 Section 51 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 18. St. Simeon. Bishop and martyr. St. Simeon was the son of Cleophas, otherwise called Alephius, brother to St. Joseph and of Mary, sister of the Blessed Virgin. He was therefore nephew both to St. Joseph and to the Blessed Virgin, and cousin to our Saviour. We cannot doubt that he was an early follower of Christ, and that he received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost with the Blessed Virgin and the Apostles. When the Jews massacred St. James the lesser, his brother Simeon reproached them for their atrocious cruelty. St. James, Bishop of Jerusalem, being put to death in the year 62, 29 years after our Saviour's resurrection. The apostles and disciples met at Jerusalem to appoint him a successor. They unanimously chose St. Simeon, who had probably before assisted his brother in the government of that church. In the year 66 in which St. Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom at Rome, the civil war began in Judea by the seditions of the Jews against the Romans. The Christians in Jerusalem were warned by God of the impending destruction of that city. They therefore departed out of it the same year before Vespasian, Nero's general and afterwards emperor, entered Judea and retired beyond Jordan to a small city called Pella, having St. Simeon as their head. After the taking and burning of Jerusalem, they returned there again and settled themselves amidst its ruin, till Adrian afterwards entirely raised it. The church here flourished and multitudes of Jews were converted by the great number of prodigies and miracles wrought in it. Vespasian and Domitian had commanded all to be put to death who were of the race of David. St. Simeon had escaped their searches, but Trajan, having given the same order, certain heretics and Jews accused the same as being both of the race of David and a Christian. To Atticus, the Roman governor in Palestine, the holy bishop was condemned to be crucified. After having undergone the usual tortures during several days, which though 120 years old, he suffered with so much patience that he drew on him a universal admiration, in that of Atticus in particular. He died in 107. He must have governed the church of Jerusalem about 43 years. Reflection. We bear the name of Christians, but are full of the spirit of warblings, and our actions are infected with the poison of the world. We secretly seek ourselves, even when we flatter ourselves that God is our only aim. And whilst we undertake to convert the world, we suffer it to pervert us. When shall we begin to study, to crucify our passions, and die to ourselves, that we may lay a solid foundation of true virtue and establish its reign in our hearts? End of Section 51. Section 52 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The innocent simplicity and purity of his manners and his extraordinary progress in all virtues qualified him for the service of the altar, to which he was assumed by taking holy orders as soon as the cannons of the church would allow it. He was immediately employed by his bishop in preaching, for which he had an extraordinary talent, and after some time made curative Saint Basil's in Morcona, a town near Benevento. His parishioners were steeled in their irregularities, and they treated him as a disturber of their peace, and persecuted him with the utmost violence. Finding their malice conquered by his patience and humility, and his character shining still more bright, they had recourse to slanders, in which their virulence and success was such that he was obliged to withdraw his charitable endeavors among them. Barbatus returned to Benevento, where he was received with joy. When Saint Barbatus entered upon his ministry in that city, the Christians themselves retained many idolatrous superstitions, which even their duke, Prince Romulod, authorized by his example, the son of Grimolod, King of the Lombards, who had edified all Italy by his conversion. They expressed a religious veneration for a golden viper, and prostrated themselves before it. They also paid superstitious honor to a tree, on which they hung the skin of a wild beast. And these ceremonies were closed by public games in which the skins served were a mark at which bowmen shot arrows over their shoulders. Saint Barbatus preached zealously against these abuses, and at length he roused the attention of the people by foretelling the distress of their city, and the calamities which it was to suffer from the army of the Emperor Constans, who, landing soon after in Italy, laid siege to Benevento. Ildebrand, Bishop of Benevento, died during the siege. After the public tranquility was restored, Saint Barbatus was consecrated bishop on the 10th of March 663. Barbatus, being invested with the Episcopal character, pursued and completed the good work which he had so happily begun, and destroyed every trace of superstition in the whole state. In the year 680 he assisted in a council held by Pope Agatha at Rome, and the year following in the 6th General Council held at Constantinople against the Monothelites. He did not long survive this great assembly, for he died on the 29th of February 682, being about 70 years old, almost 19 of which he spent in the Episcopal chair. Reflection. Saint Augustine says when the enemy has been cast out of your hearts, renounce him, not only in word, but in work, not only by the sound of the lips, but in every act of your life. And of Section 52. Section 53 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 20. Saint Eucharius, Bishop. The saint was born at Borlains of a very illustrious family. At his birth his parents dedicated him to God and set him to study when he was but seven years old. Resolving to admit nothing that could be done toward cultivating his mind or forming his heart. His improvement in virtue kept pace with his progress in learning. He meditated assiduously on the sacred writings, especially on Saint Paul's matter of speaking on the world and its enjoyments as mere empty shadows that deceive us and vanish away. These reflections at length sank so deep into his mind that he resolved to quit the world. To put this design in execution about the year 714, he retired to the Abbey of Jumeige in Normandy, where he spent six or seven years in the practice of penitential austerities and obedience. Suav Eric, his uncle, Bishop of Borlains, having died, the senate and people with the clergy of that city begged permission to elect Eucharius to the vacancy. The saint entreated his monks to screen him from the dangers that threatened him, but they preferred the public good to their private inclinations and resigned him for that important charge. He was consecrated with universal applause in 721. Charles Martel, to defray the expenses of his wars and other undertakings, often stripped the churches of their revenues. Saint Eucharius reproved these encroachments with so much zeal that, in the year 737, Charles banished him to Cologne. The extraordinary esteem which his virtues procured him in that city moved Charles to order him to be conveyed thence to a strong place in the territory of Lige. Robert, the governor of that country, was so charmed with his virtue that he made him the distributor of his large alms and allowed him to retire at the monastery of Sarchinium, or St. Trones. Here prayer and contemplation were his whole employment till the year 743, in which he died on the 20th of February. Reflection. Nothing softens the soul and weakens piety as much as frivolous indulgence. God has revealed what high story sets by retirement in these words. I will lead her into solitude and I will speak to her heart. End of Section 53. Section 54 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 21. St. Severianus, martyr and bishop. In the reign of Marcian and St. Pulcheria, the Council of Chalcedon, which condemned the Eutycian heresy was received by St. Aeothymius and by a great part of the monks of Palestine, but Theodosius, an ignorant Eutycian monk and a man of a most tyrannical temper, under the protection of the Empress Eodosius, widow of Theodosius the Younger, who lived at Jerusalem, perverted many among the monks themselves in having obliged Juvenile, bishop of Jerusalem, to withdraw, unjustly possessed himself of that important sea, and in a cruel persecution which he raised filled Jerusalem with blood. Then at the head of a band of soldiers he carried desolation over the country. Many, however, had the courage to stand their ground. No one resisted him with greater zeal and resolution than Severianus, bishop of Ziopoulos, and his recompense was the crown of Martitum. For the furious soldiers seized his person, dragged him out of the city, and massacred him in the latter part of the year 452 or in the beginning of the year 453. Reflection. With what floods of tears can we sufficiently be well so grievous in this fortune and implore the Divine Mercy on behalf of so many souls? How ought we to be alarmed at the consideration of so many dreadful examples of God's inscrutable judgments and tremble for ourselves? Let him who stands beware lest he fall. All fast what thou hast says the oracle of the Holy Spirit to every one of us lest another bear away thy crown. End of Section 54. Section 55 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 22, St. Peter's Chair at Antioch. That St. Peter, before he went to Rome, founded the seat of Antioch, is tested by many saints. It was just that the Prince of the Apostles should take this city under his particular care and inspection, which was then the capital of the East, and in which the faith took so early and so deep root as to give birth in it the name of Christians. St. Chrysostom says that St. Peter made there a long stay, St. Gregory the Great, that he was seven years Bishop of Antioch. Not that he resided there all that time, but only that he had a particular care over that church. If he sat 25 years at Rome, the date of his establishing, his chair at Antioch, must be within three years after our Savior's ascension. For in that supposition he may have gone to Rome in the second year of Claudius. In the first ages it was customary, especially in the East, for every Christian to keep the anniversary of his baptism, on which he renewed his baptismal vows and gave thanks to God for his heavenly adoption. This they called their spiritual birthday. The bishops in like manner kept the anniversary of their own consecration, as peers from four sermons of St. Leo on the anniversary of his accession or assumption to the pontifical dignity. And this was frequently continued after their decease by the people out of respect for their memory. St. Leo says we ought to celebrate the chair of St. Peter with no less joy than the day of his martyrdom. For as in this he was exalted to a throne of glory in heaven, so by the former he was installed head of the church on earth. Reflection. On this festival we are especially bound to adore and thank the divine goodness for the establishment and propagation of his church. And earnestly to pray in his mercy he preserved the same and dilate its pale that his name may be glorified by all nations and by all hearts to the boundaries of the earth. For his divine honor and the salvation of souls framed to his divine image and the price of his adorable blood. End of section 55. Section 56 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1. January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1. January through March. By John Gilmary Shea. February 23. St. Peter Damien. St. Peter Damien was born in 988 and lost both parents at an early age. His eldest brother in whose hands he was left treated him so cruelly that a younger brother, a priest moved by his piteous state, sent him to the University of Parma where he acquired great distinction. His studies were sanctified by vigils, fasts, and prayers. Till at last thinking that all this was only serving God by halves, he resolved to leave the world. He joined the monks of Font of Elano, then in the greatest repute. And by his wisdom and sanctity rose to be superior. He was employed on the most delicate and difficult missions, amongst others the reform of ecclesiastical communities which was affected by his zeal. Seven popes in secession made him their constant advisor and he was at last created cardinal bishop of Ostia. He withstood Henry IV of Germany and labored in defense of Alexander II against the antipope whom he forced to yield and seek for pardon. He was charged as papal legate with the repression of Simoni, again was commissioned to settle the squads among various bishops, and finally in 1072 to adjust the affairs of the church at Ravenna. He was laid low by a fever on his homeward journey and died at Fianza in a monastery of his order on the eighth day of his sickness whilst the monks chanted matins around him. Reflection. The saints studied, not in order to be accounted, learned, but to become perfect. This only is wisdom and true greatness, to account ourselves as ignorant and to adhere in all things to the teachings and instincts of the church. Saint Serenus, a gardener, martyr. Serenus was by birth a Grecian. He quitted estate, friends, and country to serve God in celibacy, penance, and prayer. With this design he bought a garden in Sermium in Pannonia, which he cultivated with his own hands and lived on the fruits and herbs it produced. One day there came thither a woman with her two daughters. Serenus seen them come up, advised them to withdraw, and to conduct themselves in future as decency required in persons of their sex and condition. The woman, stung at our saint's charitable remonstrance, retired in confusion, but resolved on revenging the supposed affront. She accordingly wrote to her husband that Serenus had insulted her. He, on receiving her letter, went to the emperor to demand justice, whereupon the emperor gave him a letter to the governor of the province to enable him to obtain satisfaction. The governor ordered Serenus to be immediately brought before him. Serenus, on hearing the charge, answered, I remember that some time ago a lady came into my garden at an unseasonable hour, and I took the liberty to tell her it was against decency for one of her sex and quality to be abroad at such an hour. This plea of Serenus, having put the officer to the blush for his wife's conduct, he dropped his prosecution. But the governor, suspecting by this answer that Serenus might be a Christian, began to question him, saying, Who are you, and what is your religion? Serenus, without hesitating one moment, answered, I am a Christian. It seemed a while ago as if God rejected me as the stone unfit to enter his building, but he has the goodness to take me now to be placed in it. I am ready to suffer all things for his name, that I may have a part in his kingdom with his saints. The governor, hearing this, burst into rage and said, Since you sought to allude by flight the emperor's edicts, and have positively refused to sacrifice to the gods, I condemn you for these crimes, to lose your head. The sentence was no sooner pronounced than the saint was carried off and beheaded on the 23rd of February in 307. Reflection. The garden affords a beautiful emblem of a Christian's continual progress in the path of virtue. Plants always mount upwards and never stop in their growth till they have attained to that maturity which the author of nature has prescribed. So in a Christian, everything ought to carry him toward that perfection which the sanctity of his state requires, and every desire of his soul, every action of his life, should be a step advancing to this in a direct line. End of Section 56. Section 57 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 24. Saint Matthias, Apostle. After our Blessed Lord's Ascension, his disciples met together with Mary his mother and the eleven apostles in an upper room at Jerusalem. The little company numbered no more than one hundred and twenty souls. They were waiting for the promised coming of the Holy Ghost, and they persevered in prayer. Meanwhile, there was a solemn act to be performed on the part of the church, which could not be postponed. The place of the fallen Judas must be filled up, that the elect number of the apostles might be complete. Saint Peter, therefore, as Vicar of Christ, arose to announce the divine decree, that which the Holy Ghost had spoken by the mouth of David concerning Judas, he said, must be fulfilled. Of him it had been written, his bishop, Rick, let another take. A choice, therefore, was to be made of one among those who had been their companions from the beginning, who could bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Two were named of equal merit, Joseph called Ann Matthias. Then, after praying to God, who knows the hearts of all men, to show which of these he had chosen, they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, who was forthwith numbered with the apostles. It is recorded of the saint, thus wonderfully elected to so high a vocation, that he was above all remarkable for his mortification of the flesh. It was thus that he made his election sure. Reflection. Our ignorance of many points in Saint Matthias' life serves to fix the tension all the more firmly upon these two, the occasion of his call to the apostleate, and the fact of his perseverance. We then naturally turn in thought to our own vocation, in our own end. End of Section 57. Section 58 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 25, Saint Tarsias. Tarsias was born at Constantinople about the middle of the 8th century of the noble family. His mother, Eucratia, brought him up in the practice of the most imminent virtues. By his talents and virtue he gained the esteem of all, and was raised to the greatest honors of the Empire, being made council and afterwards First Secretary of State to the Emperor Constantine and the Empress Irene, his mother. In the midst of the court, and in its highest honors, he led a life like that of a religious man. Paul, patriarch of Constantinople, the third of that name, though he had conformed in some respects to the then reigning heresy, had several good qualities, and was not only beloved by the people for his charity to the poor, but highly esteemed by the whole court for his great prudence. Touched with remorse, he quitted the patriarchal sea, and put on a religious habit in the monastery of Floris in Constantinople. Tarsias was chosen to secede him by the unanimous consent of the court, clergy, and the people. Finding it in vain to oppose his election, he declared that he could not in conscience except of the government of A.C., which had been cut off from the Catholic Communion. Except on condition that a general council should be called to compose the disputes which divided the church at that time in relation to holy images. This being agreed to, he was solemnly declared patriarch and consecrated soon after on Christmas Day. The council was opened on the 1st of August in the Church of the Apostles at Constantinople in 786, but being disturbed by the violences of the iconic lass it adjourned, it met again the year following in the Church of Saint Sophia at Nice. The council, having declared the sense of the church in relation to the matter in debate, which was found to be the allowing to holy pictures and images a relative honor, was closed with the usual acclamations and prayers for the prosperity of the emperor and empress, after which Sinoto letters were sent to all the churches and in particular to the pope who approved the council. The life of this holy patriarch was a model of perfection to his clergy and people. His table contained barely the necessities of life. He allowed himself very little time for sleep, being always up the first and last in his family. Reading in prayer filled all his leisure hours. The emperor, having become enamored of Theodota, a maid of honor to his wife, the Empress Mary, was resolved to divorce the latter. He used all his efforts to gain the patriarch over to his desires. But Saint Tiresius resolutely refused to countenance the inequity. The holy man gave up his soul to God in peace on the 25th of February, 806, after having sat twenty-one years and two months. Reflection. The highest praise which Scripture pronounces on the holy man Job is comprised in these words. He was simple and upright. And of Section 58. Section 59 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. By John Gilmary Shea. February 26. Saint Porphyry, Bishop. At the age of twenty-five Porphyry, a rich citizen of Thessalonica, left the world for one of the great religious houses in the desert of Sete. Here he remained five years and then, finding himself drawn to a more solitary life, passed into Palestine, where he spent a similar period in the Severe Penance till ill health obliged him to moderate his austerities. He then made his home in Jerusalem, and in spite of his ailments visited the holy places every day, thinking says his biographer, so little of his sickness that he seemed to be afflicted in another body, and not his own. About this time God put into his heart to sell all he had and give to the poor, and then in reward of the sacrifice restored him by a miracle to perfect health. In three ninety-three he was ordained priest and entrusted with the care of the relics of the true cross. Three years later, in spite of all the resistance his humility could make, he was consecrated Bishop of Gaza. That city was a hotbed of paganism, and Porphyry found in it an apple-scope for his apostolic zeal. His labors and the miracles which attended them affected the conversion of many, and an imperial edict for the destruction of the pagan temples obtained through the influence of St. John Chrysostom greatly strengthened his hands. When St. Porphyry went first to Gaza he found there one temple more splendid than the rest, in honor of the chief God. When the edict went forth to destroy all traces of heathen worship, St. Porphyry determined to put Satan to special shame, where he had received special honor. A Christian church was built upon the site, and its approach was paved with the marbles of the heathen temple. Thus every worshiper of Jesus Christ trod the relics of idolatry and superstition underfoot each time he went to assist at the holy mass. He lived to see his diocese for the most part clear of idolatry, and died AD 420. Reflection. All superstitious searching into secret things is forbidden by the first commandment, equally with the worship of any false God. Let us ask St. Porphyry for great zeal in keeping this commandment, lest we be led away, as so many are by a curious and prying mind. End of Section 59. Section 60 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 27. St. Leander, Bishop. St. Leander was born of an illustrious family at Cartagena in Spain. He was the eldest of five brothers, several of whom are numbered among the Saints. He entered into a monastery very young, where he lived many years and attained to an eminent degree of virtue and sacred learning. These qualities occasioned his being promoted to the sea of Sevilla. But his change of condition made little or no alteration in his method of life, though it brought on him a great increase of care and solicitude. Spain at that time was in possession of the Visigoths. These Goths, being infected with Arianism, established this heresy wherever they came, so that when St. Leander was made Bishop, it had reigned in Spain a hundred years. This was his great affliction. However, by his prayers to God and by his most zealous and unwirried endeavors, he became the happy instrument of the conversion of that nation to the Catholic faith. Having converted, among others, Hermenigil, the king's eldest son and heir apparent, Leander was banished by King Lilvaigil. This pious prince was put to death by his unnatural father, the year following for refusing to receive communion from the hands of an Arian Bishop. But, touch with remorse not long after, the king recalled our saint, and falling sick and finding himself past hopes of recovery, he sent for St. Leander and recommended to him his son, Ricarid. This son, by listening to St. Leander, soon became a Catholic and finally converted the whole nation of the Visigoths. He was no less successful with respect to the Suevi, a people of Spain, whom his father, Lilvaigil, had perverted. St. Leander was no less zealous in the reformation of manners than in restoring the purity of faith. And he planted the seeds of that zeal and fervor, which afterward produced so many martyrs and saints. This holy doctor of Spain died about the year 596 on the 27th of February, as Malbion proves from his epitaph. The Church of Sevillea has been a metropilancy ever since the third century. The cathedral is the most magnificent, both as to structure and ornament of any in all Spain. End of Section 60 Section 61 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea February 28, Saints Romanus and Lupicinas, Abbots Romanus at 35 years of age left his relative and spent some time in the monastery of Annay at Lyon at the great church at the conflux of the Sion and Rhone, which the faithful had built over the ashes of the famous martyrs of that city. For their bodies being burned by the pagans, their ashes were thrown into the Rhone, but a great part of them was gathered by the Christians and deposited in this place. Romanus, a short time after, retired into the forests of Mount Jura between France and Switzerland and fixed his abode at a place called Kandate at the conflux of the rivers Bien and Alier, where he found a spot of ground fit for culture and some trees which furnished him with a kind of wild fruit. Here he spent his time in praying, reading and laboring for his subsistence. Lupicinas, his brother, came to him some time after in company with others, who were followed by several more, drawn by the fame of the virtue and miracles of these two saints. Their numbers increasing, they built several monasteries in an unnery called La Baume, which no men were allowed ever to enter and where Saint Romanus chose his burial place. The brothers governed the monks jointly and in great harmony, though Lupicinas was the more inclined to severity of the two. Lupicinas used no other bed than a chair or a hard board, never touched wine, and would scarcely ever suffer a drop either of oil or milk to be poured on his potage. In summer his subsistence for many years was only hard bread moistened in cold water so that he could eat it with a spoon. His tunic was made of various skins of beasts sewn together with a cow. He used wooden chews and wore no stockings unless when he was obliged to go out of the monastery. Saint Romanus died about the year 460, and Saint Lupicinas survived him almost twenty years. End of Section 61. Section 62 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. February 29, Saint Oswald, Bishop. Oswald was of a noble Saxon family and was endowed with a very rare and beautiful form of body and with a singular piety of soul. He was brought up by his uncle, Saint Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury, and was chosen while still young, Dean of the Secular Canons of Winchester, then very relaxed. His attempt to reform them was a failure and he saw with that infallible instinct, which so often guides the Saints in critical times, that the true remedy for the corruption of the clergy was the restoration of the monastic life. He therefore went to France and took the habit of Saint Benedict, but returned only to receive the news of Odo's death. He found, however, a new patron in Saint Dunstan, now Metropolitan, through whose influence he was nominated to the Sea of Winchester. To these two Saints, together with Ethelwald of Winchester, the monastic revival of the tenth century is mainly due. Oswald's first care was to deprive of their benefices the disorderly clerics whom he replaced as far as possible by regulars, and himself founded seven religious houses. Considering that in the hearts of the secular canons there were yet some sparks of virtue, he would not at once expel them, but rather entrap them by a holy artifice. Adjoining the cathedral he built a church in honor of the Mother of God, causing it to be served by a body of strict religious. He himself assisted at the divine office in this church, and his example is followed by the people. The canons, fighting themselves isolated, and their cathedral deserted, choose rather to embrace the religious life than to continue not only to injure their own souls, but to be a mockery to their people by reason of the contrast offered by their worldliness to the regularity of their religious brethren. As Archbishop of York, a like success attended Saint Oswald's efforts, and God manifested his approval of his zeal by discovering to him the relics of his great predecessor, Saint Wilfred, which he reverently translated to Warchester. He died February 29, 992. Reflection. A soul without discipline is like a ship without a helm. She must inevitably strike unawares upon the rocks, thunder on the shoals, or float unknowingly into the harbor of the enemy. And Section 62. Section 63 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. March 1st, St. David Bishop. St. David, son of Saint, Prince of Cardigan and of Nun, was born in that country in the 5th century, and from his earliest years gave himself wholly to the service of God. He began his religious life under St. Paulinus, a disciple of St. Germannus, Bishop of Oxair, who had been sent to Britain by St. Clementine to stop the ravages of the heresy of Pelagius at that time Abbot, as it is said of Bangor. On the reappearance of that heresy in the beginning of the 6th century, the bishops assembled at Breffi, and unable to address the people that came to hear the word of truth, sent for St. David from his cell to preach to them. The saint came, and it is related that as he preached the ground beneath his feet rose and became a hill, so that he was heard by an innumerable crowd. The heresy fell under the sword of the spirit, and the saint was elected Bishop of Carlyon on the resignation of St. Duprecius. But he removed the sea to Menevia, a lone and desert spot where he might with his monk serve God away from the noise of the world. He founded 12 monasteries and governed his church according to the cannons sanctioned in Rome. At last, when about 80 years of age, he laid himself down knowing that his hour was come. As his agony closed, our Lord stood before him in a vision, and the saint cried out, Take me up with thee, and so gave up his soul on Tuesday, March 1, 561. St. Albanus, Bishop St. Albanus was of an ancient and noble family in Brittany, and from his childhood was fervent in every exercise of piety. He ardently sighed after the happiness which a devout soul finds in being perfectly disengaged from all earthly things. Having embraced the monastic state at Tintelan near Angers, he shown a perfect model of virtue, living as if in all things he had been without any will of his own, and the soul seemed so perfectly governed by the spirit of Christ as to live only for him. At the age of 35 years he was chosen Abbot in 504, and 25 years afterwards, Bishop of Angers, He everywhere restored discipline, being inflamed with a holy zeal for the honour of God. His dignity seemed to make no alteration either in his mortifications or in the constant recollection of his soul. Honoured by all the world, even by kings, he was never affected with vanity. Powerful in works and miracles, he looked upon himself as the most unworthy and most unprofitable among the servants of God, and had no other ambition than to appear such in the eyes of others as he was in those of his own humility. In the Third Council of Orleans in 538, he procured the thirtieth canon of the Council of Epione to be revived, by which those are declared excommunicated, who presumed to contract incestuous marriages in the first or second degree of consinguinity or affinity. He died on the first of March in 549. Reflection. With whatever virtues a man may be endowed, he will discover, if he considers himself attentively, a sufficient depth of misery to afford cause for deep humility. But Jesus Christ says, He that humbleth himself shall be exalted. End of Section 63. Section 64 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March, by John Gilmary Shea. March 2. St. Suplicius. Pope. St. Suplicius was the ornament of the Roman clergy under St. Leo and Hilarius, and seceded the latter in the pontificate in 468. He was raised by God to comfort and support his church amidst the greatest storms. All the provinces of the Western Empire, out of Italy, were fallen into the hands of barbarians. The emperors for many years were rather shadows of power than sovereigns. And in the eighth year of the pontificate of St. Suplicius, Rome itself fell a prey to foreigners. Italy, by oppression and the ravages of barbarians, was left almost a desert without inhabitants. And the imperial armies consisted chiefly of barbarians, hired under the name of auxiliaries. These soon saw that their masters were in their power. The Herioli depended one-third of the lands of Italy, and upon refusal chose for their leader, Odesser, one of the lowest extraction, but a resolute and intrepid man who was proclaimed king at Rome in 476. He put to death Orestes, who was regent for the empire for his son Augustulus, when the senate had advanced to the imperial throne. Odesser spared the life of Augustulus, appointed him the salary of 6,000 pounds of gold, and permitted him to live at full liberty near Naples. Pope Simplicius was wholly taken up in comforting and relieving the afflicted, and in sowing the seeds of the Catholic faith among the barbarians. The east gave his zeal no less employment and concern. Peter Canapheus, a violent eotichian, was made by the heretics Patriarch of Antioch, and Peter Mungus, one of the most profligate men that of Alexandria. Ocasius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, received the sentence of Saint Simplicius against Canapheus, but supported Mungus against him in the Catholic Church, and was a notorious changeling double-dealer and artful hypocrite, who often made religion serve his own private ends. Saint Simplicius at length discovered his artificis and redoubled his zeal to maintain the holy faith, which he saw betrayed on every side, whilst the patriarchal seas of Alexandria and Antioch were occupied by furious wolves, and there was not one Catholic king in the whole world. The emperor measured everything by his passions and human views. Saint Simplicius, having sat fifteen years, eleven months, and six days, went to receive the reward of his labors in 483. He was buried in St. Peter's on the 2nd of March. Reflection. He that trusted in God shall fare never the worst saith the wise men in the book of Cleziasticus. End of Section 64 Section 65 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 3 St. Cunegundis, Empress St. Cunegundis was the daughter of Siegfried, the first count of Luxembourg, and Hades Wieg, his pious wife. They instilled into her from her cradle the most tender sentiments of piety and married her to St. Henry, Duke of Bavaria, who upon the death of the emperor Ortho III was chosen king of the Romans and crowned on the 6th of June, 1002. She was crowned at Patterborn on St. Lawrence's Day. In the year 1014 she went with her husband to Rome and received the imperial crown with him from the hands of Pope Benedict VIII. She had by St. Henry's consent before her marriage made a vow of virginity. Columniators afterwards made vile accusations against her and the Holy Empress to remove the scandal of such a slander, trusting in God to prove her innocence, walked over red-hot plowshares without being hurt. The emperor condemned his two scrupulous fears and credulity and from that time they lived in the strictest union of hearts, conspiring to promote in everything God's honor in the advancement of piety. Going once to make a retreat in Hessa she felt dangerously ill and made a vow to found a monastery if she recovered at Coffingen near Kassel in the diocese of Patterborn which she executed in a stately manner and gave it to the nuns of the Order of St. Benedict. Before it was finished St. Henry died in 1024. She earnestly recommended his soul to the prayers of others, especially to her dear nuns for the longing desire of joining them. She had already exhausted her treasures in founding bishoprics and monasteries and in relieving the poor and she had therefore little left now to give but still thirsting to embrace perfect evangelical poverty and to renounce all to serve God without obstacle. She assembled a great number of prelates to the dedication of her church at Coffingen on the anniversary day of her husband's death, in 1025. And after the gospel was sung at Mass she offered on the altar a piece of the True Cross and then putting off her imperial robes clothed herself with a poor habit. Her hair was cut off and the bishop put on her avail in a ring as a pledge of her fidelity to her heavenly spouse. After she was consecrated to God and religion she seemed entirely to forget that she had been in the Holy Cross and behaved as the last in the house being persuaded that she was so before God. She prayed and read much, worked with her hands and took a singular pleasure in visiting and comforting the sick. Thus she passed the last 15 years of her life. Her mortifications at length reduced her to a very weak condition and brought on her her last sickness. Perceiving that they were preparing a cloth fringe and gold to cover her corpse after her death she changed color and ordered it to be taken away nor could she be at rest till she was promised she should be buried as a poor religious in her habit. She died on the 3rd of March, 1040. Her body was carried to Bamberg and buried near that of her husband. She was solemnly canonized by Innocent III in 1200. Reflection The attachment of the mind at least is needful to those who cannot venture on ineffectual renunciation. So likewise every one of you, saith Jesus Christ, that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be my disciple. End of Section 65. Section 66 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. This is a Librivox recording. Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1, January through March. By John Gilmary Shea. March 4, St. Casimir, King. Casimir, the second son of Casimir III, King of Poland, was born AD 1458. From the custody of a most virtuous mother, Elizabeth of Austria, he passed to the guardianship of a devoted master, the learned and pious John Douglas. Thus animate it from his earliest years by precept and example. His innocence and piety soon ripened into the practice of heroic virtue. At the age of 25, sick of a lingering illness, he foretold the hour of his death and chose to die a virgin rather than take the life and health which the doctors held out to him in the married state. In an atmosphere of luxury and magnificence, the young prince had fasted, worn a hair-shirt, slept upon the bare earth, prayed by night, and watched for the opening of the church doors at dawn. He had become so tenderly devoted to the passion of our Lord that at mass he seemed quite wrapped out of himself and bound. His love for our blessed lady expressed in a long and beautiful hymn familiar to us in our own tongue. The miracles wrought by his body after death fill a volume. The blind saw, the lame walked, the sick were healed, a dead girl was raised to life, and once the saint in glory led his countrymen to battle and delivered them by a glorious victory from the church. One hundred and twenty-two years after his death the saint's tomb in the cathedral of Vienna was open that the holy body might be transferred to the rich marble chapel where it now lies. The place was damp and the very vault crumbled away in the hands of the workmen. Yet the saint's body, wrapped in robes of silk, was found whole and incorrupt and emitted a sweet fragrance which filled the church in refreshed presence. Under his head was found his hymn to our lady, which he had buried with him. The following night three young men saw a brilliant light issuing from the open tomb and streaming through the windows of the chapel. Reflection. Let the study of St. Casimir's life make us increase in devotion to the most pure mother of God, a sure means of preserving the holy purity. End of Section 66. Section 67 of Little Victoria Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Little Victoria Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. March 5, Saints Adrian and Eobulos, martyrs. In the seventh year of Diocletian's persecution, continued by Galerius Maximianus when Vermilion, the most bloody governor of Palestine had stained Caesarea with the blood of many illustrious martyrs, Adrian and Eobulos came out of the country called Magantia to Caesarea in order to visit the holy confessors there. At the gates of the city they were asked, as others were, whether they were going and upon what errand. They ingeniously confessed the truth and were brought before the president who ordered them to be tortured and their sides to be torn with iron hooks and then condemned them to be exposed to wild beasts. When Eobulos read the festival of the public genius, Adrian was exposed to a lion and not being dispatched by that beast but only mangled, was at length killed by the sword. Eobulos was treated in the same manner two days later. The judge offered him his liberty if he would sacrifice to idols but the saint preferred a glorious death and was the last that had now continued twelve years under three successive governors, Flavian, Urban and Vermillion. Divine vengeance pursuing the cruel Vermillion he was the same year beheaded for his crimes by the emperor's order as his predecessor Urban had been two years before. Reflection. It is in vain that we take the name of Christians or pretend to follow Christ unless we carry our crosses after him. It is in vain that we hope to share in his glory and in his kingdom if we accept not the condition. We cannot arrive at heaven by any other road but that which Christ held who bequeathed his cross to all his elect as their portion and inheritance in this world. End of Section 67. Section 68 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1. January through March. This is a Librivox recording all Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1. January through March by John Gilmary Shea. March 6. St. Colette Virgin. After a holy childhood Colette joined a society of devout women called the Big Wiens but not finding their state sufficiently austere she entered the Third Order of St. Francis and lived in a hut near her parish church of Corby in Picardy. Here she had passed four years of extraordinary penance in St. Francis in a vision, made her undertake the reform of her order, then much relaxed. Armed with due authority she established her reform throughout a large part of Europe and in spite of the most violent opposition found at seventeen convents of the strict observance by the same wonderful prudence she assisted in healing the great schism which then afflicted the church. The fathers in council at Constance were in doubt how to deal with the three claimants to the tiara, John the 23rd, Benedict the 13th and Gregory the 12th. At this crisis Colette together with St. Vincent Ferrer wrote to the fathers to depose Benedict the 13th who alone refused his consent to a new election. This was done and Martin the 5th was elected to the great good of the church. Colette equally assisted the council of Basely by her advice and prayers and when later God revealed to her the spirit of revolt that was rising she warned the bishops and legates to retire from the council. St. Colette never ceased to pray for the church while the devils in turn never ceased to assault her. They swarmed round her as hideous insects buzzing and steaming her tender skin. They brought into her cell the decaying corpses of public criminals and assuming themselves monstrous forms struck her savage blows or they would appear in the most seductive guise and tempted by many deceits to sin. St. Colette once complained to our Lord that the demons prevented her from praying. Seize then said the devil to her your prayers to the great master of the church and we will cease to torment you for you torment us more by your prayers than we do you. Yet the virgin of Christ triumphed alike over the threats and their allurements and said that she would count that day the unhappiest of our life in which she suffered nothing for her God. She died March 6, 1447 in a transport of intercession for sinners and the church. Reflection one of the greatest tests of being a good Catholic is zeal for the church and devotion to Christ Vicar. End of section 68 Section 69 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1 January 3 March This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public screen. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Russ Hobbs Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1 January 3 March by John Gilmary Shea March 7 St. Thomas Aquinas St. Thomas was born of noble parents in Aquino in Italy, AD 1226. At the age of 19 he received the Dominican habit at Naples where he was studying. Seized by his brothers on his way to Paris he suffered a two years captivity in their castle of Roccaseca. But neither the caresses of his mother and sisters nor the threats and stratagems of his brothers could shake him in his vocation. While St. Thomas was in confinement at Roccaseca his brothers endeavored to entrap him into sin. But the attempt only ended in the triumph of his purity. Snatching from the hearth a burning brand the St. drove from his chamber the wretched creature whom they had there concealed. Then, marking a cross on the wall, he knelt down to pray and forthwith being wrapped in ecstasy an angel girded him with a cord in token of the gift of perpetual chastity which God had given him. The pain caused by the girdle was so sharp that St. Thomas uttered a piercing cry which brought his guards into the room. But he never told this grace to anyone save only to Father Reynald his confessor a little while before his death. Hence originated the confraternity of the angelic warfare for the preservation of the virtue of chastity. Having at length escaped St. Thomas went to Cologne to study under Blessed Albert the Great and after that to Paris he taught philosophy and theology. The church has ever venerated his numerous writings as a treasure house of sacred doctrine. While naming him the angelic doctor she has indicated that his science is more divine than human. The rarest gifts of intellect were combined in him with the tinderous piety. Prayer, he said had taught him more than study. His singular devotion to the blessed sacrament shines forth in the office and hymns of Corpus Christi which he composed. To the words miraculously uttered by a crucifix at Naples Well has thou written concerning me Thomas what shall I give thee as a reward? He replied not, save thyself O Lord. He died at Fossa Nuova A.D. 1274 on his way to the General Council of Lyons to which Pope Gregory the Tenth had summoned him. Reflection The knowledge of God is for all but hidden treasures are reserved for those who have ever followed the Lamb. End of Section 69 Section 70 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Russ Hobbs Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 8th St. John of God Nothing in John's early life foreshadowed his future sanctity. He ran away as a boy from his home in Portugal tainted sheep and cattle in Spain and served as a soldier against the French and afterwards against the Turks. When about 40 years of age filled in remorse for his wildlife, he resolved to devote himself to the ransom of the Christian slaves in Africa and went thither with the family of an exiled noble which he maintained by his labor. On his return to Spain he sought to do good by selling holy pictures and books at low prices. At length the hour of grace struck. At Granada, a sermon by the celebrated John of Avila shook his soul to its depths and his expressions of self-abhorrence were so extraordinary that he was taken to the asylum as one mad. There he employed himself in ministering to the sick. On leaving he began to collect homeless poor and to support them by begging. One night St. John found in the streets a poor man who seemed near death and as was his want he carried him to the hospital laid him on a bed and went to fetch water to wash his feet. When he had washed them he knelt to kiss them and started with awe. The feet were pierced and the print of the nails was bright with an unearthly radiance. He raised his eyes to look and heard the words John to me thou doest all that thou doest to the poor in my name. I reached forth my hand for the alms thou givest me dust thou clothe mine are the feet thou dust wash. And then the gracious injured leaving John filled at once with confusion and consolation. The bishop became the Saint's patron and gave him the name of John of God. When his hospital was on fire John was seen rushing about uninjured amidst the flames until he had rescued all his poor. After ten years of service of the suffering the Saint's life was fitly closed. He plunged into the river Zaniel to save a drowning boy and died AD 1550 of an illness brought on by the attempt at the age of 55. Reflection God often rewards men for works that are pleasing in his sight by giving them grace and opportunity to do other works higher still. Saint John of God used to attribute his conversion and the graces which enabled him to do such great works to his self-denying charity in Africa. End of section 70 The LeBree Box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saint's Wyoming January through March by John Gilmary Shea March night Saint Francis of Rome Francis was born at Rome in 1384. Her parents were of high rank. They overruled her desire to become a nun and her age married her to Lorenzo Ponciano a Roman noble. During the forty years of their married life they never had a disagreement. While spending her days in retirement and prayer she attended promptly to every household duty saying a married woman must leave God at the altar to find him in her domestic cares and she once found the verse of a psalm in which she had been four times thus interrupted for her in letters of gold. Her ordinary food was dry bread. Secretly she would exchange with beggars good food for their hard crusts. Her drink was water and her cup a human skull. During the invasion of Rome in 1413 Ponciano was banished. His estates confiscated, his house destroyed and his elder son taken as a hostage. Francis saw in these losses only the finger of God and blessed his holy name. When peace was restored Ponciano recovered his estates and Francis found it the oblates. After her husband's death barefoot and with a cord about her neck she begged admission to the community and was soon elected superiorous. She lived always in the presence of God and amongst many visions was given constant sight over Angel Guardian who shed such a brightness around him that the saint could read her midnight office by this light alone. He shielded her in the hour temptation and directed her in every good act. But when she was betrayed into some defect he faded from her sight and when some light words were spoken before her he covered his face in shame. She died on the day she had foretold March 9, 1440. Reflection God has appointed an Angel to guard each one of us to whose warnings we are bound to attend. Let us listen to his voice here and we shall see him hereafter when he leads us before the throne of God. End of Section 71 Section 72 of Little Victoria Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Victoria Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 10th the 40 martyrs of Sebast. The 40 martyrs were soldiers quartered at Sebast in Armenia about the year 320. When their legion was ordered to offer sacrifice they separated themselves from the rest and formed a company of martyrs after they had been torn by scourges and iron hooks they were chained together and led to a lingering death. It was a cruel winter and they were condemned to lie naked on the icy surface of a pond in the open air so they were frozen to death. But they ran undismayed to the place of their combat joyfully stripped off their garments and with one voice besought God to keep their ranks unbroken. We have come to combat Grant that 40 may be crowned. There were warm bats hard by ready for anyone amongst them who would deny Christ. The soldier who watched saw angels descending with 39 crowns while he wondered at the deficiency in the number. One of the confessors lost heart renounced his faith and crawling to the fire died body and soul at the spot where he expected relief. But the soldier was inspired to confess Christ and take his place and again the number of 40 was complete. They remained steadfast while their limbs grew stiff and frozen and died one by one. Among the 40 there was a young soldier who held out longest against the cold and when the officers came to cart away the dead bodies they found him still breathing. They were moved with pity and wanted to leave him alive in the hope that he would still change his mind. Again this valiant woman could not bear to see her son separated from the band of martyrs. She exhorted him to persevere and lifted his frozen body into the cart. He was just able to make a sign of recognition and was born away to be thrown into the flames with the dead bodies of his brethren. Reflection. All who live the life of grace are one in Christ but besides this there are many specialties of religion and community life or at least of aspirations and prayer and pious works. Thank God if he has bound you to others by these spiritual ties. Remember the character you have to support and pray that the bond which unites you here may last for eternity. End of section 72. Section 73 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea. March 11th Saint Eologius Martyr Saint Eologius was of a senatorian family of Cordova at that time the capital of the Moors in Spain and the capital of the city of Cordova. The city of Cordova was the capital of the city of Cordova and the capital of the Moors in Spain. Our saint was educated among the clergy of the church of Saint Zoilus, a martyr who suffered with 19 others under Diocletian. Here he distinguished himself by his virtue in learning and being made priest was placed at the head of the chief ecclesiastical school at Cordova. He joined assiduous watching, fasting and prayer to his studies and his humility, mildness that regained him the affection and respect of everyone. During the persecution raised against the Christians in the year 850 Saint Eologius was thrown into prison and there wrote his exhortation to Martyrdom addressed to the Virgin's Flora and Mary who were beheaded the 24th of November 851. Six days after their death Eologius was set at liberty. In the year 852 several martyrs suffered the like Martyrdom. Saint Eologius encouraged all these martyrs to their tribes and was the support of that distressed flock. The Archbishop of Toledo dying in 858. Saint Eologius was elected to secede him but there was some obstacle that hindered him from being consecrated though he did not outlive his election two months. A version by the name of Lyucretia of a noble family among the Moors had been instructed from her infancy in the Christian religion by one of her relatives and privately baptized. Her father and mother used her virial and scourged her day and night to compel her to renounce the faith. Having made her condition known to Saint Eologius and his sister Annulona intimidating that she desired to go where she might freely exercise her religion they secretly procured her the way and concealed her for some time among faithful friends. But the matter was at length discovered and they were all brought before the Cate who threatened to have Eologius scourged to death. The saint told him that his torments would be of no avail for he would never change his religion whereupon the Cate gave orders that he should be carried to the palace and be presented before the king's council. Eologius began boldly to propose the oaths of the gospel to them. But to prevent their hearing him the council condemned him immediately to lose his head. As they were leading him to execution one of the gods gave him a blow on the face for having spoken against Muhammad. He turned the other cheek impatiently received a second. He received the stroke of death with great cheerfulness on the 11th of March 859. Saint Lucretius was beheaded and her body thrown into the Guadalquivir but taken out by the Christians. Reflection Beg of God through the intercession of these holy martyrs the gift of perseverance their example will support you with an admirable rule for obtaining this crown and gift. Remember that you have renounced the world and the devil wants for all at your baptism. Do not hesitate. Do not look back. Do not listen to suggestions against faith or virtue. But advance day by day along the road which you have chosen to God who is your portion forever. End of section 73 Section 74 of the Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 12th St. Gregory the Great Gregory was a Roman of noble birth and while still young was Governor of Rome. On his father's death he gave his great wealth to the poor turned his house on the Colian Hill into a monastery which now bears his name and for some years lived as a perfect monk. The Pope drew him from his occlusion to make him one of the seven deacons of Rome and he did great service to the church for many years as what we now call Nuncio to the imperial court at Constantinople. While still among the saint was struck with some boys who were exposed for sale in Rome and heard with Sara that they were pagans. And of what race are they he asked? They are angels worthy indeed to be angels of God said he. And of what province? Of Dara was the reply. Truly must we rescue them from the wrath of God. And what is the name of their king? He is called Ella. It is well said Gregory Alleluia must be sung in their land to God. He at once got leave from the Pope and had set out to convert the English when the murmurs of the people led the Pope to recall him. The murmurs were not forgotten and one of the saint's first cares as Pope was to send from his own monastery St. Augustine and other monks to England. On the death of Pope Pelagius II Gregory was compelled to take the government of the church and for fourteen years his pontificate was a perfect model of ecclesiastical rule. He healed schisms, revived discipline, saved Italy by converting the wild Aryan bards who were laying at waste aided in the conversion of the Spanish and French Goths who were also Aryans and kindled anew in Britain the light of the faith which the English had put out in blood. He set an order the church's prayers and chat guided and consoled her pastors with innumerable letters and preached incessantly most effectively by his own example. He died AD 604 worn out by austerities and toils and the church reckons in one of her four great doctors and reveres him as St. Gregory the Great. Reflection The champions of faith proved the truth of their teaching no less than the holiness of their lives than by the force of their arguments. Never forget that to convert others you must first see to your own soul. End of Section 74 Section 75 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 13th St. Euphrasia Virgin Euphrasia was the daughter of Pius and her noble parents. After the death of her father his widow withdrew privately with her little daughter into Egypt where she was possessed of a very large estate. In that country she fixed her abode near a holy monastery of 130 nuns. The young Euphrasia at 7 years of age begged that she might be permitted to serve God in this monastery. The Pius mother on hearing this wept for joy after presented her child to the Abbas who taking up an image of Christ gave it to Euphrasia. The tender virgin kissed it saying, By thou I consecrate myself to Christ. Then the mother led her before an image of our Redeemer and lifting up her hands to Heaven said, Lord Jesus Christ receive this child on your special protection. You alone doth she love and seek. To you doth she recommend herself. After lifting her in the hands of the Abbas she went out of the monastery weeping. Some time after this the good mother fell sick and soon slept in peace. Upon the news of her death the Emperor Theodosius sent for the noble virgin to come to court having promised her a marriage to a favorite young senator. But the virgin wrote him refusing the alliance repeating her vow of virginity and requesting that her state should be sold and divided among smaller slaves set at liberty. The Emperor punctually executed all she desired a little before his death in 395. Saint Euphrasia was a perfect pattern of humility, meekness and charity. She found herself assaulted by any temptation. She immediately sought the advice of the Abbas who often enjoined her on such occasions. Some humbling and painful penitential labor is sometimes to carry great stones from one place to another which employment she once under an obstinate assault continued thirty days together with wonderful simplicity till the devil being vanquished by her humble obedience and chastisement of her body left her in peace. She was favored with miracles both before and after her death which happened in the year 410 the thirtieth of her age. End of section 75 Section 76 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea. Chapter 14 Saint Maud Queen This princess was daughter of Theodoric a powerful Saxon Count. Her parents placed her very young in the monastery of Irford of which her grandmother Maud was then Abbas. Our saint remained in that house an accomplished model of all virtues till her parents married her to Henry son of Arthur Duke of Saxony in 913 who was afterwards chosen king of Germany. He was a pious and victorious prince and very tender of his subjects. Whilst by his arms he checked the insolence of the Hungarians and Danes and enlarged his dominions by adding to them Bavaria. Maud gained domestic victories over her spiritual enemies more worthy of a Christian and far greater in the eyes of heaven. She nourished the precious seeds of devotion and humility in her heart by virtuous prayer and meditation. It was her delight to visit comfort and exhort the sick and the afflicted, to serve and instruct the poor and to afford her charitable succor to prisoners. Her husband edified by her example concurred with her in every pious undertaking which she projected. After twenty-three years' marriage God was pleased to call the king to himself in 936. Maud during his sickness went to the church to pour forth her soul and prayer for him at the foot of the altar. As soon as she understood by the tears and cries of the people that he had expired, she called for a priest that was fasting to offer the holy sacrifice for his soul. They had three sons, Otto, afterwards Emperor Henry Duke of Bavaria in St. Brun, Archbishop of Cologne. Otto was crowned king of Germany in 1937, an emperor at Rome in 962 after his victories over the Bohemians and Lombards. The two oldest sons conspired to strip Maud of her dowry on the unjust pretense that she had squandered the revenues of the state on the poor. The unnatural princess at length repented of their injustice and restored to her all that had been taken from her. She then became more liberal in her alms than ever and found at many churches with five monasteries. In her last sickness she made her confession to her grandson, William the Archbishop of Menz who yet died twelve days before her on his road home. She again made a public confession before the priests and monks of the place, received a second time the last sacraments in lying on a sackcloth with ashes on her head died on the 14th of March in 1968. Reflection. The beginning of true virtue is most ardently to desire and to ask it of God with the utmost assiduity and earnestness. Fervent prayer, holy meditation and reading pious books are the principle means by which the virtue is to be constantly improved in the interior life of the soul to be strengthened. End of section 76. Section 77 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 January through March. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 January through March by John Gregory Shea. March 15th St. Zachary Hope St. Zachary Cicetic Gregory III in 741 was a man of singular meekness and goodness. He loved the clergy and people of Rome to the degree that he hazarded his life for the monocasion of the troubles which Italy fell into by the rebellion of the Dukes of Spoleto against King Louis Brown. Out of respect to his sanctity and dignity that King restored to the Church of Rome all the places which belonged to it and sent back the captives without ransom. The lumbars were moved to tears at the devotion with which they heard him perform the divine service. The zeal and prudence of this Holy Pope appeared in many wholesome regulations which he made to perform or settle the discipline and peace of several churches. St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany wrote to him against a certain priest named Virgilius that he labored to sow the seeds of discord between him and Odileo, Duke of Bavaria and taught besides many errors. Zachary ordered that Virgilius should be sent to Rome that his doctrine might be examined. St. Joseph, for we find this same Virgilius soon after made bishop of Salzburg. Certain Venetian merchants having bought at Rome many slaves to sell to the moors in Africa, St. Zachary forbade such an iniquitous traffic in paying the merchants their price gave the slaves their liberty. He adorned Rome with sacred buildings and with great foundations in favor of the poor gave every year a considerable sum to furnish oil for the lamps in St. Peter's church. He died in 752 in the month of March. End of Section 77 Section 78 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March This is a LibriVox Recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 16th Saints Abraham and Mary Abraham was a rich nobleman of Edessa at his parents' desire he married but escaped to a cell near the city as soon as the feast was over he walled up the cell door leaving only a small window through which he received his food there for fifty years he sang God's praises and implored mercy for himself and for all men the wealth which fell to him on his parents' death he gave to the poor as many sought him for advice and consolation the bishop of Edessa in spite of his humility ordained him priest Saint Abraham was sent soon after his ordination to an idolatrous city which had hitherto been every messenger he was insulted, beaten, and three times banished but he returned each time with fresh zeal for three years he pleaded with God for those souls and in the end prevailed every citizen came to him for baptism after providing for their spiritual needs he went back to a cell more than ever convinced of the power of prayer his brother died leaving an only daughter Mary to the Saints care he placed her in a cell near his own and devoted himself to training her in perfection after twenty years of innocence she fell and fled in despair to a distant city where she drowned the voice of conscience in sin the saint and his friend Saint Ephraim prayed earnestly for her during two years then he went disguised to seek the lost sheep and had the joy of bringing her back to the desert a true penitent the gift of miracles and her countenance after death shown as the son Saint Abraham died five years before her about AD 360 all Edessa came for his last blessing and to secure his relics reflection oh that we realize the omnipotence of prayer every soul was created to glorify God eternally and it is in the power of everyone the salvation of his neighbor to the glory of God let us make good use of this talent of prayer lest our brother's blood be required of us at the last end of section 78 section 79 of little pictorial lives of the saints volume 1 January through March this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org little pictorial lives of the saints volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 17th Saint Patrick Bishop Apostle of Ireland is the virtue of children reflects an honor on their parents much more justly as the name of Saint Patrick rendered illustrious by the innumerable lights of sanctity with which the church of Ireland shown during many ages and by the colonies of saints with which it peopled many foreign countries for under God its inhabitants derived from their glorious Apostle the streams of that eminent sanctity by which they were long conspicuous to the world Saint Patrick was born towards the close of the 4th century in a village called Bonovan, Tubernai which seems to be the town of Kilpatrick on the mouth of the river Clyde in Scotland between Dumbarton and Glasgow he calls himself both a Britain and a Roman or of a mixed extraction and says his father was of a good family named Calpherius in a denizen of a neighboring city of the Romans who not long after abandoned Britain in 409 some writers call his mother Conchessa and say she was nieced to live in the mountain of Tours in his 16th year he was carried into captivity by certain barbarians who took him into Ireland where he was obliged to keep cattle on the mountains and in the forests in hunger and nakedness amidst snow rain and ice whilst he lived in the suffering condition God had pity on his soul and quickened him to a sense of his duty by the impulse of a strong interior grace to him with his whole heart in fervent prayer and fasting from that time faith and the love of God acquired continually new strength in his tender soul after six months spent in slavery under the same master St. Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to return to his own country in a form that a ship was then ready to sail with her he went at once to the sea coast though at a great distance he could not obtain his passage probably for want of money the saint returned towards his hut praying as he went but the sailors though pagans called him back and took him on board after three days sail they made land but wandered 27 days through deserts and were a long while distressed for want of provisions finding nothing to eat Patrick had often spoken to the company on the infinite power of God they therefore asked him if he did not pray for relief animated by a strong faith he assured them that if they would address themselves with their whole hearts to the true God he would hear and succor them they did so and on the same day met with a herd of swine from that time provisions never failed them till on the 27th day they came into a country that was cultivated and inhabited some years afterwards he was again led captive he covered his liberty after two months when he was at home with his parents God manifested to him by divers visions that he destined him to the great work of the conversion of Ireland the writers of his life say that after his second captivity he traveled into Gaul and Italy and saw saint martin saint germanus of pauchere and pope celestine in that he received his mission and the apostolic benediction who died in 432 it is certain that he spent many years in preparing himself for his sacred calling great opposition was made against his episcopal consecration and mission both by his own relatives and by the clergy these made him great offers in order to detain him among them and endeavored to affright him by exaggerating the dangers to which he exposed himself amidst the enemies of the romans who did not know God all these temptations threw the saint into great perplexities but the Lord whose will he consulted by earnest prayer supported him and he persevered in his resolution he foresook his family sold his birthright and dignity to serve strangers and consecrated his soul to God to carry his name to the ends of the earth in this disposition he passed into Ireland to preach the gospel but vital still generally reigned he devoted himself entirely to the salvation of these barbarians he traveled over the whole island penetrating into the remotest corners and such was the fruit of his preachings and sufferings that he baptized an infinite number of people he ordained every work clergyman induced women to live in holy widowhood continents, consecrated virgins to Christ he took nothing from the many thousands whom he baptized and often gave back the little presence which some laid on the altar choosing rather to mortify the fervent than to scandalize the weak or the infidels he gave freely of his own however both to pagans and Christians distributed large alms to the poor in the provinces where he passed made presents to the kings judging that necessary for the progress of the gospel and maintained and educated many children whom he trained up to serve at the altar the happy success of his labors cost him many persecutions a certain prince named Korotik, a Christian in name only disturbed the peace of his flock this tyrant having made a descent into Ireland plundered the country where Saint Patrick had been just conferring confirmation on a great number of no-fights who were yet in their white garments after baptism Korotik massacred many and carried away others whom he sold to the infidel picks or scots the next day the saint sent the Barbarian a letter and treating him to restore the Christian captus and at least part of the booty he had taken that the poor people might not perish for one but he was only answered by raileries the saint therefore wrote with his own hand a letter in it he styles himself a sinner an ignorant man he declares nevertheless that he is established bishop of Ireland and pronounces Korotik and the other parasites and accomplices separated from him and from Jesus Christ whose place he holds forbidding any to eat with them to receive their alms till they should have satisfied God by the tears of sincere penance the servants of Jesus Christ to their liberty this letter expresses his most tender love for his flock and his grief for those who had been slain yet mingled with joy because they reigned with the prophets, apostles and martyrs Jocelyn assures us that Korotik was overtaken by the divine vengeance Saint Patrick held several councils to settle the discipline of the church which he had planted Saint Bernard and the tradition of the country testify that Saint Patrick fixed his metropolis sea at Armog he established some other bishops as appears by his council and other monuments he not only converted the whole country by his preaching and wonderful miracles but also cultivated this vineyard with so fruitful a benediction an increase from heaven as to render Ireland a most flourishing garden in the church of God many particulars are related of the labours of Saint Patrick which we pass over in the first year of his mission he attempted to preach Christ in the general assembly of the kings in states of all Ireland held yearly at Tara the residents of the chief king styled the monarch of the whole island in the principal seat of the druids or priests in their paganish rites the son of Neil the chief monarch declared himself against the preacher however Patrick converted several and on his road to that place the father of Saint Benignus his immediate successor in the sea of Armog he afterwards converted and baptized the kings of Dublin and Munster and the seven sons of the king of Conod with the greatest part of their subjects and before his death almost the whole island he founded a monastery at Armog another called Dhamnak Padrig or Patrick's church also a third named Sable Padrig and filled the country with churches and schools of piety and learning the reputation of which for the three seceding centuries drew many foreigners into Ireland he died and was buried at Down in Ulster his body was found there in a church of his name in 1185 and translated to another part of the same church Ireland is the nursery when Saint Patrick sent forth hisaries and teachers Glastonbury and Lindisfarne Ripen and Mamasbury bear testimony to the labors of Irish priests in bishops for the conversion of England Iona is to this day the most venerated spot in Scotland Caliban, Fiakar, Gaul and many others evangelized the rough places of France and Switzerland America and Australia in modern times owe their Christianity to the faith in zeal of the sons and daughters of Saint Patrick reflection by the instrumentality of Saint Patrick the faith is now as fresh in Ireland even in this cold 19th century as when it was first planted ask him to obtain for you the special grace of his parents to prefer the loss of every earthly good to the least compromised matters of faith and of section 79 section 80 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints volume 1 January through March this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 18th Saint Cyril of Jerusalem Cyril was born out or near the city of Jerusalem about the year 315 he was ordained priest by Saint Maximus who gave him the important charge of instructing and preparing the candidates for baptism this charge he held for several years we still have one series of his instructions given in the year 347 or 348 there of singular interest as being the earliest record of the systematic teaching of the church on the creed and sacraments and as having been given in the church built by Constantine on Mount Cavalry their solid simple profound saturated with holy scripture exact precise and terse and as a witness and exposition of the Catholic faith invaluable on the death of Saint Maximus, Cyril was chosen Bishop of Jerusalem at the beginning of his time to recuperate a cross was seen in the year reaching from Mount Cavalry to Mount Olivet and so bright that it shown at noon day. Saint Cyril gave an account of it to the emperor and the faithful regarded it as a presage of victory over the Arian heretics while Cyril was bishop the apostate Julian resolved to falsify the words of our Lord by rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem and resources of a Roman emperor the Jews thronged enthusiastically to him and gave munificently but Cyril was unmoved the word of God abides he said one stone shall not be laid on another when the attempt was made a heathen writer tells us that horrible flames came forth from the earth rendering the place inaccessible to the scorched and scarred workmen the attempt was made again and again and then abandoned in despair soon afterward the emperor perished miserably in a war against the Persians and the church had rest like the other great bishops of his time Cyril was persecuted and driven once and again from his sea but on the death of the Arian emperor Valens he returned to Jerusalem who was present at the second general council at Constantinople and died in peace AD 386 after a troubled Episcopate of 35 years Reflection as a stout staff says Saint John Chrysostom supports the trembling limbs of a feeble old man so does faith sustain our vacillating mind lest it be tossed about by sinful hesitation and perplexity AD 80 AD 81 of little pictorial lives of the saints, volume 1 January through March this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org little pictorial lives of the saints, volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 19th, Saint Joseph spouse of the Blessed Virgin and patron of the universal church. Saint Joseph was by birth of the royal family of David but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter when God raised him to the highest sanctity and fitted him to be the spouse of his Virgin Mother and foster father and guardian of the Incarnate Word Joseph says the Holy Scripture was he just man he was innocent and pure and became the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus he was prudent and a lover of silence as became the master of the Holy House above all he was faithful and obedient to divine calls his conversation was with angels rather than with men when he learned that Mary bore within her womb the Lord of Heaven he feared to take her as his wife but an angel bade him fear not and all doubts vanished when Herod sought the life an angel told Joseph in a dream to fly with the child and his mother into Egypt Joseph at once arose in a bade this sudden and unexpected flight must have exposed Joseph to many inconveniences and sufferings in so long a journey with a little babe and a tender virgin the greater part of the way being through deserts and among strangers yet he alleges no excuses nor inquires at what time they were to return St. Chrysostom observes that God treats thus all his servants sending them frequent trials to clear their hearts from the rust of self-love but intermixing seasons of consolation Joseph says he is anxious on seeing the virgin with child an angel removes that fear he rejoices at the child's birth but a great fear secedes the fear as King seeks to destroy the child and the whole city is in an abroad to take away his life this is followed by another joy the adoration of the Magi a new sorrow then arises his order to fly into a foreign unknown country without help or acquaintance it is the opinion of the fathers that upon their entering Egypt at the presence of the child Jesus all the oracles of that superstitious country were struck dumb and the statues of their gods trembled and many bodies fell to the ground the fathers also attribute to this holy visit the spiritual benediction poured on that country which made it for many ages most fruitful and saints after the death of King Herod of which St. Joseph was informed in another vision God ordered him to return with the child and his mother into the land of Israel which our saint readily obeyed but when he arrived in Judea orkelus had seceded Herod in that part of the country an apprehensive that he might be infected with his father's vices he feared on that account to settle there as he would otherwise probably have done for the education of the child and therefore being directed by God in another vision he retired into the dominions of Herod Antipas in Galilee to his former habitation in Nazareth St. Joseph being a strict observer of the Mosaic law in conformity to its direction annually repaired to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover our savior now in his twelfth year of his age accompanied his parents thither having performed the usual ceremonies of the feast they were returning with many other neighbors and acquaintance towards Galilee and never doubting but that Jesus was with some of the company they traveled on the whole day's journey before they discovered that he was not with them but when night came on and they could hear no tidings of him among their kindred and acquaintance they in the deepest defliction returned with the utmost speed to Jerusalem after an anxious search of three days they found him in the temple discoursing with the learned doctors of the law and asking them such questions as raised the admiration of all that heard him astonished at the ripeness of his understanding nor were his parents less surprised on this occasion when his mother told him what grief and earnestness they had sought him and asked son why hast thou thus dealt with us behold thy father and I sought thee in great affliction of mine she received her answer how is it that you sought me did you not know that I must be about my father's business but though thus staying in the temple unknown to his parents and all other things he was obedient to them returning with them to Nazareth and their living in all dutiful subjection to them as no further mention is made of St. Joseph he must have died before the marriage of Cana in the beginning of our divine saviour's ministry we cannot doubt that he had the happiness of Jesus and Mary attending at his death praying by him assisting and comforting him in his last moments once he is particularly invoked for the great grace of a happy death in the spiritual presence of Jesus in that hour reflection St. Joseph the shadow of the eternal father upon earth the protector of Jesus in his home at Nazareth and a lover of all children for the sake of the holy child should be the chosen guardian and pattern of every true Christian family End of section 81 section 82 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints volume 1 January through March this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 20th St. Wolfram Archbishop His father was an officer in the armies of King Dacoburg and the Saints spent some years in the court of King Cotère III and of his mother St. Mathildas but occupied his heart only on God despising worldly greatness is empty and dangerous and daily advancing in virtue his estate of Morili he bestowed on the Abbey of Fontenelle or St. Vandril in Normandy he was chosen and consecrated Archbishop of Sends in 682 which diocese he governed two years and a half with great zealand sanctity a tender compassion for the blindness of the idolaters of Friesland an example of the English zealous preachers in those parts moved him to resign his bishopry with proper advice and after retreat had Fontenelle to enter Friesland he had the opportunity of a poor missionary priest he baptized great multitudes among them a son of King Rodbod and drew the people from the barber's custom of sacrificing men to idols on a certain occasion one O-form having been selected as a victim of a sacrifice to the heathen gods St. Wolfren earnestly begged his life of King Rodbod but the people ran tumultuously to the palace to hold a sacrilege after many words they consented but are conditioned that Wolfren's god should save O-form's life the saint betook himself to prayer the man after hanging on the gibbet two hours and being left for dead fell to the ground by the breaking of the cord being found alive he was given to the saint and became a monk and priest at Fontenelle Wolfron also miraculously rescued two children from being drowned in honor of the idols Rodbod who had been an eyewitness to this last miracle promised to become a Christian but as he was going to step into the baptismal font he asked where the great number of his ancestors and nobles were in the next world the saint replied that hell is the portion of all who die guilty of idolatry at which the prince refused to be baptized saying he would go with a greater number this tyrant sent afterwards to St. Hilda Broad to treat with him about his conversion but before the arrival of the saint was found dead St. Wolfren retired to Fontenelle that he might prepare himself for death and expired there on the 20th of April 720 reflection in every age the catholic church is a missionary church she has received the world for her inheritance in her own days many missioners have watered with their blood they labored help the propagation of the faith by alms and above all by prayers you will quicken your own faith and gain a part in the merits of the glorious apostolate End of Section 82