Guardian of Church Unity

Today's saint was a 5th century pope who liked to make things happen even if it caused "trouble" for those around him.  One must understand that this was a time when those who wanted authority were trying to place the ideas of man before the ways of God.  In bringing the Truth and establishing a Church only recently allowed without persecution was a volatile time.  However, in the end he unified the Church.

Pope St. Hilary

Feast day: February 28
Born: ??
Death: 468
Italy
Pope (461-468)

Little is known of the youth of Pope Hilary; however, he was born in Sardinia, Italy.  Later in life he became a papal legate for Pope Dioscorus I and was sent to the Robber Council of Ephesus in 449, a scandalous council that tried to usurp the authority of the pope.  Hilary barely escaping with his life from this affair.

Pope St. Leo I the Great also used Hilary for several papal assignments. When Leo died, Hilary was elected pope and consecrated in 461. He worked diligently to strengthen the Church in France and Spain, calling councils in 462 and 465. Hilary also rebuilt many Roman churches and erected the chapel of St. John Lateran.

Hilary also publicly rebuked Emperor Anthemius in St. Peter's for supporting the Macedonian heresy and sent a decree to the Eastern bishops validating the decisions of the General Councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon. Hilary consolidated the Church in Sandi, Africa, and Gaul.

He died in Rome on February 28, 468.

A Severe Yet Pious Saint

Today's saint was very strict with his outward signs of penance, and expected much from those around him as well.  God might not expect such harshness in life at all times, but we can learn from this pious man for the times (like this Lenten season) when it is needed.

St Peter Damian

Feast day: February 21
Birth: 1007
Death: 1072
Doctor of the Church
Italy

Peter Damian had a difficult childhood, as his parents both died when he was young and he was left to be raised by harsh siblings.  One brother treated him as if he were his slave.  He was expected to take care of the pigs, which is a difficult and dangerous job for a young child.  He was then sent to live with his brother, a priest, who felt pity for his young sibling.  He was finally educated and cared for in a loving way.

He grew in his faith and learning with ease under this care.  He also became very pious in his outward signs of penance.  He gave most of what he had to the poor and spent most of his time in fasting and prayer.  He soon thought about leaving his entire world behind to live the life of a hermit.  However, it was at this time the monastery had a visit from two Benedictine monks.

He immediately left to enter into their order.  He lived a life of great prayer and devotion, as well as the study of Scripture and Church teachings.  This was quite intense that grew more as he had little desire for sleep during this time.  This devotion was seen by all the monks as a sign of great piety and the abbot even chose him as his successor upon his death.  Peter Damian only agreed to this authority out of obedience to his authority.

In 1043, Peter assumed the direction of that holy family, which he governed with great wisdom and piety. He also founded five other hermitages.  Under his direction, many saintly men came forward to inspire others in the faith.

In 1057, he was again faced with the chose to be obedient when Pope Stephen IX chose to make him a Cardinal-bishop.  When not making his diocese better, he was begging the pope for his retirement!  He wrote many letters and articles during this time, especially to calling on the clergy to live more pious lives.  He also fought simony with great vigor, upheld clerical celibacy and supported a severely ascetical life for monks.

He spent the remainder of his life back in his hermitage style cell at the monastery.  He would only be pulled away by obedience to the pope as his papal legate.  It was after one of these trips that Peter Damian returned to the monastery sick with a fever.  He died surrounded by his fellow monks at his side.

“...Let us faithfully transmit to posterity the example of virtue which we have received from our forefathers” (St. Peter Damian).

Saintly Siblings

Today's saints are the youngest to be beatified who were not martyrs of the faith.  Although there connection the Our Lady of Fatima (feast on May 13) is well known, it is their saintly young lives that we will discuss on their feast day.

Feast day:  February 20

Blessed Jacinta Marto 

Born:  1910
Died:  1920

Blessed Francisco Marto 

Born:  1908
Died:  1919

Patrons of bodily ills; captives; people ridiculed for their piety; prisoners; sick people
Portugal
Peasant family

The children of Fatima were like most of their peers, as they had little schooling and spent most of their time caring for their family's herd of sheep.  Jacinta and Francisco were often joined by their cousin, Lúcia dos Santos.

According to Lúcia's memoirs, "Francisco had a placid disposition, was somewhat musically inclined, and liked to be by himself to think. Jacinta was affectionate if a bit spoiled, and emotionally labile. She had a sweet singing voice and a gift for dancing."

However, on May 13, 1917, their lives would be forever changed.  While in the fields, the Virgin Mary appeared to them in a vision and simply asked them to pray.  All three children gave up music and dancing after the visions began, believing that these and other recreational activities led to occasions of sin.

Francisco would spend most of his time alone in silent prayer.  He told Lucia and Jacinta that he felt he needed "to console Jesus for the sins of the world."  He would also perform acts of self-mortification in the hopes that his suffering offered up with Jesus' suffering would relieve the world of sin.

After a vision of hell, Jacinta became increasingly determined to pray for the poor sinners entrenched in sin throughout the world.  She also began acts of self-mortification that she offered up for the sins of the world.

All of the children spent their days in prayer, especially devoted to the Rosary.  The visions continued for several months and the children were faithful in their accounts of the visions in spite of ridicule and punishments.

In 1918, the two siblings would become victims of the terrible influenza epidemic that spread throughout Europe.  At some time in October of 1918, it is said that Mary came to the children and told them that she would take them to heaven soon.  In spite of their illness, both children refused to give up their daily walk to Mass.  They would offer up their pain for the sinners of the world.  When not at Mass, they would pray before the Eucharist for hours.

Francisco was the first of the children to succumb to the illness on April 4, 1919 at his home, refusing to go to the hospital.  Jacinta, on the other hand was sent to multiple hospitals in the hopes for her healing.  She would even endure a terrible surgery to relieve the liquid in her lungs.  This surgery was that removed some of her ribs was done without being anesthetized because her heart was so weak.  She suffered terribly throughout all of these procedures but offered this pain for the lost souls of the world.  On February 20, 1920, Jacinta died alone in her hospital room.  The day before she had begged for Last Rites but the hopeful priest had told her that he would come back the next day.

Prior to her death, Jacinta spoke to Lucia about their efforts:

"When you are to say this, don't go and hide. Tell everybody that God grants us graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that people are to ask her for them; and that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated at his side. Tell them also to pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace, since God entrusted it to her."

Jacinta had a desire to organize others in prayer through a group that would come to be known as the Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.  It would not be until later that Lucia would write the biography of Jacinta, and we would find out that she had had several visions of Mary outside of the group messages.  Many of these visions were related to a pope who would lead the world in a devotion to the Immaculate Heart and who would also suffer for sinners of the world.

After the death of Francisco and Jacinta, a petition for canonization was rejected by Pope Pius XI because they were too young to understand the heroic virtues associated with saints.  I believe the Church was just not prepared to understand their heroics.  It would not be until 1979 when their names would be re-examined for canonization by Pope John Paul II.  Over 300 bishops wrote letters in hopes for these children to be recognized as they were "admired and attracted people to the way of sanctity. Favors were received through their intercession.”

It is believed that these sibling saints will be fully canonized in 2017 on the centennial anniversary of the visions.

Another Saint Conrad

Today's saint had to give up everything because of a mistake he made, but instead of living a life of sorrow he gave his life to prayer.

St. Conrad of Piacenza

Feast Day: February 19
Birth:  1290
Death:  1350
Patron of those with hernias
Italy
Nobility

Conrad was given all that he needed growing up in a Italian noble home.  When he was of age, he married the daughter of a nobleman.  They were happily married and led a life of virtue.

One day on a hunting trip, Conrad made the error of flushing out the game by having a fire set in a field.  This fire led to great damage to property and an innocent man was arrested.  Just before the peasant was to be put to death, Conrad spoke up and confessed his crime.  He paid for all damages to the property, selling nearly all he owned in order to raise the cash.

Soon after this event, Conrad and his wife chose to separate, she to the convent of the Sisters of Poor Clare and he to a group of Franciscan hermits.

Although Conrad desired a life of solitude, many came to him especially after finding out he had the gift of healing.  He then fled to a more remote location and here lived for the remainder of his life.

One story is told about a visit to Conrad from the bishop.  Upon arriving at Conrad's cell after the strenuous journey, the bishop asked if Conrad had anything to offer a visitor.  Conrad entered his cell and miraculously returned to the bishop with freshly baked cakes!

There are also many stories that recount that he was often surrounded by birds and other wild animals.

Conrad died of natural causes and over 100 years later in 1485 his body was found to be incorrupt.

Founders of the Servants of Mary

Today is actually the day we remember all of the founding fathers of the Servite Order.  The Servite Order is a community instituted for the special purpose of cultivating the spirit of penance and contemplating the passion of Christ and Mary's Seven Sorrows.  In 1233, God called seven men from the nobility of Florence who met and prayed together. The Blessed Mother appeared to each of them individually and urged them to begin a more perfect life. Disregarding birth and wealth, in sackcloth under shabby and well-worn clothing they withdrew to a small building in the country.  Among these men was today's saint.

St. Alexis Falconieri

Feast day: February 17
Birth: 1200

Death: 1310
Patron of the city of Orvieto (Italy)
Italy
Wealthy merchant

Alexis was born into a wealthy family and although he had all that he wanted, he was a humble child that grew in humility as a man.  Alexis joined the Laudesi, a pious confraternity of the Blessed Virgin, and there met the six future companions of his life of sanctity.

In August of 1233, he was graced with a vision of the Virgin Mary who encouraged him to a life more deeply served in prayer.  His fellow companions also received similar visions.  The seven soon afterwards founded the Order of the Servites. Alexis at once abandoned all, and retired to La Camarzia, a house on the outskirts of the town.  Before long they found themselves with constant visitors from Florence that they decided to withdraw to the wild and deserted slopes of Monte Senario, where they built a simple church and hermitage and lived a life of almost incredible austerity.  They also refused other men as they felt theirs was a special calling.  However, the bishop and then a cardinal came to offer advice to them.  The cardinal warned, "You treat yourselves in a manner bordering on barbarity: and you seem more desirous of dying to time than of living for eternity. Take heed: the enemy of souls often hides himself under the appearance of an angel of light . . . Hearken to the counsels of your superiors."

By the wish of the bishop, all except St. Alexis, were fully professed and ordained priests. Alexis often traveled the same area where he once lived a wealthy life, but now he was in clothes of the beggar to ask for alms.  Alexis was so humble that he considered himself unworthy to become a priest and lived his life as a lay brother within the order.  It would not be until 1304, over sixty years after its foundation, that it received the explicit and formal approval from the pope.

Alesix died in one of the monasteries established during his life time.  He was the last of the Servite Order founders and the only one to see the order formally recognized.

Other leaders of the Servites:

Buonfiglio Monaldo (died January 1, 1261)
Benedict dell' Antella (died August 20, 1268)
Bartholomew Amidei (died February 12, 1266)
Ricovero Uguccione (died May 3, 1282)
Gerardino Sostegni (May 3, 1282)
John Buonagiunta (died 1256)

A Saint that led to a Chain of Events

Little is known about today's saint but enough to know that he gave up everything by his works of mercy.  God does not ask us to give up our lives to death every day but he does ask us to give of ourselves through works of mercy (corporal and spiritual).

St. Samuel of Cilicia

Feast day:  February 16
Born:  ??
Died:  309
Egypt

Samuel (along with others) visited Christians condemned to work in the mines of Cilicia during an emperor persecution.  There desire was to comfort them in their suffering due to their harsh conditions.

Upon one of their visits, they were apprehended at the gates of Caesarea in Palestine, and they were brought before the governor (Firmilian).  They were quickly accused of being Christians. They were all tortured and then beheaded.

This led to the following chain of events that further shows the strength of the early Christians.  A servant (Porphyry) demanded that the bodies be buried, and he was also tortured and then burned to death when it was found that he was a Christian.  Then Seleucus, who witnessed this martyrdom and applauded Porphyry's constancy in the face of this terrible death.  He was then arrested by the soldiers involved in the execution, brought before the governor, and was beheaded at the governor's order.

We might not know details of any of these martyrs before their persecution, but we do know that they must have had extreme faith in God to make this choice to be a witness.  May we take the time to consider what we might do when we see others persecuted today.

Do You Know the Real St. Valentine?

Today we remember the saintly bishop who gave up his life for the witness to others.  I know most will only think of cupids and lovely hearts, roses and candy; however, I like to remember the man who truly showed love for others.  More important, I like to think that the stories told of Valentine are about the love that only God can show us.

Painted by another mother during Lent of 2015

St. Valentine


Feast day: February 14
Born: ??
Death: 269
Patron of Love, Young People, Happy Marriages
Rome

Although little is known about today's saint, there are many stories that hold to the common thread of true love which can only be given through the grace of God.

One common story about Valentine is that in one point of his life, as the former Bishop, he was on house arrest with Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the Judge, Valentine pledged the validity of Jesus. The judge immediately put Valentine and his faith to the test.  St. Valentine was presented with the judge's blind daughter and told to restore her sight. If he succeeded, the judge vowed to do anything for Valentine. Placing his hands onto her eyes, Valentine restored the child's vision.  Judge Asterius was humbled and obeyed Valentine's requests. Asterius broke all the idols around his house, fasted for three days and became baptized, along with his family and entire 44 member household. The now faithful judge then freed all of his Christian inmates.

St. Valentine was later martyred during Emperor Claudius' reign. The story tells that Valentine was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted in Rome. Both acts were considered serious crimes.  While imprisoned he continued to correspond to Asterius' daughter about the faith.  A relationship between the saint and emperor began to grow, until Valentine attempted to convince Claudius of Christianity. Claudius became enraged and sentenced Valentine to death, commanding him to renounce his faith or be beaten with clubs and beheaded.  Valentine refused to renounce his faith and was executed in 269.  On the day of his execution, he left a note signed, "Your Valentine." for the blind girl he had cured.

The romantic nature of Valentine's Day may have derived during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds paired couples in mid-February.

For our family we traditionally make a wonderful meal that has come to be known as Valentine Linguine.  So delicious and simple but enjoyed by the entire family!  Then we share one way that we love each person at the table.

Saintly Queen of England

Today's saint had the comforts of royalty but after her husband died she took on the vows of chastity and poverty.  She proved that having it "all" is not always enough.

St. Ermengild

Feast day: February 13
Born: ??
Death: 703
England
Royalty

Ermengild did not just marry into royalty, but was born into a royal family with a father who was king of Erconbert, King of Kent, and her mother was Queen Sexburga, who is also considered a saint.  She then married King Wulfhere of Mercia, who was a pagan.  She brought her husband into the Faith and through her zeal and piety influenced him to spread Christianity in his kingdom.  She helped spread the faith in Mercia until her husband's death in 675.

Ermengild also bore the king two children – St. Werburga, who entered the religious life, and Coenrad, who became King of Mercia (704-709) and later a monk at Rome.

Upon the death of her husband, Ermengild became a nun and eventually took on the role of abbess at the convent.  Little is known of her death, which occurred on February 13, 703.

Healing Waters from Our Lady

Today we celebrate the love of our Mother in heaven and the joy of a young girl (St. Bernadette feast day in April) in meeting her at the waters of Lourdes.

Painted by another mother
summer 2015

Our Lady of Lourdes 

Feast Day: February 11
Patron: Bodily ills.

The many miracles which have been performed through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin at Lourdes prompted the Church to institute a special commemorative feast, the "Apparition of the Immaculate Virgin Mary." The Office gives the historical background. Four years after the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1854), the Blessed Virgin appeared a number of times to a very poor and holy girl named Bernadette. The actual spot was in a grotto on the bank of the Gave River near Lourdes.

The Immaculate Conception had a youthful appearance and was clothed in a pure white gown and mantle, with an azure blue girdle. A golden rose adorned each of her bare feet. On her first apparition, February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin bade the girl make the sign of the Cross piously and say the rosary with her. Bernadette saw her take the rosary that was hanging from her arms into her hands.

With childlike simplicity Bernadette once sprinkled holy water on the vision, fearing that it was a deception of the evil spirit; but the Blessed Virgin smiled pleasantly, and her face became even more lovely. The third time Mary appeared she invited the girl to come to the grotto daily for two weeks. Now she frequently spoke to Bernadette. On one occasion she ordered her to tell the ecclesiastical authorities to build a church on the spot and to organize processions. Bernadette also was told to drink and wash at the spring still hidden under the sand.

Finally on the feast of the Annunciation, the beautiful Lady announced her name, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

The report of cures occurring at the grotto spread quickly and the more it spread, the greater the number of Christians who visited the hallowed place. The publicity given these miraculous events on the one hand and the seeming sincerity and innocence of the girl on the other made it necessary for the bishop of Tarbes to institute a judicial inquiry. Four years later he declared the apparitions to be supernatural and permitted the public veneration of the Immaculate Conception in the grotto. Soon a chapel was erected, and since that time countless pilgrims come every year to Lourdes to fulfill promises or to beg graces.

— Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

The Boy of Faith

Mass on Presidio in an unoccupied classroom...
But the ashes are the same regardless!  

This year the date of this saint falls on Ash Wednesday...the day set aside to remember that we are all sinners and need to seek God's mercy.  We have ashes placed on our foreheads and hear the words,

"Remember you are dust,
and to dust you shall return."

For today's saint, these words must have been a comfort knowing that he would not only return to dust but be raised to heaven as a martyr for the Lord he loved.

Blessed Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio

Feast Day: February 10
Born: 1913
Death: 1928
Mexico

Jose was born during a tumultuous time for his country.  The Christians of Mexico were being persecuted by the newly formed Communist government.  The Cristero Wars had begun and young Jose did not know life without the struggles for the faith.

From a young age Jose had a great love and enthusiasm for the Blessed Sacrament, and encouraged his friends to have more devotion to Our Lord and Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Whenever Jose heard of the glorious battles of the Cristeros, which his two brothers were engaged in, his desire to join the holy army grew.  Finally, Jose wrote a letter to one of the Cristero Generals, Prudencio Mendoza, pleading to be allowed to fight. The general finally agreed...Jose was only 14 years old.

During a battle, Jose was rushing to bring a fellow soldier a new supply of ammo.  Just then, he caught sight of the General whose horse had been shot dead.  On foot, without a horse, the General was extremely vulnerable.  Making a sacrifice that would ultimately cost him his life, Jose freely gave the general his own horse.  Moments later, Jose was caught by the federalists and locked up in a church sacristy that had been turned into a prison.

Jose, knowing he would die for the faith, secretly asked for the Eucharist to be brought to him to strengthen his soul for martyrdom.

On the way to execution, soldiers struck him savagely with sharp machetes.  With every blow, the young boy cried out, "Viva Cristo Rey!"  When he got to the cemetery, he was bleeding heavily.  His torturers had also cut off the soles of his feet and forced him to walk on salt.  The boy screamed with pain but would not give in.  As the road was nothing but rocks and dirt, the stones where he had walked were soaked in his blood.  The soldiers said:  "If you shout, ‘Death to Christ the King’, we will spare your life."  He only answered: "Long live Christ the King! Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe!"

The commander ordered the soldiers to bayonet Jose.  They pierced his body.   But with every stab he only shouted louder and louder: "Viva Cristo Rey!"  The commander was so enraged that he pulled out his pistol and on February 10, 1928 killed Blessed Jose on the spot.

The martyrdom was witnessed by two children, one of seven years and the other nine, who later became founders of religious congregations. One of them is the Rev. Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ.  The other witness to the events was the nine year old Enrique Amezcua Medina, founder of the Priestly Confraternity of the Operators of the Kingdom of Christ.

He was declared a martyr and beatified in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. People have given him the title of The Martyr of Sahuayo and The Martyr of Christ the King.

For some, you might remember the appearance of Jose in the recent movie about the Cristero Wars, For Greater Glory (2012).  However dramatic the movie made his death, the true story is so much more...and the ability to unify the faithful after his death was monumental.  We have actually enjoyed the story of his life told by Glory Stories (listen on line!), which also includes a testimony from the young boys who witnessed his death.

A Saint from Wales

You might not have heard of today's saint (I know I had not until now.) but he was a very important bishop of his day.

St. Teilo of Wales

Feast day: February 9
Birth: 500
Death: 560
Penalun

Teilo (also known by his Cornish name Eliud) had great inspiration for his faith journey in his family of saints (father, St. Issel; and uncles, Sts. Ismael and Euddogwy).  In some accounts, he is of a royal family who claims another saint in their ancestry (St. David).  To further his faith, Teilo was also educated by saints.

Along with companions, he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Upon his return, Teilo succeeded the previous bishop who retired to a hermitage. Teilo founded the first church in Llandaff, headed a monastic school, and become bishop over Glywysing & Gwent.

In the 540s yellow plague affected Britain, so Teilo, with a small group of monks, moved to Brittany.  He stayed in Brittany for seven years and seven months.  During this time, Teilo and his followers are said to have planted three miles of fruit trees.  To this day the fruit groves they planted are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson.

A funny legend has it that Teilo was asked to subdue a belligerent winged dragon, which he tamed and tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany.

After his return to Llandaff, he continued to serve the community for several years before his death around 560.

Martyr without Teeth

I chose to talk about this saint because of my recent intercession to her while preparing for a root canal.  Who is to say if she listened to me.  All I know is that the procedure was not near as bad as I thought it was going to be and I am not feeling pain in my teeth any more!  Praise God!

St. Apollonia

Feast day: February 9
Birth:  ??
Death: 249
Patron against dental disease and toothaches
Rome

We learn the story of Apollonia from the bishop to the region, Dionysius.  He wrote about many people in Alexandria who were suffering during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Emperor Decius.  He wrote of Apollonia:

"At that time Apollonia was held in high esteem. These men seized her also and by repeated blows broke all her teeth. They then erected outside the city gates a pile of wood and threatened to burn her alive if she refused to repeat after them impious words [either a blasphemy against Christ, or an invocation of the heathen gods]. Given, at her own request, a little freedom, she sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death."

In his eyes, she was as much a martyr as the others, and as such she was revered in the Alexandrian Church. In time, her feast was also popular in the West.

Apollonia is popularly invoked against the toothache because of the torments she had to endure. She is represented in art with pincers in which a tooth is held.

Saint Who Transformed From Suffering

Today's saint was born just after the end of the Civil War in the United States; however, she would not have her freedom like the slaves in the United States.  She would wait until her adulthood to be free as she was living in Italy.

St. Josephine Bakhita

Feast day: February 8
Birth: 1869
Death: 1947
Sudan (slave and freed in Italy)

Josephine was born into the prestigious Daju people; her well respected father was brother of the village chief. She was surrounded by a loving family of three brothers and three sisters; as she says in her autobiography: "I lived a very happy and carefree life, without knowing what suffering."

Sometime between the age of seven to nine, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders, who already had kidnapped her elder sister two years earlier. She was cruelly forced to walk barefoot about 600 miles, and was already sold and bought twice before she arrived at her destination. Over the course of twelve years (1877–1889), she was resold again three more times and then given away. It is said that the trauma of her abduction caused her to forget her own name.  When she was forced to become Muslim, she took on the name given to her by the slavers, bakhita, Arabic for lucky.

Josephine was bought by a very rich Arab merchant who employed her as a maid in service to his two daughters. They liked her and treated her well. But after offending one of her owner's sons, possibly for breaking a vase, the son lashed and kicked her so severely that she spent more than a month unable to move from her straw bed.

She was then sold to a Turkish general and she had to serve his mother-in-law and his wife who both were very cruel to all their slaves.  It was here that she was also scarred with intricate designs on her body by the master's wife.  Bakhita says: "During all the years I stayed in that house, I do not recall a day, that passed without some wound or other. When a wound from the whip began to heal, other blows would pour down on me".

In 1882, a war broke out in the region, and her master, in his haste to leave, began to sell his slaves in great numbers.  However, he held back ten slaves to be sold at a later destination.  Josephine was one of these ten.  She was then sold to an Italian consul, who didn’t use the lash when giving orders and treated her in a loving and kind way.

Two years later, when he had to return to Italy, Josephine begged to go with him. By the end of 1884 they escaped with a friend of the consul, Augusto Michieli. They traveled 400 miles on camel back to to the largest port of Sudan, and arrived at the Italian port of Genoa. They were met there by Augusto Michieli's wife Signora Maria. In grateful thanksgiving for safe travel, the consul gave the enslavement of Josephine as a present. Her new masters took her to their family villa.  She lived there for three years and became nanny to their daughter Alice, known as Mimmina.  The Michielis brought her with them to the Sudan for nine months before returning to Italy.

In 1888, her life would be forever changed, when her master decided to purchase a hotel in Sudan.  His wife felt she should be with her husband, but for safety reasons left Josephine and Alice in the care of the Canossian Sisters in Venice.  When she returned to take them both to Suakin, Josephine refused to leave.  The superior of the institute for Catechumenates complained to the Italian authorities.

In 1889 an Italian court ruled that, because the British had induced Sudan to outlaw slavery before her birth and because Italian law did not recognize slavery, Josephine had never legally been a slave.  For the first time in her life she was in control of her own destiny. She chose to remain with the nuns.  In 1890 she was baptized with the names of Josephine Margaret and Fortunata (which is the Latin translation for the Arabic Bakhita). On the same day she was also confirmed and received Holy Communion from the Archbishop of Sarto and Cardinal Patriarch of Venice...the future Pope Pius X.

She would later enter into the novitiate and then the full veil by 1896.  She was always kind and generous regardless of the job she was given.   Her special charisma and reputation for sanctity were noticed by her order.  The first publication of her story in 1931, made her famous throughout Italy.  During the Second World War (1939–1945) she shared the fears and hopes of the town people, who considered her a saint and felt protected by her mere presence.

A young student once asked Bakhita: "What would you do, if you were to meet your captors?" Without hesitation she responded: "If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands. For, if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today."

Her last years were marked by pain and sickness. She used a wheelchair, but she retained her cheerfulness, and if asked how she was, she would always smile and answer "as the Master desires". In the extremity of her last hours her mind was driven back to the years of her slavery and she cried out "The chains are too tight, loosen them a little, please!". After a while she came round again. Someone asked her: "How are you? Today is Saturday". "Yes, I am so happy: Our Lady... Our Lady!". These were her last audible words.  She died soon after in 1947 and thousands came to her funeral.

In May 1992 news of her beatification was banned by Khartoum which Pope John Paul II then personally visited only nine months later.  On 10 February 1993, facing all risks, surrounded by an immense crowd in the huge Green Square of the capital of Sudan, he solemnly honored Josephine on her own soil. "Rejoice, all of Africa! Bakhita has come back to you. The daughter of Sudan sold into slavery as a living piece of merchandise and yet still free. Free with the freedom of the saints."

Pope Benedict XVI, on 30 November 2007, in the beginning of his second encyclical letter Spe Salvi (In Hope We Were Saved), relates her entire life story as an outstanding example of the Christian hope.

The Nomadic Peacemaker

When all others failed, today's saint brought peace to conflicted political region.  Maybe we need to pray to him for guidance in our country split by political issues.

St. Moses

Feast day: February 7
Born:  ??
Died: 389
Arabia

Saint Moses, also known as the "Apostle of the Saracens" was a 4th century hermit living at the edge of the Roman Empire on the border between Egypt and Syria.  There is little known about his time prior to his hermitage years.

He spent much of his time traveling and preaching in the desert wilderness and caring for the local nomadic tribes. He gained a large number of followers among the Monophysites, and especially among Arabs.

When the Romans imposed peace upon the Saracens, Queen Mavia, the Saracen ruler, promised peace with the Roman Empire in exchange for the appointment of Moses as bishop over her people.  The Emperor Valens accepted the terms of the truce, and Moses was appointed bishop, but had no fixed geographic diocese, instead traveling with these nomadic people and converting a good number of them.

Moses refused to be ordained by the Arian patriarchal see at Alexandria (considered invalid because of his Arian beliefs), instead choosing to be consecrated by orthodox bishops living in exile. He worked to keep peace between the various tribes and with the Romans.

Japanese Martyr

Today's saint along with his companions gave the ultimate price for the spreading of the Christian faith in Japan.

St. Paul Miki and companions

Feast day:  February 6
Born: 1562
Died: 1597
Japan

Paul was the son of a Japanese military leader.  He was educated by the Jesuits and in 1850 joined the order himself. He became a well known and successful preacher - gaining numerous converts to Catholicism.

Paul and the others were arrested and forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki; all the while singing the Te Deum.  He preached his last sermon from the cross, and it is maintained that he forgave his executioners, stating that he himself was Japanese.

He was crucified with twenty-five other Catholics during the persecution of Christians in the name of the emperor.

Among the Japanese laymen who suffered the same fate were:

• Francis, a carpenter who was arrested while watching the executions and then crucified; 
• Gabriel, the 19 year old son of the Franciscan's porter; 
• Leo Kinuya, a 28 year old carpenter from Miyako; 
• Diego Kisai (or Kizayemon), temporal coadjutor of the Jesuits; 
• Joachim Sakakibara, cook for the Franciscans at Osaka; 
• Peter Sukejiro, sent by a Jesuit priest to help the prisoners, who was then arrested; 
• Cosmas Takeya from Owari, who had preached in Osaka; 
• Ventura from Miyako, who had been baptized by the Jesuits, gave up his Catholicism on the death of his father, became a bonze, and was brought back to the Church by the Franciscans
• Joan Soan (de Gotó), Jesuit 
• and Santiago Kisai, Jesuit

Little Pure Martyr

If you need a saint that did not waiver in her faith in spite of many days of torture, today's saint is the one for you.

St. Agatha

Feast day: February 5
Birth:  231
Death: 251
Patron: Bell-founders; breast cancer; against fire; earthquakes; jewelers; rape victims
Sicily

Born into a wealthy family, yet she showed humility and chastity at a very young age.  Agatha dedicated herself to God as a virgin when she was a young child.  Even in her youth, her parents had suitors come to ask for her in marriage.

One such suitor was Quintian, a man of high rank who felt he could force her to change her persistent resolve.  Knowing she was a Christian in a time of persecution, he had her arrested and brought before the courts where he would in fact be the judge.  He expected her to give in to when faced with torture and possible death, but she simply affirmed her belief in God by praying:

"Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil."

She was then placed in a brothel in hopes that the seductions of those around her would change her mind.  When she continued to profess her faith in Jesus, Quintian had her tortured. He refused her any medical care but God gave her all the care she needed in the form of a vision of St. Peter. When she was tortured again, she died after saying a final prayer:

"Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul."

Because one of the tortures she supposedly suffered was to have her breasts cut off, she was often depicted carrying her breasts on a plate. It is thought that blessing of the bread that takes place on her feast may have come from the mistaken notion that she was carrying loaves of bread.

When in India, Do as the Indians

A saint that chose to live like those he desired to convert.  Today's saint gave up all for the good of those in India.

St. John de Britto

Feast day: February 4
Birth: 1647
Death: 1693
Patron of Portugal
Portugal
Aristocratic family

John was born into a wealthy family in Portugal.  He was dedicated to Francis Xavier from an early age.  He joined the Jesuits and quickly went off to the mission fields of India.  He soon gave up all that he knew to convert souls to the faith.

John was imprisoned in 1684 and expelled from the country.  He returned to Lisbon and worked to recruit other missionaries.  He eventually returned to India with 24 other missionaries.  His missionary attempted to establish an Indian Catholic Church that was relatively free of European cultural domination. As such, John learned the native languages, went about dressed in yellow cotton, and abstained from all meat and wine.

John's efforts were very successful and he would later convert the prince of the region who had several wives.  John convinced him to give up all but one of his wives.  This created a problem as one of the wives was niece to the neighboring king.  This king decided to persecute Christians in answer to this decision.  John would be numbered among the Christians killed at this time.

The Reason for the Blessing of Throats

To many non-Catholics, the tradition of blessing throats may seem odd.  However, there is always a story behind these wonderful traditions.  And more important, there is a blessing!

St. Blaise

Feast day: February 3
Birth:  ??
Death: 316
Patron of throat illnesses, animals, wool combers, and wool trading

Very little is known about Blaise, especially his childhood.  At some point, he became a physician and would heal both people and animals.  It was said that even the wild animals knew to come to Blaise for care.

He was eventually ordained and became a healer of souls as well as the body.

When the local governor of the region chose to persecute the Christians, he would have his soldiers obtain wild animals to take to the arena.  These animals were meant to attack the Christians until death.  The soldiers found a large group of animals at the hut of Blaise.  When they tried to capture the animals, they found Blaise in prayer so they took him to jail.  It has been told that on the way to prison, a woman stopped the group and asked for assistance in saving her pig from a wolf.  Blaise convinced the wolf to return the pig to the woman.

The governor tried to have Blaise recant his faith, but he refused.  While in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone (the reason we have the blessing of throats on his feast day).  The woman who had her pig saved returned the favor to Blaise at this time by bringing him candles to dispel the gloom of his dark cell (maybe made from fat rendered from her pig! LOL).

When he would not give up the faith, the governor had him beaten.  He was then thrown into a lake to drown.  However, Blaise stood on the surface and invited his persecutors to walk out and prove the power of their gods; they drowned. When he returned to land, he was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn with wool combs (which led to his patronage of those involved in the wool trade), and then eventually martyred by beheading.

Blasie is considered one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.  He became one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages.

Today we went to Mass and Fr. Hall blessed our throats asking the intercession of St. Blaise for healing of any ailments of the throat.  So appropriate for this time of year with illnesses related to congestion and such.  I love the little "t" traditions of our church just as much as the doctrinal Tradition.  Praise be to God!

Another Saint of Ireland

A close connection to St. Patrick through her mother and would later in life work to continue these same teachings along side him.

St. Brigid of Kildare

Feast day: February 1
Birth: 451
Death: 525
Patron of Ireland, dairymaids, cattle, midwives, Irish nuns, and newborn babies
Slave

It is believed that Brigid's mother (Brocca) was one of St. Patrick's first converts.  However, she was a slave and gave birth to the chieftain's child.  The wife of the chieftain had Brocca and Brigid sold to a Druid landowner.  Brigid was a sickly child and could only be fed milk from a "a white cow with red ears."  Throughout her childhood, Brigid showed kindness and care for all those in need.

When she was about ten-years-old, Brigid was returned to her father's home, as he was her legal master. Her charity did not end when she left her mother, and she donated his possessions to anyone who asked.  Her father quickly became resentful of her giving, and took her to the king to be sold.  As the men were discussing a selling price, Brigid had her father's jeweled sword sold in order to aid a needy family.  The king saw her generosity and convinced her father to give her freedom..."Her merit before God is greater than ours."

Brigid returned to the Druid and her mother, who was in charge of the Druid's dairy. Brigid took over and often gave away milk, but the dairy prospered despite the charitable practice, and the Druid eventually freed Brocca.

Brigid had long since dedicated herself to God's vocation of chastity.  However, the Druid had arranged her to be married.  Legend has it Brigid prayed that her beauty be taken so no one would want to marry her, and the prayer was granted. It was not until after she made her final vows that her beauty was restored.

It is believed that Saint Patrick heard her final vows, and he accidentally used the form for ordaining priests. When the error was brought to his attention, he simply replied, "So be it, my son, she is destined for great things."

Brigid and seven friends organized communal consecrated religious life for women in Ireland and she founded two monastic institutions, one for men and one for women. Brigid invited a hermit called Conleth to help her in Kildare as a spiritual pastor.  She later founded a school of art that included metalwork and illumination, which Conleth led as well. It was at this school that the Book of Kildare, which the Gerald of Wales praised as "the work of angelic, and not human skill," was beautifully illuminated.

There is evidence that Brigid was a good friend of Saint Patrick's and that the Trias Thaumaturga claimed, "Between St. Patrick and Brigid, the pillars of the Irish people, there was so great a friendship of charity that they had but one heart and one mind. Through him and through her Christ performed many great works."

She died of natural causes on February 1st.