St.Julie Billiart was born in France in 1751. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful, Julie had to take up manual work as a young woman when her family experienced poverty. However, by the age of seven, she knew the catechism by heart, and used it to gather her companions around her to hear her recite it and to explain it to them. Witnessing an attempt to wound or even kill her father, Julie was paralyzed at the age of 30. For the next two decades, she continued to teach catechism lessons from her bed, offered spiritual advice, and attracted visitors who had heard of her holiness. During the French revolution, Julie was at risk because of her allegiance to fugitive priests. She was smuggled out her hometown and spent years on the move and in hiding. Later she met an another woman who shared her interest in teaching the faith. In 1803, the two women began the Institute of Notre Dame, which was dedicated to the education of the poor, young Christian girls, and the training of catechists. The following year Julie recovered from the illness: She was able to walk for the first time in 22 years. Julie died in Namur, Belgium in1816. She was canonized in 1969.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Saint Julie, through your great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, you were miraculously cured and favored by many graces. By your powerful intercession, obtain for us above all, a great trust in God in all difficulties in life, the strength to accomplish in all things the precious will of God, and special grace we now humbly ask for you. Amen
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Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint John Baptist de la Salle. He was born on April 30, 1651, in Reims, France and was the eldest of ten children. In 1678, John was ordained a priest and devoted himself to the education of the poor. In those days, only wealthy children could afford an education. However, a friend convinced John that he should establish schools for poor children in the area. He established many charity schools in Reims, including the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. In these schools, John devoted himself to teaching children about Christ and how to live their Christian faith in their daily lives. Additionally, he contributed significantly to the education field through his writings and new teaching methodology. Saint John Baptist de la Salle was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950 and is the patron of teachers.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER God, help us through the intercession of St. John Baptist de la Salle to live our Christian faith in our daily life. Help guide all the teachers to devote themselves to helping your children grow in their faith and devotion. Amen. Saint Crescentia Hoess is today’s commemorated saint. Saint Crescentia was born in 1682, in Kaufbeuren, Germany, a little town in the diocese of Augsburg. She was the daughter of a poor weaver. Saint Crescentia spent her time praying in the church and assisted people who were poorer than her. She mastered the truths of her religion and was permitted to take her first Holy Communion at the age of 7. She entered the convent of the Tertiaries of Saint Francis. She was considered a burden and assigned nothing other than menial tasks. Even her cheerful spirit was misinterpreted as flattery or hypocrisy. Her conditions improved four years later when a new superior was elected who realized her virtue. Crescentia was appointed mistress of novices. So she won the love and respect of the sisters that, upon the death of the superior, Crescentia was unanimously elected to that position. Under her, the financial state of the convent improved and her reputation in spiritual matters spread. She was soon being consulted by princes and princesses; bishops and cardinals too sought her advice. And yet, a true daughter of Francis, she remained ever humble. Bodily afflictions and pain were always with her. First, it was headaches and toothaches. Then she lost the ability to walk, her hands and feet gradually becoming so crippled that her body curled up into a fetal position. Despite her sufferings, she was filled with peace and joy as she died in 1744.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Grant, O God, that love and suffering may grow hand in hand in me, so that I may love you more and more with the cheerful disposition which is the fruit of love. O Lord, only grant me love for you, and I shall be rich enough. I desire only that you leave me to my nothingness and that you alone, if I may say so, be all in all and loved and honored by everybody. I wish to take pleasure in nothing but only in you and your love. Amen St. Vincent Ferrer is the patron saint of builders because of his fame for "building up" and strengthening the Church: through his preaching, missionary work, in his teachings, as confessor and adviser. He was born on January 23, 1357, in Spain. In 1374, he entered the Order of St. Dominic in a monastery. Soon after his profession he was commissioned to deliver lectures on philosophy. Now began those labors that made him the famous missionary of the fourteenth century. He evangelized nearly every province of Spain, and preached everywhere in Europe. Numerous conversions followed his preaching. He lived to behold the end of the great schism and the election of Pope Martin V. Finally, crowned with labors, he died April 5, 1419. His feast day is April 5.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Let us pray. O God, who didst vouchsafe to glorify Thy Church by the merits and preaching of Saint Vincent Ferrer, Thy Confessor: grant us Thy servants that we may be taught by his example, and be delivered by his patronage from all adversities. O Lord, make haste to help me. Thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth. Amen. St Isidore Seville was a Spanish bishop in 600 AD.
Isidore was actually born into a family of saints, with his older two brothers and sister also being revered as saints in Spain. However, things weren’t easy for Isidore growing up. His older brother Leander took it upon himself to educate Isidore, and his teaching sometimes became abusive. Isidore even ran away once out of frustration, but he returned home, realizing that he could succeed in his studies if he tried hard enough. Isidore eventually forgave his older brother for what was done to him. Later, during their adult life, when his brother Leander had become a bishop, Isidore traveled around the country establishing a seminary in every diocese in Spain, in order to promote education. Isidore was a big supporter of educating everyone on basic sciences( of that time of course) . At the age of 37, when succeed Leander and became bishop, where he instituted a more representative form of church government( the church had significant power over the government during the Middle Ages). At the time of his death, Isidore made sure to give all of his belongings to the poor. He died at the age of 80 in the year 636. In 1997, Pope John Paul II declares St Isidore if Seville the patron saint of the internet, because of how St Isidore tried to publish every piece of knowledge about everything in his very own encyclopedia that was published after his death. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Prayer of St Isidore of Seville Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thy image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,Grant we beseech Thee that through the intercession of Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee, and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Richard of Wyche, also known as Richard of Chichester, was born at Wyche (Droitwich), Worcestershire, England. He was orphaned when he was quite young. He retrieved the fortunes of the mismanaged estate he inherited when he took it over, and then turned it over to his brother Robert. Richard refused marriage and went to Oxford, where he studied under Grosseteste and met and began a lifelong friendship with Edmund Rich. Richard pursued his studies at Paris, received his M.A. from Oxford, and then continued his studies at Bologna, where he received his doctorate in Canon Law. After seven years at Bologna, he returned to Oxford, was appointed chancellor of the university in 1235, and then became chancellor to Edmund Rich, now archbishop of Canterbury, whom he accompanied to the Cistercian monastery at Pontigny when the archbishop retired there. After Rich died at Pontigny, Richard taught at the Dominican House of Studies at Orleans and was ordained there in 1243. After a time as a parish priest at Deal, he became chancellor of Boniface of Savoy, the new archbishop of Canterbury, and when King Henry III named Ralph Neville bishop of Chichester in 1244, Boniface declared his selection invalid and named Richard to the See. Eventually, the matter was brought to Rome and in 1245, Pope Innocent IV declared in Richard's favor and consecrated him. When he returned to England, he was still opposed by Henry and was refused admittance to the bishop's palace; eventually Henry gave in when threatened with excommunication by the Pope. The remaining eight years of Richard's life were spend in ministering to his flock. He denounced nepotism, insisted on strict clerical discipline, and was ever generous to the poor and the needy. He died at a house for poor priests in Dover, England, while preaching a crusade, and was canonized in 1262. His feast day is April 3.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ For all the benefits Thou hast given me, For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, May I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly. Amen Saint Francis of Paola is today’s saint of the day. Saint Francis was born in Paola, Italy. He was canonized by Pope Leo X in 1519. Saint Francis of Paola was known as the patron of Italian seamen, because of the many miracles attributed to him that were related to the sea. He is also the founder of Minim friars, a severely ascetic Roman Catholic order which does charitable work and refrains from eating meat, eggs, or dairy products. People were touched by his love of prayer, his humility, and his obedience.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER God, help us through the intercession of St. Francis of Paola to treat everyone with kindness and love. Help us to be humble and to overcome temptations which cause us to be disobedient. Pray that we may always make time for you. Amen.
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