St. Nino

St. Nino – December 15th

Nino was a Christian maiden who was captured and carried off to Iberia as a slave. In that pagan country, her goodness and purity made a great impression on the people. Noticing how much she prayed, they asked her about her religion. The simple answer she gave them was that she adored Jesus Christ as God.

God chose this pure, devout slave-girl to bring Christianity to Iberia. One day, a mother brought her sick child to Nino, asking her to suggest a cure. The Saint wrapped the baby in her old cloak and told the mother that Jesus Christ can cure the worst cases of sickness. Then she handed the child back and the mother saw that it was completely cured.

The Queen of Iberia learned of this miracle, and since she herself was sick, she went to the Saint. When she, too, was healed, she tried to thank the Christian girl, but Nino said: “It is Christ’s work, not mine. And He is the Son of God who made the world.”

The Queen let the King know the whole story of her cure, and she repeated what the slave-girl had said about Jesus Christ. Shortly after this, the King got lost in a fog while out hunting. Then he remembered what his wife had told him and he said that if Jesus Christ would lead him safely home, he would believe in Him. At once, the fog lifted, and the King was true to his promise.

St. Nino taught the King and Queen the truths of Christianity, and she was given permission to teach people. Meanwhile the King began building a Christian Church. Then he sent messengers to the Christian Emperor Constantine to tell him of his conversion and to ask for bishops and priests.

So it was that a poor slave brought a whole country into the Church.

If we are humble, God will use us to do much good.

St. Mary the Martyr

St. Mary the Martyr – November 1st

Mary was a Christian slave in the home of a Roman official named Tertullus. She was the only one in that household who was Christian. It was her delight to pray every chance she had, and she often fasted, too. Yet St. Mary knew that God is pleased only when we do our duty, so she never neglected her chores around the house. Moreover, she was very loyal to her mistress. Although this lady did not approve of so much prayer, she could not help but be grateful for the girl’s faithful service.

When persecution of Christians began, Tertullus did his best to make his slave give up her Faith, but she would not. He realized that if someone told the governor about her, he would he would lose her. Therefore, he whipped her without mercy and hid her in a closet. But somehow word of what had happened got around, and Tertullus was commanded to turn her in or pay the penalty of hiding a Christian.

A mob at the court was furious when Mary bravely said, “I am a Christian!” “Burn her alive!” they shouted. But Mary just kept praying to Jesus to give her courage so that she would not surrender when tortured. “The God whom I serve is with me,” she said. “I am not afraid of your tortures. They can only take away my life, and I myself am willing to lay it down for Jesus.” But when she was tortured, the sight was so terrible that the crowds cried, “Let her go! Stop this! Set her free!”

The judge gave St. Mary over to a soldier. Seeing how meek and good she was, he let her escape. St. Mary died a peaceful death later, but she is honored as a martyr because of all her sufferings.
I will think of what the martyrs went through and will not cry or complain any more over my small sufferings.

St. Callistus

St. Callistus – October 14th

This great Pope and martyr was once a young slave in Rome, who got into serious trouble. His master, a Christian, had put him in charge of a bank, and somehow or other, Callistus lost the money deposited with him by other Christians. In fear, he ran away, escaping from Rome to Porto. But there he was caught, after jumping into the sea to try to get away. His sentence was a terrible one: he was chained and put to endless hard labor in a mill.

From this punishment Callistus was released, only because his creditors hoped he could get some of their money back. But once again he was arrested, this time for having gotten into a fight. He was sent to the mines of Sardinia. When the Emperor freed all the Christians who had been condemned to those mines, Callistus was freed, too, and from that time on things began to go better for the poor young man.

Pope St. Zephrinus came to know and trust the freed slave, and he placed him in charge of the public Christian cemetery. This cemetery is now named after St. Callistus himself and many popes were buried in it. Callistus proved himself worthy of the Pope’s confidence in him, and St. Zephrinus not only ordained him, but also made him his friend and advisor.

Later on, St. Callistus himself became pope. Some people complained because he showed too much mercy to sinners, but the holy Pope ruled that even murderers could be admitted to communion after they had done penance for their sin. This great Pope always defended the true doctrine of Jesus and ended his life with a glorious martyrdom.

Even after many failures, one can succeed in the end. What counts is never to quit, but always to try again.

St. Pothinus and the Martyrs of Lyons

St. Pothinus and the Martyrs of Lyons - June 2nd

Lyons is a city in France, and back in the very early days of the Church, there was a great persecution of the Christians in that region. As it grew worse, some weak Christians were so afraid of being tortured that they gave up their Faith. But the braver ones, who trusted in God, soon won back their weaker brothers, and all together, they suffered for Jesus.

Some were burned with red-hot plates; some were thrown to beasts; some were whipped; and some were roasted in an iron chair. A slave girl named Blandina amazed her persecutors by her courage. She was tortured all day long, but in the end, it was her torturers who gave up, not she. On the last day of the martyrdoms, Blandina was brought out before all the people to suffer again. Yet she looked as happy as if she were going to her wedding! In fact, she was so intent on talking in her heart to Jesus that she did not even feel it when she was tossed over and over again by a bull! When she was killed, the pagans themselves said they had never seen a women show such courage.

The leader of all these martyrs was the bishop of Lyons. St. Pothinus. He was ninety years old. They kicked and beat him so much that he died two day later in prison.

Let us always be thankful that we share in the divine Faith as these strong Christians. May we never be ashamed of being followers of Christ.

St. Julia

St. Julia - May 23rd

St. Julia was born of noble parents in North Africa. When she was still quite young, her city was conquered by barbarians. Julia was captured and sold as a slave to a pagan merchant. But she did not complain or feel sorry for herself. She accepted everything, and performed the most humble tasks with wonderful cheerfulness. For Julia loved God with her whole heart. In her spare time, she read holy books and prayed fervently.

One day her master decided to take her with him to France. On the way, he stopped at an island to go to a pagan festival. Julia refused even to go near the place where they were celebrating. She did not want to have anything to do with those superstitious ceremonies.

The governor of that region was very angry with her for not joining in the pagan feast. “Who is that women who dares to insult our gods?” he cried. Julia’s owner answered that she was a Christian. He said, too, that although he had not been able to make her give up her religion, still she was such a good, faithful servant that he would not know what to do without her.

“I will give you four of my best women slaves for her,” offered the governor. But her master refused. “No,” he said. "All you own will not buy her. I would willingly lose the most valuable thing in the world rather than lose her.”

When the merchant was asleep, however, the wicked governor tried to make Julia sacrifice to the gods. He promised to have her set free if she would. But she absolutely refused. She said she was as free as she wanted to be as long as she could serve Jesus. Then the pagan ruler, in great anger, had her struck on the face and her hair torn from her head. She was next put on the cross to hang until she died.

We would never look down on anyone if we stopped to think that poor or homely boys or girls may be much closer to God than we are.

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena - Patroness of Italy and of Nursing - April 30th

This glorious saint is the Patroness of Italy, her country. She was the youngest child in a family of twenty-five children. Her mother and father wanted her to wear pretty clothes and choose a husband, but Catherine wanted only to become a nun. When she cut off her long, beautiful hair, to make herself unattractive, her family was so angry that they scolded her all day long and made her work like a slave in her own home. At last, however, they let her become a sister.


St. Catherine suffered terrible temptations after, but she always fought the bravely. Once she said to Jesus, “Where were you, Lord, when I had such shameful temptations?” And Jesus answered, “Daughter, I was in your heart and I made you win with my grace.”


Jesus often appeared to St. Catherine and talked with her lovingly. One night, when all people were out on the streets celebrating, He appeared to her praying alone in her room. With Him was His Blessed Mother. She took Catherine’s hand and lifted it up to her Son. Jesus put a ring on the Saint’s finger and so she became His bride.


In St. Catherine’s time, the Church had many troubles, and there were fights going all over Italy. The Saint wrote letters to Kings and Queens and went herself to beg rulers to make their peace with the Pope and to avoid wars.


Catherine never forgot that Jesus was in her heart-no matter how busy she was. And through her, Jesus converted the sick people she lovingly nursed and the prisoners she visited in jail. The Pope himself accepted Catherine’s advice to go back to Rome from France because it was God’s will that he govern the Church from Rome. The Pope listened to St. Catherine and went back, because he knew how close she was to God.


Let us offer our whole heart to God so that like St. Catherine, we will discover how wonderful it is to love the Lord.

St. Catherine's head incorrupted

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. Patrick

St. Patrick - Patron of Ireland - March 17th


It is believed that St. Patrick was born in Britain of Roman parents.


When he was sixteen, he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland. There he was sold as a slave. His owner sent him to tend his flocks on the mountains. St. Patrick had very little food and clothing. Yet every morning, even in rain, snow and ice, he would get up early to pray. A hundred time a day and a hundred times during the night, Patrick prayed to God. His faith thus grew stronger all the time and his love for God increased.


Later, when he escaped from Ireland, he studied to become a priest. But Patrick always felt that he must go back to Ireland to bring that pagan land to Christ. At last his wish came true. He was consecrated a Bishop and sent by the Holy Father to Ireland. How happy he was to bring the good news of the true God to the poor pagans of the land where once he had been a slave!


Right from the start, Patrick suffered much. His relatives and friends wanted him to quit before the pagan Irish killed him. Yet the Saint kept on preaching about Jesus, traveling from one village to the another. He never rested, and he did great penance for these people whom he so loved. Before he died, the whole nation was Christian! And besides bringing the Irish to the Faith, he made them a civilized, learned people.


Despite such great success, St. Patrick never grew proud. He called himself a poor sinner and gave all the praise to God.


Today, we shall perform at least one spiritual work of mercy. For example, we may pray for missionaries in pagan lands.

St. Onesimus

St. Onesimus - February 16th


St. Onesimus was a slave who robbed his master and ran away to Rome. In Rome he went to see the great Apostle St. Paul, who was a prisoner for his Faith. Paul received Onesimus with fatherly love, made him realize he had done wrong, and converted him to the Faith.


After Onesimus’ conversion, St. Paul sent him back to his master, Philemon, who was the Apostle’s friend. He sent Philemon a letter, in which he wrote: “I plead with you for my own son, for Onesimus…. I am sending him back to you. Welcome him as though he were my very heart.”


Onesimus returned home and was set free. Later, he went back to St. Paul and became his faithful helper.


St. Paul made Onesimus a priest and then Bishop of Ephesus. During the persecutions, he was brought in chains to Rome and there stoned to death.


If we ever should hurt anyone in any way, let us ask forgiveness right away. God will be pleased to see that we are sorry and He will bless us as He did Onesimus.

St. Bathildes

St. Bathildes - January 30th

Born in England, St. Bathildes was taken to France and sold as a slave while she was still a young girl. She was bought for a very cheap price by the mayor of the Palace. As she grew older, she became very wise and virtuous. She was so gentle and good that King Clovis married her and made her Queen Bathildes. Three sons were born to her, but the King died when the oldest was still just a little boy. So, St. Bathildes ruled the Kingdom until they grew up.

She used her new honor to help the Church in every way she could. She did not become proud or unkind. Rather, this good Queen cared for the poor, forbade that Christians be made slaves, filled France with hospitals for the sick and founded a seminary and a convent.

Later she entered the convent herself. There she forgot her royal dignity and became very obedient and humble. She showed great charity to the sick. When she became ill, she suffered long and patiently until her death.

Because St. Bathildes was never selfish, she became a great saint. By sharing our things, we will make others happy and win much glory in Heaven.