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Carlinn Parish :
Saints in Season |
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| Saints in Season - New Celebrations3rd January The Name of Jesus invoked with confidence brings help in bodily needs, according to the promise of Christ :
8th February Born in 1868 to a wealthy Sudanese family, she was kidnapped by slave-traders at age 9, and given the name Bakhita (which means lucky One) by them. Sold and resold in the markets at El Obeid and Khartoum, and enduring much ill treatment, finally purchased in 1883 by Callisto legnani, Italian consul, who planned to free her. She accompanied legnani to Italy in 1885, and worked for the family of Augusto Michieli as nanny. She was treated well in Italy, and grew to love the country. She became a Christian on 9 January 1890 and took the name of Josephine as a symbol of her new life. "I received the Sacrament of Baptism with such joy that only angels could describe." She entered the Institute of Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice 1893, and served as a Canossian Sister for the next fifty Her gentle presence, her warm, amiable voice, and her willingness to help with any menial task were a comfort to the poor and suffering people who came to the door of the Institute. After a biography of her was published in 1930, she became a noted and sought after speaker, raising funds to support missions. Died 8 February 1947 of natural causes in Italy Canonised 1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II and thought to be the only saint originally from Sudan. "Rejoice, all of Africa! Bakhita has come back to you: the daughter of the Sudan, sold into slavery as a living piece of merchandise, and yet still free: free with the freedom of the saints." "My thoughts turn to the new saint's country, which has been torn by a cruel war for the past 17 years, with little sign of a solution in sight. In the name of suffering humanity I appeal once more to those with responsibility: open your hearts to the cries of millions of innocent victims and embrace the path of negotiation. I plead with the international community: do not continue to ignore this immense human tragedy. I invite the whole Church to invoke the intercession of St Bakhita upon all our persecuted and enslaved brothers and sisters, especially in Africa and in her native Sudan, that they may know reconciliation and peace." - Pope John Paul II 16th April On February 11 1858, Bernadette went with her sister and a friend to gather firewood. She became separated from her companions and at a natural grotto near the river she saw a beautiful lady clad in a white robe with a blue sash, a white veil covering her head. Bernadette returned to the grotto and saw the lady many times. Among the many things the lady told her were these: "I cannot promise you happiness in this world, but in another" (18 February); "Pray for poor sinners" (21 February); "Go and tell the priests that a chapel should be built here" (27 February); "I am the Immaculate Conception" (25 March). In 1862, after an exhaustive ecclesiastical investigation, the bishop of Tarbes declared that the faithful were justified in believing that Mary, the immaculate Mother of God, did in reality appear to Bernadette Soubirous. In July 1866, at the age of twenty-two, she was permitted to enter the novitiate of the Sisters of Notre Dame at Nevers. There she spent the rest of her life, sometimes working as sacristan or infirmarian, but mostly suffering intensely from her health difficulties. She died on the afternoon of Easter, 1879. 23rd April Born in Bohemia (Czech Republic) around 956. In 981 he returned to Prague and around the age of twenty-six was consecrated the first native bishop of the city. He met much opposition and was then released from his episcopal responsibilities and devoted himself to missionary work among the Prussians on the Polish coast, where he was martyred. He is remembered for his prayerfulness, his concern for the poor, and his courage in the face of opposition. 28th April As a young priest discovered his true vocation preaching missions. Most important was the spirit of prayer which he instilled especially with the recitation of the rosary. A few years before his death, Louis gathered together a few priests who became the first members of his Company of Mary. He died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre on April 28, 1716. 29th April She was the youngest child in a large family. At the age of 6 she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican Tertiary. She received a vision in which she was in a mystical marriage with Christ, and the Infant Christ resented her with a wedding ring. Counselor to Pope Gregory XI and Pope Urban VI Born 25 March 1347 at Siena, Tuscany, Italy Died 29 April 1380. Proclaimed Doctor of the Church on 4 October 1970, Designated a Patroness of Europe in 2000. "Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of humanity, God does nothing without this goal in mind." Saint Catherine of Siena The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared 6 times to 3 shepherd children between May 13 and October 13, 1917. The three children were Lucia dos Santos, age 9, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, ages 8 and 6 respectively. She came to the little village of Fatima which had remained faithful to the Catholic Church during the recent persecutions by the government. Our Lady requested the children to pray the Rosary and to make reparation for sinners. On the last apparition Our Lady revealed herself as the Queen of the Rosary. 21st May Cristobal Magallanes and his 24 companion martyrs, priests and laymen came from diverse regions of Mexico and were of various ages. Opposing hatred of the Christian name, they confessed Christ the King, and endured martyrdom in the year 1927. St Christopher was born to a farming family in 1869 in Mexico and worked as a shepherd in his youth. He entered the seminary at 19. He became parish priest at Totatiche, Mexico, where he helped found schools, a newspaper, catechism centres for children and adults, carpentry shops, and an electric plant to power the mills. He got involved with the indigenous people to form agrarian co operatives with the town's people. When the anti-Church government closed all seminaries, Father Cristobal gathered displaced seminarians, and started his own seminary; it was quickly suppressed. He formed another, and another, and when they were all closed, the seminarians conducted classes in private homes. He wrote and preached against armed rebellion but was falsely accused of promoting the Cristero guerilla revolt. He was finally arrested on 21 May 1927 while en route to celebrate Mass at a farm. He was executed by firing squad on 25 May 1927. He gave away his few remaining possessions to his executioners, gave them absolution, and without a trial, he was martyred with Saint Agustin Caloca. 22nd May St Rita was born 1386 at Roccaparena, Umbria, Italy. From her early youth, Rita visited the Augustinian nuns at Cascia, and snowed interest in a religious life. However, when she was twelve, her parents betrothed her to Paolo Mancini, an ill-tempered, abusive individual who worked as town watchman, and was dragged into the political disputes of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Disappointed but obedient, Rita married him when she was 18, and was the mother of twin sons. She put up with Paolo's abuses for eighteen years before he was ambushed and stabbed to death. Her sons swore vengeance on their father's killers, but through Rita's prayers and interventions, they forgave the offenders. She died on 22 May 1457 at the Augustinian convent at Cascia of tuberculosis. She is a patron for abuse victims, against loneliness, against sterility, bodily ills, desperate causes, difficult marriages, forgotten, impossible and lost causes, victims of physical spouse abuse, widows. 1st July St Oliver came from Irish nobility whose family supported King Charles I. Ordained in Rome in 1654 he became a Professor of theology from 1654 through 1669. He was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in 1669. He was forced to conduct a covert ministry during the suppression of priests. He was arrested and tried at Dundalk in 1679 for conspiring against the state. It was seen that Oliver would never be convicted in Ireland, and he was moved to Newgate prison, London. St Oliver Plunkett was found guilty of high treason "for promoting the Catholic faith," and was condemned to a gruesome death. He was martyred 1 July 1681 at Tyburn by hanging, disemboweling, quartering and beheading. He was the last Catholic to die for his faith at Tyburn, and the first of the Irish martyrs to be beatified. His body was initially buried in two tin boxes next to five Jesuits who had died before; his head is in Saint Peter's Church at Drogheda, Ireland; most of his body is at Downside Abbey, England; some relics in Ireland 9th July Zhao Rong and 119 Companions celebrates the martyrs of the Church in China over several centuries but especially in the Boxer Risings. St Augustine Tchao was born in China in 1746. He served in the Imperial Army and was converted to the Christian faith by the perseverance of the holy martyrs. Ordained priest, he himself was martyred in 1815 because of his profession and preaching of the Gospel. The great number of fellow-martyrs remembered with him include bishops, priests, religious men and women, lay men and women, boys, girls and young children. All, of different age groups and different parts of China, witnessed by word and act in the most trying circumstances to the treasures to be found in Christ. These martyrs were canonised on 1 October 2000 by Pope John Paul II who spoke of them in his Homily : 'today the Church is grateful to her Lord, who blesses her and bathes her in light with the radiant holiness of these sons and daughters of China. Young Ann Wang, a 14-year-old withstood the threats of the torturers who invited her to apostatise. Ready for her beheading, she declared with a radiant face: "The door of heaven is open to all", three times murmuring: "Jesus". And 18-year-old Chi Zhuzi, cried out fearlessly to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: "Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian". The other 85 Chinese men and women of every age and state priests, religious and lay people, showed the same conviction and joy, searing their unfailing Fidelity to Christ and the Church with the gift of their lives. This occurred over the course of several centuries and in a complex and difficult era of China's history. Today, with this solemn proclamation of holiness, the Church intends merely to recognise that those martyrs are an example of courage and consistency to us all and that they honour the noble Chinese people. Resplendent in this host of martyrs are also the 33 missionaries who left their land and sought to immerse themselves in the Chinese world, lovingly assimilating its features in the desire to proclaim Christ and to serve those people. Their tombs are there as if to signify their definitive belonging to China, which they deeply loved, although with their human limitations, and for which they spent all their energies. 'We never wronged anyone', Bishop' Francis Fogolla replied to the governor who was preparing to strike him with his sword. 'On the contrary, we have done good to many'." 23rd July Born 1302-1303 at Finsta Castle, Uppsala, Sweden Died 1373 at Rome; buried at the Vadstena convent she founded. A descendant of the Swedish royal house she began receiving visions, mostly of the Crucifixion, at age seven. At sixteen she wed prince Ulfo of Nercia in an arranged marriage. She became the mother of eight children, one of whom is Saint Catherine of Sweden, though some of the other children ignored the Church. After Ulfo's death, she pursued a more religious life, for which she was harassed by others at the court. Third Order Franciscan. Cistercian. Mystic visionary, and mystical writer. After being a member of Third Orders she founded the Order of the Most Holy Saviour (Bridgettines) at Vadstena. She made pilgrimages to Rome, Italian holy sites, and the Holy Land. She is renowned for chastening and counselling kings and Popes Clement VI, Urban VI, and Gregory XI, urging them to return to Rome from Avignon. She encouraged all who would listen to meditate on the Passion, and on Jesus Crucified. 24th July He was the son of a mule driver but raised by an uncle who opposed the boy's youthful piety. The boy's favourite book was Thomas a Kempis's The Imitation of Christ. At age 23 he ran away to join the Baladite monastery of Saint Maron at Annaya where he took the name Charbel in memory of a 2nd century martyr. Professed his solemn vows in 1853. Ordained in 1859, becoming a heiromonk. He lived as a model monk, but dreamed of living like the ancient desert fathers. He became a hermit from 1875 until his death 23 years later, living on the bare minimum of everything. His reputation for holiness meant he was much sought for counsel and blessing. He had a great personal devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and was known to levitate during his prayers. Briefly paralysed for unknown reasons just before his death. Several post-mortem miracles are attributed to him, including periods in 1927 and 1950 when a bloody "sweat" flowed from his corpse. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for Lebanese and non-Lebanese, Christian and non-Christian alike. He died on 24 December 1898 at Annaya of natural causes. 2nd August Born in the diocese of Grenoble, France, in 1811. Fervent disciple of the Eucharistic Mystery, he established two congregations, one for men (Blessed Sacrament Fathers), the other with the help of Marguerite Guillot for women (the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament), dedicated to the worship of the Eucharist. He died on August 1, 1868. 9th August Born 12 October 1891 at Breslaw (now Wroclaw), Poland as Edith Stein, she was the youngest of 7 children of a Jewish family. She lost interest and faith in Judaism by age 13. A brilliant student and philosopher with an interest in phenomenology; she gained her Ph.D. in philosophy by age 25. Witnessing the strength of faith of Catholic friends led her to an interest in Catholicism, which led to her studying a catechism on her own, which led to "reading herself into" the Faith. She converted to Catholicism at Cologne in 1922. She became a Carmelite nun, and is recognised as a profound spiritual writer. Both Jewish and Catholic, she fled to Holland when the Nazis came to power. She and her sister Rose were captured and sent to Auschwitz. Died 9 August 1942 being gassed at Auschwitz.
Canonized 11 October 1998 by Pope John Paul II who declared her a Patroness of Europe. Antoine Frederick Ozanam was born in Milan on 23 April 1813. In order to show Catholic social understandings in action he and a few fellow students formed a "Conference of Charity". They were to undertake practical work among the poor, and their start in May 1833 is seen as the foundation date of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. 12th September We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to her who is the Mother of God, the holiest of creatures, the Queen of heaven and earth, the Mother of Mercy. The object of the feast is the Holy Virgin bearing the name of Miriam (Mary); the feast commemorates all the privileges given to Mary by God and all the graces we have received through her intercession and mediation. 20th September The faith in Korea started and had to depend for its development on lay leadership until some French missionaries arrived in secret in 1836. During the persecutions from 1839-1867 one hundred and three martyrs, mainly lay people and from all walks of life, witnessed to the faith. Andrew Kim was the first Korean priest, and Paul Chong was a lay apostle. They are remembered for their fearless witness in the face of torture and death. 23rd September Francesco Forgione was born to a southern Italian farm family, the son of Grazio, a shepherd. At age 15 he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars in Morcone, and joined the order at age of 19. Suffered several health problems, and at one point his family thought he had tuberculosis. He was ordained priest at the age of 22 on 10 August 1910. While praying before a cross, he received the stigmata on 20 September 1918, the first priest ever to be so blessed. As word spread, especially after American soldiers brought home stories of Padre Pio following the Second World War, the priest himself became a point of pilgrimage for both the pious and the curious. He would hear confessions by the hour, reportedly able to read the consciences of those who held back. Reportedly able to bi-locate, levitate, and heal by touch. Founded the House for the Relief of Suffering in 1956, a hospital that serves 60,000 a year. In the 1920s he started a series of prayer groups that continue today with over 400,000 members worldwide. Died 23 September 1968 of natural causes "The life and mission of Padre Pio prove that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted out of love, are transformed into a privileged way of holiness, which opens onto the horizons of a greater Door, known only to the Lord. The ultimate reason for the apostolic effectiveness of Padre Pio, the profound root of so much spiritual fruitfulness can be found in that intimate and constant union with God attested to by his long hours spent in prayer and in the confessional. He loved to repeat, 'I am a poor Franciscan who prays' convinced that "prayer is the best weapon we have, a key that opens the heart of God". This fundamental characteristic of his spirituality continues in the 'Prayer Groups' that he founded, which offer to the Church and to society the wonderful contribution of incessant and confident prayer." Pope John Paul II. During the period 1633-1637 sixteen martyrs, namely St Lawrence Ruiz and his companions, shed their blood for Christ in the city of Nagasaki, Japan. This group of martyrs, members or associates of the Order of Preachers, includes nine priests, two religious, and five lay people, one of whom is the Filipino husband and father, Lawrence Ruiz. They spread the Christian faith in the Philippine Islands, Formosa, and Japan, sowing abundant seeds for the future of Christianity. in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries many Christians suffered martyrdom in Vietnam. On 19th June 1988 Pope John Paul II canonized 117 of these : 96 native Vietnamese men and women, 11 Dominican missionaries from Spain and 10 French missionaries. |
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