St. Peter Claver

St. Peter Claver - Patron of Colombia and of Negro Catholic Missions - September 9th

This Spanish priest of the Society of Jesus is known as the Apostle of the Slaves. While he was still studying to become a Jesuit, he felt a burning desire to go to South America as a missionary. He volunteered and was sent to the seaport of Cartagena, where great shiploads of African slaves were brought to be sold.

At the sight of those poor people all crowded together, sick and suffering, Peter felt great pity. He made up his mind to help them and to convert them. “The slave of the Negroes forever” is what he called himself. As soon as a shipload arrived, he would go among the hundreds of the sick slaves giving them medicine and food, baptizing the dying and the little babies, and nursing the ill. It was such hard, sickening work, in that terrible heat, that one man who went once with St. Peter could never face the horrible sight again. Yet Peter did it for forty years!

Although their owners tried to stop him, the Saint patiently taught the Faith to the slaves. He used pictures of Jesus Crucified, to show them how much God loved them. He used a picture of Hell to make them feel sorry for their sins. In this way, he succeeded in baptizing about 300,000 slaves over the years. Yet it was slow, discouraging work and many people criticized him, saying it was all a waste of time. They thought the slaves would never keep the Faith. St. Peter, however, went to visit them after they left Cartagena and never stopped urging the slaveowners to take care of the souls of their slaves and to be better Christians themselves.

When people praised St. Peter for being able to treat disgusting diseases in conditions that no one else could stand, he would simply say: “If being a saint means having no taste and having a strong stomach, I admit that I may be one!” As if all he did were not enough penance, he also treated his body very harshly and practiced great mortifications. During the last four years of his life, he was so sick that he had to stay in his room and could not even celebrate Mass. Most everyone forgot about him, but he never complained. Then suddenly at his death, the whole city realized they had lost a saint and from then on he was never forgotten again.

Today let us pray for Missionaries. Also let us help them with little offerings every time we can.

The Nativity of Mary

The Nativity of Mary

– September 8th

We do not usually celebrate the birthdays of the saints. Instead we celebrated the day they died, because that is the day they are born into the joys of Heaven.


But the birthday of Mary, our Blessed Mother, is an exception. We do celebrate her birthday because she came into this world full of grace, and because she was to be the Mother of Jesus.


When Mary was born, legions of angels hastened from Heaven to surround her little crib and exclaim over her beauty and holiness. The birth of Our Lady was like the dawn. When the sky starts to turn a rosy pink early in the morning, we know the sun will soon come up. In the same way, when Mary was born, she brought great happiness to the world, for it meant that soon Jesus, the Sun of justice, would appear. Mary was the wonderful creature whose privilege it was to bring the Lord Jesus to all mankind.


Even today, if we have Mary, we have Jesus. Whoever is very devoted to her is very close to the Heart of Jesus.


Do we want to offer a gift to Mary on her birthday? What pleases her most is that we avoid sin, every kind of sin, because sin offends her Son Jesus.

Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta

Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta – September 7th

Maria Assunta was a young Italian country girl who spent her days as a teen doing farm chores and helping in the fields. Every one of the young men and women around the countryside knew that they could not use any rough or immodest words when she was around-there was something so pure about her that no one would have dared.

Maria entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. In her humility she felt so much less worthy than her Sisters that she always chose the less pleasing chores for herself. Joyfully and with a smile ever on her lips, she would “work for Jesus,” as she said. “I want to take advantage of every chance I get to work for sanctity.”

Sister Mary Assunta was sent as a missionary to China. A fierce storm arose on this trip, and the ship seemed about to sink. “Aren’t you afraid, too?” one of the passengers asked the calm-looking Sister. “No,” answered Blessed Maria Assunta. “There’s no reason why I should be. It’s all the same to me whether I reach my mission or go to the bottom of the ocean, if that’s what Jesus wants.”

Blessed Maria was stationed at the same spot where seven Sisters of her Congregation had been killed four years before. So she hoped to be able to give her life for Our Lord, too, but in the meantime, she worked hard, cooking for the Sisters and the orphans they cared for. When typhoid fever struck that region, she lovingly nursed her Sisters, without a thought of the danger to herself. One year after she had come to China, Blessed Maria Assunta caught typhoid, too, and died of it. At her death, a mysterious, sweet perfume filled her room and followed her body as it was carried to the cemetery. Even the pagans came to her grave to pray to her and ask her protection.

Let us pray to receive the strength we need to overcame ourselves and give our best to duties we do not like.

St. Alexander

St. Alexander – September 6th

Alexander was born in Egypt and became a soldier in the famous Theban Legion of the Roman army. The emperor had great confidence in these faithful warriors whose very appearance struck fear into the hearts of enemies. Alexander was a high officer, in charge of the four hundred men who were the first to charge in every battle.

When the Emperor called the Theban Legion to Rome before sending them to Gaul, they venerated the tombs of the martyrs, for they were all Christians. Then they received Confirmation from the Pope and left to fight. But at a certain point on the march, the command was given to worship the pagan gods. The whole Legion protested that although they were loyal soldiers of the Emperor, they were servants of the true God first of all. When they absolutely refused to offer sacrifice, they were all put to death. Alexander and a few others, however were saved by God, and escaped.

Several times Alexander was caught, put in prison and then managed to escape. His courage in refusing to adore the false gods and even breaking these idols was amazing. At last, he reached the city Bergamo in Italy and worked without stopping until he made it a Christian city. He preached so beautifully that the people cried: “We reject the false gods and want to serve the everlasting God whom Alexander adores!”

Before he was put to death as a martyr, the Saint could say: “My Lord Jesus, You told me to conquer this city for You and I did. Now my work is over. I am coming to You to receive the crown of justice.”

Thinking over the great sacrifices that these holy soldiers made for love of God, today I will offer at least a little mortification.

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. 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. Pius X

St. Pius X – September 3rd

This great Pope’s name was Joseph Sarto. He was the son of the mailman in the little Italian town of Riese, and was given the affectionate nickname of “Beppi.” The Sarto’s were a large family, very poor, but very devout, good people. When young Joseph felt that God wanted him to be a priest, he had to make many sacrifices to reach his goal, but he did not mind. He even walked miles to school barefoot to save his one good pair of shoes.

After he was ordained a priest, Joseph Sarto labored for the souls in poor parishes for seventeen years. All the people loved him because he used to give away everything he had to help them. His sisters even had to hide his shirts or he would have nothing left to wear. Even after this good priest had become a Bishop and then a Cardinal, he still gave away what he owned to the poor, and kept nothing for himself.

When Pope Leo XIII died, Cardinal Sarto was chosen Pope, even though he kept saying he was not worthy. He took the name of Pius X, and became known as the Pope who overcame a dangerous heresy and the Pope of the Holy Eucharist, because he encouraged everyone to receive Jesus as often as they could. He also made a law permitting young children to receive Holy Communion, too. Before that time, boys and girls had to wait many years before they could receive Our Lord.

Even as Pope, St. Pius X lived as humbly and simply as ever. “I was born poor,” he said, “I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor.” He did so much to help the poor that people wondered where all the money came from. God gave him the power to work miracles, too. “Cure me, Holy Father!” a man once said, pointing to his paralyzed arm. The Pope rubbed the arm gently, saying “Yes, yes.” And the arm was healed. There were many cures like this one.

When the terrible World War! Broke out, St. Pius X suffered greatly at the thought of all those who would be killed. He had said: “I would gladly give my life to save my poor children from this horrible suffering!” And a short time later, Our Lord did indeed come for this beloved Pope.

I will pray often: “Dear Lord, I am not worthy to receive You into my heart. But in order to overcome my defects, I want to love You more and receive You in Holy Communion even every day if I can.”

St. Stephen of Hungary

St. Stephen of Hungary - Patron of Hungary - September 2nd

This Saint’s name was Vaik, but when he became a Christian at the age of ten, he was given the name of Stephen. At the same time, his father, the Duke of Hungary, and many nobles also became Christians. However, when Stephen himself became King, the country was still quite pagan and the people violent and fierce. So he set himself to establish the Church solidly in Hungary, and he was very successful.

The secret of St. Stephen’s amazing success in making his people Christian was his great devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. He placed his whole kingdom under her protection and built a magnificent church in her honor.

Stephen was a strong, fearless ruler who punished criminals and made his laws obeyed, but he was also very gentle and kind to the poor, very humble, and anxious to avoid wars as much as he could. He loved to give gifts of money to beggars without letting them know who he was.

Once, however, while he was giving these gifts in disguise, a crowd of rough beggars knocked him down, struck him, pulled his hair and his bread, and stole his purse. St. Stephen took this insult humbly and even happily. Turning his thoughts to the Blessed Mother, he said: “See, Queen of Heaven, how your soldiers have treated him whom you made King. If they were enemies of the Faith, I would know what to do with them. But since they are your Son’s subjects, I will take this joyfully and thank you for it.” In fact, the holy King made a resolution then and there to give more than ever to the beggars.

I, too, will make a resolution now: always forgive injuries, and even repay with acts of kindness those who offend me.

St. Giles

St. Giles - Patron of Cripples, Beggars and Blacksmiths - September 1st

Giles was born in Athens, Greece, and when his parents died, he used the great fortune they left him to help the poor. For this reason and especially because he worked many miracles, Giles found himself a greatly admired young man. He did not want this praise and fame at all. So, to be able to serve God in a hidden life, he left Greece and sailed to France.

There he went to live alone in a dark forest, making his home in a rough cave behind a thick thorn bush. Every day a dear came to give him her milk, and lived contented, safe from the danger of becoming proud at hearing himself praised. But one day, a certain king and his men went hunting in the forest and chased the deer to Giles’ cave. Then they could not see where it disappeared. One of the men shot an arrow into the thorn bush, and when they forced their way in, they discovered Giles sitting wounded by the arrow.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” demanded the King. St. Giles told them the story of his life, and when they heard it, they asked his forgiveness. The King sent his doctors to take care of the Saint’s wound. Although Giles begged to be left alone, the King felt such veneration for him that he came often to see him. Giles never would accept the King’s gifts but finally he agreed to let the King build a large monastery there, and Giles became its first abbot.

This monastery became so famous that a whole town grew up there and it was called St.Giles. When the Saint died, his grave at the monastery became a great shrine where many, many people came on pilgrimage.

The greatest virtues of St. Giles were humility and charity. The more we are generous with our brothers, sisters and companions, the more Our Lord will be generous with us.

St. Aidan

St. Aidan – August 31st

Aidan was an Irish monk who lived at the great monastery of Iona, which St. Columba had founded. One day the King of the northern part of England, St. Oswald, asked for the missionaries to preach to his pagan people. The first one to go soon came back complaining that the English were rude, stubborn and wild. “It seems to me,” said St. Aidan, “that you have been too harsh with those people.” He then explained that, as St. Paul says, first easy teachings are to be given, and then when the people have grown stronger on the word of God, they can start to do the more perfect things of God’s holy law.

When the monks heard such wise words, they turned to Aidan and said that he should be the one to go to Northern England to preach the Gospel. The humble, devout monk was well received by King St. Oswald, who used to translate Aidan’s sermons until the Saint learned English better. St. Aidan traveled all over, always on foot, preaching and helping the people. He did so much good and was so loved by the people that after thirty years, any monk or priest who came into a village was greeted with great joy by all the villagers.

On the Island of Lindisfarne, St. Aidan built a great monastery, from which so many Saints were to come that Lindisfarne became known as the Holy Island. Little by little the influence of these zealous missionaries changed Northern England into a civilized Christian land.

The secret to be friendly with everyone is to be kind to all.