Saint Monica

"The day was now approaching when my mother Monica would depart from this life; you know that day, Lord, though we did not. She and I happened to be standing by ourselves at a window that overlooked the garden in the courtyard of the house. At the time we were in Ostia on the Tiber. And so the two of us, all alone, were enjoying a very pleasant conversation, "forgetting the past and pushing on to what is ahead.." We were asking one another in the presence of the Truth - for you are the Truth - what it would be like to share the eternal life enjoyed by the saints, which "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, which has not even entered into the heart of man." We desired with all our hearts to drink from the streams of your heavenly fountain, the fountain of life.

That was the substance of our talk, though not the exact words. But you know, O Lord, that in the course of our conversation that day, the world and its pleasures lost all their attraction for us. My mother said, "Son, as far as I am concerned, nothing in this life now gives me any pleasure. I do not know why I am still here, since I have no further hopes in this world. I did have one reason for wanting to live a little longer: to see you become a Catholic Christian before I died. God has lavished his gifts on me in that respect, for I know that you have even renounced earthly happiness to be his servant. So what am I doing here?"

I do not really remember how I answered her. Shortly, within five days or thereabouts, she fell sick with a fever. Then one day during the course of her illness she became unconscious and for a while she was unaware of her surroundings. My brother and I rushed to her side, but she regained consciousness quickly. She looked at us as we stood there and asked in a puzzled voice: "Where was I?"

We were overwhelmed with grief, but she held her gave steadily upon us, and spoke further: "Here you shall bury your mother." I remained silent as I held back my tears. However, my brother haltingly expressed his hope that she might not die in a strange country but in her own land, since her end would be happier there. When she heard this, her face was filled with anxiety, and she reproached him with a glance because he had entertained such earthly thoughts. Then she looked at me and spoke: "Look what he is saying." Thereupon she said to both of us, "Bury my body wherever you will; let not care of it cause you any concern. One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be." Once our mother had expressed this desire as best she could, she fell silent as the pain of her illness increased." - from the Confessions of Saint Augustine of Hippo

Prayer

Exemplary Mother of the great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray. Amen.

Saint Joseph Calasanz

August 25

Everyone knows the great merit and dignity attached to that holy ministry in which young boys, especially the poor, receive instruction for the purpose of attaining eternal life. This ministry is directed to the well-being of body and soul; at the same time, that it shapes behavior it also fosters devotion and Christian doctrine.

Moreover the strongest support is provided not only to protect the young from evil, but also to rouse them and attract them more easily and gently to the performance of good works. Like the twigs of plants, the young are easily influenced, as long as someone works to change their souls. But if they are allowed to grow hard, we know well that the possibility of one day bending them diminishes a great deal and is sometimes utterly lost.

All who undertake to teach must be endowed with deep love, the greatest of patience, and, most of all, profound humility. They must perform their work with earnest zeal. Then, through their humble prayers, the Lord will find them worthy to become fellow workers with him in the cause of truth. He will console them in the fulfillment of this most noble duty, and finally, will enrich them with the gift of heaven.

As Scripture says, "Those who instruct many in justice will shine as stars for all eternity." They will attain this more easily if they make a covenant of perpetual obedience and strive to cling to Christ and please him alone, because, in his words, "What you did to one of the least of my brethren, you did to me." - from the writings of Saint Joseph Calasanz (1556-1648)


Beatified on the 18th of August 1748, by Pope Benedict XIV
Canonized on the 16th of July 1767, by Pope Clement XIII

Saint Bartholomew

He was one of the twelve apostles, and was a friend of Saint Philip. His name is mentioned in the Gospel, and was martyred.

Prayer to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
O Glorious Saint Bartholomew, Jesus called you a person without guile and you saw in this word a sign that he was the Son of God and King of Israel. Obtain for us the grace to be ever guileless and innocent as doves. At the same time, help us to have your gift of faith to see the Divine hand in the events of daily life. May we discern the signs of the times that lead to Jesus on earth and will eventually unite us to him forever in heaven. Amen.

Saint Rose of Lima

August 23

Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven."

When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemd to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: "Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep aprticipation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul."

"If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men."
-from the writings of Saint Rose of Lima

Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617), was originally named Isabel, (by her grandmother) but later was changed to Rose by her mother who thought she was as pretty as a rose. She knelt to pray and meditate in her garden as a child, and often would put pepper and lye on her skin so that she wouldn't look as beautiful as she was to avoid being attracted to young men. She was fascinated by Saint Catherine of Sienna after learning about her, and strived to imitate her. She often made secret sacrifices and severe penances, and later cut off her hair as Saint Catherine did. She then became a Dominican tertiary in 1606, and she received invisible stigmata. She slept on a bed of broken glass and thorns, offering all her sufferings for the conversion of sinners, and the souls in Purgatory. She was beatified on the 15th of April 1668, by Pope Clement IX
and canonized on the 2nd of April 1671, by Pope Clement X

Prayer

Dear Saint Rose, you set an example of how to be beautiful as a rose inside, and to Jesus. Please teach us to forget about our looks and to be as beautiful as a rose to Jesus as you did.

Pope Saint Pius X

"God could have given us the Redeemer of the human race, and the Founder of the Faiths in another way than through the Virgin, but since Divine Providence has been pleased that we should have the Man-God through Mary, who conceived Him by the Holy Spirit and bore Him in her womb, it only remains for us to receive Christ from the hands of Mary." -Pope Saint Pius X

Prayer

Glorious Pope of the Eucharist, Saint Pius X, you sought "to resore 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.

He was beatified on the 3rd of June 1951
and canonized on the 29th of May 1954, by Pope Pius XII (1835-1914)

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal. -Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1153-1170)

Click here for a prayer by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

He was canonized in the year 1170, by Pope Alexander III

Saint John Eudes

"The Christian life is a continuation and completion of the life of Christ in us. We should be so many Christs here on earth, continuing His life and His works, laboring and suffering in a holy and divine manner in the spirit of Jesus."-Saint John Eudes

Although Saint John Eudes (1602-1680) parents wished him to have a married life, he entered the Jesuit College at the age of 14 and joined the Congregation of the Oratory of France. He was then ordain in 1625 and cared for the plagued victims in Normandy. He established several seminaries, including some in Lisieux in 1653, and founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity in the year 1650. He was friends with Saint Margaret Mary Alacoquoe, and he composed a Mass for the Sacred Heart in 1668.

Saint John Eudes was beatified on the 25th of April 1909
and canonized in the year 1925

Meme

Here's an old meme that I forgot that I was tagged with....funny, I was tagged by my mom!

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the Person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question. Now Go!

Well, since my sister Cy is doing this meme also....and her name starts with C too.....I guess I'll do T then!

1. Famous singer/band: Tomlin, Chris

2. 4 letter word: True

3. Street name: Teresa St.

4. Color: Tan

5. Gifts/presents: Treasure

6. Vehicle: Tundra

7. Items on a menu: Teriyaki

8. Boy Name: Thomas Aquinas :-)

9. Girl Name: Teresa of Avila :-D

10. Movie Title: Therese ;-D

11. Drink: Tea

12. Occupation: Tailor

13. Flower: Tulipa Tarda (a type of tulip I think)

14. Magazine: Times

15. US City: Tucson, Arizona

16. Pro Sports Team: Tennessee Titans (football)

17. Reason for Being Late for Work: Taking too much time reading about a saint :-)

18. Something U Throw Away: Ummm, Trash?

19. Things you shout: Take cover!!!

20. Cartoon Character: Thomas (from King George and the Duckie ;-))


I tag whoever wants to do this meme :-)

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal

"When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can?" -Saint Jane Frances de Chantal


When Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641) was only 18 months old, her mother had died, and she was raised by her father, the president of the Parliment of Burgundy. Her faith was encouraged by her father, who made daily religious fun. At the age of 20, in the year 1592, she married Baron de Chantal, named Christophe. Then she often gave away food to the poor and hungry who came to her door. Just about eight years later, her husband was was accidentally killed while hunting, and he died in Jane's arms. Before her husband died, he forgave the man who had shot him by saying, "Don't commit the sin of hating yourself when you have done nothing wrong." Poor Jane was heartbroken and had a hard time getting herself to forgive the man as her husband did. After a while she started inviting this man to her house and completely forgave him. She later became the godmother of his child.

When her husband had passed away, she was forced to live with her father-in-law, and then she took a vow of chastity, spent her free time in prayer, and recieved a vision of a man who would become her spiritual director. In the Lent of 1604, she met Saint Francis de Sales and recognized him as the man in her dream, and they became close friends.

In the year of 1610, she founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady in France.
She acted as a spiritual advisor there, and she this advice to one of the daughters:

"Should you fall even fifty times a day, never on any account should that surprise or worry you. Instead, ever so gently set your heart back in the right direction and practice the opposite virtue, all the time speaking words of love and trust to our Lord after you have committed a thousand faults, as much as if you had committed only one. Once we have humbled ourselves for the faults God allows us to become aware of in ourselves, we must forget them and go forward."

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was beatified on the 21st of November 1751, by Pope Benedict XIV
She was canonized on the 16th of July 1767

Prayer

Saint Jane, you forgave the man who killed your husband. Help me learn to forgive a particular person in my life who has caused me harm. You know how difficult it is to forgive. Help me to take the steps you took to welcome this person back into my life. Amen

Saint Hyacinth and Saint Jeanne of the Cross

"It is the Spirit of God which animates you and prompts you to this penitential life. Henceforth, then, be without fear and follow your inspirations." - Saint Louis de Montfort to Saint Jeanne

Beatified 8 November 1947 by Pope Pius XII at Rome, Italy
Canonized on the 31st of October 1982, by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy

Saint Hyacinth

Canonized on the 17th of April 1594, by Pope Clement VIII