The North American Martyrs

The North American Martyrs – September 26th

Over three hundred years ago, six Jesuit priests and their two holy assistants, all from France, died as martyrs here in America. They were a group of the bravest and most daring missionaries in the New World, and they risked everything they had to bring Christ to the Indians. After much hard work, they converted many of the Huron tribe. But the Iroquois Indians, bitter enemies of the Hurons, put them all to death.

St. John de Brebeuf had tuberculosis and was so sickly in France that he could not even teach many classes. Yet he became a marvelous, valiant apostle, whose courage amazed the fierce Iroquois as they tortured him to death. St. Isaac Jogues was tortured by the Mohawks, an Iroquois tribe, too, but was freed by the Dutch. He got back to France and received special permission to say Mass even though his fingers had been badly bitten by his torturers. As soon as he could, he went back to the Indians, and was tomahawked by the Bear Clan of the Mohawks. St. Anthony Daniel had just finished celebrating Mass for his Huron converts when the Iroquois attacked the village. The Christian Indians begged him to try to escape, but he stayed to baptize all those who were crying to him to come to them before they were killed. The Iroquois burned him to death in his little chapel. St. Gabriel Lallemont was tortured to death with St. John de Brebeuf and had to undergo the worst torments anyone could imagine. St. Charles Garnier and St. Noel Chabenel were both tomahawked. St. Charles was first shot by an Iroquois musket during a surprise attack, but he still tried to crawl to help a dying man. Then, a hatchet put an end to him. Father Chabenel, who had found life very hard but had made a vow to stay with the Indians anyway, was killed by a Huron traitor. The two lay helpers, Rene Goupil and John Lalande were both tomahawked. So it was that these heroes of Christ gave their lives for the Indians, and after their death, new missionaries were able to convert almost every tribe that the martyrs had known.

If someone offends me, I will suffer the injury in silence and meekness, as a brave soldier of Jesus Christ.

St. Sergius of Radonezh

St. Sergius of Radonezh – September 25th

This famous Russian saint was given the name of Bartholomew when he was baptized. He was not as bright as his two brothers, but with God’s help, he learned to read and write, which made him very happy, because he greatly desired to be able to read the Holy Bible. Bartholomew’s parents were nobles, but while he was still a boy, the family had to flee from enemies and go to work as peasants. After his parents died, he and his brother Stephen went off to live as hermits. They built a little church of trees they had cut down, and had it dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity.

When his brother went to Moscow to enter a monastery, Bartholomew lived alone, but he received the habit of a monk and took the name, Sergius. He was a big, husky young man strong enough to stand the biting cold and fierce winds of his forest home. He was happy praying to God and loving Him with all his heart. He called fire and light his companions, and even made friends with bears!

Before too long, other young men came to share St. Sergius’ holy life. They asked him to be their abbot and he did. He was ordained a priest and ruled his monastery very wisely. Once when some of the monks together with his own brother Stephen-who had come back-disagreed with Sergius, he went away in order to keep peace. Four years later, when he was asked to return, the monks were so happy to see him that they kissed his hands, his feet and even his robe. Powerful rulers often went to ask St. Sergius’ advice, and he became so famous that he was asked to become bishop of the greatest Russian diocese, but he was too humble to accept. When the Prince of Moscow was not sure whether he should try to fight the terrible pagan Tartars, the Saint said, “Do not fear, sir. Go forward with faith against the foe. God will be with you.” And the Russians were victorious!

It was not great learning that made people trust St. Sergius and love him. It was his confidence in God and his desire to help everybody.

I will follow the example of this Saint. When someone disagrees with me and starts an argument, I will keep still. In this way both of us will be at peace.

St. Pacificus of San Severino

St. Pacificus of San Severino – September 24th

When a little Italian boy named Charles Anthony was just five years old, his good parents both died, and he was given to the care of his uncle. This uncle was a cross, mean man and he treated Charles worse than a servant. Yet the boy took this hard treatment quietly and patiently. When he was seventeen, Charles entered a monastery and took the name of Pacificus, which means “peaceful.” After he became a priest, he was made a teacher, but his great desire was to become a preacher. How happy he was when his superior sent him on a preaching mission to many little towns and villages!

St. Pacificus was very popular with the good country folk because his talks were simple and sweet. Besides that, he had the marvelous gift of reading consciences! Once, he reminded a man in confession that he had been unkind to his mother and had kept impure thoughts in his mind. Everywhere the Saint went to preach and hear confessions, he did much good.

But when he had been preaching only about six years, Pacificus had to give it up because he became blind, deaf and crippled. He spent his time praying and doing penance in his monastery, helping others in any way he could. God was always very close to this humble Saint and He gave him the gift of prophecy. St. Pacificus foretold the great victory of the Christian armies over the Turks at Belgrade. He also said to a Bishop: “Your Excellency-Heaven! Heaven! And I will follow you soon!” About two weeks later, the bishop died, and not long after, just as he had said, St. Pacificus died, too. Many miracles took place at his grave.

St. Pacificus’ rule of life, for himself and for the others, was: “Do well, moment by moment.” Let us, too, make this our own rule of perfection.

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. Thomas of Villanova

St. Thomas of Villanova – September 22nd

Thomas was born in Spain. His father was a miller in the town of Villanova, and from his kind parents, Thomas learned to be very charitable to the poor. He did very well in school and became a teacher of philosophy when he finished his studies. Next he joined the Augustinian Fathers. After he became a priest, he was given many important positions and finally was made Archbishop of the city of Valencia.

His priests tried to make him change his old, mended habit for more dignified robes, but St. Thomas told them his old clothes had nothing to do with his duty of taking care of souls. Every day, in his great charity, he fed several hundred poor people. When he received a large sum of money to buy furniture for his house, he gave it to a hospital, saying: “What does a poor monk like me want with furniture?” No wonder he was called the “father of the poor!”

St. Thomas was very gentle with sinners at a time when most people were not. Once when he tried to make one man change his sinful ways, the man angrily insulted him and furiously stormed out of the room. “It was my fault,” said the humble Archbishop. “I told him a little too roughly.” Never would he permit anyone to criticize someone absent. “He may have had a good intention in doing what he did,” the Saint would say. “I, for one, believe he did.”

Before he died, St. Thomas gave to the poor everything he had. He even directed that his bed was to be sent to the jail for the prisoners to use.

I will try not to be selfish anymore. This Saint once said, “If you want God to hear your prayers, you should help those who are in need.”

St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist - Patron of Bankers and Tax Collectors – September 21st

Matthew was a tax-collector in the city of Capharnaum, where Jesus was living. He was a Jew but he was working for the Romans, who had conquered the Jews. For this reason, his countrymen disliked him. They would not have anything to do with these “publicans”, as tax collectors like Matthew were called.

But Jesus did not feel that way about Matthew. One day, He saw him sitting in his office and He said, “Follow Me.” At once, Matthew got up and left his money and his position to follow Our Lord, Who seemed so holy and king-like. He gave a big supper for Jesus and invited other publicans like himself to meet Jesus and listen to Him teach. When some people criticized Our Lord for eating with sinners, Jesus answered, “They who are well do not need the doctor; the sick do. I have not come to call the just, but sinners to repentance.”

When Jesus went back to Heaven, St. Matthew stayed in Palestine for some time to preach about Our Lord. He also wrote his Gospel, which is the story of Jesus and what He taught. In his Gospel, St. Matthew showed his countrymen that Jesus is the Messias whom the Prophets had said would come to save us.

After preaching the Gospel to many people, Matthew ended his life as a glorious martyr for the Faith.

If my parents ask me to do something, I will obey promptly, without asking them any questions or giving any excuses.

Blessed Francis de Posadas

Blessed Francis de Posadas – September 20th

This Spanish boy’s parents were vegetable merchants and they were happy at the thought that their son wanted to become a priest. But his father died and when his mother married again, his stepfather would not let him go ahead with his studies. He sent Francis to work, and the boy’s employer at first was very mean to him. Poor Francis! All his hopes seemed ruined now. Yet he worked hard and patiently, even when his master stormed at him. At last, the master was won by his goodness, and even helped Francis to go ahead with his studies whenever he had free time.

When he was nineteen, Francis finally saw his dream come true: he entered the Dominican order. Yet, here, too, he had to suffer, because at first, the others did not understand him and some of them made fun of him. But he did not quit. He stayed right there and became a priest.

After he was ordained, Francis began his preaching missions, which were to last for forty years, until his death. He traveled on foot all over the southwest part of Spain and made a great impression on sinners by his words and his penances. People began to live such better lives that many bad theaters had to close down because they had no business.

Blessed Francis tried to avoid all praise and admiration. He would not accept any high positions and turned down chances to become a bishop. He also tried to hide the miracles God worked for him.

When we feel like quitting, we must not give in. Instead, let us fight against every obstacle until we are gloriously successful.

St. Januarius and His Companions

St. Januarius and His Companions – September 19

St. Januarius, bishop of Benevento, was beheaded at Pozzuoli near Naples at the beginning of the 4th century. Among his companions in martyrdom the Roman martyrology names Socius, Proculus, Eutychius and Acutius. The fame of St. Januarius rests chiefly on the miracle of the liquefaction of his blood, which still occurs in the cathedral of Naples. The dry blood, coagulated in a dark lump, is kept in a glass phial; when this is placed near the martyr’s head, the blood becomes liquid, increasing in weight and volume, and takes on the bright red colour of fresh blood, while its surface bubbles so that it is said to boil. This phenomenon takes place three times a year: during nine days festival beginning on the first Sunday of May; during the octave of his feast from September 19 to 26; and on December 16.

St. Emily de Rodat

St. Emily de Rodat – September 19th

Emily was a lively little French girl who sometimes had temper tantrums, but still was very devout. A cousin who once tried to kiss her received a hard slap. Yet when she was a young lady of sixteen, she began to cut short her prayers and think more of having fun and carefree times. For one year, she was like this, and felt restless and bored. Then she began to see that only God could make her happy and never again did she change her mind.

For a number of years, Emily was not sure what kind of a nun she should be. But in her twenty-eighth year, she suddenly decided her mission would be to teach poor children. She began with the help of other young women, and soon the Congregation of the Holy Family had been founded. Like all holy Foundresses, Emily had to face many sufferings and trials, but her Congregation grew steadily. When some people told lies about her and others wrote insulting letters to her, the Saint used these occasions to humble herself. She would answer respectfully and gently, and when one of the Sisters was upset at that, Mother Emily said, “Don’t you know that we are the scum of the earth, and that anyone can trample on us?”

As a young girl, she had once been quite proud of herself, but now she paid so little attention to her appearance that at times, she looked ridiculous! Although St. Emily was a strong woman, she was also a very cheerful soul. “Keep your enthusiasm, and be brave,” she once wrote to a postulant. “Put all your trust in God, and preserve a holy cheer.” This she herself did through her every trial and suffering.

I will never shorten my prayers, and I will keep my mind on them, so God will hear me and bless me in my life.

St. Joseph of Cupertino

St. Joseph of Cupertino – Patron of Aviators – September 18th

Joseph was born in a small village in Italy of poor parents. He was very unhappy as a boy and a teenager. His mother considered him a nuisance and treated him harshly. Joseph soon became very slow and absent-minded. He would wander around, going nowhere, his mouth gaping open. But he had a bad temper, too, and so, he was not at all popular. He tried to learn a trade of shoe-making, but failed. He asked to become a Franciscan, but they would not accept him. Next, he joined the Capuchins, but eight months later, they sent him away because he could not seem to do anything right. He dropped piles of dishes and kept forgetting to do what he was told. His mother was not at all pleased to have the eighteen-year-old Joseph back home again, so she finally got him accepted as a servant at the Franciscan monastery. He was given a monk’s habit and put to work taking care of the horses.

About this time, Joseph began to change. He grew more humble and gentle, more careful and successful at his work. He also began to do more penance. Now, it was decided that he could become a real member of the Order and start studying for the priesthood. Although he was very good, he still had a very hard time with studies. But the examiner happened to ask him to explain the only thing he knew well, and so he was made a deacon, and later a priest. After this, God began to work many amazing miracles through St. Joseph. Over seventy times people saw him rise from the ground wile saying Mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be completely wrapped up in talking with God. He became so holy that everything he saw made him think of God, and he said that all the troubles of this world were nothing but the “play” battles children have with popguns!

St. Joseph became so famous for the miracles that he was kept hidden, but he was happy for the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. On His part, Jesus never left him alone and one day came to bring him to heaven.

Maybe our parents, our teachers and even we ourselves may feel that we are hopeless…because we make mistakes and get into much trouble! But it is never too late! With a strong will let us keep on trying…We, too, are called to become saints.

This is a link to an excellent movie on St. Joseph's story which is sadly being taken out of movie shelves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqT4cXOKlW4

(please note that after St. Joseph and his monks leave out of the catacombs the part where they process back to their monastery is not in the VHS movie. That part may have just been a deleted scene.)