Archive for the ‘Christianity’ Category

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort, Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, April 27th, 2024

St Louis...Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)
Image Courtesy: Pinterest

(Franciscan Media) Born in France at La-Cane Montfort, Louis from his childhood according to EWTN was tenaciously devoted to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament–When he was 12 Louis was sent as a day pupil to the Jesuit college at Rennes, he never failed to visit the Church before and after class.

When Louis was just 19 yrs old he walked 130 miles to Paris to study theology and gave everything that he had to the poor that he met along the way and made a vow to only live on alms. While Louis was in school, he joined a society of young men who ministered to the poor and sick on school holiday’s.

By the time Louis was just 27 he was Ordained a Priest and soon began ministering in parish missions throughout Western France and as a hospital Chaplain.

In 1705 Fr. Louis found his true calling and thereafter devoted himself with Evangelism. Fr. Louis’ ministry attracted thousands of people back to Christianity but he did meet some resistance, especially from the ‘Jansenists’ (a heretical movement) within the Church that believed in absolute predestination, in which only a chosen few are saved and the rest damned. Much of France was influenced by ‘Jansenism’ including many Bishop’s who forbid Fr. Louis from ministering in their dioceses–Fr. Louis was even poisoned by the ‘Jamsenists’ in La Rochelle but survived, though he suffered ill-health after that.

While Fr. Louis was recuperating from the effects of the poisoning, he wrote the masterpiece ‘True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin’ (available on Amazon) which he became a classic explanation of Maria devotion.

Fr. Louis founded the ‘Missionaries of the Company of Mary’ (for Priests and Brothers) and the ‘Daughters of Wisdom’ who cared especially for the sick.

In 1716 Fr. Louis died at the age of 43  in France at Saint Lauent-sur-Sevre, he was Beatified in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII and Canonized in 1946 by Pope Pius XII

Today Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. Conrad of Parzham, Patron Saint of Capuchin Franciscans – Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, April 20th, 2024

Saint Conrad...

Saint Conrad of Parzham
Image: Seryu

(Franciscan Media) Born in Germany Bavaria in 1818, Conrad was devoted from an early age to solitary prayer and became known at all of the Churches and shrines–often times waiting at the door at sunrise for first Holy Mass.

Conrad joined the ‘Capuchins’ as a Brother and was assigned to the Shrine of ‘Our Lady of Altotting’ spending more than 40 yrs of his life as a Porter, letting people into the Friary, obtaining supplies and dispensing charity to the poor while indirectly encouraging them to let God into their lives. Conrad’s helpfulness was sometimes unnerving–once Fr. Vincent seeking quiet to prepare his sermon, went up to the bell-tower of the Church, Conrad tracked him down, when someone wanting to go to Confession specifically requested Fr. Vincent.

Working with children and supporting charities to help neglected children, Conrad developed a rapport with them and was able to teach them about Christian faith, values, principles and the Rosary.

Conrad would spend hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and would regularly ask Our Blessed Mother to intercede for him, together with the many people he included in his prayers.

Three days prior to his death, Conrad realized that he could no longer perform his duties and resigned his position, he followed this by Celebrating Mass and retired to his bed for the last time. Local children that Conrad taught about Jesus and the Rosary recited it outside his window until he passed away.

Conrad was Beatified in 1930 and Canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI

More here from SQPN

Today Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. Gianna Beretta-Molla, M.D. Patron Saint of Preborn Children – Please Pray For Us!

Friday, April 19th, 2024

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

St. Gianna Molla with Son Pieluigi
Image Courtesy: Saint Gianna.org

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Milan in 1922, as a young lady according to EWTN Gianna willingly accepted the gift of faith and the Christian education that she received. Gianna dedicated herself to her studies enthusiastically during her early school years, together with her university education, while at the very same time, applying her faith in generous and apostolic service among the elderly and those less fortunate than she.

After Gianna earned her degree in Medicine and after completing a surgical residency from the University of Paula in 1949 Dr. Gianna Molla, opened up a medical clinic in in Magenta (near Milan) in the early 1950s specializing in Pediatrics, giving special attention to Mothers, Babies, Seniors and the Poor.

While practicing Medicine which she considered her ‘mission’ Dr. Gianna Molla increased her generous service to ‘Catholic Action’ especially among the very young, throwing light on Christian education knowing the values and guiding principles it provides.

When Dr.Gianna Mallo became engaged to be married to Pierto Mallo which she gave thanks and praise to the Lord for her many blessings, they were married in September, 1955 

In November 1956 to Gianna’s great joy, she became a Mother of Pieluigi (pictured with her above) and was subsequently blessed with two more children, Mariolina in 1957 and Laura in 1959, Dr. Gianna loved the joys of Motherhood, her marriage and being a physician.

In September 1961 toward the end of the second month of her fourth pregnancy, Fianna learned that she developed a fibroma in her uterus–before the necessary surgical procedure and knowing as a physician the risks that her continued pregnancy brought, Gianna pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the baby, entrusting herself to prayer and Providence. The baby’s life was saved for which she thanked the Lord. A few days before the birth of her child, Gianna was ready to sacrifice her life to save her child and told her doctor:

“If you must decide between me and the child,
do not hesitate,choose the child
I insist on it. Save the baby.”

In the morning of the 21 April, 1962 Gianna Emanuela was born but unfortunately, despite all the doctors efforts to save Dr. Gianna Molla, one week later she died and is remembered for doing what was morally right to save the life of her unborn child while sacrificing her own.

Dr. Gianna Molla, M.D. was Beatified on Mother’s Day 1994 by Pope Saint John Paul II and proposed that she was a model for all Mother’s saying:

“A Woman of exceptional love, an outstanding wife and mother, she gave witness in her daily life to the demanding values of the Gospel. By holding up this Woman as an example of Christian perfection, we would like to extol, all those high-spirited mothers of families who give themselves completely to their family, who suffer in giving birth, who are prepared for every labor and every kind of sacrifice, so that the best they have can be given to others.”

On the 16 May, 2004 Saint Gianna Beretta-Molla was Canonized in St. Peter’s Square before more than 100,000 by Pope Saint John Paul II

More here from Saint Ginna.org

Today Christians Honor Blessed James Oldo – Please Pray For Us!

Thursday, April 18th, 2024

Blessed James Oldo

Blessed James Oldo (1364-1404)

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy, Lodi to a well to do family, James married Catharine Bocconi at a young age who like him, appreciated the comforts of their day that came with their wealth but an outbreak of plague drove James, his wife and children out of their home into the countryside–Despite all of the precautions James and Catherine took, two of their daughters died.

Subsequent to the death of  their daughters, James and Catharine were determined to use  whatever time they had left in their lives, ‘to lay up treasures in heaven’ (Matthew 6:19-24)  together with building up God’s Kingdom on earth. They transformed their mansion into a Chapel, where small groups of people came for prayer and support.

John and Catharine became Secular Franciscans giving up their their old lifestyle and did penance for their sins. James took care of a frail sick Priest who taught him Latin. Upon the death of his wife Catharine, James himself became a Priest according to Catholic News Agency, he continued working with the sick and prisoners of war. — By his life,  Fr. James Oldo inspired many to enter the religious life.

Fr. James Oldo died a young at the age of 40 on this date in 1404 and according to SQPN was buried in the Church of St. Julian of which he and his wife Catharine had financed. In 1789 Fr. Oldo was reinterred in the Cathedral of Italy Lodi and in 1934 was Beatified by Pope Pius XI

More here from Deacon Omar Gutierrez, Archdiocese of Omaha, NE

Today Christians Honor Blessed Caesar de Bus, Patron of Modern Catechists – Please Pray For Us!

Monday, April 15th, 2024

Blessed Caesar de Bus

Blessed Caesar de Bus (1544-1607)
Image: Hanh Cac Chan Phuc

(EWTN) Born in France Cavillon, Fr. Caesar de Bus, was one of the glories of the Catholic Counter-Reformation who proved to be one of the greatest Catechists in the history of the Church. 

Caesar experiencing a conversion from a worldly and frivolous life, to embrace a life of prayer, penance and austerity reminiscent of Saint Ignatius of Loyola he had been known in his youth as the ‘life of the party’ to others.

Ordained a Priest in 1582 Fr. Caesar de Bus was profoundly affected by his reading about the “Life of Saint Charles Borromeo” shortly after the Saint’s death in 1584 Fr.Caesar de Bus wrote:

‘I was so beside myself and fired with such a longing in imitation of him (St. Charles Borromeo) that I would not give my eyes sleep or my days rest until I had given some beginning to this resolution of mine.’

Fr. Caesar de Bus was to expend his energy Catechizing the people of France Aix-en-Provence, who manifested massive ignorance as a result of the social and cultural turmoil of the Religious Wars begun by Martin Luther’s and Calvin’s rebellion.

Largely forgotten today, Fr. Caesar de Bus was an impressive figure among his contemporaries, St. Francis de Sales considered him to be a holy rival of St. Philip Neri and declared Fr. Caesar de Bus, ‘A star of the first magnitude in the firmament of Catechesis.’

Fr. Caesar de Bus was Venerated by no less than Cardinal Richelieu, who could not fail to be impressed by his austere and holy life.

Pope Paul VI observed in his Beatification of Fr. Caesar de Bus in 1975

“The Blessed spiritual journey was not without fits and starts–moments of discouragement of darkness, of uncertainty. We have been struck nevertheless by what would be characteristic of his entire life from nearly the beginning…We wish to speak of his spirit of penance.

Penance was not an empty word for him, he pushed it to the extreme, he returned from afar. He had to dominate the passions that would otherwise enslave him, a violent and perpetual battle. Through penance, he learned to seek and love sacrifice, for sacrifice configures us to the suffering and victorious Christ, offering himself as a libation abandoning all things to the hands of God at the cost of the greatest personal sacrifice seemed to have been his leitmotiv, the constant goal of his efforts and when at the end of his life, crippled by illness and afflicted with blindness, he would finally be able to prepare himself for the supreme gift, he realized how useful asceticism had been to master the old man–he would be ready to meet the Lord. His joy would be complete…”

Today Christians Commemorate St. Stephen of Mar Saba, Please Pray For Us!

Sunday, March 31st, 2024

Stephen Mar Saba

(Saint Mary’s Press) Stephen of Mar Saba was introduced to the monastic lifestyle at the age of 10 by his uncle Saint John Damascene whom Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI called a person of prime importance in the history of Byzantine Theology, a great Doctor in the history of the Universal Church.

When Stephen turned 24, he began to serve the monastery by doing a number of jobs according to Franciscan Media including a guest master. After some time, Stephen asked permission to lead a life in religious seclusion–the answer from the Abbott was yes and no.

Stephen could follow his preferred lifestyle during the week but on weekends he was to offer his skills as a Counselor. Stephen put a sign on the door of his room: “Forgive me Fathers, in the name of the Lord but please do not disturb me except on Saturday’s and Sunday’s.”

Even though Stephen would have preferred to live in solitary prayer everyday, he kindly met those seeking his counsel and was a trusted spiritual advisor.

Saint Stephen of Mar Saba’s biographer and disciple wrote: “Whatever help, spiritual or material, he was asked to give, he gave. He (Stephen) received and honored all with the same kindness. He possessed nothing and lacked nothing. In total poverty, he possessed all things.”

Related: Saint Stephen of Mar Saba Monastery –Holy Land Sites

Today Christians Commemorate St. Nicholas Owen, Martyr for Jesus Christ – Please Pray For Us!

Friday, March 22nd, 2024

St Nicholas Owen

St. Nicholas Owen (1550-1606)
Image Courtesy: Fr. Willie Doyle

(Franciscan Media) Born at Oxford the son of a carpenter, Nicholas became a carpenter and a brick mason–two of his brothers became Priests and another a Publisher of underground Catholic books according to SQPN.com Nicholas used his skills to save the lives of Priests in secret hiding places when Catholics were being persecuted, that went completely undetected by raiding parties.

Nicholas (sometimes using the pseudonym John Owen) worked with Saint Edmund Campion one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, Owen’s short stature led to his nickname ‘Little John’ but he was big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits.

When Fr. Edmund was Martyred for Jesus Christ, Nicholas spoke out against the atrocity and was imprisoned. Following his release from prison, Owen worked in service of the Jesuit Priest Henry Garnet and was admitted into the Society of Jesus as a Brother — In 1594 Owen was arrested again and tortured because of his faith, he was released after a wealthy Catholic family paid his fine, the Jailers believed that he was just some insignificant friend of some Priests according to Wikipedia afterward, Owen returned to his work constructing hiding places for Priests from anti-Catholic authorities.

In 1605 Brother Owen and three other Jesuits were forced into hiding in Hinlip Hall (which according to SQPN.com had some 13 hiding places) to escape the Priest hunters. Owen spent 4 days in one of his secret hiding places but having no food or water, he finally surrendered and was taken to the Tower of London and was there endlessly tortured for information on the underground network of Priests and their hiding places with ‘such inhuman ferocity’ that he became disemboweled and died.

Brother Owen was Beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI and was Canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI

Today Christians Honor Blessed John of Parma, Please Pray For Us!

Thursday, March 21st, 2024

Blessed John of ParmaBlessed John of Parma (1209-1289)
Image/Video: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) The Seventh Minister General of the Franciscan Order, John was known for his attempts to bring back the earlier spirit of the Order after the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

As a young philosophy professor known for his devotion to God that John entered the Franciscan Order. After his profession, John was sent to Paris to complete his theological studies. After becoming ordained into the Priesthood, Fr. John was appointed to teach theology in his home country of Italy and he was first sent to Bologna, then to Naples before being going to Rome.

In 1245 Pope Innocent IV, called a General Counsel in France Lyon, Crescentius the Franciscan Minister General at the time, was ailing and unable to attend. In his place, Fr. John was sent and he made a deep impression on the Church leaders gathered. Two years later when Pope Innocent IV presided at the election of a ‘Minister General to the Franciscans’ he remembered Fr. John and held him up as the man best qualified for this office.

Fr. John in 1247 was subsequently elected as the ‘Minister General’ — the surviving disciples of St. Francis rejoiced in his election, expecting to return to the spirit of penury and humility of the early days of the Order and they were not disappointed.

As ‘Minister General’ Fr. John traveled on foot, accompanied by one or two companions, to practically all of the Franciscan convents in existence. Sometimes he would arrive and not be recognized, remaining there for a number of days to evaluate the true spirit of the Brothers.

The Holy Father called on Fr. John to serve as Legate (his personal representative) to Constantinople, where he was most successful of winning back the schismatic Greeks. Upon his return, Fr. John asked that someone else take his place to govern the Order of Franciscans. St. Bonaventure, at Fr. John’s urging was chosen to succeed him.

Fr. John subsequently, tool up a life of seclusion in Italy Greccio. Many years later, Fr. John learned that the Greeks who had been reconciled with the Church for a time, had relapsed in schism.

Though 80 yrs old by then, Fr. John received permission from Pope Nicholas IV, to return to the East in an effort to restore unity once again but on his way, Fr. John tool ill and died.

Fr. John was Beatified in 1777 by Pope Pius VI

Today Christians Commemorate Saint Maximilian, Conscientious Objector & Martyr – Please Pray For Us!

Thursday, March 14th, 2024

Saint Maximillian

Saint Maximilian (274-295)
Image: Vidas Santas

(Franciscan Media) Maximilian the son of Fabius Victor, a Roman Army Veteran according to Rev Alban Butler (1711-1773) Lives of the Saints Vol III  Maximilian was drafted into the military at the age of 21 but refused to swear allegiance to the Roman Emperor, serving in the military on the grounds of being a conscientious objector and was brought before Proconsul Dion, who advised him that he must serve or die.

Maximilian replied: “I will never serve. You can cut off my head but I will not be a soldier of this world for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the Army of God and I cannot fight for this world, I tell you, I am a Christian.”

Proconsul Dion replied: “There are Christian soldiers serving our rulers…”

Maximilian though continued to refuse to serve and at the age of 21 offered his life to God in lieu of military service and was beheaded in Numidia, an ancient Roman empire city which is now present day Algeria.

Today Christians Honor Blessed Angela Salawa, “Devoting her Life to Works of Mercy” – Please Pray For Us!

Tuesday, March 12th, 2024

Blessed Angela Salawa...

Blessed Angela Salawa (1881-1922)

(Franciscan Media) Born the eleventh of twelve children in Poland Krakow, Angela learned piety, modesty and hard work from her Mother writes The Black Cordelias and with these principles Angela grew into a God fearing young woman.

At the age of 15 Angela began working for nearby families and went to work for a family in Siepraw and entertained their children. At 16 she worked for a family in Krakow without complaint until she felt intimidated by the landlord and left her employment and moved in with her sister Teresa until her death in 1899

In 1900 Angela felt called to a religious life and enrolled into the Association of Saint Zita, promoting care for the home, disciplined for Jesus Christ and a model for her Christian life–In 1912 she joined the ‘Third Order of St. Francis’ and two years later during WW I, Angela gave great service caring for injured soldiers in a hospital and prisoners of war without distinction of their nationality, earning the name ‘The Holy Lady’ for those she cared.

Beatified in 1991 Blessed Angela Salawa was remembered by Pope Saint John Paul II during his Papal visit to Poland in August, 2002 for “devoting her life to works of mercy.”