 Section 83 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 21, St. Benedict Abbot. St. Benedict, blessed by grace and in name, was born of a noble Italian family about 480. When a boy he was sent to Rome and there placed in the public schools, scared by the licentiousness of the Roman youth, he fled to the desert mountains of Suviaco and was directed by the Holy Spirit into a cave deep, craggy and almost inaccessible. He lived there for three years, unknown to anyone save the Holy Monk Romanus, who clothed him with the monastic habit and brought him food. But the fame of his sanctity soon gathered disciples round him. The rigor of his rule, however, drew on him the hatred of some of the monks, and one of them mixed poison with the abbot's drink. But when the saint made the sign of the cross on the poisoned bowl, it broke and fell in pieces to the ground. After he had built twelve monasteries at Suviaco, he removed to Monte Cassino where he founded an abbey in which he wrote his rule and lived until death. By prayer he did all things, wrought miracles, saw visions, and prophesied. A peasant whose boy had just died ran in anguish to St. Benedict crying out, Give me back my son. The monks joined the poor man in his entreaties, but the saint replied, Such miracles are not for us to work, but for the blessed apostles. Why will you lay upon me a burden which my weakness cannot bear? Moved at length by compassion he knelt down and prostrating himself upon the body of the child, prayed earnestly. Then rising he cried out, Behold not, O Lord, my sins, but the faith of this man, who desired the life of his son, and restored to the body that soul which thou hast taken away. Hardly had he spoken when the child's body began to tremble, and taking it by the hand he restored it alive to its father. Six days before his death he ordered his grave to be opened, and fell ill of a fever. On the sixth day he requested to be borne into the chapel, and, having received the body and blood of Christ, with hands uplifted and leaning on one of his disciples, he calmly expired in prayer on the 21st of March 543. Reflection. The saints never feared to undertake any work, however arduous for God, because distrusting self, they relied for assistance and support wholly upon prayer. End of 83. 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 22. St. Catherine of Sweden, Virgin. St. Catherine was daughter of Ulfo, Prince of Nerecia in Sweden and of St. Bridget. The Levograd seemed almost to prevent in her the use of her reason. At seven years of age she was placed in the nunnery of Reisberg and educated in piety under the care of the Holy Abyss of that house. Being very beautiful she was by her father, contracted marriage to E. God, a young nobleman of great virtue, but the virgin persuaded him to join with her in making a mutual vow of perpetual chastity. By her discourses he became desirous only of heavenly graces and, to draw them down upon his soul more abundantly, he readily acquiesced in the proposal. The happy couple having but one heart and one desire by a holy emulation excited each other to prayer, mortification and works of charity. After the death of her father, St. Catherine, out of devotion to the Passion of Christ and to the relics of the martyrs, accompanied her mother and her pilgrimages and practices of devotion in penance. After her mother's death in Rome in 1373, Catherine returned to Sweden and died Abbas of Valstina or Vatsen on the 24th of March in 1381. For the last 25 years of her life she every day purified her soul by a sacramental confession of her sins. Reflection. Whoever has to dwell in the world stands in need of great prudence. The Holy Scripture itself assures us that the knowledge of the Holy is prudence. End of Section 84. Section 85 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 23. Saints Victorian and Others, Martyrs. Kunaric, the Aryan King of the Vandals in Africa, seceded his father Gensaric in 477. He behaved himself at first with moderation towards the Catholics and in 481 he began a grievous persecution of the clergy and holy virgins, which in 484 became general. The vast numbers of Catholics were put to death. Victorian, one of the principal lords of the kingdom, had been made governor of Carthage with the Roman title of procouncil. He was the wealthiest subject to the king, who placed great confidence in him and he had ever behaved with an enviable fidelity The king, after he had published his cruel edict, sent a message to the procouncil, promising, if he would conform to his religion, to heap on him the greatest wealth and the highest honors, which it was in the power of a prince to bestow. The procouncil, who amidst the glittering pops of the world perfectly understood its emptiness, made this generous answer. Tell the king that I trust in Christ, his majesty may condemn me to any torments, but I shall never consent to renounce the Catholic Church in which I have been baptized. Even if there were no life after this, I would never be ungrateful and perfidious to God, who has granted me the happiness of knowing him and bestowed on me his most precious graces. The tyrant became furious at this answer, nor can the torches be imagined which he caused the saint to endure. Victorians suffered them with joy, and amidst them finished his glorious martyrdom. The Roman martiology joins with him on this day for others who were crowned in the same persecution. Two brothers who were apprehended for the faith had promised each other, if possible, to die together, and they begged of God as a favor that they might both suffer the same torments. The persecutors hung them in the air with great weights at their feet, one of them, under the excess of pain, begged to be taken down for a little ease. His brother, fearing that this might move him to deny his faith, cried out from the rack, God forbid, dear brother, that you should ask such a thing. Is this what you promised to Jesus Christ? The other was so wonderfully encouraged that he cried out, No, no, I ask not to be released. Increase my torches, exert all your cruelties, they were exhausted upon me. They were then burned with red hot plates of iron and tormented, so long that the executioners at last left them, saying, Everybody follows their example. No one now embraces our religion. This they said chiefly, because notwithstanding these brothers had been so long and so grievously tormented, there were no scars or bruises to be seen upon them. Two merchants of Carthage who both bore the name of fruitmentius suffered martyrdom about the same time. Among many glorious confessors at that time, one liberatus, an imminent physician, was sent into banishment with his wife. He only grieved to see his infant children torn from him. His wife checked his tears by these words. Think no more of them. Jesus Christ himself will have care of them and protect their souls. Lost in prison she was told that her husband had conformed. Accordingly, when she met him at the bar before the judge, she upbraided him and open court for having basically abandoned God, but discovered by his answer that a cheat had been put upon her to deceive her into her ruin. Twelve young children, one dragged away by the persecutors, held their companions by the knees till they were torn away by violence. They were most cruelly beaten and scourged every day for a long time. Yet by God's grace every one of them persevered to the end of the persecution. Firm in the faith. End of Section 85 Section 86 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, visit LibriVox.org. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1. January through March by John Gilmary Shea. March 24. St. Simon. Infant Martyr. Hail Flowers of the Martyrs. The church sings in her office of the Holy Innocence, who were the first to die for Christ. And at every age, mere children and infants have gloriously confessed his name. In 1772, the Jews in the city of Trent determined to vent their hate against the crucified by slaying a Christian child at the coming Passover. And Tobias, one of their number, was deputed to entrap a victim. He found a bright smiling boy named Simon playing outside his home with no one guarding him. Tobias patted the little fellow's cheek and coaxed him to take his hand. The boy, who was not two years old, did so. But he began to call and cry for his mother when he found himself being led from home. Then Tobias gave him a bright coin to look at, and with many concresses silenced his grief and conducted him securely to his house. At midnight on Holy Thursday, the work of butchery began. Having gagged his mouth, they held his arms in the form of a cross while they pierced his tender body with balls and bodkins and blasphemous mockery of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. After an hour's torture, the little martyr lifted his eyes to heaven and gave up his innocent soul. The Jews cast his body into the river, but their crime was discovered and punished while the holy relics were enshrined in St. Peter's Church at Trent where they have worked many miracles. William of Norwich is another of these children martyrs. His parents were simple country folk, but his mother was taught by a vision to expect a saint in her son. As a boy he fasted twice a week and prayed constantly, and he was only an apprentice 12 years of age at a tanners in Norwich when he won his crown, a little before Easter, A.D. 1137. He was enticed into a Jewish house and was there gagged, bound, and crucified in hatred of Christ five years past before the body was found when it was buried as a saintly relic in the cathedral churchyard. A rose tree planted hard by flowered miraculously in midwinter in all manner of sick persons were healed of their diseases at St. William's Shrine. Reflection. Learn from the infant martyrs that, however weak you may be, you still can suffer for Christ's sake and by suffering when you are crowned. End of Section 86. Section 87 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 25. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This great festival takes its name from the happy tidings brought by the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin concerning the incarnation of the Son of God. It commemorates the most important embassy that was ever known, an embassy sent by the King of Kings performed by one of the chief princes of his heavenly court. Direct it not to the great ones of this earth but to a poor unknown virgin who being endowed with the most angelic purity of soul and body, being with all perfectly humble and devoted to God was greater in his eyes than the mightiest monarch in the world. When the Son of God became man he could have taken upon him our nature without the cooperation of any creature. But he was pleased to be born of a woman. In the choice of her whom he raised to this most sublime of all dignities he pitched upon the one who by the riches of his grace and virtues was of all others the most holy and the most perfect. The design of this embassy of the archangel is to give a savior to the world, a victim of propitiation to the sinner, a model to the just, a son to this virgin, remaining still a virgin and a new nature to the Son of God, the nature of man capable of suffering pain and anguish in order to satisfy this justice for our transgressions. When the angel appeared to Mary and addressed her, the Blessed Virgin was troubled. Not at the angel's appearance, says St. Ambrose, for heavenly visions in a commerce with the blessed spirits had been familiar to her. But what alarmed her, he says, was the angel's appearing in human form in the shape of a young man. What might add to her fright on the occasion was his addressing her in words of praise. Mary, guarded by her modesty, is in confusion at expressions of this sort, and dreads the least appearance of diluting flattery. Such high commendations make her cautious how she answers, till in silence she has more fully considered of the matter. She resolved in her minds, says St. Lo, what matters of salutation this should be. Ah, what number of innocent souls have been corrupted for want of using the like precautions. The angel to commerce says, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor before God. He then informs her that she is to conceive and bring forth the Son, whose name shall be Jesus, who shall be great, and the Son of the Most High, and possessed of the throne of David, her illustrious ancestor. Mary, out of a just concern to know how she may comply with the will of God without prejudice to her vow virginity inquires, how shall this be? Nor does she give her consent till the heavenly messenger acquints her that it is to be a work of the Holy Ghost, who in making her fruitful will not entrench in the least upon her virginal purity. In submission therefore to God's will without any further inquiries, she expresses her assent in these humble but powerful words, behold the handmaid and other Lord, it done to me according to thy word. What faith and confidence does her answer express? What profound humility and perfect obedience. Reflection. From the example of the Blessed Virgin in this mystery, how ardent a love will we to conceive of purity and humility. The Holy Ghost is invited by purity to dwell in souls, but is chased away by the filth of the contrary vice. Humility is the foundation of a spiritual life. By it Mary was prepared for the extraordinary graces and all virtues with which she was enriched and for the eminent dignity of Mother of God. End of Section 87 Section 88 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 26 St. Lutka Bishop St. Lutka was born in Friesland about the year 743. His father, a nobleman of the First Rank, at the child's own request, committed him to the care of St. Gregory, the disciple of St. Boniface and his successor in the government of the Sea of Utrecht. Gregory educated him in his monastery and gave him the clerical tonsure. Lutka, desirous of further improvement, passed over into England and spent four years and a half under Alcyon, who was rector of a famous school at York. In 773 he returned to his home and St. Gregory dying in 776. His successor, Albert compelled our saint to receive the holy order of priesthood. He employed him for several years in preaching the word of God in Friesland, where he converted great numbers, found it several monasteries and built many churches. The pagan Saxons ravaging the country Lutka traveled to Rome to consult Pope Adrian II and what he thought God required of him. He then retired for three and a half years to Monte Cassino, where he wore the habit of the order and conformed to the practice of the rule during his day, but made no religious vows. In 787 Charlemagne overcame the Saxons and conquered Friesland in the coast of the Germanic Ocean as far as Denmark. Lutka, hearing this, returned to Friesland, where he converted the Saxons to the faith, as he also did the province of Westphalia. He found it the monastery of Verden, 29 miles from Cologne. In 802 Hildebold, Archbishop of Cologne, not regarding his strenuous resistance, ordained him bishop of Munster. He joined in his diocese five cantons of Friesland, which he had converted and also found at the monastery of Holmstad in the Duchy of Brunswick. Being accused to the Emperor Charlemagne of wasting his income and neglecting the embellishment of churches, this prince ordered him to appear at court. The morning after his arrival the Emperor's Chamberlain brought him word that his attendance was required. The saint being then at his prayers told the officer that he would follow for three several times before he was ready, represented as a contempt of his Majesty. And the Emperor with some emotion asked him why he made him wait so long, though he had sent for him so often. The bishop answered that though he had the most profound respect for his Majesty, yet God was infinitely above him. That was we are occupied with him, it is our duty to forget everything else. The Chancellor made such an impression on the Emperor that he dismissed him with honor and disgraced his accusers. Saint Ludger was favored with the gifts of miracles and prophecy. His last sickness, though violent, did not hinder him from continuing his functions to the very last day of his life, which was Passion Sunday, on which day he preached very early in the morning, said Mass towards nine, and preached again before night, for telling to those that were about him that he should die the following night in fixing up on a place in his monastery of Verden where he chose to be interred, he died accordingly on the 26th of March at midnight. Reflection Prayer is an action so sublime and supernatural that the church in her canonical hours teaches us to begin it by a fervent petition of grace to perform it well. What an insolence and mockery is it to join with this petition and open disrespect and a neglect of all necessary precautions against distractions. We ought never to appear before God to tender Him our homages or supplications without trembling and without being deaf to all creatures and shutting all our senses to every object that can distract our minds from God. End of section Eighty-eight Section Eighty-nine of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume One, 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 One, January through March by John Gilmary Shea March Twenty-seventh of Egypt Till he was twenty-five, John worked as a carpenter with his father then feeling a call from God he left the world and committed himself to a holy, solitary in the desert. His master tried his spirit by many unreasonable commands bidding him roll the hard rocks ten dead trees and the like. John obeyed in all things with the simplicity of a child. After a careful thirteen years he withdrew to the top of a steep cliff to think only of God and his soul. The more he knew of himself the more he distrusted himself. For the last fifty years therefore he never saw women and seldom men. The result of this vigilance and purity was threefold. A holy joy and cheerfulness which consoled all who conversed with him. Perfect obedience to superiors and return for this were creatures whom he had forsaken for the Creator. Saint Augustine tells us of his purying in a vision to a holy woman whose sight he had restored to avoid seeing her face to face. Devils assailed him continually but John never ceased his prayer. From his long communings with God he turned to men with gifts of healing and prophecy. Twice each week he spoke through a window with those who came to him, blessing oil for their sick and predicting things to come. A deacon came to him in disguise and he reverently kissed his hand. To the Emperor Theodosus he foretold his future victories in the time of his death. The three last days of his life John gave holy to God on the third he was found on his knees as if in prayer but his soul was with a blessed. He died AD 394. Reflection The saints examine themselves by the perfections of God and due penance. We judge our conduct by the standard of other men and rest satisfied with it. Yet it is by the divine holiness alone that we shall be judged when we die. AD 394. Section 90 of Little Victoria Laws 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 Laws of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmeres Shea March 28th Saint Gantran King Saint Gantran was son of King Clotaire and grandson of Clovis I and Saint Clotildis being the second son whilst his brothers Charibere reigned at Paris and Zigeber in Australia. Residing at Metz he was crowned king of Orléans and Burgundy in 561, making shallons his capital. When compelled to take up arms against his ambitious brothers and the lombards, he made no other use of his victories. Under the conduct of a brave general called Mamoul then to give peace to his dominions. The crimes in which the barbarous manners of his nation involved him, he effaced by tears of repentance. The prosperity of his reign, both the peace and war, condemns those who think that human policy cannot be modeled by the maxims of the gospel, whereas nothing can render a government more flourishing. He always treated the pastors of the church with respect and veneration. He was the protector of the oppressed and the tender parent of his subjects. He gave the greatest attention to the care of the sick. He fasted, prayed, wept, and offered himself to God night and day as a victim ready to be sacrificed on the altar of his justice, to avert his indignation which he believed he himself had provoked and drawn down upon his innocent people. He was a severe punisher of crimes in his officers and others and by many wholesome regulations restrained the barbarous licentiousness of his troops. But no man was more ready to forgive offenses against his own person. With royal magnificence he built and endowed many churches and monasteries. This good king died on the 23rd of March in 593 in the 68th year of his age having reigned 31 years and some months. Reflection. There is no means of salvation more reliable in the practice of mercy since our Lord has set it. Blessed are the merciful for they shall find mercy. End of section 90. Section 91 of the 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 29 Saints Jonas Barachesius and their companions, martyrs. King Sapor of Persia in the 18th year of his reign raised a bloody persecution against the Christians and monasteries. Jonas and Barachesius, two brothers of the city Beth-Asa hearing that several Christians lay under sentence of death at Hubaham went dither to encourage and serve them. Nine of that number received the crown of martyrdom. After their execution Jonas and Barachesius were apprehended for having exhorted them to die. The President entreated the two brothers to obey the King of Persia and to worship the sun, moon, fire, and water. Their answer was that it was more reasonable to obey the immortal King of Heaven and Earth than a mortal Prince. Jonas was beaten with naughty clubs and with rods and neck set in a frozen pond with a cord tied to his foot. Barachesius had two red-hot iron plates and two red-hot hammers applied under each arm and melted lead dropped into his nostrils and eyes, after which he was carried to prison and there hung up by one foot. Despite these cruel tortures the two brothers remained steadfast in the faith. New and more horrible torments were then devised under which at last they yielded up their lives while their pure souls winged their flight to Heaven. There to gain the martyr's crown which they had so faithfully won. Reflection A powerful modus which supported the martyrs under the sharpest torments ought to inspire us with patience, resignation, and holy joy under sickness and all crosses or trials. Nothing is more heroic in the practice of Christian virtue, nothing more precious in the sight of God than the sacrifice of patience, submission, constant fidelity, and charity in a state of suffering. End of section 91 Section 92 of Little Pictora Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is a LibriVox recording while LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictora Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea March 30 St. John Clamicus John made while still young such progress in learning that he was called the Scholastic. At the age of sixteen he turned from the brilliant future which lay before him and retired to Mount Sinai where he put himself under the direction of a holy monk. Never was novice more fervent, more un-relaxing in his efforts for self-mastery. After four years he took the vows and an aged abbot foretold some day be one of the greatest lights of the church. Nineteen years later on the death of his director he withdrew into a deeper solitude where he studied the lives and writings of the saints and was raised to an unusual height of contemplation. The fame of his holiness and practical wisdom drew crowds around him for advice and consolation. For his greater profit he visited the solitudes of Egypt. At the age of fifteen he was chosen abbot of Mount Sinai and there he dwelt in the Mount of God and drew from the rich treasure of his heart priceless riches of doctrine which he poured forth with wondrous abundance and benediction. He was induced by a brother abbot to write the rules by which he had guided his life and his book called the Climax or Ladder of Perfection has been prized in all ages by his holiness and its unction. At the end of four years he would no longer endure the honors and distractions of his office and retired to his solitude where he died A.D. 605 Reflection Cast not from thee my brother says the imitation of Christ the sure hope of attaining to the spiritual life. Still hast thou the time of your life. Section 93 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 for 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 31st St. Benjamin Deacon and Martyr Is de Juretes son of Sopor III put a stop to the cruel persecutions against the Christians in Persia which had been begun by Sopor II and the church had enjoyed 12 years peace in that kingdom when in 420 it was disturbed by the indiscreet zeal of Abdes who burned down the pyraeum or temple of fire the great divinity of the Persians King Is de Juretes thereupon demolished all the Christian churches in Persia put to death Abdes and raised a general persecution against the church which continued 40 years with great fury Is de Juretes died the year following in 421 but his son and successor Morenes carried on the persecution with greater inhumanity the very recital of the cruelties he exercised on the Christians strikes us with horror among the glorious champions of Christ was St. Benjamin a deacon the tyrant caused him to be beaten and imprisoned he had lain a year in the prison when an ambassador from the emperor obtained his release on condition that he never speak to any of the courtiers of the religion the ambassador passed his word in his behalf that he would not but Benjamin who was a minister of the gospel declared that he should miss no opportunity of announcing Christ the king be informed that he still preached the faith in his kingdom ordered him to be apprehended cause reason to be run in between the nails and the flesh both of his hands and feet and to be thrust into other hands drawn out again and this to be frequently repeated with violence lastly a naughty steak was thrust into his bowels to rend and tear them in which torment he expired in the year 424 reflection we entreat you a most holy martyrs who cheerfully suffered most cruel torments for God our savior and his love on which account you are now most united to him that you pray to the Lord for us miserable sinners covered with filth that he infuse into us the grace of Christ that it may enlighten our souls that we may love him end of section 93 end of little pictorial lives of the saints volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea