Cristy Li

Painting: ‘The Virgin and Child with Saint Rose of Viterbo’
Image Courtesy: Painting Arts Picture.com

(Franciscan Media) Born 1234 in Italy Viterbo, Rose achieved Sainthood in only 18 yrs of life.

Even as a child, Rose had a great desire to pray and aid the poor. While still very young, Rose began a life of penance in her home, she was generous to the poor as religiously devout with herself.

At the age of 10, Rose became a ‘Secular Franciscan’ and soon began ministering in the streets about sin, faith and the sufferings of Jesus.

Viterbo at this time was in revolt against the Papacy, when Rose sided with Pope Innocent IV (1243-1254) against the Emperor Frederick II (1220-1250) Rose and her family were exiled from the city. When Pope Innocent IV side prevailed, Rose was permitted to return to Viterbo.

Rose at the age of 15 so wished to enter the Monastery of ‘St. Mary of the Roses’ but was refused because of her poverty and returned to life of prayer and penance in her family home where she died in 1252 — Rose was Canonized in 1457 by Pope Callistus III

Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)
Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

(CNA) Born in Italy Rome, Gregory received an education in the liberal arts and law, together with receiving a critical Christian foundation in his youthful days from his mother also St. Silvia of Rome (Feast Day: 03 November) and his family, Aunties: St. Emiliana and St. Trasilla together with the influences left on his family by Gregory’s Great-Grandfather Pope Saint Felix III

By the age of 30, Gregory was successful in advancing to high political office in Rome, during what was nevertheless a period of marked decline for the city.

After (nearly) 5 years on office according to Franciscan Media Gregory chose to resign his position, founded 6 Monasteries on his Sicilian estate and became a Benedictine Monk in his home at Rome under the Patronage of St. Andrew according to EWTN probably in 574

In 578 much against Gregory’s will, the Pope ordered him out of seclusion, Ordained him a Priest and made Fr. Gregory one of the Pope’s Seven Deacons of Rome, also serving in the East as Papal representative in Constantinople — In either the year 585 or 586 Fr. Gregory was recalled to Rome and with the greatest of joy returned to the monasteries of St. Andrew (that he founded) which he became Abbot soon thereafter, growing famous under his enthusiastic and energetic tenure, producing many Monks — On this date in 590 at the age of 50 Gregory was elected Pope by the Clergy and people of Rome.

As Pope, Gregory was direct and firm, removing unworthy Priests from office together with forbidding the taking of money for many services. Pope Gregory emptied the Papal treasury to pay the ransom of prisoners from the Lombards and to care for the persecuted Jews together with caring for victims of plague and famine. Pope Gregory was also very concerned about the spirituality of England and sent there 40 Monks from the Monastery that he had founded. — Pope Gregory is known for his reform of the liturgy and for strengthening respect for doctrine.

An Anglican historian has written: “It’s impossible to conceive what would have been the confusion, the lawlessness, the chaotic state of the Middle Ages without the medieval Papacy and of the medieval Papacy, the real Father is Gregory the Great.”

Pope Saint Gregory’s book Pastoral Care on the duties and qualities of a Bishop, was read for centuries following his death. Pope Gregory described Bishops mainly as physicians whose main duties were preaching and the enforcement of discipline. In his own down to earth ministry, Pope Saint Gregory was skilled at applying the daily Gospel to the needs of his listeners.

Called ‘The Great’ Pope Saint Gregory the Great, has been given a place with Saint Augustine (Feast Day: 28 August) Saint Ambrose (Feast Day: 07 December) and Saint Jerome (Feast Day: 30 September) as one of the four key Doctors of the Western Church.

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

French Martyrs for Christ of the September Massacres
Image: Tradition in Action

(Franciscan Media) These Priests were victims of the French Revolution–Though their Martyrdom spans several years, they are recognized together in the Church’s memory because they all sacrificed their lives for the same principle.

The ‘Civil Constitution of the Clergy’ in 1791 required that all Priests take an oath which amounted to a denial of their faith–each of these men refused and were executed.

Fr. John Francis Burte became a Franciscan at 16 and subsequent to his Ordination, he taught Theology to the young Friars–Later he was Guardian of the large Conventual Friary in Paris until he was arrested and held in the Convent of the Carmelites.

Fr. Apollinaris of Posat was born in Switzerland 1739 he joined the Capichins and acquired a reputation as an excellent Minister, Confessor and Instructor of Clerics. Sent to the East as a Missionary, he was in Paris studying Asian languages when the French Revolution began. Refusing to execute the oath, he was swiftly arrested and detained in the Carmelite Convent.

Fr. Severin Girault a member of the ‘Third Order Regular’ and Chaplain for a group of Sisters in Paris, he was imprisoned with the Priests and was the first to be Martyred in the slaughter at the Convent.

These three Priests together with 182 others (which included several Bishops) were massacred at the Carmelite House in Paris on this date in 1792 and were Beatified in 1926 by Pope Pius XI

Fr. John Baptist Triquerie born in 1737 entered the Conventual Franciscans, he was Chaplain and Confessor of the ‘Poor Clare Monasteries’ in three cities before he was arrested for refusing to take the oath, he and 13 Diocesan Priest were guillotined in Laval on 21 January, 1794 — Fr. John Baptist Triquerie was Beatified in 1955 by Pope Pius XII

Saint Giles (650-710)
Image: Christ Church Windsor, Nova Scotia

(Franciscan Media) Despite the fact that much about St. Giles is shrouded in mystery, one can say that he was one of the most popular Saints in the Middle Ages.

Giles was either born in France (or Greece Athens, according to EWTN about the middle of the 7th century) building a Monastery in the French valley under the ‘Rule of St. Benedict’ which became a popular stopping-off point for Pilgrims making their way to Compostela in Spain and the Holy Land.

In England, many ancient Churches and hospitals were dedicated to St. Giles — one of the sections of  Brussels is named after him. In Germany, Giles was included among the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’ a popular group of Saint’s to whom people prayed, especially for the recovery from disease and for strength at the hour of death. Among the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’ were Saint Christopher, Saint Barbara and Saint Blaise — Interestingly, Giles was the only non-martyr among them.

Devotion to the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’ was especially strong in parts of Germany, Hungary and Sweden. Such devotion made St. Giles popularity spread and was soon invoked as the Patron Saint of the Poor and Disabled.

Saint Joseph of Arimathea Asking Pilate for the Body of Jesus
Painting By: James Tissot –Image Courtesy: Pinterest

(Franciscan Media) The actions of these two influential Jewish leaders give insight to the charismatic power of Jesus, His teachings and the risks that may be involved in following our Blessed Redeemer.

Saint Joseph of Arimathea was a respected, wealthy civic leader who had become a disciple of Jesus–Following Jesus’ death, Joseph obtained Jesus’ body from Pilate, wrapped it in fine linen and buried Him in the tomb. —John 19:38-42 For these reasons Joseph is the ‘Patron Saint of Funeral Directors and Pallbearers’ — More importantly, is the courage Joseph showed in asking Pilate for Jesus’ body. Jesus who had been condemned a criminal was publicly executed.

Jesus and Nicodemus –Image: Wikipedia

Saint Nicodemus was a Pharisee and we know from Scripture that he was a ‘Member of the Jewish Ruling Council’ and that he went to Jesus secretly at night to better understand salvation and what is meant by being born again? —John 3:1-21

Later Nicodemus spoke up for Jesus when the Chief Priests and Pharisees were accusing Him of blasphemy —John 7:32-51 and subsequently assisted Saint Joseph of Arimathea in Jesus’ burial.

Related: More About St. Joseph of Arimathea here from EWTN and St. Nicodemus here from New Advent

Saint Monica (322-387) Image: Archbishop Jose Gomez

(CNA) Born of Christian parents in Souk Ahrus (modern day Algeria) one knows little of Monica’s childhood and youth according to EWTN other than than she was married early in life to Patritius (or Patricius) a pagan with a bad-temper, disdain for Christianity, who held an official position Thagaste a rather prominent municipality in its day.

Monica would strive to be patient with Paritius’ distressing behavior–which included infidelity of their marriage vows but experienced even greater grief when he would not permit their three children: Augustine, Nagivius and a daughter Perpetua to receive Baptism–When Augustine became ill and in danger of dying. Patritius gave consent for his Baptism but withdrew it when he recovered.

Following years of long suffering, prayers and penance by Monica, eventually Patritius did see the error in his ways and was Baptized into the Church one year prior to his death.

Unfortunately for Monica, Augustine would embrace a lifestyle that brought her further grief, fathering a child outside of marriage and a year later began to practice  Manichaeism a (now distinct) dualistic religion of Persian origin founded in the latter half of the 3rd century.

In her distress and grief, Monica initially shunned Augustine however after experiencing a mysterious vision in which a messenger assured her: “Your son is with you,” this strengthened her hope for Augustine, which she permitted back into her home as she begged God that he would seek forgiveness and conversion. –This however would not occur for 9 years, in the meantime Monica sought out the Counsel of the local Clergy, wondering what they would do to persuade her son away from the Manichaeism heresy? One Bishop who had once belonged to the cult himself, assured Monica that it was “impossible that the son of such tears should perish.”

Monica’s tears and prayers would intensify when Augustine at the age of 29 abandoned her without warning as she passed the night praying for him in a nearby Chapel. Without saying good-bye to his mother, Augustine boarded a ship bound for Rome–Yet even this painful event would serve God’s greater purpose, when Augustine left to become a teacher in the place where he was destined to become Catholic.

Under the influence of Bishop of St. Ambrose of Milan (Feast Day: 07 December) Augustine renounced the ‘Manichaeism Heresy’ around 384 — Monica subsequently went to Italy Milian and was encouraged by Augustine’s growing interest in the Saintly Bishop’s ministry. After three years of struggle against his own desires and perplexities, Augustine succumbed to God’s grace, converted and was Baptized in the Church of ‘St. John the Baptist’ in Milan

Shortly before Monica’s death, she shared a profound mystical experience of God with her sons Nagivius and Augustine who later became St. Augustine of Hippo (Feast Day: 28 August) chronicling the event in his book The Confessions penned as a result of the emotion he experienced.

Monica told Augustine: “Son, for myself I have no longer any pleasure in anything in this life. Now that my hopes in this world are satisfied, I do not know what more I want here or why I am here. — The only thing I ask of you both (Nagivius and Augustine) is that you make remembrance of me at the Alter of the Lord wherever you are.”

Saint Monica died in 387 in Italy — In modern times, she has become the inspiration for the ‘St. Monica Sodality’ which encourages prayer and penance among Catholics whose children have departed from the faith.

More here from Franciscan Media

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Monica, Visit: -USCCB

Saint Joseph Calasanz (1556-1648) Image: Introibo

(Franciscan Media) Born in Spain Aragon, Joseph was the youngest of five children according to SQPN his mother and brother died while he was still in school. Joseph studied at Estadilla, at the University at Lereda Valencia where he would obtain degrees in Canon Law and Theology.

In 1583 Joseph was Ordained into the Priesthood — As a Priest trained both in Canon Law and Theology, he was well respected for his wisdom and administrative expertise but would put aside his career because of his concerns with the need of education of poor children.

When Fr. Joseph Calasanz was unable to get other institutes to accept poor children, many of them orphans and homeless into school according to SQPN he and several companions personally provided a ‘Free School’ for needy children.

So overwhelming was the response that Fr. Joseph Calasanz and his companions received, that there was a constant need for larger-and-larger facilities to house their free school.

Soon thereafter, Pope Clement VIII gave support to the school and this financial aid continued under Pope Paul V — Soon other schools were opened and other men attracted to their work joined them. — In 1621 Fr. Joseph Calasanz ‘Free School” received Papal recognition as a religious order called ‘Le Sciole Pie’ (Religious Schools) and became known as the Piarists — Fr. Joseph Calasanze was subsequently appointed Superior for life.

A combination of prejudices, political ambition and maneuvering caused Fr. Joseph Calasanz ‘Free School’ great turmoil. Some people did not favor educating poor children rationalizing that education would still leave them poor but likewise dissatisfied with their lowly opportunities in society. — Others were shocked that some students were being sent to Astronomer Galileo (a friend of Fr. Joseph Calasanz) for instruction.

Repeatedly investigated by Papal Commissions, Fr. Joseph Calasanz was demoted and when the political struggles persisted, ‘Le Sciole Pie’ were suppressed.

Only subsequent to Fr. Joseph Calasanz death, was ‘Le Sciole Pie’ or Piarists formally recognized as a religious community.

Fr. Joseph Calasanz was Beatified in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV and Canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XII