St. Frances of Rome

One of my (many) favorite saints is St. Frances of Rome.  She has an incredible and very beautiful life story.... during the time when there were "3 Popes" .  Her story HERE is well worth the read. The most beautiful part is that she gave up her will to live for God's Will.  As her husband lay dying these were his words to her:
I feel as if my whole life has been one beautiful dream of purest happiness. God has given me so much in your love.
Would that we should be so filled with love that such words could be said of us!  And... most especially from our own family!  It's often much easier to let those outside our own household think we are good souls, but the key is that our own family recognizes a life of virtue... which is so often not the case!  Something to work on, "Make my heart so filled with love that even my family sees the Love of God through me."  Methinks I've got a lot of work ahead of me.  :D

In the Footsteps of the Saints Series

I was introduced to the In the Footsteps of the Saints series of saint stories by Brother Ernest when I attended a wedding this fall.  These are being re-printed by Mary's Books.  I must say that they are very enjoyable! They are rich in the faith yet simple enough for young minds.... without being watered down.  There are 3 levels. Level One is for those who are beginning early chapter books.  I have bought 2 full sets of these (10 books in each set).  The Level Two is for the next level, still young readers, but these are longer in length.  I have bought 2 full sets of these (5 books in each set).  There are more in both of those levels as well as the ones I bought... yes, there are many of these!  And they are being reprinted by a wonderful family!  This year they will also be working on reprinting the Level Three books.

You can buy them individually or in sets from Emmanuel Books.  Or from Immaculate Heart Books.

St. Cecilia

Cecilia, a virgin of a senatorial family and a Christian from her infancy, was given in marriage by her parents to a noble pagan youth Valerianus. When, after the celebration of the marriage, the couple had retired to the wedding-chamber, Cecilia told Valerianus that she was betrothed to an angel who jealously guarded her body; therefore Valerianus must take care not to violate her virginity. Valerianus wished to see the angel, whereupon Cecilia sent him to the third milestone on the Via Appia where he should meet Bishop (Pope) Urbanus. Valerianus obeyed, was baptized by the pope, and returned a Christian to Cecilia. An angel then appeared to the two and crowned them with roses and lilies. When Tiburtius, the brother of Valerianus, came to them, he too was won over to Christianity. As zealous children of the Faith both brothers distributed rich alms and buried the bodies of the confessors who had died for Christ. The prefect, Turcius Almachius, condemned them to death; an officer of the prefect, Maximus, appointed to execute this sentence, was himself converted and suffered martyrdom with the two brothers. Their remains were buried in one tomb by Cecilia. And now Cecilia herself was sought by the officers of the prefect. Before she was taken prisoner, she arranged that her house should be preserved as a place of worship for the Roman Church. After a glorious profession of faith, she was condemned to be suffocated in the bath of her own house. But as she remained unhurt in the overheated room, the prefect had her decapitated in that place. The executioner let his sword fall three times without separating the head from the trunk, and fled, leaving the virgin bathed in her own blood.
Catholic Encyclopedia

I love The Golden Legend, you can enjoy her story HERE.

Feast of St. Charles Borromeo

Here is a long but good and interesting read from the Butler's Lives of the Saints on St. Charles Borromeo.

 

Here are some great quotes to live by from St. Charles! 

 

† Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head.

 

† Behold Jesus Christ crucified, Who is the only foundation of our hope; He is our Mediator and Advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our sins. He is goodness and patience itself; His mercy is moved by the tears of sinners, and He never refuses pardon and grace to those who ask it with a truly contrite and humbled heart.

 

† If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Today this beautiful Native American was canonized a saint!  Having grown up in upstate NY, I had a very special fondness for St. Kateri Tekakwitha.  You can read about the miracle that brought about her canonization HERE. 

St. John Cantius

St. John was born at Kenty in Poland in 1390, and studied at Cracow with great ability, industry, and success, while his modesty and virtue drew all hearts to him.

He was for a short time in charge of a parish; but he shrank from the burden of responsibility, and returned to his life of professor at Cracow. There for many years he lived a life of unobtrusive virtue, self-denial, and charity.

His love for the Holy See led him often in pilgrimage to Rome, on foot and alone, and his devotion to the Passion drew him once to Jerusalem, where he hoped to win a martyr's crown by preaching to the Turks.

He died in 1473, at the age of seventy.

(Butlers Lives of the Saints)

(note: "Turks" are also Moslems, Muslims, Moors)
We need some St. John Cantius types who are willing to desire to win such a martyr's crown.... but who wants to speak up?

Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

There is nothing more annoying than the Tutti Frutti Granola Boy Francis. People so don't understand the depths of St. Francis, he was so pure and beautiful interiorly that even the animals came to him with perfect freedom.   St. Francis embraced and wed Lady Poverty.  True spiritual poverty is one of detachment so that our one and only attachment is God Himself. 

Ok... I'm sorry but this is weird...............

 

I was going to say "That's odd" but I've had days like that so I merely laughed right out loud.  I don't know but that I would probably entitle it, "St. Francis meets Picasso"

Feast of St. Therese the Little Flower

The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy.  If all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus' garden. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.
St. Therese the Little Flower
Story of a Soul

*Her feast is Oct 1st in the new calendar and Oct 3rd in the old calendar... I'm fine celebrating twice :) 

Feast of St. Jerome

How can you not love a saint who was named Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius?!  Every day at Mass I get to look at St. Jerome and his lion as he is on a huge mural right above the high altar.

Be sure to read about his life, it is incredible!  But to whet your appetite for information here are some quotes!

The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.

A friend is long sought, hardly found, and with difficulty kept.

They talk like angels but they live like men.  (OUCH!!)

The friendship that can cease has never been real.

Be ever engaged, so that whenever the devil calls he may find you occupied.

Feast of Saint Padre Pio

 Today is the feast of one of my friends-in-Heaven!  Saint Pio, but to me the Padre really goes with the Pio so... Saint Padre Pio.  There are some saints who just set my heart on fire, this is one of them. He was christened Francesco and seemed to follow very closely in living a life like St. Francis of Assisi right down to the stigmata!  He LIVED the life of a saint, so people thought of him as a saint while he was on earth.  The people loved him so much because to them he was their greatest joy on earth next to God Himself!  And how can we resist those who have such a charitable love and desire for souls?  There simply are some very rare souls who make us want to maintain a closeness with God by the way they live. 
 

Awwww, how sweet is that? 

 

Here are some quote from Padre Pio on the Mass to help us prepare ourselves...

 

It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun, than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Holy Mass is a sacred union of Jesus and myself. I suffer unworthily all that was suffered by Jesus who deigned to allow me to share in His great enterprise of human Redemption.

Then attending Holy Mass, renew your faith and meditate on that Victim who is being immolated for you in order to appease Divine Justice. Do not leave the altar without shedding tears of pain and of love for Jesus who was crucified for your eternal well-being.

Every holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we ourselves, do not know.
I would like to comment on this one as a mother of 11 children.  I think the temptation for parents is to think that they only receive the graces of the Mass when they get a holy feeling during Mass... or something.  That cannot possibly be true or we'd have to cease bringing our children to Mass til they are.. oh... 25 give or take.  Devotion is a movement within one's heart, you know, that area that no one.... even your children :)... can take away from you.  The annoying person next to you or 3 pews in front of you can't take it away from you or any other distraction.  I believe... that devotion stems from an inner peace with oneself that no matter how many times you have to donk your toddler... or teenager... in the head to get them to look in the front, no matter how often you have to take the unruly toddler out, that your devotion is unhindered... challenged, yes, hindered, no.  So don't be afraid of those tempting distractions, you will still receive the graces because your devotion comes from within....

(...this must be true or I haven't ever received any graces from the Mass! :)

Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis

On this beautiful feast day I want to share a couple thoughts from our priest's Sunday homily.  The sermon was on humilty and that only those who are humble go to Heaven.  The world thinks humility is weakness and cowardice but true humility requires great heroism. 
The World:  "Be yourself!"
The Saint:  "Oh no! I don't want to be myself, I want to be another Christ!"

I just thought that was such an beautiful way to put it!  I might add, "why would I want to be myself"? Ugh!  St. Francis of Assisi was a perfect example of humility. I am currently and once again, reading The Perfect Joy of St. Francis.  There is a scene in it where he is trying to decide what he should do.  He was yearning to be drawn away from the world so totally that he was desiring to live the life of a hermit somewhere away from it all. But in his concern for his ever-growing community, he was not certain this is what God wanted of him.  St. Claire came to his mind and he decided to ask her as she contained in her a virtuous level of clarity of mind.  But when he went to leave to speak with her he stopped and said he could not go to her as she would dote on him.  hahaha Apparently, in his humility he did not wish to be thought of so highly so he sent one of his brothers.  That was my main point, about humility, but you probably want to know what she said, "Preach!"  :)

Feast of St. Claire

♥ Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him.



 ♥ Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love.

Two letters (if you call 1/2 dozen lines a letter *chuckle*) from St. Francis to St. Claire and her daughters in Christ:

♥ Listen, poor little ones, called by the Lord  who are gathered together from many places and provinces:  Live always in truth,  that you may die in obedience.   Do not look to life outside,  for the life of the spirit is better.   I pray you in great love,  to be discrete with the alms  the Lord gives you.  Those who are weighed down by illness and the others who are tired out for their sake, bear it, all of you, in peace,  for you will see that this weariness is precious,  each will be a queen crowned in heaven with the virgin Mary.

♥ Since by divine inspiration you made yourselves daughters and handmaids of the highest, the supreme king, the heavenly father, and you promised yourselves to the holy spirit, choosing to live according to the perfection of the holy Gospel; I want and promise, for me and my brothers, to have loving care and special solicitude for you as for them. [Be well in the lord.]

Yippee! I received special permission to post this lovely new icon made by Mercy.  Thank you, Mercy for letting me share this!  (Isn't it neat that I know someone who makes icons?)

Prayer to St. Clare of Assisi
God of Mercy, You inspired Saint Clare with the love of poverty. By the help of her prayers, may we follow Christ in poverty of spirit and come to the joyful vision of your glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

A wonderful friend gave this to me for the Feast of St. Claire.  To say I was delighted is an understatement.  She will go right here by my desk.

Feast of St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney is one of our homeschool patrons.  So Happy Feast Day to us! And Happy Feast Day to our wonderful priests!  I'm delighted to share the day!  I'll let St. John Vianney speak for himself...........

♥ Christian wife! Follow in the footsteps of the ideal of all womanhood, the Blessed Mother of God; in joy and in sorrow, she will be your advocate at the throne of her Son.

♥ Only after the Last Judgment will Mary get any rest; from now until then, she is much too busy with her children.

♥ I throw myself at the foot of the Tabernacle like a dog at the foot of his Master.

♥ Upon receiving Holy Communion, the Adorable Blood of Jesus Christ really flows in our veins and His Flesh is really blended with ours.

♥ A pure soul is like a fine pearl. As long as it is hidden in the shell, at the bottom of the sea, no one thinks of admiring it. But if you bring it into the sunshine, this pearl will shine and attract all eyes. Thus the pure soul, which is hidden from the eyes of the world, will one day shine before the Angels in the sunshine of eternity.

♥ The pure soul is a beautiful rose, and the Three Divine Persons descend from Heaven to inhale its fragrance.

Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori

♥ Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears— of everything that concerns you. Converse with Him confidently and frankly; for God is not wont to speak to a soul that does not speak to Him.

♥ I love Jesus Christ and that is why I am on fire with the desire to give Him souls, first of all my own, and then an incalculable number of others.


I absolutely highly recommend reading his books.  They will set your heart on fire.

August 2nd Portiuncula Indulgence

St. Francis of Assisi was very zealous for the salvation of souls.  As a result Our Lord Himself asked him what he would like for the salvation of these souls.  St. Francis said he would like an indulgence for all who entered this church, The Portiuncula.  Our Lord consented through the intercession of the Holy Father Honorius the III.  However, the Holy Father extended this to every church throughout the world on August 2nd.

The following is an excerpt from Major Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure.

” The Portiuncula was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God which was abandoned . Francis had great devotion to the Queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly in order to repair it. He heard that the Angels often visited it, so that it was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and he decided to stay there permanently out of reverence for the angels and love for the Mother of Christ.

He loved this spot more than any other in the world. It was here he began his religious life in a very small way; it is here he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.

This was the place where Saint Francis founded his Order by divine inspiration and it was divine providence which led him to repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the Gospel.

This meant that he progressed from material things to more spiritual achievements, from lesser to greater, in due order, and it gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later.

As he was living there by the church of Our Lady, Francis prayed to her who had conceived the Word, full of grace and truth, begging her insistently and with tears to become his advocate. Then he was granted the true spirit of the Gospel by the intercession of the Mother of mercy and he brought it to fruition.

He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars.”

Today the chapel of Portiuncula is situated inside the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels roughly 5 km from Assisi, Italy.  (I have been here and it was glorious!)

The Indulgence
August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will:

1. Receive sacramental confession (8 days before of after)

2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2nd

3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a prayer of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope.

St. Francis of Assisi... pray for us.

St. Christina

In case you are having a bad day or are suffering in some way.....

St. Christina was the daughter of a rich and powerful magistrate named Urbain. Her father, who was deep in the practices of heathenism, had a number of golden idols, which our Saint destroyed, and distributed the pieces among the poor. Infuriated by this act, Urbain became the persecutor of his daughter; he had her whipped with rods and then thrown into a dungeon. Christina remained unshaken in her faith.

Her tormentor then had her body torn by iron hooks, and fastened her to a rack beneath which a fire was kindled. But God watched over his servant and turned the flames upon the lookers-on. Christina was next seized, a heavy stone tied about her neck, and she was thrown into the lake of Bolsena, but she was saved by an angel, and outlived her father, who died of spite.

Later, this martyr suffered the most inhuman torments [because the other torments were much more humane...!] under the judge who succeeded her father, and finally was thrown into a burning furnace, where she remained, unhurt, for five days. By the power of Christ she overcame the serpents among which she was thrown; then her tongue was cut out, and afterwards, being pierced with arrows, she gained the martyr's crown at Tyro, a city which formerly stood on an island in the lake of Bolsena in Italy, but was long since swallowed up by the waters.
Her relics are now at Palermo in Sicily.

 Butler's Lives of the Saints

..... just remember that there is always someone who has suffered more intensely!  Befriend the martyrs!  Befriend the saints!  No matter how difficult or lonely, they are friends... everlasting!

St. Elizabeth of Portugal

Taken from the Butler's Lives of the Saints:
Elizabeth was born in 1271. She was daughter of Pedro III. of Arragon, being named after her aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. At twelve years of age she was given in marriage to Denis, King of Portugal, and from a holy child became a saintly wife. She heard Mass and recited the Divine Office daily, but her devotions were arranged with such prudence that they interfered with no duty of her state. She prepared for her frequent communions by severe austerities, fasting thrice a week, and by heroic works of charity.

She was several times called on to make peace between her husband and her son Alphonso, who had taken up arms against him. Her husband tried her much, both by his unfounded jealousy and by his infidelity to herself. A slander affecting Elizabeth and one of her pages made the king determine to slay the youth, and he told a lime-burner to cast into his kiln the first page who should arrive with a royal message. On the day fixed the page was sent; but the boy, who was in the habit of hearing Mass daily, stopped on his way to do so. The king, in suspense, sent a second page, the very originator of the calumny, who, coming first to the kiln, was at once cast into the furnace and burned. Shortly after, the first page arrived from the church, and took back to the king the lime-burner's reply that his orders had been fulfilled. Thus hearing Mass saved the page's life and proved the queen's innocence. Her patience, and the wonderful sweetness with which she even cherished the children of her rivals, completely won the king from his evil ways, and he became a devoted husband and a truly Christian king.

She built many charitable institutions and religious houses, among others a convent of Poor Clares. After her husband's death, she wished to enter their Order; but being dissuaded by her people, who could not do without her, she took the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis, and spent the rest of her life in redoubled austerities and almsgiving.

She died at the age of sixty-five, while in the act of making peace between her children.

Feast of the Visitation

The Visitation is one of my (many) favorite feasts.  Galadriel was named after this Feast. 
Immediately after Our Blessed Mother gave her Fiat to God and had conceived the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, she made haste out of Divine Charity to be with her Cousin Elizabeth who was already heavy with child.  Our Blessed Mother merely said, "Be it done unto me according to Thy Word" and was off to act with not one thought for who she really was... the Mother of God.  Here was The Woman who was bearing the Son of God not spending even one moment to dwell on this, what humility!  At the moment she was together with her Cousin, St. John the Baptist lept in the womb of St. Elizabeth.  It was at that moment that he was cleansed from original sin by the power of the God-Man. This is the first known moment where Our Blessed Mother was the channel of Grace.  Elizabeth's eyes were open by the power of the Holy Spirit and she recognized the long-awaited "mother of my Lord".  To which Our Blessed Mother then gave her beautiful Magnificat: 
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because He that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is His Name....

As an aside, this is also the feast of the 2 soldiers who were the guards of the prison where Sts. Peter and Paul were imprisoned together.  The guards were converted and baptized and then died martyrs. 

Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul

O glorious solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul! 

Feast of St. Aloysius

Thou hast made him a little less than the Angels

Introit - Ps 8:6