For our final Saint of November 2015, I will feature one whose feast day is coming up shortly, St. Juan Diego.
Juan Diego was a native born Mexican. He and his wife were among the first to be baptized after the arrival of the main group of Franciscan Missionaries in Mexico in 1524. Sources say that his wife died two years before the apparitions.
On Dec. 9, 1531, while making his way to the Franciscan Mission station for religious instruction, Juan Diego passed by the hill at Tepeyac and he encountered the Virgin Mary who revealed herself as the ever-virgin Mother of God and instructed him to request the bishop to erect a chapel in her honor. Juan delivered the message, but the bishop told him to come back another day after he had time to reflect on the request. Juan Diego encountered the Blessed Virgin again on his return trip and told her of the failure of his mission. He suggested that she needed to recruit someone of greater importance, but she insisted that it was he that she wanted for the task. Juan agreed to repeat the request, which he did the following day. The bishop asked for a sign to prove that the apparition was truly from heaven. Juan Diego returned immediately to Tepeyac and, encountering the Virgin Mary reported the bishop's request for a sign; she condescended to provide one on the following day (December 11).
By December 11, Juan Diego's uncle had fallen ill and Juan was obliged to attend him. Early the next day he set out to get a priest to hear his uncle's confession and minister to him on his death bed. In order to avoid being delayed by the Virgin, Juan Diego took another route around the hill. The Virgin intercepted him and asked where he was going. Juan Diego explained his mission, and the Virgin gently chided him for not having had recourse to her. In the words which have become the most famous phrase of the Guadalupe event and are inscribed over the main entrance to the Basilica of Guadalupe, she asked: "No estoy yo aqui que soy tu madre?" (Am I not here, I who am your mother?). She assured him that his uncle had recovered and told him to go to the top of the hill and collect the flowers growing there as the sign requested by the bishop. Juan Diego did as he was told. On gaining admission to the bishop in Mexico City later that day, Juan Diego opened his mantle, the flowers poured to the floor, and the bishop saw they had left on the mantle an imprint of the Virgin's image which he immediately venerated.
The image is still venerated to this day in the Basilica that was built on the sight. Juan Diego's feast day is Dec. 9.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
St. Don John Bosco
In the Columbus Diocese, we celebrate today's Saint by holding a youth rally for middle-school students in the middle of Winter -- I have had the great pleasure of attending Bosco Bash and had a great time!
St. John Bosco lived in Italy in the 19th century. Born of poor parents, his father died when he was two years old, leaving his mother to raise her two boys. He was a smart boy and enjoyed his studies, but the poverty of his family meant that he often had to abandon his books to work in the fields. His desire for study did not leave him and he was eventually able to enter seminary and become a priest ("Don" is an honorific title used for priests in Italy, similar to us calling a priest "Reverend").
Early in his priesthood, Don John Bosco witnessed the plight of young boys confined in prisons or roaming the streets, exposed to evil influences, with little to anticipate from life except the gallows. His heart went out to these street urchins and he started an Oratory for them. The primary focus of the Oratory was prayer, but he also took the boys on outings, started a band and night schools for the boys who worked in the factories.
Unfortunately, Don Bosco had to give up the rooms he had procured for his Oratory and his efforts to help the youth were plagued with petty annoyances and obstacles. Complaints were lodged that his community was a nuisance owing to the character of the boys he befriended. His perseverance in the face of difficulty led some to believe that he was insane and efforts were made to put him in an asylum.
The Oratory moved several times before finding a permanent location where the night schools resumed. Some of the boys desired to live at the Oratory, and dormitories were built, becoming the first Salesian Home. The municipal authorities came to realize the importance of Don John Bosco's work and he began a fund for the erection of technical schools and workshops without much difficulty. In 1869, fifty priests and teachers who had been assisting him formed a society under a common rule -the Salesian Society. At the time of Don Bosco's death in 1888 there were 250 houses of the Salesian Society in all parts of the world, containing 130,000 children, and from which there annually went out 18,000 finished apprentices. (Info courtesy of NewAdvent.org)
John Bosco's feast day is January 31 (which is why we have Bosco Bash in mid-winter).
St. John Bosco lived in Italy in the 19th century. Born of poor parents, his father died when he was two years old, leaving his mother to raise her two boys. He was a smart boy and enjoyed his studies, but the poverty of his family meant that he often had to abandon his books to work in the fields. His desire for study did not leave him and he was eventually able to enter seminary and become a priest ("Don" is an honorific title used for priests in Italy, similar to us calling a priest "Reverend").
Early in his priesthood, Don John Bosco witnessed the plight of young boys confined in prisons or roaming the streets, exposed to evil influences, with little to anticipate from life except the gallows. His heart went out to these street urchins and he started an Oratory for them. The primary focus of the Oratory was prayer, but he also took the boys on outings, started a band and night schools for the boys who worked in the factories.
Unfortunately, Don Bosco had to give up the rooms he had procured for his Oratory and his efforts to help the youth were plagued with petty annoyances and obstacles. Complaints were lodged that his community was a nuisance owing to the character of the boys he befriended. His perseverance in the face of difficulty led some to believe that he was insane and efforts were made to put him in an asylum.
The Oratory moved several times before finding a permanent location where the night schools resumed. Some of the boys desired to live at the Oratory, and dormitories were built, becoming the first Salesian Home. The municipal authorities came to realize the importance of Don John Bosco's work and he began a fund for the erection of technical schools and workshops without much difficulty. In 1869, fifty priests and teachers who had been assisting him formed a society under a common rule -the Salesian Society. At the time of Don Bosco's death in 1888 there were 250 houses of the Salesian Society in all parts of the world, containing 130,000 children, and from which there annually went out 18,000 finished apprentices. (Info courtesy of NewAdvent.org)
John Bosco's feast day is January 31 (which is why we have Bosco Bash in mid-winter).
Saturday, November 28, 2015
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
Today's Saint was suggested by my sister and is a unique Saint in many ways. Most people who take on a new name upon joining a religious order are known by that religious name when they are canonized as Saints: St. Anthony, St. Junipero, Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. John-Paul II, etc. However, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is better known by her birth name of Edith Stein.
Edith was born on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of Atonement, the youngest of 11 children of a strictly religious Jewish family. This date had deep symbolic meaning for Edith throughout her life. Her father died when she was little more than 2 years old. Her mother worked hard to raise her large family and instill in the children a faith in God. Despite her mother's efforts, Edith lost her faith in a personal God at a young age. Her faith was replaced by an intense search for the truth.
A very intelligent woman, Edith studied history and psychology in a search to become acquainted with the fundamentals of human existence. She then moved on to the study of phenomenology. She graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in Philosophy, but her search for the truth found its ultimate satisfaction when she was visiting friends and came across the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. This encounter with a Saint changed the course of her life.
Within a few months she was baptized. She had it in mind to join the convent, but her spiritual director advised against it out of consideration for the feelings of her Jewish mother. It was another ten years before she became a Carmelite, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. As the Nazi power grew in Germany and anti-Semitism became more and more prevalent, Sr. Benedicta felt a great foreboding. After the destruction and violence of Kristallnacht, the Carmelites moved Sr. Benedicta to a convent in Holland for her protection. Her sister Rosa was also taken into the convent as a portress.
As non-Christian Jews were being deported from Holland, to the horror of Dutch Christians, the Catholic Bishops of Holland also voiced their objections. A very forceful pastoral letter from the Bishops was read from pulpits across the country on July 26, 1942. A week later, the Nazi response came as Catholic Jews and Jewish members of monasteries and convents were arrested. On August 2, Sr. Benedicta and her sister Rosa were taken. They were eventually taken to the concentration camp at Auschwitz, where the two sisters died in the gas chamber on August 9.
Edith Stein's feast day is August 9.
Edith was born on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of Atonement, the youngest of 11 children of a strictly religious Jewish family. This date had deep symbolic meaning for Edith throughout her life. Her father died when she was little more than 2 years old. Her mother worked hard to raise her large family and instill in the children a faith in God. Despite her mother's efforts, Edith lost her faith in a personal God at a young age. Her faith was replaced by an intense search for the truth.
A very intelligent woman, Edith studied history and psychology in a search to become acquainted with the fundamentals of human existence. She then moved on to the study of phenomenology. She graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in Philosophy, but her search for the truth found its ultimate satisfaction when she was visiting friends and came across the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. This encounter with a Saint changed the course of her life.
Within a few months she was baptized. She had it in mind to join the convent, but her spiritual director advised against it out of consideration for the feelings of her Jewish mother. It was another ten years before she became a Carmelite, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. As the Nazi power grew in Germany and anti-Semitism became more and more prevalent, Sr. Benedicta felt a great foreboding. After the destruction and violence of Kristallnacht, the Carmelites moved Sr. Benedicta to a convent in Holland for her protection. Her sister Rosa was also taken into the convent as a portress.
As non-Christian Jews were being deported from Holland, to the horror of Dutch Christians, the Catholic Bishops of Holland also voiced their objections. A very forceful pastoral letter from the Bishops was read from pulpits across the country on July 26, 1942. A week later, the Nazi response came as Catholic Jews and Jewish members of monasteries and convents were arrested. On August 2, Sr. Benedicta and her sister Rosa were taken. They were eventually taken to the concentration camp at Auschwitz, where the two sisters died in the gas chamber on August 9.
Edith Stein's feast day is August 9.
St. Maria Goretti
Our saint for today is for my sister Mary, who out of family togetherness has followed her children in illness. Although there are many, many Saints named Mary, I am choosing one with a different form of the name (primarily because this Saint was one suggested by my cousin).
I had the great blessing last month of venerating St.Maria Goretti's relics when they visited St. Joseph's Cathedral in Columbus. Maria Goretti is the youngest canonized Saint of the Catholic Church, being just 11 years old at her death.
Maria's father had died and her mother supported the family by working in the fields. Maria became a little mother to her younger siblings, caring for them, cooking and cleaning. A 19 year old neighbor boy developed an unhealthy interest in Maria. When she refused his advances, he got angry and stabbed her 14 times. She was taken to the hospital, but the doctors could not save her. On her death bed, Maria forgave her attacker and said that she hoped he would be in heaven with her someday.
Her attacker eventually had a conversion in prison after receiving a vision of Maria. Both he and her mother were present at Maria's canonization Mass - the first time in history that a parent was present for the canonization of their child.
Maria Goretti's feast day is July 6.
I had the great blessing last month of venerating St.Maria Goretti's relics when they visited St. Joseph's Cathedral in Columbus. Maria Goretti is the youngest canonized Saint of the Catholic Church, being just 11 years old at her death.
Maria's father had died and her mother supported the family by working in the fields. Maria became a little mother to her younger siblings, caring for them, cooking and cleaning. A 19 year old neighbor boy developed an unhealthy interest in Maria. When she refused his advances, he got angry and stabbed her 14 times. She was taken to the hospital, but the doctors could not save her. On her death bed, Maria forgave her attacker and said that she hoped he would be in heaven with her someday.
Her attacker eventually had a conversion in prison after receiving a vision of Maria. Both he and her mother were present at Maria's canonization Mass - the first time in history that a parent was present for the canonization of their child.
Maria Goretti's feast day is July 6.
St. Paul the Apostle
Our saint for today is for my nephew, Raiden Paul, who along with the rest of his family has been fighting a stomach bug. I usually don't do posts on the Saints everyone already knows, but because it is for Rai ...
St. Paul was a Jew born in the city of Tarsus and was also a Roman citizen from birth. He studied under the great Rabbi, Gamaliel, and was very learned in the Jewish law and the Scripture.
We often have an image of Paul as a middle aged man with a wrinkled face and a beard, but at the time of his conversion, he was probably only in his early twenties. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul spent much time in prayer and meditation as well as learning from Peter and the other apostles before setting out to evangelize the Gentiles.
Paul wrote a large portion of what we now call the New Testament. Of course, when he was writing, he did not know that his letters would continue to be read in churches for 2000 years. I like the parts of his letters that say things like, "See, I write to you in my own large handwriting!" Gal 6:11 because it really reflects his humanity. Paul's feast day is Jun 29.
St. Paul was a Jew born in the city of Tarsus and was also a Roman citizen from birth. He studied under the great Rabbi, Gamaliel, and was very learned in the Jewish law and the Scripture.
We often have an image of Paul as a middle aged man with a wrinkled face and a beard, but at the time of his conversion, he was probably only in his early twenties. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul spent much time in prayer and meditation as well as learning from Peter and the other apostles before setting out to evangelize the Gentiles.
Paul wrote a large portion of what we now call the New Testament. Of course, when he was writing, he did not know that his letters would continue to be read in churches for 2000 years. I like the parts of his letters that say things like, "See, I write to you in my own large handwriting!" Gal 6:11 because it really reflects his humanity. Paul's feast day is Jun 29.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
St. Anthony of Padua
My plea yesterday for suggestions of saints to feature brought much fruit -- I might have to continue my daily saint posts into December. Today I will offer a prayer to the patron of one of my nephews who is getting over a virus and will not make it to our Thanksgiving feast.
St. Anthony of Padua was born in Portugal, with the name Fernando Martins. When he joined the Franciscan Order, he changed his name to Anthony. He traveled to Morocco to spread the Gospel, but became sick and was returned to Portugal. The ship was blown off course and landed in Sicily instead. Anthony was sent to an hermitage near Tuscany where he recovered from his illness and spent much time in prayer and study.
Anthony developed a reputation as a an eloquent homilist. Word reached Francis of Assisi, to whom Anthony became a good friend. He died when he was only 36 and was canonized less than a year later. Over three hundred years after his death, his body was exhumed. His body was corrupt, but his tongue was incorrupt.
St. Anthony is the patron saint we call on to find lost articles. One of my coworkers called on him when our office lost power today. His feast day is June 13.
St. Anthony of Padua was born in Portugal, with the name Fernando Martins. When he joined the Franciscan Order, he changed his name to Anthony. He traveled to Morocco to spread the Gospel, but became sick and was returned to Portugal. The ship was blown off course and landed in Sicily instead. Anthony was sent to an hermitage near Tuscany where he recovered from his illness and spent much time in prayer and study.
Anthony developed a reputation as a an eloquent homilist. Word reached Francis of Assisi, to whom Anthony became a good friend. He died when he was only 36 and was canonized less than a year later. Over three hundred years after his death, his body was exhumed. His body was corrupt, but his tongue was incorrupt.
St. Anthony is the patron saint we call on to find lost articles. One of my coworkers called on him when our office lost power today. His feast day is June 13.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Pope St. Linus
I was having difficulty choosing a saint for today (still welcoming suggestions for this final week of November), so I will pick a name from TV -- see if you can guess what I'm watching.
Pope St. Linus was the second Bishop of Rome - the second Pope, succeeding Peter in about 67 AD. The earliest witness to Linus's status as bishop was Irenaeus, who in about the year 180 wrote, "The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate." Irenaeus identifies Linus with the associate of Paul by the same name mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21.
Little is known of Linus' life. According to the Liber Pontificalis (The Book of the Popes written centuries later), Linus was an Italian born in Volterra in the Tuscany region. His father's name was recorded as Herculanus. The Apostolic Constitutions name his mother as Claudia. He served as Pope for about 9 years.
His feast day is September 23.
Pope St. Linus was the second Bishop of Rome - the second Pope, succeeding Peter in about 67 AD. The earliest witness to Linus's status as bishop was Irenaeus, who in about the year 180 wrote, "The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate." Irenaeus identifies Linus with the associate of Paul by the same name mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21.
Little is known of Linus' life. According to the Liber Pontificalis (The Book of the Popes written centuries later), Linus was an Italian born in Volterra in the Tuscany region. His father's name was recorded as Herculanus. The Apostolic Constitutions name his mother as Claudia. He served as Pope for about 9 years.
His feast day is September 23.
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