(Catholic Stand) Son of a Roman Nobleman, young Maurus entered the Monastery at Subiaco around the age of twelve under the care of Benedict of Nursia (480-543) where he would become a Monk and Benedict’s protege.
It wasn’t uncommon in Maurus time for parents to offer their children as ‘Oblates’ to a Monastery where they would be provided with a sound education both intellectually and morally.
More here from Catholic Encyclopedia and here from Wikipedia
St. Cecilia (3rd Century)
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization
(Franciscan Media) Although Cecilia is one of the most famous of the Roman Martyrs for Christ, the familiar stories about her may not be founded in reliable material. There is no trace of honor being paid to her in early time. A fragmentary inscription of the late 4th century refer to a Church named after her and her Feast day was celebrated at least in 545
According to legend, Cecilia was a young Christian of high rank, betrothed to a Roman named Valerian of Trastevere through her influence, Valerian converted and was martyred along with his brother in Italy Rome in 229
St. Cecilia was reportedly beheaded according to SQPN after attempts to suffocate her failed.
Since the time of the Renaissance, St. Cecilia has usually been portrayed with a viola or a small organ.
Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Cecilia, Visit: -USCCB
Blessed Virgin Mary
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization
(CNA) “Religious parents never fail by devout prayer to consecrate their children to the Divine service and love both before and after their birth,” writes EWTN and today’s Feast commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child in the temple. Tradition holds that all young Jewish girls were left in the care of the temple for a period of time, during which they were educated.
The Feast day originated in Asia, probably about the 7th century and is found in the constitution of ‘Manuel Comnenus’ (1166) as a recognized festival. — It was introduced in the Western Church in the 14th century. Pope Pius V, struck it from the calendar however Pope Sixtus V later reestablished the Feast in 1585
The Church Commemorates:
- Virgin Mary Mother of God (01 January)
- Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (31 May)
- Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (08 September)
- Feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (08 December) emphasizing the holiness conferred on Mary from the beginning of her life on earth, continued through her early childhood and beyond.
More here from Franciscan Media
(Catholic Online) Martyr and valiant defender of Christianity in Caesarea, Agapius was taken prisoner during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in 306 AD, three times suffered imprisonment for his faith in Jesus, released after enduring torture each time. When Agapius was arrested a fourth time, he was offered a pardon if he would deny Christ Jesus, when he refused, he was penned up with wild animals, while they inflicted severe trauma to him he was found still alive the following day, subsequently Agapius was weighted down with heavy stones, cast into the sea and drowned.
Jesus: “Do not fear those who kill the body but can not kill the soul, rather fear Him (Almighty God) who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.” –Matthew 10:28
Related: Why Do Catholic’s Seek the Intercession of Saint’s?
St. Agnes of Assisi Pray for Us That We May Also Have
The Gift of Great Faith —My Catholic Faith Ministries
(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Assisi, Saint Agnes was the sister of Saint Clare of Assisi — Founder of Poor Clare Sisters (Feast Day: 11 August) and her first followers.
When Agnes left home two weeks after her sister Clare departed, her family attempted to bring Agnes back by force. — The attempted to drag her out of the Monastery but all of a sudden, her body became so heavy that several Knights could not budge it. Agnes’ uncle Monaldo attempted to strike/hit her but found himself temporarily paralyzed. The Knights subsequently left both Agnes and Clare in peace.
Agnes matched her sister Clare devotion to prayer and penance which characterized their lives at St. Damiano — In 1221 a group of Benedictine Nuns of Monticelli (near Florence) would ask to become Poor Clare Sisters – Clare would send her her Sister Agnes to become Abbess of that Monastery, Agnes would subsequently write a rather sad letter, describing how much she missed her Sister Clare and the other Nuns at St. Damiano. After establishing other ‘Poor Clare Monasteries’ in Italy, Agnes was recalled to St. Damiano in 1253 when her Sister Clare was dying. — Agnes followed Clare in death just 3 months later and was Canonized in 1753 by Pope Benedict XIV
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
-Image Courtesy: Catholic Online
(CNA) Born in France Grenoble to a family of wealth with political connections, Rose’s father Pierre Francois Duchesne was an Attorney, businessman and prominent civic leader, her mother Rose Perier according to SQPN was a member of a leading family.
From the age of 8 Rose had a desire to evangelize in the United States sparked by hearing a Jesuit Missionary speak of his work there.
Rose received a basic education at home from private tutors and religious instruction from her mother. At the age of 12, Rose was sent to be educated at the Convent of the ‘Visitations Nuns’ in Grenoble, she would join them at the age of 19 despite her parents opposition.
When the French Revolution broke out the Convent was closed and Rose began caring for the poor and sick, opening a school for homeless children and risking her life to help Priests in the underground.
When the political turmoil cooled, Rose rented her former Convent (now in shambles) and attempted to revive its religious life but the spirit was gone from it and there were only 4 Nuns left. Rose and her Sisters, joined the newly formed ‘Society of the Sacred Heart’ whose young Superior Saint Madeline Sophie Barat (Feast Day: 29 May) would be her lifelong friend.
In a short time Sister Rose ‘Philippine’ was a Superior and Supervisor of the Novitiate and school but her ambition from childhood, after hearing tales of Missionary work in Louisiana, was to go to the U.S. and work among the Indians there.
At the age of 49 Sister Rose Philippine believing this was her calling from God traveled together with four other Sisters, spending 11 months at sea enroute to New Orleans, then traveling 7 more weeks on the Mississippi River to St. Louis, which she then met one of the many disappointments in her life. — The Bishop had no place for the Nuns to live and work among the Indians but instead sent them to what she would call ‘the remotest village in the United States,’ St. Charles, Missouri but with characteristic, drive and courage, Sister Rose Philippine, founded the first ‘Free’ school for girls, West of the Mississippi.
Though Sister Rose Philippine was as hardy as any of the pioneer Women in the wagons rolling west to Florissant, MO, there she founded the first Catholic Indian school later adding others in the territory.
“In her first decade (in the U.S.) Mother Duchesne suffered practically every hardship the frontier had to offer, except the threat of Indian massacre–poor lodging, shortages of food, drinking water, fuel and money, forest fires and blazing chimneys, the vagaries of the Missouri climate, cramped living quarters and the privation of all privacy, the crude manners of children reared in rough surroundings and with only the slightest training in the country.” –Louise Callan, RSCJ, Philippine Duchsene
Finally at the age of 72 when unfortunately now in failing health and retired, Sister Rose Philippine got her lifelong wish, a new Mission was founded in Sugar Creek, KS among the Potawatomi Indians and she was taken along there. Though she was unable to learn the language of these Indians, they would soon name her as the “Woman-Who-Always-Prays.” — While others would teach, Sister Rose Philippine would be in prayer.
Legend has it that the Indian tribe’s children would sneak behind her as she knelt and would sprinkle bits of paper on her habit, coming back hours later and would find them undisturbed.
Sister Rose Philippine Duchesne passed away in St. Charles, MO at the age of 83 in 1940 she was Beatified by Pope Pius XII and Canonized in 1988 by Pope Saint John Paul II
More here from the Vatican
St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)
Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization
(Franciscan Media) Born in Hungary Presburg, in her short life Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she became the Patron Saint of: Charitable Societies, Charity Workers and the Secular Franciscan Order.
Elizabeth was a Princess, the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary and according to SQPN she was the Great-Aunt of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Feast Day: 04 July) Elizabeth chose a life of penance and self-discipline when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers–this choice endeared her in the hearts and minds of the people throughout Europe.
At the age of 14 Elizabeth wed Prince Louis of Thuringia (a German Prince) who she deeply loved, they had 3 children.
Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan Friar, Princess Elizabeth led a life of prayer, sacrifice, together with service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become ‘One with the Poor’ Princess Elizabeth wore simple clothing–Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest people who would come to her gate.
After just six years of marriage, Prince Louis died during the Crusades which left Elizabeth grief stricken. Princess Elizabeth’s in-laws would look upon her as squandering the royal purse and would mistreat her, finally evicting her out of the palace. — The return of her late husband’s allies from the Crusades would result in Princess Elizabeth’s reinstatement as her son was legal heir to the throne.
In 1228 Princess Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order spending the remaining few years of her life, caring for the poor in a hospital in which she founded in honor of St. Francis, near the mountain side from where her castle stood.
Princess Elizabeth’s health began to deteriorate while she was yet in her early 20s, she passed away just before her 24th birthday — As a result of her great popularity, Princess Elizabeth was Canonized just 4 years following her death in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX
Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Visit: -USCCB
Saint Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) Image: Catholic Online
Born in Hungary into Royalty, Margaret “was a truly liberated Woman in the sense, that she was free to be herself,” writes Franciscan Media “for her, that meant freedom to love God and serve others.”
Margaret’s father Edward ‘Outremere’ Atheling, heir to the English throne, her mother Princess Agatha of Hungary–While Margaret’s family returned to England when she was 10 yrs old, the Norman Conquest forced them into exile. By this time Margaret’s father had passed away and her mother fled with the children aboard a ship which crashed onto the coast of Scotland where they remained.
In 1070 at the age of 25 Margaret wed the King of Scotland Malcom III Canmore (1031-1093) — As Queen, Margaret’s Christian faith had a strong influence on her husband’s reign. Queen Margaret helped to soften his temper and led him to practice virtue, she dignified the Royal Court, providing an example of purity and reverence that others emulated. Queen Margaret and King Malcom III prayed together and fed the hungry, offering a powerful witness of faith to the people they served.
In addition to being wife and mother, Queen Margaret worked tirelessly to bring justice and relief to the poor of Scotland, she would also go on to build Churches and encouraged the practice of Christian devotion. In Queen Margaret’s private life, she exhibited a great prayerfulness and faith, her influence was seen not only in King Malcom’s life but throughout all of Scotland.
Queen Margaret passed away on this date in 1093 just 4 days after King Malcom III and one of her sons was killed in battle — In 1251 Queen Margaret was Canonized by Pope Innocent IV
More here from EWTN
Blessed Mary of the Passion (1839-1904)
Image: Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
(FMM) Born in France Nantes into a noble Christian family according to the Vatican Helene Marie Philippine de Chappotin de Neuville, from childhood her deep faith and natural gifts attracted Helene to a religious life, first with the ‘Poor Clares’ and then with the ‘Society of Marie Repartrice’ where Helene received the name Mary of the Passion.
In March 1865 while still a Novice, Mary of the Passion was sent to India to the ‘Apostolic Vicariate of Madurai’ where she would take her vows and stay, ministering for the next 11 years.
In 1877 Mary of the Passion established the ‘Missionaries of Mary’ and in 1882 she was received into the Third Order of St. Francis for her congregation which became the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Mary of the Passion zeal seemed to Know no bounds in responding to the calls of the poor and abandoned, she was particularly interested in the promotion of Women. With intelligence and discretion, she offered collaboration to others as she drew dynamism from contemplation of the great mysteries of the faith, in this way, she opened her institute to the horizons of universal mission, accomplished in St. Francis of Assisi’s evangelical spirit of simplicity, poverty and charity.
On this date in 1904 Mary of the Passion, passed away in Italy San Remo, leaving more than 2000 religious and 86 houses scattered abroad over 4 continents. – In 1999 Pope Saint John Paul II solemnly promulgated the Decree on the heroicity of the Virtues on Mary the Passions; She was Beatified in 2002
St. Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization
(Franciscan Media) Born at Thuringia Eisleben (today part of East Central Germany) we don’t know anything of her parents according to SQPN or what may have become of them — Gertrude may have been an orphan as she was raised at the Benedictine Abbey of ‘Saint Mary of Helfta’ from the age of five.
Gertrude is said to have been an extremely intelligent girl and dedicated student, excelling in her studies of Literature and Philosophy, when she became old enough, Gertrude took her vows and became a Benedictine Nun in Germany at Saxony Helfta, becoming one of the great Mystics of the 13th century.
Together with Sister Gertrude’s friend and teacher St. Mechtilde (Feast Day: 19 November) they practiced a spirituality called “Nuptial Mysticism’ that is, one comes to see themselves as the Bride of Christ. Gertrude’s spiritual life was a deeply personal union with Jesus and devotion to His Sacred Heart leading her into the very life of the Holy Trinity but this was no individualistic piety.
Sister Gertrude lived the rhythm of the Liturgy where she found Christ. In the Liturgy and the Holy Scripture, she found the themes and images to enrich and express her devotion–there was no clash between her personal prayer life and the Liturgy.
More here Monastery of St. Gertrude