St. Peter Chrysologus

St. Peter Chrysologus – December 4th


Peter was born in Italy and was educated by the Bishop of his own city. Even as a young boy, Peter understood that a man is truly great only if he can control his passions and put on the spirit of Christ.


When he grew up, St. Peter was made the Archbishop of Ravenna, and he worked hard to wipe out the paganism still practiced in his diocese.


It is as a preacher that St. Peter became famous. Indeed, “Chrysologus” means “golden word.” Yet his sermons were all short, because he was afraid to tire his hearers. Besides that, these sermons are not especially unusually unusual or beautiful in style. But St. Peter’s message was more valuable than gold, and he preached with such enthusiasm and fire that people listened to him breathlessly.


In his sermons, St. Peter urged everyone to receive Jesus often in Holy Communion, so that the Body of the Lord might be the daily food for their souls.


This good Archbishop also worked for the unity of all the members of the Catholic Church. He tried to prevent heresies and to keep peace.


For his wonderful sermons, so rich in teaching, Pope Benedict XIII made St. Peter a Doctor of the Church.


I will pray for preachers and I will listen to the Sunday sermon with attention.

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.

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. Edmund Campion

St. Edmund Campion – December 1st

Edmund was a very popular young English student. He was a great speaker and was chosen to deliver a welcoming speech to Queen Elizabeth herself when she visited his college. A group of his fellow students were so attracted by his happy nature and his many talents that they made him their leader. Even the Queen and her chief ministers were fond of this attractive young man.

But Edmund was troubled about his religion. Although he had agreed to become a minister, he kept thinking that the Catholic Church might be the only true Church. He did not hide his feelings, and so the government, which was persecuting Catholics, became very suspicious of him. Edmund knew that he would lose the Queen’s favor and all his chances for a great career if he chose to become a Catholic, but he became a convert anyway.

After he had escaped from England, Edmund studied to become a priest. He entered the Society of Jesus and taught in the college at Prague. When the Holy Father decided to send some Jesuits to England, Father Edmund was one of the first to go. The night before he left, one of his fellow priests felt urged to write over his doorway: “Father Edmund Campion, Martyr.”

Although he knew what danger faced him, the holy priest set out cheerfully. In fact, he had many a laugh because of his disguise as a jewel merchant.

In England, he preached with great success to the poor Catholics who had to meet in secret. Spies of the Queen’s men were everywhere trying to catch him, and he wrote: “I won’t escape their hands much longer. Sometimes I read letters that say ‘Campion has been caught’!”

It was a traitor who finally brought about the Jesuit’s capture. Edmund was visited in jail by the mighty Lords who had been so fond of him, and even perhaps by Queen Elizabeth. But none of their threats or promises could make him give up the Catholic Faith. Nor could tortures break him. And in spite of all his sufferings, he still defended himself and his fellow priests in such a marvelous manner that no one could answer him. Yet the enemies of the Church condemned him anyway.

Before he was put to death, St. Edmund forgave the man who had betrayed him and even helped to save his life.

Like this saint I will be sincere in living up to my faith. After all, I do not want to harm my soul just to please other people…

St. Andrew, Apostle

St. Andrew, Apostle - Patron of Scotland, of Old Maids, and Fishermen - November 30th

Andrew, like his brother, Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master.

Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, He asked, “What do you seek?” When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus dwelt, Our Lord replied, “Come and see.” Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that this was truly the Messias. From then on, he decided to follow Jesus. Andrew was thus the first disciple of Christ.

Next Andrew brought his brother Simon (St. Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His disciple. At first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later the Lord called them to stay with Him all the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time they left their nets for good.

It is believed that after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the Gospel. He is said to have been put to death on a cross, to which he was tied, not nailed. He lived two days in that state of suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle.

Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their Patron-Russia and Scotland.

When St. Andrew saw the cross on which he was to die, he exclaimed, “O good cross, made beautiful by Christ’s body, you are welcome!” Today I will remember the words of Our Lord: “Whoever does not carry his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

PRAYER TO OBTAIN FAVORS

HAIL and blessed be the hour and moment in which the son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites this above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th Nov.) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur
†MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

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. Catherine Laboure

St. Catherine Laboure – November 28th

Zoe Laboure was the daughter of a French farmer, and she was the only one of her large family who did not go to school. She could not read or write at all. Her mother died while she was still very young, and Zoe had to run the house when her older sister became a nun.

Zoe, too, would have liked to enter the convent when she was in her early teens, but had to wait until she was twenty-four. She became a Sister of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and took the name of Catherine.

Shortly after she finished her period of training as a postulant, Sister Catherine began to receive the special privilege of seeing the Blessed Mother. One night, she was awakened from sleep by a “shining child” who led her to the chapel. There Our Lady came to talk to her. The Blessed Mother, in another vision, showed herself standing on a globe with streams of light coming from her hands. Underneath were the words: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who turn to thee!” Sister Catherine was told that a medal was to be made of this picture of Our Lady and that all who wore it would receive many graces from God through His Mother’s prayers.

Sister Catherine told her confessor and he later told the bishop. So it was that the medal which we call the miraculous medal was made, and soon many, many people all over the world were wearing it. Yet no one in the convent knew that humble Sister Catherine was the one to whom Our Lady had appeared! She spent the remaining forty-five years of her life answering the door, looking after the hens that provided the nuns with eggs, and taking care of old and sick people. She was happy to keep her special privilege hidden, for she was only interested in serving God as best she could.

I will wear the Miraculous Medal and often repeat the ejaculation: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who turn to thee!”

St. James Intercisus

St. James Intercisus – November 27th

James was a Persian who was a great favorite of the King Yezdigerd I. When this king began to persecute Christians, James did not have the courage to confess his faith. He was too afraid to lose the King’s friendship. So he gave up his faith or at least pretended to.

James’ wife and mother were broken-hearted. When the King died, they wrote a strong letter warning him to change his ways. This letter had its effect on James. He had been a coward, but at heart, he was still good. Now he began to stay away from court and to blame himself openly for having given up his faith.

The new King sent for him, but this time, James hid nothing, “I am a Christian,” he said. The King accused him of being ungrateful for all the honors his father, King Yezdigerd, had given him. “And where is your father now?” St. James calmly answered.

The angry King threatened to put the Saint to a terrible death, but he replied, “May I die the death of the just!”

The King and his council condemned James to die only after all his limbs should be cut off. But his fears had gone, and he said, “This death which appears so dreadful is very little for the purchase of eternal life.” Then he told the executioners, “Begin your work.” Each time a finger was cut off, he rejoiced and thanked God, praying: “Savior of Christians, receive a branch of the tree.” He kept declaring his faith that his body would one day rise in glory.

This great saint martyr was called “Intercisus”, which means “hacked-to-pieces” in memory of his heroic death.

When we make mistakes and our parents or teachers correct us, let us listen to them. They correct us because they love us. This saint became a saint because when his mother corrected him strongly, he blamed himself and started a new life immediately.

St. John Berchmans

St. John Berchmans – Patron of Youth and Altar Boys – November 26th

This Belgian Saint once said, “If I do not become a saint when I am young, I shall become one.” In fact, he did indeed die at the early age of twenty-two-and he had, without any doubt, reached his goal of sanctity.

As a child, John stayed very close to his sick mother, but still, he liked to join with his playmates in putting on plays about stories from the Bible. He was especially good at playing the part of David defending the innocent Susanna. By the time he was thirteen, he wanted to begin studying for the priesthood, but his good father, a shoemaker, needed his help in supporting the family. However, he finally decided to let John become a servant in the household of a priest, from where he could go to classes in the seminary.

Three years later, John Berchmans entered the Society of Jesus. He studied hard, enthusiastically acted out parts in holy plays, and above all, prayed fervently. He made a motto: “Have great care for little things,” and he lived up to it. For St. John Berchmans never performed any great, heroic deeds. But he did every little thing well, from waiting on table to copying down notes on his studies.

When he fell sick, no doctor could discover what illness he had, yet he knew he was going to die. He was very cheerful as always. When the doctor ordered that his forehead be bathed with wine, John joked: “It’s lucky that such an expensive sickness is not going to last long!” Miracles took place at his funeral, and people at once began to call him a Saint.

This saint can be a model for every youngster. He was a good son, a diligent student, a modest and pure boy. To be all this, in fact, to become a saint, John worked hard and prayed, especially to the Blessed Mother.

St. Catherine of Alexandria

St. Catherine of Alexandria – Patroness of Philosophers, Jurists, Teachers, Students, and Wheel-Makers – November 25th

Catherine was the daughter of a wealthy pagan family of Alexandria, Egypt. She was a very beautiful girl whose great interest was in learning. She loved to study deep questions of philosophy and religion, and one day she began to read about Christianity. Soon she became a Christian herself.

St. Catherine was only eighteen when the Emperor Maxentius began persecuting the Christians. Fearlessly, the lovely young Christian maiden went to tell him what she thought of his cruelty. When he spoke of the pagan gods, she very plainly showed him that they were false. Maxentius could not answer her arguments, so, he sent for fifty of his best pagan philosophers. Once again, it was Catherine who proved the truth of her religion, and all fifty of those philosophers were convinced that she was right! In great fury, Maxentius had them all killed. Next, he himself tried to win her by offering her a queen’s crown. When Catherine absolutely refused it, he had her beaten and thrown into prison.

While Maxentius was away at camp, his wife and an officer were very curious to hear this amazing Christian girl speak. They went to her cell, and the result was that they and two hundred soldiers of the guard were converted. For this, they were all put to death, and Catherine was placed on a wheel full of spikes to be tortured to death. But the wheel snapped in two miraculously and the spikes flew off, killing many pagans.

Finally, St. Catherine was beheaded. She has always been the patroness of Christian philosophers.

To be able to resist the evil around us, we must know our Religion well.