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. Flannan

St. Flannan – December 18th

Flannan was the son of an Irish chieftain named Turlough. He was educated by the monks and also learned from them all manner of farming chores. When he was a grown man, Flannan decided to make a pilgrimage to Rome.

In Rome, Pope John IV made him a bishop, for he recognized the wisdom and holiness of this man. When St. Flannan returned to Ireland, all the people of his region, Killaloe, came to meet him. They were eager to learn the instructions the Saint had brought back from the Holy Roman See.

St. Flannan taught his people so well that even his father, the chieftain Turlough, decided to become a monk. The old man went to St. Colman to be instructed in the life of a monk. At the same time, he asked for a blessing for his family, since three of his sons had been killed. The Saint predicted: “From you shall seven kings spring.” And so it happened.

St. Flannan was afraid that since he was one of the family, he, too, might be made king. So he prayed to become ugly, and his face was soon covered with big scars and rashes. Thus he could be sure that he could devote himself entirely to the service of God and his people.

The honors, riches and pleasures of this world last only a short time. The happiness and glory of Heaven, instead, lasts forever. Let us often think of this, as the Saints did, and we too, shall become saints.

St. Finnian

St. Finnian – December 12th

Finnian is one of the famous Irish saints who lived in the period after St. Patrick. He visited Wales and from St. Cadoc, he learned to have great respect for the life of monks. When he got back to Ireland, Finnian established monasteries, schools and churches. His greatest monastery was at Clonard, and that is why he is called St. Finnian of Clonard.

To this monastery came many disciples to learn from the Saint. About three thousand were instructed by him in religion and in other subjects. St. Finnian came to be called “Teacher of the Saints of Ireland.” He was especially famous for his knowledge of the Holy Bible. In fact, the monastery of Clonard was known for its studies of Sacred Scripture.

St. Finnian was not satisfied with teaching those who came to him at Clonard. He also went out on preaching missions. He had a surprising gift for softening the hearts of opposing tribal chiefs. At times God worked miracles through him, too.

This Saint had a good Irish sense of humor. Once, he met an old pagan who prided himself on being a magician. “Where did you get your magic art?” asked Finnian. “Find out for yourself,” answered the proud pagan. “All right,” said the Saint. “Tell me where the place of my resurrection is.” “In Heaven,” said the pagan. “Try again,” answered Finnian. “Tell where I will rise from.” The magician answered again, “Heaven.” “Try once more,” said St. Finnian as he rose from his chair. Then the pagan realized he was being teased. “It is from where you are sitting!” he cried out, and St. Finnian went away laughing.

The Saint died from yellow fever, at a time when this disease was killing many. He offered his life for the Irish, his countrymen, and they have always been very devoted to him.

All Saints worked hard, prayed much, and loved everybody. Many even had a good sense of humor. However, they never hurt anyone. Neither will I make remarks or tell jokes which might hurt somebody.

Blessed Franco Grotti

Blessed Franco Grotti – December 11th

Franco was born in the town of Grotti near Siena, Italy. He grew to be a lazy, nasty-tempered teenager who would not obey anyone. When his father died, Franco became worse than ever. He spent all his time and all his money in sinful acts and in gambling. Then he got into serious trouble, and to avoid being brought to trial on a murder charge, he joined up with a band of raiders.

In the company of these outlaws, Franco became a first-class criminal. He lived so wickedly that by the time half his life was over, he had ruined his health.

Franco Grotti was fifty years old when he suddenly became blind, and this event made him start examining himself. He began to think about what life is, and he took a good look at the kind of man he had become. Sorrow filled his heart. He made a good confession of his whole life and then set out on a long, hard trip to the Shrine of St. James in Spain. There his blindness was cured, but Franco by now was a completely different man who never again would go back to his evil ways.

One day, while he was praying in a Carmelite church, our Blessed Mother came to tell him that he must do penance and make up for the terrible scandal he had given to the people of Siena by his great sins. At once, Franco began going through the streets dressed like a penitent and whipping himself. By now he was sixty-five, but he still humbly begged the Carmelite monks to accept him into their order. They told him to try again in five years, because they were afraid to accept him. Who could forget what a terrible man he had been! But Franco did not give up, and at last they let him enter as a lay-brother.

Blessed Franco lived ten more years. That was time enough for him to give such wonderful examples of fervent penance that all the monks and people were amazed. He even received the grace of heavenly visions and of working miracles. Devotion to him began right after he died.

So how good God is! He is so patient and so merciful that as soon as a sinner turns to Him and sincerely asks for pardon, God fills that soul with blessings and graces.

St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier - Patron of Foreign Missions, of the Apostleship of Prayer, of Borneo, Australia, New Zealand and China - December 3rd

This great missionary was born at Xavier Castle in Spain and went to the University of Paris when he was eighteen. Here he met St. Ignatius Loyola, who was about to start the Society of Jesus. St. Ignatius tried to get Francis to join him, but at first the happy-go-lucky young man would not think of it. St. Ignatius often repeated to him the words of Jesus: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” At last, Francis saw clearly that his place in life was among the Jesuits.

When he was thirty-four, St. Ignatius sent him as a missionary to the East Indies. The King of Portugal wanted to give him presents and a servant, but Francis answered, “The best way to acquire true dignity is to wash one’s own clothes and boil one’s own pot.”

During the course of his amazing career in Goa, India, Japan and other land of the East, St. Francis made thousands of converts. In fact, he baptized such great crowds that his arms were so weak he could hardly lift them. He gathered the little children about him and taught them about Our Lord. Then he made little “lay apostles” out of them, telling them to spread the Faith they had learned.

There was nothing St. Francis wouldn’t do to help souls. Once he faced a fierce band of raiders, alone, with no weapon but his Crucifix. They backed up and did not attack his Christian tribes. The Saint also brought many bad-living Christians to repentance, by his gentle, polite ways and by his prayers.

In the midst of his painful journeys and great labors, the Saint was full of a special joy coming from God. Sometimes he had to cry out: “Enough, O Lord, enough! My heart cannot hold any more of this tremendous joy!”

It had long been St. Francis’ great longing to get into China, into which no foreigner was permitted. At last, the arrangements were made, but the great missionary fell ill and died almost alone on an island off the Chinese coast.

This great saint stood out for three virtues: a great wish to bring souls to the Heart of Jesus; a heroic obedience; and a great spirit of sacrifice. Today I will ask myself what I can do for the missions.

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. 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.

Sts. Felix and Cyprian

Sts. Felix and Cyprian – October 12th

Felix and Cyprian were African bishops who suffered with over 4,900 martyrs in the terrible persecution by the Vandals. Huneric, the Vandal king, drove these Christians into exile in the Libyan desert. They were treated with great cruelty by the Moors. Some were stoned; others were dragged over stony ground, some forced to run by spear tips, and some torn apart.

A holy Bishop named Victor used to try to help the poor Christians who had been shut up in a horrible prison, packed in without air or light. He wrote the story of their courage and their sufferings, and he says that when they were ordered into exile in the terrible desert, they came out that prison singing hymns. Other Christians burst into tears at the sight and even women and children went with them to exile and death. The Bishop St. Felix was so old and so crippled that someone said to the Vandal King: “You might just as well leave him here to die.” But King Huneric cruelly answered, “If he cannot ride a horse, he can be dragged by oxen!” In the end, they decided to tie the brave old bishop to a donkey and he was carried off to die in the desert.

The bishop St. Cyprian risked his own life to take care of as many prisoners as he could. He spent every minute he could and every ounce of strength he had, plus everything he owned, to assist them. At last, he, too, was arrested and sent into exile. There he also died a martyr from the cruel treatment given to all these strong defenders of the Catholic Faith.

The Martyrs gave up all they had, even life itself, to keep their Faith in God. And I? Do my words and deeds reflect my Faith, even when little difficulties come up?

St. Francis Borgia

St. Francis Borgia - Patron of Portugal - October 10th

Francis was a young nobleman at the court of the King of Spain. He became a Duke when he was only thirty-three and lived a happy, peaceful life with his wife Eleanor and their eight children. But unlike so many other powerful nobles, Francis was a perfect Christian gentleman, a true man of God, and his great joy was to receive Holy Communion often.

This happy life ended when his beloved wife died. Just a few years later, Francis did something that astonished all the nobles of Spain: he gave up his dukedom to his son Charles and became a Jesuit priest. So many people came to his first Mass that they had to set up an altar out doors. But his superior tested him by treating him in exactly the opposite way he had been used to all his forty-one years of life. He who had once had been a duke had to help the cook, carrying wood for the fire and sweeping the kitchen. When he served the food to the priests and brothers, he had to kneel down in front of them all and beg them to forgive him for being so clumsy! Still he never once complained or grumbled. The only time he became angry was when anyone treated him with respect, as if he were still a duke.

Once a doctor who had to take care of a painful wound Francis had gotten said to him: “I am afraid, my lord, that I have to hurt your grace.” The Saint answered that he would not hurt him more than he was right then by calling him “my lord” and “your grace.”

It was not too long before the humble priest accomplished wonderful works for God’s glory as he preached everywhere and advised many important people. He spread the Society of Jesus all over Spain and in Portugal. When he was made Superior General of the Jesuits, he sent missionaries all over the world. Under his guidance, the Jesuits grew to be a very great help to the Church in many lands.

Through all such success, St. Francis Borgia remained completely humble.

How did this Spanish nobleman learn such humility, after so long being honored as a great man in the world? By reflecting often on the humiliations of Our Lord and strongly willing to imitate Him.

St. Flora of Beaulieu

St. Flora of Beaulieu – October 5th

This French saint came from a good family and entered a convent of nuns which was called Beaulieu. She was an innocent, good girl who had resisted all her parents’ plans to marry her. But once she gave herself to God as His spouse, He allowed her to prove her love by overcoming all kinds of trials and temptations.

Sometimes it seemed to Sister Flora that she was leading too comfortable a life. At other times, she was tempted to return home to enjoy herself.

Yet, because she kept trying to love God, she grew dearer and dearer to Him. At last, He blessed her with wonderful visions and the gift of knowing the future. Soon, people realized that Sister Flora was very holy and they came to ask her prayers and her advice. Once Holy Communion was brought to her from a church eight miles away, by an angel. This Saint also received the privilege of suffering the pain of Christ’s cross, which she seemed to feel pressing into her, and making a wound in her side. She joyfully accepted this suffering put of her great love for our Lord.

I will force myself to be brave and full of courage when the devil suggests things to me which would offend our Lord.

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.

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. 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. Felicity and Her Seven Sons

St. Felicity and Her Seven Sons - July 10th

Felicity was a noble Christian women of Rome. After her husband’s death, she served God and employed herself in prayer and works of charity. Her good example led others to embrace the faith. This angered the pagan priests, who complained to Antoninus Pius, the Emperor. They said she was an enemy of the state because she was making the gods angry. So the Emperor ordered Felicity arrested along with her seven sons. She came, calm and unafraid. The governor took her aside and tried in vain to make her sacrifice to the gods. He ended with the words, “Unhappy women, if you wish to die, die! But do not destroy your children!”

“My children,” she said, “will live forever if, like me, they scorn the idols and die for their God.”

This holy mother was forced to watch her sons being put to death. One was scourged, two were beaten with clubs, three beheaded and another drowned. Four months later, she, too, was beheaded. Her strength came from knowing that in Heaven she would be with God and her sons forever in perfect happiness.

St. Felicity, we may say, was martyred eight different times, because she had to watch each of her sons die before she too gave up her life for Jesus. What courage and faith!

Let us pray every day that God will bless our family and friends and that we will all meet again in Heaven.

Blessed Madeleine Fontaine and Her Three Companions

Blessed Madeleine Fontaine and Her Three Companions - June 27th

These four French martyrs were Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Besides Blessed Madeleine, there were Blessed Frances Lanel, Blessed Teresa Fantou, and Blessed Joan Gerard. They were put to death for their Faith in the bloodiest days of the French Revolution.

First, the four Sisters were arrested because they refused to take an oath that could not be taken without committing a sin. The enemies of the church said that they had found certain papers in the convent which showed that the Sisters had been working against the Revolution. None of this was true, but a wicked judge in the city of Cambrai had Blessed Madeleine, the Superior, condemned to death, together with her three Sisters.

The sisters walked to their execution calmly singing a hymn to the Blessed Mother, “Hail, Star of the Sea.” Sister Madeleine was the last to die. As she came near the guillotine, she cried to the watching crowd: “Listen, Christians! We are the last victims. The persecution is going to stop. The altars of Jesus will rise again in glory!”

Her prophecy came true. The evil man who had judged the martyrs had to stop the executions because people were so angry with him. Six weeks later, he himself was beheaded.

No matter what happens, we should never promise to do something which is forbidden by God’s law.

St. Francis Caracciolo

St. Francis Caracciolo - June 4th

This Italian Saint lived like other young noblemen, even though he was a devout Christian and very charitable. He loved all sports, but his favorite was hunting. Then when he was twenty-two, a disease something like leprosy brought him very close to death. While he was sick, he thought about the emptiness of the pleasures of the world and the happiness of those who serve God alone. So he made a vow that if he got better, he would dedicate his life to God. The disease left him so fast that it seemed a miracle, and the young man began his studies to become a priest.

Later, the new priest joined a group who were devoted to caring for prisoners and preparing condemned criminals to die a good death. But his great mission was began when he and another priest, John Augustine Adorno, started the Congregation of Minor Clerks Regular.

When John Adorno died, Francis was chosen superior, even though he did not want the honor. So humble was he that he used to sign his letters, “Francis the sinner.” And he took his turn, like the other priest, in sweeping floors, making beds, and washing dishes. He often spent almost the whole night praying in church, and he wanted all the priest to spend at least one hour a day in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Francis spoke so often and so well about God’s love for us that he was called, “Preacher of the Love of God.” he carefully guarded his purity and converted some evil women who tried to make him sin. Always he practiced mortifications of every kind.

Just before he died, St. Francis suddenly cried, “Let’s go!” “Where do you want to go?” asked the priest by his bed. “To Heaven! To Heaven!” came the answer in a clear, happy voice. And right afterwards, the Saint died.

Good times are not enough to fill our hearts. Let us use some of our free time doing something worthwhile so that our life, too, may be useful.

St. Felix of Cantalice

St. Felix of Cantalice - May 18th

Felix was born of poor Italian farmers, and as a little boy, he used to take his father’s cows out to pasture. He became a shepherd next and when he grew stronger, he took a job ploughing a rich man’s fields. Felix got into the wonderful habit of letting everything he saw remind him of God’s power and goodness. For a while, he thought he might become a hermit, but he finally decided it would be better to join a monastery.

St. Felix was thirty years old when he became a Capuchin brother. He had to beg the Superior to let him enter. The Superior led Felix to a crucifix and asked him, “Can you live your whole life on the cross with Jesus?” The Saint soon proved that he was ready to suffer anything for the love of God. The duty given to Brother Felix was to beg for food for the community. Joyfully he did this hard, humble work daily for forty years in Rome. Even though he was always among people, he never lost the thought of God’s presence, and he was so pure that he said he had not once gazed on a women’s face.

So humble was St. Felix that he hid the penances he performed. When someone noticed that he was walking barefoot, he said, “I can walk faster this way.” Although he could not read or write, St. Charles Borromeo and St. Philip Neri used to go to him for advice. Felix often said that he knew only six letters: fie red ones and one white one. By the five red ones, he meant the five wounds of Our Lord, as he was very devoted to the Passion of Jesus. By the one white letter, he meant the spotless purity of Mary. Indeed, by studying and copying these six “letters,” Felix became a great saint.

A very powerful means to live as the Saints did is to remember that God sees us all the time. If we remember this, we will never do anything displeasing to Him.

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen - April 24th

This Saint’s name was Mark Rey. He was born in Germany and went to a famous University of Freiburg to become a lawyer. Even as a young student, he liked to visit the sick and the poor and to spend many hours praying. His brother became a Capuchin priest, but Mark finished his studies and became a famous lawyer.

Many times he would help poor people who had no money to a pay a lawyer. For this reason, he was given the nickname, “The Poor Man’s Lawyer.”

Because he was very honest and polite, Mark became disgusted with the arguments and dishonesty of those law courts. He decided to become a Capuchin priest. He received the holy robe of the monks and took the name, Fidelis, which means “faithful.”

Father Fidelis knew that his life was in danger, yet he went to go to Switzerland to preach. In Switzerland there were many enemies of the Catholic faith, and he wanted to try to win these people back to Jesus. His preaching brought wonderful results, and many people converted. The bitterest enemies grew wild with anger at his success.

St. Fidelis knew that his life was in danger, yet he went right on preaching. In the middle of one sermon, a shot was fired at him, but the bullet missed. He started back over the road on which he had come to town. A group of men with guns stopped him and ordered him to give up the Catholic religion. The Saint answered meekly but firmly, “I will not renounce the Catholic Faith!” At once, the cruel men struck him down.

St. Fidelis pulled himself up and kneeling, prayed: “Lord, forgive my enemies. They do not know what they are doing. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me! Holy Mary, my Mother, help me!” Another blow hit him and then more and more blows until this hero’s life was taken away.

It is a great honor to be able to help others come back to Jesus, back to Church. Let us try, by prayer, good example and kind words, to be real apostles.

St. Francis of Paola

St. Francis of Paola - Patron of Seamen - April 2nd

St. Francis was born in the tiny village of Paola in Italy. His parents were poor but very humble and holy. They had prayed to St. Francis of Assisi for a son, and when he was born, they named him Francis in honor of the great Saint of Assisi. The boy went to a school taught by the Franciscan priests and there he grew in knowledge and virtue.

When he was fifteen, with his parents' permission, he went off to live in a cave, because he wanted to serve God alone. When he was twenty, other young men joined him. Out of charity, St. Francis left his cave and built a church and a monastery for them. He called this new order of religious the "Minims." "Minims" means "the least of all."

Everyone loved St. Francis. He prayed for them all and worked miracles. He always told his followers that they must be kind and humble, and do much penance. He himself was the best example of humility and charity. Once someone visited the Saint and insulted him to his face. When he was finished, Francis quietly picked up some hot coals from the fireplace and closed his hands tightly around them without being burned at all! "Come, warm yourself," he said it his accuser kindly. "You are shivering because you need a little charity." At such a miracle, the visitor changed his mind about Francis. From then on, he admired his greatly.

The King of France, who had not lived a very good life, called for St. Francis when he was dying. Just the thought of dying made him shake with fear! He wanted Francis to work a miracle to cure him, but the Saint told him he had come to prepare him to die a holy death. The King had a change of heart and accepted God's will. He died in the arms of the Saint, after preparing his soul well.

St. Francis died at the age of ninety-one. He spent the last three months of his life alone preparing to appear before Jesus, since he knew when he was going to die.

God loves and blesses those who are humble. Let us not show off or look for praise.

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste – March 10th


Under the Emperor Licinius, these martyrs suffered at Sebaste in Armenia. When all the soldiers of their legion were commanded to offer sacrifice to the gods, these forty heroes bravely refused. They said they would willingly die for their country but they would never commit the sin of offering sacrifice to false gods. In punishment, they were stripped of their clothes and lowered into a little pond. It was winter time and very cold. They were to be left there all night to freeze to death. "It will be a terrible night," they exclaimed, ""but it will win us a happy eternity!"


The pagans kept trying to persuade them to give up their faith in the true God. If they would, they could jump into a warm bath prepared nearby. At last, one soldier gave in to the temptation. But no sooner did he enter the warm bath than he died!


A pagan guard had a vision right then of blessed spirits descending from heaven with thirty-nine crowns. He was converted himself, and casting of his clothes, he joined the other thirty-nine. So the number of forty martyrs was complete again, and the Church honors these brave heroes of Christ as saints.


Let us admire the courage of these soldiers and learn from them how to bear without complaining the heat or the cold.