Cristy Li

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862) — Catholic Tradition

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy into a large family and Baptized Francis, he lost his mother when he was only 4 yrs of age. Educated by the Jesuits and having been cured twice of serious illnesses, Young Francis came to believe that God was calling him to a religious life.

Not yet 17, Francis wished to join the Jesuits but twice was turned down. Subsequent to the death of his sister to cholera, his resolve to enter into a religious life became more fervent and he was accepted by the Passionists — Upon entering the novitiate, Francis was given the name of ‘Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.’

Ever popular and cheerful Gabriel quickly was successful in his effort to be faithful in little things, his spirit of prayer, love for the poor, consideration of the feelings of others, exact observance of the Passionate Rule as well as his bodily penances–always subject to the will of his wise superiors, made a deep impression on everyone.

Gabriel’s superiors had great expectations of him as he prepared for the priesthood but after just 4 short years of religious life, symptoms of tuberculosis appeared. Ever obedient, Gabriel patiently bore the painful effects of the disease and the restrictions that it required, seeking no special consideration.

On the 27 February, 1862 Gabriel passed away at the age of just 24 and was fondly remembered as a remarkable young man example to both young and old.

Canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint Aloysius, is one of the Patrons of Youth.

More here from EWTN

Saint Anna Maria Bertilla Boscardin
(1888-1922) –Image: Mc Rodriguez

(CNA) Anna Francesca Boscardin was born in Italy Brendola and lived a difficult childhood in a poor peasant family with an abusive alcoholic father prone to jealousy, she was afforded little education, so she could spend more time at home working and was often the butt of jokes and nicknamed ‘The Goose’ as she wasn’t considered to be not very intelligent.

However Anna’s life changed when she entered the ‘Sisters of Saint Dorthy’ in 1904 taking the name ‘Bertilla’ working in the convents kitchen and laundry for three years while training to be a nurse.

Sister Maria Bertilla, began working in a hospital for children in Treviso with diphtheria, quickly becoming the children’s favorite due to her simple and gentle way. Later when the hospital was taken over by the military in World War I, she cared for wounded soldiers, even staying with patients comforting them amidst the threat of constant air raids and bombings.

Subsequently an envious supervisor reassigned Sister Maria Bertilla now popular among the patients to a hospital laundry but when her Mother-General learned of this she made Sister Maria Bertilla head of the children’s ward in 1919 until her death.

Sister Anna Maria Bertilla passed away on the 20 October 1922 following a long battle with cancer. On the 31 July, 1949 she was declared ‘heroic in virtue’ and was Beatified by Pope Pius XII in June, 1952

On the 11 May, 1961 by Pope John XXIII Canonized Sister Maria Bertilla before a crowd of many of her former patients that fondly remembered her caring for them.

Related: Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin –Vita dei Santi

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

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.