Saint Marie of Incarnation

Saint Marie of Incarnation was an Ursuline nun born in France as Marie Guyart. From an early age she was drawn to religious liturgy and the sacraments. When Marie was seven years old, she recounted her first mystical encounter with Jesus Christ.

Intent on belonging to Christ, Marie, aged fourteen, proposed to her parents that she enter religious life with the Benedictines of Beaumont Abbey but her parents disregarded her desire. Instead, she was married to Claude Martin, a master silk worker in 1617. Her husband died only months after the birth of their son, leaving Marie a widow at the age of nineteen.

With her husband’s death, Saint Marie inherited his failing business which she then lost. Forced to move into her parents’ home, Saint Marie secluded herself to pursue a deepening of her commitment to spiritual growth. Free to pursue her religious inclinations after her husband’s death, Saint Marie took a vow of chastity, obedience, and poverty. On 24 March 1620, she reported a religious vision that set her on a new path of devotional intensity.

In 1631, after working with a spiritual director for many years, Saint Marie decided to enter the Ursuline monastery in Tours to answer her religious vocation. As part of a group of nuns sent to New France to establish the Ursuline Order, Saint Marie was crucial in the spread of Catholicism in New France. She was a religious author and has been credited with founding the first girls’ school in the New World.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_of_the_Incarnation_(Ursuline)

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Saint Catherine of Siena

Daily Saints

The value Catherine makes central in her short life and which sounds clearly and consistently through her experience is complete surrender to Christ. What is most impressive about her is that she learns to view her surrender to her Lord as a goal to be reached through time.

She was the 23rd child of Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa and grew up as an intelligent, cheerful, and intensely religious person. Catherine disappointed her mother by cutting off her hair as a protest against being overly encouraged to improve her appearance in order to attract a husband. Her father ordered her to be left in peace, and she was given a room of her own for prayer and meditation.

She entered the Dominican Third Order at 18 and spent the next three years in seclusion, prayer, and austerity. Gradually, a group of followers gathered around her—men and women, priests and religious. An active public apostolate grew out of her contemplative life. Her letters, mostly for spiritual instruction and encouragement of her followers, began to take more and more note of public affairs. Opposition and slander resulted from her mixing fearlessly with the world and speaking with the candor and authority of one completely committed to Christ. She was cleared of all charges at the Dominican General Chapter of 1374.

Her public influence reached great heights because of her evident holiness, her membership in the Dominican Third Order, and the deep impression she made on the pope. She worked tirelessly for the crusade against the Turks and for peace between Florence and the pope.

In 1378, the Great Schism began, splitting the allegiance of Christendom between two, then three, popes and putting even saints on opposing sides. Catherine spent the last two years of her life in Rome, in prayer and pleading on behalf of the cause of Pope Urban VI and the unity of the Church. She offered herself as a victim for the Church in its agony. She died surrounded by her “children” and was canonized in 1461.

Catherine ranks high among the mystics and spiritual writers of the Church. In 1939, she and Francis of Assisi were declared co-patrons of Italy. Pope Paul VI named her and Teresa of Avila doctors of the Church in 1970. Her spiritual testament is found in The Dialogue.

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-catherine-of-siena/

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Saint Zita

Daily Saints

Saint Zita was an Italian saint, born in Tuscany. She entered domestic service at the age of twelve and served the same family for almost fifty years.

Through her diligence and fidelity, she became a trusted and valued servant. She gave one-third of her wages to her parents, kept a third, and gave the rest to the poor. The mistress of the house placed Zita in charge of the household almsgiving, and allowed her to visit the sick poor in their own homes and tend to their needs.

She always rose several hours before the rest of the family and took care to hear Mass every morning before she began work. She attended to her tasks with diligence and fidelity, and studied when possible to anticipate what needed to be done. Saint Zita continued to serve the Fatinellis after the death in 1260 of Guglielmo Fatinelli when his son Pagano became the head of the family.

Saint Zita was known for her kindness and generosity to the poor. She is known as the patron saint of maids and domestic servants. She is often appealed to in order to help find lost keys.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zita#:~:text=Zita%20is%20the%20patron%20saint,of%20Saint%20Zita's%20feast%20day.
Jones, Terry. "Zita". Patron Saints Index. Retrieved 2007-03-11.

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Pope Anacletus

Daily Saints

Also known as Saint Cletus, was the bishop of Rome, following Peter, and Linus. He served between c. AD 79 and his death, c. AD 92.

As with much of the earlier papacy, little is known of Anacletus’ pontificate. According to tradition, Pope Anacletus divided Rome into twenty-five parishes. One of the few surviving records concerning his papacy mentions him as having ordained an uncertain number of priests.

Traditionally, it was accepted that he reigned for twelve years, though the dates of that reign are questionable. The Annuario Pontificio states, “For the first two centuries, the dates of the start and the end of the pontificate are uncertain”, before placing Anacletus’ pontificate from AD 80 to AD 92. However, AD 76 to AD 88 are also frequently cited.

Pope Anacletus was martyred, ending his pontificate. A tomb ascribed to Anacletus is located near St Peter’s tomb in the Vatican Necropolis field P, underneath St Peters Basilica.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Anacletus

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Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Daily Saints

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen was a Capuchin friar who was involved in the Catholic Counter-Reformation. He taught philosophy at this university, ultimately earning the degree of Doctor of Law. During his time as a student he did not drink wine, and wore a hair-shirt. He was known for his modesty, meekness and chastity.

He practiced law as a counselor or advocate, at Colmar in Alsace, France, where he came to be known as the ‘poor man’s lawyer’. He scrupulously forbore all invectives, detractions, and whatever might affect the reputation of any adversary. Disenchanted with the evils associated with his profession, he determined to join his brother George as a member of the Capuchin friars.

As soon as Saint Fidelis finished his course of theology, he was immediately employed in preaching and in hearing confessions. During a severe epidemic in a city, Fidelis cared for and cured many sick soldiers.

The Calvinists of that territory, being incensed at his success in converting their brethren, loudly threatened Fidelis’ life, and he prepared himself for martyrdom. He was eventually confronted by 20 Calvinist soldiers who demanded unsuccessfully that he renounce the Catholic faith, and when he refused, they subsequently murdered him.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelis_of_Sigmaringen#:~:text=Saint%20Fidelis'%20feast%20day%20in,is%20celebrated%20on%2024%20April.

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Saint George

Daily Saints

Saint George is the object of a vast amount of imagination. There is every reason to believe that he was a real martyr who suffered at Lydda in Palestine, probably before the time of Constantine. The Church adheres to his memory, but not to the legends surrounding his life. That he was willing to pay the supreme price to follow Christ is what the Church believes. And it is enough.

The story of George’s slaying the dragon, rescuing the king’s daughter, and converting Libya is a 12th-century Italian fable. George was a favorite patron saint of crusaders, as well as of Eastern soldiers in earlier times. He is a patron saint of England, Portugal, Germany, Aragon, Catalonia, Genoa, Milan and Bologna.

Sources:

Saint George

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Saints Epipodius and Alexander

Daily Saints

Saints Epipodius and Alexander were both martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. The earliest mention of Epipodius and Alexander is in a homily of St. Eucherius, about 440. Epipodius was born in Lyon and Alexander was a Greek, originally from Phrygia. Of distinguished birth, they were close friends since their childhood schooldays. Epipodius is said to have been a confirmed celibate bachelor, who devoted his time to Christian works.

In the aftermath of the Persecution in Lyon in the summer of 177, Epipodius and Alexander, having been denounced as Christians, left the city and retired to a nearby village. There they found refuge in the house of a poor Christian widow situated north-west of the hill of Fourvière. They were betrayed to imperial authorities by a servant. Both men were subsequently imprisoned, tortured, and condemned. According to Alban Butler, after enduring torture on the rack, Epipodius, the younger of the two, was beheaded.

Alban Butler says that Alexander, after suffering an extended and brutal beating, was crucified and died almost immediately. Another account says that he died of the beatings and ill treatment in gaol.

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-anselm/

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Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Daily Saints, Verse

Indifferent toward religion as a young man, Anselm became one of the Church’s greatest theologians and leaders. He received the title “Father of Scholasticism” for his attempt to analyze and illumine the truths of faith through the aid of reason.

At 15, Anselm wanted to enter a monastery, but was refused acceptance because of his father’s opposition. Twelve years later, after careless disinterest in religion and years of worldly living, he finally fulfilled his desire to be a monk. He entered the monastery of Bec in Normandy, was elected prior three years later, and 15 years later, was unanimously chosen abbot.

Considered an original and independent thinker, Anselm was admired for his patience, gentleness, and teaching skill. Under his leadership, the Abbey of Bec became a monastic school, influential in philosophical and theological studies.

During these years, at the community’s request, Anselm began publishing his theological works, comparable to those of Saint Augustine. His best-known work is the book Cur Deus Homo (“Why God Became Man”).

Against his will, Anselm was appointed archbishop of Canterbury in 1093, at age 60. His appointment was opposed at first by England’s King William Rufus and later accepted. Rufus persistently refused to cooperate with efforts to reform the Church.

Anselm finally went into voluntary exile until Rufus died in 1100. He was then recalled to England by Rufus’ brother and successor, Henry I. Disagreeing fearlessly with Henry over the king’s insistence on investing England’s bishops, Anselm spent another three years in exile in Rome.

His care and concern extended to the very poorest people. Opposing the slave trade, Anselm obtained from the national council at Westminster the passage of a resolution prohibiting the sale of human beings.

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-anselm/

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Saint Agnes of Montepulciano

Daily Saints

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano was born in 1268 into the noble Segni family in Gracciano. At the age of nine, she convinced her parents to allow her to enter a Franciscan monastery of women in the city known as the “Sisters of the Sack”, after the rough religious habit they wore. They lived a simple contemplative life. She received the permission of the pope to be accepted into this life at such a young age, which was normally against Church law. At the age of fourteen she was appointed bursar.

In 1288 Agnes, despite her youth at only 20 years of age, was noted for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and deep life of prayer, and was elected as the prioress of the community. There she gained a reputation for performing miracles; people suffering from mental and physical ailments seemed cured by her presence. She was reported to have “multiplied loaves”, creating many from a few on numerous occasions, recalling the Gospel miracle of the loaves and fishes. She herself, however, suffered severe bouts of illness which lasted long periods of time.

In 1306, Agnes was recalled to head the monastery in Montepulciano. Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and is said to have been favoured with many visions. By 1316, Agnes’ health had declined so greatly that her doctor suggested taking the cure at the thermal springs in the neighbouring town of Chianciano Terme. While many of the other bathers reported being cured of their illnesses, Agnes herself received no benefit from the springs. Agnes died the following 20 April, at the age of 49.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_of_Montepulciano

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Saint Alphege of Canterbury

Daily Saints

Saint Alphege of Canterbury was born around 953. He was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester, later Archbishop of Canterbury. He became an anchorite before being elected abbot of Bath Abbey.

Saint Alphege became a monk early in life. He first entered the monastery of Deerhurst, but then moved to Bath, where he became an anchorite. Probably due to the influence of Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, he was elected Bishop of Winchester in 984 and was consecrated on 19 October that year.

While bishop he was largely responsible for the construction of a large organ in the cathedral, he also built and enlarged the city’s churches, and promoted the cult of Swithun and his own predecessor, Æthelwold of Winchester. While at Canterbury, he promoted the cult of Dunstan, ordering the writing of the second Life of Dunstan, which Adelard of Ghent composed between 1006 and 1011. He also introduced new practices into the liturgy, and was instrumental in the Witenagemot’s recognition of Wulfsige of Sherborne as a saint in about 1012.

In 1011, the Danes again raided England and Saint Alphege was taken prisoner and held captive for seven months. He refused to allow a ransom to be paid for his freedom, and as a result was killed on 19 April 1012 at Greenwich.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86lfheah_of_Canterbury

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Daily Saints

Saint Marie of Incarnation

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Saint Catherine of Siena

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Saint Zita

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Pope Anacletus

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Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

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Saint George

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Saints Epipodius and Alexander

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Saint Anselm of Canterbury

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Saint Agnes of Montepulciano

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Saint Alphege of Canterbury

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