Cristy Li

Blessed Rafal Chylinski (1694-1741)
Image Courtesy: Holy Spirit RE

(Catholic Online) Born in Poland Poznan and given the name Melchior Chylinski, his father John Arnold Chylinski and his mother Margaret Kierski were both nobles, even though Melchior was born into nobility, he left his heredity rights and privileges to become a Conventual Franciscan Minor in Poland Krakow according to SQPN taking the name Rafal and Ordained into the Priesthood in 1717

Melchior attended school in the Village of Buk, in 1707 his father passed away as a result of the plague and their home was subsequently burned to the ground. Since Melchior and his family no longer had a place to live, Bishop Stanislaus Kierski (who may have been Melchior’s Uncle) helped Margaret raise her sons.

In 1712 Melchior had served in the Polish Army and became an Officer, in 1715 he left the military and moved to Krakow where he joined the Franciscan Fathers as a Cleric. — In 1715 Melchior was Baptized into the Order and took the name Rafal and Ordained into the Priesthood in 1717

Fr Rafal was assigned to Parishes in 9 cities and traveled to Monasteries in: Poland Radziejow, Poznan, Gniezno, Warsaw, Kalisz, Warta and Krakow, where he distributed food, supplies and clothing to the poor according to SQPN and played a harp, lute and mandolin to accompany liturgical hymns. Fr. Rafal was known for candid sermons, generosity and as a great Confessor. Fr. Rafal devoted his life to prayer, together with caring for the poor and sick.

From 1728 to 1736 he served in the Lageiewniki, part of the Parish of Lodz where he would pass away on this date in 1742

In 1949 he was Venerated (declared heroic in virtue) by Pope Pius XII and Beatified in 1991 by Pope Saint John Paul II

More here by Angel Fire and here by Franciscan Media

Blessed Charles de Foucauld, Martyr for Christ (1858-1916)
Image Courtesy: Salt of the Earth

Born in France Strasbourg, into an aristocratic family, Charles was orphaned by the age of 6 he and his sister Mary, according to SQPN were raised by their devout Christian Grandmother and studied from 1872-1875 at the Jesuit schools in Nancy and Paris.

Charles as a teenager came to reject his Catholic heritage and in 1876 entered the French Army Saint Cyr Military Academy, in 1880 Charles would join the 4th Hussar regiment and his unit was sent to Algeria, Charles would take along his mistress Mimi. When Charles declined to give Mimi up, he was discharged from the Army in 1881 for misconduct and moved back to France Evian.

When Charles eventually broke it off with Mimi he reenlisted into the Army (during the revolt of Bon Mama in Algeria, South Oran) Charles would reenlist into the Army and fought during the 8 mo rebellion. During this period of time, Charles became so fascinated with the Arabs he met, when he could obtain a leave-of-absence to study their beliefs, he would resign his commission.

During the next 15 months Charles would spend time learning Arabic and Hebrew — In May, 1885 Charles received the ‘Gold Medal’ of the French Geographic Society for his work. Charles subsequently began an exploration of Algeria and Tunisia from Sept 1885 to January 1886 and following, returned to Paris to begin working on his book Reconnaissance au Maroc (available at Amazon.com) which was published in 1888

Charles lived simply, sleeping on the floor, spending hours each day in prayer at home and in Church. From November 1888 to February 1889 Charles visited and explored Israel, during much of the rest of 1889 he would spend time at spiritual retreats.

On the 16 January, 1890 Charles would join the Trappist Monks at the Monastery of Notre Dame-des-Neigis, taking the name Brother Marie-Alberic, he would subsequently move to the Monastery in Syria at Akbes in June–In October 1896 Charles was sent to Rome to study but after 3 months, it was clear that his heart wasn’t into being there and he was released from his vows. During the subsequent year, Charles would make another pilgrimage to Israel on foot before returning to France to begin studying for the Priesthood.

In June 1901 Charles was Ordained at Viviers, he would subsequently move to the Oran region of Morocco to establish a base and would found an Order to evangelize Morocco — In 1902 Fr. Charles de Foucauld, began a program of purchasing Slaves in order to free them. In 1904 he began to evangelize nomadic Tauregs in the area of south and central Sahara great desert.

Fr. Charles  de Foucauld would translate the Gospels into the language of the Tauregs, in November 1903 he would translate Tauareg poetry to French and would spend years compiling a Taureg lexicon. In March 1909 Fr. Charles de Faucauld succeeded in founding the ‘Union of Brothers and Sisters of the Sacred Heart’ to evangelize the French Colonies in Africa.

Martyred for Christ: Fr. Charles de Foucauld was killed on this date in 1916 when he got caught in the middle of combat in Algeria between the Army of France and Arab insurrectionists.

Fr. Charles de Foucauld was Venerated by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2001 and Beatified in November 2005 by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

More here from the Vatican

St Andrew The Apostle
Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(CNA) Today Christians celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew — Once a fisherman from Bethsaida, his brother was St Peter (Feast Day: 29 June) St. Andrew is said to have spread the the Good News of Jesus Christ in Russia and Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) after Pentecost during the first century.

St. Andrew was crucified by the Romans in Greece on an ‘X-Shaped Cross’ which is now his distinctive symbol as well as the symbol of Scotland of which he is her Patron Saint. — St. Andrew demonstrated his love for his brother as well as his apostolic zeal, convinced that Jesus was the Messiah he sought out St. Peter:

‘Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, he first found his brother Simon and said to him,”We have found the Messiah,” -then he brought him to Jesus.’ –John 1:40-42

More here from Franciscan Media and here from EWTN

Related: Christmas Anticipation Prayer -EWTN

Saint Saturninus  -Image Courtesy: uCatholic

(EWTN) St. Saturninus was says French historian Fr. Tillemont (1637-1698) “One of the most illustrious Martyrs France has given to the Church.”

History today only possess only his Acts which are very old since they were utilized by St Gregory of Tours (538-594) We know that Saturninus was the first Bishop of Toulouse, whether he went during the consult of Decius and Gratus (250) whether there were already Christians in the town, or his preaching resulted in numerous conversions, Saturninus soon had a little Church. — To reach it, Saturninus had to pass before the Capitol where there was a temple and according to the Acts, the Pagan priests ascribed to his frequent passing the silence of their oracles.

One day the Pagan priests seized Saturninus and on his unshakable refusal to make a sacrifice to the idols, they condemned him to death by being tied by the feet to a bull which drug him about the town until the rope broke.

After Saturninus death, two Christian Women reverently gathered up his remains, burying them in a deep ditch so that they would not be defiled by the evil Pagans. — Saturninus successors St. Hilary (Feast Day: 13 January) and St. Eusbius (Feast Day: 02 August) gave him a more honorable burial. A Church was erected where the Bull which caused his death had stopped and still exists to this day and is called, Notre-Dame du Taur (Church of the Bull) — The body of St. Saturnunus was transferred at an early date and is still preserved in the Church of St. Sernin (or St. Saturnin) one of the most ancient and beautiful in Southern France.

St. Saturninus Feast Day was entered on the Hieronymian Martyrology on this date. — The account of his Acts were embellished with several details and legends linked to his name with the beginning of the Churches: Eauze, Auch, Pamplona and Amiens but these are without historic foundation.

More here from Catholic Encyclopedia/New Advent 2012

Alternative Saint of the Day: Saint Clement -Franciscan Media