St. Albert the Great

St. Albert the Great - Patron of Scientists - November 15th

This Saint was born in a castle on the Danube River in Swabia. He went to the University of Padua and there he decided to become a Dominican. His uncle tried to persuade him not to enter, but Albert entered anyway, as God wanted. His father, the Count of Bollstadt, was very angry, and it was thought that might make Albert come out. The young monk was moved to another monastery, however, and his father did not pursue him.

St. Albert loved to study. He especially was interested in natural sciences-physics, geography, biology, and so forth-and of course in the study of religion and the Holy Bible. He used to go out to watch the ways of animals and write down what he saw, just as scientists do today. He wrote a great number of books on these subjects, as also on philosophy, and was a very popular teacher in different schools.

One of St. Albert’s pupils was the great St. Thomas Aquinas, and when Thomas died, St. Albert learned of it directly from God. He had guided St. Thomas in beginning his great works in Philosophy and Theology and he defended his teachings after Thomas died.

As he grew older, St. Albert grew more holy. Before, he had expressed his deep thoughts in his writings. Now he expressed them in tears, in his whole way of living for God.

Two years before his death, St. Albert’s memory failed him and his end came very peacefully while he was sitting in his chair with his fellow Dominicans. St. Albert is the Patron Saint of students and natural sciences.

I will try to force myself to study well, especially my religious subjects.

St. Martin de Porres

St. Martin de Porres – November 5th

Martin was the son of a Spanish knight and a Negro woman who had been freed from slavery. He himself looked like his mother. His father at first left Martin and his mother and sister alone in Peru. They were very poor and people looked down on them, but Martin grew up good and devout anyway. He was sent to learn the trade of a barber, and he also learned how to cure many diseases according to the practices of those days. Martin’s father finally decided to take care of his son’s education, but Martin had now decided he wanted to give himself to God as a Dominican brother.

Brother Martin soon proved to be a wonderful religious. No one was kinder or more obedient or holy. Before long, he began to work miracles, too. He cured so many sick people that everyone in the city of Lima would send for Brother Martin when there was sickness. He would go to them all, Negroes and whites alike, for he loved all men as his brothers in Christ. Great sums of money were given to this good, lovable Brother for his charities, because people saw how well he could organize works of charity.

Not even animals were forgotten by this kindhearted Saint. He excused the comings and goings of rats and mice by saying, “The poor little things don’t have enough to eat.” In his sister’s house, moreover, he kept a “home for wandering cats and dogs”!

Despite his fame in Lima, St. Martin always had a very low opinion of himself. His name for himself was, in fact, “Brother Broom.” And once, when his community owed a lot of money and could not pay it, Brother Martin said, “I’m the property of the Order-sell me!” When he died, this beloved Saint was carried to his tomb by bishops and noblemen, who wanted to honor the humble and holy Brother.

We are all children of God. God has no regard for the color of a man’s skin, but looks instead into his heart. He rewards everyone who is good and punishes everyone who is bad.

St. Louis Bertrand

St. Louis Bertrand – October 9th

Louis was born in Valencia, Spain, in a family of nine children. His good parents brought him up well, and he became a Dominican priest. He was very severe as the Master of the Novices, but even though he did not have a good sense of humor, he taught the novices to give themselves completely to God. When first he began to preach, it did not seem as though he would be very successful, but his deep love for souls brought great results.

At the age of thirty-six, St. Louis left for South America. He stayed in the New World only about six years, but in that short time, this great apostle baptized thousands of persons. Although he knew only Spanish, God gave him the gift of tongues, so that when he spoke, all the different tribes of Indians understood him. Yet his apostolate was not without dangers. A tribe called the Caribs of the Leeward Islands even tried to poison the Saint when he visited them to preach the Gospel of Our Lord.

Once he was called back to Spain, St. Louis trained other preachers, teaching them to prepare themselves by fervent prayer, first of all. The last two years of his life were full of painful suffering, but still he kept preaching. Finally he was carried from the pulpit to his bed, and he never left it again, for he died eighteen months later.

Success in life lies in generosity and prayer. Today I will try to overcome my selfishness and say my prayers well.

Blessed Francis de Posadas

Blessed Francis de Posadas – September 20th

This Spanish boy’s parents were vegetable merchants and they were happy at the thought that their son wanted to become a priest. But his father died and when his mother married again, his stepfather would not let him go ahead with his studies. He sent Francis to work, and the boy’s employer at first was very mean to him. Poor Francis! All his hopes seemed ruined now. Yet he worked hard and patiently, even when his master stormed at him. At last, the master was won by his goodness, and even helped Francis to go ahead with his studies whenever he had free time.

When he was nineteen, Francis finally saw his dream come true: he entered the Dominican order. Yet, here, too, he had to suffer, because at first, the others did not understand him and some of them made fun of him. But he did not quit. He stayed right there and became a priest.

After he was ordained, Francis began his preaching missions, which were to last for forty years, until his death. He traveled on foot all over the southwest part of Spain and made a great impression on sinners by his words and his penances. People began to live such better lives that many bad theaters had to close down because they had no business.

Blessed Francis tried to avoid all praise and admiration. He would not accept any high positions and turned down chances to become a bishop. He also tried to hide the miracles God worked for him.

When we feel like quitting, we must not give in. Instead, let us fight against every obstacle until we are gloriously successful.

St. Dominic

St. Dominic - Patron of Astronomers - August 4th

This famous founder of the Dominican Order was a Spaniard and the son of Blessed Joan of Aza. Her first two sons were already grown up when she asked Our Lord to send her another son. In a vision she received the happy news that the next son to be born to her would be a shinning light in the Church. That was Dominic.

The little boy left his mother when he was seven to begin school with his uncle, a priest. After years of study he became a priest himself and lived a quiet life of prayer and obedience with other virtuous priests. But God had other plans for Dominic: he was meant to found the Dominican Order of Preachers to preach the Faith and wipe out false teachings. It all began on a trip through southern France, where heresy called Albigensianism was doing great harm. St. Dominic felt such pity for the people who had joined it that he felt such pity for the people who had joined it that he felt inspired to help them.

St. Dominic’s Order of Preachers conquered that dangerous heresy with the weapons the Saint gave them: prayer, especially the holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, humility, mortification and preaching. Once when someone asked Dominic what book he used to prepare his sermons, which converted so many people, the Saint said, “The only book I use is the book of love.” He always prayed that he might be filled with a true love of neighbor and he urged his priests to be devoted to the study of the Bible and to prayer. No one did more than St. Dominic and his preachers to spread the beautiful practice of saying the Holy Rosary.

St. Dominic was a brilliant preacher, while St. Francis of Assisi was a humble beggar. Yet, they were close friends and with their two Orders of Dominicans and Franciscans, they made Christians everywhere holier. Once, in a vision, St. Dominic saw Our Blessed Mother praying to save the sinful world from being punished. She pointed two figures out to her Son; one St. Dominic recognized as himself. The other was St. Francis, but at that time, the two Saints did not know each other. Next day, in church, he saw a ragged beggar whom he recognized as the man in the vision. It was St. Francis. Dominic embraced him and said: “you are my companion, and must walk with me. For If we stay together, no power on earth will be able to resist us!”

We, too, will win all our difficulties with the Holy Rosary.

St. Antonino

St. Antonino - May 10th

Antonino means “little Anthony,” and this Italian saint was given the nickname because he was a small fellow. Yet even as a lad, he showed that he had a lot of good sense and will power. When he was fifteen, he asked to join a Dominican monastery, but the Superior thought he was too young and small. “I’ll accept you,” he said, “when you know Gratian’s Decree by heart.” This book was several hundred pages long! Antonino accepted the challenge, and one year later, he came back. It would be hard to describe the good Superior’s amazement when he found that Antonino had memorized the whole decree! Needless to say, he was accepted at once.

The new religious, though just sixteen, continued to surprise everyone by the prefect way in which he lived the life in his Order. As he grew older, he was given one important position after another. Finally, Antonino was made the Archbishop of Florence.

“The father of the poor” was the name given this Saint. He never refused to help anyone. When he had no more money, he would give his clothes, his shoes, his furniture or-his one mule. Many times this mule was sold to help someone, then bought back for him by wealthy citizens, only to be sold once again to help someone else!

Often St. Antonino would say, “A successor of the apostles should not own anything except the wealth of virtue.”

We may not have much money to give, but we can always give good example, a good word, and a helping hand. All this and more comes under the practice of charity.

St. Pius V

St. Pius V - May 5th

This holy Pope’s name was Michael Ghisleri. He was born in a little town of Italy of very poor parents. As a boy, he wanted to become a priest, but it seemed as though his great dream would never come true, because he had no money to go to school. One day, two Dominicans came to his home and when they met Michael, they liked him so much that they offered to educate him. And so at the age of fourteen, Michael joined the Dominican Order.


He became a holy priest, and a superior in different Dominican monasteries. Then he was made a bishop, and later a Cardinal. Courageously he defended the teachings of the Church against those who opposed them. And he always lived a holy life of penance, just as he had done in his monastery.


When he was sixty-one, he was chosen Pope and he took the name Pius V. He who had once been a poor shepherd boy was now the Head of the whole Church. Yet he remained as humble as ever. He still wore his white Dominican habit, the same old one he had had. And no one could persuade him to change it.


There were many problems for the Pope Pius V to face. He drew strength from the crucifix. Twice a day he meditated on the sufferings and death of Our Lord. Whenever he entered or left his room, he would kiss the feet of Christ on the cross.


At this time the Turks were trying to conquer the whole Christian world, and they had a great navy on the Mediterranean Sea. A Christian force went to battle them at a place called Lepanto, near Greece.


This was one of the greatest sea battles there ever was. From the moment the army set out, the Pope prayed the Rosary almost without stopping. And he had the people do the same.


Thanks to the help of the Blessed Mother, the Christians won a great victory. In gratitude to Our Lady, St. Pius V established the feast of the Holy Rosary.


If we make it a habit to say a Rosary every day, we will win our Heavenly Mother’s help and protection from evil.

St. Peter of Verona

St. Peter of Verona - April 29th

As a young boy, this Italian Saint learned of the Catholic Faith, although his parents were not Catholic. So well did he know his religion that no argument could make him change his mind. And so good a Catholic was he that no bad example led him into sin. He was still young when he entered the Dominican Order. St. Dominic himself gave him the holy habit. Later, as a priest, Peter traveled up and down Italy preaching and converting many people. However, before God gave him the grace of martyrdom, He permitted him to suffer very much. In fact, he was falsely accused of having received women into his cell. His Superiors scolded him very strongly for this, but the humble Saint did not defend himself. He was forbidden to preach any more, and he accepted this penance without a word of complaint. Yet deep in his heart, he suffered greatly. One night when he could not sleep, he fell to his knees in front of the crucifix and sobbed, “Jesus, You know I am pure and innocent. Why do You let me suffer like this?” Back came this answer from the crucifix: “And I, Peter, what did I do to deserve My passion and death?” That gave the Saint courage, and soon afterwards, his innocence was proved.

The enemies of the true Faith, too, made St. Peter suffer. They did all they could to stop him from preaching. Yet he continued without fear. At last he was attacked and murdered. Just before he died, he dipped his finger in his own blood and wrote on the ground: “I believe in God.” His murderer, a man named Carino, soon repented of his crime. He became a Catholic, joined the Dominican Order, and died a holy death.

When we recite the Apostles’ Creed, let us say it with all our heart, and be grateful to God for giving us the same Faith as the Saints had.

Blessed Margaret of Castello

Blessed Margaret of Castello - Patroness of the Right-To-Life Groups - April 13th

Blessed Margaret (1287-1320) was born a hunchback, midget, blind, lame and ugly. When she was six years old, her proud and noble parents walled her up beside a chapel. She could not get out, but could attend Mass and receive the Sacraments. After 14 years of imprisonment, her parents took her to a shrine to pray for a cure. When no cure took place they abandoned her. She eventually became a lay Dominican and spent the rest of her life in prayer and works of mercy. Her charity towards others was unbounded. When she died at age 33, the townspeople thronged to her funeral and demanded that "the saint" be buried in a tomb inside the church. The priest protested, but when a crippled girl was miraculously cured at the funeral, the people had their way. Blessed Margaret is the patron of the Right-To-Life groups.

St. Richard of Chichester

St. Richard of Chichester - April 3rd

St. Richard was born in England. He and his brother were left orphans when Richard was very young. His brother owned some farms and Richard gave up his studies to help him save them from going to ruin. He did so well that his grateful brother wanted to give the farms to him, but Richard did not accept them. He also refused to marry, because he wanted to study. He went to Oxford University, and when he was thirty-eight, he was appointed chancellor of that University. Later, St. Edmund, who was Archbishop of Canterbury, made him Chancellor of his diocese. When St. Edmund died, St. Richard went to the monastery of the Dominican Friars in France and was ordained a priest.

He was consecrated Bishop of Chichester, England, and that is why he is called Richard of Chichester. The King at this time was not very good. Because he wanted someone else to be bishop of Chichester, he made St. Richard suffer much. Yet the good Saint always helped those who offended him. He must have often remembered the words of Jesus: “Love your enemy.”

As bishop, St. Richard did his duties well. He was always charitable and kind to sinners who were sorry. However, when he had to be stern, he was. He was not afraid of what might happen to him.

When St. Richard became ill, he foretold his death, because God had let him know the exact place and time when he would die. Many miracles took place at the Saint’s grave.

As a farmer, as a chancellor, as a priest and bishop, St. Richard did everything well. We shall try our very best to do our work at home and at school as well as we can, for the love of Jesus.

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas - Patron of Universities, Colleges, and Schools - March 7th


St. Thomas Aquinas was the son of a noble family of Italy. Thomas was very, very intelligent, but he was never proud about it. He knew that his mind was a gift from God.


When he was nineteen, he entered the Dominican Order, even though his family was very much against it. When he was on his way to Paris to study, his angry brothers captured him and kept him a prisoner in one of their castles for two years. During that time they did all they could to make him change his mind. They even sent bad women to his room to tempt him. But Thomas grabbed a burning brand from the fireplace and chased her away! His sister also came to try to give up his vocation. But Thomas spoke so beautifully about the joy of serving God that it was she who changed her mind and decided to give her life to God! At last the Saint was set free.


Because this lovable Saint was chubby and a bit quiet, he was teased and called the “dumb ox” while he was a student. Yet Thomas never grew angry. He just offered it all to Jesus and Mary, whom he loved with all his heart.


St. Thomas wrote so well about God that people all over the world have used his books for hundreds of years now. The secret of his success was that he never began to write anything without first praying.


When traveling to see the Pope, Thomas became ill. Just before he died, a brother asked him what was the best way of living without offending God. Thomas answered, “He who lives in the presence of God and loves Him will never be separated from Him by sin.”


If we want to do well in school, let us imitate St. Thomas by praying and trying our very best.

St. Raymond of Pennafort

St. Raymond of Pennafort - Patron of Canonists - January 23rd


Born in Spain, St. Raymond was a relative of the King of Aragon. From childhood he had a tender love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. Raymond finished his studies at an early age, and became a famous teacher. The he gave up all his honors and entered the order of the Dominicans. St. Raymond was very humble and very close to God. He did much penance and was so good and kind that he won many sinners to God. With King James of Aragon and St. Peter Nolasco he founded the order of Our Lady of Ransom. The brave religious of this Order devoted themselves to saving poor Christians captured by the Moors.


Once he went with King James to the Island of Majorca to preach about Jesus. King James was a man of great qualities, but he let himself be ruled by passions. There on the Island, too, he was giving bad example. The Saint commanded him to send the women away. The King said he would, but he did not keep his promise. So St. Raymond decided to leave the island. The King declared he would punish any ship captain who brought the saint back to Barcelona. Putting all his trust in God, St. Raymond spread his cloak upon the water, tied up one corner of it to a stick for a sail, made the Sign of the Cross, stepped onto the cloak, and sailed along for six hours until he reached Barcelona. This miracle moved the King. He was sorry for what he had done, and became a true follower of St. Raymond.


When we have done wrong, we must be sorry at once, and make up our minds not to sin again.