Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Theresa of Calcutta

Agnes was born on August 10, 1910 in Albania.  Although her parents had five children, only three survived.  Agnes was the youngest.     Even though her family was not wealthy, they still helped other who were less fortunate.  Her parents were devout and faithful Catholics who prayed daily and went to mass as often as possible.  Her father died when she was eight years old.  Her mother opened an embroidery and cloth business to support her family. 

When Agnes was 18 years old, she joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland.  Agnes felt called to be a missionary.  She took the religious name of Theresa after the patron of missionaries, Saint Theresa of Lisiseux.  She was sent to India to teach after she completed her novitiate training.  She made vows in 1937 and taught for 20 years at Saint Mary's High school in Calcutta.  

In 1946, Sister Theresa was traveling from Calcutta to Darjeeling for a retreat.  During the train ride she felt a call within a call to serve God by serving the poorest of the poor.  This invitation was the culmination of years of giving herself completely and totally to God.  She had been drawing closer to God throughout her years of teaching and serving her community.  And now God was inviting her to a special work.  She was given permission by Rome to begin Missionaries of Charity dedicated to serving the poor.

Mother Theresa died in 1997 at the age of 87.  She was beatified by Saint Pope John Paul II in 2003.   

Saints Louis and Zelie Martin

Saints Louis and Zelie Martin are proof that you don't have to do extraordinary things to become a saint.  You don't have to be well known and famous.  You don't have to be known for visions, levitation, or for performing miracles.  You can become a saint by living an ordinary life doing ordinary things like raising and providing for your family. Louis and Zelie Martin became holy by doing God's will in their lives, by being parents.

Louis Martin was born on August 22, 1823.   Although his father was in the military, Louis chose to be a watch maker.  Louis wanted to enter the Grand Saint Bernard Monastery.  Unfortunately he did not know Latin which was a requirement for entrance.  Louis returned home study Latin and to finish his training as a watch maker.  After an illness, Louis decided that God did not want him to become a monk.  He set up a watch making and jewelry shop in Alencon.

Zelie Martin was born December 1831.  Her father was in the military also.   After her father's retirement from the military, his pension was small so the family had to watch their expenses. Zelie was often sick as a child and suffered from migraines.  Zelie wanted to be a religious and asked permission to enter the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.   The superior decided that Zelie did not have a vocation.   Zelie learned how to make Alencon lace and decided to open her own lace making business with her sister.  She was only 20 years old when she began this ambitious enterprise.

Louis and Zelie met in April 1858 and quickly grew to love each other.  They were married on July12, three months after they met.  They had nine children, four children died at a very young age.  Five daughters survived, Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine and Therese.  Marie, Pauline, Celine and Therese enter the Carmelite monastery while Leonie entered the Visitation monastery.

Louis eventually gave up his watchmaking career to help Zelie with her lace making business which was doing very well.  She had to take care of her growing family and manage the household in addition to taking care of her growing business.  Their goal in life was to raise their children to be faithful Catholics. Their spirituality was based on three principles.  They put God first in all they did, they had confidence in God's providence and they trusted in God's will.

They also believed that they were to help others who were not as fortunate as themselves. Examples of their generosity and care for others abound.  They would find work for the unemployed, feed the hungry, and donate money to the poor.  They were also concerned about the spiritual  welfare of others.  They prayed for others and shared their abundant faith in God whenever they could. They were true neighbors to all they met.

Zelie died at the age of 46 from breast cancer.  Her youngest child, Therese, was four years old.  Louis moved the family to Lisieux to be closer to his bother-in-law, Isidore Guerin.  When Louis was 64 years old, he suffered the first of many health problems.  His condition deteriorated and he began not only to experience physical problems but hallucinations  and delusions as well.   His daughters Celine  and Leonine took care of him at home for as long as they could.  Eventually he had to be admitted to a hospital because of the delusions. When his condition stabilized, he returned home. He died on July 27,1894.

Louis and Zelie Martin were cannoized by Pope Francis on October 18, 2015.


For more information about the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker visit the our website at:
www.ssjw.org

Spiritual Graces From the Classroom

                

     As the students knelt before the Christmas Crib during Adoration time they heard Sister say:

     Tomorrow, at the Baptism of Our Lord the Liturgical Season of Christmas comes to a close.  We kneel in awe one last time at the crib wondering and remembering.  In the beginning there was God. And God was perfectly happy in Himself because He was not really alone.  He was living in the Trinity.  And wanting to share His love, He created and saw that it was “good.”  But when He created man whom He wanted to tend His creation, He saw that it was “very good,” because He made us in His image and likeness with an immortal soul like Himself.  Keeping true to His covenant promise to always take care of us, He emptied Himself in the fullness of time, and became one like us in everything except sin; “He took on flesh.”

     Sister paused and then continued,

     Listen, do you hear that? Sounds of a flute. Shepherd, what song do you play? What is it that we hear?  Silent Night? What Child is this? Away in the manger?

     Boys and girls look there! A multitude of angels are gathering around, raising their voices in song, “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth Peace to men of good will!”

     And look there is grandfather whispering to his grandchild.  Can you hear what he is saying? Let’s bend low.
     “My child, this is our Redeemer who was promised many years ago, kept alive down through the ages and is now ‘fulfilled in our hearing.’”

     “Oh grandfather, it is true.  A great King has humbled Himself, remaining what He was, yet becoming what He was not.  How can this be, grandfather?”
     “It is a great mystery of our Faith my child.”

     Boys and girls, just like we have to bundle up on this cold morning, it was a cold night when baby Jesus was born.  See, Mary His mother has wrapped her Son in swaddling clothes and Joseph has tucked hay around Him for warmth.  The animals’ breath comforts the Child chilled in the night.

     “Grandfather, look, who are they?”
     “My child, they are the Kings of the East bringing the most precious materials their countries offer as a gift to the Child, a Child who is meant for all people.”

     Silent Night, Holy Night, All is calm, all is bright.

     Mary cradles her Son, rocking back and forth, back and forth.  Joseph, the Protector of the Holy Family, silently contemplates the mystery that is his to care for.

     Jesus, thank you.  Thank you for letting us take time from our school work to come to Church and kneel in silence ‘remembering’ one last time.  Thank you for coming to live in time to show us the way to the Father in Heaven. As much as we want to though, Jesus, we can not stay here.  We must turn our eyes to the crucifix for this is WHY You came.  “His life was incomplete until He crowned it by His death.”

     Jesus, make my hands, Your hands, my feet, Your feet, my heart, Your Heart.  Let me see with Your eyes, listen with Your ears, speak with Your lips, love with Your heart, understand with Your mind, serve with Your will so that I will become all that You have called me to be.

To be continued next month.

From the Vocation Director’s Desk

     A young woman wrote: “Sister, is it a struggle at first to enter into the religious life? ST

Dear S.T.

     Yes, there is a struggle.  First, it comes from having to detach oneself from worldly things.  In Matthew 19:16-22 we read about the Rich Young Man who was very sincere in his want to “gain eternal life.”  He told Christ that he had kept all the commandments and was searching for what he lacked. When Christ said, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor…, then come, follow Me,” scripture tells us the Rich Young Man went away sad for his possessions were many.

     Christ could not fill what was already full.

     As you spiritually grow in your relationship with Christ the tug for things of this world will no longer matter and in fact short-lived.  It is then that you will realize that a different struggle had been silently creeping in all along, that is to say, the struggle to submit your will to the will of another, namely, the Superior who speaks in the place of Christ Himself.  This is not so easily mastered but with prayer as the center of one’s religious life nothing will be impossible.  Prayer implies a deep intimacy with the Lord and the closer you are to Him, the more you are stripped of all that is a barrier between your love and His, even that of submitting one’s will.


     If you have a question regarding your vocation or religious life in general you may write or email Sister at:

Sister Patricia Jean, SJW
Vocation Director
1 St. Joseph Lane
Walton, Kentucky 41904
sjwvocations@gmail.com
www.ssjw.org 

Mariana Francisca was born in Spain the province in 1563.  When she was nine years old, Our Lady appeared to her. The Blessed Virgin Mary told Mariana that she would be a sister in the New World.  When she was 13 years old, she traveled with her aunt and four other sisters, to found a branch of the Order of the Immaculate Conception in Ecuador.

Mother Mariana, as she was called, began having visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary while she was in Ecuador.  Our Lady told her of the many trials and abuses that were to happen in the middle of the 20^th century.  The Blessed Virgin Mary told her that in the 20^th century the “passions will erupt and there will be a total corruption of customs, for Satan will reign…”  The era of ‘free love’ of the 1960’s was predicted in the 17^th century.  Many other things that have happened in the church were predicted by Our Lady three centuries before our modern era.

Mother Mariana was asked if she would sacrifice and pray for the people of the 20^th century.  She was given a vision of the heresy, blasphemy and impurity that would descend upon society as a punishment.  Mother Mariana agreed and she was given a ‘preview’ of the modern world. 

The Blessed Virgin Mary told her of the many things that would befall the world and the Church.  She told Mother Mariana that each of the Sacraments of the church would be abused.  The devil would try to corrupt the clergy and would succeed in his efforts with some of the priests.  She told of laws that would be enacted that would try to do away with marriage and make it easier to live in sin.  The innocence of children would be attacked. Men and women would no longer value modesty.

Although the visions seem to be sad and distressing, the Blessed Virgin promised that when all seemed lost, there would be the beginning a complete restoration.  “My hour will arrive when I, in an amazing manner, will overthrow proud Satan, crushing him under my feet, chaining him in the infernal abyss, leaving the Church and the land free of this cruel tyranny.”  These visions were approved by the Church in the 17th century but Our Lady told Mother Mariana that there would be three centuries of silence about these visions. 

She linked the spread of this devotion during the time when the crisis would be great.   She promised at that time she would make a miraculous intervention for the restoration of the Catholic Church. She also promised her help for those who would invoke her help using the title of Our Lady of good success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known as “Good Pope John”, Blessed Pope John XXIII was the fourth of fourteen children. He was born in the small village of Sotto il Monte, Italy. His family worked as sharecroppers. They were rich in the faith but poor in material possesions.   

He entered the seminary in 1892.  While in the seminary he began making notes of his spiritual progress.  He continued writing these notes and advancing in the spiritual life almost until his death. These were collected and published after his death entitled The Journal of a Soul.

In August of 1904 he was ordained a priest . One year later he was appointed as the secretary to the Bishop of Bergamo, Giacomo Tedeschi.  He was involved in many diocesan projects such as a Diocesan Synod, management of the diocesan bulletin, pilgrimages and social work. He was also assigned to teach in the seminary.  He was a sought after and effective preacher.  He learned the value of hard work from his family.  He kept a busy schedule throughout his life working tirelessly for the Church and the people he was sent to serve.

During World War I,  he was drafted as a sergeant in the medical corps and became a chaplain. When the war ended, he opened a "Student House" for the spiritual needs of young people.  He was also assigned as the spiritual director for the seminary.

In 1921, he was called to Rome to be the Italian president of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. In 1925, he was ordained Bishop and appointed the Apostolic Visitator for Bulgaria.  When he lived in Bulgaria a strong earthquake hit the area.  He helped those effected by  the earthquake in any way possible . During his stay in Bulgaria, he visited and encouraged the Catholics  and established relationships with the other Christian communities.

In 1935, he was named Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece. He not only worked among the Catholics but respectfully approached and dialogued with the Orthodox Church and Islam. When the Second World War began he tried to get news from the prisoners of war to their families and assisted many Jews to escape by issuing "transit visas" from his office. In December 1944 Pius XII appointed him Nuncio in France.

During the last months of the war he aided the prisoners of war.  His approach to all his assignments and projects was characterized by a striving for Gospel simplicity. He daily spent many hours in prayer and meditation. In 1953 he was created a Cardinal and became the Patriarch of Venice, Italy.

At the death of Pius XII he was elected Pope on  October 28,1958. His pontificate lasted less than five years. He carried out the Christian duties of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: visiting the imprisoned and the sick, welcoming those of every nation and faith, bestowing on all his exquisite fatherly care.

He convoked the Roman Synod, established the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law and summoned the Second Vatican Council. Pope John XXIII died on June 3, 1963. He was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II in 2000. The Vatican has announced that he will be declared a saint along with the pope who declared him Blessed, Pope John Paul II, on April 27, 2014.

Josephine Bakhita
Slave, Convert, Woman Religious

Raised by a loving family; kidnapped at a young age; sold into slavery; converting and becoming a Catholic Nun; sounds like something from a fictional movie.  And yet it is the true story of Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita. 

Bakhita was born in 1869 in Darfur, in western Sudan.  She had a loving family with three brothers and three sisters.  Her uncle was the village chief.  As a young child, sometime between the ages of seven to nine, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders.  She endured tremendous suffering at the hands of her abductors.  She was sold again and again as a slave.  Torn away from her family, enduring hardships and beatings at the hands of her owners, ironically she was given the name of bakhita, Arabic for ‘lucky’.

 In 1883, she was sold to the Italian Vice Consul, Callisto Legnani.  He was a very kind man. For the first time in her life, she was show kindness by her owners.  When the Vice Consul had to return to Italy two years later, Bakhita begged to be allowed to go with him.  In 1885 they arrived at the Italian port of Genoa and were met by Mrs. Augusto Michieli.  Callisto Legnani gave Bakhita as a present to Mrs. Michieli.  Bakhita lived with the Michieli family for three years becoming a nanny to their daughter.  

The Michieli family decided to move to Sudan.  While they were selling their property and making the arrangements, Bakhita was sent to live temporarily with the Canossian Sister in Venice.  When the family came to take Bakhita to Sudan with them, she refused to return with them.  On November 29, 1889, an Italian court ruled Italian law did not recognize slavery; therefore Bakhita had never legally been a slave.  She had never been on her own before and for the first time was in control of her life.  She chose to remain with the Canossian community.

In 1890, Bakhita was baptized and confirmed by Archbishop Sarto, the future Pope Pius X.  She took the name Josephine. Three years later she entered the Canossian Sisters.   She worked as a cook, sacristan and doorkeeper.  She became known for her gentleness and her smile.   In the last years of her life she was confined to a wheelchair but still maintained her cheerfulness.  She forgave those who sold her into slavery and also those who abused her while she was a slave.   She died on February 8, 1947.  She was declared a saint on October 1, 2000. Pope Benedict XVI relates her life story in the beginning of his encyclical letter, Spe Salvi.

 

 

Martyrs of Atlas
Priest and Brothers
Cistercian "Trappist" monks

The movie “Of Gods and Men”, released in 2010, is a French movie that tells the story of Trappist monks who lived in Algeria.   In 1996, seven Trappist monks were held hostage for two months until they were brutally murdered.  

Algeria had been a French colony for many years. In the 1960’s when the French withdrew from the country, Algeria was thrown into turmoil as different groups attempted to gain power.  During the 1980’s another problem arose.  Algeria was confronted with an extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism which condoned violence against any person or group that opposed it. In Algeria the primary targets were European Christians.  Through all the years of turmoil and instability, the Trappists, as well as other religious groups, had stayed in the country, ministering to the small Christian community as well as helping Muslims.

The Trappists had arrived in Algeria in the 1930’s to witness to God’s love.  They made Christ present to their Muslim neighbors by providing medical care for the people and developing an irrigation system.  Their days were spent in prayer, manual labor, hospitably and sharing whatever they had with the poor.

The relationship between Christians and Muslims were positive until 1991 when the Algerian government canceled elections.  A radical Islamic group formed in the mountain of the country. This group called itself the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). The GIA wanted all foreigners to leave the country and began engaging in terrorist activities. 

On Christmas Eve the GIA came to the monastery and demanded medical and financial help. The abbot, Father Christian refused to help financially but added that anyone who came to the monastery would receive medical help as usual.  The Trappists were threatened by the GIA.  The local police and the apostolic nuncio offered to move the monks to a safer location.  Time and again the monks prayed about moving out of their monastery.  Each time the monks voted to remain even as the conditions in the country grew worse.  They were aware of the risk they were taking by staying unprotected in their monastery.  They wished to stay to witness to their faith and to help the country.

On March 27, 1996, the GIA demanded the Brother Luc, a doctor, come and care for some wounded men.  Brother Luc was 85 and not well.  When Father Christian refused, the guerrillas went through the monastery and captured seven of the monks. Only two monks escaped from being captured.  The GIA sent a message demanding the release of GIA members in prison. They threatened to kill the monks if the demands were not bet. The prisoners were not released, so the GIA made good on its threat.

On May 21 all seven monks were executed.  Their remains were not found until May 30^th at the side of a road.  The remains of the monks were flown by helicopter to the monastery where Muslim neighbors had dug the graces in the monastery cemetery.  The monks gave a witness of love for their neighbors that lives on.

For more information see:

"Heroic Catholics of the Twentieth Century" By Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett, SJW

New Hope Publications, New Hope, Ky.

or

Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker

ssjw.org

Father Nelson Henry Baker
Priest, Pastor, Founder

Nelson Henry Baker was born in Buffalo, New York in 1842. His Father was Lutheran and his Mother was  Catholic.  He was the second  of four boys. He was baptized a Roman Catholic in 1851 at nine years age. Young Henry worked in a grocery store run by his father. It was there that he learned how to manage a business.

Nelson enlisted as a Union soldier during the Civil War. After he returned home, he started a successful feed and grain business with his friend, Joseph Meyer. He demonstrated a strong interest in religious matters and joined the St. Vincent DePaul Society. After five years, he decided that God was calling him to the priesthood.

He entered the seminary in 1869 at  the age of 28.  While he was studying at the seminary, he was privileged to be able to go on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1874. The pilgrimage stopped in Paris and toured the church of Our Lady of Victories.  This shrine was to inspire Nelson in the years to come and was the beginning of his devotion to Our Lady of Victory.

Nelson Baker was ordained on March 19, 1876 and became known as “Father Baker”. He was given several assignments in the following years.  He was eventually assigned to Lackawanna, NY. This assignment included taking care of  an orphanage, boys protectory and small parish. Under Father Baker’s guidance the existing services grew and expanded.  He also began an industrial school, a home for unwed mothers and infants, and a hospital. He began the “Association of Our Lady of Victory to raise money for his many missions. In thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Baker built Our Lady of Victory National Shrine. This Shrine was named as a minor basilica in 1926. He received many civic and church honors.   

Father Baker’s health began to deteriorate during the first part of 1936.  He was alert until July 29 when he slipped into a coma. At 9:20 on July 29^th, he breathed his last while he was being anointed by Father Joseph A. Burke, who was to become the bishop of Buffalo, New York.

During Father Baker’s sixty years as a priest, he performed the corporal and spiritual works of mercy through the many missions he either began or expanded. He gave a home to the homeless, fed the hungry, cared for the sick, loved those who had no one to love them, gave hope to the hopeless, and brought the grace of God into the lives of all he knew.

Father Baker was named Servant of God In 1987.   On January 14, 2011, he was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI.

Blessed Timothy Trojanowski
Religious Brother

Blessed Timothy was born July 29,1908 in Poland.  He only attended school for three years before having to find work to help support his family. In 1930 he began his life as a Franciscan in the monastery at Niepokalanow, Poland. Brother Timothy worked in the storehouse and in the infirmary, caring for the friars who were sick. He was still at the monastery when World War II began.

Brother Timothy along with four other members of the community were arrested in October 1941.  While in prison, the friars were able to encourage one another and their fellow prisoners.  The little group spent much time in prayer, saying the rosary and singing hymns. In a place where food was scarce, the Brother Timothy and other the members of the Franciscan community shared their food with the other prisoners. In January, 1942,  Brother Timothy was sent to Auschwitz.  He was assigned to hard labor and in just a few months he was worn out with the hard work, hunger, cold and ill-treatment.  He died from Pneumonia on July 28, 1942.

For more information see:
"Heroic Catholics of the Twentieth Century"
by Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett, SJW
New Hope Publications
New Hope, Ky.

 Or

Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
www.ssjw.org

Saint Damein de Veuster
Priest, religious, Missionary

Two thousand miles off the coast of California lay the Hawaiian Islands.  In 1778 Captain James Cook was the first European to reach the island.  Unfortunately the native people had no resistance to the diseases Europeans were so familiar with: smallpox, influenza, cholera and tuberculosis.  Leprosy (now called Hansen’s disease), was the most terrifying of the diseases.  It quickly became an epidemic.

By the 1870’s, the king of Hawaii and his government were desperate to stop the spread of the disease.  They ordered anyone with leprosy, regardless of age or gender to be taken to the island of Molokai.  Spouses were separated and children torn from their parents.

Joseph de Veuster was born in Belgium in 1840.  Joseph and his brother Pamphile joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts.  When he received the habit of his community, he became known as Brother Damien.  The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts decided to send more missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands. Pamphile was chosen to go.  Shortly before he was ready to leave, Pamphile became ill.  Damien volunteered to take his brother’s place even though he was not year ordained a priest.

The journey took four months. Once in Hawaii, Brother Damien was ordained a priest.  For the next eight years he cared for the people of three districts. He often had to travel on horseback or by canoe to reach his flock.

During this time, the appalling conditions on Molokai were coming to light. The small group of Catholic lepers asked the bishop to send someone to care for the spiritual needs.  Once again, Father Damien stepped forward and volunteered to go to Molokai.

Beginning in 1873 until his death, Father Damien worked on Molokai. When he arrived on the island there was a small chapel but no place for the priest to live. So he took up his residence under a Pandanus tree.

 In a short time, Molokai went from being a place of despair to a place of joy. With the help of the lepers, he enlarged the chapel and built a rectory.  They built coffins, cared for the sick, planted flower gardens, opened a hospital and an orphanage, built roads and organized musical bands.

Leprosy can cause terrible disfigurement and a horrible smell.  Father Damien realized that if he were really going to help the lepers he had to overcome his fear of contagion.  He cleansed the wounds, he ate from the same dishes they ate from, he gave them Holy Communion – in other words, he touched them. 

In December of 1884, Father Damien realized that he had contracted Leprosy.  Now he really did share everything with the lepers, even their disease.   In 1886 Joseph Dutton arrived on Molokai to help. Mother Marianne Cope and her sisters arrived in 1888 to care for the female residents.  Until his strength failed him, Father Damien continued to work.  He died during Holy Week, on April 15, 1889.  He was beatified in 1994 and canonized in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.

 

For more information see

"Heroic Catholics of the Twentieth Century"

by Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett, SJWNew Hope Publications, New Hope, Ky

or

 Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker

www.ssjw.org

 

 

Anna Schaffer
Mystic, laywoman

Anna Schäffer was born on February 18, 1882  in Mindelstetten, Bavaria.   Her father died at the age of 40.  Without the income he earned by working as a carpenter, the family became desperately poor. At the age of 14, Anna had to drop out of school and began working as a maid to help the family’s financial situation.  Anna hoped that one day she would be able to enter the convent.  However, even with her income, the family barely could make ends meet. 

Things took a turn for the worse when she was involved in a terrible accident while at work. In 1901, Anna was working in a laundry when she slipped and fell while attempting reattaching a stovepipe that had come loose.  When she fell, her legs went into the washing machine full of boiling hot water. She was taken to the  hospital.  In the early 20th century, there was very little effective treatment for burns. For centuries people with severe burns were bandaged and left to heal on their own. Often they died or were hideously disfigured. Surgeries were sometimes attempted but were not always successful. Up until the late 1930’s, it was thought that a person would probably die if they were severely burned.  

Anna endured more than thirty surgical operations in an attempt to heal her legs. The wounds had to be carefully dressed, which caused much pain. Dr. Waldin, her physician, gave her constant care but the skin grafts did not succeed. Anna became completely immobile and had to give up her dream of entering religious life.  Her mother cared for her until the end of her life.

Despite the terrible pain cause by the burns and the surgeries, Anna never lost her optimism or her faith in God. She had a great love of Christ and a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She especially had a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In Anna's writings she talked about  three ‘keys’ that helped her draw closer to God.  These ‘keys’ were her suffering, her writing and knitting clothes for her friends. Because of her optimism and her faith she was loved by people in her hometown.  Many would visit and listen to her talk about God. Her brother did not share in her faith.  Eventually after witnessing her cheerful attitude in the midst of suffering, her never failing patience and kindness toward others, he supported her.

Beginning in 1910, mystical phenomena occurred around her. This included the stigmata, which she did her best to conceal from the public . Few people knew that she bore the marks of the passion of Jesus on her body. These phenomena did not change her attitude or make her proud. She remained selfless and patience.  She promised prayers and letters for anyone who asked.

She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1925.  As her condition deteriorated, she lost the ability to speak and write. She died on October 5 after she had received Holy Communion.  

Her grave quickly became a pilgrimage site. Since 1929, more than 15,000 miracles attributed to her intercession have been reported. She was beatified in 1999 by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

 

 

 

 

St Ermino Pampuri
Doctor, Religious Brother

Ermino Pampuri, was born on August 2, 1897 in Trivolzio, Pavia, Italy.  He was one of one of eleven children.  Ermino experienced the pain of losing a loved one very early in his life. When he was three years old, his mother died.  Ermino was sent to live with his aunt in Torrino. When he was 10 years old his father passed away.

 As a young boy Ermino dreamed of becoming a missionary but his health was delicate and he was dissuaded from entering the priesthood.  He completed the normal course of education. After graduation from high school, he enrolled in Medical school at the Pavia University.

While at the university he actively lived his Catholic faith. He was a member of the University’s Severinoe Boesio  Club for Catholic Action,  the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Third Order of St. Francis.  World War I interrupted his studies.  Ermino served as a sergeant and later was trained as an officer in the Medical Corps. In 1921, he graduated top of his class in Medicine and Surgery from Pavia University.

He practiced medicine with an uncle who was also a doctor for three years.  For a short time he worked as an assistant in a medical practice at Vernate. In 1922, he passed his internship with high honors at the Milan Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  He moved to Morimondo to being his own practice.

At Morimondo, he did more than attend to the physical needs of the people.  He assisted the parish priest to set up a band for the youth in the parish.  He also started a Catholic Action Youth Club and was the club’s first president. He served as the secretary of the Parish Missionary Aid Society.

In June of 1927, Dr. Pampuri joined the Brothers hospitallers of St. John of God fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a religious.  Dr. Pampuri wanted to grow in holiness as a religious  and at the same time carry on his medical profession He made  his profession of vows on October, 24, 1928. Now known as Brother Richard, he was appointed director of the dental clinic attached to the St. John of God Brothers' Hospital at Brescia. This dental clinic was used by the working people and the poor in Brescia.   Brother Richard served all who came to the clinic with charity.

When he was serving in the military during World War I, he contracted pleurisy.  A few years after being assigned to working at the dental clinic he suffered from another case of pleurisy which developed into a case of bronco-pneumonia.  Bother Richard died on May 1^st, 1930 at the age of 33. 

During his life he demonstrated great charity and sanctity.  After his death, his reputation spread through Italy, Europe and the world.  He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1981 and canonized in 1989.

 

Blessed Innocent Guz

Blessed Innocent Guz
Priest, Religious, Martyr

Innocent Guz was born on March 18, 1890, in what is now Ukraine.  He joined the Franciscan order in 1908 and was ordained a priest in 1914.  He worked  in several parishes.  In 1933, he was assigned to the monastery founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe.  He served as a confessor and helped to teach the seminarians.  He stayed at there for 3 years working and praying.  He was in the city of Grodno when German invaded Poland, beginning the Second World War.

In 1940, Father Innocent was arrested by the Russians but somehow managed to escape.  He was then caught by the Germans who departed him to the concentration camp called Sachsenhausen. At the end of May 1940, the priests and Jews detained there were kept together for a week and tortured by the guards. At the end of the week. the group was moved to an area for work, but Father Innocent had several fractures and was not able to keep up with the group.  He was taken from the group and beaten.  After being beaten and kicked, Father was taken to a bathroom.  A guard push him into a basin full of water and put a rubber hose in his mouth, killing him.  His final words were "I go to the Immaculata".

Father Innocent Gus was beatified along with six other friars in a group of 108 Polish martyrs of World War II by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

For more information see
"Heroic Catholics of the Twentieth Century"
by Sister Elizabeth Ann, SJW
New Hope Publications
 New Hope Ky.
http://www.newhope-ky.org

Or
Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
ssjw.org

Seven Marrtyrs of Thailand

Seven Martyrs of Thailand
1 Layman, 4 lay women 2 religious

Thailand, formerly known aw Siam has had Catholic missionaries for over 350 years.  Although most of the population is Buddhist, the country had traditionally been tolerant of other religious. All this changed in the 1930' and 1940'sas the fierce nationalist that swept over Germany and Japan also affected the Thai government.  The Thai government believed that national unity was best achieved by expelling foreign missionaries and persecuting Thai people who followed the 'foreign' religions. 

The seven martyrs all came from Songkhon, near the Mekong River.  Trouble in the village began in 1940 when government officials expelled the parish priest.  Next they began to intimidate and threaten the Catholic villagers, demanding that they renounce their faith.  Although they were frightened, the villagers refused.  Philip Siphong, a catechist and two Sisters of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cress, Sister Agnes and Sister Lucia encouraged the villagers. 

Philip received a letter requesting his presence in a near by town to meet with officials. Many of the villagers warned him not to go. They feared if was a trap. Their fears were correct.  On December 16, 1940, Philip set out with a police escort for the meeting.  Once he was inside a forest, the police executed him. 

The government hoped that Philips death would end the resistance. They were mistaken. The children continued to attend school, the sisters and their helpers continued encouraging one anther to be strong and steadfast during this persecution.

The government continued to harass the villagers.  On Christmas Date 1940 the situation came to a head. The chief of police came to the convent and threatened the sisters with death if they would not stop teaching about the Catholic faith. Sister Agnes boldly stood up to his threats. In the evening, the sisters sent a letter to the police stating their willingness to die for their faith. They also, in true Christian fashion, forgave their persecutors.

On December 26, the police arrived at the convent and arrested the six people who were staying there: Sister Agnes, Sister Lucia, the cook Agatha, Cecilia Butis, Bibiana and Maria.  Sister Agnes, 31 years old was the oldest of the group.  Maria Phorn,14 years old, was the youngest. The police marched them to the village cemetery.

The small group encouraged one another by singing hymns and praying.  The police fired into the group and then left, convinced that they had killed the Catholics.  The villagers, who had been watching the scene in hiding rushed to see if anyone was still alive. Sister Agnes and Maria Phorn were still breathing.  Sister Agnes told the villagers to send for the police as she was not yet dead.  Hearing that some of the Catholics were still alive, the police returned to the cemetery and killed the wounded victims.

The villagers buried the bodies and continued to endure another four years of persecution.  Eventually, the persecution ended and the Catholic Church in Thailand began to grow.  The seven martyrs were beatified on October 22, 1989 by Pope John Paul II.

For more information see:
Heroic Catholic of the Twentieth Century
By Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett SJW
New Hope Publications
New Hope, Ky.

Or

Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
Walton Ky

Saint Alberic Crescitelli
Priest, Missionary, Martyr

Alberic Crescitelli was born in the village of Altavilla in Southern Italy on June 30, 1863. He was the fourth of eleven children.  He spent much of his time working on the family farm.  At the age of 12, he entered the seminary.  After his studies, he was ordained in 1887 at the PIME seminary in Rome. 

Founded in 1850, the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions(PIME) still sends missionaries to many lands where the gospel is not well known.  Much to his delight, Alberic was sent to the mission in China.  The year after his ordination, he made the difficult four-month journey and arrived there in August of 1888.

He immediately began to learn the language and adopt the clothing of the native people.  Unfortunately, he found it too difficult to grow the traditional pigtail.  He hair was too curly but he was also beginning to go bald.  So he solved the problem by wearing a cap with a false pigtail attached.

Father Alberic was working  in an ancient land with ancient traditions.  The traditions were being threatened and exploited by European powers. Political  attempts by Chinese leaders to deal with the problems between China and Europe and to modernize the country were brought to a halt in 1898 when a group of conservative politicians gained control and convinced the Empress of China that there could be no compromise with foreign powers.  The "Boxers" were a secret society that began a campaign to rid china of all foreigners, including missionaries and those who supported them.

Father Alberic first assignment was to an area where there were 1,000 Christians spread out over 7 villages. He traveled a great deal and slept wherever he could find hospitality.  His farming skills proved to be useful. He was able to advise Chinese farmers on ways to improve the crops. He also brought small plats of land to give to the poor so they could grow their own food.

In 1900, he was transferred to another province which was experiencing a famine. He also had to deal with the growing threat from the Boxers.  On July 5, the Boxers received imperial support. This gave them the chance to launch what became known as the Boxer Rebellion.

Father Alberic  had planned to stay with his people during this persecution, but by July 20th  he realized that his presence only made conditions worse for the Christian community.  A customs official insisted that the priest spend the night at his house, assuring him that it would be safe.

The official had set a trap and soon the house was surrounded by a screaming mob.  Knowing that it was impossible to escape, Father Alberic went outside to face the mob.  He was beaten until unconscious and then carried to the center of the village.  Throughout the night he was tortured by his captors.  In the morning he was beheaded and his body was cast into a river. He was 37 years old.

Even today in China, Christians still gathers at the river of his martyrdom and pray to this courageous missionary.  St. Alberic was canonized on October 1, 2000.

For more information contact
PIME Missionaries
17330 Quincy St
Detroit, MI 48221

or
"Heroic Catholics of the Twentieth Century"
By Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett,SJW
New Hope publications
New Hope, Ky

or
Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
ssjw.org

Mother Maria Zavala
Religious, Founder

Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala was born on April 27, in Jalisco Mexico. Her father owned a religious goods store located near the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan. Marie had a great love for Our Lady of Zapopan and visited the Basilica often.  Maria was taught to treat everyone with love and respect.

As a young woman, Maria planned to marry Gustavo Arreola. However, she broke off her engagement because she felt a call to religious life. Maria believed that God was asking her to give assistance to the poor and sick.  She confided this to her spiritual director, Father Iñiguez.  He, in turn, told her that he felt God was calling him to begin a religious congregation to provide assistance to the sick in hospitals.

Mother Maria and Father Iniguez founded the “Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and the Poor” in 1901. Compassion and care for the physical and spiritual well-being of the sick were the primary concerns of this new religious congregation.  The congregation grew quickly and Mother Maria served as the Superior General of the order. She taught her sisters that it was only through loving and living poverty that one could be truly "poor with the poor".  At times the sisters were so poor, they would go begging to seek the things the hospital and patients needed. The sisters also worked in parishes and taught catechism.

During the Mexican Revolution, the Catholic Church underwent persecution. Mother Maria put her own life at risk by hiding the priests and the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara in her hospital. She gave food and care to any who needed her help. She gave assistance to some people who lived near the hospital who were participating in the persecution of the church. Because of Mother Maria’s kindness to them, they began to defend the sick in the hospital run by the Sisters and to protect them.

Mother Maria dead on June 24, 1963 at the age of 85.  She was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on July 1, 2000 and was beatified by him on April 24, 2005.  She was Canonized on May 12, 2013 by Pope Francis.

 

 

Mother Henriette Delille

Religious, Foundress

To appreciate Henriette Delille accomplishments, it is important to remember what life was like in the 1800’s.  In a growing young country, there were many financial, economic and social opportunities for ambitious white men.  White women had fewer opportunities.  They were unable to vote and had few education options.  Most married and raised a family.  Now, try to image what life was like for slaves. Forbidden by law to learn to read or write, they could be sold or beaten at the whim of the master.  Some were able to buy their freedom or were freed by their masters. Some freed slaves owned property and even had slaves themselves. Nonetheless, they were still limited by their skin color.

In New Orleans there was another class of people called “free people of color”.  These were free people of mixed race.  They were not slaves but were never fully accepted by white society.  Women of color were not legally able to marry outside their racial group yet marrying within their class meant their own children would have few opportunities. Many free women of color saw an chance to help their children have a better life by not marrying at all but by becoming the mistresses of wealthy white men.  If being white was the ‘key’ to success, then their light-skinned children would have far more opportunities for advancement. The children coulc and often were acknowledge by their fathers, given their father’s name, baptized, educated and in some cases heirs to their fathers estates.  The daughters would do as their mothers and form liaisons with wealthy white men.

Henriette was born in 1812, the youngest of three children.  Her mother and grandmother had formed liaisons with wealthy white men.  Henriette grew up surrounded by a large extended family. She was raised to take her place as a mistress as had the generations before her. God had other plans for young Henriette.

In 1824, Henriette met Sister St. Marthe Fontier, a French nun who had opened a school for free people of color.  Sister St. Marthe taught the children during the day and their elders at night.  Her instructions included the teachings of the Catholic church as well as reading and writing.  Henriette and several other young girls were inspired by Sister to teach religion to the slaves.  Henriette refused to carry on the tradition of being a mistress and had found her life’s work.  She prayed, visited the sick and taught religion.

In 1835, Henriette sold some property she had inherited and with two other women set out to establish a community of black Sisters .   They named the new community the Sisters of the Presentation. This attempt ended in failure because of a law that made it illegal for white and blacks to establish close contact with one another.  One of the founding members, Marie Jeanne Aliquot was a white woman from France.

Henriette had the support of the Bishop of New Orleans and Father Etienne Rousslon. Many other people in the city thought the idea of black nuns was ridiculous.  In 1842, Henriette and Juliette Gaudin began again and established the Sisters of the Holy Family.  

The sisters worked among the poor and needy. They often went to bed hungry, having given their food away. Mother Henriette was responsible for the physical and spiritual well-being of her community.  During these years of constant work and worry, her health was bad but with God’s grace and strength she was able to continue her work. 

It wasn’t until November 21, 1852 that the sisters were able to take private vows to ’dedicate the rest of their lives to the service of God, the Church and the poor’. Mother Henriette died in 1862 at the age of 50.  At her death there were 12 sisters in the community.  By 1865, eight women had left the community.  It seemed as if the community  would fail.  It wasn’t until 1869, seven years after their Foundress death, that the small group  received a rule, were able to wear a habit and made public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Eventually God blessed the community with new members and it grew. The Sisters of the Holy Family operate schools, care for the elderly and the very young.  Mother Henrietta’s cause for canonization was introduced in 1989.  

For more information see:

The Sisters of the Holy Family  www.sistersoftheholyfamily.com

Or

“Heroic Catholic of the Twentieth Century”

By Sister Elizabeth Ann Barkett, SJW

New Hope Publishing, New Hope, KY.