April 18th - BLESSED JAMES OLDO By: Alwin Kanappily

When Blessed James Oldo was young, his father passed away, leaving him a legacy that allowed him to grow up a rich and self-indulgent youth. The death of a friend brought his mortality to James’ attention, maturing him slightly. Then one day, a traveling reproduction of the Holy Sepulcher came to his home town of Lodi, Italy. As a joke, James laid down on it and began comparing his height to Christ’s. While laying there, he had an almost instantaneous conversion to experience. He became a Franciscan tertiary. His mother and wife were against his conversion until his mother had a vision of being before the judgement seat of God. Both woman then became Franciscan tertiary and converted their mansion into a center of prayer. They spent their later years taking care of the sick and the prisoners from the Civil War that devastated Lodi. Upon his wife’s death, James became a priest in 1397. His acts of penance were so severe that the bishop had to order him to eat at least three times a week. He moved many to enter into religious life and was had the gift of prophecy; he predicted wars and his own death.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Pray for us that we will find the straight path to heaven and remain loyal to Jesus Christ’s teachings throughout our life. Amen