Blessed Paula Cerioli

Blessed Paula Cerioli – December 24th

Paula’s name before she became a nun was Constance. She was the last of sixteen children born to an Italian countess. When Constance was only nineteen, her parents arranged a marriage for her with a rich man who was sixty years old! He was a good man, but a bit odd and quite unattractive. The poor girl could have been miserable all her life, but instead, she made the best of things, and drew closer and closer to Jesus. She counted on His help always.

Constance’s husband died nineteen years later, and she was left with a great fortune. Something her parish priest happened to say made her decide to devote her time and money to poor children and orphans. At once she took two orphans into her great mansion, and her work had started.

Other ladies joined her and they took the vows of a nun. The new community was called the Sisters of the Holy Family. Constance tool the name, Sister Paula. Some years afterwards, a group of men formed themselves into a community of brothers to help Sister Paula in taking care of orphan boys.

Sister Paula especially wanted to train farm children so that they would know how to farm the land well and not suffer poverty. She knew they would all probably spend their lives on farms and she wanted them to be happy in this way of life.

Sister Paula was always very devoted to the Holy Family, and God gave her the grace of dying peacefully one Christmas Eve.

Since I cannot offer much to help poor children, I will be very kind to them.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – Patroness of Immigrants and Emigrants - December 22nd

When Frances was a child growing up in Italy, she used to dream about being a missionary to China. She would send paper boats down a stream pretending that they were ships taking missionaries to China. And she began giving up candy because in China, she wouldn’t be able to have any.

But when she grew up, Frances was not accepted into the two convents which she asked to join because her health was not too good. She taught school until a priest asked her to help out in a small home for orphans. Things were very hard for Frances here, because of the very queer lady who ran the house. Yet Frances stuck to the work, and some other generous women joined her. Together they took vows. At last the Bishop told Frances to begin her own Congregation of missionary nuns, and without hesitating, Frances started at once. Her Congregation is called the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Before long, it began to grow, first in Italy and then in many other countries.

Frances, whom everyone called Mother Cabrini, had always had her heart set on going to China. But it seemed that God wanted her to come to America. When the Pope himself told her, “Go West, not East,” the matter was settled. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini came to the United States, and became an American citizen. She came especially to help the poor people who had come from Italy to make their home in America. She was a real mother and friend to these immigrants.

Mother Cabrini and her sisters had a very hard time in the beginning. The Archbishop of New York even told them that since things had not worked out as they had hoped, they perhaps should go back to Italy. But Mother Cabrini answered firmly, “No, Your Excellency. The Pope sent me here and here I must stay.” The Archbishop admired her pioneer spirit, and so she and her Sisters began their great work for God. Schools, hospitals, and homes for children were opened up in different states, and as the years passed, Mother Cabrini made many trips to spread her Congregation and its works. There were always difficulties, but she put all her trust in the Sacred heart. “It is He Who is doing everything, not us,” she would say.

Forty-nine years after she died, Mother Cabrini was canonized. She is the first American citizen to be made a Saint.

Where did this sickly woman get the strength to do all she did? In prayer. We, too, will find the courage we need in nothing else but in prayer.

St. Peter Fourier

St. Peter Fourier – December 9th

Peter was born in France and was educated by the Jesuits. He did very well in school, and when he graduated, he opened a little school of his own. He was not satisfied with his life though, and so he entered the Congregation of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine.

For thirty years, St. Peter was a parish priest in a village where many lived bad lives. He worked and prayed for his people and started several holy associations for the men, women, and young girls.

St. Peter was especially concerned for the children. He started a Congregation of nuns to teach poor children in free schools. The Saint himself taught the nuns how to handle the children and what to teach them. He wanted to make sure that the students learned to make bills and write correct letters so that they could obtain good jobs when they finished their schooling.

As to non-Catholic children, he told his nuns, “Treat them kindly and lovingly. Do not let the other children tease them. Do not speak harshly of their religion, but rather show how good and reasonable our Faith is when you speak to the whole class.”

St. Peter was made the Superior of his Congregation, but he spent the last four years of his life doing what he liked best-teaching the children of the poor in a free school he had opened.

When I feel to grumble because I cannot have something I would like, I will think of the many children who have much less than I.

St. Sabas

St. Sabas – December 5th


Sabas is one of the most famous monks of Palestine. His father was an officer in the army and when he had to go to Alexandria, Egypt, he left his young son with his brother-in-law. Since his aunt treated him badly, young Sabas ran away to another uncle. When an argument arose between the two uncles, Sabas felt very bad because he liked to see people at peace. So he ran away to live in a monastery.


His two uncles felt ashamed of themselves and they told Sabas to come out and they would give him all his property. But by this time Sabas was too happy in the monastery to think of going back to a worldly life. Even though he was the youngest person in the monastery, he was the most fervent.


When he was eighteen, St. Sabas went to Jerusalem to learn to live as a hermit, because he felt inclined to live alone with God. For a while, however, he was advised to live in another monastery there, for he was still young. He obeyed and joyfully did all the heavy work, chopping wood for the fires and carrying the heavy jugs of water.


One day, St. Sabas was sent to Alexandria, Egypt, as a companion to another monk. There he ran into his father and mother! They tried their best to make him come with them and enjoy the same honors his father had won. Not Sabas! He would not even take the money they tried to give him. Finally he accepted three gold pieces, but when he got back to the monastery, he gave them to the Abbot.


At last, he was able to spend four years completely alone, as he desired. But after that, he had to found a monastery for all the disciples who came to him. And before long, he was put in charge of all the monks in Palestine who lived the life he lived.


Even when sent to the Emperor on important affairs for the Church, St. Sabas wore his poor rags, and kept to his hours of prayer. When a disciple claimed that the Emperor might be offended, the Saint answered: “My son, the Emperor does his duty and we must do ours.”


Let us pray to know the Will of God for us, and then let us follow it with generosity.

Blessed Madeline of Canossa

Blessed Madeline of Canossa – November 8th

Madeline was one of those very lovable children, full of life, and pretty as a picture. She was the daughter of an Italian nobleman, and her rich parents showered her with love. But when she was only five, her dear father died. Two years later, her mother married again and Madeline was entrusted to a governess, who was supposed to be like a good mother to her. Instead, this mean woman treated the beautiful and intelligent child in the worst way possible. Madeline’s brother and sisters tried to tell on the governess, but that clever woman always made it look as though she were right and the child was guilty.

How did Madeline take all this? The great sorrow she felt and the humiliations she suffered only served to strengthen her character. A serious illness attacked her next, and when it was over, her worried relatives were happy to see that she was the same lovely, cheerful young lady as before. But there was one difference. Madeline had resolved to turn down all chances to marry, because she had decided to become a nun.

At first, she thought God wanted her to serve Him as a Carmelite. Later, she realized that she was to be Foundress of a Congregation of nuns who would take care of children. God blessed the new Institute in every way. Schools, homes for orphans, raining centers for the blind and for the deaf and dumb were opened in many cities. Madeline’s tender heart was full of love for little ones in difficulty, because she remembered how much she herself had suffered as a child.

This Saint had a great devotion to our Heavenly Mother and when she was dying she said three Hail Marys with touching love. At the third, she stretched out her arms, and her eyes shone as though she could see the Blessed Virgin coming for her. Then she bowed her head and left this earth forever.

I will remember in my prayers all the little children without a mother. I will pray to our Blessed Lady to be their Mother.

St. Foillan

St. Foillan - October 31st

Foillan was an Irish monk whose two brothers were also Saints. They were some of the many zealous Irish apostles who left their homeland to help other countries with fewer priests than Ireland had.

Saints Foillan, Fursey, and Ultan went to England first of all and establish a monastery in Burgh Castle. From this spot they did missionary work among the people called the East Angles. When invaders of the land robbed the monastery of everything it had, Saints Foillan and Ultan decided to preach the Gospel in France. Their other brother, St. Fursey, had already worked as a missionary and died there.

King Clovis II welcomed the two holy Irishmen as he had welcomed their brother before them. Foillan was given land by Blessed Itta and her daughter. St. Gertrude asked him to preach to the nuns of the convent over which she was abbess. He did so, and had great influence on them. He also did missionary work among the Brabanters. In fact, St. Foillan is a well-remembered Irish Saint in Europe.

One day, after singing Mass for St. Gertrude and her nuns, the Saint set out with three companions to see his brother Ultan, who was preaching in another area. While passing through a forest, they were attacked by a band of robbers and killed. Their bodies were not found for about two and a half months, and then St. Gertrude had St. Foillan buried with honor in the abbey he had founded.

Let us say a prayer to Our Lord from our heart, that He may help us in the hour of our death. And let us offer Him all the sufferings which will come with death.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila – October 15th

As a little girl in her parents’ rich home in Spain, Teresa and her brother Rodrigo loved to read the lives of the saints and martyrs. It seemed to them that the martyrs got to Heaven an easy way, so the two of them set out secretly to go to the land of the Moors. As they walked along, they prayed that they might die for Christ. But they had not gotten far when they met an uncle, who at once took them back to their worrying mother! Next the two little ones decided to be hermits in their garden, but they never could get enough stones together to build their huts!

St. Teresa herself wrote down these amusing stories of her childhood. The fact is that when she grew to be a teenager, however, she read so many novels and foolish romances that she lost much of her love for prayer, and she began to think more of dressing up to look pretty. But after she recovered from a bad illness, Teresa read a book about the great St. Jerome, and then and there, she made up her mind to become a Bride of Christ.

As a nun, St. Teresa often found it hard to pray and besides that, she was quite sick for some time. In those days many visitors used to come to the convent to talk with the nuns; and this practice, too, made it difficult for the Sisters to keep closely united to God. Teresa, like many others nuns, wasted much time this way. But one day, in front of a picture of Jesus, she felt great sorrow that she did not love God more. She started then to live for Him alone, no matter what sacrifice had to be made. In return for her love, Our Lord gave St. Teresa the privilege of hearing Him talk to her. She learned to pray in a marvelous way, too, and she wrote down in obedience all that she had experienced.

St. Teresa of Avila is very famous for having opened new Carmelite convents in which no worldly conversations with visitors disturbed their prayer. Her nuns made many sacrifices for Jesus and worked and prayed with great love. She herself gave them the example, not only by the way she prayed, but by the way she worked in spinning, cleaning, and sweeping the house.

Always St. Teresa placed all her hopes in God. Once in opening a new Convent, she had just a few coins to her name. “Teresa and this money are nothing,” she said. “But God, Teresa and this money are enough.” With a man-like courage, a heart full of love of God, and a wonderful sense of humor, this marvelous nun performed a great service for Christ’s Church.

From the life of this Saint, as well as of many other saints, we can see how the reading of books can change a person. From now on I resolve to choose good books as gifts for my family and friends.

St. Bridget of Sweden

St. Bridget of Sweden - Patroness of Sweden - October 8th

From the time she was a child, Bridget was greatly devoted to the Passion of Our Lord. When she was only ten, she seemed to see Jesus on the Cross and to hear Him say, “Look upon Me, My daughter.” “Who had treated you like this?” cried the holy child. “They who despise Me and refuse My love for them,” answered Jesus. From then on, Bridget tried to stop people from offending Our Lord any more.

While she was just a very young teenager, she was married to a young man named Ulf who, like herself, set his whole heart on serving God. They had eight children, of whom one was St. Catherine of Sweden. At the Swedish court of King Magnus and Queen Blanche, Bridget tried to make these rulers lead better lives, but they did not listen to her for the most part. All her life, the Saint had many marvelous visions and received special messages from God. In obedience to them, she visited many rulers and important people in the Church to tell them what God expected of them.

After her good husband died, Bridget put away forever her wealthy clothes and lived as a poor nun. Later, she founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior, who are called Bridgettines. She still kept up her own busy life, however, traveling about doing good everywhere. And through all this activity, Our Lord continued to reveal many secrets to her, all of which she received without the least bit of pride.

Shortly before she died, the Saint went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where Jesus had lived. At the shrines there, she had visions of what Our Lord had said and done in each place. All St. Bridget’s revelations on the sufferings of Jesus were published after her death.

I will learn from St. Bridget the devotion to Jesus Crucified. Like this saint, I, too, for love of Jesus Crucified, will keep my soul pure from every fault, and will go to Confession and Holy Communion often.

St. Bruno

St. Bruno - Patron of those Expelling Demons - October 6th

The founder of the Carthusian Order of monks was at first not a hermit at all, but rather a famous priest-teacher in his own country of France. For eighteen years he taught very learned men and tried his best to lead them closer to God. Then he was made chancellor of the diocese of Rheims.

But Bruno did not take delight in the honors that had come to him. His heart began to long to be alone with Jesus, and soon he gave up his position right when he was about to be chosen Archbishop of the great city of Rheims. St. Hugh of Grenoble gave Bruno and his friends a hidden desert land called Chartreuse, and there they built a church and little huts to live in. This was the beginning of the Carthusian Order. They were very happy there, working their fields, fasting and praying, hidden in God.

After six years, however, the Pope required a great sacrifice of Bruno. He asked him to go to Rome to be his adviser. It broke the Saint’s heart, but he obeyed, and left one of the monks in charge at Chartreuse. He served Pope Urban II well, until finally the Holy Father allowed him to be a monk again, but nearer Rome. So with new disciples, he began all over again in Italy.

As we know by his letters, St. Bruno was always a cheerful, active man, who did not want to see any of his monks sad. He describes their hard life in delightful expressions and urged a close friend to come see for himself.

Just before he died, the holy founder confessed himself out loud in front of his monks, and then professed his Faith for the last time.

God loves those who serve Him with joy. St. Bruno used to say, “Try, and you will see how sweet and rewarding it is to serve God with all the love of your heart.”

St. Giles

St. Giles - Patron of Cripples, Beggars and Blacksmiths - September 1st

Giles was born in Athens, Greece, and when his parents died, he used the great fortune they left him to help the poor. For this reason and especially because he worked many miracles, Giles found himself a greatly admired young man. He did not want this praise and fame at all. So, to be able to serve God in a hidden life, he left Greece and sailed to France.

There he went to live alone in a dark forest, making his home in a rough cave behind a thick thorn bush. Every day a dear came to give him her milk, and lived contented, safe from the danger of becoming proud at hearing himself praised. But one day, a certain king and his men went hunting in the forest and chased the deer to Giles’ cave. Then they could not see where it disappeared. One of the men shot an arrow into the thorn bush, and when they forced their way in, they discovered Giles sitting wounded by the arrow.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” demanded the King. St. Giles told them the story of his life, and when they heard it, they asked his forgiveness. The King sent his doctors to take care of the Saint’s wound. Although Giles begged to be left alone, the King felt such veneration for him that he came often to see him. Giles never would accept the King’s gifts but finally he agreed to let the King build a large monastery there, and Giles became its first abbot.

This monastery became so famous that a whole town grew up there and it was called St.Giles. When the Saint died, his grave at the monastery became a great shrine where many, many people came on pilgrimage.

The greatest virtues of St. Giles were humility and charity. The more we are generous with our brothers, sisters and companions, the more Our Lord will be generous with us.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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.”

St. Cajetan

St. Cajetan - August 7th

Cajetan was the son of a Italian Count. At the University of Padua, where he finished his studies, he spent much time in prayer. That did not make him do poorly in school, however; in fact, his devotion helped him understand things better. Cajetan was made a senator, but after some years, he went to Rome and became a priest. Then he returned to his own city of Vicenza. Although it angered his rich relatives, the Saint joined a group of humble, simple men who devoted themselves to helping the sick and the poor.

St. Cajetan would go all over the city looking for these unfortunate people and serve them himself. He helped at the hospital by waiting on people who had the most disgusting diseases. In other cities he did the same charitable work and also kept encouraging everyone to go to Holy Communion often. “I shall never be happy,” he said, “until I see Christians flocking to feed on the Bread of Life, with eagerness and delight, not with fear and shame.”

Together with these other holy men, St. Cajetan founded an order of religious priests called Theatines. They devoted themselves to preaching, encouraging frequent confession and Communion, helping the sick, and other good works.

Cajetan died at the age of sixty-seven. He had earned for himself the name “hunter of souls.” In his last sickness, he lay on hard boards, even though the doctor advised him to have a mattress. “My Savior died on a cross,” he said. “Let me at least die on wood.”

In imitation of this saint we should make the Holy Eucharist the center of our lives. We will be greatly blessed if we often receive Our Divine Lord in Holy Communion with the proper dispositions.

St. Alphonsus de Liguori

St. Alphonsus de Liguori - August 2nd

Alphonsus was born in Italy and did so well in his studies that when he was still a teen-ager, he was given his degree in law and became a famous lawyer. He enjoyed going to stage shows for a while, but only for the music. To make sure he would not sin, he used to take off his glasses as soon as the show began. Since he was near-sighted, he could see nothing of the bad shows and just enjoyed the music!

A mistake he made in court convinced Alphonsus of what he had already thought-he should give up his law practice and become a priest. His father tried to persuade him not to do it, but Alphonsus laid his sword on our Lady’s alter to show that he was giving up the world for God. His life as a priest was full of activity. He preached, he wrote many books, he started his congregation of priests called Redemptorists, he guided souls, he wrote hymns and even found time to paint pictures.

St. Alphonsus took a vow never to waste time and he kept it until he died, at the age of ninety-one. That is how he was able to write about sixty books, although he was always busy and often very sick. Sometimes his head ached so badly that he would hold a piece of cold marble against it and keep on writing.

Although he was naturally inclined to act quickly from anger to pride, St. Alphonsus kept strict control over himself and acted only and always for God. He had become so humble that when the Pope made him bishop, he handed the announcement back to the messengers who had brought it, saying, “Please do not come back again to call me ‘Most Illustrious Lord.’ That would kill me!” But the Pope would not take “no” for an answer and made him a bishop. St. Alphonsus sent many preachers all over his diocese, which was in a bad condition, and he told them to give simple sermons. “I never preached a sermon that the simplest old women in the church could not understand,” he said.

When he was very old, crippled, deaf, and almost blind, the Saint had to suffer terrible disappointments and temptations. But he had great devotion to the Blessed Mother, as we know from his famous book called the Glories of Mary, and the trial were followed by great peace, joy and a holy death.

Let us increase our devotion to the Blessed Mother. St. Alphonsus write, “Whoever has devotion to Mary will save his soul; whoever has a great devotion to Mary will become a saint.”

Some good books of and by St. Alphonsus de Liguori:

St. Alphonsus Liguori

By: Rev. D. F.Miller & Rev. L. X. Aubin - https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage_gr/product_id/275/

Uniformity with God's Will

By: St. Alphonsus Liguori

https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage_gr/product_id/113/

The Way of the Cross - Liguori

By: St. Alphonsus Liguori

https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage_gr/product_id/267/

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius of Loyola - Patron of Retreats and of Soldiers - July 31st

This famous founder of the Jesuits was a son of one of the most noble families of Spain. As a boy he was sent to be a page at the royal court, and there he lived on the desire to become a great soldier and win a fair lady. Later, he did, indeed, win honor for his courage in the battle of Pamplona. However, a wound from a cannon ball forced him to spend months in bed back at Loyola Castle.

Ignatius asked for some stories of knights to pass the time, but the only books on hand were stories of Our Lord and the Saints. Having nothing else to do, he read them, and his life changed from that time on. He said to himself: “These were men like me, so why can’t I do what they have done?” All the glory he had wanted before seemed worthless now, and he began to imitate the Saints in their prayers and penances and good works.

St. Ignatius had to suffer terrible temptations and humiliations before he began his great work of founding the Society of Jesus. Imagine going back to school to study Latin grammar with little boys when you are a man of thirty-three! Yet Ignatius did it because he knew he would need knowledge to help him save souls. With patience and even a laugh now and then, he took the boys’ jeers and taunts. For teaching and encouraging people to pray, he was even suspected of heresy and put in jail for a while! But that did not bother the Saint. “The whole city does not contain as many chains as I desire to wear for love of Jesus,” he said.

Ignatius was forty-three when he graduated from the University of Paris. With six other students, he made the vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. They also promised to work for God in whatever way the Holy Father thought best. Later they became priests and formed the religious order of the Jesuits. Before Ignatius died, there were one thousand Jesuits and they were doing much good teaching youth and preaching.

It was the Saint’s tremendous love of Jesus which made him want to keep working for the greater glory of God. He often prayed: “Give me only Your love and Your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”

The reading of the lives of Jesus and His Saints changed Ignatius’ whole life. Let us, too, read these inspiring books, so that we will find it easier to be virtuous and to put our lives to good use, as the Saints did.