June 19 Venerable Matt Talbot

Venerable Matt Talbot

1856-1925

June 19                                                       

Matt can be considered the patron saint of those struggling with alcoholism.

            Matt was born in Dublin, where his father worked on the docks and had a difficult time supporting his family. After a few years of schooling, Matt obtained work as a messenger for some liquor merchants; there he began to drink excessively. For 15 years—until he was 30—Matt was a very active alcoholic.

            One day he decided to take “the pledge” for three months, make a general confession and begin to attend daily Mass. There is evidence that Matt’s first seven years after taking the pledge were especially difficult. Avoiding his former drinking places was very hard. He began to pray as intensely as he used to drink. He also tried very hard to pay back people from whom he had borrowed or stolen money while he was drinking.

            Most of his life Matt worked as a builder’s laborer. He joined the Secular Franciscan Order and began a life of strict penance; he abstained from meat nine months a year. Matt spent hours every night avidly reading Scripture and the lives of the saints. He prayed the rosary conscientiously. Though his job did not make him rich, Matt contributed generously to the missions.

            After 1923 his health failed and Matt was forced to quit work. He died on his way to church on Trinity Sunday. Fifty years later Pope Paul VI gave him the title “Venerable.”

 QUOTE: On an otherwise blank page in one of Matt’s books, the following is written: “God console thee and make thee a saint. To arrive at the perfection of humility, four things are necessary: to despise the world, to despise no one, to despise self, to despise being despised by others.”

COMMENT: In looking at the life of Matt Talbot, we may easily focus on the later years when he had stopped drinking for some time and was leading a very penitential life. Only alcoholic men and women who have stopped drinking can fully appreciate how difficult the earliest years of sobriety were for Matt.

            He had to take one day at a time. So do the rest of us.

 

by McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

April 3 or 4 St. Benedict the Black

St. Benedict the Black

1526-1589

April 3 or 4

Benedict held important posts in the Order and gracefully adjusted to other work when his terms of office were up.

            His parents were slaves brought from Africa to Messina, Sicily. Freed at 18, Benedict did farm work for a wage and soon saved enough to buy a pair of oxen. He was very proud of those animals. In time he joined a group of hermits around Palermo and was eventually recognized as their leader. Because these hermits followed the Rule of St. Francis, Pope Pius IV ordered them to join the First Order.

            Benedict was eventually novice master and then guardian of the friars in Palermo—positions rarely held in those days by a brother. In fact, Benedict was forced to accept his election as guardian. And when his term ended he happily returned to his work in the friary kitchen.

            Benedict corrected the friars with humility and charity. Once he corrected a novice and assigned him a penance only to learn that the novice was not the guilty party. Benedict immediately knelt down before the novice and asked his pardon.

            In later life Benedict was not possessive of the few things he used. He never referred to them as “mine” but always called them “ours.” His gifts for prayer and the guidance of souls earned him throughout Sicily a reputation for holiness. Following the example of St. Francis, Benedict kept seven 40-day fasts throughout the year; he also slept only a few hours each night.

            After Benedict’s death, King Philip III of Spain paid for a special tomb for this holy friar. Canonized in 1807, he is honored as the patron of Blacks in North America.

QUOTE: “I did ‘not come to be served but to serve’ (Mt 20:28), our Lord tells us. Those who are put in charge of others should be no prouder of their office than if they had been appointed to wash the feet of their confreres. They should be no more upset at the loss of their authority than they would be if they were deprived of the task of washing feet” (Admonition IV).

COMMENT: Among Franciscans a position of leadership is limited in time. When the time expires, former leaders sometimes have trouble adjusting to their new positions. The Church needs men and women ready to put their best energies into leadership—but men and women who are gracefully willing to go on to other work when their time of leadership is over.

McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

NOTE: The surname "the Moor" as he is sometimes called, is a misnomer originating from the Italian “il moro” (the black). 

Sacred and Immaculate Hearts

 Sacred and Immaculate Hearts-Jesus and Mother Mary

Although not explicitly Franciscan in origin, the contemporary devotion to the Twin Hearts on the Friday and Saturday following the Solemn Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is deeply Scriptural and resonates within Franciscan spirituality. In his encyclical Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis points out the theological contributions of Saint Bonaventure in paragraphs 106-108. He writes that Bonaventure “presents the heart of Christ as a source of the sacraments and of grace and urges that our contemplation of that heart become a relationship between friends, a personal encounter of love.”

In paragraph 110 when writing about feminine encounter with Christ, Pope Francis includes the Franciscan Saint Angela of Foligno (3^rd order). “A number of holy women, in recounting their experiences of encounter with Christ, have spoken of resting in the heart of the Lord as the source of life and interior peace.” In paragraph 177 he quotes Saint Bernard, “in exhorting us to union with the heart of Christ, draws upon the richness of this devotion to call for a conversion grounded in love.”

This year the optional Saturday memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) falls on June 13^th, which is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. It thus bumps St. Anthony into an optional status as well, as two extremely popular devotional saints vie for attention, so to speak. Just an example of how several devotional items or issues can “stack up” on any particular day. That is especially true of Saturdays, which are traditionally devoted to BVM. Or when the Sunday celebration “overtakes” the date of a saint. Whatever choices are made, our eyes ultimately (should) land on Jesus, the source of all holiness and grace. Or as I saw it put into a slogan: "Two Saints. One Mission. Lead Souls to Jesus."

June 13 St. Anthony of Padua--CA Mission

Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)

Anthony was another would-be Franciscan missionary whom God called to other work.

His parents, Martin and Maria Bulhom, baptized him Fernando. In 1210 he joined the Canons of St. Augustine in Lisbon. This monastery, however, was too close to Fernando’s worldly friends and to the kings quarrels with the Church. Two years later Fernando was allowed to transfer to the monastery at Coimbra, a city 100 miles north of Lisbon. There he studied Scripture and prepared for ordination.

After the bones of the first Franciscan martyrs in Morocco (January 16) were brought to Coimbra in 1220, Fernando told the friars begging at the monastery door, “Dearest brothers, gladly will I take the habit of your order if you will promise that as soon as I do so you will send me to the land of the Saracens, there to reap the same reward as your holy martyrs and gain a share in their glory.”

The friars’ place in Coimbra was dedicated to St. Anthony the Egyptian hermit, and so Fernando took that name. A year later he went to Morocco, but poor health forced him back.

His boat was sidetracked to Sicily where he joined the friars going to the 1221 Pentecost Chapter in Assisi. There Anthony saw St. Francis and was assigned to the northern province where he served at the hermitage in Monto Paolo near Bologna.

In the summer of 1222 Anthony attended the ordination of several friars. At the dinner afterwards the superior asked one of the friars to preach. All the Dominicans and Franciscans present declined except for Anthony. He amazed the friars with a marvelous sermon on Christ’s obedience, even to death on a cross. A hidden talent was revealed!

Anthony soon received permission to preach throughout northern Italy, where heretics had recently won many followers. The Church’s wealth was causing a bitter controversy, and the poor and simple lives of wandering dissident preachers contrasted sharply with the lives of many priests and bishops. Anthony won converts by his sermons and by his simple way of living.

Soon Anthony received another job: teaching theology to the friars in Bologna. His previous studies in Coimbra served him well at this time. Anthony the teacher always heeded the command St. Francis addressed to him that this study of theology must not destroy the spirit of holy prayer and devotion. Indeed, Anthony’s students learned Scripture from a man as holy as he was learned.

In 1224 Anthony was sent to southern France, where the Albigensians had made many converts, to preach the gospel. There he earned the nickname “Hammer of Heretics.” In fact, Anthony won over the dissidents as much by his holiness and great charity as by his learning.

In 1227 Anthony returned to northern Italy where he was made provincial of the friars in that area. He continued his popular preaching. Only in 1228 did Anthony come to Padua where he immediately won over the people. Thousands listened to his Lenten series in 1231. Under the influence of his preaching the city of Padua afterwards passed a law against the then commonly accepted practice of imprisoning debtors until they paid off the complete debt.

In the spring of 1231, at age 36, Anthony withdrew with his companions Brother Luke and Brother Roger to the friary at Camposampiero where he had a sort of treehouse built as a hermitage. There he prayed and prepared himself for death.

On June 13, 1231, he became very ill and asked to be taken back to Padua. At the friary in Arcella, on the way, Anthony received the last sacraments. Shortly before he died, he called out, “I see my Lord.”

Anthony was canonized less than a year after his death and was named a Doctor of the Church in 1946.

QUOTE: “When a crystal is touched or struck by the rays of the sun, it gives forth brilliant sparks of light. When a person of faith is touched by the light of God’s grace, they too must give forth sparks of light in good words and deeds and so bring God’s light to others” (St. Anthony, Sermon #274).

COMMENT: Anthony placed his preaching and writing talents at the service of the Church, and he brought great results. A great deal of his success is attributable to the holiness of his life. In our world of constant imitation, it is often difficult to find “the real thing.” People who met Anthony of Padua knew they had seen and heard “the real thing.” 

by McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

 

But why is the most common depiction of St. Anthony with the child Jesus in his arms or even with the child standing on a book the saint holds?

When Anthony was a guest in the house of the Lord of Chateauneuf in France, he prayed far into the night when suddenly the room was filled with light more brilliant than the sun. Jesus appeared to St. Anthony under the form of a little child. The master of the house, attracted by the bright light that emanated from the room, was drawn to witness the vision but promised to tell no one about it right away. He waited until after Anthony’s death to talk of the vision.

Some see a similarity and connection between Anthony’s experience and that of St. Francis when he reenacted Jesus’ nativity in the creche at Greccio. It is said that the Christ Child became alive in Francis’ arms. There are other accounts of an appearance of the child Jesus to Francis and some of the other friars, as well. These speak of a fascination with the humility and vulnerability of Christ who emptied himself in the Incarnation to become one like us in all things except sin. 

June 10, 1926-2026 Gaudi centennial

 In Barcelona, Spain, 100 years ago on June 10, 1926, Venerable Antoni Gaudi died from injuries he sustained from being hit by a tram. He was 73 years old, just shy of his 74^th birthday on June 25th. He had been to St. Philip Neri Church for confession and daily Mass and was walking back to work at the Sagrada Familia. The accident knocked him unconscious and he was taken to the old Santa Creu Hospital. Because of his disheveled look and tattered clothes, he was taken for a beggar. For the past several years he had been basically living at the Sagrada Familia, so dedicated as he was to the building of this “Cathedral of the Poor,” as it was commonly known. After a funeral that was attended by thousands, he is buried in the crypt level of the Basilica.

Widely known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernisme, he is nicknamed “God’s Architect” and his cause for canonization as a saint is underway. In April 2025 he was proclaimed “Venerable” by Pope Francis. Gaudi’s namesake patron saint is St. Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13^th. 

St. Clare and the Eucharist-Corpus Christi

Saint Clare and the Eucharist

You will find depictions of St. Clare holding a monstrance aloft. As we celebrate this weekend the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (known as Corpus Christi in Latin), I thought it most appropriate to relate the story:

In 1240 Saracen (Arab or Muslim) mercenaries attacked the Italian countryside and approached the town of Assisi containing the church and convent of San Damiano, where the Franciscan women lived. This army was actually sent by Roman Emperor Frederick II, who was at war with Pope Innocent IV and the Papal States! Although gravely ill, St. Clare instructed the sisters to bring her the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. She prostrated herself before it and according to biographer Thomas Celano, OFM, she prays, “Behold, my Lord, is it possible you want to deliver into the hands of pagans your defenseless handmaids, whom I have taught out of love for you? I pray you, Lord, protect these your handmaids whom I cannot now save by myself.”  Suddenly she and the sisters hear a clearly audible voice: “I will always protect you!” Then Clare went to the doorway of the convent and held the Eucharist high in the direction of the advancing attackers. According to contemporary historical accounts, the invading soldiers were instantly struck with awe and stopped in their tracks. The presence of the eucharistic Christ had a profound effect on them, striking terror in their hearts and causing them to flee without harming the nuns or the town.

The women of the Second Order Franciscans or Poor Clares are very devoted to eucharistic adoration.  The occasion of this miraculous intervention was etched so vividly in their memories that the Poor Clares have celebrated it ever since as “Covenant Day” (June 22), recalling the promise God proclaimed that day, that they would always be protected. It’s easy to dismiss this story as a legend, but Clare’s biographers, like Celano who knew her personally, recorded it as fact. Pope Alexander IV later confirmed her sanctity and cited this miracle as one of many signs of her deep holiness. Eucharistic devotion was very important to Saint Francis and from him, St. Clare and her sisters learned to hold a deep devotion to Christ in the Eucharist.

So, what is the lesson in Franciscan spirituality we can take from this story? As one Franciscan website teaches, it is about putting eucharistic faith into action! Here are three ways to follow Clare’s example today:

1. Believe it like she did.

If you struggle with belief in the Real Presence, ask for the grace to believe. Start reading church teaching on the Eucharist. Ask questions. Pray in adoration, even if it feels dry.

2. Protect your home with prayer.

Clare’s convent was her spiritual home. She covered it with prayer. You can do the same in your home—daily prayer, blessings, family Rosary and Scripture reading create a spiritual shield.

3. Spend time with Christ in the Eucharist.

Find eucharistic adoration near you. Set a regular time to go. Even if it’s 15 minutes a week, be consistent. Bring your fears, your family and your needs to God. Eucharist is not a mere symbol—Christ is your King and Protector and Defense Against Evil.

San Juan Capistrano -CA Mission

 

St. John of Capistrano/San Juan Capistrano

1368-1456

October 23

John’s period in history didn’t lack excitement. The Great Western Schism, the Hundred Years’ War and the fall of Constantinople all occurred in his lifetime.

            John studied law at the University of Perugia and became a lawyer in Naples. Appointed governor of Perugia before he was 30, John brought peace and justice to that region. As governor he was once thrown into prison during a civil war. There he reexamined his life and decided to become a Franciscan, which he did in 1416.

            He and James of the March (November 28) studied theology under Bernardine of Siena (May 20). After his ordination in 1425, he began a very successful preaching career in Italy. Large crowds heard him praise the beauty of God’s ways and expose the ugliness of sin. So great was John’s impact that cities petitioned the pope to send John to them. His nickname, “The Apostle of Europe,” was well deserved.

            Pope Eugene IV was especially grateful for John’s wise advice. When the schismatic Council of Basel elected an anti-pope, John worked vigorously against popular support for that choice. The Church sent John to northern Italy to counter heretical groups there and he went to Bohemia to reconcile the Hussites.

            John was a very significant influence within the Order. Because of his preaching many young men joined the friars. By 1443 he held the highest post among the Observant friars in Italy. John declined the bishopric of Aquila and later of Rieti.

            At the direction of Pope Callistus III, John preached a crusade to save western Europe from the Turks, who were advancing from recently-conquered (1453) Constantinople, last outpost of the decimated Byzantine Empire.  The Christians won a decisive victory at Belgrade in 1456. Worn out from that crusade, John died in Hungary on October 23, 1456. He was canonized in 1690.

QUOTE: John‘s tomb in Villach, Hungary, bears this inscription: “This tomb holds John, by birth of Capistrano, a man worthy of all praise, defender and promoter of the faith, guardian of the Church, zealous protector of his Order, an ornament to all the world, lover of truth and justice, mirror of life, surest guide in doctrine; praised by countless tongues, he reigns blessed in heaven.”

COMMENT: In John of Capistrano, Jesus found a very energetic man. No hardship was too great, no self-sacrifice was too costly if John could show more people the wisdom of God’s ways and the folly of sin. John used his talents tirelessly for the spread of the gospel. Perhaps his example can help us to find energy we have not previously tapped.

from McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

May 30 Saint Ferdinand/San Fernando Rey -CA Mission

 Saint Ferdinand III, King of Castile and Galicia-Leon (Spain)

An outline of his life and accomplishments:

1199 Born at the monastery of Valparaíso near Salamanca

Parents: King Alfonso IX of Leon and Berengaria, daughter of King Alfonso III of Castile/granddaughter of Henry II of England/sister of Blanche the mother of Louis:

St. Louis, King of France, was his first cousin

1217 Became King of Castile at age eighteen

1219 Married Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen, known as Beatrice, daughter of King Philip of Swabia, Germany; Had eight children: seven princes and one princess. (Two additional girls died in infancy.)

1221 Began construction of the Cathedral of Burgos.

1225 For twenty-seven years he crusaded against the Saracen Moors in Spain. He refused to burden his people with an exorbitant war tax, saying: “God will not fail me, and I fear more the curse of one poor old woman than the whole army of the Moors.”  His sword was named Lobera

1230 Became King of Galicia-Leon, upon the death of his father

1233 Captured the town of Ubeda.

1236 Took back Cordoba from the Moors

1237 Married Joan of Ponthieu after the death of Beatrice. Became Count of Aumale and later, Count of Ponthieu.

Daughter Eleanor married King Edward I of England

1243 Founded the University of Salamanca

1249 Drove the Moors from Seville

Re-conquered all of Andalusia, except for Granada.

Austere in his piety, he was devoted to penance and religious exercises (like wearing a hairshirt) and joined the Third Order Franciscans.

1252 Died on May 30^th, at age fifty-three and was buried in the Seville cathedral in the habit of a friar minor (OFM).

His eldest son Alfonso X succeeded him on the throne.

1671 Canonized a saint

 A man of great faith and devotion, especially to Our Lady, Ferdinand founded and funded hospitals, bishoprics, monasteries, and churches. He reformed Spanish law and compiled it into a form used for centuries after. An excellent administrator and just ruler, often pardoning those who worked against the crown. Strove always to use his power to better his people and his nation.

St. Joan of Arc was also Third Order Franciscan!

Mission Saints Tribute at Incarnation Church

I stumbled upon this bit of mission iconography at Incarnation Church in Glendale the other day. Right there on the front of the church, facing Brand Blvd. Most parishioners probably enter through the side doors, especially coming off the parking lot or the side street and might not be familiar with these two sculptured figures. I do not usually use the front doors, but I took another look at them when walking by, and the crowned individual especially caught my attention.

In the other figure, I could easily recognize Gabriel and his horn, despite there not being any wings. Certain songs came to mind, such as the African spiritual “Blow Your Trumpet, Gabriel” or “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” from Cole Porter’s Anything Goes.  Dressed in a long robe, he also holds a small book, marked with a Marian monogram of SRM-Salve Regina, signifying he is the messenger in the Annunciation.

As a part of the story of the Incarnation, it is very appropriate to be represented on a church so connected with the Annunciation. After all, the stained-glass window above them on this wall of the church depicts the Annunciation to Mary. As an Archangel, one would assume that he is with Michael. That Archangel usually holds a sword and perhaps a shield and is known as the Prince of the Heavenly Host. However, consider the iconography of Michael: his Sword is usually drawn or up-raised, his shield typically contains a cross, and although he is known as a prince, he might be shown with a small diadem or simple headband (not a full kingly crown!).

Instead, this is King Ferdinand of Spain! The two local California missions are San Fernando Rey and San Gabriel Arcangel! Ferdinand’s sword is shown behind a shield, with three fleurs-de-lis on it, associated with royalty. A more peaceful stance while still signifying he was a warrior. He wears a full crown and headdress. This parish church in Glendale sits somewhat equidistantly between the two original mission churches of this area, and the choice of sculpted figures depicts that history. They pay tribute to the missionary origins of the Catholic faith in California. 

 

May 24/25 Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

While we are talking of church buildings, of note to our ongoing exploration of Franciscan spirituality is the church in Assisi, Italy, that holds the tomb of Francis. It is a multi-level structure with the lower church built over the tomb and an upper church. A third crypt level was added to access Francis’s tomb.  A 5.5 magnitude earthquake and a brutal aftershock tore holes in the ceiling of Assisi's Basilica of St. Francis in 1997, requiring major restoration work.

28 episodes from the life of Francis are illustrated by Giotto and his school in a series of frescoes that adorn the Upper Church. Numerous other works of art can be found throughout this sacred space, and the accompanying museum contains several relics and artifacts from the life of Francis and the development of the Franciscan Orders. 

May 25 & 26 and Marian May with a double apparition!

The emphasis is on Pentecost this weekend, which most years (though not always), falls within the month of May. The Marian aspect of this celebration is evident in the days surrounding the celebration. On the Saturday prior, Our Lady of the Cenacle is remembered. And on the Monday following, according to Pope Francis' direction, Mary is honored under the title of Mother of the Church, something very much promoted with the Second Vatican Council. The date of May 24th is traditionally celebrated as Mary, Help of Christians, an ancient title first described by John Chrysostom in AD 345. This devotion was particularly promoted by Don Bosco and the Salesians. 

And on May 26th is a dual veneration in Italy: Our Lady of Piné, Madonna of Montagnaga is a little-known but authenticated apparition of Mary that occurred between 1729 and 1730. It is related to the apparition of Our Lady of the Fountain in Caravaggio from May 26, 1432, referring to the village, not the artist, but this is the town where the artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio grew up.  A painting of the 1432 appearance is at the center of the story of Mary's reappearance to another young woman 297 years later in Montagnaga. This is yet another significant Marian date in May. Here is some clarity between these two occurrences:

The first apparition was reported by Giovanetta, daughter of Pietro Vaccli and wife of Francesco Varoli. She said that on 26 May 1432, Mary appeared in a field in Caravaggio, in Northern Italy, in the region of Milan. The Virgin Mary announced peace to Giovanetta in her family, among the neighboring warring states, and reconciliation between the Church in the East and West, through the Council of Florence (1436—1445). As proof of her Marian apparition, the Virgin left the imprint of her feet on the stone where she stood. A spring of water sprang forth from under the stone, purported to be miraculous. 

The Virgin, dressed in white with a rosary in her hand, appeared on May 14, 1729, and four other times to shepherdess Domenica Targa. The third occasion was on September 8, 1729. A new and larger painting of the apparition of the Madonna to the visionary Giovanetta Varoli was prepared by Elena Zambaiti and installed in the church of St. Anne in Montagnaga. As people gathered for the dedication of this new altar, the Blessed Virgin herself appeared to the seer, along with  Saints Joachim & Anne and St. Joseph. Mary specifically blessed the picture and assured that this would be the place where she would welcome the prayers of her devotees.

May 20 San Bernardino

St. Bernardine of Siena/San Bernardino (1380-1444)

 

According to Pope Pius II, Bernardine was “a second Paul”!

            Bernardine came from a knightly family in Siena. His parents died before he was seven. After studying theology and canon law in Siena, he joined the Franciscans in 1402. He entered the group known as the Observants, the forerunners of today’s Friars Minor, and was eventually known, with John of Capistrano (Oct. 23), James of the March (Nov. 28) and Albert of Sarteano, as one of the “four pillars of the Observance.”

            Bernardine was the greatest preacher of his day; sometimes 30,000 people came to hear him. In his time many Italian city-states were torn by rival factions, each with its own party emblem. Looking for a way of inviting them to move beyond these factions, Bernardine preached on the Holy Name of Jesus, the name before which

           "every knee must bend.... and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father:            JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!" (Phil 2:10-11)

            Bernardine had banners made with the emblem YHS or IHS (abbreviation of the Greek word for Jesus). He organized processions behind these to symbolize the surpassing of old allegiances. Some complained that this was superstitious and had Bernardine brought before Church authorities to explain himself; he was vindicated.

            In 1418 the Duke of Milan was so impressed with Bernardine’s Lenten sermons that he sent a messenger with some money for the friar. Bernardine refused to accept it, but led the messenger to the local prison and had him pay the debts of several people there.

            Most often Bernardine preached against luxury and extravagance. Several times his sermons concluded with a bonfire, “the Devil’s Castle,” into which people were invited to throw dice, playing cards, wigs, perfume, high-heeled shoes, etc. Bernardine also vigorously denounced usury, the charging of excessive interest on loans.

            Bernardine encouraged learning among the Franciscans as a preparation for preaching; he worked tirelessly for reform among the friars. Bernardine three times declined the offer to be made a bishop. He was canonized six years after his death.

QUOTE: “The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining splendor of that name causes his word to be proclaimed and heard. And how do you think such an immense, sudden and dazzling light of faith came into the world, if not because Jesus was preached? Was it not through the brilliance and sweet savor of this name that ‘God called us into the marvelous light’ (I Peter 2:9)?” (St. Bernardine, Sermon #49)

COMMENT: By promoting devotion to the Holy Name, Bernardine hoped to draw many Italians out of the political factionalism which was destroying their cities. He also hoped they would live up to the name by which they were saved and would, in the words of St. Paul, “live worthy of your calling” (Eph 4:1). The question of allegiances is an open one until each person’s death.

by McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

May 18 two Franciscan friars

St. Paschal Baylon (1540-1592)

May 17

In Pascal’s lifetime the Spanish empire in the New World was at the height of its power, though France and England were soon to reduce its influence.  The 16^th century has been called the Golden Age of the Church in Spain, for it gave birth to Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Peter Alcantara (October 22), Francis Solano (July 14), and Salvator of Horta (March 18).

            Paschal’s Spanish parents were poor but pious. Between the ages of seven and 24, he worked as a shepherd and began a life of mortification. He was able to pray on the job and was especially attentive to the church bell which rang at the Elevation during Mass. Paschal had a very honest streak in him. He once offered to pay owners of crops for any damage his animals caused!

            In 1564 Paschal joined the Friars Minor and gave himself wholeheartedly to a life of penance. Though he was urged to study for the priesthood, he choose to be a brother. At various times he served as porter, cook, gardener, and official beggar.

            Paschal was very careful to observe the vow of poverty. He would never waste any food or anything given for the use of the friars. When he was porter and took care of the poor coming to the door, he developed a reputation for great generosity. The friars sometimes tried to moderate his liberality!

            Paschal spent his spare moments praying before the Blessed Sacrament. In time many people sought his wise counsel. Many people flocked to his tomb immediately after his burial; miracles were reported promptly.

            In 1690 Paschal was canonized, in 1897 named patron of Eucharistic congresses and societies.

QUOTE: “Meditate well on this: Seek God above all things. It is right for you to seek God before and above everything else, because the majesty of God wishes you to receive what you ask for. This will also make you more ready to serve God and will enable you to love God more perfectly.” (St. Paschal)

COMMENT: Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament occupied much of St. Francis’ energy. Most of his letters were to promote devotion to the Eucharist. Paschal shared that concern.

            An hour in prayer before our Lord in the Eucharist could teach all of us a great deal. Some very holy and busy Catholics today are able to find that time, and their work is enriched by those minutes spent in prayer and meditation.

St. Felix of Cantalice (1515-1587)

May 18

Felix was the first Capuchin ever canonized. In fact, when he was born, the Capuchins didn’t yet exist as a distinct group within the Franciscans.

            Born of humble but God-fearing parents in the Rieti Valley, Felix worked as a farmhand and a shepherd until he was 28. He developed the habit of praying while he worked. In 1543 he joined the Capuchins. When the guardian explained the hardships of the way of life, Felix answered: “Father, the austerity of your Order does not frighten me. I hope, with God’s help, to overcome all the difficulties which will arise from my own weakness.”

            Three years later Felix was assigned to the friary in Rome as its official beggar. Because he was a model of simplicity and charity, he edified many people during the 42 years he performed that service for his confreres.

            As he made his rounds, he worked to convert hardened sinners and to feed the poor as did his good friend, St. Philip Neri, who founded the Oratory, a community of priests serving the poor of Rome. When Felix wasn’t talking on his rounds, he was praying the rosary. The people named him “Brother Deo Gratias” (thanks be to God) because he was always using that blessing.

            When Felix was an old man, his superior had to order him to wear sandals to protect his health.       Around the same time a certain cardinal offered to suggest to Felix’s superiors that he be freed of begging so that he could devote more time to prayer. Felix talked the cardinal out of that idea. Felix was canonized in 1712.

QUOTE: “Let us refer all good to the Lord God, most high and supreme, and let us recognize everything good as belonging to God, and thank God for everything from whom all blessings come. May the most high and sovereign Lord have and be given all praise and blessing, all thanks and glory. To him who alone is good belongs whatever is good. When we see or hear any evil, when we hear a blasphemy uttered, let us bless, honor, and praise the Lord who is blessed forever. Amen.” (St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chp. 7)

COMMENT: Grateful people make good beggars. Francis told his friars that if they gave the world a good example, the world would support them.  Felix’s life proves the truth of that advice. In referring all blessings back to their source in God, Feliz encouraged people to works of charity for the friars and for others.

Both of these saints' biographies are from:

McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

What is a Franciscan Friar?

The Franciscans are referred to as “friars,” from the Latin frater, meaning “brother.” Franciscans are essentially an order of brothers striving to live the Gospel with the same simplicity and fervor as their founder, St. Francis of Assisi. After growing up in a wealthy family and then experiencing a powerful conversion at the age of 25, Francis donned the clothes of a penitent and began to live a very poor lifestyle, dedicating himself to prayer and service of the poor. Before long, inspired by his fervent lifestyle, men began to join Francis and to imitate his way of life. This gave rise to the birth of the Franciscan Order in 1223.

What is a Capuchin Franciscan?

In the 16th century, a group of Franciscans were inspired to live the Franciscan lifestyle in a more radical manner, returning to the original emphasis on prayer and poverty. These men broke away from the Franciscans and began a reform movement which stressed the priority of contemplative prayer and a more rigorous austerity. Wearing habits with large hoods, they soon garnered the name cappucio, the Italian word for “hood.” The Capuchins received approval of their way of life and were recognized as an official, independent branch of the Franciscans in 1525 in the papal bull Religionis Zellus.

The Capuchins Today

Today there are seven regional jurisdictions of Capuchins in the United States. Usually found in the poorer sections of towns and cities, the Capuchins have a special charism for working among the common people and taking those assignments which others refuse. Capuchins can be found working in soup kitchens and homeless shelters, serving as hospital chaplains or prison ministers, confessors, and spiritual directors. Capuchins can also be found in some of the city’s poorest parishes.

The Capuchins build their life and ministry on two essential foundations: prayer and fraternity. The priority of prayer and the contemplative life is at the heart of the Capuchin charism. Personal and community prayer nourishes the brothers’ relationship with God and one another and enables them to give fully of themselves to everyone they meet. The Capuchin tradition has placed great emphasis on Eucharistic devotion and veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Along with prayer, fraternity is of great importance to the Capuchin charism. A Capuchin is first and foremost a brother among brothers. This fraternal life is founded upon the Gospel in which, after washing the disciples’ feet, the Lord exhorts his followers to do the same for others. This witness to fraternity is crucial in an increasingly isolated and alienated world.

retrieved from https://www.capuchins.org/who-are-we

 

May 15 Saints Isidore & Maria and St. Dymphna

Saints Isidore and Maria

Isidore and Maria were not Franciscan, but as the patron saints of farmers and day laborers in the fields, their feast day is a benchmark in creation-centered spirituality. You will see the connections as you read on.  We remember them together as a married couple on the day of Isidore’s death in 1130. Maria died Sept. 9, 1175. After Isidore's death, Maria became a hermit. She is known in Spain as Santa Maria de la Cabeza (St. Mary of the Head) because her head is contained in a reliquary. Her intercession has often brought rain to dry countrysides when there was drought.

Isidore is named after Isidore of Seville, the saintly archbishop and theologian who died in 636. He is the patron of Madrid and of the United States National Rural Life Conference. A story told about St. Isidore is that “he often came later to work in the fields than other laborers because he would first attend Mass in the morning. Yet his work never suffered and he always met the chores required of him. It was said two angels, one on either side of Isidore, appeared and joined their pious companion in plowing the fields.”

Another story about Isidore found online is that “he is also known for a love of animals. During one winter, he was carrying a sack of corn to the mill to be ground to flour. Noticing all the hungry birds around him, he opened the sack and poured half of it on the ground for them. He was ridiculed for the waste, but when he reached the mill, the sack produced double the normal amount of flour.”

He married Maria Torribia and they lived and worked in Torrelaguna, near Madrid in Spain. After their only son died, they committed themselves to sexual abstinence as a form of devotion. The story is told online that “St. Maria always kept a pot of stew on the fireplace in their humble rural dwelling. She knew that her husband Isidore would often bring home anyone who was hungry. One day he brought home more hungry people than usual. After she served many of them, Maria told him that there simply was no more stew in the pot. He insisted that she check the pot again, and she was able to spoon out enough stew to feed them all.”

Isidore and Maria show the beautiful complementarity of spouses. Isidore worked the fields, evangelizing with his actions, while Maria prepared to continue serving God’s people from the home. Without Isidore there would be no one to feed, but without Maria there would be no food to give.

Saint Isidore the Farmer’s life challenges contemporary compartmentalization of work and spirituality, showing that work can be a channel for grace, regardless of its nature. Isidore was canonized in 1622 and Maria was canonized in 1697, over 500 years after their deaths. St. Isidore’s incorrupt body can be found in the Cathedral of Madrid, interred alongside relics of Maria.

St. Isidore the Farmer, you and your wife Maria led a simple life of great faith that produced wonders—pray for us! 

Saint Dymphna

The other saint traditionally commemorated on May 15^th is a young Irish girl who consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity. Soon afterward, her mother died and her father Damon- who had loved his wife deeply - began to suffer a rapid deterioration of his mental stability. He was a minor regional ruler who began to desire his daughter because of her strong resemblance to her deceased mother. Dymphna resisted the advances of her father and fled with her confessor, a priest named Gerebran, two trusted servants, and the king's fool. The group sailed toward what is now Belgium and hid in the town of Geel. Damon pursued them, and Dymphna was beheaded by her father on the 30^th of May, circa 650, although the year of her death in the 7^th century is uncertain.  She was said to have been 15 years old when she died.

This virgin martyr is revered for her compassion, fleeing her mentally unstable father to care for the sick in Belgium, where she was eventually killed, making her a symbol of purity and a protector for those with mental health struggles. Dymphna is the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness, anxiety, depression, stress, and nervous disorders. She is also patroness of mental health professionals, incest victims, and the motherless. There has been a contemporary revival of devotion to this saint. Whether we remember her on the 15^th or the 30^th of the month, it is providential that May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

For even more on her story and the connection to the care of those with mental illness, I recommend this US Catholic article: https://uscatholic.org/articles/202005/remembering-st-dymphna-in-a-world-gone-mad/

 

May 13 and the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM)

May 13

Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

Today we have another celebration of the BVM that “flavors” the month of May with Marian devotion: the appearance of Mary at Fatima, Portugal. There, she identified herself as Our Lady of the Rosary, but another title has also come to be associated with this day. Saint Peter Julian Eymard coined the title “Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament” in 1868. He founded his Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Paris on May 13, 1856, thus the connection to the day. His prayer:

Virgin Immaculate, perfect lover of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we ask you to obtain for us the graces we need to become true adorers of our Eucharistic God.  Grant us, we beg of you, to know Jesus better, to love God more, and to center our lives around the Eucharist; that is, to make our whole life a constant prayer of adoration, thanksgiving, reparation, and petition to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  Amen.

V. Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

R. That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

A prayer I composed to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
to be said during Eucharistic Adoration:

Contemplating this Great Mystery of Love

we look with awe and reverence upon Jesus,

the Bread of Life and Child of the Virgin Mary.

To you, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, we give thanks

for the role you play and the work

that you continue to do in the mystery of salvation.

This presence of the One who is flesh of your flesh

is the gift of God made human through your cooperation.

How wonderful this miracle!

How merciful and gracious is our God!

Join with us in our prayer and praise, O Blessed Lady.

(by Deacon Jim Cummings)

San Diego/Didacus of Alcala -CA Mission

 

St. Didacus of Alcala/San Diego

1400-1463

November 7 (died Nov. 13)

Didacus is living proof that “God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; God singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong.” (1 Cor 1:27)

As a young man in Spain, Didacus joined the Secular Franciscan Order and lived for some time as a hermit. After Didacus became a Franciscan brother, he developed a reputation for great insight into God’s ways. His penances were heroic. Didacus was so generous with the poor that the friars sometimes grew uneasy about his charity.

Didacus volunteered for the missions in the Canary Islands and labored there energetically and profitably. He was also the superior of a friary there.

In 1450 he was sent to Rome to attend the canonization of St. Bernardine of Siena (May 20). When many friars gathered for that celebration fell sick, Didacus stayed in Rome for three months to nurse them. After he returned to Spain, he pursued a life of contemplation full-time. He showed the friars the wisdom of God’s ways.

As he was dying, Didacus looked at a crucifix and said, “O faithful wood, O precious nails! You have borne an exceedingly sweet burden, for you have been judged worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven.”

Didacus is the patron of Franciscan brothers. San Diego, California, is named for this Franciscan who was canonized in 1588.

QUOTE: “He was born in Spain with no outstanding reputation for learning, but like our first teachers and leaders unlettered as men count wisdom, an unschooled person, a humble lay brother in religious life. [God chose Didacus] to show in him the abundant riches of God’s grace to lead many on the way of salvation by the holiness of his life and by his example and to prove over and over to a weary old world almost decrepit with age that God’s folly is wiser than humans, and God’s weakness is more powerful than men.”  (Bull of Canonization)

COMMENT: We cannot be neutral about genuinely holy people. We either admire them or we consider them very foolish. Didacus is a saint because he used his life to serve God and God’s people. Can we say the same for ourselves?

McCloskey, Patrick. Franciscan Saint of the Day. St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1981.

BEGINNING THIS WEEK WE INCLUDE WITHIN OUR EXPLORATION OF FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY, THE PRESENCE OF THE 21 CALIFORNIA MISSIONS AND THEIR PATRON SAINTS. THE FIRST ONE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS ALTA OR UPPER CALIFORNIA WAS SAN DIEGO. THE EXPLANATIONS OF THE MISSIONS THAT I WILL PROVIDE ARE FROM A 1960 PUBLICATION ENTITLED "CALIFORNIA MISSIONS PICTORIAL" (CLICK ON ANY PICTURES TO ENLARGE).