach to his pagan people. The first one to go soon came back complaining that the English were rude, stubborn and wild. “It seems to me,” said St. Aidan, “that you have been too harsh with those people.” He then explained that, as St. Paul says, first easy teachings are to be given, and then when the people have grown stronger on the word of God, they can start to do the more perfect things of God’s holy law.

When the monks heard such wise words, they turned to Aidan and said that he should be the one to go to Northern England to preach the Gospel. The humble, devout monk was well received by King St. Oswald, who used to translate Aidan’s sermons until the Saint learned English better. St. Aidan traveled all over, always on foot, preaching and helping the people. He did so much good and was so loved by the people that after thirty years, any monk or priest who came into a village was greeted with great joy by all the villagers.

On the Island of Lindisfarne, St. Aidan built a great monastery, from which so many Saints were to come that Lindisfarne became known as the Holy Island. Little by little the influence of these zealous missionaries changed Northern England into a civilized Christian land.

The secret to be friendly with everyone is to be kind to all.

St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima - Patron of Invalids And Those With Skin Diseases - August 30th

This South American Saint’s real name was Isabel, but she was such a beautiful baby that she was called Rose, and that name remained. As she grew older, she became more and more beautiful, and one day her mother put a wreath of flowers on her head to show off her loveliness to friends. But Rose had no desire to be admired, for her heart had been given to Jesus. So she put a long pin into that wreath and it pierced her so deeply that she had a hard time getting the wreath off afterward. Another time she became afraid that her beauty might be a temptation to someone, since people could not take their eyes off her. Therefore, she rubbed her face with pepper until it was all red and blistered.

St. Rose worked hard to support her poor parents and she humbly obeyed them, except when they tried to get her to marry. That she would not do. Her love of Jesus was so great that when she talked about Him her face glowed and her eyes sparkled.

Rose had many temptations from the devil and there were also many times when she had to suffer a feeling of terrible loneliness and sadness, for God seemed far away. Yet she cheerfully offered all these troubles to Him. In fact, in her last long, painful sickness, this heroic young women used to pray: “Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart.”

To be more pure I promise never to look at bad pictures.

Blessed Richard Herst

Blessed Richard Herst - August 29th

Richard was an English farmer who held to his Catholic faith despite the persecution going on. One day, he was ploughing in his fields when three men came to arrest him. One handed him the papers for his arrest while the other struck him with a stick. A young girl working in another part of the field ran to call Richard’s wife, and she came running with a farmhand and another man.

There was a struggle that ended when the men who had come to arrest Richard ran away. One of them, however, fell and broke his leg. Gangrene developed and the man died thirteen days later. Although he himself had said his fall was an accident, Richard Herst was tried and convicted for murder. The real reason he was out to death was because he was a Catholic. In fact, he was told that if he would give up his faith, he would not be killed. But Blessed Richard answered: “I would rather choose to die a thousand deaths than to possess a kingdom and live in mortal sin, for there is nothing as hateful to me as sin.”

The good man asked his friends to take care of his family, for he had six children. He was afraid to die as is only natural, but God gave him so much strength that after he had prayed at the foot of the scaffold, he said to the hangman who was fumbling with the rope: “Tom, I think I’ll have to come up and help you!” From his prison, Blessed Richard had written: “I find great comfort in throwing myself upon my Savoir with a most fervent love, when I consider what He has done and suffered for me. My greatest desire is to suffer with Him.”

I will live as a true Christian when alone and when with others, even if this means sacrifice.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine - Patron of Theologians, Printers and Brewers - August 28th

This famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much that he could not see or understand the divine truth any more.

Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Antony, and he felt terribly ashamed of himself. “What are we doing?” he cried to his friend Alipius. “Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!”

Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, “How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?” Just then he heard a child singing, “Take up and read!” Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed for in it St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.

He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest Saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: “Here we do not speak evil of anyone.” St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often, and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. “Too late have I loved You!” he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion.

Thinking over the lives of the Saints, we should tell ourselves, “Can you not do what these men and women did?” Certainly we can, if we pray and strengthen our will.

St. Joseph Calasanctius

St. Joseph Calasanctius - Patron of Schools - August 27th

Joseph was born in his father’s castle in Spain. He went to college and there overcame the temptation to sin offered him by a young women who was a relative of his. After becoming a priest, Joseph was given high positions and he did his work very successfully. Yet he felt that God was calling him to do some special work for poor children in Rome. Obediently he gave up everything he had in Spain and went to Rome.

There his heart was filled with pity for all the orphans and homeless children he saw everywhere. They were ignorant and uncared for, and Joseph began to gather them together to teach them all the regular subjects, but especially their religion. Other priests joined him and soon the humble Saint had to become the Superior of a new Religious Order. But he never let his duties as Founder and Superior stop him from teaching his beloved children. He would even sweep the classrooms himself and lead the little ones to their homes after school was over.

St. Joseph had much to suffer from people who tried to take over his Order and run it the way they wanted. Once he was even led through the streets like a criminal and almost put in jail, although the good priest had done nothing wrong. When he was ninety years old, the Saint received the terrible news that his Order had been forbidden to continue as he had founded it. Yet in all his suffering, Joseph only said: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. My work has been done simply out of love of God.

Two years later, the Saint died a calm, peaceful death. And several years afterwards, his Order of the Fiarist Fathers was allowed to continue St. Joseph’s wonderful mission.

I will try to be as patient as this Saint. I will never take revenge on those who hurt me with words or deeds.

St. Elizabeth Bichier

St. Elizabeth Bichier - August 26th

As a little girl, Elizabeth’s favorite game was building castles in the sand. Many years later, this holy Frenchwomen had to take charge of building many convents for the Order of nuns she founded. “I guess building was meant to be my business,” she joked, “since I started it so young!”

During the time of the French Revolution, Elizabeth’s family would have lost everything they owned because the republicans were taking property from the nobles. But this daring young lady of nineteen studied law in order to fight their case in court. When she won and saved her family from ruin, the village shoemaker exclaimed: “All you have to do now is marry a good republican!” Elizabeth, however, had no intention of marrying anyone-republican or noble! On the back of a picture of Our Lady, she had written: “I dedicate and consecrate myself to Jesus and Mary forever.”

With the help of St. Andrew Fournet, she started her Order of Sisters called the Daughters of the Cross, to teach children and to take care of the sick. St. Elizabeth would face any danger to help people. Once she found a tramp lying sick in a barn. She brought him to the convent hospital and did all she could for him until he died. The next morning the police chief came to tell her she could be arrested for sheltering a man believed to be a criminal. Elizabeth was unafraid. “I only did what you yourself would have done, sir,” she said. “I found this poor sick man, I took care of him until he died. I am ready to tell the judge just what happened.” Of course, the Saint’s honesty and charity won her so much respect and admiration that no one thought of criticizing what she did.

Let us learn from this Saint to do things for God alone. What people might think of us, should never stop us from doing our duties.

St. Louis of France

St. Louis of France - Patron of Thrid Order Members and of Barbers - August 25th

When this Prince was still small, his good mother, Queen Blanche, hugged him tightly and told him, “I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child, but I would rather see you dead at my feet than ever have you commit a mortal sin.” Louis never forgot those words so often repeated by his mother and he became one of the holiest rulers the world has ever known.

Once he asked a good friend which he would prefer, to be a leper or to have committed a mortal sin. The man said, “I would rather commit thirty sins than be a leper!” King Louis replied sadly, “This is a wild, foolish answer. When a man dies, all his sicknesses end, but mortal sin is a terrible disease which does not end with death. If you love me, I beg you to choose any suffering rather than give in to mortal sin!”

Busy as he was, the King found time for two daily Masses and for several hours of prayer.

An enemy of all injustice, of all impure entertainments and swearing, St. Louis ruled his people with such wisdom, charity and fairness that even foreign kings asked him to settle their disagreements. To his wife and eleven children he was a good husband and father, and as long as his mother lived, he showed her every respect.

St. Louis was a Crusader, too, who twice led an army against the Turks to protect the Christians in the Holy Land. The first time, he was taken prisoner, but even in jail, he behaved as a true Christian knight, unafraid and noble in all his ways. He was freed and returned to take care of his kingdom in France, yet as soon as he could, he started back to fight the enemies of Faith again. On the way, however, this greatly-loved King fell sick and died. A few hours before he breathed his last, he prayed, “Lord, I will enter into Your house, worship in Your holy temple, and give glory to your name.”

I will think of the many prayers of King St. Louis, and I will promise to offer Our Lord every morning my whole day.

St. Bartholomew, the Apostle

St. Bartholomew, the Apostle - Patron of Plasterers - August 24th

“Bartholomew” was one of the first followers of Jesus. This apostle’s other name was Nathanael. He became a disciple of Jesus when his friend Philip invited him to come and meet Our Lord. Nathanael received high praise from Jesus, who said, as soon as He saw him: “Here is a man in whom there is no guile”. Jesus meant that Nathanael was an honest, sincere man who would never deceive anyone. His one desire was to know the truth.

Nathanael was very surprised to hear those words from Our Lord. “How do You know me?” he asked. “Before Philip called you,” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig-tree.” That was a favorite praying-place, and Nathanael must have realized then that Jesus had read his heart as he prayed. “Master!” he cried, “You are the Son of God, the King of Israel.” And Nathanael became one of Our Lord’s faithful apostles.

Like the other apostles, Nathanael, or Bartholomew, preached the Gospel of Jesus at the risk of his life. He went to India, Armenia and other lands, preaching with great zeal, until he gave his life for the Faith. And so, to the reward of an Apostle, St. Bartholomew added the martyr’s crown.

Jesus likes people who are honest, like St. Bartholomew. Even though Bartholomew had his opinions, he was not stubborn at all. So Jesus praised him, gave him the grace of faith and the vocation to be an apostle.

St. Philip Benizi

St. Philip Benizi - August 23rd

Philip was a noble young doctor in his own city of Florence, Italy. In his spare time, he studied the Holy Bible and prayed that he might know what he was to do in life. At last, he was inspired to join the Order of Servants of Mary, called the Servites. He asked them to accept him as a brother, saying humbly, “I wish to be the servant of the Servants of Mary.”

Philip was made the gardener because no one knew how brilliant this young man was, and he himself wanted to remain hidden and unnoticed. Happily he talked to Our Lord in his heart as he went about his humble work. But one day, on a trip, without realizing it, Philip spoke so intelligently and beautifully that his brothers told the Superior what a brilliant and learned man the brother-gardener was. Soon he became a priest, then Master of Novices, and finally, Superior of the whole Order!

All his life St. Philip worked to make all Christians everywhere love one another. He succeeded in stopping many fights between Christians in Italy. Indeed, he made such an impression on some of the ringleaders that they changed their lives completely and became very holy men.

God gave this Saint the gift of working miracles. Once his monks had no more food at all and seemed about to starve to death. St. Philip urged them to have faith while he prayed to our Blessed Mother. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and when they opened it, there on the monastery steps sat ten great big baskets of bread.

Before he died, St. Philip kept saying to his brother Servites: “Love one another! Have respect for one another! Love one another!”

What a beautiful rule for a happy and holy life, “Love one another! Love one another!”

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

- August 22nd

The Heart of Our Blessed Mother was not only one full of love for God and for neighbor.


It was the most humble and pure, the most devout and fervent in prayer.


It was the bravest heart, and even during her Son’s passion she never gave in to discouragement.


It was the most patient and most faithful heart. It was the one which was always united to God in intimate contemplation and at the same time had charity for all. It was the heart of the Mother of Jesus, and because of this, it was in all things like the heart of her Divine Son. Like Jesus and with Him, Mary loved and suffered in her heart for the salvation of all poor sinners.


In the Heart of Our Blessed Mother, as in the Heart of Jesus, there is a most ardent desire to save souls from Hell and from Purgatory. Mary prays continually to her Son for our salvation. She knows that Jesus came on earth especially for sinners. She does not forget that when He was dying, He made her the Mother of us all.


In spite of our sins, let us look up to our Blessed Mother and let us have confidence in her motherly heart. Then, even if we are sad or upset, we will feel peaceful and happy again.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal

St. Jane Frances de Chantal - August 21st

Jane’s father was President of the lawmakers in the section of France. He was a devout man who brought his children up well after the death of his wife. Jane, whom he dearly loved, he married to Christopher, the Baron de Chantal. Jane and Christopher were very happy, for they were very much in love and God blessed them with four children. Jane showed her love for God by loving her husband and children with her whole heart.

Then, suddenly, a great sorrow fell upon that happy home. Baron Christopher was accidentally shot by a friend who had gone hunting with him. When he died, Jane was heart-broken, yet as a good Christian should, she forgave the man who had caused his death and even became his child’s godmother.

Now Jane Frances began to ask Our Lord to send her a holy priest to guide her, so she would know what to do with her life. In the meantime, she prayed and brought up her children in the love of God. She visited the poor and sick and comforted the dying. When she met St. Francis de Sales, she knew this was the holy man God had sent to guide her. Following his plan, she and three other young women started the order of the Sisters of the Visitation. But first Jane Frances had to overcome the objections of her relatives. By now Jane’s oldest daughter was married to St. Francis’ young brother, and she sent her two younger daughters with her to bring up. But her fifteen-year-old son, who was to stay with his grandfather, threw himself to the ground across the doorway, sobbing. Jane knew God wanted her to go and that He Himself would take the best care of her son, so she stepped over the boy and went away with tears spilling down her cheeks.

St. Jane showed this same courage in all the difficulties that faced her as she opened up many convents, and in fighting her own temptations. “Despite all her suffering,” wrote St. Vincent de Paul, “her face never lost its peaceful look. And she was always perfectly faithful to God. So I consider her one of the holiest souls I have ever met.”

Like this Saint, let us always obey the Will of God, even when it costs us great sacrifices. If we do it, we, too, will become saints.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Bernard of Clairvaux - Patron of Candle-Makers and Candle-Sellers - August 20th

Bernard was a handsome young French noble whose heart was broken when his mother died. He was just seventeen then and he might have let sadness get the best of him had it not been for his lively sister Humbeline. She cheered him up and soon Bernard became a very popular man, for he was not only good-looking and brilliant, but also a lover of fun, good-humored and very likeable.

Yet one day, Bernard greatly surprised his friends by telling them he was going to join the very strict Cistercian Order. They did all they could to make him give up the idea, but in the end, it was Bernard who convinced his four brothers, an uncle, and twenty-six of his friends to join him! As Bernard and his brothers left their home, they said to their little brother Nivard, who was playing with other children: “Good-bye, little Nivard! You will now have all the lands and property for yourself!” But the youngster answered: “What! Will you take Heaven and leave me the earth? Do you call that fair?” And not too long after, Nivard, too, joined his brothers in the monastery.

St. Bernard became a very good monk. To keep fervent, he would ask himself every morning: “Why did you come here?” This question spurred him on to become a Saint. After three years, Bernard was sent to start a new Cistercian monastery and to be its Abbot. He and his monks lived such good and heroic lives for God that over a hundred men soon joined them. Although the Saint would have liked to stay working and praying in his monastery, he was called to preach, to make peace between rulers, to advise the Popes, and to write beautiful spiritual books. He became the most famous man of his time, yet Bernard’s great desire was to go to Heaven.

This Saint had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother and often greeted her with a “Hail Mary” when he passed her statue. One day, the Blessed Mother returned his greeting: “Hail, Bernard!” In this way, Our Lady showed how much his love and devotion pleased her.

Let us ask ourselves every day, “Why did God make us?” Then let us say the answer slowly, “God made us o know, love and serve Him in this world, and to share His eternal happiness in Heaven.”

St. John Eudes

St. John Eudes - August 19th

John was the oldest son of a farmer in Normandy. He was a good boy, who tried to copy the examples given by Our Lord. When he was only nine, a companion slapped his face, and john did what Jesus told us to do: he turned his face for a slap on his other cheek, also.

John’s parents wanted him to marry but he finally persuaded them to let him become a priest. He gave good example to everyone in the Congregation of the Oratory which he joined, just as he had been of good example at home and in school. When a plague brought great suffering to Normandy Father Eudes volunteered to help the sick, caring for their souls and bodies. Later, he became a popular preacher of missions in parishes. In his life he preached one hundred and ten of them.

St. John is responsible for the establishment of important Congregations: the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity and the Good Shepherd nuns who try to convert sinful girls and help them lead good lives. He also founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary for priests, dedicated to training young men to become good parish priests.

St. John was very devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Holy Heart of Mary, and he wrote a book on them. He fell sick after he preached a mission for nine weeks outdoors in cold winter weather, and a few years later, invoking the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, he died a holy death.

Let us imitate this Saint in his great devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The devotion of the Nine First Fridays and of the five First Saturdays assures us of our eternal salvation.

St. Helena

St. Helena - August 18th

This Saint was the mother of the great Roman Emperor Constantine. She was about sixty-three years old when she became a Christian, but she began at once to make up for the time she had lost as a pagan. While her convert son labored to make the Catholic Church glorious with his gifts of buildings and his laws, Helena gave such wonderful examples of piety, humility and charity that she made all who saw her love the Christian Faith more.

When she was eighty years old, St. Helena traveled to Jerusalem to take charge in building a marvelous church on Mt. Calvary and to try to find the true cross on which Jesus had died. On the trip she gave away great sums of money to cities, to prisoners, to soldiers, to widows, to all kinds of people. Although she was Empress of the great Roman Empire, she had such respect for Sisters that she would visit their convents to serve them and wait on them with her own hands.

On Mt. Calvary, while the foundations for the church were being dug, the sacred cross was discovered. What joy this discovery brought to St. Helena, who devoutly venerated it! The Saint spent her last days in Jerusalem praying in the churches and decorating them beautifully to the honor of God. When she died, her holy remains were brought back to Rome.

I will be proud to make the Sign of the Cross in public and to proclaim myself a follower of Jesus Christ.

Related Links:
http://www.rosaryworkshop.com/ROME-Pilgrimage-Crx.html
http://www.stpetersbasilica.org/Statues/StHelen/StHelen.htm

Blessed Joan Delanoue

Blessed Joan Delanoue - August 17th

When this French girl was twenty-five, her widowed mother died and left her the store they had been running. Joan was not an evil girl, but she thought only of making money, and she committed many little sins to do it. She had once been devout, but now there was little love or charity in her heart. Her mother had always been generous to beggars. Joan, instead, would buy food only just in time for dinner, so that she could tell any beggars who came to the door during the day: “I have nothing to give you.”

Joan was not happy, however. At last, when she was twenty-seven, a good priest helped her to start living up to her Faith with love and fervor. Then she finally saw that her “business” was to give away money, not hoard it. Joan began taking care of poor families and orphans, even closing up her shop entirely to devote her time to them. People called her houseful of poor orphans, “Providence House.” Later, she persuaded other young women to help her, and they became the Sisters of St. Anne of Providence in Saumur, Joan’s town.

Joan treated her body so harshly that St. Grignion de Monfort told her that pride was making her do too much penance. Then she saw that her heart was really full of love of God, so he said: “Go on in the way you have begun. God’s spirit is with you. Follow His voice and fear no more.”

When Blessed Joan died, the people of Saumur said, “That little shopkeeper did more for the poor of Saumur than all the town councilors put together. What a women! And what a saint!”

There are so many poor people in the world. Many, many die hunger. Today, and every day, I will not waste food; instead I will eat even what I do not like, and offer this sacrifice to Our Lord so he will help the hungry people.

St. Rock

St. Rock - Patron of Invalids and Those With Skin Disease - August 16th

Rock was the son of the governor of Montpellier in France. When his parents died, he decided to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. At this time, he was about twenty years old. A terrible disease, called the plague, was spreading all over Italy when Rock arrived in that land, and he went from one city to another nursing the sick. Many times he cured them just by making the sign of the cross over them.

In the city of Piacenza, St. Rock became sick himself, and he who had helped so many others did not want to be a bother to anyone. So he managed to make his way into a forest and there he lay down to die. But God took care of him. A dog led his master to the Saint and this man took care of Rock until he grew better.

Finally, St. Rock returned home to Montpellier, France, but his uncle did not even recognize him. After five years of patient suffering, Rock died there, and only when a small cross-like mark on his chest was noticed did people realize that he was the son of their former governor. He was given a great funeral and many miracles took place.

He who visit’s the sick and helps them will earn a great reward from God.

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

- August 15th

Assumption means that Our heavenly Mother entered into the glory of Heaven not only with her soul, but also with her body. Since the Son of God took His body from Mary’s most pure womb, it was fitting that her body should be glorified as soon as her life here on earth was ended.

Now Our Blessed Mother sits on a sublime throne in Heaven. There she is Queen, and every time she asks Jesus to give us graces, He listens to her plea.


After the resurrection from the dead, we, too, will go to Heaven with this body of ours, if we use it now only to do good, and if we are pure in thoughts, words and deeds.


After the resurrection our body will be all perfect. It will not be subject to illness any more. It will not need any more food and drink to keep alive. It will be able to go every place without time or effort. It will be beautiful and splendid!


Let us prepare for our glory in heaven by imitating Our Blessed Mother’s virtues, especially obedience, charity, purity and patience.

St. Athanasia

St. Athanasia - August 14th

St. Athanasia was born on an island near Greece. She married a young army officer, but only sixteen days after the wedding, her husband was killed in a battle. After this, the young widow realized more than ever how quickly everything on earth passes. She began to want God alone, yet because her parents desired it, Athanasia married again. Together she and her good husband helped the poor and the sick.

On Sundays, the Saint used to gather her neighbors in her house and read them a piece from the Holy Bible. Afterwards she would explain it to them in her own words. She wanted everyone to share her love for God’s word.

When Athanasia’s husband left with her permission to become a monk, she changed her house into a convent and became Abbess of the nuns who joined her. For a while they stayed there in the middle of that noisy town and practiced very great penance. Then a wise Abbot advised them to move to a quieter spot. There, so many women joined them that they had to add on to their buildings. And St. Athanasia became so well known that the Empress Theodora called her to court to be her adviser. Then Saint fell sick very shortly after she went back to her convent, but she kept working and praying as usual, until at last she gave her nuns her blessing and died.

Let us love the virtue of purity and the things of God. These will give us true happiness, not the passing joys of this world….

St. Radegund

St. Radegund - August 13th

This German princess was taken prisoner when she was only twelve years old by the French King Clotaire. She grew up to be such a charming young women that the King married her. As Queen, she loved to take care of the sick and poor captives. She began a hospital for lepers and tenderly waited on them herself. A friend who saw her kiss the lepers’ sores scolded her, saying, “No one will dare kiss you after this!” St. Radegund was not the least worried about that. “If you don’t want to kiss me,” she answered, “I really do not mind a bit!”

King Clotaire caused his good wife much suffering before he finally let her live for God alone. At first he loved her, but all too soon, he began to speak to her in a mean, scornful way, and to give his attentions to other women. Finally, he even murdered St. Radegund’s beloved brother, and it was then that she left the court. The bishop St. Medard was a bit afraid to give her the veil of a nun when she asked for it, because he knew what a violent man the King was. But St. Radegund would not take no for an answer. “If you will not consecrate me, you fear man more than God,” she said, and at that, St. Medard gave in. King Clotaire once asked St. Radegund to forgive him and pray for him, but his repentance did not last long. He took many wives and committed terrible murders before he died. However, he did leave the Saint in peace and even helped support her convent.

St. Radegund and her nuns not only prayed and did penance but they also spent time studying every day and they worked for peace between rulers. When the Saint died, St. Gregory of Tours wrote: “We went to the convent and found her lying in her coffin, her face shinning with a brightness greater than the beauty of lilies and roses.”

Let us learn from the example of this saint to do our Christian duty all the time, without worrying about what people may say.

St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare of Assisi - Patroness of Eyes and Television - August 12th

Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewomen who became the Foundress of an Order of nuns now called “Poor Clares.” 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 of her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not. And soon her sister, St. Agnes, joined her, as well as other young women who wanted to be brides of Jesus, and live without any money.

St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Yet they were very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. Once, He saved them from a great danger in answer to St. Clare’s prayer. An army of rough soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed. Then on her knees, she begged god to save the Sisters. “O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now,” she prayed. And a voice seemed to answer: “I will keep them always in My care.” At the same time a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could.

St. Clare was sick and suffered great pains for many years, but she said that no pain could trouble her. So great was her joy in serving the Lord that she once exclaimed: “They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the Infinite God be truly called poor?”

I will remember this miracle of the Blessed Sacrament when I am at church. And then I will pray with great faith to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist: “Save me, O Lord, from every evil-of soul and body.”