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.