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.”
9/16/08
9/15/08
Seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
– September 15th
Our Lady had many great joys as the Mother of Jesus, but she had much to suffer, too. It was her immense love for her Divine Son that caused Mary to suffer when she saw Jesus treated cruelly by His enemies. Mary is the Queen of Martyrs because she went through spiritual torments greater than the bodily agonies of the martyrs. Her heart was like an altar when on Calvary she offered up her beloved Jesus to save us. What a terrible suffering it was for so loving a Mother to see her Son, Who was God, die on the Cross!
There are seven times of great suffering in Our Blessed Mother’s life. The first was when she took Baby Jesus to the Temple and the Prophet Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her heart when Jesus was put to death. Her second sorrow was when she and St. Joseph had to flee to Egypt with Jesus, so Herod’s soldiers would not kill Him. The third suffering came when Mary searched three days for Jesus in Jerusalem before finding Him in the Temple. Our Lady’s fourth sorrow was when Jesus was whipped and crowned with thorns. Her fifth great pain was caused by His being lifted on the cross, where He died after three hours of agony. Mary’s sixth sorrow was the moment when Our Lord’s sacred Body was placed in her arms. And her seventh suffering came when He was buried in the sepulcher.
Our Blessed Mother did not pity herself or complain because she had to suffer so much during her life. Instead, she offered her sorrows to God for our sakes. She is our Mother and because she loves us dearly, she was happy to suffer that we might some day share her joy with Jesus in Heaven.
In honor of Our Lady of Sorrows, today I will offer up a little sacrifice without complaining, and without letting everybody know about it.
9/14/08
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.
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.
9/13/08
St. Eulogius
St. Eulogius - September 13th
This Saint was born in Syria and became a monk while he was still young. In his time, there had been so much trouble with heresies that people everywhere were confused and many had begun to lead sinful lives as a result. But Eulogius did not follow the bad example he saw around him. He shone like a bright light in the darkness because of his humility, his love of prayer, and his devoted study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church.
Eulogius had the good fortune to work for God with three other Saints. First, St. Anastasius of Antioch called him to that city to become a priest there. Then he came to know St. Eutychius of Constantinople and was a great help to him in conquering heresy. Next Eulogius was made the Bishop of Alexandria, and about two years afterwards, he became great friends with St. Gregory the Great, who later became Pope.
The two Saints wrote letters to each other, and in one of them, the humble Eulogius asked the holy Pope to check his sermon before he published it. St. Gregory approved it, saying, “I find nothing in your writings that is not admirable.”
Not too long after this beloved friend and father died, St. Eulogius, too, passed to receive the reward of his life spent for God’s Church.
If I have to suffer ridicule from any of my companions for trying to be good, I will take it. No matter the cost, I want to please God.
This Saint was born in Syria and became a monk while he was still young. In his time, there had been so much trouble with heresies that people everywhere were confused and many had begun to lead sinful lives as a result. But Eulogius did not follow the bad example he saw around him. He shone like a bright light in the darkness because of his humility, his love of prayer, and his devoted study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church.
Eulogius had the good fortune to work for God with three other Saints. First, St. Anastasius of Antioch called him to that city to become a priest there. Then he came to know St. Eutychius of Constantinople and was a great help to him in conquering heresy. Next Eulogius was made the Bishop of Alexandria, and about two years afterwards, he became great friends with St. Gregory the Great, who later became Pope.
The two Saints wrote letters to each other, and in one of them, the humble Eulogius asked the holy Pope to check his sermon before he published it. St. Gregory approved it, saying, “I find nothing in your writings that is not admirable.”
Not too long after this beloved friend and father died, St. Eulogius, too, passed to receive the reward of his life spent for God’s Church.
If I have to suffer ridicule from any of my companions for trying to be good, I will take it. No matter the cost, I want to please God.
9/12/08
The Holy Name of Mary
The Holy Name of Mary
– September 12th
The great Christian city of Vienna was being attacked by the Turks, who were trying to destroy the religion of Jesus. The Turks had such a powerful army that Vienna was almost ready to surrender. It was then that the King of Poland, the famous John Sobieski, went to help the Christians of Vienna. He knew that if the Turks took Vienna, they would then pour into all of Europe to wipe out Christianity.
Before the battle, King John placed himself and his troops under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He begged her help and served Mass in a monastery nearby, while all his soldiers knelt in prayer. Then the commanding officer gave the signal for attack and the battle began. In no time, the Turks were put to flight, and the Christians had won a great victory!
In thanksgiving for this marvelous event, King John sent the conquered flag of the Turks to Rome, as a sign of homage to Mary. Pope Innocent XI showed the gratitude of all Christians to Our Lady by extending the celebration of the Feast of her Holy Name to the whole Church.
Mary’s name was given her by God. He Himself told her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne, to call her Mary. The name “Mary” means “lady” or “queen.” It also means “star of the sea.” What beautiful meanings! How perfect this name is for our Blessed Mother! She is truly our loving Queen and our Star. She will show us the way to reach the blessed kingdom of heaven.
Today I will invoke the most holy Name of Mary every time I feel tempted to do something wrong.
9/11/08
Blessed Louis of Thuringia
Blessed Louis of Thuringia – September 11th
This German prince married St. Elizabeth of Hungary when he was twenty-one and she was just fourteen. The marriage had been arranged for them by their parents, as was the custom in those days. But they both loved God, and He gave them a great love for each other. So it was that they were very happy together, and their joy increased when God sent them three children. The youngest child of these holy rulers is Blessed Gertrude.
Louis helped his wife in her many works of charity to the poor, and joined her in devout prayer. Time after time, the people saw their handsome prince and his lovely wife helping the poor. But once, Elizabeth went so far as to bring a leper into their castle and nursed him in their bed! For a moment, when Louis saw that, he was angry. Then, suddenly, instead of the leper, he saw our crucified Lord lying there! After that proof of how much Jesus appreciated Elizabeth’s charity, Louis had a hospital for lepers built.
One long, bitter cold winter, Louis had to be away from his land and when he returned, Elizabeth’s joy overflowed. After she had lovingly kissed him, Louis asked how the people had gotten through the hard winter. “I gave to God what was His,” answered his holy wife, “and God had kept for us what was ours.”
The next year, Louis left on a Crusade to free the Holy Land from the Moslems. But on the way, he caught malaria, and soon was dying.
Because he had always lived in close union with Our Lord, the brave ruler felt no fear of death. He died in great peace, after receiving the Last Sacraments. And he also had a beautiful vision of white doves coming to bring his soul to Heaven.
Today I will look for every occasion I can find to do something good to my family, friends and neighbors.
This German prince married St. Elizabeth of Hungary when he was twenty-one and she was just fourteen. The marriage had been arranged for them by their parents, as was the custom in those days. But they both loved God, and He gave them a great love for each other. So it was that they were very happy together, and their joy increased when God sent them three children. The youngest child of these holy rulers is Blessed Gertrude.
Louis helped his wife in her many works of charity to the poor, and joined her in devout prayer. Time after time, the people saw their handsome prince and his lovely wife helping the poor. But once, Elizabeth went so far as to bring a leper into their castle and nursed him in their bed! For a moment, when Louis saw that, he was angry. Then, suddenly, instead of the leper, he saw our crucified Lord lying there! After that proof of how much Jesus appreciated Elizabeth’s charity, Louis had a hospital for lepers built.
One long, bitter cold winter, Louis had to be away from his land and when he returned, Elizabeth’s joy overflowed. After she had lovingly kissed him, Louis asked how the people had gotten through the hard winter. “I gave to God what was His,” answered his holy wife, “and God had kept for us what was ours.”
The next year, Louis left on a Crusade to free the Holy Land from the Moslems. But on the way, he caught malaria, and soon was dying.
Because he had always lived in close union with Our Lord, the brave ruler felt no fear of death. He died in great peace, after receiving the Last Sacraments. And he also had a beautiful vision of white doves coming to bring his soul to Heaven.
Today I will look for every occasion I can find to do something good to my family, friends and neighbors.
9/10/08
The Martyrs of Japan
The Martyrs of Japan – September 10th
On September tenth, in 1622, on a hill near Nagasaki, there took place what is called the great Martyrdom of Japan. Missionaries and lay people from Europe, and Japanese priests, men, women and children were put to death because they refused to give up their Faith in Jesus. The tortures they suffered seem unbelievable, yet they faced them cheerfully. They were killed by slow fires; they were lowered into a pit of hot sulphur called Hell’s Mouth; they were buried alive, branded with a cross, or left out in open prisons without coverings of food. Yet, one Japanese Christian wrote: “How happy I would be if I could be one of those glorious prisoners of Jesus Christ whose blessedness it is to die a martyr’s death!”
One little child named Peter, just six years old, was awakened in the morning to be told that he was to die with his father. Without a word, the little fellow put on his best clothes and placed his hand into the hand of the soldier who had come to lead him to his death. The first thing he saw when he reached the execution site his father’s dead body. Peter did not scream or run away. Quietly he knelt down beside that headless corpse and prayed. Then he loosened his collar and presented his neck for the stroke of the sword.
At the sight of such courage in a six-year-old child the executioner flung down his sword and ran away. No one but a cruel slave would behead the little Christian, and even he trembled so that he made the child suffer terribly before he finally killed him. Yet Blessed Peter never made a sound!
Mothers died with their children, husbands and wives were martyred together. An English sea captain said that the little ones, five and six years old, being burned in their mothers’ arms, cried out: “Jesus, receive out souls!”
So it was that in the year 1622, Japan gave many glorious and blessed martyrs to the Church and to Heaven!
What generous souls these martyrs were! And what are we doing for the salvation of our souls? If they could die for God, we can at least avoid complaining about little pains….
On September tenth, in 1622, on a hill near Nagasaki, there took place what is called the great Martyrdom of Japan. Missionaries and lay people from Europe, and Japanese priests, men, women and children were put to death because they refused to give up their Faith in Jesus. The tortures they suffered seem unbelievable, yet they faced them cheerfully. They were killed by slow fires; they were lowered into a pit of hot sulphur called Hell’s Mouth; they were buried alive, branded with a cross, or left out in open prisons without coverings of food. Yet, one Japanese Christian wrote: “How happy I would be if I could be one of those glorious prisoners of Jesus Christ whose blessedness it is to die a martyr’s death!”
One little child named Peter, just six years old, was awakened in the morning to be told that he was to die with his father. Without a word, the little fellow put on his best clothes and placed his hand into the hand of the soldier who had come to lead him to his death. The first thing he saw when he reached the execution site his father’s dead body. Peter did not scream or run away. Quietly he knelt down beside that headless corpse and prayed. Then he loosened his collar and presented his neck for the stroke of the sword.
At the sight of such courage in a six-year-old child the executioner flung down his sword and ran away. No one but a cruel slave would behead the little Christian, and even he trembled so that he made the child suffer terribly before he finally killed him. Yet Blessed Peter never made a sound!
Mothers died with their children, husbands and wives were martyred together. An English sea captain said that the little ones, five and six years old, being burned in their mothers’ arms, cried out: “Jesus, receive out souls!”
So it was that in the year 1622, Japan gave many glorious and blessed martyrs to the Church and to Heaven!
What generous souls these martyrs were! And what are we doing for the salvation of our souls? If they could die for God, we can at least avoid complaining about little pains….
9/9/08
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.
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.
9/8/08
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.
9/7/08
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.
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