Monica was raised a Christian but was given in marriage to a pagan official named Patricius. They had three sons. Patricius was not only a violent man, but he had a number of other bad habits as well. Monica remained patient. Other wives with marriage problems came to her for advice. A year before Patricius died, he was converted—due to Monica’s powerful example. In their early years of marriage, Monica’s mother-in-law turned against her because of ugly rumors spread by unhappy servants. Through patient forgiveness, Monica was able to win her cooperation.
Another source of worry for Monica was her son Augustine. This brilliant and gifted young man rejected the faith his mother had taught him. Augustine lived an immoral life and had a son although he was not married. Monica was ready to disown Augustine, but in a dream, it was revealed to her that eventually, he would come back to the faith. She prayed and fasted for her son and stayed close to him, following him to Rome and Milan. The day before she died, she and her son had a beautiful conversation about the joys of heaven. INTERCESSORY PRAYER O Lord, we pray to help us to have faith, patience and forgiveness like St. Monica. We pray that when difficulties arise, in our lives, to help us remember St. Monica and intercede to her for courage and strength through prayer. Amen.
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Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Joseph Calasanz. Joseph Calasanz was born in Aragon, in 1557, as the youngest of 8 children. At the age of 12, he was sent for classical studies in a college run by friars, and while there, he declared that he wanted to be a priest. His parents weren’t supportive of the idea, but after a severe illness in 1582 that nearly led him to his grave, his father relented. Joseph was ordained as a priest in 1583 by the Bishop of Urgel. In 1592, at the age of 35, Joseph moved to Rome, and with help from other priests, opened the first free public school in Europe. In 1600, he opened his school in the center of Rome, which soon got overwhelmed by student enrollment. Joseph’s educational ideas faced the opposition of many upper class societies and caused him to be interrogated by the Inquisition. Even through the opposition his schools faced, he remained faithful to the Church and died on August 25, 1648. He was admired by many for his courage and holiness and was buried in the Church of San Pantaleo. Eight years after his death, Pope Alexander VII cleared the name of the Pious Schools. Joseph Calasanz was beatified on August 7, 1748, by Pope Benedict XIV. He was later canonized by Pope Clement XIII on July 16, 1767. On August 13, 1948, Pope Pius XII declared him to be the "Universal Patron of all Christian popular schools in the world."
INTERCESSORY PRAYER God, through the intercession of Saint Joseph Calasanz, please help us lead a life of courage Amen St. Louis IX of France was born in Poissy , France. He was born to the royal family. Tutors taught him the requirements for being a king. When his father died, he was supposed to take the throne, but he was not old enough to be the king, so his mom ruled as a regent until he was old enough to take the throne for himself. His mom taught him how to be a devout Christian. St.Louis IX of France was a very nice king. He fed beggars and addressed the wants of lepers. He also fed about 100 poor people each day. He started many houses and hospitals. He also took part in two crusades the seventh, and eight crusades. He did penance; he showed mercy to people who rebelled against him. He prayed a lot. He died on August, 25, 1270 due to a dysentery epidemic that was spreading in his army during the eight crusade .He was canonized in 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER St. Louis IX of France though you had, all you ever needed and more, you fed the poor, and helped the lepers. Help us to be like you. And give to those who are in need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. St. Rose of Lima was born in 1586 in Lima, Peru to Spanish colonists. Her name was Isabel Flores de Olivia, and was a beautiful child. She was such a beautiful baby that her parents nicknamed her “Rose,” which is still the name she is called today. When Rose was young, she wanted to become a nun. She often prayed and fasted in secret and performed penances that were painful and serious. She also performed daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and took daily communion. Rose’s beauty started to attract suitors, so to discourage them,
she cut her hair short and would rub her face with pepper to make it blister. Her parents tried to stop her from taking a vow of chastity because they wanted her to marry, but her father conceded and gave her a room to herself. St. Rose kept herself in the room spending long periods of time in prayer. It was said that she only slept for 2 hours so she could have more time for prayer. When she turned 20, she was permitted to join the Third Order of St. Dominic. She continued a life of prayer, fasting and penance. Once, as an act for penance, St. Rose burned her hands. St. Rose died on August 25, 1617, at the age of 31. We remember St. Rose of Lime for her piety and chastity. St. Rose is the patroness of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, those who suffer ridicule for their piety, and people who suffer family problems. INTERCESSORY PRAYER O Dearest St. Rose of Lima, your faith in God was so strong it led you to do penances that no one else could do. St Rose, help us as well to have faith in God and to spend time in prayer praising the Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. St. Andrew was born at the beginning of the ninth century in Ireland. He and his sister St Brigid the Younger were born into a noble family. They were both studied under the St Donatus. Andrew accompanied St Donatus to Italy where a heavenly voice indicated that St Donatus was the most worthy to become bishop. St Donatus then made Andrew his Archdeacon. St Andrew served St Donatus faithfully for 47 years, healing the sick and casting out demons. St Andrew is commended for his austerity of life and boundless charity to the poor. He died in 877. St Andrew the Scot is commemorated on August 22.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER O Glorious St. Andrew, you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God. As you led your brother St.Peter to Christ, and many others after him, draw us also to Him. Teach us to lead others to Christ solely out of love for Him,and dedication in His service. Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross and to carry our daily crosses without complaint so that they may carry us to Jesus. Amen. Pius X was pope from 1903 to 1914. He is remembered for his liturgical and canonical reforms rather than for any contribution to world peace or Church unity. Pius’s family was very poor. Pius X was trained for the priesthood and then became a parish priest in Venice, where he stayed until 1875. After, he became canon at Treviso Cathedral and superior of Treviso Seminary. He was elected pope on Aug. 4, 1903.
Pius X is the patron saint of pilgrims and First Communicants. His feast day is on August 21st. Additionally, he is also celebrated as the “Pope of the Blessed Sacrament.” 11 years after Pius X was elected pope, he died of a heart attack on August 20th, 1914. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Glorious Pope of the Eucharist, Saint Pius X, you sought "to restore all things in Christ." Obtain for me a true love of Jesus so that I may live only for Him. Help me to acquire a lively fervor and a sincere will to strive for sanctity of life, and that I may avail myself of the riches of the Holy Eucharist in sacrifice and sacrament. By your love for Mary, mother and queen of all, inflame my heart with tender devotion to her. Blessed model of the priesthood, obtain for us holy, dedicated priests, and increase vocations to the religious life. Dispel confusion and hatred and anxiety, and incline our hearts to peace and concord. so that all nations will place themselves under the sweet reign of Christ. Amen. Saint Pius X, pray for me. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was born in 1090 at Fontaine - Les - Dijon, France. In the year 1111, at the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles, and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years, a dying community had recovered enough vitality to establish a new house in the nearby valley of Wormwoods, with Bernard as abbot. The zealous young man was quite demanding, though more on himself than others. A slight breakdown of health taught him to be more patient and understanding. The valley was soon renamed Clairvaux, the valley of light. His ability as an arbitrator and counselor became widely known. More and more he was lured away from the monastery to settle long-standing disputes. On several of these occasions, he apparently stepped on some sensitive toes in Rome. Bernard was completely dedicated to the primacy of the Roman See. But to a letter of warning from Rome, he replied that the good fathers in Rome had enough to do to keep the Church in one piece. If any matters arise that warranted their interest, he would be the first to let them know. Shortly thereafter it was Bernard who intervened in a full-blown schism and settled it in favor of the Roman pontiff against the anti-pope. The Holy See prevailed on Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe. His eloquence was so overwhelming that a great army was assembled and the success of the crusade seemed assured. The ideals of the men and their leaders, however, were not those of Abbot Bernard, and the project ended as a complete military and moral disaster. Bernard felt responsible in some way for the degenerative effects of the crusade. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came on August 20, 1153.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Heavenly Father, Saint Bernard was filled with zeal for Your house and was a radiant light in Your Church. By his prayers may we be filled with his spirit of zeal and walk always as children of light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Saint John Eudes was born on November 14, 1601 on a farm in Northern France. He had 4 sisters and 2 brothers. He made his first communion on 26 May 1613. At only 14, he made a private vow to stay chaste. John joined the Orotorians, a religious community at the age of 24. IN 1627 and 1631, there were severe plagues and John volunteered to care for the stricken. At the age of 32, he became a parish missionary. He gained popularity from being a preacher and confessor. Saint John Eudes preached at over 100 parish missions. John realized he was needed in seminaries, After some prayer and counsel, John left the religious community. In the same year John started a new community, the Eudists, who were devoted to the formation of the clergy by conducting diocesan seminaries. Later, John founded another community, the Sisters of Charity of the Refuge, after he noticed the sad condition of prostitutes who were desperate to escape their way of living. Saint John Eudes was mostly known for his central theme of his writings, which was Jesus as the source of Holiness and Mary the model of a perfect Christian life. His devoutness led Pope Pius XI to declare him the father of the liturgical cult of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Eudes passed away at Caen on 19 August 1680. Saint John Eueds drafted up his last will in 1671, which was the start of when his health declined. Eudes' remains were exhumed and transferred in 1810 and again for the last time on March 6, 1884. If Saint John Eudes had one word to describe him, it would be generous. He was willing to give his life in order to help the sick during the time of the plagues and moved to a seminary as soon as he realized that he was needed there.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Father, you chose the priest John Eudes to preach the infinite riches of Christ. By his teaching and example help us to know you better and live faithfully in the light of the gospel. 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. Helen was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and an Empress of the Roman Empire. She is believed to have come from Drepanum in Asia Minor and was born into a poor/lower-class family in Roman culture. Despite this Constantius Chlorus married Helen and she gave birth to Constantine, around the year, 274. When Constantine became emperor, he gave Helen free reign over the imperial treasury and was tasked with locating the relics of the Christian tradition. Helen found the three crosses, the nails of the crucifixion, Jesus’s tunic, and more. She died in 330 and was buried in the Mausoleum of Helen outside of Rome. St. Helen was renowned for helping communities through her works of charity.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Holy and blessed Saint Helen, with the anguish and devotion with which you sought the Cross of Christ, I plead that you give me God's grace to suffer in patience the labors of this life so that through them and through Your intercession and protection, I will be able to seek and carry the Cross, which God has placed upon me so that I can serve Him in this life and enjoy His Glory ever after. Amen. St Joan was known for her greediness as a business woman and disregard for the needy people who came for help. That is until she met an old woman who was regarded as insane by other people. After that she decided to dedicate her life to the poor. She was born on June 18, 1666, in Anjou, France. At a young age she started working in the family business, a small shop near the abbey of Saint-Florent de Saumur. When her parents died she took over the shop and she became known for her reputation as a businesswoman set on financial wealth. She was like that when she met that woman who changed her life forever. After she started caring for poor children. Eventually the poor, sick, and elderly started coming to her. Overtime she even closed down the family business so she could devote herself to good works. She founded the congregation of St. Anne of Providence and it was at that time she took the name St Joan of the Cross. She died on August 17 1736 in Fencet France. Over her lifetime, she founded 12 religious houses and many hospices and Schools. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1982.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Lord, you invited Jean to give up her self-centered and avaricious life and instead to dedicate her life to helping others. Jean listened and said yes. She gave up her self-centered ways and instead of seeking her own comfort and riches. She changed her focus to helping those in need. May god grant us the courage and strength to accept the same challenge in our own lives today. Amen. |