(Catholic Online) English princess, youngest daughter of King William the Conqueror (1028-1087) Princess Adela (1067-1137) married Stephen, Count of Blois (1045-1102) throughout Princess Adela’s life she was active in English politics, was famed for her endowments for Church’s and monastic institutions.
Related: Why Do Catholic’s Seek the Intercession of Saint’s?
Saint Polycarp
Image: Vassallomalta
(EWTN) St. Polycarp was one of the most illustrious of the apostolic fathers who, being the immediate disciple of the Apostles, received instructions from their own mouths and inherited of them the Spirit of Jesus Christ, in a degree so much the more eminent.
Bishop of Smyrna (modern day Turkey Izmir) Saint Polycarp was a revered Christian leader during the first half of the second century.
St. Ignatius on his way to Rome to be martyred, visited Polycarp at Smyrna and later at Troas, wrote him a personal letter. The Asia-Minor (modern day Turkey) Churches recognized Polycarp’s leadership by selecting him as their representative in about the year 158 to discuss with Pope Anicetus the date of the Easter celebration in Rome–a major controversy in the early Church.
Only one of the many letters written by Saint Polycarp has been preserved, according to EWTN the one that he wrote to the Church of Philippi in Macedonia.
- St. Polycarp helped to form many Holy Disciples
among them were St. Irenaeus and St. Papias
During the sixth year of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) a violent persecution broke out in which the Christian faithful, gave heroic proof of their courage and love for God, to the astonishment of the infidels. When the Christians were torn to pieces with scourges until their very bowls laid bare, amidst the moans and tears of the spectators, who were moved with pity at the sight of their torments, not one of the Christians gave a so much as a single groan, so little regard had they for their own flesh in their cause for God.
No kinds of torture, no inventions of cruelty, cause them to to conform to the pagan worship of the times.
Polycarp was subsequently led into the crowded Smyrna stadium to be burned alive at which time he said to his tormentors:
“You threaten me with a fire which burns for a short time then goes out but are yourselves ignorant of the judgment to come and the fire of everlasting torments which is prepared for the wicked. Why do you delay? Bring against me what you please.”
Miracle: St. Polycarp in the Flames
Which Did Not Consume Him
The flames did not harm Polycarp and an Order went out for a Spearman to pierce him through which he did and such a huge quantity of blood poured out of his left side that it quenched out the fire–the Centurion then ordered that Polycarp’s body be burned.
The “Acts” of Polycarp’s martyrdom are the earliest preserved, fully reliable account of a Christian Martyr’s death in 156
Painting of the Repentance of St. Peter
Image: State Museum Fund
(Franciscan Media) Following the ‘lost weekend’ of pain, doubt and self-torment, Peter hears the Good News: The Angel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen…Come see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and behold, He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see Him.” —Matthew 28:5-7
John relates, that when Peter ran to the tomb, “Peter reached the tomb first and stooping to look in, he saw the linen clothes lying there but he didn’t go in.” —John 20:4-5
“Then Simon Peter came, following him and went into the tomb, he saw the linen clothes lying and the napkin which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in place by itself. Then the other disciples that reached the tomb first also went in and he saw and believed.” —John 20:6-8 adding a reminder, “For as they did not know the scripture that He must rise from the dead, then the disciples went back to their homes.” —John 20:9-10
There the slowing, exploding impossible idea became reality, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” —John 20:19-20
The Pentecost event completed, Peter’s experience of the Risen Jesus Christ, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak (express themselves) on other tongues (foreign languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance.” —Acts 2:4
Only then can Peter fulfill the task that Jesus had given him, “…I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” —Luke 22:32
Peter at once became the spokesman for the twelve about their experience of the Holy Spirit, before the civil authorities, who wished to quash their ministry, before the council of Jerusalem for the community–Peter was first to preach the ‘Good News’ to the Gentiles. The healing power of Jesus in him is well attested with the healing of the paralyzed Aeneas raising Joppa (Tabitha) from the dead. —Acts 9:32-43
Even a Saint experiences difficulties in Christian living. When Peter stopped eating with Gentile Christians because he did not want to wound the sensibilities of Jewish converts to Christ, Paul said: “I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.” —Galatians 2:11 They were not on the correct road in line with the truth of the gospel:
For before certain men came from James he ate with the Gentiles but when they came he drew back and separated himself fearing the circumcision party and with him, the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity but when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel…” —Galatians 2:12-14a
Today’s Feast commemorates the seven years during which Pope Peter whom Jesus Christ had selected to sit in His place as the servant-authority of the whole Church: “I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” —Matthew 16:18-19
From “Antioch before Peter went to Rome”, writes Joy Filled Family, “Peter left Jerusalem and founded the See of Antioch among the Gentiles–In that large Eastern City, Christianity took deep root and it was there, that the faithful were first called by the name of Christians. After seven years, the ‘Vicar of Christ’ transferred his See to Rome, the very center of the ancient world, so that from it, the messengers of Salvation might radiate to the uttermost ends of the world.”
Saint Pope Peter, the ‘Vicar of Christ’ triumphed over Satan who had pursued him to Rome writes EWTN in the person of Simon Magus. He who had formally trembled at the voice of a poor maid, now feared not the very throne of idolatry and superstition. The Capital of the empire of the world and the center of impiety, called for zeal of the prince of the apostles.
The Chair of Pope Saint Peter —Vatican.com
St. Peter took the providence and ministered the Gospel of Faith through Jesus Christ, establishing his ‘Episcopal Chair’ which Pope Benedict XVI addressed on this date in 2006 and whose successors the ‘Bishop’s of Rome’ will be entrusted for in all ages.
Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Image Courtesy: Faith Warriors
(Franciscan Media) Peter was born into a good family but was orphaned at an early age and went to live with his brother.
According to EWTN his bother treated him more life a slave than one so closely related. Peter escaped poverty and the neglect of his brother, when he was sent away to another brother that was an Archpriest in Italy Raveena, who took pity on him and had the charity to provide him with an education–Peter became a professor
Maybe because he was orphaned, Peter was very good to the poor, it was an ordinary thing for him to have an impoverished person or two dine with him and he enjoyed the opportunity this provided to minister to them.
Already in those days, Peter was very strict with himself, he wore a chalice underneath his clothing, fasted rigorously and spent many hours in prayer–Later he left teaching and gave himself to prayer with the Benedictines of the Reform of Saint Romuald at Fonte Avellnam–they lived two Monks to a hermitage. Peter was so eager to pray, sleeping so little and studying the Bible, that he soon suffered severe insomnia, finding that he had to use some prudence to take better care of himself.
His superiors ordered that Peter make frequent appeals to the religious, as he had acquired a very good character for virtue and learning–later he founded 5 other hermitages (monasteries) encouraging his brother in a life of prayer and solitude, wanting nothing more for himself. The Holy See however periodically called on Peter to be a peacemaker/troubleshooter between two Abbey’s in dispute or between a Cleric and government official in some disagreement with Rome.
Pope Stephen IX in 1057 made Peter the Cardinal-Bishop of of Ostia (Rome) but such was his reluctance, that nothing less than Pope Stephen IX threatening him with excommunication and his commands, induced Peter to acquiesce.
Peter worked hard to to wipe out simony (buying or selling ecclesiastical privileges) and encouraged his priest’s to observe celibacy and even encouraged the diocesan clergy to live together to maintain scheduled prayer and religious observances–wanting to restore the discipline among the religious and priests, warning them against needless travel, violations of poverty and too comfortable of living.
Following Peter’s retirement, he continued to edify the Church by his penance and writing bust was still called to serve as a personal representative to the Pope.
Henry, Archbishop of Ravenna having been excommunicated for grievous moral offenses, Peter was sent by Pope Alexander II to take care of the affairs of the Church. When Peter arrived, he found the Bishop deceased but found his accomplices. Bringing them around to a sense of their guilt, he imposed suitable penances upon them.
This was Peter’s last undertaking for the Church before God, being pleased with his his labors soon after called him home on the 22 February, 1072
Peter was Canonized in 1823 by Pope Leo XII and in 1828 made Doctor of the Church.
St. Jacinta (1910-1920) St. Francisco Marto (1908-1919)
Image Courtesy: Ensina me a Rezar
(Franciscan Media) Between the 13 May and 13 October, 1917 three little shepherd children from Portugal Fatima, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, a city about 110 miles from Lisbon.
At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war and Portugal was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910 — the government had disbanded religious organizations soon thereafter.
Jacinta Marto, Lucia de Jesus dos Santos & Francisco Marto
The three children (Jacinta, Francisco and their cousin Lucia de Jesus dos Santos) were raised in homes where the catechism was their daily bread, stories from the Bible their recreation and the word of the village Priest was law.
In the Spring of 1916 while the children were watching over their lambs an Angel appeared to them in an olive grove, asking the children to pray with him.
The Blessed Mother of Jesus appeared again in the mid Summer of that same year at a well in Lucia’s garden, urging them to offer sacrifice to God in reparation for sinners. In a final appearance at the end of the Summer of that same year, the children were given a secret including a vision of hell, which so changed them they became like adults than children.
Jacinta talkative sometimes to a fault became quiet, Lucia had sworn her and her brother to secrecy but Jacinta bubbling over, had let slip all they had seen to her family, who had told the village. While the news was received by skepticism by many, mockery by some and anger by Lucia’s mother, Jacinta was so contrite that she promised never to reveal another secret.
Jacinta reluctance to reveal anything more of their experience was increased by the vision of hell, given the children in the third apparition seemed to have affected her the most. To rescue sinner from hell she was in the forefront of the three in voluntary mortification, whether it was giving up their lunches (sometimes to their lambs) refusing to drink in the heat of the day or wearing a knotted rope around their waists–involuntary penances included for her. Jacinta’s brother and cousin, the constant mockery of unbelievers, badgering by skeptical clergy and cajoling by believers to reveal the Lady’s secret.
In August 1918 when W.W. I was ending, Francisco and Jacinta both contracted influenza, in April the following year he passed away. When Jacinta became ill, she was taken to a hospital where she stayed for two months before returning home, only subsequently to contract tuberculosis and sent to Lisbon where she later died.
Lucia at the age of 14 was admitted as a border to the school of the ‘Sisters of St. Dorthy in Vilar and in 1925 entered the institute, making her first vows in 1928 and her perpetual vows in 1934 receiving the name, Sister Mary of the Sorrowful Mother.
In 1946 seeking a more contemplative life, Lucia entered the ‘Carmelite Convent of St. Teresa in Coimbra, where she made her profession as a declared Carmelite in 1949 and took the name Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart.
On the 50th anniversary in 1967 of the apparitions she received as a child, Sister Lucia traveled back to Fatima, the event was presided over by Pope Paul VI in 1982 she returned again, when Pope Saint John Paul II came to the shrine to give thanks for the saving of his life during an assassination attempt a year earlier, subsequently she returned twice more in 1991 and on 13 May, 2000 when Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Jacinta and Francisco Shepherd’s of Fatima
Sister Lucia and Pope Saint John Paul II –Courtesy of: Unam Sanctam
Sister Lucia mission in life came to an end in 2005, her funeral Mass was held at the Cathedral of Coimbra and was laid to rest at the convent where she spent many years until a place for permanent entombment for her body at the Basilica in Fatima, where Francisco and Jacinta were laid to rest.
In 2008 Sister Lucia was Beatified by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI waiving the traditional 5 year waiting period, this rule was also waived for Sister Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope Saint John Paul II
Related: Do You Know the True Story of Fatima & The ‘Miracle of the Sun’ on 13 October, 1917
7 Powerful Messages from Our Lady of Fatima: The Grace of God Will Be Your Comfort
The Fatima Children, St. Jacinta Marto, Sister Lucia dos Santos
& St. Francisco Marto -Image Courtesy: Rosary Mum@Twitter
“The Most Holy Virgin (Mary, Mother of Jesus) in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary, to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, of the families of the world or of the religious communities or even of the life of peoples and nations, that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem I tell you, no mater how difficult it is that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary!
With the Holy Rosary, we will save ourselves, we will sanctify ourselves, we will console Our Lord and obtain the Salvation of many souls.”
-Venerable Sister Lucia dos Santos
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death.” Amen!
O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in the most need of Thy mercy. Amen!
My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love Thee. Amen!
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the immaculate heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners. Amen!
Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the most Blessed Sacrament. Amen!
O Jesus, it is for the love of Thee, in reparation for the offenses committed against the immaculate heart of Mary and for the conversion of poor sinners. Amen!
Related: The True Story of Fatima
Fatima Children Miracles While They Were Alive -Natl Catholic Register
Saint Conrad of Piacenza (1290-1350)
Image: Wikipedia
(Franciscan Media) Born into one of the noblest families of Italy Piacenza, Conrad married as a young man and led a virtuous and God fearing life.
One day while hunting Conrad ordered his attendants to fire some brushwood in which game had taken refuge. The prevailing winds caused the flames to spread rapidly and the surrounding fields and forest were soon engulfed –Conrad fled. An innocent beggar, who happened to be found near the place where the fire originated was accused of starting the inferno and was tried, found guilty and condemned to death.
As the poor man was being led away to execution, Conrad stricken with remorse came forward, admitted his responsibility and in order to pay compensation for all of the damages. he was obliged to sell all of his possessions.
Reduced to poverty, Conrad retired to a small lonely dwelling for a hermit some distance away from Piacenza, his wife agreed to a separation and went to a Poor Clare monastery.
Subsequently, Conrad went to Rome, then to Sicily where for 30 years he lived a most austere life–prayers and penance were his answers to the temptations that harassed him.
Conrad passed away from life while kneeling before a Crucifix.
In 1515 Pope Leo X approved the celebration of his Feast by Italy Noto and on this date in 1625 Pope Urban VIII approved the celebration by all Franciscans.
(Catholic Online) Chinese martyr for Christ Jesus, an educator at a Christian school, Agatha was beheaded for her faith in 1858
- Jesus: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot 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?
Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
Image: Art Institute of Chicago
(EWTN) Between years 1225 and 1227 seven young Florentines joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin–popularly known as the ‘Laudesi’ at a time when the popular City of Italy Florence, was being ripped by political factions, distracted by the heresy of the Cathari and a relaxation of morals even where devotional practices were maintained.
These seven young noblemen of Florence drawn together by friendship and devotion to the Blessed Virgin, gave themselves to common works of charity according to the Friar Servants of Mary and led them to leave their homes and their businesses to form a community outside the city walls.
Before long, finding themselves so much disturbed by the constant visitors of Florence, they decided to withdraw to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario, where the constructed a simple Church, where they followed a life of prayerful seclusion.
As others came to join them, they initially refused to accept new recruits until they were visited one day by the Bishop Ardingo and Cardinal Castiglione, who had heard about their sanctity and was greatly edified but made one adverse criticism:
“You treat yourselves in a manner boarding on barbarity and you seem more desirous of dying to time than living for eternity. Take heed, the enemy of souls often hides himself under the appearance of the angel of light…Harken to the counsels of your superiors.”
The Solitaries gave themselves up to the prayer of light and had a vision of Our Lady, who bore in her hand a black habit while an angel held a scroll inscribed with a title: ‘Servants of Mary’ telling them, she had chosen them to be her servants, wishing them to wear the black habit and to follow the Rule of St. Augustine–From that date, the 13 of April, 1240 they were known as the ‘Servants of Mary’ or Servites.
The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
Image Courtesy: Da Mihi Animas
Clothed by the Bishop, Buonfigilo being elected their Superior and according to custom, they selected names by which they should forward be known, becoming Brothers Bonfilius, Alexis, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostenes, Manettus and Buonagiunta–By the wish of the Bishop, all except St. Alexis who in his humility begged to be excused, prepared to receive Holy Orders and in due time they were professed and ordained Priests.
The new order which took a form more like that of a Mendicant Friars than that of the monastic orders, increased amazingly and it soon became necessary to construct new houses:
Siena, Pistoia and Arezzo were the first places chosen and subsequently the houses at Carfaggio, the Convent and the Church of the Santissima Annunziata in Florence and the Convent at Lucca were established.
Meanwhile, although the ‘Servants of Mary’ had the approval of their immediate superiors, they had not been recognized by the Holy See, it was only in 1259 that the Order was practically recognized by Alexander IV but not until 1304, that it received the explicit and formal approbation of Pope Benedict XI — Saint Bonfilius had remained as Prior General until 1256 when he asked to be relieved due to his advancing years, he passed away on New Years night 1261
Saint Buonagiunta the youngest of the seven ‘Servants of Mary’ became the second Prior General but not long after his election, he breathed his last in chapel when the ‘Gospel of the Passion’ was being read. Saint Amadeus who had taken charge of the important convent of Carfaggio, returned to Monte Senario to end his days–Saint Manettus, became the fourth Prior General, sending missionaries to Asia, he subsequently retired to make way for Saint Philip Benzi upon whose breast he died.
Saint’s Hugh and Sostenes were abroad–Sostenes in Paris and Hugh had found convents in Germany, they were recalled in 1276 and being attacked by illness, they passed away, side-by-side the same night. Saint Alexis outlived them all and was the only one who survived to see the Order of the ‘Servants of Mary’ fully and finally recognized–he is reported to have passed away at the age of 110.
All seven were Beatified by Pope Clement XI on the 01 December 1717 and Canonized in 1887 by Pope Leo XII
Saint Gilbert of Sempringham Sculpture
at Essen Belgium –Image: Nobility.org
(Franciscan Media) Gilbert was born in Sempringham, a Hamlet in the South Kesteven District of Lincolnshire England, into a wealthy family but he followed a path quite different than expected of him as the Son of a wealthy Roman Knight.
Gilbert sent to France for higher education decided to pursue seminary studies. When he returned to England not yet ordained a Priest–he inherited several estates from his father Jocelin however, Gilbert decided to avoid the easy life he may have had, instead living a simple life at the Parish, sharing as much as possible with the poor.
Following Gilbert’s ordination into the priesthood, he served as a Parish Priest in Sempringham. Among the congregation were seven young Women who had expressed to him their desire to live a religious life. In response, Fr. Gilbert had a house built for them adjacent to the Church, there they live a austere life but one which attracted even more members–eventually, Lay Sisters & Brothers were added to work the land. A religious order was formed out of their small community known as the Gilbertine Order in 1131 the only religious order founded during the Middle Ages continued to thrive but came to an end when King Henry VIII suppressed all Catholic monasteries.
Site of ‘The Gilbertine Order’
Image Courtesy: 365 Rosaries
According to EWTN Gilbert departed to our Lord on the 03 February, 1190 at 106 yrs of age and he was Canonized by Pope Innocent III in 1202