St. Gregory VII

"THIS saint was born in Tuscany, and educated at Rome.. He wonderfully illustrated the Church of God by his learning, sanctity, and every kind of virtue. While he was yet a youth, he entered the monastery of Cluni, and served God in a religious state with so much fervour, that he was elected prior by the holy fathers of that monastery. But Divine Providence had greater designs upon him, and he was called back to Rome, where he signalized himself by his zeal, sanctity,and learning, and preached with great reputation and fruit in the court of the pious Emperor Henry III. The holy Pope St. Leo IX. had the highest esteem for him, often followed his counsels, and made him abbot of St. Paul's. In 1054 he was sent by Pope Victor II. as legate into France, in order to abolish the practice of simony in conferring benefices in the Church. A certain bishop who was accused of this crime, denied the charge. St. Gregory bade him recite the Glory be to the Father, which he endeavoured to do, but was never able to pronounce the name of the Holy Ghost. At this miraculous conviction he was struck with remorse and confusion, and casting himself at the saint's feet, humbly confessed his crime.

"Two friends, who, as it is related by St. Gregory, entered into a desert of Italy; where they followed the example of the hermits of the East, in mortification and prayer, still united in one heart and one spirit. This was the more remarkable in them, because they were of very different tempers; the one being a man full of ardour and zeal for the salvation of others, and solicitous for glorifying God in the edification of his neighbour; the other being of a more mild and retired spirit, confining his thoughts to God and his own soul. One of them was afterwards chosen abbot of a monastery, and the other continued in his solitude: and as they had been examples of piety living, so they happily ended their days in the sixth century.

The lesson of this day is sufficiently difficult, that is, how to keep peace and a good correspondence with those who are disagreeable to you in temper and humour. And yet if you have not the practice of it, you are not yet come to the knowledge and life of charity. If then you cannot bear with the ways, words, and actions of such persons, but with inward contempt, expressions of dislike, peevish contradictions, impertinent disputes and quarrels; you must not think to justify yourself, by throwing the fault upon such provoking humours. For your being so easily provoked by them, is a certain sign that you are wanting in patience, discretion, and charity. These in any tolerable degree, would not permit you to be so easily moved, both for your own sake and for others. If you have any principles of charity or the gospel, they will teach you patience, and likewise to bear with others. Wherever there is but a moderate degree of prudence, it will oblige you to reflect, that as you yourselves are sometimes out of humour, and desire others to bear with you, so you ought to take your turn, and bear with others. Great allowances are to be made for all as to their particular way, or humour. You are not to expect every one to follow the rule which you judge best; but to preserve peace and charity by uniform patience and forbearance. Direct accordingly your prayers and endeavours." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"Saint Rita of Cascia, whose feast is celebrated on May 22, was born at Rocca Porena in the diocese of Spoleto and the province of Umbria, Italy, about the year 1386, and died at Cascia in the year 1456. Being the daughter of parents who were advanced in years, she met with much opposition when she made known her intention of becoming a nun. Yielding to their entreaties, she married a man who, in a short time, lost his reputation on account of his cruelty. After converting him from his wicked ways, he was murdered by an enemy. Rita's two sons resolved to take revenge, but through her prayers they repented of their sins and were taken away by death. Left alone in the world, she applied several times for admission into the Augustinian Convent at Cascia. Refusal to receive her followed every application, until God Himself cleared away all obstacles and she entered the convent, made her profession and lived the life of a holy and devout Religious for forty-two years, "a shining example of every Christian virtue, pure as a lily, simple as a dove, and obedient as an angel."

That "God is wonderful in His saints" is easily proved in the life of St. Rita. On one occasion Rita requested a rose to be brought to her from her garden at Porena in the midst of winter. The rose was found in full bloom. At another time she asked for a fig, and the same was found. The report of these wonders spread far and wide, and people flocked to the convent from all parts of Europe, only to receive in return for their faith in God through the prayers of Rita many spiritual and temporal favors.

Owing to the great number of miracles wrought by St. Rita, she is often styled "The Saint of the Impossible." The Church has placed her stamp of approval on these miracles of St. Rita and has raised her to the dignity of the altar by canonizing her a saint of God on the 24th of May, 1900.

Reflection: Let us learn from the life of St. Rita to pray frequently for the conversion of sinners. There is no prayer more pleasing to God than that which has for its object the conversion of those who lead lives of sin, particularly sins against faith, such as leaving the one true Church and practicing a false religion, wilful doubt, disbelief, denial, ignorance, and those who commit sin by exposing their faith to danger." Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints.

Our Own St. Rita, Fr. Matthew Corcoran

Prayer: Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for thy lavishness in granting favors hast been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible; St. Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of such compassionate love for thy Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from Him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee expecting, if not always relief, at least comfort; be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own devotion, and for the consolation of those who trust in thee.

 We promise, if our petition is granted, to glorify thee by making know thy favor, to bless and sing thy praises forever. Relying then upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee grant that [here mention your request].

By the singular merits of thy childhood,  Obtain for us our request.
By thy perfect union with the Divine Will, Obtain for us our request.
By thy heroic sufferings during thy married life, Obtain for us our request.
By the consolation thou didst experience at the conversion of thy husband,Obtain for us our request.
By the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God,Obtain for us our request.
By the miraculous entrance into the convent,Obtain for us our request.
By thy severe penances and thrice daily bloody scourgings, Obtain for us our request.
By the suffering caused by the wound thou didst receive from the thorn of thy Crucified Savior, Obtain for us our request.
By the Divine love which consumed thy heart, Obtain for us our request.
By that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,on which alone thou didst exist for four years, Obtain for us our request.
By the happiness with which thou didst part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse, Obtain for us our request.
By the perfect example thou gavest to people of every state of life, Obtain for us our request.
Pray for us, O holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray:  O God, Who in Thine infinite tenderness hast vouchsafed to regard the prayer of Thy servant, Blessed Rita, and dost grant to her supplication that which is impossible to human foresight, skill and efforts, in reward of her compassionate love and firm reliance on Thy promise, have pity on our adversity and succor us in our calamities, that the unbeliever may know Thou art the recompense of the humble, the defense of the helpless, and the strength of those who trust in Thee, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

"AFTER a pious education in a seminary at Gubio, a city in the ecclesiastical states, he was made by the bishop prior of his cathedral. After some time he was consecrated bishop of Gubio, by the pope himself. He made it his whole business to adorn his high station with all the virtues of a true successor of the apostles. But the mildness and patience, by which he appeared insensible to injuries and affronts, was one of the brightest parts of his character. The two last years of his life, he laboured under a complication of painful distempers, which he bore with the patience of a saint. On Easter day, his devotion to the glorious mystery of that festival, made him forget his infirm condition, so that he got up, said Mass, and gave the people a discourse on eternal life. He continued till the feast of the Ascension to prepare himself for death, and having received the rites of the Church, expired on the 16th of May, 1160.

"A SERVANT of God who in solitude sought security against the dangers of his youthful years; and having lived a long time in the exercise of prayer and mortification, was called forth to undertake the charge of the apostolic see. In this exalted station, he wholly applied himself to perform the duties of a good pastor. But he felt the weight of his dignity every day more and more insupportable; and at length determined to resign his charge. He found the infinite cares of that function a hindrance to his accustomed recollection. Wherefore, he held a consistory of cardinals, and read before them the solemn act of his abdication. He then laid aside his pontifical robes, put on his religious habit, came down from his throne, and cast himself at the feet of the assembly, begging pardon for his faults, and exhorting them to choose a more worthy successor of St. Peter. He returned to his hermitage, and eminent in all virtues, died in retirement in 1296.

Pray for all who are engaged in the public concerns of the Church, that in their solicitude for others, they be not wanting in that charity, which is due to themselves. This charity is due to them from the flock, who receive the benefit of their care. Pray for yourself, and see that no excess of worldly solicitude may so take up your heart and thoughts, as to rob your soul of that care, which is necessary for its eternal good. You may have a variety of business; but remember that the business of eternity is your greatest; and ought to take place of all the rest. If for this, you are forced to be wanting to some others, you will be no loser in the end.

But who can promise this, if you neglect heaven for earth? And what think you of unlawful employments, which are inconsistent with your spiritual duties? What of that perpetual dissipation of mind occasioned by thrusting yourself into the affairs of others, through your busy temper, by your pride, vanity, and immoderate diversions? Take care to remove all such distractions. The rule of the Gospel is to forsake all for Christ; all at least that hinders you from being a good Christian."

"A HOLY man, who having employed the years of his youth in exercises of piety, put himself into an hospital, among the number of those who were to take care of the sick. There he satisfied all the duties of that place with wonderful charity, and in the practice of great mortification. He declared his aversion so much against whatever savoured of impurity, that no one dared to speak an unbecoming word in his presence. He afterwards entered the order of St. Francis, where endeavouring to outgo all in humility and other exercises of a religious life, and by his zealous preaching to reclaim the world from vice, he ended his days in the year 1444.

Learn from this servant of God to shew your charity to the sick, as occasion shall offer. There are many ways in which you may bring them comfort; and if at any time their weakness proves a trial of your patience, see that you be not wanting in it. Bearing with the infirmities of the miserable, is a sure means of finding mercy with God. Pray daily for all that are thus visited by the hand of God with distempers of mind or body, especially for the poor who are destitute of help, that heaven would be their comfort, and mercifully supply their wants. Learn something of the zeal of this saint, in prudently making war against vice, and in particular discountenancing whatever offends against chastity. St. Paul commands you to avoid all filthy communication, and that no indecent word should be so much as named among Christians. Be exact, even to a niceness, in observing this precept. Carefully avoid all expressions of double meaning, which no pious Christian can employ, or tolerate in others, without denouncing that purity, which the Gospel requires, and evidently hazarding his salvation. Can there be innocence in being the devil's instrument, and conveying poison into the souls of others, which penetrates deeper, the more wit it carries with it? All such discourse and expressions are a breach of the commandments, and contrary to the Gospel; and must be renounced by all, who pretend to be Christians. Make firm resolutions upon this matter; discourage all such pernicious practice in others, and pray for all who place their diversion in what is so serviceable to the devil." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

-"And I say that the priest doth more grievous wrong by giving bad example merely by scandalizing his neighbor by a wicked life, than if a layman where to go out to rob in the highway.The reason is this: that he who standeth in the highway doth rob the man who passeth by, and doth take from him his money, his horse, his garments, and all that which he findeth, but the other with his evil example doth make away with both soul and body of the man whom he doth scandalize thereby, and leaveth him to say and to do evil and to commit sin."Source: Sermons (iv backbiters are treated of with most beautiful examples, page 28) Saint Bernardine of Siena

-"Whenever you hear sodomy mentioned, each and every one of you spit on the ground and clean your mouth out as well. If they don't want to change their ways by any other means, maybe they will change when they're made fools of. Spit hard! Maybe the water of your spit will extinguish their fire." Lenten sermon preached in Santa Croce, 1424

Prayer:

"Apostle of peace! Italy, whose factions were so often quelled by thee, may well number thee among her protectors. Behold her now a prey to the enemies of Jesus, rebellious against the Church of God, and abandoned to her fate. Oh! Forget not, that she is thy native land, that she was obedient to thy preaching, and that thy memory was long most dear to her. Intercede in her favor; deliver her from her oppressors; and show, that when earthly armies fail, the hosts of heaven can always save both cities and countries.

Illustrious son of the great Patriarch of Assisi! The seraphic Order venerates thee as one of its main supports. Thou didst re-animate it to its primitive observance; continue, now from heaven, to protect the work thou commenced here on earth. The Order of St. Francis is one of the grandest consolations of holy Mother Church; make this Order for ever flourish, protect it in its trials, give it increase in proportion to the necessities of the Faithful; for thou art the second Father of this venerable family, and thy prayers are powerful with the Redeemer, whose glorious Name thou confessed upon earth." Source: Dom Gueranger

Scarsellino:  Martyrdom of St. Venantius of Camerino

"A YOUTH of fifteen, of Camerino in Italy, who was accuesd under Decius the emperor, for his faith in Christ. He suffered many martyrdoms, being scourged, hung up by the heels over smoke, cast upon a dunghill with his teeth beaten out, and his jaws broken. He was also exposed to lions, dragged by horses, thrown off a rock, and at length beheaded with many others, who, moved by that divine power, which appeared so visibly in his protection, had believed in Christ. Pray for all those, who throughout the world suffer for their faith, for truth, or for justice. Pray for all of both sexes, who at the age of this martyr, being charmed with the follies and vanities of the world, are solicitous to please themselves, but forget God. It is an afflicting thought to consider the great corruption of youth; how early a knowledge they have of evil, and how ripe they are for vice. It is the care and duty of parents to prevent this mischief, by sweetly inspiring them with good principles, by teaching them the art of employing themselves usefully, of loving business and home. Reasonable diversions are not to be denied them; but care must be taken that they grow not too much in love with them. When diversions are allowed as an encouragement to duty, they are very commendable, and have a very good effect. But if a person is fond of idle conversation, loves gaming, plays, romances, entertainments, and late hours, is averse to all employment, to the methods of good discipline, and to whatever is serious and moderate; such a one is in the highway to ruin. It must be therefore the care of parents discreetly to moderate such inclinations in their children, and by easy self-denials insensibly lead them to the practice of overcoming themselves. This is laying in them the first seeds of martyrdom, and teaching them to be Christians.

Pray for patience and courage for yourself in all difficulties and troubles: and let the great sufferings of this martyr in his tender years be a subject of reproach and confusion to you, that you yet understand so little, what it is to suffer with resignation and patience." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Practise the humility of this saint. For though you are not obliged to follow him in habit, yet, unless, like him, you are truly humble and poor in spirit, you cannot be a true disciple. Pride has many subtle ways, and requires your best observation to discover it, and yet greater care to overcome it. Study all its ways, and by prayers call in heaven to your assistance." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"His parents neglected nothing to give him a good education; nor could a child give more promising hopes of future greatness by his mildness, gentleness, docility, devotion, and application to his studies. He had from his tender years regarded the priesthood as the great object of his pious ambition, that he might devote himself in the most perfect manner to promote the divine honour. Having produced great fruit after his ordination in extirpating vice, and recalling many who had strayed from the paths of virtue, he was chosen a canon of Prague, and afterwards called to preach at court before the Emperor Wenceslaus. He was much applauded by the court and by the emperor himself, whose wicked passions the saint was for some time enabled to check. The emperor offered him great dignities, but he constantly refused them all. He would only accept the office of almoner, which enabled him to assist the poor, and gain souls to God.

The empress chose him for her director, and under his guidance, made great progress in virtue and piety. But Wenceslaus, the emperor, was a man of savage and vicious inclinations, and only grew more impatient and extravagant by the piety of the empress, and by the tenderness and condescension with which she behaved towards him. In a fit of mad jealousy, he made her virtuous conduct an argument for suspicion; and made an impious attempt to extort from St. John what she had disclosed to him in the secret of confession. The saint was struck with horror at such a question; and could never be brought, either by promises or threats, or torments, to betray the confidence reposed in him. By the wicked emperor's command he was thrown into a dungeon, and afterwards released and tempted again by the same impious proposal. The saint firmly refused, and was again put into prison and inhumanly tortured. He was stretched on a sort of rack; burning torches were applied to his body; he was burnt at a slow fire, and tormented in other ways. Under his tortures, he pronounced no other words but the sacred names of Jesus and Mary, and when loosened from the rack, was left half dead. But our Lord visited his servant with the sweetest consolations. Soon after the barbarous emperor ordered the holy man to be thrown off a bridge into the river with his hands tied, which was executed on the 16th of May, 1383. A heavenly light appeared over his body in the waters. It was taken out of the river with great honour, and every one flocked to kiss the hands and feet of the glorious martyr, and recommend themselves to his prayers.

Implore his intercession this day; and pray that you may ever, like him, be firm and faithful to your duty to God, unmoved by any fear of men." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother