Cristy Li

Saint Angela Merici (1470-1540)
Image: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Angela has the double distinction of founding the first teaching congregation of Women in the Church and what is now called the Secular Institutes of Religious Women.

As a young Woman, Angela became a member of the ‘Third Order of St. Francis’ (now known as the Secular Franciscan Order) and lived a life of great austerity, wishing like St. Francis, to own nothing, not even a bed.

Early in Angela’s life she was appalled at the ignorance among poorer children, whose parents could not or would not teach them the scriptures and Christianity. Angela’s charming manner complemented her natural qualities of leadership–others joined her in giving regular instruction to the little girls of their neighborhood.

Invited to live with a family in Italy, Brescia (where Angela had been told in a vision, she would one day found a religious community) she continued her work, became well known and the center of a group of people with similar ideals.

Angela eagerly took the opportunity for a trip to the Holy Land, when she got as far as Crete, she was stuck with blindness, her friends wanted her to return home but she insisted on going through with the pilgrimage, visiting the scared shrines with as much devotion and enthusiasm as if she had her vision.

On her way back home while praying before a Crucifix, Angela’s sight was restored at the same place where it had been lost.

Angela at the age of 57 organized a group of 12 girls to help her in catechetical work, 4 yrs later the group had more than doubled in size to 28 and she formed them into the ‘Company of St. Ursula’ (Patroness of medieval universities and venerated  as a leader of Women) for the purpose of re-Christianizing family through solid Christian education of future wives and mothers.

The members continued to live at home, had no special habit and took no vows, though the early Rule prescribed the practice of chastely, poverty and obedience. The idea of a teaching congregation of Women was new and took time to develop. The community thus existed as a ‘Secular Institute’ until some years following Angela’s death.

More here from EWTN

Related:  Company of St. Ursula — Group of the United States

Conversion of St. Paul –Image Courtesy: Communio Stblogs

(Franciscan Media) Paul’s entire life can be explained in one experience–his meeting with Jesus, on the road to Damascus. In an instant, Paul saw the zeal of his dynamic personality was being wasted, like the strength of a boxer swinging wildly.

This great apostle was born Jewish of the tribe of Benjamin, at his circumcision on the 8th day following his birth, he received the name of Saul, at an early age, his parents sent him to Jerusalem according to EWTN where he was educated and instructed in the strictest observance of the Torah–Surpassing all of his equals in zeal for the Torah and its traditions, he believed the cause of God became thereby a blasphemer, a persecutor and the most outrageous enemy of Jesus Christ and was one of those who conspired to murder Saint Stephen.

Perhaps Saul who was also called Paul Acts 13:9 had never seen Jesus who was just a few years older but he had acquired a hatred of all that Jesus stood for as he began harassing the Church:

“And on that day a great persecution arose against the Church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him but Saul laid waste (of) the Church and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” —Acts 8:1-3

On Saul’s journey to Damascus, suddenly a great light from heaven ‘flashed about him’ and his companions, brighter than the sun and being struck with amazement they all fell to the ground, then Saul heard a voice speaking to him:

“Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?’ Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” (The voice from heaven replied) “I am Jesus who you are persecuting but rise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground and when his eyes were opened he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus and for three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.” —Acts 9:3-9

One sentence determined Saul’s theology: “I am Jesus, who you are persecuting.” —Acts 9:5 Jesus was mysteriously with people–the loving group of people that Saul had been persecuting like criminals. Jesus Christ, he saw was the mysterious fulfillment  of all that he had been blindly pursuing.

From then on (Saul) “I Paul, became a minister” — Colossians 1:23 and his only work was: “to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his Saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. For this I toil, striving with all energy which He mightily inspires within me.” —Colossians 1:25-29

“For our Gospel come to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake and you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the Word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 1:5-6

Paul life and ministry began tirelessly proclaiming and living out the message of the Cross: Christians die baptismally to sin and are buried with Jesus Christ. They are dead to all that is sinful and unredeemed in the world. They are made into a new creation, already sharing Christ’s victory and someday to rise from the dead like Him, through this Risen Christ, the Father, pours out the Holy Spirit on them, making them completely new.

So Paul’s great message to the world was: You are saved entirely by God, not anything you can do. Saving faith is the gift of total, free, personal and loving commitment to Christ, a commitment that then bears fruit in more ‘works’ than the Torah (Law) could every ever contemplate.

Related: The Conversion of Saint Paul –EWTN

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Feast of Conversion of St. Paul

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

(Franciscan Media) Though leprosy scared off most people in 19th century Hawaii that disease sparked great generosity in the Woman who came to be known as Mother Marianne of Molokai, her courage helped tremendously to improve the lives of its victims in Hawaii

Born Barbara Koob this date in 1838 in West Germany, Mother Marianne was one of 10 children, the year following her birth, her family immigrated to the United States and found a home in New York, Utica where they became members of St. Joseph’s Parish according to the Vatican and where the children attended the Parish School.

Although Barbara felt called to religious life at an early age, her vocation was delayed for 9 yrs because of family obligations. As the oldest child at home, she went to work in a factory after completing the 8th grade in order to support her family when her father became ill.

Finally in the Summer of 1862 at the age of 24 Barbara entered the ‘Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse’ and on the 19 November, she received her religious habit and the name ‘Sr Marianne’ the following year she made her religious profession and began serving as a teacher and principal in several elementary schools in the State of New York, subsequently joining the Order in Syracuse with the intention of teaching but God had other plans.

As a member of the governing boards of her religious community in the 1860s Mother Marianne participated in the establishment of two of the first hospitals in the central New York area.

In 1870 she began a new ministry as a Nurse-Administrator at St. Joseph’s in Syracuse where she served as the head administrator for 6 yrs during the time, she put her gifts of intelligence and people skills to good use as a facilitator, demonstrating the energy of a Woman motivate by God alone.

Although Mother Marianne was often criticized for accepting for treatment ‘outcast’ patients such as alcoholics, she became well known and loved in Central New York for her kindness, wisdom and down-to-earth practicality.

In 1883 Mother Marianne (now the Provincial Mother in Syracuse) received a letter from a Catholic Priest asking for her assistance in managing hospitals and schools in the Hawaiian Islands and mainly to work with leprosy patients. The letter touched Mother Marianne’s heart and she enthusiastically responded:

“I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones whose privilege it will be to sacrifice themselves for the Salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders…I am not afraid of any disease, hence, it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned lepers.”

Mother Marianne’s Six Sisters of St. Francis
Image: Sisters of Saint Francis

Mother Marianne and 6 other Sisters of St. Francis, arrived in Honolulu in November, 1883, their main task was to manage the Kakaako Branch Hospital in Oahu, which served as the receiving station for patients with Hansen’s disease (Leprosy) gathered from all over the Hawaiian Islands–The Sisters quickly set to work cleaning the hospital and tending to its  200 patients. By 1885, they had made major improvements to the living conditions and treatment of the patients.

In November of that year, Mother Marianne and the Sisters also founded the Kapiolani Home, made inside the hospital established to care for the healthy daughters of Leprosy patients at Kakaako and Kalawao, the unusual decision to open a home for healthy children on the Leprosy hospital premises was made because only the Sisters would care for those so closely related to people with the dreaded disease.

Rest here from the Vatican

Related: The Woman Who Received a Piano from Robert Louis Stevenson

Canonization is Pushed for Molokai’s Other Saint –Honolulu Star Bulletin

Saint Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon & Martyr –Image: Catholic Fire

(Franciscan Media) When Jesus deliberately began his ‘journey to death on the Cross’ Luke said that He ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem.’ (Luke 9:51) It is this quality of rock like courage that distinguishes the martyrs.

Most of what we know about St. Vincent, comes from the poet Prudentius, his ‘Acts’ have been rather freely colored by the imagination of their compiler but St. Augustine in one of his sermons on St. Vincent, speaks of having the ‘Acts’ of his martyrdom before him–We are at least sure of his name, his being a Deacon, the place of his death and burial.

According to the story we have (and as some of the early martyrs) the unusual devotion that he inspired, must have had a basis in a very heroic life.

Vincent was ordained a Deacon by his friend St. Valerius of Zaragossa in Spain. The Roman emperors had published their decrees against the Clergy in 303 and the following year against the laity. Vincent and his Bishop Valerius, were imprisoned in Italy Valencia, hunger and torture failed to break them. Like the three young men Shadrach, Meshach and Abed’nego that Nebuchadnezzar ordered thrown into the fiery furnace for not serving his false god or worshiping the golden image. (Daniel 3:12-30) Vincent and his Bishop seemed to thrive on suffering.

Valerius was sent into exile and Dacian the Roman governor, now turned the full force of his fury on Vincent–tortures of varying kind were attempted but their main effect was the progressive disintegration of Dacian himself–he had the tortures then beaten because they failed.

Finally he suggested a compromise. Would Vincent at least give up the sacred books to be burned according to the Emperor’s decree? Vincent refused–Torture on the gridiron continued, Vincent remaining courageous, the Torturer began losing control of himself.

Subsequently Vincent was thrown into a filthy prison cell, there he converted the Jailer. Dacian wept with rage but strangely enough, ordered Vincent to be given some rest.

Friends among the faithful came to visit Vincent but he was to have no earthly rest. When they finally settled him on a comfortable bed, Vincent passed away to his eternal rest.

Saint Agnes Biography Holy Card — Image: Catholic Shopping.com

 (EWTN) Few legends of Saints have been more cherished than that of the virgin martyr for Jesus Christ, Agnes.

Agnes, was held in high regard by the primitive Christian Church and her name has remained a symbol of maidenly purity through the ages.

According to tradition, Agnes was a Christian girl of Rome, perhaps 12 or 13 yrs old when Diocletian began his persecutions–Like St. Lucy, she was sentenced by a Judge to a house of prostitution but a young man that looked upon her lustfully was stricken blind thereafter she was taken out to be burned but whether she met her death by fire or sword is unknown.

While one has no contemporary sources for the facts of Agnes’ life and martyrdom, there is little reason to doubt the main outline of the story.

References to this young Saint appear in many Church writings of later date Saint Ambrose, Saint Damasus and Prudentius, all praise Agnes’ and her heroism–her name appears in the Canon of the Mass.

Agnes’ crypt was in the ‘Via Nomentana’ and the stone covering her remains bore the words: ‘Agna Sanctissima’ (Most Holy Lamb) a Church in her honor is presumed to have been built in Rome at the time of Constantine the Great (272-337) In the apse of the basilica, which was rebuilt in the 7th century by Pope Honorius I there is still to be seen the large and beautiful mosaic depicting the Saint.

Saint Agnes is the patroness of: Children of Mary, Betrothed Couples, Girl Scouts, Young Ladies and Rape Survivors, her symbol is naturally, a lamb.

On the anniversary of Agnes’ martyrdom, the Pope, after high Pontifical Mass in her Church at Rome, blesses two lambs and their wool is later woven into the Pallia worn by Archbishops.

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

Saint Sebastian (257-288)

(Franciscan Media) Almost nothing is historically certain about Saint Sebastian except that he was a Roman Martyr for Jesus Christ, was venerated in Milan even in the time of Saint Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.

Devotion to Sebastian spread rapidly and he’s mentioned in several Martyologies as early as 350 AD

The legend of St. Sebastian is important in art and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the Martyrs without arousing suspicion–finally he was however found out and brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death, his body was pierced with arrows and he was left for dead.

Sebastian was however found still alive by those who came to bury him, he recovered but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the Emperor was to pass and confronted him, denouncing him for the cruelty to Christians–this time the sentence of death was carried out and Sebastian was beaten with clubs to death.

More here from EWTN

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

Pope Saint Fabin (200-250)
Image Courtesy: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Fabian was a Roman layman who came into the city from his farm one day as Clergy and people were preparing to elect a new Pope–Eusebius, a Church historian says a dove flew in and settled on the head of Fabian. The sign united the votes of Clergy and the laity and Fabian was chosen unanimously.

Fabian led the Church for 14 yrs and died a martyrs death during the persecution of Decius in 250 AD

St Cyprian Bishop of Carthage wrote to his successor that Fabian was an “incomparable” man whose glory in death matched the holiness and purity of his life.

In the Catacombs of St. Callistus the stone that covered Fabian’s grave may still be seen broken into 4 pieces bearing the Greek words, “Fabian, Bishop Martyr.”

St. Charles of Seeze (1613-1670)
Image Courtesy: Roman Catholic Saints

John ‘Charles’ Marchioni was the son of very religious rural family according to Catholic News Agency and was born in Italy Sezze, Southeast of Rome on the 19 October, 1613 At the request of his Grandmother, she raised him and Charles acquired a Great love and prayers from his Grandmother.

Charles believed that God was calling him to be a missionary in India but he never got there–He had something better for this 17th century successor to Brother Juniper–Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan, he did that in 1635 and says in his autobiography:

“Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a Lay Brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love.”

Charles served as a Cook, Porter, Sacristan, Gardener and Beggar at various Friars in Italy and in some ways, he was ‘an accident waiting to happen.’ Charles once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames.

One story shows how Charles thoroughly adopted the Spirit of St. Francis–the Superior instructed Charles, then a Porter, to provide food only to traveling Friars who came to the door–Charles obeyed this direction. Simultaneously the alms to the Friars decreased. Charles convinced the Superior these two facts were related. When the Friars resumed giving to all who asked at the door, alms to the Friars increased also.

At the direction of his Confessor, Charles wrote his autobiography ‘The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God’ together with several other books and made good use of his several directors throughout the years–they helped him to discern which of his ideas or ambitions were from God. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing.

Charles had a firm sense of God’s providence. Fr. Severino Gori said, “By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal.” (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An autobiography, Pg 215) 

Charles died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there Pope Leo XIII pronounced him Blessed in 1882–Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959