A Little Bit of Everything

Several years ago when our children were young, Michael decided they all needed to take on a German name as he often spoke to them in German.  Most of the children chose names that were similar to their own, except for one of our children who randomly (or may not so random) chose Wolfgang.  We soon found out that this name would become much more in our family.

St. Wolfgang

Feast Day: October 31
Born:  934
Death:  994
Patron:  against apoplexy, paralysis, stomach diseases and strokes; and for carpenters
Germany

Wolfgang is actually quite an interesting man.  He had an uneventful childhood growing up in a family of nobles.  He was called to the assistance of his childhood tutor, who had become a bishop, to teach in the cathedral school.  He was very involved in reforming the structure of the diocese in spite of opposition.

After the death of the bishop in 964, Wolfgang entered the Benedictine order in Switzerland, and was ordained priest by Saint Ulrich in 968.  After the death of the bishop in 964, Wolfgang entered the Benedictine order in Switzerland and was ordained priest by Saint Ulrich in 968.

At the request of Ulrich and at the desire of the Emperor Otto the Great, Wolfgang, was "sent to the [pagan]  Hungarians" as the most suitable man to evangelize them.

By 972, Wolfgang would be placed in the position of bishop in Regensburg.  In addition to this role, Wolfgang became the tutor of Emperor Saint Henry II, who learned from him the principles which governed his saintly and energetic life (I will not write about this saint until next July, along with St. Ulrich!).  He would also tutor other nobles of the day.

Among other duties, Wolfgang worked to streamline the order of his diocese.  He would also spend much of this time reforming the monasteries and convents within the diocese.  He willing gave up a portion of his large diocese to create a new diocese adjacent to his in Prague.  He then spent time at court advising the emperor in matters of importance, going so far as to accompanying the emperor on his military advancements.

Wolfgang spent the last years of his life as a hermit.  He was discovered by a huntsman and encouraged to return to society; however, he grew ill along the journey and died upon entering a small chapel in Austria.

St. Wolfgang is generally depicted with an ax in the right hand and the bishop's crosier in the left, or as a hermit in the wilderness being discovered by a hunter.

The axe refers to an incident in the life of the saint. After having selected a solitary spot in the wilderness, he prayed and then threw his ax into the thicket; the spot on which the ax fell he regarded as the place where God intended he should build his cell. This ax is still shown in the little market town of St. Wolfgang which sprang up on the spot of the old cell.

Saint Wolfgang is sometimes counted among the Fourteen Holy Helpers.  A group of saints revered in early times as particularly aiding Christians.

St. Wolfgang, pray for us!

A Saint for Mothers and a Motherly Saint

Today we celebrate the fest of two saints.  St Gerard is a saint I have asked for intercession many times over the last 20 years...for myself and others.  St. Hedwig is a new saint for our family but very fitting since she had so many children.  I think she will be on my list of prayer warriors from now on!

St Gerard Majella

Feast day: October 16
Patron of expectant mothers, falsely accused people, good confessions, lay brothers
Born: 1726
Death: 1755
Born in Muro, Italy to poverty stricken family

Gerard was the youngest from a large family and struggled through his childhood.  His father died when he was 12 years old, and his mother sent him to an uncle to learn to be a tailor.  He would then be sent to a local bishop to be his servant.  Any wages he earned were split between his mother and the poor.  He desired to enter the local monastery; however, his health was so poor they refused his entrance.

Gerard was allowed to join the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer at the age of 23.  He became a lay brother and took on several menial jobs.  However, because of his piety he was soon allowed to counsel communities of religious women.  He never refused to assist in anyone who called upon him for help.

Throughout his life Gerard was shown to be truly devoted to God.  This devotion had outward signs, including levitation, bi-location and the ability to read souls.  Several miracles are also attributed to his intercession.  Some of these miracles include:  restoring a boy's life after he fell from a high cliff; blessing a poor farmer's crops, ridding it of mice; blessing a poor family's supply of wheat, causing it to last until the next harvest; and he multiplied bread for the poor on several occasions.

The one intercession to Gerard that continues into the present day is that of pregnant women in labor.  The story told of his intercession is:  

"Shortly before his death, Majella encountered a young girl. He had dropped his handkerchief and she set out to return it, only to be told to keep it. Majella told her she "may need it someday." Years after Majella's passing, the young girl became married and with child. She unexpectedly went into labor and was on the verge of losing her baby. She called for Majella's handkerchief to be applied to her. Almost immediately, her pain abated and she proceeded to give birth to a healthy child."

Gerard died of tuberculosis on October 16, 1755 at the age of 29, living in the religious life for six years.

"Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what use is it to lean upon that which cannot give support?"

St Gerard, pray for us!

St. Hedwig of Silesia

Feast day: October 16
Patron: brides; duchesses; death of children; marital problems; victims of jealousy; widows
Birth: 1174
Death: 1243
Born to noble family in Andechs, Bavaria, Germany

Being a member of a noble family might sound like an easy life; however, there were burdens that came with it for Hedwig.  For instance, she was betrothed when she was only a year old.  Then she was married at the age of twelve to Duke Henry of Silesia, the head of the Polish Royal family.!

Thankfully, she had a happy marriage and became the mother of seven children.  Henry and Hedwig dedicated their lives to God's work.  They founded a Cistercain convent at Trebnitz, as well as hospitals and monasteries.

She lived a life of poverty and humility, despite her prominent position. Every day, even in winter, she would walk barefooted, so her feet were in bad shape. A story tells us her husband sent her a pair of shoes, insisting that she not be without them — so she kept them under her arm.

When Henry died, Hedwig would take vows and live at the convent they had established.  She died at this same convent in 1243 after outliving all but one of her children (Gertrude).  The most dreadful of these deaths was watching her son (Henry II) who had taken over the role of Duke murdered before assistance could arrive.

St. Hedwig, pray for us!

Bruno Who?

I will admit...I did not know a lot about this saint when I decided to paint this doll.  However, that just shows the vastness of the inspiration that God has given us in the saints.  I love learning about new saints and how they gave their lives to God.   This helps to keep focused in a fallen world.  Praise God for the saints!

Feast Day:  October 6
Born: 1030 in Cologne, Germany
Died:  1101 at Calabria, Italy
Parents are St. Matilda and King Henry I
Established the Carthusian monks
Patron saint of diabolic possession

Bruno became a priest at the age of 25 and then taught theology at the university.  After many years in this position, he decided to leave the world and pursue a life of complete solitude and prayer. (some say he did this after rejecting the position of archbishop).  In 1084, he joined with a small group of men to establish the first Carthusian monastery.  They built an oratory and individual cells, roughly followed the rule of St. Benedict, and thus began the Carthusian Order. They embraced a life of poverty, manual work, prayer, and transcribing manuscripts.

In 1090, he was called to Rome by Pope Urban II, as Papal Adviser in the reformation of the clergy, against his best efforts to refuse.  After some time, Bruno convinced the pope that he should return to his hermit style life.  He established another monastery in Calabria.  He became very ill and called all his followers together to hear his public confession before his death.

He was never formally canonized because of the Carthusians' aversion to public honors but Pope Leo X granted the Carthusians permission to celebrate his feast in 1514, and his name was placed on the Roman calendar in 1623.