Bl. Francis Anthony of Lucera

Bl. Francis Anthony of Lucera – November 29th

This Saint, who was nicknamed Johnnie as a child, was the son of an Italian farmer. His father died before he was ten, but his mother’s second husband was good to him and sent him to be educated by the Franciscans.

When he was fifteen, the lad asked to be admitted to the Order. Brother Francis Anthony did very well in all his studies, and after becoming a priest, he became famous as a preacher and teacher. He also was elected Superior and he tried to make all the monks as holy as he was.

Bl. Francis Anthony had a special interest in prisoners. The prisons of his day were terrible places, and he did his best to help the poor prisoners in every way. His love went out to everyone in need. It was he who began the custom of collecting gifts at Christmas time for poor families. In Lucera, the city in which he spent his life, it was said: “If you want to see St. Francis of Assisi, just look at Father Francis Anthony!”

Bl. Francis Anthony had a great devotion to our Blessed Mother and he loved to pay special honor to her Immaculate Conception. It was at the beginning of the solemn novena for the Feast that he died. Some time before, when he was in good health, he had said he would die soon. He had even suggested to a priest-friend that he come along. This good priest replied a bit excitedly, “Listen, Father, if you want to die, that is your affair, but I’m in no hurry!” What did the Saint reply? “We must both make this journey,” he said, “I first and you afterwards.” And that is just what happened. The good priest lived only two months after Bl. Francis Anthony passed to his eternal reward.

The Saints were not afraid to die because they often thought of Heaven. Today I too will do everything for Heaven.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi - Patron of Italy, of Catholic Action, and of Merchants - October 4th

As a young man in his Italian hometown of Assisi, Francis loved parties and good times. He was handsome and rich, so he bought himself the finest clothes and spent money right and left. Francis had no desire to study or to learn his father’s business-he just wanted to have fun. Yet he was never impure or selfish.

After two illnesses and other adventures, Francis realized that he must serve Christ, and so he began by praying much more and making sacrifices to grow strong in spirit. Once he kissed a horrible-looking leper, while giving him money. Often he gave his clothes and money to the poor and served the sick in hospitals. Still he felt he must do more. He fasted and prayed and began to go around in rags, in order to humble himself. It is not hard to imagine how his former rich friends must have looked at him now! His father was so angry that he beat him and locked him up at home. Francis bore all this suffering for love of Christ, and when his father took everything from him in disgust, Francis put all his trust in his Father in Heaven. He said that he was married to “Lady Poverty” and he began to live as a beggar, with no shelter or food but what kind people gave him. Everywhere he went, he urged people to stop sinning and to go back to God. Soon many men began to realize how close to God this poor man was, and they became his disciples. That is how the great Franciscan Order of priests and brothers began.

Even after the Order had been spread all over Italy, Francis insisted that they should not own anything and should all love poverty as he did. The brothers helped the poor and sick and preached everywhere. St. Francis had the power of working miracles and even of making birds and animals obey him! As a reward for his great love, Christ gave him His own wounds in his hands and feet, but the humble Francis tried to hide them.

When he had been sick for a long time and was told he could only live a few more weeks, he exclaimed, “Welcome, Sister Death!” He asked to be laid on the ground and covered with an old habit. Then he urged his Brothers to love God, to love poverty, and to obey the Holy Gospel. “I have done my part,” he said. “May Christ teach you to do yours.”

For love of God, today I will help someone, without asking or accepting a reward of any kind.

St. Joseph of Cupertino

St. Joseph of Cupertino – Patron of Aviators – September 18th

Joseph was born in a small village in Italy of poor parents. He was very unhappy as a boy and a teenager. His mother considered him a nuisance and treated him harshly. Joseph soon became very slow and absent-minded. He would wander around, going nowhere, his mouth gaping open. But he had a bad temper, too, and so, he was not at all popular. He tried to learn a trade of shoe-making, but failed. He asked to become a Franciscan, but they would not accept him. Next, he joined the Capuchins, but eight months later, they sent him away because he could not seem to do anything right. He dropped piles of dishes and kept forgetting to do what he was told. His mother was not at all pleased to have the eighteen-year-old Joseph back home again, so she finally got him accepted as a servant at the Franciscan monastery. He was given a monk’s habit and put to work taking care of the horses.

About this time, Joseph began to change. He grew more humble and gentle, more careful and successful at his work. He also began to do more penance. Now, it was decided that he could become a real member of the Order and start studying for the priesthood. Although he was very good, he still had a very hard time with studies. But the examiner happened to ask him to explain the only thing he knew well, and so he was made a deacon, and later a priest. After this, God began to work many amazing miracles through St. Joseph. Over seventy times people saw him rise from the ground wile saying Mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be completely wrapped up in talking with God. He became so holy that everything he saw made him think of God, and he said that all the troubles of this world were nothing but the “play” battles children have with popguns!

St. Joseph became so famous for the miracles that he was kept hidden, but he was happy for the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. On His part, Jesus never left him alone and one day came to bring him to heaven.

Maybe our parents, our teachers and even we ourselves may feel that we are hopeless…because we make mistakes and get into much trouble! But it is never too late! With a strong will let us keep on trying…We, too, are called to become saints.

This is a link to an excellent movie on St. Joseph's story which is sadly being taken out of movie shelves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqT4cXOKlW4

(please note that after St. Joseph and his monks leave out of the catacombs the part where they process back to their monastery is not in the VHS movie. That part may have just been a deleted scene.)

Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta

Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta – September 7th

Maria Assunta was a young Italian country girl who spent her days as a teen doing farm chores and helping in the fields. Every one of the young men and women around the countryside knew that they could not use any rough or immodest words when she was around-there was something so pure about her that no one would have dared.

Maria entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. In her humility she felt so much less worthy than her Sisters that she always chose the less pleasing chores for herself. Joyfully and with a smile ever on her lips, she would “work for Jesus,” as she said. “I want to take advantage of every chance I get to work for sanctity.”

Sister Mary Assunta was sent as a missionary to China. A fierce storm arose on this trip, and the ship seemed about to sink. “Aren’t you afraid, too?” one of the passengers asked the calm-looking Sister. “No,” answered Blessed Maria Assunta. “There’s no reason why I should be. It’s all the same to me whether I reach my mission or go to the bottom of the ocean, if that’s what Jesus wants.”

Blessed Maria was stationed at the same spot where seven Sisters of her Congregation had been killed four years before. So she hoped to be able to give her life for Our Lord, too, but in the meantime, she worked hard, cooking for the Sisters and the orphans they cared for. When typhoid fever struck that region, she lovingly nursed her Sisters, without a thought of the danger to herself. One year after she had come to China, Blessed Maria Assunta caught typhoid, too, and died of it. At her death, a mysterious, sweet perfume filled her room and followed her body as it was carried to the cemetery. Even the pagans came to her grave to pray to her and ask her protection.

Let us pray to receive the strength we need to overcame ourselves and give our best to duties we do not like.

St. Ignatius of Laconi

St. Ignatius of Laconi - May 11th

Ignatius was the son of a poor farmer in Sardinia. Though he was a sickly boy, he worked hard in the fields to help support the family of eleven. When he was about seventeen, he fell ill, and promised to become a Franciscan if he should get better. But when the illness left him, his father said, “We did not promise to do anything in a hurry. It’s the same whether you keep your promise today or next year.” A couple of years later, Ignatius was almost killed when he lost control of his horse. Suddenly, however, the horse stopped and trotted on quietly. Ignatius was convinced, then, that God had saved his life, and he made up his mind to become a religious at once.

Brother Ignatius never had any important position in the Franciscan Order. For fifteen years he worked in the weaving shed of one monastery and then for forty years, until he died at the age of eighty, he was out on the road as a begging friar. Sometimes doors were slammed in his face, sometimes the weather was bad, and always, there were miles and miles to be walked. Yet Ignatius held himself erect, kept calm and cheerful, and did good everywhere he went. He visited the sick, made peace between enemies, converted sinners, and advised people in trouble. He especially loved children, and they loved him so much.

There was one house from which Brother Ignatius never begged anything. The owner was a rich moneylender who made the poor pay back much, much more than they could afford. This man felt humiliated because Ignatius never came to beg from him, and he complained to the Superior of the monastery. The Superior ordered Brother Ignatius to go to that house, because he did not know what kind of man the moneylender was. The Saint obeyed and brought back a large sack of food. It was then that God worked a miracle, for when the sack was emptied, blood dripped out! ‘This is the blood of the poor,” explained the Saint. “That is why I never ask for anything at that house.”

The seventh commandment of God is: “Thou shalt not steal.” Let us be honest and keep our conscience clean, not only when it is a matter of big things, but even small things, such as stealing apples from a neighbor’s tree or by cheating on a test in school.

St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure - July 14th

Bonaventure’s name means “good luck”, and it is said that St. Francis of Assisi gave it to him when he was a baby, after curing him from a serious sickness. Bonaventure became a Franciscan and left his own country of Italy to study at the University of Paris. He became a learned writer and such a great lover of God that he was called the “Seraphic Doctor.”

One of Bonaventure’s famous friends was St. Thomas Aquinas. Thomas asked him one day where he got all the beautiful things he wrote. St. Bonaventure took his friend by the hand and led him to his desk. Pointing to the large crucifix which always stood on the desk, he said, “Look! It is He Who tells me everything. He is my only Teacher.” Another time, when Bonaventure was writing the life of St. Francis of Assisi, he was so full of fervor that St. Thomas exclaimed: “Let us leave a Saint to write the Saint!”

St. Bonaventure always kept himself humble, even though his books made him famous. The Pope wanted him to become an Archbishop, but Bonaventure begged to be excused from the honor. He did accept the office of Superior of the Franciscans because he knew it was God’s will. Then, later on, another Pope commanded him to become a Cardinal, and he sent two messengers to present him with the red hat that is given only to Cardinals. The Pope’s messengers found the Saint washing dishes in one of the monasteries! Since his hands were greasy, he asked them to hang the hat on a tree branch, and to be patient with him until he finished the dishes. Then he dried his hands and sorrowfully went out to accept the new honor. As a Cardinal, St. Bonaventure was a great help to the Pope, Blessed Gregory X. It was said, “No one ever saw Bonaventure without feeling great respect and affection for him, because he was gentle, polite, humble, pleasing to all, prudent, pure, and virtuous in every way.”

“Jesus is my only Teacher,” said St. Bonaventure. We, too, should have a crucifix on our desk, or in our own room and turn often to Jesus for light and for strength.

St. Francis Solano

St. Francis Solano - Patron of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru - July 13th

Francis was born in Spain. Even as a young boy, he was a wonderful peacemaker. Once he threw himself between two fighting boys and took blows from both of them without moving. In that way, he forced them to stop, because neither wanted to hit him.

When he was twenty, Francis became a Franciscan. His desire to be a missionary was satisfied when he was sent to Peru in South America. On the way, he preached the Faith to many Negro slaves. When their ship was wrecked in a storm, the captain ordered everyone, except the slaves, to save themselves in a lifeboat. But Francis refused to leave the slaves alone on the sinking ship. He stayed with them, prayed with them and baptized them. Right afterwards, half the ship went down. Francis and the rest of the slaves were rescued, and he got safely to Peru.

There the Saint learned the many Indian languages, traveled far and wide preaching, and baptized great numbers. He worked so many miracles that he was called the “Wonder-worker of the New World.” Yet he was so simple that in his great love for Our Lady, he loved to play his flute and sing in front of her altar.

The courage of St. Francis Solano was amazing. Once when some Indians planned to massacre a great number of Christians, he went out alone to try to talk them out of it. And he spoke so beautifully of how Jesus suffered and died for us that on that very day, many of those men accepted the Faith and were baptized!

The way to please God the most is to do something good for our neighbor every time we can, and to do it for the love of God. At the judgment, Jesus will tell us, “What you did to other, you did to Me.” And He will reward us.

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua - Patron of Finding Articles and of the Poor - June 13th

This very popular saint was born in Portugal and the name given him at Baptism was Ferdinand. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Augustinian Order and spent all his time in prayer and study.

When he was twenty-five, he heard about some Franciscans who had been martyred by the Moors in China. From then on, Ferdinand felt a strong desire to die for Christ. He joined the Franciscans, who had been founded only a little while before, and took the name of Anthony. Then he went off to Africa to preach to the Moors. But he soon became so sick that he had to leave. No one in his new Order knew what a brilliant mind he had, because he kept his talents hidden. So he was sent to a lonely hermitage in Italy, and there he washed pots and pans and did other humble chores.

Our Lord, however, wanted St. Anthony to save many souls by preaching. One day, at a gathering of many priests, it was suddenly discovered that there was no preacher! Anthony was told to get up and give the sermon as best he could. How amazed everyone was when he preached a marvelous sermon, full of wise and holy thoughts! From then on, until he died nine years later, St. Anthony preached all over Italy. He was so popular that people even closed their stores to go to hear him. Often the churches could not hold the crowds and then he would preach out in the open. Heretics, criminals, and sinners of every kind were converted.

Anthony was short and rather plump, but he had such virtue and such a love for sinners that just the sight of him was enough to make many repent and confess their sins.

So many miracles have taken place and so many people have obtained favors by praying to him that St. Anthony is famous as the “Wonder-worker.”

The statue of St. Anthony shows him with Baby Jesus. This is because once the Holy Child appeared to the Saint. Other pictures show him holding a Bible because he knew and loved the Word of God very much.

Like St. Anthony, let us love to pray and work unseen. In this way, we shall not become proud, and God will reward every prayer we say and everything we do for love of Him.

St. Bernardine of Siena

St. Bernardine of Siena - Patron of Publicity Agents - May 20th

Bernardine was the son of an Italian governor. Before he was seven years old, his father and mother died, but his good aunt brought him up, and his uncle gave him a good education. He grew to be a tall, handsome boy who was so much fun that all his friends loved to be with him. Yet they knew better than to use any impure words when he was around, for he would not stand for it. Twice when an evil man tried to lead him into sin, Bernardine punched him in the face and sent him running with stones flying after him!

The Saint had a special love for the Blessed Mother, and it was she who kept him pure. Even when he was a teenager, he would talk to her in prayer, as a child talks with his mother. For the poor, he felt pity, and once, when his aunt had not extra food to give a beggar, Bernardine cried, “I’d rather go without food myself than leave that poor man with none!”

Bernardine became a Franciscan priest and soon began his life’s work of preaching. At first, his voice was so hoarse and weak that he could not be heard well. He prayed to Our Lady to change it, and it became clear and strong. Before every sermon, Bernardine read the Holy Bible and prayed before the crucifix. Then after he preached, he knelt again before the crucifix to pray for himself and for those who had listened to him.

In those days, bad habits were ruining both young and old people. “How can I save these lost people by myself?” the Saint cried to the Lord. “With what weapons can I fight the devil?” And God answered, “My holy Name will be enough for you.” So Bernardine spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. He used this Name a great many times in every sermon and had people put it over the gates of the cities, over their doorways-everywhere. With this devotion and devotion to the Blessed Mother, this great Saint converted thousands of people all over Italy.

Let us invoke the Holy Name of Jesus very often. We will realize how powerful it is against every danger we may face.

St. Paschal Baylon

St. Paschal Baylon - Patron of Eucharistic Congresses and Societies - May 17th

Paschal is a Spanish saint. From the time he was seven until he was twenty-four years old, he worked as a shepherd and never had a chance to go to school. Yet he taught himself to read and write, asking everyone he met to help him. This he did so that he could read from religious books.

Paschal was very honest. If any of his sheep damaged someone’s crops in any way he would make sure the owner was paid for what was lost.

When he was twenty-four, the shepherd became a Franciscan brother. His companions in the monastery found him to be a kind, humble man who willingly did the most unpleasant and hardest chores. He practiced even more mortifications than the strict rule required so that he could overcome his temptations. Yet he was a gay and happy soul whose great joy was to be with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He would kneel for hour at a time before the altar without letting his joined hands touch the pew, and he loved to serve one Mass after the other.

Out of some scraps of paper, St. Paschal made himself a little notebook. In it, in nice handwriting, he wrote down some beautiful thoughts and prayers. After he died, a holy Archbishop read some of these and exclaimed, “These simple souls are stealing Heaven from us!”

St. Paschal’s other great love was the Blessed Mother. Every day he said as many Rosaries as he could and he wrote beautiful prayers to our Heavenly Mother.

This humble Saint died with the Rosary in his hands just as the bell rang at the consecration of the Mass. The last word on his lips was the holy name of Jesus.

Let us make it a practice never to pass a church without paying a brief visit to Jesus. He lives there for our love and wants to help us in all our needs.

St. Benedict the Moor

St. Benedict the Moor - Patron of Missions - April 4th

St. Benedict’s forefathers were brought in chains from Africa to Sicily. His parents were Negro slaves on a farm. Benedict spent his youth working on this farm.

When he was eighteen, Benedict was given his freedom. He always helped the poor with whatever money he had. This led the people to call him “il Santo Moro”-the Holy Negro.

But there were also jealous people who made fun of Benedict. They insulted him because his parents had been slaves. One day, a holy man was passing by and heard these men insulting Benedict. Turning to them, he said: “You make fun of this poor black man, but before long he will be famous.”

Soon Benedict joined a group of hermits and was so virtuous that they chose him as their leader. When the Pope advised all hermits to join monasteries, Benedict became a Franciscan brother. He was made the cook in his monastery, but he also went out to visit the sick people and prisoners. He comforted everyone in trouble and worked many miracles for the people of the surrounding villages.

When he was elected Superior, he guided the Community for three years with great wisdom, even though he could not read or write. They wanted to reelect him, but Benedict was so humble that he said he was not fir to remain in such a high office.

His brothers had to give in to his humble request, so they made him Assistant Superior. He was asked to teach all the young men who joined the community how to become good Franciscans. Even though he could not read, Benedict could explain the Bible and the catechism in a wonderful way, because of his great love for God.

After several years, Benedict asked if he might become cook again. When he was given permission, he went peacefully and happily back to his kitchen. There he spent the rest of his life, serving others with works of charity and prayer.

Let us remind ourselves that if so many become saints, we can become saints, too. It is up to us! To become saints, we do not need to have special qualities. So let us start now.

St. John Capistrano

St. John Capistrano - March 28th


St. John Capistrano was born in Italy. He was a lawyer and Governor of Perugia. When enemies of the city threw John into prison, he started to think about what he was doing with his life. In the meantime, his wife died. John began to realize that the only thing that really mattered was to save his soul. So when he was set free by a miracle, he entered the Franciscan monastery. He was thirty years old at the time. He did much penance. For many years he ate not meat at all, except when he was sick. He slept only three or four hours at night and his bed was a hard board.


After he was made a priest, John was sent out to preach. He and St. Bernardine of Siena spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus everywhere. John preached all over Europe for forty years, and all who heard his sermons were moved to love and serve Our Lord better.


The greatest moment in the life of this Saint came at the tremendous battle of Belgrade. The Turks had made up their minds to conquer all Europe and wipe out the Church of Jesus. The Pope sent St. John to all the Christian Kings of Europe to beg them to unite to fight the mighty Turkish army. The Kings obeyed this poor, barefoot monk who stirred up their love of God and their courage with his fiery words. But even though a big army of Christians came to fight Mohammed II and hit Turks, it looked as though they would lose, for the enemy army was much bigger. Then it was that the Saint himself, though he was seventy years old, ran to the front lines and encouraged the men to keep fighting. Holding his crucifix up high, this thin, small old man kept crying, “Victory, Jesus, victory!” And the Christian soldiers felt full of more courage than ever. They fought until the enemy ran away in great fear!


Just one person can do great things, if he is on God’s side. Let us make up our mind always to be on Our Lord’s side and stand up for what is right.

St. John Joseph of the Cross

St. John Joseph of the Cross - March 5th


St. John Joseph of the Cross was born in southern Italy on the feast of the Assumption. He was a young noble, but dressed like a poor man. He did that because he wanted to be as poor as Jesus was.


At the age of sixteen, John Joseph entered the Franciscan Order. He made many sacrifices. He slept only three hours every night and ate very plain food.


Later he became a priest and the Superior of the monastery. Still he always insisted on doing the hardest work. He did the kind of duties that no one would ordinarily like to do.


St. John Joseph had a very loving nature. But he did not try to win love for himself. Instead, he showered all his affection on his brethren and was like a father to all.


This good priest loved God so much that even when he was sick, he kept on working. He dearly loved the Blessed Virgin, too, and tried to bring others to love her.


From this saint let us learn not to be selfish. Let us love everyone alike and show our love in words and deeds.