Saint John of God, Confessor (1495-1550)
by VP
Posted on Friday March 08, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. John of God saving the Sick from a Fire at the Royal Hospital in 1549 by Manuel Gómez-Moreno González (1880)
Anxious to do what he could for the relief of the poor, he hired a house for a poor sick persons, whom he served and provided for, which was the foundation of the religious Order of Charity. Though his life was taken up in active works of charity, he accompanied these with perpetual prayer and incredible corporal austerities. His sincere humility appeared most admirable in all his actions. Humiliations seemed to be his delight: he courted them and underwent them with the greatest alacrity. Worn out at last by ten years' hard service in his hospital, he fell sick. He lay in his habit in his little cell, covered with a piece of an old coat instead of a blanket, and having under his head a basket in which he used to beg alms for his hospital, though in health his usual pillow was a stone. A rich lady by permission of the archbishop removed him to her own house, and waited upon him with her maids. The archbishop said mass in his room, and administered the last sacraments to him, promising to pay all his debts and provide for all his poor. The saint expired on his knees before the altar, on the 8th March, 1550, being 55 years old.
One sermon had perfectly converted one, who had been long enslaved to the world and his passions, and made him a saint. How comes it that so many sermons and pious books produce so little fruit in our souls? It is owing to our sloth and hardness of heart, that we receive God's word in vain, and to our condemnation. Listen to it henceforth with awe and respect, in interior solitude and peace; and carefully nourish it in your heart." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Prayer: "What a glorious life was thine, O John of God! It was one of charity, and of miracles wrought by charity. Like Vincent of Paul thou wast poor, and, in thy early life, a shepherd-boy like him; but the charity which filled thy heart gave thee a power to do what worldly influence and riches never can. Thy name and memory are dear to the Church; they deserve to be held in benediction by all mankind, for thou didst spend thy life in serving thy fellow-creatures, for God's sake. That motive gave thee a devotedness to the poor, which is an impossibility for those who befriend them from mere natural sympathy. Philanthropy may be generous, and its workings may be admirable for ingenuity and order; but it never can look upon the poor man as a sacred object, because it refuses to see God in him.
Pray for the men of this generation, that they may at length desist from perverting charity into a mere mechanism of relief. The poor are the representatives of Christ, for He Himself has willed that they be such; and if the world refuse to accept them in this their exalted character, if it deny their resemblance to our Redeemer, it may succeed in degrading the poor, but by this very degradation it will make them its enemies.
Thy predilection, O John of God, was for the sick; have pity, therefore, on our times, which are ambitious to eliminate the supernatural, and exclude God from the world by what is called secularization of society.
Pray for us, that we may see how evil a thing it is to have changed the Christian for the worldly spirit. Enkindle holy charity within our hearts, that during these days, when we are striving to draw down the mercy of God upon ourselves, we also may show mercy. May we, as thou didst, imitate the example of our Blessed Redeemer, who gave Himself to us His enemies, and deigned to adopt us as His brethren. Protect also the Order thou didst institute, which has inherited thy spirit; that it may prosper, and spread in every place the sweet odor of that charity, which is its very name." The Liturgical Year: Septuagesima (4th ed.) By Prosper Gueranger, Lucien Fromage · 1909
Saint Thomas of Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, Confessor a.d. 1274
by VP
Posted on Thursday March 07, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
Saint Thomas, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio
"In his younger years having taken the habit of the Dominicans, his relations seized upon him, and by all arts endeavoured to dissuade him from his pious design. But they prevailed nothing; and after a long confinement he made his escape, and returning to his monastery, finished what he had before begun. Pray for all those who resolve upon a religious state, that they may undertake it for the best motives of God's honor, and the securing their eternal salvation. Those parents are to blame, who oppose so good a work; but those are still more criminal, who force their children into a state to which they are not called.
St. Thomas, having applied to study, arrived at that eminent degree of learning, as to be called the Angelical Doctor. He began his studies always with prayer; and for expounding difficult places of Holy Scripture, he added fasting to prayer. Thus he ever acknowledged his learning not to have been the effect of his own labor, but the blessing of Heaven.
Follow this method as far as it falls within your sphere, and since
reading spiritual books is a duty common to all, begin this always with
prayer, that so through the blessing of Heaven you may receive benefit from what you read, to the improvement of your soul. Fail not to do this as often as you take the Holy Scripture to read; that so the Divine Spirit, which was the guide in writing it, may assist you in reading it, and secure you against the ill effects of ignorance, presumption, or rashness.
Pray for all universities, colleges, and places of learning, that they may follow the method of this saint, in taking God for their helper in studies, that they may advance in virtue as well as in learning. Many in their studies, take great pains to little purpose, often to draw from them the poison of vanity or error; or at least to drain their affections, and rather to nourish pride and other vices, than to promote true virtue. Sincere humility and simplicity of heart are essential for the sanctification of studies, and for the improvement of virtue by them." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
St. Felix of Burgundy, Bishop, Apostle of the East Angles, Confessor, a.d. 646
by VP
Posted on Wednesday March 06, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. Felix. from the reredos of the church of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, UK
"Saint Felix was a native of Burgundy, who being for his virtue and merits advanced to the priestly dignity, flourished in sanctity and learning at the time when Sigebert, a prince of the East Angles, went over into that province. Becoming acquainted with St. Felix, he was convinced by him of the errors of Paganism, was baptised by St. Felix, and became a sincere and zealous Christian. Some time after, Sigebert was called home to succeed to the kingdom, and made it his first care to introduce the Christian religion into his provinces of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, and to establish it on a solid foundation. For this purpose he invited over from France his spiritual father, St. Felix; who without demur quitted his country, friends, and native home, to come and preach the faith of Christ to an uncivilised Pagan people. To proceed regularly in so great an undertaking, he addressed himself to Honorius, archbishop of Canterbury, by whom he was duly authorized and commissioned to preach to the East Angles. King Sigebert received him with great honor, and appointed him for his residence the place now called Dunwich in Suffolk, formerly a great town, but long ago swallowed up by the sea. St. Felix was consecrated bishop by St. Honorius, and undertook his apostolic charge with an ardent desire of the glory of God and the salvation of souls. He founded, with the help of the king, churches, monasteries, and schools; and brought over the whole kingdom to the true faith. St. Felix was bishop for seventeen years, and had during that time discharged the duties of a most zealous and vigilant pastor. At length he departed to our Lord in the year 646, and was buried in the church of Dunwich; but his relics were afterwards translated to the abbey of Ramsey.
Pray for your country.
Give God thanks for all those apostolic men, by whose labors God
brought so great a blessing to this nation; and beseech him to revive a
like spirit in all who succeed to their charge. Pray for the pastors of this nation, that God would animate them with true zeal for the good of their flock." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
St. Gerasimus, Anchoret, a.d. 475.
by VP
Posted on Tuesday March 05, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was born in Lycia. He went into Palestine, and retiring into a desert near the Jordan, suffered much from the assaults of the devil, and by his snares was prevailed on to take part with heretics. But having heard of the eminent virtues of St. Euthymius, a holy abbot in Palestine, he went to him in his solitude; he was so moved with his discourse, that he returned to the faith of the Church. He grieved bitterly during his whole life for having gone astray, and this fault made him more humble, vigilant, and penitent than ever.
St. Gerasimus afterwards built a large laura with separate cells for seventy solitaries, and in the midst of it, a monastery for cenobites, that is, those who lived in community. Here he entered with those who joined him into a severe penance of poverty and humility, observing entire silence for five days in the week; and on them admitting no other food but bread, dates and water. They had no clothes but the habit which they wore, and no furniture but a mat for their bed, and a pitcher for the water which they drank. They employed themselves in manual labor, making baskets of palm branches.
The inhabitants of Jericho, full of astonishment and admiration at the rigorous lives of these holy men, resolved to provide something more for their support. But the greater part of them were grieved to have their solitude broken in upon by people of the world, and shunned all intercourse with them as full of danger. St. Gerasimus persevered in this edifying course of life till his happy death on the 5th of March, 475.
Let the example of those, who are above your imitation, excite in you a resolution of doing something to overcome yourself. If you make inclination and the world your rule, you forsake the Gospel,
which commands you to renounce both. You must deny yourself, if you
will be Christ's disciple. A remissness in observing discipline is the first step to the greatest
disorders. Niceness, self-love, and sloth, find reasons for dispensing
with it; but no favor must be shown to their arguments." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
St. Casimir, Prince of Poland, Confessor, a.d. 1483
by VP
Posted on Monday March 04, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
Saint Casimir by Agostino Masucci
(1691–1758)
"He was son of Casimir, king of Poland, who amidst all the softness of the court, lived with the austerity of the desert, in fasting and sackcloth, even in his youthful years. He was eminent for his charity in relieving the distressed, so as to be styled the father of the poor; and was very careful to avoid everything that could be prejudicial to chastity.
Pray for all those, who live amidst the dangers of the court; and in particular for princes, that, being God's vicegerents, they may encourage religion and virtue, and not permit that general depravity in persons attending them, by whose profaneness, irreligion, and luxury, their courts become the resemblance of hell, while the power of God is in the throne. Pray likewise for persons of quality of both sexes, that they may not employ their youthful years in vanities and dangerous follies, nor sully the honor of their birth with dishonourable practices, such as make them the worst of slaves, and render them contemptible both to God and man. The abuse of those blessings, with which they are encompassed above their neighbors, will be one day a very heavy charge; and it will be an aggravation of their hell to have all their imperiousness and pride trampled on by devils. The method of this saint in charity, piety, and penance is the only Christian honor; and this will raise all that follow it to the honor of saints. The ecclesiastical season of the year calls all now to it. See that you embrace it heartily; labor by an exact observance, to make some atonement for all past follies, and never remit your endeavors, till you have wrought a solid change in your soul." The Catholic Year by Rev. John Gother
For the Church and Civil Authorities by Archbishop Carroll:
We pray Thee, O almighty and Eternal
God, Who through Jesus Christ Hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to
preserve the works of Thy mercy; that thy Church, being spread through
the whole world, may continue, with unchanging faith, in the confession
of Thy name. We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow
with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life our Pope
Francis, the vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ in the government of His
Church; our own bishop ...; all the other bishops, prelates, and pastors
of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise
among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people
into the ways of salvation.
We pray Thee, O God of might,
wisdom, and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgments decreed, assist, with the Holy Spirit of
counsel and fortitude, the President of the United States, that his
administration may be
conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people,
over whom he presides, by
encouraging due respect for virtue and religion;
by faithful execution of the law in justice and
mercy; and by restraining vice
and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress,
and shine forth in all the
proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government;
so that they may tend to the preservation
of peace, the promotion of national happiness,
the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful
knowledge, and may
perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty.
We pray for his Excellency the Governor of
this State, for the members of the Assembly,
for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who
are appointed to guard our political welfare; that they may be enabled,
by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties
of their respective stations with honesty and
ability. We
recommend likewise to Thy unbounded mercy all our brethren and fellow
citizens, throughout the
United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge, and sanctified
in the observance of Thy
most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace
which the world cannot give;
and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those
which are eternal.
Finally, we pray Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy
servants departed who are gone
before us with the sign of faith, and repose in the sleep of peace:
the souls of our parents, relations, and friends;
of those who, when living, were members of this
congregation; and particularly of such as are lately deceased;
of all benefactors who, by their
donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the
decency of divine worship,
and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance.To these, O Lord, and to
all that rest in Christ, grant we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment,
light, and everlasting
peace, through the same Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Saint Simplicius (47th Pope)
by VP
Posted on Saturday March 02, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"Saint Simplicius was the ornament of the Roman Clergy under Sts. Leo and Hilarius, and succeeded the latter in the pontificate in 468. He was raised by God to comfort and support his Church amidst the greatest storms. All the provinces of the Western Empire, out of Italy, were fallen into the hands of barbarians. The emperors for many years were rather shadows of power than sovereigns, and, in the eighth year of the pontificate of Simplicius, Rome itself fell a prey to foreigners. Italy, by oppression and the ravages of barbarians, was left almost a desert without inhabitants; and the imperial armies consisted chiefly of barbarians, hired under the name of auxiliaries. These soon saw that their masters were in their power. The Heruli demanded one third of the lands of Italy, and, upon refusal, chose for their leader Odoacer, one of the lowest extraction but a resolute and intrepid man, who was proclaimed king at Rome in 476. He put to death Orestes, who was regent of the empire for his son Augustulus, whom the senate had advanced to the imperial throne. Odoacer spared the life of Augustulus, appointed him a salary of six thousand pounds of gold, and permitted him to live at full liberty near Naples.
Pope Simplicius was wholly taken up in comforting and relieving the afflicted, and in sowing the seeds of the Catholic faith among the barbarians. The East gave his zeal no less employment and concern. Peter Cnapheus, a violent Eutychian, was made by the heretics Patriarch of Antioch ; and Peter Mongus, one of the most profligate men, that of Alexandria. Acacius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, received the sentence of St. Simplicius against Cnapheus, but supported Mongus against him and the Catholic Church, and was a notorious changeling, double-dealer, and artful hypocrite, who often made religion serve his own private ends. St. Simplicius at length discovered his artifices, and redoubled his zeal to maintain the Holy faith, which he saw betrayed on every side, list the patriarchal sees of Alexandria and Antioch were occupied by furious wolves, and there was not one Catholic king in the whole world. The emperor measured everything by his passions and human views. St. Simplicius, having sat fifteen years eleven months and six days, went to receive the reward of his labors in 483. He was buried in St. Peter's on the 2d of March."
Reflection.-" He that trusteth in God shall fare never the worse," saith the Wise Man in the Book of Ecclesiasticus.
Source: Lives of the Saints, with reflections for every day in the year.
Prayer for the Pope ( by Pope Leo XIII)
O Lord, we are the millions of
believers, humbly kneeling at Thy feet and begging Thee to preserve,
defend and save the Sovereign Pontiff for many years. He is the Father
of the great fellowship of souls and our Father as well. On this day, as
on every other day, he is praying for us also, and is offering unto
Thee with holy fervor the sacred Victim of love and peace.
Wherefore, O Lord, turn Thyself toward us with eyes of pity; for we are
now, as it were, forgetful of ourselves, and are praying above all for
him. Do Thou unite our prayers with his and receive them into the bosom
of Thine infinite mercy, as a sweet savor of active and fruitful
charity, whereby the children are united in the Church to their Father.
All that he asks of Thee this day, we too ask it of Thee in unison
with him. Whether he weeps or rejoices, whether he hopes or offers
himself as a victim of charity for his people, we desire to be united
with him; nay more, we desire that the cry of our hearts should be made
one with his. Of Thy great mercy grant, O Lord, that not one of us may
be far from his mind and his heart in the hour that he prays and offers
unto Thee the Sacrifice of Thy blessed Son.
At the moment when
our venerable High Priest, holding in His hands the very Body of Jesus
Christ, shall say to the people over the Chalice of benediction these
words: "The peace of the Lord be with you always, grant, O Lord, that
Thy sweet peace may come down upon our hearts and upon all the nations
with new and manifest power. Amen.
Saint Chad, Bishop and Confessor, a.d. 673
by VP
Posted on Saturday March 02, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, found the ordination of St. Chad defective, and adjudged the see of York to St. Wilfrid. St. Chad willingly offered to resign his bishopric, of which he had never thought himself worthy. But St. Theodore was so charmed with his humility, that he would not admit of his resignation, but supplied what he found wanting to his ordination. The humble prelate retired to his former monastery; but was soon after appointed bishop of the Mercians, and fixed his episcopal see at Lichfield. By his heavenly doctrine and saintly life, he shone forth as one of the brightest stars in the firmament of God's Church. His common abode was in a house which he had built near the church at Lichfield; wherein he was accustomed to pray and read with seven or eight brethren, as often as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry of the Word. He had governed his diocese with admirable perfection for two years and a half, when he died in the great pestilence, on the 2nd of March, in 673.
Pray for all the prelates of Christ's Church, and in particular for those of your country, that both by word and example they may be lights to the faithful, to lead them into all truth and holiness. Pray for the people of this
nation, that God would show mercy to them, in removeing his judg ments,
and raising up apostolic men, by those labours vice and profaneness may
be banished from this island." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Saint David, Wales and Saint Albinus, Brittany (Bishops)
by VP
Posted on Friday March 01, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"From his tender years, he gave great proofs of the fear and love of God, which increased in him as he grew up, together with a love of purity, and a diligent application to sacred literature: and such was the progress he made in virtue and learning, that he was judged worthy of being advanced to the priesthood. He exercised his talents in preaching the word of life, and propagating the kingdom of Christ among the Britons. He gained innumerable souls to God, by word and example. He also collected a great number of disciples, desirous to aspire to Christian perfection in a monastic life; in favour of whom he founded twelve religious houses, under a most excellent rule and institute.
Whilst he was thus conducting many holy souls to Christian perfection, he was invited by St. Dubritius to a national synod of British bishops, assembled at Brevi, in Cardiganshire, against the Pelagian heresy. At the conclusion of the synod, St. Dubritius resigned his archbishopric to St. David, who removed the metropolitan see to Menevia, now called St. David's.
Such was the life and conversation of this holy archbishop, that he was looked upon as the glory of Britain, and the father of his country. He has ever since been honored as the principal patron of Wales, on account of his eminent sanctity, and the great miracles, for which he was renowned, both in his life and after his death. He was a mirror and pattern to all; instructing all, both by word and example; an excellent preacher in words, but more excellent in works. He was an instruction to all, a model to the religious, life to the poor, support to orphans, defence to widows, father to the fatherless, a rule to monks, and a model to teachers; becoming all to all, to gain all to God.
St. David having founded several monasteries, and been the spiritual father of many saints, died about the year 544, at a very advanced age. Pray for all bishops in Christ's Church. Pray for your country; that God would in his mercy remove from it all errors and schisms, and establish it in the unity of its primitive faith. And let the ancient Britons have this day a part in your prayers.
It being the first day of the month, consecrate it by a sincere oblation of yourself to God, and his service. Beg his blessing on yourself, and all who belong to you; and beseech him to accompany you in the discharge of all your duties, and preserve you from temptation and sin." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
"Saint David, son of Sant, Prince of Cardigan and of Non, was born in that country in the fifth century, and from his earliest years gave himself wholly to the service of God. He began his religious life under Saint Paulinus, a disciple of St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, who had been sent to Britain by Pope Saint Celestine to stop the ravages of the heresy of Pelagius, at that time abbot, as it is said, of Bangor. On the reappearance of that heresy, in the beginning of the sixth century, the bishops assembled at Brevi, and, unable to address the people that came to hear the word of truth, sent for St. David from his cell to preach to them. The Saint came, and it is related that, as he preached, the ground beneath his feet rose and became a hill, so that he was heard by an innumerable crowd. The heresy fell under the sword of the Spirit, and the Saint was elected Bishop of Caerleon on the resignation of St. Dubricius ; but he removed the see to Menevia, a lone and desert spot, where he might, with his monks, serve God away from the noise of the world. He founded twelve monasteries, and governed his Church according to the canons sanctioned in Rome. At last, when about eighty years of age, he laid himself down, knowing that his hour was come. As his agony closed, Our Lord stood before him in a vision, and the Saint cried out, “ Take me up with Thee,” and so gave up his soul on Tuesday, March 1, 561."
Saint Albinus, Bishop. Saint Albinus was of an ancient and noble family in Languidic Vannes, Brittany, and from his childhood was fervent in every exercise of piety. He ardently sighed after the happiness which a devout soul finds in being perfectly disengaged from all earthly things. Having embraced the monastic state at Tintillant, near Angers, he shone a perfect model of virtue, living as if in all things he had been without any will of his own; and his soul seemed so perfectly governed by the spirit of Christ as to live only for Him. At the age of thirty-five years he was chosen abbot, in 504, and twenty-five years afterwards Bishop of Angers. He everywhere restored discipline, being inflamed with a holy zeal for the honor of God. His dignity seemed to make no alteration either in his mortification or in the constant recollection of his soul. Honored by all the world, even by kings, he was never affected with vanity. Powerful in works and miracles, he looked upon himself as the most unworthy and most unprofitable among the servants of God, and had no other ambition than to appear such in the eyes of others as he was in those of his own humility. In the third Council of Orleans, in 538, he procured the thirtieth canon of the Council of Epaone to be revived, by which those are declared excommunicated who presume to contract incestuous marriages in the first or second degree of consanguinity or affinity. He died on the 1st of March, in 549.
Reflection.— With whatever virtues a man may be endowed, he will discover, if he considers himself attentively, a sufficient depth of misery to afford cause for deep humility; but Jesus Christ says, “ He that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Source: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 1894
