Blessed Urban the V

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.”

St. John Roberts

St. John Roberts – December 10th

John was born in Wales, and although he was not a Catholic, he was taught by an elderly priest. So, as he said later, at heart he was always a Catholic. John went to Oxford University in England for a while, but then he took a trip to France to have a good time. As it turned out, this trip brought him more than just fun, for in Paris he found great happiness in joining the Catholic Church.

John lost no time after this in taking steps to become a priest. . He went to an English college in Spain and then became a Benedictine monk. His great dream of going back to England came true three years later when he and another monk were given permission to set out for that land. Although they entered England wearing plumed hats and swords at their sides, they were soon arrested for being priests and sent out of the country.

St. John Roberts went back to England again and worked day and night to keep the Faith alive under Queen Elizabeth’s terrible persecution of Catholics. Over and over again he was captured, put in prison, exiles, and always he came back. The last time Father John was arrested was as he was finishing Mass, and this time there was no escape.

When asked, he declared he was a priest and a monk and that he had come to England to work for the salvation of souls. “Were I to live longer,” he added, “I would continue to do what I have been doing.” St. John was given a fake trial and condemned to death.

The night before he and another Catholic were to be hanged, a good Spanish lady arranged for them to be brought into the company of eighteen other prisoners who were also suffering for Christ’s sake. During their supper together, St. John was full of joy. Then he thought perhaps he should not show so much happiness. “Do you think I may be giving bad example by my joy?” he asked his hostess. “No, certainly not,” she replied. “You could not do anything better than to let everyone see the cheerful courage you have as you are about to die for Christ.” Then she insisted on washing the feet of the martyrs, to show her respect for them.

The next day, St. John was hanged, and the crowds were so attracted by the personality of this young priest that they did not let the executioners make him suffer.

Today I will say an “Our Father” for Missionaries, pausing especially on the words: “Thy Kingdom come.”

Feast of All Souls Day

Feast of All Souls Day

– November 2nd
(On November 3, if the 2nd is a Sunday)

There is a natural close connexion between the feast of All Saints and the thought of the holy souls who are for ever securely established in grace and will one day enter heaven, but are detained in Purgatory to expiate their venial sins or suffer the temporal punishment due to sin. These other members of the Communion of Saints, the Church Suffering, therefore, fill the thought of the Church Militant on the morrow of her celebration of the glory of the Church Triumphant. “On this day”, says the Roman Martyrology, “the commemoration of all the faithful departed, in which their common loving Mother the Church, after celebrating with due praise all her children already in heaven, strives by her powerful intercession with Christ, her Lord and Spouse, to aid all those who are still suffering in Purgatory to come as soon as possible to the company of the inhabitants of heaven”. There is no more striking expression than this of the mysterious unity between the Church Triumphant, the Church Militant and the Church Suffering, no more effective means of fulfilling the duty of both justice and charity incumbent on every Christian through his membership of Christ’s mystical Body. There is no more consoling truth than the Communion of Saints; the fact that the merits and prayers of each one are able to help all; once this life is over, God’s justice applies in all its strictness, but the Church is able to join her prayer with that of the Saints in heaven; she can supply what is wanting to the souls in Purgatory by means of Holy Mass, indulgences and the alms and sacrifices of her children, offering to God on their behalf Christ’s infinite merits in his Passion and in his members. The sacrifice of Calvary, continued on the altar, is the centre of the liturgy, and this has always been the chief means offered us by the Church for fulfilling towards the dead the great commandment of charity, for relieving our neighbour’s needs as though they were our own, on account of the supernatural bond which unites us all, in heaven, on earth and in purgatory, in Christ.


Masses for the dead are already spoken of in the 5th century, but the commemoration of all the faithful departed together on the day after All Saints was instituted in 998 by St Odilo, fourth abbot of the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny. Cluny’s great influence lead to the speedy adoption of the custom throughout Christendom. Benedict XIV granted priests in Spain and Portugal and their overseas possessions the privilege of saying three Masses on this day; on August 10, 1915, Benedict XV extended it to priests everywhere*.


In Mass the priest offers God Christ’s blood, the price of our Redemption; Christ Himself, present under the apprearance of bread and wine, offers himself to his Father in the very act of his Redeeming Sacrifice. Consequently, as the Council of Trent declared**, “the souls in purgatory are helped by all the suffrages of the faithful, but especially by the sacrifice of the Mass”. Every day the Church prays for the dead; in the Canon of the Mass a special Memento is made, calling to mind all who have fallen asleep in the Lord, and praying that they may be granted a place of rest, light and peace; but today is especially given up to them, so that no soul in purgatory may be left without our spiritual assistance, and all may be prayed for together by their common Mother (St Augustine at Matins). At Mass to-day, let us join with the whole Church in asking God to grant remission of sins and everlasting rest to the dead, who can now do nothing for themselves. Let us also visit the cemeteries where their bodies rest*** until the day when Christ’s victory over sin and death is perfected in them and they rise again glorious and immortal (Ep. Of 1st Mass).


* By this same institution the Holy See granted a plenary indulgence toties quoties on the same conditions as on August 2, applicable to the souls of the departed on All Soul’s Day, to all those who visited a church between noon on All Saint’s and midnight on the following day and prayed for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff.


** Sessio XXII., cap. II.


*** The word cemetery comes from a Greek word meaning a place where one rests in sleep.

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT (FOR DAILY LIVING)

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT
(A GUIDE FOR DAILY LIVING)

This Rule of St. Benedict should be followed by all to guide us in our daily lives. Morals are the foundation upon which a country rises to great heights. Take away morals, and countries, leaders, and individuals fall. All should wear or carry this most highly indulgenced and exorcised medal:

-The Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict-

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT (FOR DAILY LIVING):


IT IS WRITTEN: Do all things with counsel, and thy deed shall not bring thee repentance.


In the first place, to love the Lord God with all one's heart, all one's soul and all one's strength.
The one's neighbor as oneself.
Then not to kill. Not to commit adultery. Not to steal.
Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honour all men.
Not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself.
To deny oneself, in order to follow Christ.
To chastise the body. Not to seek soft living. To love fasting.
To relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick.
To bury the dead. To help the afflicted.
To console the sorrowing. To avoid worldly conduct.
To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
Not to yield to anger. Not to nurse a grudge.
Not to hold guile in one's heart.
Not to make a feigned, (false show off), peace. Not to forsake charity.
Not to swear, lest perchance one forswear oneself. (to swear falsely).
To utter truth from heart and mouth. Not to render evil for evil.
To do no wrong to anyone, and bear patiently wrongs done to oneself.
To love one's enemies.
Not to render cursing for cursing, but rather blessing.
To bear persecution for justice sake.
Not to be proud. Not a wine bibber, (habitual drinker).
Not a glutton. Not somnolent, (inclined to sleep).
Not slothful. Not a grumbler.
Not a detractor, (slanderer). To put one's hope in God..
To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself. But to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself.
To fear the day of judgement. To dread Hell.
To keep constant guard over the actions of one's life.
To desire eternal life with all spiritual longing.
To keep death daily before one's eyes.
To know for certain that God sees one everywhere.
When evil thoughts come into one's heart, to dash them at once on the rock of Christ and to manifest them to one's spiritual advisor, (confessor)
To keep one's mouth from evil and depraved talk.
Not to love much speaking.
Not to speak vain words or such as move to laughter.
To listen gladly to holy reading.
To apply oneself frequently to prayer.
Daily in one's prayer, with tears and signs, to confess one's past sins to God. To mend those sins for the future.
Not to fulfill the desires of the flesh. To hate one's will.
To obey in all things the commands of the abbot, even though he himself, (which God forbid), should act otherwise, remembering the Lord's precept: What they say, do ye, but what they do, do ye not.
Not to wise to be called holy before one is holy, but first to be holy, that one may more truly be called so.
To fulfill God's commandments daily in one's deeds.
To love chastity. To hate no man.
Not to be jealous. Not to give way to envy.
Not to love contention, (conflict). To shun vainglory, (boastfulness).
To reverence the old. To love the young.
To pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ.
To make peace with one's adversary before sundown
And never to despair of God's mercy.



Behold these are the tools of the spiritual craft. If we employ them unceasingly day and night, and on the day of judgement render account of them, the we shall receive from the Lord in return that reward which He Himself has promised: Eye has not seen nor ear heard, what God hath prepared for those that love him. Now the workshop, wherein we shall diligently execute all these tasks, is the enclosure of the monastery, (home, office, workplace, etc.) and our spiritual roots in the community.

___________________________________________________

THE JUBILEE MEDAL
THE MEDAL CROSS OF ST. BENEDICT

The Medal of St. Benedict is the most highly indulgenced medal in the Catholic Church. When the exorcism blessings are applied by a Benedictine priest, the medal has power over evil: storms, poisons, pestilence, the devil's legions, etc. You must use the medal by calling down the intercession of St. Benedict. (Use by dipping in liquids, placing on/in important machinery, structures, etc.)



On many feast days of Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, the Apostles, and many Saints, it is possible to gain a plenary or a partial indulgence by carrying or wearing the medal; invoking the intercession of St. Benedict; and, praying for the abolishment of heresy.
While blessing the St. Benedict and St. Maurus on the medal. St. Maurus is a great Benedictine Saint.

Pray the Rosary daily! Wear a wool Brown Scapular! Wear a Crucifix & a St. Benedict! Each day while praying ask for all the indulgences that you may or may not know about. Indulgences are numerous and applied to almost every prayer or good work, and may be applied to those in Purgatory.

St. Benedict is called the Father of the Western Monasticism. Through his Rule of Morality there developed the Western, European, Monastic Tradition of Teaching. Teaching in the west was pioneered by Benedictine Monks.

The good moral teachings derived from St. Benedict became the foundation upon which the western countries rose to great moral heights. Let us humbly beg God to help America, our leaders, and ourselves, rise again through the intercession and the Rule of St. Benedict.

Go here to order some St. Benedict Medals and to have them personally blessed by a Benedictine priest: http://www.ourladyofguadalupemonastery.com/

St. Henry the Emperor

St. Henry the Emperor - Patron of Benedictine Oblates - July 15th

Henry was Duke of Bavaria when one night he had an unusual vision. St. Wolfgang, who had been his beloved teacher when he was a boy, appeared to him and pointed to the words, “After six” written on the wall. What could that mean? Perhaps Henry was to die in six days? With that thought, he prayed with great fervor for six days, only to find himself alive and in perfect health. Perhaps it meant six month? The good Duke devoted himself to doing good more than ever. At the end of six months, he was healthier than before. So he decided he had six years to get ready for a holy death. But instead of dying after that time had passed, he was elected Emperor of Germany, and then he understood what the vision had meant.

As Emperor, Henry worked hard to keep his people happy and at peace. To defend justice he had to fight many wars, but he always won, since before every battle he prayed and made his soldiers pray. He preserved both his purity and his humility, even though as Emperor, he received great honor and power. He and his wife, St. Cunegundes, lived as brother and sister, and when they went to Rome to be crowned Emperor and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, it is said that Jesus rewarded Henry for his purity and justice with a wonderful vision. The Saint was praying in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, when he saw Our Lord Himself, Jesus the Eternal Priest, offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!

Even when we are very busy, we should stop a few minutes now and then, to say a prayer for the salvation of our souls.

St. Gregory VII

St. Gregory VII – May 25th

This Pope’s name was Hildebrand and he was born in Italy. His uncle was the superior of a monastery in Rome and there the young boy was sent to be educated. Later, Hildebrand became a Benedictine monk in France, but soon he was called back to Rome. There he held very important positions under several Popes until he himself was made Pope.

For twenty-five years he had refused to let himself be elected. But when Pope Alexandra II died, all the Cardinals made up their minds to elect Hildebrand Pope. With one voice they dried out, "Hildbrand is the elect of St. Peter!" "They carried me to the throne," wrote the Saint afterwards, "and my protests did no good. For filled my heart and darkness was all around me."

These were truly dark times for the Catholic Church, because the kings and emperors were naming the men they wanted to be the Bishops and Cardinals and even Popes. Many of these were not very good men and so they gave bad example. The first thing Pope St. Gregory did was to pray for days. Then he asked others to pray with him, because he knew that without prayer, nothing can be done. Afterwards, he began to act to make the clergy better and to keep the civil rulers out of the affairs of the Church. This was a very difficult work because the rulers were all against any change. However, some gave in. But the Emperor Henry IV of Germany caused Pope Gregory great sufferings. He was a young man, sinful, and greedy for gold. He would not stop trying to run the affairs of the Church, and he even sent his men to capture the Pope. But the people of Rome rescued the Saint from prison, and Gregory put the Emperor out of the Church. Henry set up another man as Pope. Of course this man was not the real Pope, but Henry tired to make people think he was. Then, once again the Emperor sent his armies to capture the Saint. Gregory was obliged to leave Rome. He retired to Salerno, where he died. His last words were, "I have loved justice and hated evil. That is why I am dying in exile."

Let us learn from this great Saint that the first thing to do in our difficulties is to pray.

St. Ludger

St. Ludger - March 26th

St. Ludger was born in Northern Europe. Since his parents were nobles, he was given a very good education. When he was just fourteen, he asked his parents to send him to the great monastery school of Utrecht. There he saw St. Boniface and always treasured the memory of the great Saint. Another Saint named Gregory was his teacher and he found Ludger a very attentive and eager pupil.

After he had studied hard many years, he was made a priest. Now Ludger began to travel far and wide preaching to the people. He was very happy to share all that he had learned about God with everyone who listened to him. Many pagans were converted. Many Christians began to live much better lives. And St. Ludger built churches and monasteries everywhere.

Ludger worked very hard and made much progress. Then, suddenly the Saxons, a group of barbarians, attacked his land and drove all the priest out! It seemed as though all the Saint’s work would be lost. But Ludger did not give up. He first found a safe place for his disciples and then went to Rome to ask the Holy Father what he what he should do.

For over three years, Ludger lived in the Benedictine monastery as a good, holy monk. But he did not forget his poor people at home. As soon as he could get back into his country, Ludger returned and continued his work. He labored very hard and converted many of the pagan Saxons.

When he was made a bishop, Ludger gave even more good example by his great kindness and piety. Once, jealous men spoke against him to King Charlemagne, and the King ordered him to come to court to defend himself. Ludger went obediently. The next day when the King sent for him, Ludger said he would come as soon as he had finished his prayers. King Charlemagne was very angry at first. But St. Ludger explained that although he had great respect for the King, he knew God came first. “Your Majesty will not be angry with me,” he said, “for you yourself have told me always to put God first.” At such a wise answer, the King realized that Ludger was very holy and from then on, he admired and loved him very much.

St. Ludger died on Passion Sunday. He performed his duties in the service of God even on the day he died.

Let us appreciate the good education our parents are giving us. Some day we will be happy to be able to use all that we have learned.

St. Benedict

St. Benedict - Patron Against Poisoning and of Speleologists - March 21st


St. Benedict was the son of a rich Italian family. His life was full of adventure and wonderful deeds. As a young boy, he was sent to Rome to study in the public schools. When he was a young man, because he was disgusted with the vices of the world, he left the city and went looking for a place where he could devote all his time to praying and loving God. In a cave in the mountain of Subiaco, he spent three years alone. The devil often tempted him to go back to his rich home, but Benedict overcame these temptations by prayer and penance. One day, the devil kept making him think of a beautiful lady he had once seen in Rome. He tried to make him go back to look for that lady. Benedict almost gave in to the temptation, but then he felt so sorry that he threw himself into a bush of long, sharp thorns. He rolled around in these terrible thorns until he was covered with blood. From then on, he had no more temptations to impurity.


After three years, God let a priest know where Benedict was living, and soon many people came to him to learn how to become holy. He became the leader of some men who had asked his help. But when he tried to make them do penance, they grew angry. They were so wicked that they even tried to poison Benedict. He made the Sign of the Cross over the poisoned wine and by a miracle, the glass shattered to pieces! God had saved him!


Later, Benedict became the leader of many good monks.


He founded twelve monasteries in Subiaco, and then went to Cassino, where he built a famous monastery. It was here that St. Benedict wrote the wonderful rules for the Benedictine order. He taught his monks to pray and work hard, and, especially, to be humble always. Both Benedict and his monks greatly helped the people of their times by teaching them how to read and write, how to farm, and how to work at different trades.


St. Benedict was able to do so much good, because he prayed very much.


Whenever we are tempted, especially to impurity, let us say a prayer at once. And let us make whatever sacrifice must be made to avoid sinning.

St. Zachary

St. Zachary - March 15th

St. Zachary was a Benedictine monk from Greece who became a Cardinal and then Pope. In his time, there was much fighting all over Italy between one kingdom and another. Pope St. Zachary was the one who kept making peace and saving people from terrible wars. At times he risked his life to do it.

It was because the Saint was so gentle and kind that leaders did what he asked. Even for his enemies he would do favors and give them the kindest treatment possible. He never took revenge on them.

St. Zachary had special care for the churches of Rome. He loved to make them as beautiful as he could, out of love for Jesus dwelling on the altars.

Towards the poor, this holy Pope was a real father. He built big homes for them and for travelers. His loving heart could not bear to see people suffer. Once he heard that some businessmen had bought poor slaves in Rome and were going to sell them in Africa. He called those men and scolded them for being so cruel. Then he paid them the price they were asking for the slaves and set the poor slaves free.

When St. Zachary died, all the people were saddened to have lost such a good and saintly father.

St. Zachary had much respect for Our Lord’s presence in every church. Let us, too, have respect for the House of God and never talk or joke in church.

St. Eucherius

St. Eucherius - February 20th


St. Eucherius was born at Orleans, France. Every day his mother would offer him to God, and he was given a very good education. A sentence from the letters of St. Paul made a big change in him. The sentence was: “This world, as we see it, is passing away.” It made him realize that our lives on this earth are very short and that Heaven and Hell last forever. He decided then and there to earn the joys of Heaven by living for God alone.


So Eucherius left his rich home and entered the Benedictine Abbey. There he spent seven years in close union with God.


After the death of his uncle, the Bishop of Orleans, he was chosen to take his place as Bishop. Eucherius was then only twenty-five and he was very humble. He did not want to leave his beloved Abbey. With tears, he begged to be allowed to remain alone with God in the monastery. But finally, he gave in for love of obedience. Eucherius became a holy, wise Bishop and did much good to his priests and to his people.


Charles Martel, who was Mayor of the Palace, used to take some of the Church’s money to use for war. Because Bishop Eucherius told him that was wrong, Charles had him taken prisoner.


But the governor in whose charge he put him was so moved by Eucherius’ meekness toward his enemies that some time later, he sent him back to a monastery.


Here, the Saint spent all his time in prayer until his death.


Let us, too, remember what St. Paul says: “This world is passing away,” and try to think more of Heaven.

St. Romuald

St. Romuald - February 7th


St. Romuald was an Italian nobleman. As a boy, he had many temptations to impurity. In order to avoid falling into sin, he kept himself busy by going hunting in the woods. When Romuald was twenty years old, he was horrified to see his father kill a man in duel. He went to a Benedictine monastery to do penance for forty days, in reparation for his father’s grave sin. Up until that time, he had lived a lazy life of pleasure, but now at the monastery, Romuald was so moved by the good example of the monks that he decided to become one himself. He asked a good monk named Marino to teach him how to become holy. To test him, Marino treated him harshly. Yet Romuald never complained. Later, he founded the Camaldolese Order and gave all his monks a wonderful example of penance. For a whole year, all he ate each day was a bit of boiled beans. Then for three years, he ate only the little food he grew himself. Through these sacrifices Romuald grew closer and closer to God. A hundred times a day, he would pray in his room: “Oh, my sweet Jesus! God of my heart! Delight of pure souls! The object of all my desires!”


When he was over a hundred, St. Romuald had to suffer very much because he was accused of a very bad sin which he had not committed. He did not become angry or take revenge, even when he was not allowed to say Mass for six months. He could easily have proven that it was all a lie. Yet he chose to suffer for love of God until, at last, Jesus Himself showed everyone that Romuald was innocent.


No matter what happens to us, it will turn out for the best, if we love God and pray to Him.