Blessed Nicholas Albergati

Blessed Nicholas Albergati

Nicholas was born in 1632 in Bologna, Italy. His family could afford to send him to the university where he began to study law. But after a few years, he decided not to become a lawyer. At the age of twenty, Nicholas joined the Carthusian Order. In 1417, he was chosen to be bishop of his native diocese. He had not counted on that at all. He could not even believe it could be God’s will. But his superiors assured him it was.  People liked Bishop Nicholas. He lived in a small, plain house. He was like them. He began to visit the people of his diocese. He went to the poorest families first. He talked with them and helped them with their needs. He blessed their homes. The people were very grateful.   Bishop Nicholas became a cardinal in 1426. He was known to be wise and holy. Two popes, Martin V and Eugene IV, consulted him about important Church matters. Nicholas also encouraged learning. In fact, he wrote several books himself.   Bishop Nicholas died on May 9, 1443, while on a visit to Siena, Italy. Pope Eugene IV had his body brought back to Bologna. The pope himself participated in the funeral Mass and burial.

  Do you ever feel upset when you don’t get attention? That’s the time to pray to Blessed Nicholas. He didn’t even want the attention he received. Blessed Nicholas will show us how much better it is to spend our time praising God.

St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai

St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai

Joseph de Veuster was born in 1840, the son of Belgian farmers. He and his brother, Pamphile, joined the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. These missionaries were responsible for bringing the Catholic faith to the Hawaiian Islands.  Joseph chose the name “Damien” when he entered the Sacred Hearts Congregation. Brother Damien was tall and strong. His years of helping on the family farm had given him a healthy look. Everybody liked him because he was good-natured and generous.  More missionaries were needed in the kingdom of Hawaii (Hawaii was not a state at that time). In 1864, a group of Sacred Hearts priests and brothers were chosen to go. Pamphile, Damien’s brother, was selected. Just before the departure date, Pamphile came down with typhoid fever. He could no longer consider going to the missions. Brother Damien, still studying to become a priest, asked to take his place. The father general accepted Damien’s offer. Damien went home to his family to say goodbye. Then he took the ship from Belgium to Hawaii. The voyage lasted eighteen weeks. Damien finished his studies and was ordained a priest in Hawaii. He spent nine years among the people of three districts. He traveled on horseback and by canoe.  The people loved this tall, generous priest. He saw that they responded to ceremonies. He used the little money he could raise to build chapels. He and volunteer parishioners built the chapels themselves. But the most incredible part of Damien’s life was soon to begin. The bishop asked for a volunteer priest to go to the island of Molokai. The very name struck the people with fear and dread. They knew that the section of the island called Kalawao was the “living graveyard” of people dying of leprosy. There was so much ignorance about the disease and such great fear of contagion that lepers were mostly abandoned. Many just despaired. There was no priest, no law enforcement agent on Molokai, no doctor or hospital. The Hawaiian government sent some food and medical supplies to the lepers, but it was not enough. And there was no organized way of distributing these goods.  Father Damien volunteered to go to Molokai. Faced with the poverty, corruption and despair, he felt afraid at first. But he made up his mind that for him there was no turning back. The people were desperately in need of help. He went to Honolulu to confront the members of the board of health. They told him that he could not travel back and forth to Molokai for fear of contagion. Their real reason was that they didn’t want him on Molokai. They didn’t want to be reminded that they were responsible for the lepers. So Damien had to make a choice: if he went back to Molokai, he could never leave again. The board of health didn’t know Damien. He chose Molokai.  Father Damien worked hard for eighteen years until his death on Molokai. With the help of the lepers and generous volunteers, Molokai was transformed. The word Molokai took on a whole different meaning. It became an island of Christian love. Father Damien eventually became a leper himself. He died on April 15, 1889, at the age of forty-nine and was buried on the island. He was proclaimed “blessed” by Pope John Paul II in 1994 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

  Let’s ask St. Damien to give us some of his bravery and generosity. There are so many people who need our love and support. St. Damien will help us respond to them with joy and kindness.

St. Ignatius of Laconi

St. Ignatius of Laconi

Ignatius was the son of a poor farmer in Laconi, Italy. He was born on December 17, 1701. When he was about seventeen, he became very ill. He promised to become a Franciscan if he would get better. But when the illness left him, his father convinced him to wait. A couple of years later, Ignatius was almost killed when he lost control of his horse. Suddenly, however, the horse stopped and trotted on quietly. Ignatius was convinced that God had saved his life. He made up his mind to follow his religious vocation at once, and he joined the Franciscans.  Brother Ignatius never held any important position in the Franciscan Order. For fifteen years he worked as a weaver. Then for forty years he carried out the task of asking for donations. He went from house to house requesting food and offerings to support the friars. Ignatius visited families and received their gifts. But the people soon realized that they received a gift in return. Brother Ignatius consoled the sick and cheered up the lonely. He made peace between enemies, converted people hardened by sin, and advised those in trouble. The people began to wait for his visits.  There were some difficult days too. Once in a while, a door was slammed in his face, and often the weather was bad. Always, there were miles and miles to walk. But Ignatius remained kind and faithful. He died at the age of eighty, on May 11, 1781. Ignatius was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1951.

  St. Ignatius was a happy, dedicated Franciscan. He makes us realize that the best gift we can give anyone is our good example.

St. Pancras

St. Pancras

Pancras, a fourteen-year-old orphan, lived in the late third century. He was not a native of Rome. He was brought there by his uncle who looked after him. Pancras became a follower of Jesus and was baptized. Although just a boy, he was arrested for being a Christian during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. Pancras refused to give up his faith. For that, he was sentenced to death and was beheaded. He became a very popular martyr in the early Church. People admired him for being so young and so brave. In 514, a large church was built in Rome to honor him. In 596, the famous missionary, St. Augustine of Canterbury, went to bring the Christian faith to England. He named his first church there after St. Pancras.

  St. Pancras and the other martyrs we remember today remind us of the importance of our Catholic faith. It should mean as much to us as it did to each of them. If we need to grow stronger in our faith, let’s ask St. Pancras to help us.  Today is also the feast day of St. Nereus and St. Achilleus.

St. Matthias

St. Matthias

Matthias was one of the Lord’s seventy-two disciples. He had been a follower of Jesus before the crucifixion. While waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit, 120 of Jesus’ followers gathered to pray. St. Peter asked them to choose an apostle to replace Judas. This was very important because that man would be a bishop, as the other apostles were. Peter said that they should choose someone who had been with Jesus from his baptism in the Jordan River until his resurrection.  The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles tells us what happened. The group proposed two names. One was Matthias, the other was Joseph, also called Barsabbas. Then everyone prayed and asked the Lord to let them know which of the two men should take the place of Judas. Next they cast lots, and Matthias’ name was chosen. He became one of the twelve apostles.  St. Matthias was a dedicated apostle. He preached the Good News in Judea, Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey), and on the Caspian seashore. Many people listened to Matthias. They believed his wonderful message. The enemies of Jesus grew furious when they saw how people listened to Matthias. They decided to stop him by putting him to death. Matthias died a martyr at Colchis.

  The story of St. Matthias reminds us that we are fortunate to be followers of Jesus and members of his Church. Let’s ask St. Matthias to show us how to be more grateful for all that we have received.

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena

Born in 1347, this well-known saint is the patroness of Italy, her country. Catherine was the youngest in a family of twenty-five children. Her mother and father wanted her to be happily married. But Catherine wanted very much to become a nun. To prove her point, she cut off her long, beautiful hair. She wanted to make herself unattractive. Her parents were very upset about this and scolded her frequently. They also gave her the heaviest housework to do. But Catherine did not back down. Finally, her parents stopped opposing her.  Catherine became closer and closer to Jesus. One night, when many people of Siena were out in the streets celebrating, Jesus appeared to Catherine who was praying alone in her room. With Jesus was his Blessed Mother. She took Catherine’s hand and lifted it up to her Son. Jesus put a ring on Catherine’s finger and she became his bride.  In Catherine’s time, the Church had many problems. There were fights going on all over Italy. Catherine wrote letters to kings and queens. She even went to beg rulers to make peace with the pope and to avoid wars. Catherine asked the pope to leave Avignon, France, and return to Rome to guide the Church. She told him it was God’s will. He listened to Catherine and did what she said.  Catherine never forgot that Jesus was in her heart. Through her, Jesus helped the sick people she nursed. Through her Jesus comforted the prisoners she visited in jail.  This great saint died in Rome in 1380. She was just thirty-three years old. She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius II in 1461. In 1970, Pope Paul VI declared St. Catherine a Doctor of the Church. She received this great honor because she served Jesus’ Church heroically during her brief lifetime.

  Let’s offer our whole hearts to God. Then, like St. Catherine, we’ll discover how wonderful it is to love him! This love of God will also show in the way we treat other people.

St. Peter Chanel

St. Peter Chanel

Peter Chanel was born near Belley, France, in 1803. From the time he was seven, he took care of his father’s sheep. Though poor, he was intelligent and loved his faith, too. One day, a good parish priest met him. He thought so much of Peter that he asked his parents if he could educate the boy. In this priest’s little school, and later in the seminary, Peter studied hard.

When he became a priest in 1827, he was sent to a parish where just a few Catholics still practiced their faith. Father Peter was prayerful. He was kind and patient with everyone. In just three years there was a big improvement in his parish. Many people became full of love for Jesus and his Church again because of Father Peter’s help and example.

Father Peter had a great desire to become a missionary. He joined a religious order called the Marists. He hoped he would be sent to bring the Gospel to people who did not yet know about Jesus. After a few years, his wish came true. He and a group of Marist missionaries were sent to the islands of the South Pacific. Father Peter and one brother were assigned to the island of Futuna. There the people willingly listened to Father Peter preach about Jesus. “This man loves us,” one of the people said. “And he himself practices what he teaches us to do.” Unfortunately, the chief of this tribe was not happy with Father Peter’s preaching. When the chief found out that his own son wanted to be baptized, he was furious. He sent a band of his warriors to kill the missionary. All the priest said as he lay dying was, “It is well with me.” Father Peter Chanel was killed on April 28, 1841. Within a short time after his martyrdom, the whole island became Christian. Peter was declared a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1954.

  We are all called to spread the Gospel of Jesus, each in our own way. The example of St. Peter shows us that practicing kindness and patience is the best way to bring the love of Jesus to others.  We also celebrate the feast of St. Louis Mary de Montfort on this day.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla

St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Gianna Beretta was born on October 4, 1922, near Milan, Italy. She grew up in a Christian home, and her parents carefully passed on to her their Catholic faith. As a teenager, she was active as a member of Catholic Action groups. When she was sixteen, she made up her mind that she would rather die than commit a mortal (very serious) sin, and that she wanted to do everything for Jesus.   Her parents’ deaths, four months apart in 1942, were a heavy blow to Gianna, who was just beginning medical school at the University of Milan. After six semesters, she continued her preparation at the University of Pavia, where she earned a doctorate in medicine on November 30, 1949.  Gianna opened a clinic in 1950. She soon had many patients. In addition to her work as a physician, Gianna also devoted her time to community projects. She continued to be an active member of Catholic Action groups too. She organized talks and retreats, hikes and social events, and was very successful in reaching out to young people. Pietro Molla, a prosperous engineer, who belonged to one of the Catholic Action groups, was impressed with this dynamic young doctor who cared so much about others. Gianna had been planning to become a medical missionary sister in Brazil. Her brother was a priest there, and she knew he would be happy to have her help him. But once she got to know Pietro, Gianna wondered if it was God’s will for her to marry him and start a family. After much prayer, she asked the advice of her confessor. The priest answered her, “If every good Catholic girl became a nun, there would be no Christian mothers!”   Pietro and Gianna were married on September 24, 1955. Gianna was thirty-three. In 1956, their first child, Pierluigi was born. Mariolina was born in 1957, and Laura came along in 1959. After that, Gianna lost two more babies before they were born. But she became pregnant again in 1961. After two months, she started to experience pain, and her doctor found a tumor in her uterus. Before undergoing the necessary surgery, Gianna gave her surgeons strict orders to keep her unborn child safe. The following April, just before the baby was to be born, Gianna told her doctor, “If you have to choose between my life and the life of the baby, I demand that you save the baby’s life.” As a doctor herself, Gianna was well aware of the risks she was facing, and she wanted her wishes known.   On April 21, Gianna had a healthy baby girl, who was baptized Gianna Emanuela. But Gianna was dying from complications in the delivery. She asked Pietro to take her home so she could die in her own room. There, on April 28, 1962, Doctor Gianna Beretta Molla died. Her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, who has been called the “living relic of her mother,” followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a doctor. On April 24, 1994, with understandable joy and pride, she was present at the beatification ceremony for her mother, who selflessly gave her own life so that she could live. Gianna was named a saint ten years later in 2004.

  Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a loved one” (John 15:13). That’s exactly what St. Gianna Beretta Molla did. Let’s ask this brave and unselfish saint to help everyone understand the sacredness of human life.

St. Zita

St. Zita

Zita is known as the patron saint of housekeepers. She was born in the village of Monte Sagrati, Italy, in 1218. Her parents were deeply religious and raised Zita in a loving, Christian way. In those days it was the custom of poor couples to send their teenage daughters to trustworthy families who could afford servants. The young women would live with the families for a time and were employed to do the household tasks. Zita was sent to the Fatinelli family in Lucca when she was twelve years old.  Mr. and Mrs. Fatinelli were good people who had several other employees. Zita was happy to be able to work and send money home to her parents. She formed habits of praying that fit in with her new schedule. She even got up early to go to daily Mass.  Zita was very conscientious and always did her best. To her, work was an expression of her love for God. But the other workers were annoyed. They tried to do as little as they could get away with. They began to pick on Zita and oppose her without their employers noticing. Zita was hurt, but she prayed for patience. She never told on the workers. She insisted on doing her work as well as possible no matter what the others thought of her.  After some time, Zita was made the head housekeeper. The Fatinelli children were placed under her care. Then the other workers stopped bothering her. Some of them even began to imitate her.  Zita spent her whole life with the Fatinelli family. While other workers came and went, she stayed. She loved the Fatinellis like she loved her own family and she served them well. By her example, she helped people see that work is beautiful when it is done with Christian love. Zita died peacefully on April 27, 1278. She was sixty years old.

  St. Zita has a wonderful lesson for us all. She reminds us that what we do reflects the kind of person we are. Our work and our study take effort. But they’re worth the trouble because God will reward us in heaven.

St. Mark the Evangelist

St. Mark the Evangelist

Mark lived at the time of Jesus. Although he was not among the original twelve apostles, he was a relative of St. Barnabas the apostle. Mark is well known because he wrote one of the four Gospels. That is why he is called an “evangelist,” which means “Gospel writer.” Mark’s Gospel is short, but it gives many little details that are not in the other Gospels.  While he was still young, Mark went with the two great saints, Paul and Barnabas, on a missionary journey to bring the teachings of Jesus to new lands. Before the journey was over, though, Mark seems to have had a disagreement with St. Paul. Mark suddenly returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Mark later worked out their differences. In fact, Paul wrote from prison in Rome that Mark came to console and help him.  Mark also became a beloved disciple of St. Peter, the first pope. St. Peter called St. Mark “my son.” Some think that Peter meant to say that he had baptized Mark. Mark was consecrated a bishop and sent to Alexandria, Egypt. There he converted many people. He worked hard to spread love for Jesus and his Church. It is believed that he went through long and painful sufferings before he died around the year 74.  St. Mark’s relics were brought to Venice, Italy. He is the patron saint of that famous city. People go to the beautiful basilica of St. Mark to honor him and to pray to him. In art, St. Mark’s symbol is the lion.

  We can remember St. Mark when we have a disagreement with someone, or when we find it hard to get along with someone. At those times, we can ask St. Mark to help us work out our disagreements in kindness and respect.

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen This saint’s name was Mark Rey. He was born in Germany in 1578. Mark went to the famous University of Freiburg to become a lawyer. Even as a student, he liked to visit the sick and the poor. He spent time praying daily. His brother chose to become a Capuchin Franciscan priest. Mark, instead, finished his studies and became a very good lawyer. Mark often took on the cases of poor people who had no money to pay. This won him the nickname, “The Poor Man’s Lawyer.” Because he was very honest, Mark soon became disgusted with the dishonesty of the law courts. He decided to follow his brother and become a priest. He received his religious habit and took the new name Fidelis, which means “faithful.” Father Fidelis was filled with joy when he was assigned to Switzerland to preach the Good News. At that time in Switzerland there were many people who had left the Catholic faith. Father Fidelis wanted to win these people back to the Church. His preaching brought wonderful results. Many people were converted. But enemies of the Church grew angry at his success. Fidelis knew that his life was in danger, yet he went right on preaching. In the middle of a sermon one day, someone fired a shot at him, but the bullet missed. Father Fidelis knew he had to leave the town at once. As he was walking down the road to the next town, a mob of angry men stopped him. They ordered him to give up the Catholic religion. “I will not give up the Catholic faith,” Father Fidelis answered firmly. Then the men pounced on him and beat him with their clubs and tools. The wounded priest pulled himself up to a kneeling position. He prayed: “Lord, forgive my enemies. They do not know what they are doing. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me! Holy Mary, my Mother, help me!” The men attacked him again until they were certain he was dead. Fidelis died a martyr in 1622 at the age of forty-four. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Benedict XIV in 1746. It’s a great honor to be able to help others come to know Jesus and his Church. Let’s try by prayer, good example and kind words, to be real apostles in imitation of St. Fidelis.