Today’s Saint of the day is Saint Peter of Tarentaise. He was born near Vienne, France in 1102. At the age of twenty, Saint Peter of Tarentaise joined a Cistercian monastery along with his father and brother. At the age of thirty, he was sent to serve as an abbot, the leader of the monastery of monks, in the Tarentaise Mountain. During his time there, he built crossroads and hospitals in the desert mountain for the sick and poor travelers. It soon became known as a resting place for travelers. Although he wanted to remain with the monastery, living a life of prayer and service, in 1142, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Tarentaise. As an archbishop, he helped reform the diocese and started a tradition called the "May Bread", which helped feed the poor living near the area. After serving as an archbishop for 13 years, Saint Peter of Tarentaise fled to a Cistercian Abbey in Switzerland and served as a lay brother. After he was forced to return back to Tarentaise, he continued to help the poor and sick. Saint Peter of Tarentaise was canonized by Pope Celestine III in 1191 and is the patron saint of Tarentaise.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER God, help us through the intercession of Saint Peter of Tarentaise to always help the poor and needy, by putting their needs before our own. Helps us lead a life of prayer that's dedicated to you.
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Saint Rose Venerini is today’s commemorated saint. Saint Rose was born on February 9, 1656 at Viterbo, Italy. She was a daughter of a Doctor. She entered a convent, but soon returned home to care for her newly widowed mother. Rose invited the women of the neighborhood to recite the rosary in her home, forming a sort of solidarity with them. Rose became convinced that she was called to become a teacher in the world rather than a contemplative nun in a convent. Then she started a free school for girls in 1658. Rose was called upon to organize schools in many parts of Italy, including Rome. Her disposition was right for the task as well, for Rose often met considerable opposition but was never deterred. She passed away on May 7th, 1728.
Rose life stands as a reminder that all we are meant to be put to service wherever we find ourselves. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Saint Rose Venerini, patroness of exiles and steadfast teacher of the poor and unlearned, who courageously taught in accordance with Holy Doctrine in the face of opposition and who humbly built schools and trained teachers all over your country, in confidence we ask you for special intercession as we pray to Our Lord for (name your intention). May you also obtain for us from Jesus and His Blessed Mother the Grace to whole-heartedly follow your words: I feel so nailed to the Will of God that nothing else matters, neither death nor life. I want what He wants; I want to serve Him as much as pleases Him and no more. Amen. Born in North Africa, Saint Marian was an ordained lector and Saint James was a Deacon. They dedicated their life for their faith. They were martyred during the persecution of Valerian around the year 259. Before their persecution, two bishops, Agapius and Secundinus, had encouraged them to stay strong in their faith. After that Marian and James were arrested and interrogated for continuing to practice their Christian faith. While they were in prison, they had a vision regarding their martyrdom. They ended up facing death courageously. There is not much information on saints of the early Church, but we know that they never gave up on their faith. In hard times, they only strengthened their faith.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Pray for us that we will hold fast to our faith through our words and actions. St Hilary was a archbishop in southern France. He came from a very rich family, but at a young age, St Hilary joined the monastery in Lérins, around 420. Hillary gave up all of his possessions.
Even once Hilary became archbishop in 429, he continued to live a humble and peaceful life, having few belongings. He also worked to organize the clergy to devote a larger amount of their time to social works. St Hilary worked hard to oust the corrupt religious leaders of that time, calling the immoral. St Hilary was also extremely eloquent for the time, and published many written works for the public to read. St Hilary worked hard to make the church partake in more social works during a time when it was almost never done. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Support us so that we may take on a humble life as Saint Hilary did. Help us to give up everything to God and support us in helping others around us. Amen Born near Vilna, Lithuania, Michael Giedroyc, a dwarf in stature, lost the use of one foot at an early age after an accident. In his youth he divided his time between prayer and the making of pyxes for the carrying of Viaticum to the dying. He hung about his neck a cross to serve as a constant reminder of God. After entering the monastery of Augustinian Canons in Krakow, Poland, Michael obtained permission to live an eremitical life in a cramped cell adjoining the Augustinians' church. His biographer observes, "The church was his home by day and by night, to pray there, to keep watch, to bend the knee." He was particularly drawn to pray before a crucifix in the middle of the church, from which on one occasion he heard Christ speaking to him. It was while kneeling in prayer that Michael died after receiving absolution and extreme unction.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Please watch over all of those with physical and mental handicaps Blessed Michael Giedroyc. May they take strength in your example to persevere through their difficulties. May we who are blessed with good health come to assist these individuals and act as Christ's light to them. Amen. Saint James was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He is often recognized as James “the lesser” whereas St. James, the son of Zebedee is known as “the greater.” St. Paul has said that he was a witness of the resurrection of Jesus. Saint James of lesser was a martyr who died for his faith and was stoned by the Jews for it.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER O dear saint James, help us to have strong faith during these rough times and believe in your word spoken through the Holy Bible. Amen. St. Athanasius, also known as Athanasius the Great and Athanasius the Confessor, was a bishop and doctor of the church. He is called the "Father of Orthodoxy," the "Pillar of the Church" and "Champion of Christ's Divinity." He is the patron of Theologians and faithful Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians and his feast day is on May 2. He was born in either 296 or 298, to a Christian household in Egypt. He studied the Hebrew Scriptures and several old Christian texts from a young age. As he grew up, Athanasius befriended many monks and hermits of the desert, including St. Antony. He later wrote the biography of St. Antony. Bishop Alexander of Alexandra was a great influence on young Athanasius and he even grew up to be Alexander’s secretary. As Alexander’s secretary, Athanasius had the chance to witness many of the great debates of the early church. Athanasius preceded Alexander as his successor in the year 328 after Alexander’s death. He was wrongfully charged of treason against the emperor because of a dispute that aged back to Alexander’s days. After receiving multiple false accusations, Emperor Constantine was pressured to command Athanasius to the Council of Tyre. But this council was under the influences of his opponents and he was placed under exile. Upon his return after 2 and a half years, Athanasius finds that the empire has been divided into three parts. Once again his enemies came after him and got him exiled again. He seemed refuge with some monks in the desert and kept in touch with his faithful followers through letter. Each time he returned, his opponents found some way to get him exiled again. Eventually after many years Emperor Valens restored Athansius as bishop permanently. Over the course of his life, Athanasius was banished five times and spent 17 years of his life in exile for the defense of the doctrine of Christ's divinity. Despite all these years of trouble, the last few years of his life was quite peaceful. He died peacefully on May 2, 373 in Alexandria. He is celebrated to this day as the great Defender of Faith and considered the father of the early Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Father, you raised up Saint Athanasius to be an outstanding defender of the truth of Christ’s divinity. By his teaching and protection may we grow in your knowledge and love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the most loved and powerful saints of the Church. The Catholic Church officially celebrates St. Joseph twice in the liturgical year. March 19th commemorates his vocation as the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and May 1 st his vocation as a worker and provider. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The feast of St.
Joseph the Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 in order to Christianize the concept of labor and give to all workmen a model and a protector. While establishing this feast Pope Pius XII said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work”. This feast reminds us that St. Joseph used his skills as a carpenter to provide for his family’s needs and he passed down the same skills to his son Jesus. We also find dignity in similar ways, in our work, in raising our family, and participating in the life of God’s creation. St. Joseph's most obvious mark in salvation history was his role as foster father to Jesus and husband to Mary. In this vocation he served those he loved with all his heart and strength. But it is also his humility and loving diligence as a hardworking yet poor provider that serves as an example to all who work to fulfill a vocation or provide for a family. Intercessory Prayer Good Saint Joseph, ever watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ, keep us free from the blight of error and corruption, and be our ally in the conflict with the powers of darkness. As of old you rescued the child Jesus from the plots of Herod, so now defend the universal Church from all harm. Keep us one and all under your continual protection, so that by your help and example, we may lead a holy life, die a happy death, and come to possess eternal life in heaven. Amen. St. Catherine of Siena was a wonderful saint. Her childhood, her spiritual life, and her achievements were all important to her life.
St. Catherine was born during a plague in Siena, Italy on March 25, 1347. She was a twin but her twin didn’t survive infancy. Her father was a clothes dryer. When she was 16 her sister Bonaventura died and left her husband as a widower. Her parents thought that he should marry her as a replacement, but St. Catherine didn’t want that, and she started fasting and cutting her hair short so that it would ruin her appearance. Her parents tried to convince her to marry someone but failed. Her fasting and devotion convinced them to let her live how she wants to. She did not join a convent, but instead joined the third order of St. Dominic so that be in a religious society while staying at home. The Sisters of Penitence of St. Dominic in Siena received Catherine as a member. St. Catherine decided to take public action encourage a crusade against Muslims, and for peace in the church and Italy. She went to Avignon as an unofficial meditator with her biographer Raymond of Capua and her confessor. In Avignon she promoted her plans for a crusade against the Muslims. In 1376 she went to Florence at Pope Gregory XI request, and she was there when the Ciompi Revolt happened in June. She went to Siena for a short final stay, in which she finished The Dialogue. She went to Rome, at the invitation of Pope Urban VI, which she helped in reorganizing the church. She gained a rapidly wide reputation for her manner of life, and humbleness. She helped start a crusade to the holy land. St. Catherine has written 380 letters, 26 prayers, and 4 arguments which is better known as the Dialogue. She was one of the four woman who got named doctor of the church. She was an important defender of the papacy, and is a patron saint of Italy and Europe. St. Catherine’s letters and prayers have special authority in Roman Catholicism. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Eternal God, eternal Trinity, You have made the Blood of Christ so precious through His sharing in Your Divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for You. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When You fill my soul I have an ever-greater hunger, and I grow more famished for Your light. I desire above all to see You, the true light, as you really are. Amen. |