The Good Pope

Controversial stories came out after his death in the way he handled the events during World War II.  However, he was always considered a good man.  Times were hard and many secretive missions took place that we learn about through those he helped.

Feast day: June 3
Patron of Papal delegates, Patriarchy of Venice, Second Vatican Council
Birth: 1881
Death: 1963
Born in small village in Italy to poor parents (sharecroppers)
Named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli

He was ordained to the priesthood on 10 August 1904 and served in a number of posts.

In 1905, Roncalli was appointed to act as secretary for his bishop.  He continued working as the bishop's secretary until the bishop died in August 1914. The bishop's last words to Roncalli were, "Pray for peace."

Words that Roncali would not forget, especially as Italy was drawn into World War II and Roncalli was drafted into the Italian Army as a stretcher bearer and chaplain.  Roncalli did his duty and was eventually discharged from the army in 1919.

In 1925, Roncalli was summoned to the Vatican and he was sent to Bulgaria as the Apostolic Visitor to that country. Later, he was appointed aspostolic delegate to Turkey and Greece and made archbishop of Mesembria.

Beginning in 1935, racial tensions and anti-Jewish sentiment began to explode into actual acts of violence against the Jews and other ethnic minorities. Roncalli started using his influence to save what people he could from both local authorities and later the Nazis. During his tenure as archbishop, Roncalli saved thousands of Jews, enough that he was named a "Righteous Gentile" following the war.

In late 1944, Roncalli was appointed as the new papal Nuncio and sent to France to negotiate the retirement of bishops who were involved with the Nazis.

In 1952, Roncalli was offered a new position, this time as Patriarch of Venice. At the same time he assumed his new title, Roncalli became the Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca. He assumed his new responsibilities on March 15, 1953.

Pope Pius XII died on October 9, 1958 and Roncalli was soon summoned to Rome where he was to participate in the process of selecting a new pope.  After 11 ballots, he was elected to serve as Pope and took the name John XXIII.  This name was quite significant as there was an anti-pope 500 years before who had taken this name.  The pope wanted to make it clear that the apostolic succession continued.

This was only the beginning of his desire to bring unity within the Church.  One of his first actions as pope was to go out to the community for visits.  He visited the sick, the poor, and prisoners. He apologized for episodes of anti-Semitism within the Church carried on by some of his predecessors.

Then he called a ecumenical council to form...we know it as Vatican II.  As we realize now, this council would help to clarify the teachings of the Church.  He prohibited the use of contraceptives which interfere with the procreative will of God. He upheld the traditional view that married couples may not divorce. He also moved to protect the Church from scandal, ordering confidentiality when dealing with matters of clergy accused of the sexual abuse of children. (Some would deem this a way to cover up the abuse; however, he saw this as a way to defend the clergy of false accusations.)

Pope John XXIII did not live to see the Vatican Council to completion.  On June 3, 1963, Pope John XXIII died (stomach cancer) in his bed at age 81.

The world mourned John XXIII and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Johnson in December 1963.  Pope John XXIII generally maintained a good reputation among those who remembered him and he was often titled "the Good."

On September 3, 2000, Pope John Paul beatified him. Miracles were attributed to him and his body was found to be in an uncorrupted state, a phenomenon consistent with sainthood. His body was put on display for the veneration of the faithful.  Pope John XXIII's feast day will be October 11, as opposed to the day of his death, which is June 3. This special feast day is intended as a commemoration of the opening of the Second Vatican Council on October 11, 1962.

SIDE NOTE:  When on my two week stay in Rome for study, I was able to visit his uncorrupt body on display in St. Peter's Basilica.

After studying his life, it is easy to see that he led a life of humility.  Here is a quote that sums up his life:

"In the hour of farewell, or, better, of leave-taking, I repeat once more that what matters most in this life is: our blessed Jesus Christ, his holy Church, his Gospel, and in the Gospel above all else the Our Father according to the mind and heart of Jesus, and the truth and goodness of his Gospel, goodness which must be meek and kind, hardworking and patient, unconquerable and victorious."

—John XXIII.Spiritual Testament. 1954 p.343, Journal of a Soul

I do wish that the spirit of Pope John XXIII would be upon the current synod on the family.  I believe he would reiterate what he once said about the family:

"The family, founded upon marriage freely contracted, one and indissoluble, must be regarded as the natural, primary cell of human society. The interests of the family, therefore, must be taken very specially into consideration in social and economic affairs, as well as in the spheres of faith and morals. For all of these have to do with strengthening the family and assisting it in the fulfilment of its mission"

—John XXIII.Pacem in Terris. 1963

Saint John XXIII, pray for us!

Animal Lover

Most people (even non-Catholics) will know today's saint for his love of animals.  However, there is so much more to this amazing man!  We are so excited to be able to enjoy the day in San Francisco on his feast day!

Saint created by another mother (notice the wolf, an interesting story)

St. Francis of Assisi

Feast day: October 4
Patron of Animals, Merchants & Ecology
Birth: 1181
Death: 1226
Merchant family
Founder of the Franciscan Order

I always wondered why he was not the patron saint of those who were misunderstood by their parents.  He definitely disappointed his father (he wanted Francis to carry on his merchant business) in many ways throughout his early life.

It is interesting to see that this man who would grow up to be a symbol of poverty and chastity grew up in a family of little wants.  He had all that he needed and spent many years enjoying a life of leisure.  He was also loved by everyone (except his father!).  Maybe too much for his own good. Thomas of Celano, his biographer who knew him well, said, "In other respects an exquisite youth, he attracted to himself a whole retinue of young people addicted to evil and accustomed to vice." Francis himself said, "I lived in sin" during that time.

In all of this, Francis knew that something was missing.  He just was not sure what this was...so he entered into the military service hoping to achieve glory on the battle field.  As if history itself wanted to please Francis, a war broke out at just the right time so he could prove his courage and leadership when Assisi declared war on their longtime enemy, the nearby town of Perugia.  Instead of glory, Francis found himself captured and placed in a dungeon for a year before he was ransomed.

However, he still did not change his ways.  He returned to Assisi to his frivolous lifestyle.  He again dreamed of going to battle, and a second opportunity came in the form of the 4th Crusades.  This time he was expected to have a suit of armor for the battle.  He had the finest armor his father could buy.  However, this time he had only gone a day's journey when he was sent a message from God to return.

Strange that Francis should heed God's message at this time in his life.  Not only was he giving up on his life time dream, but he would also face ridicule and scorn as the people in Assisi considered him a coward.  His father was furious with him and made him pay back the money for the wasted armor.

It was at this point in his life that Francis began to see his wicked ways and repented for his mistakes.  However, he was not sure what he should do to right the problem.  Francis started to spend more time in prayer. He went off to a cave and wept for his sins.  Then an encounter with a leper was the final message needed for Francis to have a full conversion.

To find solitude as Francis tried to find his way, he found himself at the ancient church at San Damiano. While he was praying there, he heard Christ on the crucifix speak to him, "Francis, repair my church." Francis assumed this meant church with a small c -- the crumbling building he was in.

To help fund this "mission," Francis took fabric from his father's shop and sold it to get money to repair the church. His father saw this as an act of theft -- and put together with Francis' cowardice, waste of money, and his growing disinterest in money made Francis seem more like a madman than his son. Pietro dragged Francis before the bishop and in front of the whole town demanded that Francis return the money and renounce all rights as his heir.

The bishop was very kind to Francis; he told him to return the money and said God would provide. That was all Francis needed to hear. He not only gave back the money but stripped off all his clothes -- the clothes his father had given him -- until he was wearing only a hair shirt. In front of the crowd that had gathered he said, "Pietro Bernardone is no longer my father. From now on I can say with complete freedom, 'Our Father who art in heaven.'"

Francis went back to what he considered God's call. He begged for stones and rebuilt the San Damiano church with his own hands, not realizing that it was the Church with a capital C that God wanted repaired. Scandal and avarice were working on the Church from the inside while outside heresies flourished.

Soon Francis started to preach the need for repentance.  Slowly companions came to Francis seeking his way of life.   With companions, Francis knew he now had to have some kind of direction, so he opened the Bible in three places. He read the command to the rich young man to sell all his good and give to the poor, the order to the apostles to take nothing on their journey, and the demand to take up the cross daily. "Here is our rule," Francis said -- as simple, and as seemingly impossible, as that.

Francis did not try to abolish poverty, he tried to make it holy.  Francis was a man of action. His simplicity of life extended to ideas and deeds. If there was a simple way, no matter how impossible it seemed, Francis would take it. So when Francis wanted approval for his brotherhood, he went straight to Rome to see Pope Innocent III. You can imagine what the pope thought when this beggar approached him! As a matter of fact he threw Francis out. But when he had a dream that this tiny man in rags held up the tilting Lateran basilica, he quickly called Francis back and gave him permission to preach.

Francis decided to go to Syria to convert the Moslems while the Fifth Crusade was being fought. In the middle of a battle, Francis decided to do the simplest thing and go straight to the sultan to make peace. When he and his companion were captured, the real miracle was that they weren't killed. Instead Francis was taken to the sultan who was charmed by Francis and his preaching. He told Francis, "I would convert to your religion which is a beautiful one -- but both of us would be murdered."

Francis' final years were filled with suffering as well as humiliation. Praying to share in Christ's passion he had a vision and received the stigmata, the marks of the nails and the lance wound that Christ suffered, in his own body.

Years of poverty and wandering had made Francis ill. On July 16, 1228, he died.  He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Gregory IX.  It is customary to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4. He is also known for his love of the Eucharist, his sorrow during the Stations of the Cross, and for the creation of the Christmas crèche or Nativity Scene.

A Man of Humility

Although I did not paint this wonderful saint doll (Another mom through a saint exchange created him last spring.), I wanted to give St Pius of Pietrelcina recognition on his feast day.

We know him as Padre Pio and he is a modern day saint that many of our parents might remember from their childhood memories.

Feast day: September 23
Birth: 1887
Death: 1968
Patron patron saint of the unborn
Italian
Parents were peasant farmers, very faithful and attended Mass daily
Priest of the Capuchin Order in 1910

Padre Pio was a devout child (Francesco was his given name) who knew from a young age that we was called to the priesthood.  They attended daily Mass, prayed the Rosary nightly, and abstained from meat three days a week in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Although Francesco's parents and grandparents were illiterate, they memorized the scriptures and narrated Bible stories to their children. His mother said that Francesco was able to see and speak with Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and his guardian angel.

Because his parents saw the need for his education, his father worked in America for three years in order to pay for his schooling. .He entered the novitiate at 16 years old.  He was honored to fulfill this calling and begin his life serving God.  

In 1918, he was prying before the crucifix and was given a vision of the Passion of Christ where upon he was given the gift of the stigmata.  He would spend the rest of his life with this understanding of the sufferings of Jesus through his wounds.  Many who entered into his presence said that they could smell the perfume of flowers emitting from these wounds.

Along with this gift, he was also allowed the ability of bilocation.  However, his greatest gift he enjoyed was that of reading the hearts of the penitents who came to him in confession.  He would often spend up to 18 hours a day in the confessional in order to lead the people to God's mercy and grace.

He spent most of his life in illness with little complaint.  Even though he was sick, the need for military chaplains led him to service in the Italian military during World War I.  He was sent home due to his illness after a few months.  He worked hard to bring peace to those in need through the sacraments as well as the building of a hospital.  

He was often scrutinized because of his stigmata as well as his popularity.  He was even asked to stop the administering of the Mass because of the crowds who came to him.  He remained a humble obedient servant through all of his life.  He died at the age of 81 years old in 1968.  Upon his death the long lasting stigmata was completely healed and all outward signs removed.

I learned that he is considered the patron saint of the unborn...very interesting since we also began a new fall campaign to pray for the end to abortion...40 Days for Life!  Here is an interesting story to explain this recognition.

He was canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2002.  He had often said, "After my death I will do more. My real mission will begin after my death."

"The Devil is like a mad dog tied by a chain. Beyond the length of the chain he cannot catch hold of anyone. And you, therefore, keep your distance. If you get too close you will be caught. Remember, the Devil has only one door with which to enter into our soul: our will. There are no secret or hidden doors. No sin is a true sin if we have not willfully consented. ~Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

We have always found Padre Pio to be a great prayer warrior for our family.  One of our favorite things he is known to say about the rosary...“Bring me my weapon”– which he would exclaim when he knew it was time for prayer.  

Our little saint dolls are now becoming a regular "decoration" for the altar at our daily Mass.  I am so glad to have Father enjoy these saints as much as we do.

We also enjoyed a special dessert tonight..."Capuchin" Trifle!  A yummy play on words to enjoy a delicious coffee flavored pudding, cake and whipped cream!  

St Padre Pio, pray for us!

Defender of the Faith

Today's saint is considered a defender of the faith as he spent much of his ministry writing documents to refute the Protestant Reformation.

Today is the feast day of St. Robert Bellarmine.

Feast Day:  September 17
Patron against epilepsy
Birth: 1542
Death: 1621
Italian
Noble parents (however little money) were highly religious and dedicated to a faithful life
Priest of the Jesuit Order in 1560

Bellarmine was appointed to the chair of controversial theology at the Roman College and a Cardinal in 1598.  He was the spiritual father of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, helped St. Francis de Sales obtain formal approval of the Visitation Order, and opposed severe action in the case of Galileo (which was unfortunately delayed due to Galileo.)  He was a prolific writer and many of his writing are still reviewed today.  He is especially known for his ability to systematically review controversial teachings and find ways to refute the errors.

Bellarmine retired after a short time as bishop to a Jesuit college in Rome.  This is where he died in 1621.

Bellarmine was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930; the following year he was declared a Doctor of the Church. His remains, in a cardinal's red robes, are displayed behind glass under a side altar in the Church of Saint Ignatius, the chapel of the Roman College, next to the body of his student, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, as he himself had wished.

"When we appeal to the throne of grace we do so through Mary, honoring God by honoring His Mother, imitating Him by exalting her, touching the most responsive chord in the sacred heart of Christ with the sweet name of Mary."