Archive for May, 2012

Today on May 24th we , as a community, celebrate the life of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi. St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi was born into a noble family in Florence in 1566. The normal course would have been for Catherine de Pazzi to have married wealth and enjoyed comfort, but she chose to follow her own path. At nine she learned to meditate from the family confessor. She made her first Communion at the then-early age of 10 and made a vow of virginity one month later. When 16, she entered the Carmelite convent in Florence because she could receive Communion daily there. God Bless!

Today, on May 23rd, we celebrate the great works of St. Felix of Cantalice. St. Felix of Cantalice was the first Capuchin Franciscan ever canonized. In fact, when he was born, the Capuchins did not yet exist as a distinct group within the Franciscans. God Bless!

Today on May 22nd, we celebrate the life of St. Rita of Cascia. St. Rita of Cascia was born at Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons had died, Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Unsuccessful at first because she was a widow, Rita eventually succeeded. God Bless!

Today, on May 21, we celebrate the life of St. Cristóbal Magallanes. Cristóbal established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. Magallanes and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28). God Bless his sacrifice.

Today on May 20th, we celebrate the life of St. Bernardine of Siena. St. Bernardine of Siena was the greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking the paganism he found rampant, attracting crowds of 30,000, following St. Francis of Assisi’s admonition to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” God Bless!

Today on May 19th we celebrate St. Theophilus of Corte. Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer. After admirably completing his studies, he was ordained and assigned to a retreat house near Subiaco. Inspired by the austere life of the Franciscans there, he founded other such houses in Corsica and Tuscany. God Bless!

Today on May 18th we, as a community, celebrate the life of Pope John I. Pope John I inherited the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Italy had been ruled for 30 years by an emperor who espoused the heresy, though he treated the empire’s Catholics with toleration. His policy changed at about the time the young John was elected pope. God Bless!

Today on May 17th we celebrate the life of St. Paschal Baylon. In Paschal’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 16th century has been called the Golden Age of the Church in Spain. God Bless!

Today on May 16th we celebrate the life of St. Margaret of Cortona. Seeking forgiveness is sometimes difficult work. It is made easier by meeting people who, without trivializing our sins, assure us that God rejoices over our repentance. Being forgiven lifts a weight and prompts us to acts of charity. God Bless!

Today, 15 May, is the 60th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Ivan Ziatyk, priest of the Ukranian Greek Catholic Church and a member of the Redemptorist Order. While some of us might be able to remain true to our Faith after two or three torture sessions, it takes a whole lot more tenacity, courage and heroism to undergo over 38 interrogations with their associated beatings and deprivations and remain true to God. This is what Blessed Ivan did. God Bless his courage.