Cristy Li

(Franciscan Media) Born in 1844 Bernadette was the eldest child of a very poor Mill Operator in France Lourdes. Her father Francois, was a good-natured, easy going man according to EWTN with little ability for operating a business and before many years, he forfeited the business due to debts.

During much of Bernadette’s childhood, her father worked menial jobs, picking up a days work as opportunity presented itself, from time-to-time Francois escaped his problems by turning to alcohol, something that is common to this day for some people.

Bernadette’s mother Louise and her children naturally were the ones that suffered the most as a consequence of Francois’ ineffectiveness to adequately provide for his family.

Louise was a hard worker, warm hearted neighbor and a model in her religious observances. To help feed and clothe her children, it was often necessary for Louise to go out and work by day–doing laundry for more prosperous citizens of her community and at least one occasion, she helped to harvest a crop of grain.

Bernadette was never strong as she suffered from a respiratory disease (it isn’t known whether it was asthma or tuberculosis) while her mother worked outside the home to help provide for her family, Bernadette cared for her siblings and helped in their moral and religious education.

During the Autumn of 1855 cholera struck Lourdes, Bernadette was not spared and because of her already weakened condition due to her health. A year later, the ‘Soubirous Family’ with less than a month of food in their home, sent Bernadette to live with her Auntie Bernarde to work with her.

When Bernadette returned to Lourdes, it made her very happy to be admitted to the day school conducted by the ‘Sisters of Charity’ and receive Christian instruction. At last, Bernadette began her secular education. The Nuns soon discovered that beneath the quiet and modest exterior, Bernadette had a winning personality and a sense of humor.

One very cold day when Bernadette returned home from school, her mother gave her permission to go down by the river and collect driftwood and fallen branches. Accompanied by her sister Toinette Marie and her friend Marie Abadie. Removing her stocking to cross the stream Bernadette heard a noise like a gush of wind toward the grotto, when she looked up, Bernadette saw a beautiful young lady who placed herself in a small niche in the rock, at one side of the opening and slightly above it. Bernadette starred in fascination when she saw the luminous apparition dressed in a soft white robe, golden roses gleamed on her bare feet–when the figure smiled at Bernadette, her sister and friend and beckoned them, the girls early reservations vanished and Bernadette reverently sunk to her knees and made a sign of the cross and drew her Rosary beads from her pocket that she always carried–the mysterious being also had a Rosary of large white beads and Bernadette recounted:

“The Lady let me pray alone, she passed the beads of the Rosary between her fingers but said nothing, only at the end of each decade, did she say the Gloria with me.”

When the recitation was finished, the Lady vanished into the cave and the golden mist disappeared with her–this experience affected Bernadette profoundly.

Bernadette subsequently exhibited independence. When she told her Confessor of the apparition, he made light of it think that she suffered from hallucinations. Nevertheless on the following Sunday, Bernadette asked for permission to go down to the grotto again, her father told her she may go as long as she took a flask of Holy water with her fearing that the apparition was actually a demon. Upon her arrival, Bernadette knelt down before the grotto and soon the Lady appeared as before. Bernadette sprinkled Holy water at her, the Lady smiled and bent her head, when the Rosary was finished she disappeared.

There were 18 appearances in all according to Franciscan Media the final one occurring on the ‘Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (16 July) although Bernadette, her sister Toinette Marie and their friend Marie Abadie provoked skepticism, Bernadette’s visions of ‘The Lady’ brought great crowds of the curious.

During the 13th appearance (02 March) of ‘The Lady’ Bernadette explained that she was instructed to, “Go tell the Priests to come here in procession to build a chapel here,’ at the grotto where the visions took place; During the 16th appearance (25 March) of ‘The Lady’ she revealed her name Bernadette recounted:

“She lifted up her eyes to heaven, joined her hands as though in prayer that were held out and opened towards the ground and said to me: ‘Que soy era Immaculada Concepciou.” (I am the Immaculate Conception) It was only when these word were explained to Bernadette, did she come to realize who ‘The Lady’ was.

Few visions have undergone the scrutiny that these appearance of the ‘Immaculate Conception’ were subject to. Lourdes became one of the most popular Marian shrines in the world, attracting millions of visitors. Many miracles have been reported at the Shrine and in the waters of the Spring. After thorough investigation, Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the ‘Immaculate Conception’ in 1858

During Bernadette’s lifetime her privacy was continually invaded which she bore as patiently as she could but as her fame grew, she began to withdraw more and more.

In September 1878 Bernadette made her perpetual and final vows committing the rest of her life which was ebbing away to poverty, chastity, obedience and charity. When she was confined to a wheelchair or bed, she went on with her fine needlework and now had more time for prayer and meditation.

The Nun’s and the Superior all come to regard Sister Bernadette as the ‘Vessel of Divine Grace’ and believed in the reality of her visions of the ‘Immaculate Conception’ during her youth.

Once a visitor stopped Sister Bernadette as she was passing down a corridor and asked where she could get a glimpse of Sister Bernadette? The little Nun said, “Just watch that doorway and presently you will see her go through” and she slipped away through the door. Such was the prestige her presence gave to the Order, that many young Women now joined it.

In December 1878 Sister Bernadette illnesses worsened and she was confined to her bed in ‘The White Chapel’ as she referred to her bed with its white curtains, she passed away on this date a few months later.

Sister Bernadette Soubirous was Beatified in 1925 and Canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI

Related: Prayer For the Feast of St. Bernadette -Lourdes Prayer Request

Saint Peter Gonzales
Image Courtesy: Catholic Online

(EWTN) The best of historians place the birth of Saint Peter Gonzalez in Spain in the year 1190 where he descended from an illustrious family.

Peter’s wonderful scholastic achievement in his studies, showed him endowed with an extraordinary quickness and he embraced an ecclesiastical state, though at that time a stranger to the spirit of disengagement and humility which should essentially accompany it.

To fight against pride and self-love, Peter labored strenuously to put off the old man by abstinence, humility and becoming quickly a new man in Christ-recollected, penitent, meek and humble. The better to secure his victory over the world and himself, he entered the Austere Order of St. Dominic — Having made his vows and strengthened his soul in the spirit of humility and penance, he was ordered by his superiors to employ his talents in the ministry of the divine word to which he consecrated the rest of his life to the great advantage of innumerable souls.

Fr. Gonzales passed the best part of the night in holy meditations or in the singing of praises of God, he spent the entire day ministering to the faithful, his words always animated with a burning charity and supported by example.

After King Ferdinand III and his troops defeated the Moors at Cordoba according to Franciscan Media Fr. Gonzales was successful in restraining the soldier from pillaging and he persuaded King Ferdinand, to treat the defeated Moors humanely and with compassion.

Fr. Gonzales was passionate to minister the great truths of Christianity to the poor and peasants and he ministered at many different places. At Baiona a municipality in Spain Galicia a number of individuals wanted him to preach in the open fields, subsequently a violent storm arose with wind, thunder and lightning, his audience became very uneasy, Fr. Gonzales prevailed upon them to stay and by prayer appeased the storm. All places around them were being deluged but not a drop of rain fell upon the audience. — Spanish and Portuguese Mariners invoke his intercession in storms

In April 1246 Fr. Peter Gonzales passed away during his travels in Spain Saintiago de Compostela — Fr. Peter Gonzales was Beatified in 1254 by Pope Innocent IV and Canonized in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV

More here from Franciscan Media

Pope Saint Martin I
Image: Catholic Culture

(EWTN) Born in Italy at Todi on the Tiber, Pope Martin was born in either the late 6th or early 7th century, he became a Deacon according to Catholic News Agency and served in Rome, where he acquired a reputation for education and holiness.

Pope Theodore I chose Martin as his representative (Papal Nuncio) to the Emperor in Constantinople during a period of theological controversy between the Imperial Capitol and the Roman Church.

The dispute that Martin became involved first as Papal Nuncio and later as Pope himself, was over Jesus’ human nature. (See: Galatians 4:4 and ‘Jesus Christ, God and Man’ –EWTN) Although the Church had already acknowledged the Eternal Son of God as ‘becoming man’ within history, some Eastern Bishops continued to insist that Christ’s human nature was not entirely like that of other humans.

During the 7th century, authorities within the Byzantine Church and empire, promoted a version of this heresy known as ‘monothelitism’ which taught that Jesus Christ had two natures–one human and one divine but only one will.

Pope Theodore condemned this teaching and excommunicated Patriarch Pyrrhus of Constantinople for holding to it.

Martin inherited this controversy when he succeeded Theodore I as Pope. At the Lateran Council of 649 Pope Martin I, followed his predecessors lead in condemning Pyrrhus’ successor Patriarch Paul II, who accepted Emperor Constans II decision to forbid all discussion of whether or not Jesus Christ had both a human and divine will–Pope Martin I condemned monothelitism completely and denounced those who held to it.

Pope Martin insisted that the teaching that denied Christ’s human will could not be glossed over as an irrelevant point. To refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ’s distinct divine and human wills he believed, was to deny the Biblical teaching that Christ was like humanity in everything other than sin.

“For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning.” —Hebrews 4:15

The Byzantine Emperor retaliated against Pope Martin by sending his own representative to Italy during the Council, with Orders either to arrest the Pope or have him killed.

A servant of the Emperor who attempted to assassinate Pope Martin while he was distributing Holy Communion later testified that he suddenly lost his eyesight and could not carry out the death sentence.

In 653 the Emperor again sought to silence Pope Martin, this time by sending a delegation to abduct him, a struggle ensued and the Pope was taken to Constantinople before being exiled to the Island of Naxos for a year. Those who attempted to send help to the exiled Pope Martin, were denounced as traitors of the Byzantine Empire–Eventually Pope Martin was brought back to Constantinople and sentenced to death.

Pope Martin’s appointed executioners stripped him of his clothes and led him through the city before locking him in a prison with a group of murderers–he was beaten so badly that he appeared to be on the verge of death. At the last moment however both the Patriarch of Constantinople and Emperor agreed that Pope Martin should not be executed and instead was kept in a prison before being banished again to an island that was suffering from severe famine. Pope Martin wrote to a friend that he was “not only separated from the rest of the world…even deprived of the means to live” and here passed the remaining days of his life.

Buried in the Church of Our Lady in Crimea Cherson, many miracles are related are wrought by Pope Saint Martin I in life and after his death in 655 — Pope Saint Martin was the last of the early Pontiff’s to be Venerated as a Martyr.

The Third Ecumenical Council of Constantinople eventually vindicated Pope Saint Martin I, by confirming in 681 that Jesus Christ had both a divine and human will.

More here from Franciscan Media

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings – Memorial of St. Martin I, Pope & Martyr Visit: -USCCB

St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr (1030-1079)

(Franciscan Media) Anyone who reads the history of Eastern Europe cannot help but chance on the name ‘Stanislaus’ the Bishop of Poland Krakow, who died for his faith in Jesus Christ at the hands of King Boleslaus II

Born in Poland Szczepanow in the Diocese of Krakow according to EWTN in 1030 his parents members of the nobility showed great zeal and charity in their Catholic lives. Their son studied for a time in Poland and then went on to learn theology and Canon law in Paris. The death of his parents left him a large inheritance which he gave away to the poor.

Following Stanislaus ordination as a Priest, he served the Church in Krakow in various pastoral and administrative posts–following the death of the Diocese’s leader Bishop Lambert Zula, Fr. Stanislaus was chosen his successor.

Bishop Stanislaus worked tirelessly for the Diocese and denounced vices regardless of consequence. About this time, Boelslaus had become King of Poland who was becoming notorious for his violent and depraved lifestyle. After a series of disputes over his scandalous behavior, atrocious cruelty and unbridled lust, Bishop Stanislaus found no success in his efforts to help King Boelslaus see the error in his ways and reform himself.

Sparing neither tears nor prayer and admonitions to King Boleslaus to lead a more Christian life, Boleslaus was excommunicated and the Canons of the Cathedral were instructed to discontinue the Divine Offices in case the King should attempt to enter. Bishop Stanislaus then retired  to the Chapel of St. Michael to celebrate Mass.

King Boleslaus became furious with Bishop Stanislaus and sent his guards to murder him, when they proved unwilling or unable to do so, Boleslaus took matters into his own hands and struck Bishop Stanislaus down with a sword during the Celebration of Mass. Bishop Stanislaus was soon thereafter acclaimed as a Martyr while Boleslaus II lost his grip on power and left Poland–In later years, the fallen Monarch is said to lived out his days in a Monastery repenting for the murder. 

Bishop Stanislaus was Canonized in 1253 by Pope Innocent IV

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings — Memorial of St. Stanislaus -USCCB

St. Magdalene of Canossa
Image: Canossian School

(Vatican) Born in Italy Verona of a noble and wealthy family, Magdalen was the third of six children–by the way of painful events such as her father’s death at the age of 5 and her mother’s second marriage, illness and misunderstanding, the Lord guided her towards unforeseen paths.

Drawn to the Love of God at the age of 17, she planned to consecrate her life to God and twice tried her vocation at a Carmel, however the Holy Spirit urged Magdalen to follow a new path to allow herself to be loved by Jesus Crucified, to belong to Him alone, in order to dedicate herself exclusively to those in greatest need.

Magdalene returned to her family and being compelled by sad events and tragic political circumstances at the end of the 18th Century, she nurtured her true vocation in the depth of her heart and went on with life at ‘Canossa Palace’ shouldering the burden of running her families large estate.

With complete dedication Magdalene carried out her daily tasks and widened her circle of friends, while at the same time remaining open to the mysterious action of the Holy Spirit who gradually molded her heart and enabled her to share in the love of the Father for mankind revealed by Jesus’ complete and supreme offering of Himself in the Cross and by the example of the Holy Virgin Mary–Moved by that love, Magdalene responded to the poor, hungry for food and instruction, understanding and the Word of God.

Magdalene would find them in the suburbs of Verona, where the echoes of the French Revolution, the occupation by various foreign powers and the Verona uprising had left evident signs of devastation and human suffering. Magdalene gave special attention to Girls living in poverty, together with those who had been abandoned, concentrating her efforts and energy on building up an institution for them.

In 1801 Magdalene’s work earned Napoleon’s admiration for the ‘Charitable Establishment’ erected in a suppressed Convent in a poor area.

Magdalene’s life was marked by suffering and trials, she lived in a society of contrasts between the very rich and those living in extreme poverty–the society that Magdalen had grown up in was forgetful of God, dominated by arrogance and privilege.

It was in this environment that Magdalene discovered deep within herself the desire to share the life of Jesus Christ in the Salvation of many who had been abandoned in their poverty, exploited by the egoism of the wealthy and oppressed by the evils of her day. Magdalen began to give of herself without reservation to children, youth and women who faced economic hardship, as well as moral, spiritual, intellectual and family poverty.

In 1808 Magdalene left the ‘Canossa Palace’ indefinitely with some friends, establishing herself in the poverty-stricken district of San Zeno where she found delight in giving of herself, serving the neediest persons with the Heart of Christ.

Charity is like a blazing fire — Magdalene opened her heart to the Holy Spirit who guided her to the poor in other cities: Venice, Milan, Bergamo, Trent…In only a few short decades the number of her homes increased and her religious family grew in the service of the Kingdom of God.

The Love of the Crucified and Risen Jesus, burnt in Magdalene’s heart together with her friends, became a witness for that same love in five specific areas: 

• Charity Schools, providing an all around formation geared to pupils status in life;

• Catechesis given to all classes of people, with special attention to those most ignorant of Christianity;

• Support to Women patients in hospitals;

• Residential Seminars, to train young teachers for rural areas and valuable helpers for Parish Priests in the pastoral activities;

• Yearly courses of Spiritual exercises for Ladies of the nobility, with the aim of deepening their spiritual life and involving them in various charitable works–Later on, this activity was offered to all those who had a desire for it.

Magdalene vision was that of a missionary spirit often stating that she was prepared to go anywhere and do anything so that Jesus would be known and loved but this particular dream was not to be realized in her lifetime.

Today, the Canossian Daughters of Charity living the spirit of Magdalene are present in 35 countries around the world and the ‘Canossian Family’ includes the ‘Canossian Sons of Charity’ (Priests/Brothers) together with the Lay Canossians/Secular Missionaries witnessing charity in all walk of Christian life.

In 1988 Magdalene was Canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II

Magdalene is remembered as a true witness to the constant and freely given Love of God — We give Thanks to Him for the Gift of this Mother and Sister of ours and through her intercession we ask that we may love Him as she did, above all other things and make Him known to others by the way we live our lives.

More here from Canossian Daughters of Charity

Happy Feast of the Annunciation
Image Courtesy: Giselle Theresa Cua

(Franciscan Media) For centuries the ‘Feast of the Annunciation’ has been celebrated by Christians–Its central focus is the Incarnation. God has become one of us. From all eternity God has decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. — As Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realized. Jesus Christ embraces all humanity, indeed all creation to bring it to God in one great act of love–however because humans have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and an agonizing death.

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

Blessed Virgin Mary has an important role to play in God’s plan–she is the Virgin Mother who fulfills Isaiah 7:14 and is united with her Son, in carrying out the will of God Psalms 40:8-9; Hebrews 10:7-9; Luke 1:38

The Blessed Virgin Mary shows us that we must listen to God and do His will, writes the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Prayer and action therefore go hand-in-hand. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must make time to talk and listen to Him in prayer. Examining all that we do or simply ‘living’ in the light of our prayers is essential.

Living with a heart open to God’s will has enormous implications. Different people will realize that God calls them to different things.

For an adolescent, it may mean resisting peer pressure to take part in drinking or unchaste activity. For a single adult, it may require offering personal time in service of a needy person. A businessperson may find that honesty and fairness requires a certain course of action. A married couple may realize they should have another child. A frightened pregnant Woman may understand that she needs to ask for help to resist the temptation of having an abortion. A person who is ill may have to accept her/his illness and join her/his suffering to that of Jesus Christ.

Doing God’s will is not easy. We usually have our own plans for our lives, its good to have plans but never at the expense of our growth in relationship to God.

Like Mary, we must trust that God’s will is the best for us and our world. Let us follow the example of Mary and call upon her to help us open our hearts to say “yes” to God.

More here and here from USCCB

St. John Baptist de la Salle -Image: Catholic Online

(EWTN) Born in Rhemis France, John was the eldest son of an aristocratic family, he inherited the rank and fortune of his parents which set a gulf between him and the teeming masses of the poor.

At the age of 16 when John was pursing a course in classical studies the the College des Bons Enfants, he became a Canon of the Rheims and seemed to be marked out for a successful career in the Church. John subsequently studied at Saint Sulpice and the Sorbonne for the Priesthood and was ordained at the age of twenty seven according to Franciscan Media and now, Fr. John now seemed assured of a life of dignified ease and a high position in the Church but God had other plans for him.

During a chance meeting with M. Nyle of Raven a French educator, in charge of the house of the poor in France Rouen, where he also oversaw the education of young boys, Fr. John became interested in establishing charity schools and this led him to take charge of the teachers that he brought into his home to train them.

Little-by-little Fr. John became further involved in the work until he began to realize that everything pointed to his being the chosen instrument for Providence for the creation of a system of Christian education for the poor.

As Fr. John made the will of God the guiding principle of his life, he decided to give himself up completely to this task, resigning his position as Canon and giving away his fortune to be in order to be on the same footing as the teachers (schoolmasters) that lived with him. — In so doing, this aroused the anger of Fr. John’s relatives but this in no way made him alter his resolution.

In 1684 Fr. John transformed his group of schoolmasters into a religious community under the name of ‘Brothers of the Christian Schools’ and this was the origin of the Order which continues to this day and is spread worldwide.

After opening schools in a number of neighboring towns, Fr. John went to Paris to takeover the school in the Parish of St. Sulpice and there he established his headquarters. In the Capitol of France, Fr. John’s work spread rapidly and before long, the ‘Brothers of the Christian Schools’ were teaching over 1,100 pupils.

In Paris Fr. John founded another training college with a charity school annexed and organized a Sunday Academy (or Constitution School) for youths already employed. 

The remainder of Fr. John’s life was closely entwined with the ‘Brothers of the Christian Schools’ (today known as the De La Salle Brothers) the religious community of men that Fr. John founded which grew rapidly and is successful and committed  to helping young people, working in 80 countries.

Fr. John lived until the age of 68 and passed away on Good Friday in France Rouen and was Canonized in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII