St. John the Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist - Patron of Asia Minor - December 27th

St. John was a fisherman in Galilee and was called to be an apostle with his brother, St. James the Greater. Jesus gave these sons of Zebedee the nickname, “sons of thunder.” St. John was the youngest of all the apostles and was dearly loved by our Lord. At the Last Supper, it was John who was permitted to lean his head on the breast of Jesus, and John was the only apostle who stood at the foot of the Cross. The dying Jesus gave the care of His Blessed Mother Mary to this beloved apostle. Turning to Our Lady, He said, “Behold your son.” And then to John, He said, “Behold your mother.” So for the rest of her holy life on earth, the Blessed Mother lived with St. John. He alone had the great privilege of honoring and assisting the all-pure Mother of God.

John wrote one of the four Gospels, in which he shows us that Jesus is truly God. He also wrote the last book in the holy Bible, called the Apocalypse, and three Letters to Christians, which we find in the Bible, too. All his long life, St. John taught Christians to love one another, and he himself practiced great charity. Once when he heard that a young Christian whom he knew and loved had become an outlaw and a robber, he set off at once to find him. Old as he was, the Saint rode into the outlaw territory alone, and was taken prisoner. As soon as the robber saw St. John, he turned away in shame.

“Son,” cried the apostle, “why are you running away from me, your father, an old man without weapons? There is time for repentance. I will answer for you to Jesus Christ. I am ready to lay down my life for you. I am sent by Christ!” The young robber stopped when he heard those words. Suddenly he began to weep. He was won over by the love of St. John. Before he left that city, the beloved Apostle made sure that the young man had become a good member of the Church once more.

When he had grown so old and weak that he had to be carried to church, St. John used to say to his people over and over again, “My little children, love one another.” The Christians once asked him why he said the same thing each time he spoke to them. St. John answered, “Because it is the word of the Lord, and if you keep it, you will be doing enough.”

Today I will try to resemble St. John at least in one of his three great virtues-purity of heart, charity toward all, and love for the Blessed Mother.

St. Olympias

St. Olympias – December 17th

This Saint belonged to a great family of Constantinople and when she was left an orphan, she was given into the care of a wonderful Christian woman. Olympias had inherited a large fortune and was both sweet and attractive. So her uncle found it easy to marry her to Nebridius, a man who had been governor of Constantinople. St. Gregory of Nazianzen apologized for not being able to attend the wedding, and sent a poem full of good advice for Olympias.

Nebridius died very soon afterwards, however, and the Emperor urged Olympias to marry again. She answered: “Had God wished me to remain a wife, He would not have taken Nebridius away.” And she refused to marry again. St. Gregory called her “the glory of the widows in the Eastern Church.”

With a number of other pious ladies, Olympias gave herself to works of charity. She dressed plainly, prayed much, and gave her money away to everyone. Finally St. John Chrysostom had to tell her to be careful in giving away her goods. “You must not encourage laziness of those who live upon you without necessity,” he said. “It is like throwing your money into the sea.”

When St. John Chrysostom became Archbishop of Constantinople, he guided St. Olympias and her disciples in their works. A home for orphans and a chapel were opened, and help given to great numbers of people.

Among St. Olympias’ friends were five other saints, but her own bishop, St. John Chrysostom, was her dearest guide and when he was exiled, she was deeply grieved. She then had to suffer persecution and her community of widows and maiden were forced to stop their charitable works. Besides this, she was in poor health and was being criticized and even exiled. Yet St. John wrote to her: “I cannot stop calling you blessed. The patience and dignity with which you have borne your sorrows, your prudence, wisdom and charity have won you great glory and reward.”

St. Olympias died when she was about forty. Some one described her as “a wonderful woman, like a precious vase filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Let us make sure to have a good guide in our spiritual work, so that we will be certain of spending our lives in the best possible way.

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. Bibiana

St. Bibiana - December 2nd

Bibiana's father Flavian had been prefect of the city of Rome. He and his wife were such fervent Christians that when the Emperor Julian left the Catholic Faith and began persecuting it, Flavian was arrested. He was branded on the face with a hot iron and then exiled.

After he died, his good wife Dafrosa was also made a prisoner in her own house on account of her good Christian life. Then she, too, was put to death.

Left alone with her sister, Demetria, Bibiana gave herself to confident prayer. Everything they had was taken from them, and then the two of them were brought to court. Poor Demetria dropped dead at the judge's feet! Bibiana was handed over to a sinful woman, who was supposed to make the holy young girl as evil as she was.

This woman tried by sweet words and many clever tricks to make Bibiana fall, but the Saint could not be moved. She was brought back to court and beaten, yet she held to her faith and purity as strongly as ever.

St. Bibiana was put to death by being beaten with leaden scourges, and her holy body was left to the mercy of fierce dogs. The dogs, however, did not touch it, and a priest buried it at night beside her mother and sister.

To remain pure in the midst of temptations we have to pray, make sacrifices and mortify our senses.

St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia – Patroness of Musicians, Poets, Singers and Organ-Builders – November 22nd

This famous Patroness of music was a Roman noblewoman, who had given her heart to Christ. Beneath the rich clothes worn by women of her class, Cecilia wore a rough shirt that caused her suffering; she wanted to be able to offer this suffering to Jesus, whose bride she intended to be.

But Cecilia’s father gave her in marriage to young pagan nobleman! During the celebration of the wedding, the lovely bride sat apart singing to God in her heart and praying for His help. When she and Valerian, her husband, were alone, she gathered up courage and said to him: “I have a secret to tell you. You must know that I have an angel of God watching over me. If you let me keep my promise to be Christ’s bride only, my angel will love you as he loves me.”

“Show me this angel,” answered Valerian. “If he comes from God, I will do as you wish.”

Cecilia said, “If you believe in the one true God and receive the waters of Baptism, then you shall see the angel.” Valerian went to the Bishop Urban and was received with joy. After he had professed his belief in the Christian religion, he was baptized and returned to St. Cecilia.

There by the Saint’s side, the young man saw the splendid angel! The angel raised his hand and placed a crown of roses and lilies on the heads of the young couple. What joy filled their pure, holy hearts at that moment!

Valerian’s brother, Tiburtius, learned of the Christian faith from Cecilia and she spoke so beautifully of Jesus that before long, he too was baptized. Together the two brothers performed many works of holy charity. When they were arrested for being Christians, they went bravely to death rather than give up their new faith in Jesus.

St. Cecilia lovingly buried their bodies, before she too was arrested. She converted the very officers who tried to make her sacrifice to false gods! When she was put into a fire, it did no harm her. At last, a man was sent to behead her. He struck her at the neck three times, but she did not die right away. She lay on the floor of her own home unable to move. Yet by holding out three fingers of one hand, and one of the other, she still professed her faith in the Blessed Trinity.

Today I will think often that I have a Guardian Angel watching over me.

Bl. Contardo Ferrini

Bl. Contardo Ferrini – October 27th

Contardo’s father was a teacher of mathematics and physics and he early began teaching his little son his own love for study. As a young man, Contardo could speak many languages besides his own Italian. He did very well in every school and college he went to, and his great love for study and for his Catholic Faith made his friends nickname him their own ‘St. Aloysius’. It was Contardo who first started clubs for college students to help them form themselves into good Christians.

When he was twenty-one, he was offered a chance to study at the University of Berlin in Germany. It was hard for him to leave his home in Italy, but he was happy to meet many devout Catholics at the University of Berlin. He wrote down in a little book what he felt the first time he went to Confession in a foreign land: it thrilled him to realize that the Catholic Church is really the same everywhere a person goes.

By the next year, Contardo was trying to decide whether he should become a priest or a monk, or whether he should marry or just what he should do. As it turned out, he took a vow to give himself only to God, but he never became a priest or a brother. He went on teaching and writing and trying always to become a more perfect Christian. While enjoying his favorite sport of mountain-climbing, he would think of God, the Creator of all the beauty he saw. People noticed that there was something different about Professor Ferrini. Once when he had passed by with his usual warm smile, someone exclaimed “That man is a Saint!”

Today I will offer my prayers for lay apostles, so that they may be able to do much good, by their good example to the people with whom they live and work.

St. Theresa of Lisieux

St. Theresa of Lisieux - Patroness of Foreign Missions and of Aviators

- October 3rd

St. Theresa, often called the Little Flower, was the youngest of the five daughters born to Louis and Zelie Martin. She was a very lively, lovable little girl, whose father called her his “little queen.” Yet she was quite sensitive and touchy, and in the story she wrote of her life, she tells how the Infant Jesus helped her overcome this defect.

It was Theresa’s great desire to enter the Carmelite convent where two of her sisters were already nuns. But since she was only fifteen, permission was not granted. Theresa felt sure that Jesus wanted her to spend her life loving Him alone, so she kept praying and asking to be admitted. She even dared to ask the Pope himself to grant her heart’s desire. And finally she was allowed to enter.

Although she was only fifteen, St. Theresa did not expect to be babied. “Obedience, prayer and sacrifice” were her program. She had a thirst to suffer for the love of God, and she had the spiritual courage of real heroine. “May Jesus make me a martyr of the heart or of the body-or even better, both!” she wrote, and she meant it. Whenever she suffered from the bitter cold in her plain cell or whenever she was humiliated, she would offer her pain to her beloved Jesus and hide it under a smile. She called herself Jesus’ little ball, and told Him to do with her whatever He pleased.

St. Theresa was very humble, and she called her great confidence in God her “little way” to sanctity. She always had a burning desire to become a saint and wanted to find a “short cut,” an “elevator” to take her quickly to sanctity. So she looked in the Holy Bible, and found the words, “Whoever is a little one, let him come to me.” When she lay dying, she could say: “I have never given the good God anything but love, and it is with love that He will repay. After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth.”

St. Theresa taught us her LITTLE WAY. Yes, it is a small and yet a great thing to offer Jesus the flowers of our little sacrifices moment by moment.

St. Thecla

St. Thecla – September 23rd

Thecla, the first women martyr, was a beautiful young pagan noblewoman of the city of Iconium, in Turkey. She did much reading in philosophy books, yet nothing satisfied her desire to know about her Creator. But when St. Paul the Apostle came to preach the Gospel of Jesus in Iconium, her prayer to know the one, true God was answered. From St. Paul she also learned that a young woman can become the Bride of Christ is she gives up marriage. By this time, Thecla desired nothing else than to give herself entirely to God.

Thecla’s pagan parents tried their best to make her give up her Christian Faith, but she would not. Her fiancé, Thamyris, begged her not to break their engagement, but Thecla wanted to be Christ’s bride, not his. At last, in great anger, Thamyris accused her to the judge, and when she still refused to give up her love for Jesus, she was ordered to be burned to death at the stake.

The beautiful young women bravely prepared to die, but no sooner had the fire been lit than a storm from Heaven put it out! Later, she was condemned to be eaten by lions, but once again, God saved Thecla’s life. Instead of clawing her, the fierce beasts walked gently up to her, lay down at her side, and licked her feet, like pet kittens! At last, in fear, the judge set the Saint free. Thecla went to live in a cave and teaching all the people who came to visit her about the Lord Jesus.

St. Thecla is honored as a martyr because she was ready to die for Jesus, even though God saved her by miracles.

The example of St. Thecla shows us how to keep the promises of Baptism. We have renounced the evil which is in the world and the devil once and for all. Now we must send away all temptations and advance in virtue day by day, until the time when God calls us to His glorious reward.

St. Edith of Wilton

St. Edith of Wilton – September 16th

Edith was the daughter of the English King, Edgar. She was taken by her good mother to a convent, there to be brought up and educated. When she was not yet fifteen, her father the king, came to visit her. It was the day she was to become a professed as a nun, but he wanted to see is she really knew what she was doing. In front of the altar, therefore, he ordered rich gold and silver jewels to be laid down on a carpet. Nearby, Edith’s mother stood holding a nun’s veil and the book of psalms. The young girl had to make her choice while all present prayed to God to show her what life to choose. Yet no one was surprised when Edith chose religious life, for they knew how much she loved God.

St. Edith could have become the Abbess of any one of three convents, but she chose to stay in the convent where her holy mother was the Superior. There she served her sisters without any thought that she was a princess. When her father and brother died, the nobles wanted Edith to leave the convent and become their queen, but she again chose to keep living in humble work and obedience rather than wear a crown.

The Saint died a joyful death when she was only twenty-two.

Let us say this little prayer, “Dear Lord, I offer myself to You. Do with me what You wish.”

St. Notburga

St. Notburga – September 14th

This little kitchen maid is very famous in her own country, high in the Alps mountains. She was the daughter of a peasant and went to work for a Count when she was eighteen. All the food she could save after each meal she gave to the many poor people who came to the side door of the castle. She even gave them much of what she was supposed to have for her own meals. The Countess was a mean woman, however, and she gave orders that Notburga was to give the left over food to the pigs, as had been done before the holy maid came.

For a while, the Saint obeyed, although she still gave the poor part of her own food. Then, she felt so sorry for those hungry people that she began again to give them food from the table. The Countess caught her and fired her at once. Next Notburga went to work for a farmer, and here, too, she was not afraid to do what she thought was right.

One Saturday afternoon, she stopped work when the Church bells rang, because Saturday evening was considered part of Sunday and no more work was done. Her employer, however, told her to keep working. Notburga answered that no good Christian kept working unless bad weather seemed about to spoil the crops. “The weather might change,” said the farmer. “We shall see about that,” answered the Saint. Then she threw her sickle up in the air, and there it stayed in the sky, looking like the harvest moon, the sign of good weather to come!

Meantime, the selfish Countless died, and the Count was having so many troubles that people said it was all a punishment for the Countless’ meanness to the poor and to St. Notburga. So when the Count married again, he made our Saint the housekeeper of the castle, and there she spent the rest of her holy life. Just before she died, she begged the Count not to forget to take care of the poor people she loved so much.

Whoever is charitable, will receive charity. Let us be charitable then, to those who are in need, with a little offering, or a helping hand.

St. Rose of Viterbo

St. Rose of Viterbo – September 4th

Rose was born in Italy of poor parents, back in the time when the Emperor Frederick had conquered land that belonged to the Pope. Her special mission was to make the people of her own city and nearby cities be faithful to the Holy Father. And this she did when she was just a young teenager.

In fact, Rose was only eight years old when our Blessed Mother told her a while she was sick that she was to wear the habit of St. Francis and give good example by her words and actions. After she gained back her health, Rose began to think more and more of how much Jesus suffered for us and how much sinners hurt Him.

Later on, this daring girl began to preach in the streets of the city, telling people to resist the Emperor who had taken the land from the Church. So many people listened to the Saint that Rose’s father became frightened and told her he would beat her if she did not stop preaching. She was only about thirteen, but she answered gently, “If Jesus could be beaten for me, I can be beaten for Him. I do what He has told me to do, and I must not disobey Him.”

Two years more Rose preached with such effect that the enemies of the Pope wanted her killed. In the end, the ruler sent the Saint and her parents out of the city. But Rose said that the Emperor was going to die soon, and that is just what happened. Back in Viterbo, the Saint was not permitted to become a nun, she returned to her own home. There she died when she was only seventeen, and her body it still preserved and venerated in Viterbo.

In her very short life St. Rose did much good. I, too, will occupy my time as well as I can, especially offering my help to my Pastor and Sisters.

St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima - Patron of Invalids And Those With Skin Diseases - August 30th

This South American Saint’s real name was Isabel, but she was such a beautiful baby that she was called Rose, and that name remained. As she grew older, she became more and more beautiful, and one day her mother put a wreath of flowers on her head to show off her loveliness to friends. But Rose had no desire to be admired, for her heart had been given to Jesus. So she put a long pin into that wreath and it pierced her so deeply that she had a hard time getting the wreath off afterward. Another time she became afraid that her beauty might be a temptation to someone, since people could not take their eyes off her. Therefore, she rubbed her face with pepper until it was all red and blistered.

St. Rose worked hard to support her poor parents and she humbly obeyed them, except when they tried to get her to marry. That she would not do. Her love of Jesus was so great that when she talked about Him her face glowed and her eyes sparkled.

Rose had many temptations from the devil and there were also many times when she had to suffer a feeling of terrible loneliness and sadness, for God seemed far away. Yet she cheerfully offered all these troubles to Him. In fact, in her last long, painful sickness, this heroic young women used to pray: “Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart.”

To be more pure I promise never to look at bad pictures.

St. Philomena

St. Philomena The Wonder-Worker - August 11th

St. Philomena is perhaps the most extraordinary saint in the history of the Catholic Church.

When the relics of this 13-year-old Virgin Martyr were discovered in the Roman Catacombs in 1802, she became almost overnight one of the most popular saints in the Church, earning the nickname of "The Wonder-Worker" because of the countless remarkable favors that she sent to those who prayed to her. For a century and a half there was a worlwide Catholic devotion to St. Philomena, approved by many Popes. But amazingly, since the 1960's, she has been forgotten.

This little book by the beloved Fr. Paul O'Sullivan-author of All About the Angels, Read Me or Rue It, The Secret of Confession, etc.-gives the fascinating story of St. Philomena. Fr. O'Sullivan tells of her martyrdom, her miracles, her relics, her partnership with the Cure of Ars, and the great miracle involving Pauline Jaricot, as well as recounting many other true stories of the "dear Little Saint's" generous answers to those who invoke her.

God obviously wishes to give out His gifts and favors throough the hands of St. Philomena, and it is His will that we ask her for them. These pages will give new hope to all whoneed a special friend in Heaven to answer their prayers.

May this little book help to open up the floodgates of heavenly gifts so that once again this sweet young Saint will become known by that beautiful title: St. Philomena-The Wonder-Worker!

St. Martha

St. Martha - Patroness of Cooks and Domestic Servants - July 29th

Martha was the sister of Mary Magdalen and Lazarus, and she lived with them in the little town of Bethany near Jerusalem. They were dear friends of Jesus, and He often came to visit them. In fact, the Holy Gospel tells us: “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and Lazarus.” It was St. Martha who lovingly served Our Lord when He visited them.

One day as she was going about the house preparing everything for Jesus, she asked Him to tell her sister Mary to help her. For Mary was sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him. Our Lord was very pleased with Martha’s loving service, but He wanted her to know that listening to God’s word and praying is even more important. So He said gently: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious about many things, but only one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen the better part.”

St. Martha’s great faith in Jesus was seen when her brother Lazarus died. As soon as she heard that Jesus was coming to Bethany, Martha went to meet Him and said: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would have not died.” Then Jesus told her that Lazarus would rise. He said: “He who believes in Me, even if he die, shall live. Do you believe this?” And Martha answered, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are Christ, the Son of God, Who has come into the world.” Afterwards, Our Lord worked a great miracle and raised Lazarus from the dead!

Later, Jesus came again to have supper with Lazarus, and St. Martha served them at table as always, but this time with much greater love and joy.

Jesus said to Martha that to take care of our soul is more important than to take care of our body. Our body will die one day, but our soul will live forever. Therefore we have to give more importance to our soul, to be sure to save it.

St. Praxedes

St. Praxedes - July 21st


This Roman maiden came from a family of saints who had been converted by the great Apostles Peter and Paul. When she and her sister, St. Pudentiana, were left with a huge fortune by their holy father, Senator Pudens, they used it all for God. Together they prayed, read sacred books, helped the poor, and comforted the Christians suffering in prison for the Faith.


When St. Pudentiana died, Praxedes continued doing the same good deeds alone. Although the Christians were being persecuted terribly and she helped them in every way she could, the Saint herself was never arrested. Perhaps because she came hid Christians in her home, gave all her money away, and even buried the bodies of the martyrs.


Her heart broke to see how the Christians had to suffer, especially when she had nothing left to give away. It was then that she asked God to take her to Heaven, since she could not be of any service any more.


Today I will offer to Our Lord a few little sacrifices for the persecuted Christians in different parts of the world.

St. Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti - Patroness of Children, Children of Mary, Girls, Rape Victims, Young - July 6th

Mary was the young daughter of a poor Italian widow. She was nicknamed Marietta, and at the age of twelve was already a very pretty young lady. She helped her mother on the farm, in the house and with the care of the other children. Never did she complain because they were so poor. In fact, she cheered up her poor mother and was a great comfort to her. She went to Mass regularly even though it meant a two-hour walk, and she went as often as she could to confession and Holy Communion.

Marietta was also very modest and careful to guard her purity. When a young man named Alexander tried a few times to make her sin, she absolutely refused and she did her best to avoid him from that time on. Then one summer day, she was alone in the cottage mending clothes, and Alexander came again to try to make her sin. This time, he dragged the poor girl into a room and when she tried to scream, he stuffed a handkerchief into her mouth. Yet she managed to keep saying, ‘No, no! It is a mortal sin. God doesn’t want it. If you commit you will go to hell!” And she struggled as much as she could. Furiously Alexander began to strike her with a knife. Again and again he struck, and then he ran away.

Marietta was taken to a hospital, where she died about twenty-four hours later. During her last hours, she forgave her murderer. Her only worry was for her mother. With great joy, she received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and then went to Heaven.

Alexander was sent to prison where, for a long time, he did not repent of his horrible crime. Then one night he had a dream or vision of Mary Goretti offering him flowers. From that moment on he was a changed man. When he was freed from prison after many years, the first thing he did was to beg Mary’s mother for forgiveness.

On the day Mary Goretti was declared “Blessed,” her own mother was there in Rome for the great celebration. And when the Pope declared Mary as saint, more people gathered to honor her than had ever come for such a ceremony before. St. Mary Goretti is called a “martyr of holy purity.”

Alexander had become so impure because he used to read bad magazines. Mary Goretti was so pure, instead, because she went to the Sacraments as often as possible. Let us imitate this heroic young girl. Jesus will give us the strength we need to keep pure.

Sts. Teresa and Sanchia

Sts. Teresa and Sanchia - June 17th

These two sisters were daughters of the King of Portugal. Teresa was the older one. She married King Alfonso IX of Spain and became the mother of several children. But this marriage was not valid and it was wrong for Teresa to stay as his wife. Because she loved the king dearly, it was very hard for her to leave him. Yet, she did not want to disobey God’s law, and finally she went back to Portugal.

On her own land, Teresa built a large convent for Cistercian nuns. She herself shared their life fully, even though she did not stay there all the time, for she had to take care of her other property.

Her sister, St. Sanchia, never married. She, too, founded a convent on her land and devoted herself to good works. When she visited her beloved sister, Teresa, and saw what holy life the Cistercian nuns led, she changed her convent into a convent of the Cistercian Order and joined it herself. After Sanchia’s death, St. Teresa took her body back to her own convent. Then, when she had settled quarrels between her children and the Kind of Alfonso’s second wife, she took the veil of a nun in her convent. For almost twenty years, she lived as a very fervent sister. When she died, she was buried beside St. Sanchia.

If we ever make a promise to do something wrong, let us make sure we do not keep it. We cannot offend God to please someone else.

St. Germaine of Pibrac

St. Germaine of Pibrac - June 15th

Pibrac is the little village in France where Germaine was born and spent her life. In fact, her right hand was deformed and helpless. Her father paid little attention to her, and her stepmother did not want her around her own healthy children. So Germaine slept with the sheep in the barn, even in cold weather. She dressed in rags and was laughed at by other children. When she came home at night with the flock of sheep she had tended in the fields, her stepmother often screamed at her and beat her.

Yet this poor girl learned to talk with God and to remember that He was with her all the time. She always managed to get to Mass and she received Holy Communion as often as she could. Her sheep she would leave in care of her Guardian Angel, and never once did one wander away from the staff she planted in the ground.

Germaine often gathered young children around her to teach them their faith and fill their hearts with God’s love. She tried her best to help the poor, too. She shared with beggars the little bit of food she was given to eat. One winter day, her stepmother accused her of stealing bread and chased her with a stick. But what fell from Germaine’s apron was not the expected bread. It was summer flowers!

By now people no longer made fun of Germaine. In fact, they loved and admired her. She could have begun to live in her father’s house, but she chose to keep sleeping in the barn. Then, one morning, when she was twenty-two, she was found dead on her straw bed. Her life of great suffering was over and God worked miracles to show that she was a Saint.

The main virtue of this Saint was patience, she carried her big cross well, because she went to Holy Communion often. In our little sufferings, let us turn to Our Lord in Holy Communion and ask His help.

St. Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc - Patroness of France and of Soldiers - May 30th

Joan was born in a village of France. From her gentle, loving mother, she learned to be a good housekeeper. “I can sew and spin as well as any women,” she once said. She loved to pray, especially at the shrines of Our Blessed Mother. This honest, kind little peasant girl was to become a great soldier-saint. One day while she was watching her sheep, St. Michael the Archangel, the patron of her country, told her, “Daughter of God, go save France!” For three years she heard the voices of saints telling her to go, and when she was sixteen, she began her marvelous mission.

At that time there was a war going on between France and England. It was called the Hundred Years’ War. England had won so much land that the King of England called himself King of France, too. The real French King was a weak, fun-loving man who thought the French armies would never be able to save the country.

With his permission, St Joan led an army into the city of Orleans, which the English had almost captured. In her white, shining armor, this young heroine rode with her banner flying above her. On it were the names of Jesus and Mary. She was hit by an arrow in the great battle of Orleans, but she kept on urging her men to victory, and at last they won! St. Joan and her army won more and more battles and the English armies had to retreat. After these glorious victories, Joan’s time of suffering began. She was captured by the enemy, and the ungrateful French king did not even try to save her. She was put in prison and after an unfair trial, was burned at the stake.

Joan was not even twenty, and she had a great horror of fire. Yet she went bravely to her death, and her last word was “Jesus!”

When we meet with difficulties, instead of giving up, let us say this prayer: “By myself I can do nothing, but with God I can do all things.”

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