St. Lucy

St. Lucy - Patroness of Those With Eye Trouble - December 13th

This beloved Saint lived in Syracuse in Sicily. She was the daughter of very noble and rich parents. Her father died while she was still young, and Lucy secretly promised Jesus that she would never marry so that she could be His alone.

Now Lucy was a lovely girl, with beautiful eyes. More than one young noble set his heart on her, and her mother urged her to marry one whom she had chosen for Lucy. But the Christian maiden would not consent. Then she formed a plan to win her mother. She knew her mother was suffering from hemorrages, so she convinced her to go to the shrine of St. Agatha and pray for her recovery. Lucy went along with her and together they prayed. When God heard their prayers and cured her mother, Lucy told her of her vow to be Christ’s bride. Her mother left her free to follow her vocation, out of gratitude for her cure.

But the young pagan to whom she had promised Lucy was furious at losing out. In his bitter anger, he accused her of being a Christian and threatened her with torture, but she was even willing to lose both her eyes rather than belong to anyone but Jesus. Many statues show us St. Lucy holding her lovely eyes in the palm of her hand. To reward her for her heroic love, Jesus worked a miracle and gave her back her eyes, more beautiful than ever.

The pagan judge tried to send the Saint to a house of sinful women in the hope that she might be tempted to give up Christ. But when they tried to carry her away, God made her body so heavy that they could not budge her! In the end, she became a martyr for Jesus, being killed by a knife blow.

Today I will conquer every temptation with a little prayer.

St. Lawrence O’Toole

St. Lawrence O’Toole – November 14th

Lawrence was an Irishman and the son of a chief of the Murrays. When he was only ten years old, a neighboring king made a raid on his father’s territory and carried the lad away. The boy had a lot to suffer for two years, until his father forced the king to give him up to the care of a bishop. When he did, the Murray chief hurried to see his son, and great was their happiness at being together again.

The chief wanted one of his sons to enter the service of the Church, and while he was wondering which one it might be, Lawrence told him with a laugh that he need not wonder any more. “It is my desire,” said Lawrence, “to have for my inheritance the service of God in the Church.” So his father took him by the hand and gave him into the care of the bishop.

Lawrence O’Toole became a priest and the Abbot of a great monastery. When food became very scarce in the whole neighborhood of the monastery the good abbot gave great quantities away to keep the people from starving. He had many problems to handle as head of the monastery because there were those who criticized him for being too strict. But he kept right on guiding his monks in the way of mortification and perfection, despite the criticism. Then, there was the problem of the robbers and outlaws who lived in the nearby hills. Yet nothing discouraged the fearless Lawrence O’Toole.

He became so famous that before long he was chosen to be Archbishop of Dublin. In this new position, he lived as holy a life as ever. Every day, he invited many poor people to be his guests at table, and he helped many others besides. Lawrence dearly loved his people and Ireland, his country, and he did all he could to keep it at peace.

Once a madman attacked him as he was going up to the altar to say Mass, and he was knocked unconscious to the floor. Yet he came to his senses right away, had the wound washed at once, and then went right ahead with the High Mass. God had preserved him from harm!

After years of labor for the Church, St. Lawrence O’Toole became very ill. When they asked him if he wanted to make a will, the holy Archbishop smiled and answered, “God knows that I don’t have a penny in the world.” He had long ago given everything he had to others, just as he had given himself completely to God.

We should do our duty to please God alone and to gain Heaven. Criticism should never stop us.

St. Luke the Evangelist

St. Luke the Evangelist - Patron of Painters, Glass-Workers, and Doctors - October 18th


Luke was a pagan doctor, a good kind man who came to know Our Lord from the great Apostle Paul. After he had become a Christian, he went everywhere with St. Paul and was a great help to him in spreading the Faith. In the Bible this holy convert is called: “Luke, the beloved physician.”


St. Luke himself is the author of two books in the Bible: “The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke,” and “The Acts of the Apostle.” Although he did not know Jesus while Our Lord was on this earth, he wanted to write about Him for other new converts like himself. So he talked to those who had known Jesus and he wrote down all that they had seen Our Lord do and heard Him say. It is believed that St. Luke learned from the Blessed Virgin Mary herself all about the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to her, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, and many other facts we read in his Gospel.


Luke also wrote the story of how the Apostles began to teach the message of Jesus after Our Lord went back to Heaven. It is in his book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” that we learn how the Church began to grow and spread.


St. Luke is the patron saint of doctors and of painters, too, because it is believed that he painted a beautiful picture of our Blessed Mother.


In his Gospel St. Luke wrote especially of the mercy of God for repentant sinners. Today I will read in it the parable of the Lost Sheep.

St. Louis Bertrand

St. Louis Bertrand – October 9th

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

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

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

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

St. Leger

St. Leger – October 2nd

Leger was sent by his parents to the court of the French King, and although he dedicated his life to the service of God, he always had much to do with the affairs of the rulers. The King sent the boy to Leger’s uncle, Bishop Didon, who took care of his education. When Leger was ordained, he was made an abbot and he ruled well, though rather severely. Next he was appointed Bishop of Autun. He brought peace and new fervor to the people of that city, who had been fighting among themselves before the Saint arrived.

About ten years later, King Clotaire died and St. Leger hurried to the royal palace to help the new King Childeric overcome his enemy, a mayor named Ebroin. As long as King Childeric listened to the advice of Leger, he governed well. But he was young and violent, and at last, he decided to sin and to do as he pleased. St. Leger’s enemies saw their chance. They told the King that Leger was a traitor, and the King sent him into exile.

When Childeric died, St. Leger was allowed to go back Autun. His people welcomed him back joyously. But the Saint’s real sufferings were just beginning. The evil Mayor Ebroin attacked Autun, and since Leger did not want his people to suffer on his account, he gave himself into his enemies’ hands. These cruel men’s first act was to put out the holy bishop’s eyes. He made no resistance and uttered not a sound. Next he and his brother were accused of a great crime, and his brother was put to death, while he himself was tortured. Yet Leger wrote to his mother, who had become a nun, that he forgave his enemies and felt full of courage and charity. Two years later he was put to death, after praying for his executioners.

Where did the Saints get the courage to suffer so much, and to forgive their enemies? From prayer. We, too, when we pray, will find it easy to forgive and to forget little injures for love of God.

Blessed Louis of Thuringia

Blessed Louis of Thuringia – September 11th

This German prince married St. Elizabeth of Hungary when he was twenty-one and she was just fourteen. The marriage had been arranged for them by their parents, as was the custom in those days. But they both loved God, and He gave them a great love for each other. So it was that they were very happy together, and their joy increased when God sent them three children. The youngest child of these holy rulers is Blessed Gertrude.

Louis helped his wife in her many works of charity to the poor, and joined her in devout prayer. Time after time, the people saw their handsome prince and his lovely wife helping the poor. But once, Elizabeth went so far as to bring a leper into their castle and nursed him in their bed! For a moment, when Louis saw that, he was angry. Then, suddenly, instead of the leper, he saw our crucified Lord lying there! After that proof of how much Jesus appreciated Elizabeth’s charity, Louis had a hospital for lepers built.

One long, bitter cold winter, Louis had to be away from his land and when he returned, Elizabeth’s joy overflowed. After she had lovingly kissed him, Louis asked how the people had gotten through the hard winter. “I gave to God what was His,” answered his holy wife, “and God had kept for us what was ours.”

The next year, Louis left on a Crusade to free the Holy Land from the Moslems. But on the way, he caught malaria, and soon was dying.

Because he had always lived in close union with Our Lord, the brave ruler felt no fear of death. He died in great peace, after receiving the Last Sacraments. And he also had a beautiful vision of white doves coming to bring his soul to Heaven.

Today I will look for every occasion I can find to do something good to my family, friends and neighbors.

St. Lawrence Justinian

St. Lawrence Justinian – September 5th

His good mother sometimes thought this Italian boy was aiming too high, but he always told her that his only desire was to become a saint. When he was nineteen, he felt he should serve God in a special way, so he asked the advice of his uncle, a holy priest of the community of St. George. “Do you have the courage to reject the delights of the world and to live a life of penance?” asked his uncle.

Lawrence was quiet a long time. Then he looked up at the crucifix and said, “You, O Lord, are my hope. In this cross there is comfort and strength.” His mother wanted him to marry, but Lawrence joined the community of St. George and humbly went around his city begging. He would even go stand in front of his own home and ask charity, without going in. His mother would try to fill up his sack with food, but he would never take more than two loaves, and off he would go. In this way, he denied himself and grew very dear to God, for Whom he made such hard acts of sacrifice.

When a friend of his came to try to persuade Lawrence to leave the monastery, the Saint spoke so well of how short life is and how wise it is to live for Heaven, that his friend was persuaded to become a religious himself!

Lawrence was made a bishop, even though he tried to be excused from this honor. His people soon learned what a kind and holy man their bishop was, and crowds came to him for help every day. When he was dying, he would not lay on a soft bed. “That shall not be!” he exclaimed humbly. “My Lord was stretched out on a hard and painful tree.”

Let us pray to Our Lord, today, to give holy Priests to His Church.

St. Louis of France

St. Louis of France - Patron of Thrid Order Members and of Barbers - August 25th

When this Prince was still small, his good mother, Queen Blanche, hugged him tightly and told him, “I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child, but I would rather see you dead at my feet than ever have you commit a mortal sin.” Louis never forgot those words so often repeated by his mother and he became one of the holiest rulers the world has ever known.

Once he asked a good friend which he would prefer, to be a leper or to have committed a mortal sin. The man said, “I would rather commit thirty sins than be a leper!” King Louis replied sadly, “This is a wild, foolish answer. When a man dies, all his sicknesses end, but mortal sin is a terrible disease which does not end with death. If you love me, I beg you to choose any suffering rather than give in to mortal sin!”

Busy as he was, the King found time for two daily Masses and for several hours of prayer.

An enemy of all injustice, of all impure entertainments and swearing, St. Louis ruled his people with such wisdom, charity and fairness that even foreign kings asked him to settle their disagreements. To his wife and eleven children he was a good husband and father, and as long as his mother lived, he showed her every respect.

St. Louis was a Crusader, too, who twice led an army against the Turks to protect the Christians in the Holy Land. The first time, he was taken prisoner, but even in jail, he behaved as a true Christian knight, unafraid and noble in all his ways. He was freed and returned to take care of his kingdom in France, yet as soon as he could, he started back to fight the enemies of Faith again. On the way, however, this greatly-loved King fell sick and died. A few hours before he breathed his last, he prayed, “Lord, I will enter into Your house, worship in Your holy temple, and give glory to your name.”

I will think of the many prayers of King St. Louis, and I will promise to offer Our Lord every morning my whole day.

St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence - Patron of Cooks and the Poor - August 10th

This famous martyr of Rome was one of seven deacons who were in charge of giving help to the poor and needy. When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping. “Father, where are you going without your deacon?” he said. “I am not leaving you, my son,” answered the Pope. “In three days you will follow me.” Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and even sold expensive vessels to have more to give away.

The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: “This is the Church’s treasure!”

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little. But Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. “Turn me over,” he said to the judge. “I’m done on this side!” And just before he died, he said, ‘It’s cooked enough now.’ then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith spread all over the world. After that, he went to receive the martyr’s reward.

Today I will not complain about anything. Instead I will suffer my little troubles in peace, for the propagation of the Faith in mission lands.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi

St. Lawrence of Brindisi - July 23rd

The name of this Italian saint was Caesar de Rossi. He took the name Lawrence when he became a Capuchin monk at the age of sixteen. He was sent to the University of Padua to study theology but he surprised everyone by learning six foreign languages, also. St. Lawrence had a wonderful knowledge of the Holy Bible, too.

After he was ordained a priest, he became a popular preacher, and because he could speak Hebrew, he worked for the conversion of the Jews living in Rome.

Later, St. Lawrence was sent to establish his Order of Capuchins in Austria, where the Emperor and others did not want them. By his tender care for victims of a plague, the holy priest won the Emperor to his cause, and many monasteries were opened. Next, the Emperor asked the Saint to persuade the German princes to fight the Turks, who were trying to wipe out Christendom. He did convince the princes, but the leaders insisted that he go with the army into battle to make the victory sure. When the soldiers saw how large the Turkish army was, they wanted to retreat. So St. Lawrence himself led the charge, with the crucifix in his hands. He made them all call on the holy name of Jesus and told them to fear nothing. The Turks were completely defeated, and all the praise for the victory went to St. Lawrence.

But the Saint never prided himself for having done anything good. He put all his trust in God and gave all the glory to Him.

Prayer is the secret of success. The person who prays will always be courageous and successful.

St. Lydwina

St. Lydwina - Patroness of Skaters - April 15th

Lydwina means “suffering” and this Saint from Holland spent her whole life suffering for Jesus. As a young teenager of fifteen, she dedicated herself completely to God. Since she was very pretty, she was afraid many young men would want to marry her. So Lydwina asked Jesus to take away her beauty, and He answered her prayer.

One day she went skating with her friends and one of them bumped into her by accident. Lydwina fell hard onto the ice, and that was the beginning of her life of suffering. The pain in her side hurt her so much that she could not stand or sit or lay down. She would ask to be moved from one bed to another, but the pain only grew worse. Crying, Lydwina finally threw herself on her father’s knee, saying she could not stand the pain anymore. But more and more pains came-sores on her face, on her body, blindness in one eye, and at last, she could not even leave her bed at all.

For thirty-eight years, Lydwina suffered. At first she felt very bad, but when a priest told her to think of what Jesus suffered, Lydwina took courage. God comforted her so much that she was brave enough to add more penance herself!

Lydwina was good to everyone who came to her poor little room. It became like a little heaven of happiness. She had a way of winning even hardhearted people and of stopping folks from quarreling.

Lydwina’s special love was for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. For many years, she seemed to live only on Holy Communion.

A strong soldier of Christ can hold back tears and offer his pain to God.

St. Leo the Great

St. Leo the Great - April 11th

St. Leo was Roman, At the death of Pope Sixtus, he became Pope.

Those were hard times for the Church because there were barbarian armies attacking Christians in many places and there were many people spreading errors about the Faith. But St. Leo was one of the greatest Popes there ever was. He was absolutely unafraid of anything of anyone. He had great trust in the help of the first Pope, St. Peter the Apostle.

To stop the spread of the false teachings, St. Leo explained the true Faith with his famous writings. He called a council to condemn the wrong doctrines. Those who would not give up their heresy were put out of the Church. Those who were sorry, the Saint received back into the Church and asked people to pray with him for them.

When a great army of barbarians called Huns came to attack the city of Rome, all the people were filled with fear. They knew that the Huns had already burned many cities. To save Rome, St. Leo rode out to meet the terrible enemy leader, Attila. The only weapon he had was his great trust in God! When they met, something wonderful happened. Attila, the cruel pagan leader, showed the Pope great honor, and made a treaty of peace with him. Attila said afterwards that he had seen two mighty figures standing by the Pope while he spoke! These were the great Apostles Peter and Paul, sent by God to protect Pope Leo and the Christians.

Because of his humility and charity, Pope Leo was loved by all. He was Pope for twenty-one years.

We will pray more often for our Holy Father and the Church all over the world.

Sts. Romanus and Lupicinus

Sts. Romanus and Lupicinus - February 28th

St. Romanus was a French youth who was admired by everyone for his goodness. He had a great desire to become a saint. Since he saw that in the world there are many dangers for our soul’s salvation, he decided to go to live alone with God. First, he asked advise of a holy monk, and then he started off. He took with him two books on the lives of the saints. Living by himself, he thought continually about God, and praised and thanked Him.

Soon afterwards, his brother Lupicinus joined him. Romanus and Lupicinus were very different in their ways. Romanus was very hard on himself but very kind and gentle and full of understanding with others. Lupicinus was hard and severe with himself and with everybody else, too. Yet they got along perfectly.

When many men came to join them, they built two monasteries. Romanus governed one and Lupicinus governed the other.

They prayed much and did much penance. They worked very hard, kept silent all the time, and were concerned only about becoming Saints.

St. Romanus and St. Lupicinus were both Saints, even though they were so different. We should learn never to dislike anyone, for everyone has many good qualities.

St. Lucian

St. Lucian – January 7th

St. Lucian was born in Syria. His rich pagan parents brought him up to worship their false gods. When he was twelve, however, he began to see that his religion was wrong, and after being instructed in the Christian faith, Lucian was baptized. He went away to a Christian school, even though he found it hard to leave home. There he studied Sacred Scripture and began to make mortifications, such as eating very little. Daily he grew closer to God. Lucian became a priest and a teacher of Sacred Scripture himself. When a persecution broke out, the Saint was captured and kept in prison for nine years. There he prepared himself to die for Jesus by reading the Holy Bible.

When brought before the emperor to be judged, Lucian took the opportunity to explain our holy religion to everyone. He suffered patiently, and when they asked him, “Where are you from? Who are your parents?” he only answered, “I am a Christian.” He was placed on the rack, and he still repeated these words. Then he was put to death and so he earned the martyr’s crown he had long desired.

Let us listen well to the sermons our pastor gives. Our faith will teach us what is right and give us the strength to do it-even when we find it hard.