St. Fiacre

30/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Fiacre

-Born in Ireland
-Moved to France for living with God in a calm place
-Made a house for himself and a small chapel
-Prayed and lived there
-Many people came to seek spiritual advice from him
-He was humble and simple
-Helped poor and sick people with what he had
-Showed miracles and cure for many people

Fiacre was born in Ireland in the seventh century. Looking for a place where he could live close to God in solitude, he sailed to France. The bishop of Meaux offered him part of his own land in a forest. Legend has it that the bishop told Fiacre he could have as much land as he could plow in a day. Instead of using a plow, which would have made his claim much larger, Fiacre showed how simply he wanted to live by using the point of his walking stick to turn the soil. Fiacre cleared his ground and built a little house for himself, as well as a chapel in honor of the Blessed Virgin. He also built a place for travelers to stop and rest. Before long, many people were coming to him for spiritual advice. He shared whatever he had with the poor and cared for the sick, sometimes restoring their health with miracles. Even after his death, many miracles were reported to have taken place when people visited his little chapel. St. Fiacre is the patron saint of gardeners.

St. Fiacre shows us that helping the poor isn’t only the responsibility of wealthy people. Even if we don’t have a lot, we can always share what we do have with those who have even less.

Beheading of John the Baptist

29/08/15

Today's Feast:
Beheading of John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus. His mother was St. Elizabeth and his father was Zechariah. The first chapter of Luke’s Gospel tells of the wonderful event of John’s birth. Mark’s Gospel, chapter 6, verses 14 and 29, records the cruel details of John the Baptist’s death. King Herod had married his brother’s wife, Herodias. John told Herod that this was wrong. But Herod and Herodias did not want to hear how they stood with God. They wanted to make their own rules. St. John the Baptist had to pay the price for his honesty. Yet he would have had it no other way. He would never have kept silent in the face of sin and injustice. His mission was to call people to repentance and he wanted everyone to be reconciled to God. Herodias held a grudge against John, and when she had the chance, she arranged to have him beheaded. What harsh consequences John accepted for teaching the truth. John had preached a baptism of repentance, preparing people for the Messiah. He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and watched with quiet joy as the Lord’s public ministry began. John encouraged his own disciples to follow Jesus. He knew that Jesus’ fame would grow, while his would fade away. In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, St. John the Baptist calls himself a voice crying in the desert to make straight the path of the Lord. He invited people to get ready, to prepare themselves to recognize the Messiah. His message is the same to each of us.

We can ask St. John the Baptist to help us be always ready to recognize the coming of Jesus into our lives.

St. Augustine

28/08/15

Today's Saint:
St. Augustine

-Born in modern day Algeria
-Brought up by his Christian mother, St. Monica
-Went to study in Carthage
-Lost faith and involved in all sins
-Knowing the condition, his mother kept on praying for his repentance
-He went to milan where he heard St. Ambrose preaching
-Studied about faith and got convinced about Christian faith as the true one
-Later accepted God fully and left all sinful ways of life
-Became priest, bishop and great writer
-His works are still a major base for theology and philosophy

St. Augustine was born in Tagaste in modern Algeria on November 13, 354. He was brought up in a Christian atmosphere by his mother, St. Monica, whose feast we celebrated yesterday. Augustine went to Carthage to study. After a while, he left the practice of the Christian faith and spent many years in sinful living and in false beliefs. His mother Monica prayed daily for her son’s conversion. In Milan, the marvelous sermons of St. Ambrose made their impact too. Finally, Augustine became convinced that Christinity was the true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted after reading the life of St. Anthony of Egypt, whose feast we celebrate on January 17. Augustine felt ashamed. “What are we doing?” he cried to one of his friends. “Unlearned people are taking heaven by force. Yet we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!” Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine went into the garden and prayed, “How much longer, Lord? Why don’t I put an end to my sinning now?” Just then he heard a child singing the words, “Take up and read!” Thinking that God intended this as a message for him, he picked up the Bible and opened it. His eyes fell on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 13, where Paul says to stop living immoral lives and to live in imitation of Jesus. It was just what Augustine needed. From then on, he began a new life. He was baptized on Holy Saturday, 387. Four years later, he was ordained a priest. In 396, he was made bishop of Hippo when Bishop Valerius died. Augustine wrote many works to explain and defend the Catholic faith. Even today, his letters, sermons, and treatises are important to the study of theology and philosophy. On the wall of his room, he had the following sentence written in large letters: “Here we do not speak evil of anyone.” St. Augustine defended the Church’s teachings against errors, lived simply, and supported the poor. He preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. “Too late have I loved you,” he once cried to God. But Augustine spent the rest of his life in loving God and leading others to love him, too.

Thinking over the lives of the saints, we should ask ourselves, “Can’t we do what these men and women did?” We can become saints too, if we pray each day to know and do God’s will.

St. Monica

27/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Monica

-Born in Northern Africa
-Brought in good Christian faith
-Married a pagan man
-Even though she was admired by him, he treated her bad because of his short temper
-She forgave and prayed for his repentance and faith in Jesus
-She prayed for years and that too without losing faith
-He repented on death bed and got baptised
-She knew her son was living in wrong way
-Prayed for him many years
-She saw his repentance also
-Later he became a holy man, priest, bishop and great Christian writer

Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, was born in Tagaste, northern Africa, in 332. She was brought up in a good Christian home. Her strong training was a great help to her when she married the pagan Patricius. Patricius admired his wife, but he made her suffer because of his bad temper. Monica bore this with patience and fervent prayer. At the end of her husband’s life, Monica saw her prayers answered. Patricius accepted the Christian faith in 370. He was baptized on his deathbed a year later. His mother, too, became a Christian.  St. Monica’s joy over the holy way in which her husband had died soon changed to great sorrow. She found out that her son Augustine was living a bad, selfish life. This brilliant young man had turned to a false religion and to an immoral way of life. Monica prayed and wept and did much penance for her son. She begged priests to talk to him. Augustine was brilliant, yet very stubborn. He did not want to give up his sinful life.  But Monica would not give up either. When he went to Rome without her, she followed him. At Rome, she found he had become a teacher in Milan. So Monica went to Milan. And in all those years, she never stopped praying for him. What love and faith! After years of prayers and tears, her reward came when Augustine was converted. He not only became a good Christian, as she had prayed. Augustine also became a priest, a bishop, a great writer, and a very famous saint. We celebrate his feast on August 29, the day after St. Monica’s.  Monica died in Ostia, outside Rome, in 387. Augustine was at her bedside. St. Monica is the patron of married women and of Christian mothers.  

  We shouldn’t become discouraged if our prayers aren’t answered right away. Like St. Monica, we should keep praying. Jesus tells us in the Gospel to ask with perseverance and we shall receive.

St. Elizabeth Bichier

26/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Elizabeth Bichier

-Born in a noble family of France
-Studied law and used it to win a case for saving family property
-Dedicated her life to Jesus and Mary
-Started new religious congregation of sisters
-They dedicated themselves to serve poor and help children in education
-Started many convents and lot joined them
-Cared everyone and inspired others
-Took up dangerous situations also to help people
-People admired her straight forward approach

Elizabeth was born in 1773 in France. As a little girl, her favorite game was building castles in the sand. Many years later, this holy woman had to take charge of building convents for the Order of nuns she founded. “I guess building was meant to be my business,” she joked, “since I started it so young!” In fact, by 1830, eight years before her death, Elizabeth had already opened over sixty convents. During the time of the French Revolution, Elizabeth’s family lost everything they owned. This was because the republicans were taking property from the nobility. But this intelligent young woman of nineteen studied law so she could fight her family’s case in court. When she won and saved her family from ruin, the village shoemaker exclaimed: “All you have to do now is marry a good republican!” Elizabeth, however, had no intention of marrying anyone republican or noble. On the back of a picture of Our Lady, she had written: “I dedicate and consecrate myself to Jesus and Mary forever.” With the help of St. Andrew Fournet, Elizabeth started a new religious Order called the Daughters of the Cross. (For more on St. Andrew Fournet, see June 14.) This new Order was dedicated to teaching children and caring for the sick. Elizabeth would face any danger to help people. Once she found a homeless man lying sick in a barn. She brought him to the convent hospital and did all she could for him until he died. The next morning the police chief came to tell her she could be arrested for sheltering a man believed to be a criminal. Elizabeth was unafraid. “I only did what you yourself would have done, sir,” she said. “I found this poor sick man and took care of him until he died. I am ready to tell the judge just what happened.” Of course, the saint’s honesty and charity won her great respect. People admired her straightforward, clear answers. St. Andrew Fournet, the Order’s co-founder, died in 1834. St. Elizabeth wrote to the sisters, “This is our greatest and saddest loss.” St. Elizabeth died on August 26, 1838. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1947.

St. Elizabeth Bichier was courageous and energetic. We can pray to her to obtain the grace to live our Christian calling more enthusiastically. She’ll help us be generous followers of Jesus.

St. Louis of France

25/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Louis of France

-Born in France
-Son of King of France
-Mother taught him Christian values
-Father died and he became King
-He ruled the kingdom wisely
-He prayed daily and attended Holy Mass
-Compassionate in his approach to all people and poor ones
-Joined in crusades to defend for Christians in Holy Land
-He was jailed for some time
-Inside jail also he reflected Christian values
-Died with peace and praying

Louis was born on April 25, 1214. His father was King Louis VIII of France and his mother was Queen Blanche. The story is told that when Prince Louis was small, his mother hugged him tightly. She said, “I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child. But I would rather see you dead at my feet than ever to have you commit a mortal sin.” Louis never forgot those words. He grew to cherish his Catholic faith and his upbringing. When he was twelve, his father died and he became the king. Queen Blanche ruled until her son was twenty-one. Louis became a remarkable king. He married Margaret, the daughter of a count. They loved each other very much. They had eleven children. Louis was a good husband and father. And as long as his mother, Queen Blanche, lived, she was his valued advisor. Busy as he was, the king found time for daily Mass and the recitation of the Divine Office. He was a Third Order Franciscan and lived a simple lifestyle. He was generous and fair. He ruled his people with wisdom, charity, and true Christian principles. There was no separation between what he believed as a Catholic and how he lived. He knew how to settle arguments and disputes. He listened to the poor and the underprivileged. He had time for everybody, not just the rich and influential. He supported Catholic education and built monasteries. The historian Joinville wrote a biography of St. Louis. He recalls that he spent twenty-two years in the king’s service. He was daily in the king’s company, and he could say that he never heard King Louis swear or use any kind of profanity in all those years. Nor did the king permit bad language in his castle. St. Louis felt an urgent obligation to help the suffering Christians in the Holy Land. He wanted to be part of the Crusades. The first time, he was taken prisoner. But even in jail, he behaved as a true Christian knight. He was unafraid and noble in all his ways. He was freed and returned to take care of his kingdom in France. Yet as soon as he could, he started back for the Holy Land again. On the way, however, this greatly loved king contracted typhoid fever. A few hours before he died, he prayed, “Lord, I will enter into your house, worship in your holy temple, and give glory to your name.” St. Louis died on August 25,1270. He was fifty-six years old. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297.

It isn’t easy to live up to Christian values at any time in history. St. Louis of France teaches us by his example that we have to make time for God and for prayer. If we are ever tempted to think that we are too busy to pray, we can ask St. Louis to convince us otherwise. We also celebrate the feast of St. Joseph Calasanz on this day.

St. Bartholomew

24/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Bartholomew

-He is from Cana, Galilee
-Disciple of Jesus
-Also called as Nathaniel
-Brought to Jesus by Philip
-Jesus testified about him as a pure man
-He went to preach in India and Armenia
-Established Christianity in Armenia
-Became martyr for faith

Bartholomew was one of the first followers of Jesus. This apostle’s other name was Nathaniel. He came from Cana in Galilee. He became a disciple of Jesus when his friend Philip invited him to come and meet the Lord. Nathaniel received high praise from Jesus, who said, as soon as he saw him, “Here is a man in whom there is no deceit.” Jesus knew that Nathaniel was an honest, sincere man. His one desire was to know the truth.  Nathaniel was very surprised to hear those words from the Lord. “How do you know me?” he asked. “Before Philip called you,” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree.” That was a favorite praying place. Nathaniel must have realized then that Jesus had read his heart as he prayed. “Master!” he cried. “You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!” And Nathaniel became one of the Lord’s faithful apostles.  Nathaniel, or Bartholomew, like the other apostles, preached the Gospel of Jesus at the risk of his life. It is believed that he went to India, Armenia, and other lands. He preached with great zeal, until he gave his life for the faith. And so, St. Bartholomew not only received the reward of an apostle, but also the martyr’s crown.  

  Jesus admired the honesty of St. Bartholomew. Even though Bartholomew had his own opinions, he wasn’t stubborn, so Jesus praised him. He also gave Bartholomew the grace of faith and the vocation to be an apostle. We can ask St. Bartholomew to help us grow in our faith, too.

St. Rose of Lima

23/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Rose of Lima

-Born in Lima, Peru
-Beautiful girl and admired by all the people
-She concentrated on beauty of soul
-Didn't like others praising her for her beauty
-Tried to follow gospel living
-Decided to remain unmarried for Jesus and his Kingdom
-Joined Dominicans third order and lived in a hut
-Lived poor and helped people to know Jesus
-Tried always to develop beauty of soul

This South American saint was born in Lima, Peru, in 1586. Her real name was Isabel, but she was such a beautiful baby that she was called Rose. She received the Sacrament of Confirmation from St. Turibio, archbishop of Lima. We celebrate his feast on March 23. As Rose grew older, she became more and more beautiful. One day her mother put a wreath of flowers on her head to show off her loveliness to friends. But Rose was not impressed. She only wanted Jesus to notice her and love her.  Rose did not think she was special because of her physical beauty. She realized that appearance had nothing to do with what a person was on the inside. Because of this, Rose avoided being concerned with her looks and focused on the beauty of her soul. She knew that she would be spiritually beautiful with prayer, penance, and the practice of virtue.  St. Rose worked hard gardening and sewing to support her parents who were very poor. She humbly obeyed them, too, except when they tried to persuade her to marry. That she would not do. Her love for Jesus was so great that when she talked about him, her face glowed. Rose wanted to live for Jesus alone. She joined the Dominican Third Order and lived in a little hut on her parent’s property.  She had many temptations from the devil. There also were times when she had to suffer terrible loneliness and sadness. During those times, God seemed far away. Yet she cheerfully offered all these troubles to him. She kept praying for her trust to grow stronger. In her last long, painful sickness, this heroic young woman used to pray: “Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase your love in my heart.” She was just thirty-one when she died on August 24, 1617, in Lima.  St. Rose of Lima was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement X in 1671. He also named her patroness of the Americas, Philippines, and West Indies.  

  St. Rose of Lima did not take pride in her physical beauty. She tried to grow spiritually beautiful for Jesus. When we’re overly concerned with our appearance, we can ask St. Rose to help us focus on what’s really important in our lives.

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

22/08/15

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Feast Day: August 22nd



The Blessed Virgin Mary has “Queenly” dignity as the Mother of “The King of kings, and Lord of lords”, and we know this under the guidance and unerring teachings of the Catholic Church.  The Fathers of the Church, Doctors of the Church, and Popes, down through the centuries have given authoritative expression to this truth and this is clearly expressed in the art we find in our Church and Liturgy. 

Pope Pius XII, by his encyclical letter on October 11, 1954, granted unanimous desire of the faithful and their pastors, and instituted the Feast of the “Queenship of Mary”.  With the certainty of faith we know that Jesus Christ is King in the full, literal, and absolute sense of the word, for He is true God and true Man.  Mary, in a limited way, shared in His royal works.  She was the Mother of Christ, and Christ is God.  She shared in the work of the Divine Redeemer, in His struggles against enemies and in the triumph He won over them all. 

From this union with Christ the King, she assuredly obtains so eminent a status that she stands high above all created things, and upon this same union with Christ, is based that Royal privilege enabling her to distribute treasures of the Kingdom of the Divine Redeemer.  This same union with Christ is the fountain of the inexhaustible efficacy of Her motherly intercession in the presence of the Son and of the Father. 

Without doubt – the Blessed Virgin Mary posses a dignity that far transcends all other creatures.  In the eyes of her Son, she takes precedence over everyone else.  Remember, that the Mother of God from the moment of her conception, Mary was filled with such a plenitude of grace “as to surpass the graces enhancing all the saints”.  Pope Pius IX wrote in his “Ineflabilis Deus”, “More than all the angels and all the saints has God ineffably freely endowed Mary with the fullness of the heavenly gifts that abound in the Divine treasury; and she, preserving herself ever immaculately clean from the slightest taint of sin, attained a fullness of innocence and holiness so great as to be unthinkable apart from God Himself, a fullness that no one other than God will ever possess”.   Moving forward in piety and Faith, we glory in knowing the Virgin Mother of God bears the Royal Scepter in her hand, while her heart is ever aflame with Motherly love for us all. 

Practical Take Away:

Mary is always present, always filled with motherly love for us all.  She is always ready to intercede on our behalf, if only we call upon her for her assistance.  What mother, who loves her children, would not do all in her power to assist them when they cry out to her?  Our Heavenly mother awaits us to call out to her as well.  Blessed are those that call out to our “Heavenly” mother – they will not be disappointed, as she hears all.  She will lead you to her Son, who looks upon her with love.  Truly she is the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and we are her spiritual children.

St. Pius X

21/08/2015

Today's Saint:

St. Pius X

-Born in a village in Italy
-From a poor family
-Wished to study for becoming a priest
-Walked miles to school and hard worked
-Became a priest and served parishes for many years
-He always helped poor
-Kept himself poor by giving away all things he is having
-Became bishop and then cardinal
-Later he was elected as pope
-He gave importance for religious education
-He lived without possessions and was very humble
-Helped poor people till end of his life

This great pope was born Joseph Sarto in 1835. He was the son of a mailman in Riese, Italy. Joseph was given the affectionate nickname of “Beppi.” When Joseph decided to be a priest, he had to make many sacrifices to get an education. But he didn’t mind. He even walked miles to school barefoot to save his one good pair of shoes. After he was ordained a priest, Father Sarto labored for the people in poor parishes for seventeen years. Everybody loved him. He used to give away everything he had to help them. His sisters had to hide his shirts or he would have had nothing to wear. Even when Father Joseph became a bishop, and then a cardinal, he still gave away what he owned to the poor. He kept nothing for himself.  When Pope Leo XIII died in 1903, Cardinal Sarto was chosen pope. He took the name Pius X. He became known as the pope of the Holy Eucharist. Pope Pius X encouraged everyone to receive Jesus as often as they could. He also lowered the age for children to be permitted to receive Holy Communion. Before that time, boys and girls had to wait many years before they could receive the Lord. He is also the pope of religious instruction. He believed in and loved our Catholic faith. He wanted every Catholic to share in the beauty of the truths of our faith. He really cared about every single person and their spiritual and material needs. He encouraged priests and religion teachers to help everyone learn about their faith.  When World War I broke out, St. Pius X suffered greatly. He knew so many people would be killed. He had said: “I would gladly give my life to save my poor children from this horrible suffering.” Toward the end of his life, he also said: “I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor.” He never kept anything for himself, right to the end of his life. Pope Pius X died on August 20, 1914.  Pope St. Pius X was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1954. He was the first pope to be canonized in 242 years.  

  St. Pius X understood the importance of religious education. Teaching children to love God and preparing them to receive the sacraments was very close to this pope’s heart. Is there a way we can honor his legacy by helping out in our parish religious education program?

St. Bernard

20/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. Bernard

- Bernard was born in 1090 in Dijon, France.
- His mother died when he was just seventeen.
- He grew to be handsome and intelligent young man.
- Bernard joined the very strict Cistercian Order.
- Bernard also convinced his brothers, an uncle, and twenty-six friends to join him.
- Started new monastery in the Valley of Light.
- He preached, made peace between rulers, and advised popes.
- Became the most influential man of his time
- died in 1153

Bernard was born in 1090 in Dijon, France. He and his six brothers and sisters received an excellent education. When he was just seventeen, his mother died. He might have let sadness get the best of him had it not been for his lively sister Humbeline, who helped to cheer him up. Soon Bernard became very popular. He was handsome and intelligent, full of fun and good humor. People enjoyed being with him.  Yet one day, Bernard greatly surprised his friends by telling them he was going to join the very strict Cistercian Order. They did all they could to make him give up the idea. But in the end, it was Bernard who convinced his brothers, an uncle, and twenty-six friends to join him. As Bernard and his brothers left their home, they said to their little brother Nivard, who was playing with other children: “Goodbye, little Nivard. You will now have all the lands and property for yourself.” But the boy answered: “What! Will you take heaven and leave me the earth? Do you call that fair?” And not too long after, Nivard, too, joined his brothers in the monastery.  St. Bernard became a very good monk. After three years, he was sent to start a new Cistercian monastery and to be its abbot. The new monastery was in the Valley of Light and became known by that name. In French, the Valley of Light is “Clairvaux.” Bernard was the abbot there for the rest of his life.  Although he would have liked to stay working and praying in his monastery, he was called out sometimes for special assignments. He preached, made peace between rulers, and advised popes. He also wrote beautiful spiritual books. He became the most influential man of his time. Yet Bernard’s great desire was to be close to God, to be a monk. He had no desire to become famous. This saint had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother. He often greeted her with a “Hail Mary” when he passed her statue. It is said that one day, the Blessed Mother returned his greeting: “Hail, Bernard!” In this way, Our Lady showed how much his love and devotion pleased her.  St. Bernard died in 1153. People were saddened because they would miss his wonderful influence. He was proclaimed a saint in 1174 by Pope Alexander III. He was also named a Doctor of the Church in 1830 by Pope Pius VIII.  

  St. Bernard reminds us that every individual makes a difference. Each of us can give the gift of our talents and our energy to make the world better. If you wonder what gifts the Lord is asking you to use, you can pray to St. Bernard for help.

St. John Eudes

19/08/15

Today's Saint:

St. John Eudes

-Born in France
-Son of a farmer
-Started imitating Jesus from childhood
-Very zealous about following Gospel
-Became a priest and started working for people of God
-Helped the people during a plague
-Took care of sick and poor
-So much interested preaching missions
-Started a new congregation of Jesus and Mary
-He wished to train good priests for parish missions
-Till death, he travelled every where to preach

John Eudes was born in Normandy, France, in 1601. He was the oldest son of a farmer. Even as a child, he tried to copy the example of Jesus in the way he treated his family, friends, and neighbors. When he was only nine, another boy slapped his face. John felt himself becoming angry. Then he remembered Jesus’ words in the Gospel and offered his other cheek to the surprised boy.  John’s parents wanted him to marry and have a family. He gently but firmly convinced them that he had a priestly call. He joined the Congregation of the Oratory and studied for the priesthood. After John was a priest, the plague hit Normandy. It brought terrible suffering and death. Father Eudes volunteered to help the sick, caring for both their souls and bodies. Later, he became a popular preacher of missions in parishes. In fact, during his lifetime he preached 110 missions. St. John is responsible for the establishment of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. Father Eudes also started the Congregation of Jesus and Mary for priests. This Congregation was dedicated to training young men to become good parish priests.  St. John was very devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Holy Heart of Mary. He wrote a book about these devotions. John became sick after he preached an outdoor mission in very cold weather. He never fully recovered. John died in 1680. He was proclaimed blessed by Pope St. Pius X in 1908. This pope called John Eudes the apostle of devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1925.  

  We can ask St. John Eudes to show us how to grow in love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We can also find out about devotion to the Nine First Fridays and the Five First Saturdays so that we can practice them.

St. Helena

18/8/15

Today's Saint:

St. Helena

-Born in present day Turkey
-Her son became Roman Emperor
-Both of them got converted to Christianity
-Helped the church to grow in west
-Built many churches around their Kingdom
-She went in pilgrimage to Holy Land
-Found out relics and places related to Jesus
-Built churches on holy places
-Lead a devoted life

She was born in present day Turkey around 250 AD. She was the wife of Roman Regent. Her husband went into many political problems and forsook her to marry another. She was quiet and calm in these situations. Her only son Constantine I became the emperor.

She and her son accepted Christianity. This marked the end of persecution of church in west. With Constantine's power, Helena helped the church to grow. She built many churches around the kingdom and allowed many mission activities.

She went for pilgrimage to holy land and started a mission to find the places and relics of Jesus and his life. She was successful in building churches on those holy sites. Also she found the true cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Till she became old and died, she was zealous about Jesus and spreading his church. Catholic church see her as a strong instrument of God to spread Christianity in the west.

As St. Helena and her son accepted Jesus and searched for his relics. We can find out relics of Jesus inside our hearts. We can spread his church like their example.

Saint Joan of the Cross

17/8/15

Today's Saint:

Saint Joan of the Cross

-Born in France
-Daughter of a very generous mother who was widowed
-Managed the family business after the death of her mother
-Became greedy to earn money
-Done little sins to earn more
-Didn't helped any poor and hungry people around her
-After inspiration from a widow, changed heart and repented
-Started taking care of poor, sick and hungry
-Inspired many other ladies and started new order of nuns
-They helped poor by selling everything
-Died in fame of helping all around that city

The youngest of twelve children, Joan Delanoue was born in 1666 in Saumur, France. Her family had a small but successful business. When her widowed mother died, she left the store to Joan. Selfish and greedy, Joan thought only of making money. She committed many little sins to do it. She had once been devout, but now there was little love in her heart. Her mother had always been generous to beggars. Joan, instead, would buy food just in time for dinner. This way she could tell any beggars who came to the door during the day: “I have nothing to give you.” Joan was not happy living like this. At last, when she was about thirty, the good example of a widow named Frances Souchet helped her change her life. Then she finally saw that her “business” was not to hoard money, but to use it to help others. Joan began taking care of poor families and orphans. Eventually, she closed her shop entirely to devote her time to them. People called her house full of orphans “Providence House.” Later, she persuaded other young women to help her. They became the Sisters of St. Anne of Providence of Saumur. Joan lived a very self-sacrificing life. St. Louis Grignon de Montfort met Joan. He thought at first that her pride was causing her to be so hard on herself. But then he realized that her heart was really full of love of God. He said: “Go on in the way you have begun. God’s Spirit is with you. Follow his voice and fear no more.” Joan died peacefully in 1736 at the age of seventy. The people of Saumur said, “That little shopkeeper did more for the poor of Saumur than all the town councilors put together. What a woman! And what a holy person!” Joan was proclaimed a blessed by Pope Pius XII in 1947, the same year St. Louis Grignon de Montfort was declared a saint.

Many people suffer every day from hunger. We can realize the importance of not wasting food. Even if we are served something that we don’t care for, we can eat it. We can ask Blessed Joan to give us her self-sacrificing spirit.

St. Stephen of Hungary

16/8/15

Today's Saint:St. Stephen of Hungary

-Born in Hungary for a duke
-Accepted Christianity and took the name Stephen
-Became king of Hungary
-He started spreading Christianity and build churches
-Most of pagan people in the country accepted Jesus
-He was very humble and used his kingship to serve people
-Gave lot of money for poor people
-Roamed around country in disguise to help people

St. Stephen was born around 970 in Hungary. This saint’s name had been Vaik. When he became a Christian at the age of ten, he was given the name of Stephen. At the same time, his father, the duke of Hungary, and many nobles also became Christians. However, when Stephen himself became king, the country was still quite pagan. Some people were violent and fierce. So he decided to establish the Church solidly in Hungary. His efforts were blessed by God. The secret of St. Stephen’s amazing success in leading his people to the Christian faith was his devotion to Mary. He placed his whole kingdom under her protection and built a magnificent church in her honor. Pope Sylvester II sent a beautiful king’s crown to Stephen. This treasure became known as the crown of St. Stephen. During World War II, American soldiers captured the crown. The United States kept it in safety, and returned it to Hungary in 1978. Stephen was a strong, wise ruler. He enforced just laws. But he was also generous and kind to the poor. He loved to give gifts of money to beggars without letting them know who he was. Once he was giving these gifts in disguise when a crowd of rough beggars knocked him down and struck him. They pulled his hair and beard and stole his money pouch. They never could have imagined they were bullying their king. And they never found out from him. He took the insult quietly and humbly. He forced his thoughts to turn to Mary and prayed: “See, Queen of Heaven, how your people have treated me, whom you made king. Since they are your Son’s subjects, I will take this joyfully, and I thank you for it.” In fact, King Stephen made a promise then and there to give more than ever to beggars. Stephen was king of Hungary for forty-two years. He died on August 15, 1038. St. Stephen was proclaimed a saint by Pope St. Gregory VII in 1083.

We don’t have to be kings or presidents to realize the powerful impact of example. Some people preach wonderful sermons every day by the way they live. When we need more courage to imitate the good example of holy people, we can ask St. Stephen of Hungary to help us.August 16th

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

15/8/15
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, is the celebration of the “bodily taking up” of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. It is dogma, the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that the Virgin Mary, “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.

Pope Pius XII, on November 1, 1950, stated in his Apostolic Constitution, “Munificentissimus Deus” this doctrine as “dogmatically and infallible” truth. Catholic dogma leaves open the question of Mary’s death before rising to Heaven. The Assumption is a major feast day, celebrated on August 15, and is marked in the Roman Catholic Church as a Holy Day of Obligation.

It was on August 15th, 2004 when Pope John Paul II during his homily at Lourdes quoted John 14:3 as one of the scriptural bases for understanding the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. In this verse, Jesus tells his disciples at the Last Supper, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also”. According to Catholic theology, Mary is the pledge of the fulfillment of Christ’s promise.

In many countries, the feast of the Assumption is not only a Church Holy Day, but also a feast that is celebrated as a public holiday. Some of those countries are, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Lebanon, Lithuania, Italy, Malta, Mauritius, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, and Spain.

In the dogmatic statement, the phrase, “having completed the course of her earthly life”, leaves open the question of whether the Virgin Mary died before her assumption or whether she was assumed before death; both possibilities are allowed. Mary’s assumption is said to have been a divine gift to her as the “Mother of God”. The point of her bodily death has not been infallibly defined, and many believe that she did not die at all, but was assumed directly into Heaven.

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared: “By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma; that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.

St. Maximilian Kolbe

14/8/15

Today's Saint:

St. Maximilian Kolbe

-Born in Poland
-Joined Conventual Fransican friars and became priest
-Zealous in faith and started printing house for publishing spiritual books and magazines
-Devoted to Mother Mary and spreaded devotion through magazines
-Travelled to India and Japan for spreading the publications and starting monasteries
-Caught by nazis and put to jail
-Because of escape of prisoners, nazis took ten people to die in starvation cell
-Volunteered to died instead of a married man
-Died last among ten people and consoled others to die in hope

Raymond Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894. He joined the Franciscan Order in 1907 and took the name that we know him by: Maximilian. Maximilian loved his vocation very much, and he especially loved the Blessed Mother. He added the name “Mary” when he pronounced solemn vows in 1914. Father Maximilian Mary was convinced that the world of the twentieth century needed their Heavenly Mother to guide and protect them. He used the printing press to make Mary more widely known. He and his fellow Franciscans published two monthly newsletters that soon went to readers around the world. The Mother of God blessed Father Maximilian’s work. He built a large center in Poland. This center was called “City of the Immaculate.” By 1938, 800 Franciscans lived there and labored to make the love of Mary known. Father Kolbe also started another City of the Immaculate in Nagasaki, Japan. Still another was begun in India. In 1939, the Nazis invaded the Polish City of the Immaculate. They stopped the wonderful work going on there. In 1941, the Nazis arrested Father Kolbe. They sentenced him to hard manual labor at Auschwitz. He was at Auschwitz three months when a prisoner successfully escaped. The Nazis made the rest of the prisoners pay for the escape. They chose ten prisoners at random to die in the starvation bunker. All the prisoners stood at attention, while ten men were pulled out of line. One chosen prisoner, a married man with a family, begged and pleaded to be spared for the sake of his children. Father Kolbe, who had not been picked, listened and felt deeply moved to help that suffering prisoner. He stepped forward and asked the commander if he could take the man’s place. The commander accepted his offer. Father Kolbe and the other prisoners were marched into the starvation bunker. They remained alive without food or water for several days. One by one, as they died, Father Kolbe helped and comforted them. He was the last to die. An injection of carbolic acid hastened his death on August 14, 1941. Pope John Paul II proclaimed him a saint and a martyr in 1982.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a hero who gave up his life that someone else might live. He was such a special person because he was a great friend of the Blessed Mother. We can be friends of Mary, too, if we honor her and pray to her.

St. Pontian and St. Hippolytus

13/8/15

Today's Saint:

St. Pontian and St. Hippolytus

-Hippolytus was a priest in Rome who was a great theologian
-He fighted against teaching of errors
-He became rival to pope because he didn't like some of their actions
-With his supporters, he became antipope(self declared or wrongly declared as pope)
-He went out of Catholic church
-Pontian became pope after some time
-Both pope and antipope were put in exile to same place
-Antipope got impressed by the life of pope and repented
-He was taken back to church by pope and later both became martyrs

St. Hippolytus was a priest and a scholar in the Church of Rome. He wrote many excellent works of theology and was a great teacher. Hippolytus, however, became frustrated with Pope St. Zephyrinus, who he felt had not been quick enough to stop people who were teaching errors. When St. Zephyrinus was martyred in the year 217, St. Callistus I was chosen as his successor. Hippolytus was not pleased with the choice of the new pope. Hippolytus himself had a large following, and he gave in to their suggestion that he be appointed pope. He broke ties with the Church and became an antipope, or false pope. St. Pontian was elected pope in the year 230. In 235, Maximinus became the emperor of Rome. Almost immediately, he began a persecution of the Christians. One of the common punishments of bishops and priests was to be sent into exile to the dangerous and unhealthy mines in Sardinia, Italy. Pope Pontian was one of those banished to the mines. And so was Hippolytus, the antipope. Pope Pontian and Hippolytus met in exile. Hippolytus was touched by the humility of the pope. He asked to return to the Church and felt the anger lifted from his heart. Pope Pontian understood the priest and loved him. He realized their need to help and encourage each other in their love for Jesus. Both became martyrs and remain for all time witnesses of forgiveness and Christian hope.

If we should ever become angry and frustrated about something, we have these two saints to help us. We can ask St. Pontian for his understanding heart and St. Hippolytus for his loving obedience.