Today is the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury, but we will celebrating him tomorrow, on his old feast day, so we can celebrate Bede, "the venerable Bede" ("the Venomous Bede" according to the spoof "1066 and All That"), who died in 735. This simple English monk did his people, his Church (in those days, of course, the ONLY Church), and the world an enormous favor by composing and putting to paper a detailed history of the Church in England. He was born at Jarrow and given to St. Benedict Biscop and the monks at the age of 7, ordained deacon at 19 and priest at 30. He wrote several books, including commentaries on Sacred Scripture, ending with the famous Ecclesiastical History of the English People when he was 59. He never left home, never conquered foreign countries for Christ, never did anything folks might call amazing or heroic, but he was a great saint nonetheless. Thank God "it has ever been my delight to learn or teach or write," as he himself wrote in a brief autobiographical note at the end of his opus. Thank God he was published.
He suffered from "shortness of breath" and had an intimation of his upcoming death after a particularly bad spell. He spent his remaining days (from two weeks before Easter til a little after Ascension Day) with his pupils at his bedside, continuing to "learn, teach and write" -- working on a translation of St. John's Gospel into English and a commentary on the works of St. Isidore of Seville. Why did he knock himself out so? "I will not have my scholars read what is false or labour unprofitably on this after my death." His last days were well recorded by his pupil Cuthbert, and it is known that on his last day he dictated the final sentence of St. John to his assistant. Then he desired to be taken into the church so he could gaze on the tabernacle, and his last words were "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost."
He was always called Venerable as a mark of respect, although he was not officially canonized and declared a doctor of the Church until 1899! He is the only English doctor and the only Englishman named in the Paradise of Dante's Divine Comedy. Dear Venerable Bede, pray for us.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Today May 21
Today is the feast of St. Andrew Bobola, (1591 - 1657), martyr. And what a martyr! The circumstances of his death, desired to be hushed up by the Cossacks and the Orthodox who caused it, were miraculously disclosed when his body, which had been cast on a manure pile, was found incorrupt. This also was an eloquent sign to the Orthodox, who hold physical incorruptibility in special veneration, and whom this Jesuit missionary always desired to bring into the fold.
Andrew was a Polish aristocrat who joined the Jesuit novitiate in Vilna, an Orthodox stronghold, that had recently -- and peacefully -- been annexed to Poland (by the marriage of Queen Hedwig [of Poland] and Duke Jagiello [of Lithuania]). He became priest and then superior at Bobrinsk, from which he courageously preached in Orthodox towns, even though he met with prejudice and vilification. One thing they always seemed to do to him was to incite a roving band of kids to shout obscenities at him and to drown him out with yells every time he tried to speak. How patient he much have been to not rebuke or yell back at them -- imagine always being drowned out.
One day some Cossacks (who opposed the presence of Catholics in the area) attacked him, made him run behind one of their horses, beat him and interrogated him. Not liking his courageous -- and Catholic -- answers, they cut him lightly all over with swords, stripped him, burned him, cut off his nose, ears, tongue, and finally head. All through -- at least while he still had his tongue -- he prayed to Jesus and His Mother. He could have capitulated at any time. After all, as people are always telling us, they are just like us! Yes, the Orthodox are just like us, but they are not exactly the same, and for some, those little differences are very important. For some, Catholic identity is important. St. Andrew was canonized in 1938. Dear St. Andrew Bobola, pray for us.
Andrew was a Polish aristocrat who joined the Jesuit novitiate in Vilna, an Orthodox stronghold, that had recently -- and peacefully -- been annexed to Poland (by the marriage of Queen Hedwig [of Poland] and Duke Jagiello [of Lithuania]). He became priest and then superior at Bobrinsk, from which he courageously preached in Orthodox towns, even though he met with prejudice and vilification. One thing they always seemed to do to him was to incite a roving band of kids to shout obscenities at him and to drown him out with yells every time he tried to speak. How patient he much have been to not rebuke or yell back at them -- imagine always being drowned out.
One day some Cossacks (who opposed the presence of Catholics in the area) attacked him, made him run behind one of their horses, beat him and interrogated him. Not liking his courageous -- and Catholic -- answers, they cut him lightly all over with swords, stripped him, burned him, cut off his nose, ears, tongue, and finally head. All through -- at least while he still had his tongue -- he prayed to Jesus and His Mother. He could have capitulated at any time. After all, as people are always telling us, they are just like us! Yes, the Orthodox are just like us, but they are not exactly the same, and for some, those little differences are very important. For some, Catholic identity is important. St. Andrew was canonized in 1938. Dear St. Andrew Bobola, pray for us.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Today May 19
Today is the feast of St. Joaquina (1783 - 1854). This saint was both a laywoman and, later in life, a consecrated religious. She was given in an arranged marriage to a young lawyer 10 years her senior. She was one of a bevy of daughters of Don Lorenzo de Vedruna and had made the mistake of telling Don Teodore (the visiting young man) that she liked candy. He was soon back with the sweets . . . and a marriage proposal. They were soon married, but the lovely little 16-year-old bride acted depressed. Her husband tenderly asked her what was wrong and she revealed that it had always been her wish to become a nun. She got the surprise of her life when Don Teodore sighed and revealed HE'D always wanted to be a PRIEST. And then, as she later told her six (6!) children, "We comforted one another."
Soon four children graced the wealthy household. Teodore was the oldest in his family and had inherited most of the family wealth -- but, of course, had also been expected to marry and raise up heirs. His life was not all roses. The vagaries of war hit the little family hard -- Teodore had to go to war and came back wounded -- and Joaquina, very pregnant, had to flee the country with the four kids. But even on top of all that, Teodore had to endure the jealousy and financial demands of all his siblings, and Joaquina their scorn (for his so-called "marrying down.")
Two of their children died (including the infant born during the war), but three more were born in short order after Teodore's return. His health, however, had been seriously compromised and he soon died. Joaquina mourned him in black for two years and then for the next eight wore a rough brown "sack" tied with a string like a Franciscan habit. She even took to riding a donkey. All the Barcelona townspeople thought she was mad. But she was living out a call she still heard, and when the stubborn donkey stopped in front of a Capuchin church, the priest, Father Stephen, who came out to talk to her, perceived it too. He asked her to start a new order of sisters to combine the contemplative life with active charitable service. "But where shall I find the nuns?" she asked. "They will come," he replied. Thus began the Carmelites of Charity, an order that still is going strong, despite losing many sisters in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 - 39.
St. Joaquina herself was plagued with strokes, which eventually paralyzed her the last five years of her life, and even, at the end, robbing her of speech. She received the Eucharist humbly and with reverence, a lesson for others even in silence. She was beatified in 1940 and canonized in 1959. St. Joaquina, pray for us.
Soon four children graced the wealthy household. Teodore was the oldest in his family and had inherited most of the family wealth -- but, of course, had also been expected to marry and raise up heirs. His life was not all roses. The vagaries of war hit the little family hard -- Teodore had to go to war and came back wounded -- and Joaquina, very pregnant, had to flee the country with the four kids. But even on top of all that, Teodore had to endure the jealousy and financial demands of all his siblings, and Joaquina their scorn (for his so-called "marrying down.")
Two of their children died (including the infant born during the war), but three more were born in short order after Teodore's return. His health, however, had been seriously compromised and he soon died. Joaquina mourned him in black for two years and then for the next eight wore a rough brown "sack" tied with a string like a Franciscan habit. She even took to riding a donkey. All the Barcelona townspeople thought she was mad. But she was living out a call she still heard, and when the stubborn donkey stopped in front of a Capuchin church, the priest, Father Stephen, who came out to talk to her, perceived it too. He asked her to start a new order of sisters to combine the contemplative life with active charitable service. "But where shall I find the nuns?" she asked. "They will come," he replied. Thus began the Carmelites of Charity, an order that still is going strong, despite losing many sisters in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 - 39.
St. Joaquina herself was plagued with strokes, which eventually paralyzed her the last five years of her life, and even, at the end, robbing her of speech. She received the Eucharist humbly and with reverence, a lesson for others even in silence. She was beatified in 1940 and canonized in 1959. St. Joaquina, pray for us.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Today May 10
Today is the feast of Saints Gordianus and Epimachus (died 360). These two saints are buried together about a mile from the city where they both perished. Epimachus was a Christian killed for his faith by Emperor Julian the Apostate.
Gordianus was one of Julian's commissioners. He was put in charge of compelling a man named Januarius to sacrifice to the gods and instead ended up listening and being persuaded by his talk. I suppose listening to the prisoners is an occupational hazard, but you wouldn't think it would sway too many imperial Romans. The fact that is did speaks to its power and logic, if not its supernatural origin.
Gordianus was discovered -- along with his wife Mariria and 53 others -- to have "gone Christian" and ordered to be beheaded unless he, too, sacrificed to the gods. He refused and gave his life for Christ in the year 360. To add insult to injury, his body was thrown out to be food for the dogs, but some faithful Christians recovered it and buried it with the aforesaid martyr's. Saints Gordianus and Epimachus, pray for us.
Gordianus was one of Julian's commissioners. He was put in charge of compelling a man named Januarius to sacrifice to the gods and instead ended up listening and being persuaded by his talk. I suppose listening to the prisoners is an occupational hazard, but you wouldn't think it would sway too many imperial Romans. The fact that is did speaks to its power and logic, if not its supernatural origin.
Gordianus was discovered -- along with his wife Mariria and 53 others -- to have "gone Christian" and ordered to be beheaded unless he, too, sacrificed to the gods. He refused and gave his life for Christ in the year 360. To add insult to injury, his body was thrown out to be food for the dogs, but some faithful Christians recovered it and buried it with the aforesaid martyr's. Saints Gordianus and Epimachus, pray for us.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Today May 8
Today is the feast of Blessed Mary Theresa Ledochowska (1863 - 1922). Earlier we read about a saint (Father Mateo) who received great encouragement from St. Pius X; today's saint did from him as well, though at the time he was only a cardinal, Cardinal Sarto. He felt her order, the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver, was a great power in helping Africans and even invited the sisters into his own province of Venice because even the poor there could help the missions.
Mary Theresa had been an early and strong advocate against slavery. She was brought up a progressive, though she was a countess in the old aristocracy of Austria, and had been taught by her parents, especially her father (father of 12 children!) to work for just wages, land reform and religious freedom as well as abolitionism. Mary Theresa started as a writer; she had a newsletter -- I feel she'd be a "blogger" were she living today -- and then a newspaperwoman, and finally a nun, foundress of her own order. She gave up so much for it: a life in court (she was an elegant lady-in-waiting at the Court of Tuscany), a fierce temper, excessive self-assertion, pride (she was permanently scarred by smallpox, but she bore it humbly, though she had been a stunningly beautiful woman), and even smoking!
She devoted herself to preparing missionaries for Africa, even translating books into all the African languages she knew. She and her friend Melanie were the first intrepid members; together they did much good. She died many years later of a wasting disease (she weighed only 62 lbs. at her death), and many witnessed her beautiful smile just before she left this world. Blessed Mary Theresa, pray for us.
Mary Theresa had been an early and strong advocate against slavery. She was brought up a progressive, though she was a countess in the old aristocracy of Austria, and had been taught by her parents, especially her father (father of 12 children!) to work for just wages, land reform and religious freedom as well as abolitionism. Mary Theresa started as a writer; she had a newsletter -- I feel she'd be a "blogger" were she living today -- and then a newspaperwoman, and finally a nun, foundress of her own order. She gave up so much for it: a life in court (she was an elegant lady-in-waiting at the Court of Tuscany), a fierce temper, excessive self-assertion, pride (she was permanently scarred by smallpox, but she bore it humbly, though she had been a stunningly beautiful woman), and even smoking!
She devoted herself to preparing missionaries for Africa, even translating books into all the African languages she knew. She and her friend Melanie were the first intrepid members; together they did much good. She died many years later of a wasting disease (she weighed only 62 lbs. at her death), and many witnessed her beautiful smile just before she left this world. Blessed Mary Theresa, pray for us.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Today May 7
Today is the feast of Blessed Rose Venerini (1656 - 1728). Blessed Rose is a true layperson, having lived her whole life in the world, though in fact she had, earlier in life, entered a convent. She had to leave in order to take care of her ailing mother, and when later she desired to re-enter the convent, her Jesuit spiritual adviser persuaded her to use her great gifts right there in Viterbo.
She humbly gathered the women and girls of the town to say a simple Rosary each night and then their shocking ignorance spurred her to teach them catechism. She did, and she had a great gift not only of teaching but of teaching teachers -- creating the next generation of educators, so to speak. She was very capable and hard-working, providing good practical advice -- which was sometimes even life-saving, as her enemies actually fired arrows at them and with flaming torches tried to set fire to their informal schools.
But Rose's constant and unperturbed patience and humility won over even her fiercest critics and she (and her followers) were not only able to continue her work but expand it throughout Italy and eventually to the United States. Blessed Rose, pray for us.
She humbly gathered the women and girls of the town to say a simple Rosary each night and then their shocking ignorance spurred her to teach them catechism. She did, and she had a great gift not only of teaching but of teaching teachers -- creating the next generation of educators, so to speak. She was very capable and hard-working, providing good practical advice -- which was sometimes even life-saving, as her enemies actually fired arrows at them and with flaming torches tried to set fire to their informal schools.
But Rose's constant and unperturbed patience and humility won over even her fiercest critics and she (and her followers) were not only able to continue her work but expand it throughout Italy and eventually to the United States. Blessed Rose, pray for us.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Today May 5
Today is the feast of St. Jutta (died 1220), laywoman. Even in the olden days we had examples of great lay saints, often following the leads of other lay saints struggling their way to sanctity while balancing their many obligations in "the world" with their call to follow Jesus faithfully. In this case, her role model was St. Elizabeth of Hungary, so Jutta, after admirably raising her children, serving her husband til his death, and living very simply, she was able to follow her model much more closely. All her children having grown up and settled down, she divested herself of her property and devoted herself to helping the poor, dressing their wounds and feeding them.
She went on pilgrimage and though she was homeless (by choice), she received a building from her relative in Prussia when she went there. I would have thought perhaps she'd fix up the ruined house on the seashore and take in beggars, but no. She left it more or less in its "natural state" and lived alone, praying. Her special intentions were for conversions and for the perseverance of the baptized. She said three things could bring one very near to God: "painful illness, exile from home, and voluntary poverty." So true.
She was often seen levitated in prayer. She died of a fever in 1220 and many miracles were reported at her grave (near Kulmsee). St. Jutta, pray for us.
She went on pilgrimage and though she was homeless (by choice), she received a building from her relative in Prussia when she went there. I would have thought perhaps she'd fix up the ruined house on the seashore and take in beggars, but no. She left it more or less in its "natural state" and lived alone, praying. Her special intentions were for conversions and for the perseverance of the baptized. She said three things could bring one very near to God: "painful illness, exile from home, and voluntary poverty." So true.
She was often seen levitated in prayer. She died of a fever in 1220 and many miracles were reported at her grave (near Kulmsee). St. Jutta, pray for us.
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