 Section 22 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. January 20, St. Sebastian, martyr. St. Sebastian was an officer in the Roman army, esteemed even by the heathen as a good soldier, and honored by the church ever since as a champion of Jesus Christ. Born at Narbonne, Sebastian came to Rome about the year 284 and entered the list against the powers of evil. He found the twin brothers Marcus and Marcellinius in prison for the faith, when they were near yielding to the entreaties of their relatives, encouraged them to despise flesh and blood and to die for Christ. God confirmed his words by miracle, light shown around him while he spoke. He cured the sick by his prayers, and in this divine strength he led multitudes to the faith, among them the prefect of Rome with his son Tiberteus. He saw his disciples die before him, and one of them came back from heaven to tell him that his own end was near. He was in a contest of fervor and charity that St. Sebastian found the occasion of martyrdom. The prefect of Rome, after his conversion, retired to his states in Campania, and took a great number of his fellow converts with him to this place of safety, was a question whether Polycock, the priest or St. Sebastian, should accompany the Neophytes. Each was eager to stay and faced the danger at Rome, and at last the Pope decided that the Roman Church could not spare the services of Sebastian. He continued to labor at the post of danger till he was betrayed by a false disciple. He was led before Dichlisium and at the emperor's command pierced with arrows and left for dead. But God raised him up again, and of his own accord he went before the emperor and conjured him to stay the persecution of the church. Again sentenced he was at last beaten to death by clubs and crowned his labors by the merit of a double martyrdom. Reflection Your ordinary occupations will give you opportunities of laboring for the faith. Ask help from St. Sebastian. He was not a priest nor a religious but a soldier. End of Section 22 Section 23 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. January 21, St. Agnes, Virgin Martyr. St. Agnes was but twelve years old when she was led to the altar of Minerva at Rome and commanded to obey the persecuting laws of Dichlisium by offering incense. In the midst of idolatrous rites she raised her hands to Christ, her spouse, and made the sign of the life-giving cross. She did not shrink when she was bound hand and foot, though the guives slipped from her young hands and the heathens who stood around were moved to tears. The bonds were not needed for her and she hastened gladly to the place of her torture. Next, when the judge saw that pain had no terrors for her, he inflicted an insult worse than death. Her clothes were stripped off and she had to stand in the street before pegging crowd. Yet even this did not daunt her. Christ, she said, will guard his own. So it was. Christ showed by a miracle the value which he sets upon the custody of the eyes. Whilst the crowd turned away their eyes from the spouse of Christ as she stood exposed to view in the street, there was one young man who dared to gaze at the innocent child with immodest eyes. A flash of light struck him blind and his companions wore him away half dead with pain and terror. Lastly her fidelity to Christ was proved by flattery and offers of marriage, but she answered, Christ is my spouse. He chose me first than his I will be. At length the sentence of death was passed. For a moment she stood erect in prayer and then vowed her neck to the sword. At once jerk her head was severed from her body and the angels wore her pure soul to paradise. Reflection. Her innocence endeared St. Agnes to Christ as it has endeared her to whose church her ascents. Even as penitents we may imitate this innocence of hers in our own degree. Let us strictly guard our eyes and Christ when he sees that we keep our hearts pure for love of him will renew our youth and give us back the years which the canker worm has wasted. End of section 23, recording by Maria Therese. Section number 24 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January to 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 Linda Ray Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January to March. By John Gilmary Shea. January 22, St. Vincent, Martyr. Vincent was Archdeacon of the Church at Saragossa. Valerian the Bishop had an impediment in his speech. Thus Vincent preached in his stead and answered in his name when both were brought before Dacian the President during the persecution of Theocletian. When the bishop was sent into banishment, Vincent remained to suffer and to die. First of all he was stretched on the rack, and when he was almost torn asunder, Dacian the President asked him in mockery how he fared now. Vincent answered with joy in his face that he had ever prayed to be as he was then. It was in vain that Dacian struck the executioners and goaded them on in their savage work. The martyr's flesh was torn with hooks. He was bound in a chair of red hot iron. Hard and salt were rubbed into his wounds, and amid all this he kept his eyes raised to heaven and remained unmoved. He was cast into a solitary dungeon with his feet in the stocks, but the angels of Christ illuminated the darkness and assured Vincent that he was near his triumph. His wounds were now tended to prepare him for fresh torments, and the faithful were permitted to gaze on his mangled body. They came in troops, kissed the open sores, and carried away as relics claws dipped in his blood. Before the tortures could recommence, the martyr's hour came, and he breathed forth his soul in peace. Even the dead bodies of the saints are precious in the sight of God, and the hand of Inquity cannot touch them. A raven guarded the body of Vincent where it lay flung upon the earth. When it was sunk out at sea the waves cast it ashore, and his relics are preserved to this day in the Augustinian monastery at Lisbon for the consolation of the Church of Christ. Reflection, do you wish to be at peace amidst suffering and temptation? Then make it your principal endeavor to grow in habits of prayer and in union with Christ. Have confidence in him. He will make you victorious over your spiritual enemies and over yourself. He will enlighten your darkness and sweeten your sufferings, and in your solitude and desolation he will draw nigh to you with his holy angels. End of Section 24, Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 25 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Vol. 1, January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Vol. 1, January to March by John Gilmary Shea. January 23, St. Raymond of Penafort. Born AD 1175 of a noble Spanish family, Raymond, at the age of 20, taught philosophy at Barcelona with marvelous success. Ten years later his rare abilities won for him the degree of doctor in the University of Bologna, and many high dignities, a tender devotion to our blessed lady which had grown up with him from childhood, determined him in middle life to renounce all his honors and to enter her order of Saint Dominic. There again a vision of the mother of mercy instructed him to cooperate with his penitent St. Peter, Nolasco, and with James, King of Aragon, in founding the order of Our Lady of Ransom for the redemption of captives. He began this great work by preaching a crusade against the Moors and rousing to penance the Christians, enslaved in both soul and body by the infidel. King James of Aragon, a man of great qualities, but held in bond by a ruling passion, was bitten by the saint to put away the cause of his sin. On his delay Raymond asked for leave to depart from Majorca since he could not live with sin. The king refused and forbade under pain of death his conveyance by others. Full of faith Raymond spread his cloak upon the waters, and tying one end to his staff as a sail, made the sign of the cross and fearlessly stepped upon it. In six hours he was born to Barcelona, where, gathering up his cloak dry, he stole into his monastery. The king, overcome by this miracle, became a sincere penitent and the disciple of the saint till his death. In twelve-thirty, Gregory the Ninth summoned Raymond to Rome, made him his confessor and grand penitentiary, and directed him to compile the Decretels, a collection of the scattered decisions of the popes and councils. Having refused the Archbishopric of Tarragona, Raymond found himself in twelve-thirty-eight, chosen third general of his order, which post he again succeeded in resigning on the score of his advanced age. His first act, when set free, was to resume his labours among the Infidels, and in twelve-fifty-six Raymond then eighty-one was able to report that ten thousand Sarkens had received baptism. He died A.D. twelve-seventy-five. Reflection Ask Saint Raymond to protect you from that fearful servitude, worse than any bodily slavery, which even one sinful habit tends to form. End of section twenty-five, recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section twenty-six of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume one, January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume one, January to March, by John Gilmary Shea. January twenty-fourth, St. Timothy, Bishop, Martyr. Timothy was a convert of St. Paul. He was born at Listerra in Asia Minor. His mother was a Jewess. But his father was a pagan. And though Timothy had read the scriptures from his childhood, he had not been circumcised as a Jew. On the arrival of St. Paul at Listerra, the youthful Timothy, with his mother and grandmother, eagerly embraced the faith. Seven years later, when the apostle again visited the country, the boy had grown into manhood, while his good heart, his austerities, and zeal, had won the esteem of all around him, and holy men were prophesising great things of the fervent youth. St. Paul at once saw his fitness for the work of an evangelist. Timothy was forthwith ordained, and from that time became the constant and much-beloved fellow-worker of the apostle. In company with St. Paul he visited the cities of Asia Minor and Greece, at one time hastening on in front as a trusted messenger, at another lingering behind to confirm in the faith some recently founded church. Finally he was made the first bishop of Ephesus, and here he received the two epistles which bear his name, the first written from Macedonia and the second from Rome, in which St. Paul from his prison gives vent to his longing desire to see his dearly beloved son, if possible, once more before his death. St. Timothy himself, not many years after the death of St. Paul, won his martyr's crown at Ephesus, as a child Timothy delighted in reading the sacred books, and to his last hour he would remember the parting words of his spiritual father. Attendee Lechioni applied himself to reading. Reflection St. Paul, in writing to Timothy, a faithful and well-tried servant of God and a bishop now getting on in years, addresses him as a child, and seems most anxious about his perseverance in faith and piety. The letters abound in minute personal instructions for the end. It is therefore remarkable what great stress the apostle lays on the avoiding of idle talk, and on the application to holy reading. These are his chief topics. Over and over again he exhorts his son Timothy to avoid tatlers and busybodies, to give no heed to novelties, to shun profane and vain babblings, but to hold the form of sound words to be an example in word and conversation, to attend to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. End of Section 26. Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 27 of the Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January to March by John Gilmary Shea January 25. The Conversion of St. Paul The great apostle Paul, named Saul at his circumcision, was born at Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, and was, by privilege, a Roman citizen, to which quality a great distinction and several exemptions were granted by the laws of the empire. He was early instructed in the strict observance of the Mosaic law and lived up to it in the most scrupulous manner. In his zeal for the Jewish law, which he thought the cause of God, he became a violent persecutor of the Christians. He was one of those who combined to murder St. Stephen, and in the violent persecution of the faithful, which followed the martyrdom of the Holy Deacon, Saul signalized himself above others. By virtue of the power he had received from the High Priest, he dragged the Christians out of their houses, loaded them with chains, and thrust them into prison. In the fury of his zeal he applied for a commission to take up all Jews at Damascus, who confessed Jesus Christ, and bring them bound to Jerusalem that they might serve as examples for the others. But God was pleased to show forth in him his patience and mercy, while on his way to Damascus he and his party were surrounded by a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, and suddenly struck to the ground. And then a voice was heard saying, Saul, Saul, why dost thou prosecute me? And Saul answered, Who art thou, Lord? And the voice replied, I am Jesus, whom thou dost prosecute. This mild expostulation of our Redeemer, accompanied with a powerful interior grace, cured Saul's pride, assaged his rage, and wrought at once a total change in him. Wherefore trembling and astonished he cried out, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Our Lord ordered him to arise and to proceed on his way to the city, where he should be informed of what was expected from him. Saul arising from the ground, found that, though his eyes were open, he saw nothing. He was led by hand into Damascus, where he was lodged in the house of a Jew named Judas. To this house came by divine appointment a holy man named Aeneas, who, laying his hands on Saul, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized. He stayed some few days with the disciples at Damascus, and began immediately to preach in the synagogue that Jesus was the Son of God. Thus a blasphemer and a persecutor was made an apostle, and chosen as one of God's principal instruments in the conversion of the world. Reflection. Listen to the words of the imitation of Christ, and let them sink into your heart. He who would keep the grace of God, let him be graceful for grace when it is given, and patient when it is taken away. Let him pray that it may be given back to him, and be careful and humble lest he lose it. VIII. OF LITTLE PICTORIAL LIVES OF THE SAINTS. VOLUME 1. GENERAY TO 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 Lyndon R. Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1. January to March. By John Gilmary Shea. GENERAY 26. ST. POLYCARP. BISHOP MARTER. ST. POLYCARP. BISHOP Smyrna was a disciple of St. John. He wrote to the Filipinians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of hearsay. When the apostate Marcion met St. Polycarp in Rome, he asked the aged saint if he knew him. Yes, St. Polycarp answered. I know you for the firstborn of Satan. These were the words of a saint most loving and most charitable, and specially noted for his compassion to sinners. He hated hearsay because he loved God and man so much. In 167 persecution broke out in Smyrna. When Polycarp heard that his pursuers were at the door, he said the will of God will be done, and meeting them he begged to be left alone for a little time, which he spent in prayer for the Catholic Church throughout the world. He was brought to Smyrna early on Holy Saturday, and as he entered a voice was heard from heaven. Polycarp, be strong. When the procounsel besought him to curse Christ and go free, Polycarp answered. Eighty-six years I have served him and he never did me wrong. How can I blaspheme my king and saviour? When he threatened him with fire, Polycarp told him this fire of his lasted, but a little, while the fire prepared for the wicked lasted for ever. At the stake he thank God allowed for letting him drink of Christ's chalice. The fire was lighted, but it did him no hurt. He was stabbed to the heart, and his dead body was burnt. Then, say the writers of his acts, we took up the bones more precious than the richest jewels or gold and deposited them in a fitting place, at which may God grant us to assemble with joy to celebrate the birthday of the martyr to his life in heaven. Reflection. If we love Jesus Christ we shall love the church and hate hearsay, which rends his mystical body, and destroys the souls for which he died. Like St. Polycarp we shall maintain our constancy in the faith by love of Jesus Christ, who is its author and its finisher. End of Section 28, Recording by Lyndon R. Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 29 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Vol. 1, January to 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 Lyndon R. Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Vol. 1, January to March by John Gilmary Shea. January 27, St. John Christ's system. St. John was born at Antoc in 344. In order to break with a world which admired and courted him, he, in 374, retired for six years to a neighboring mountain. Having thus acquired the art of Christian silence he returned to Antoc and there labored as priest until he was ordained bishop of Constantinople in 398. The effect of his sermons was everywhere marvelous. He was very urgent that his people should frequent the holy sacrifice, and in order to remove all excuse he abbreviated the long liturgy until then in use. St. Nylis relates that St. John Christ Sodom was want to see when the priest began the holy sacrifice. Many of the blessed ones coming down from heaven in shining garments and with bare feet, eyes and tent, and bowed heads in utter stillness and silence assisting at the consummation of the tremendous mystery. Beloved as he was in Constantinople, his denounciations of vice made him numerous enemies. In 403 these procured his banishment, and although he was almost immediately recalled, it was not more than a reprive. In 404 he was banished to Lusus in the deserts of Taurus. In 407 he was wearing out, but his enemies were impatient. They hurried him off to Paitis on the Exene, a rough journey of nigh four hundred miles. He went assiduously exposed to every hardship, cold, wet, and semi-strivation, but nothing could overcome his cheerfulness and his consideration for others. On the journey his sickness increased, and he was warned that his end was nigh. Thereupon, exchanging his travel-stained clothes for white garments, he received viaticum and, with his customary words, glory be to God for all things amen, past to Christ. Reflection. We should try to understand that the most productive work in the whole day, both for time and eternity, is that involved in hearing mass. Sir John Christodum felt this so keenly that he allowed no consideration of vulnerable usage to interfere with the easiness of hearing mass. End of Section 29 Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 30 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1, January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Volume 1, January to March by John Gilmary Shea. January 28, St. Cyril of Alexandria. St. Cyril became patriarch of Alexandria in 412. Having at first thrown himself with ardor into the party politics of the place, God called him to a nobler conflict. In 428, Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople, began to deny the unity of person in Christ and to refuse to the Blessed Virgin the title of Mother of God. He was strongly supported by disciples and friends throughout the East. As the ascitation of the Divine Maternity of Our Lady was necessary to the integrity of the doctrine of the Incarnation, so with St. Cyril devotion to the Mother and necessary complement of his devotion to the Son. St. Cyril after expostulating in vain, accused Nestorius to Pope Celestine. The Pope commanded retraction under pain of separation from the Church and entrusted St. Cyril with the conduct of the proceedings. The extended day, June 7th 431, found Nestorius and Cyril at Ephesus with over 200 bishops. After waiting twelve days in vain for the Syrian bishops, the Council with Cyril tried Nestorius and deposed him from his sea. Upon this, the Syrians and Nestorians excommunicated St. Cyril and complained of him to the Emperor as a peace-breaker. Imprisoned and threatened with banishment, the Saint rejoiced to confess Christ by suffering. In time it was recognized that St. Cyril was right and with him the Church triumphed. Forgetting his wrongs and careless of controversial tillo, Cyril then reconciled himself with all who would consent to hold the doctrine of the Incarnation intact. He died in 444. Reflection The Incarnation is the mystery of God's dwelling within us, and therefore should be the dearest object of our contemplation. It was the passion of St. Cyril's life. For it he underwent toil and persecution and willingly sacrificed credit and friends. End of section 30 Recording by Linda-Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 31 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 January to 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 Linda-Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Volume 1 January to March by John Gilmary Shea January 29th St. Francis of Sales Francis was born of noble and pious parents near N.C. A.D. 1566 and studied with brilliant success at Paris and Padua. On his return from Italy, he gave up the grand career which his father had marked out for him in the service of the state and became a priest. When the Duke of Savoy had resolved to restore the church in the chalet, Francis offered himself for the work and set out on foot with his Bible and Brevorary and one companion, his cousin Louis of Sales. It was a work of toil, privation, and danger. Every door and every heart was closed against him. He was rejected with insult and threatened with death but nothing could daunt or resist him and er long the church burst forth into a second spring. It is stated that he converted seventy-two thousand Calvinists. He was then compelled by the Pope to become Côte de Jure Bishop of Geneva and succeeded to the C. AD 1602. At times the exceeding gentleness with which he received heretics and sinners almost scandalized his friends and one of them said to him Francis of Sales will go to paradise, to the core of the Bishop of Geneva. I am almost afraid his gentleness will play him a shrewd turn. Ah! said the Saint, I would rather account to God for two great gentleness than for two great severity. Is not God all love? God the Father is the Father of mercy. God is a Lamb. God the Holy Ghost is a Dove. That is, gentleness himself. And are you wiser than God? In union with St. Jane Francis of Chantel he founded at ANSI the order of the visitation which soon spread over Europe. Though poor cities and even the great sea of Paris he died at Avignon AD 1622. Reflection you will catch more flies St. Francis used to say with the spoonful of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar. Were there anything better or fairer on earth than gentleness Jesus Christ would have taught it us and yet he has given us only two lessons to learn of him. Meetness and humility of heart. End of section 31 Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, B.C. Section 32 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to March Gilmerie Shea January 30th St. Beth-Ildes Queen St. Beth-Ildes was an English woman who was carried over whilst yet young into France and there sold for a slave at a very low price to Erkenwald Mayor of the Palace under King Clovis II when she grew up her master was so much taken with her prudence and virtue that he placed her in charge of his household the renown of her virtues spread through all France and King Clovis II took her for his royal consort this unexpected elevation produced no alteration in a heart perfectly grounded in humility and the other virtues she seemed to become even more humble than before her new station furnished her the means of being truly a mother to the poor the king gave her the sanction of his royal authority for the protection of the church the care of the poor and the furtherance of all religious undertakings both of her husband left her regent of the kingdom she at once forbade the enslavement of Christians did all in her power to promote piety and filled France with hospitals and religious houses as soon as her son Clotaire was of an age to govern she withdrew from the world and entered the convent of Chels here she seemed entirely to forget her worldly dingity and was to be distinguished from the rest of the community only by her extreme humility her obedience to her spiritual superiors and her devotion to the sick whom she comforted and served with wonderful charity as she neared her end God visited her with a severe illness which she bore with Christian patience until on the 30th of January 680 she yielded up her soul in devote prayer reflection in all that we do let God and his holy will be always before her eyes and her only aim and desire be to please him End of section 32 Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, BC Section number 33 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, BC Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1, January to March by John Gilmary Shay January 31st St. Marcella Widow St. Marcella whom St. Jerome called the glory of the Roman women became a widow in the seventh month after her marriage was determined to consecrate the remainder of her days to the service of God she rejected the hand of Sir Alice the consul uncle of Gallus Caesar and resolved to imitate the lives of the ascetics of the east she abstained from wine and flesh meat employed all her time and never spoke with any man alone her example was followed by many who put themselves under her direction and Rome was in short time filled with monasteries when the gauze under Alloric plundered Rome in 410 our saint suffered severely at the hands of the barbarian who cruelly scourged her in order to make her reveal the treasures which she had long before distributed in charity she trembled only however for the innocence of her dear spiritual daughter persimpia and falling at the feet of the cruel soldiers she begged with many tears that they would offer no insult to that pure virgin who moved them to compassion and they conducted our saint and her pupil to the church of St. Paul to which Alloric had granted the right of sanctuary with that of St. Peter St. Marcella who survived this but a short time closed her eyes by a happy death in the arms of St. Principalia about the end of August 410 End of section 33 Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, BC Section 34 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to 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 Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, BC Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to March by John Gilmary Shea February 1 St. Brigid Abyss and Patroness of Ireland and St. Ignatius Bishop Martyr St. Brigid next to the Gloria St. Patrick St. Brigid whom we may consider his spiritual daughter in Christ has never been held in singular veneration in Ireland. She was born about the year 453 at Fochard in Ulster During her infancy her pious father saw men clothed in white garments pouring a sacred ungent on her head thus prefiguring her future sanctity While yet very young Brigid consecrated her life to God bestowed everything at her disposal on the poor and was the edification of all who knew her She was very beautiful and fearing that efforts might be made to induce her to break the vow by which she had bound herself to God and to bestow her hand on one of her many suitors she prayed that she might become ugly and deformed Her prayer was heard for her eye became swollen and her whole countenance so changed She was allowed to follow her vocation in peace and marriage with her was no more thought of When about 20 years old our saint made known to Saint Mel the nephew and disciple of Saint Patrick her intention to live only to Jesus Christ and he consented to receive her sacred vows On the appointed day the ceremony of her profession was performed after the manner introduced by Saint Patrick The bishop offered up many prayers and investing Brigid with a snow white habit and a cloak of the same color while she bowed her head on this occasion to receive the veil a miracle of a singularly striking and impressive nature was heard that part of the wooden platform adjoining the altar on which she knelt recovered its original vitality and put on all its former verdu retaining it for a long time after at the same moment Brigid's eye was healed and she became as beautiful and as lovely as ever which by her example several other ladies made their vows with her and in compliance with the wish of the parents of her new associates the saint agreed to found a religious residence for herself and them in the vicinity a convenient sight having been fixed upon by the bishop a convent the first in Ireland and in obedience to the prelate Brigid assumed the superiority her reputation for sanctity became greater every day and in proportion as it was diffused throughout the country the number of candidates for admission into the new monastery increased the bishops of Ireland soon perceiving the important advantages which their respective diocese would derive from similar foundations persuaded the young and saintly abysses to visit different parts of the kingdom and as an opportunity offered introduced into each one the establishment of her institute while thus engaged in a portion of the province of Cannot a deputation arrived from Leinster to solicit the saint to take up her residence in that territory but the motives which they urged were human such could have no weight with Brigid it was only the prospect of the many spiritual advantages that would result from compliance with the request that induced her to accede as she did to the wishes of those who had petitioned her taking with her a number of her spiritual daughters are saint journeyed to Leinster where they were received with many demonstrations of respect and joy the site on which Kildare now stands appearing to be well adapted to the religious institute there the saint and her companions took up their abode to the place appropriated for the new foundation some lands were annexed the fruits of which were assigned to the little establishment this donation indeed contributed to supply the wants of the community but still the Pia sisterhood their maintenance on the liberality of their benefactors Brigid contrived however out of their small means to relieve the poor of the vicinity very considerably and when the wants of those indigent persons suppressed her slender finances she hesitated not to sacrifice for them the movables of the convent on one occasion our saint imitating the burning charity of saint Ambrose and other great servants of God sold some of the sacred vestments that she might procure the means of relieving their necessities she was so humble that she sometimes attended the cattle on the land which belonged to her monastery the renown of Brigid's unbounded charity drew multitudes of the poor to kill there the fame of our piety attracted thither many persons anxious to solicit her prayers or to profit by her holy example in course of time the number of these so much increased that it became necessary to provide accommodation for them in the neighborhood of the new monastery and thus was laid the foundation and origin of the town of Kildare the spiritual extinguishes of her community and of those numerous strangers who resorted to the vicinity having suggested to our saint the expediency of having the locality erected into an episcopal sea she represented it to the prelates to whom the consideration of it rightly belonged deeming the proposal just and useful conlath a recluse of eminent sanctity illustrious by the great things which God had granted to his prayers was at Brigid's desire chosen the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese in process of time it became the ecclesiastical metropolis of the province to which it belonged probably in consequence of the general desire to honor the place in which Saint Brigid had so long dwelt after 70 years devoted to the practice of the most sublime virtues corporal infirmities admonished our saint that the time of her disillusion was nigh it was now half a century since by her holy vows she had irrevocably consecrated herself to God and during that period great results had been attained her holy institute having widely diffused itself in the great green isle and greatly advanced the cause of religion in the various districts in which it was established like a river of peace its progress was steady and silent it fertilized every region fortunate enough to receive its waters and caused it to put forth spiritual flowers and fruits with all the sweet perfume fragrance the remembrance of the glory she had procured to the most high as well as the services rendered to dear souls ransomed by the precious blood of her divine spouse cheered and consoled Brigid in the infirmities inseparable from old age her last illness was sued by the presence of Edda a priest of eminent sanctity over whose youth she had watched with pious solicitude and who was indebted to her prayers and instructions for his great proficiency in sublime perfection the day on which our abyss was to terminate her course February 1st 523 having arrived she received from the hands of this saintly priest the blessed body and blood of her lord in the divine Eucharist and as it would seem immediately after her spirit passed forth and went to possess him in that heavenly country where he is seen face to face and enjoyed without danger of ever losing him her body was buried in the church adjoining the convent but was some time after exhumed and deposited in a splendid shrine near the high altar in the 9th century the country being desolated by the Danes the remains of saint Brigid were removed in order to secure them from irrevolence and being transferred to St. Patrick were deposited in the same grave with those of the glorious St. Patrick their bodies together with that of St. Colombo were translated afterwards to the cathedral of the same city but their monument was destroyed in the reign of King Henry the 8th the head of Saint Brigid is now kept in the church of the Jesuits at Lisbon reflection outward resemblance to our Lady was St. Brigid's peculiar privilege but all are bound to grow like her in interior purity of heart this grace St. Brigid has obtained in a wonderful degree for the daughters of her native land and will never fail to for all her devote clients St. Ignatius St. Ignatius Bishop of Antach was the disciple of St. John when Domitian persecuted the church St. Ignatius obtained peace for his own flock by fasting and prayer but for his part he desired to suffer with Christ and to prove a perfect disciple in the year 107 Trajan came to Antach and forced the Christians to choose between apostasy and death who art thou poor devil the emperor said when Ignatius was brought before him who set us our commands at naught call not him poor devil Ignatius answered who bears God within him and when the emperor questioned him about his meaning Ignatius explained that he bore in his heart Christ crucified for his sake thereupon the emperor condemned him to be torn to pieces by wild beasts at Rome St. Ignatius thank God who had so honored him binding him in the chains of Paul his apostle he journeyed to Rome guarded by soldiers and with no fear except of losing the martyr's crown he was devoured by lions in the Roman amphitheater the wild beasts left nothing of his body except a few bones which were reverently treasured at Antach to the church of St. Clement at Rome in 637 after the martyr's death several Christians saw him in vision standing before Christ and interceding for them reflection ask St. Ignatius to obtain for you the grace of profiting by all you have to suffer and rejoicing in it as a means of likeness to your crucified redeemer End of Section 34 Recording by Lyndon B. Nielsen Vancouver, B.C. Section 35 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to March This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Libravox.org Recording by Lyndon B. Nielsen Vancouver, B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to March by John Gil-Mary Shay February 2 The Purification The Law of God given by Moses to the Jews ordained that a woman after childbirth should continue for a certain time in a state which that law calls unclean during which she was not to appear in public nor presume to touch anything consecrated to God This term was of 40 days upon the birth of a son In double that time for a daughter on the expiration of the term the mother was to bring to the door of the tabernacle or temple a lamb and a young pigeon or turtledove as an offering to God These being sacrificed to Almighty God by the priest the woman was cleansed of the legal impurity and reinstated the former privileges A young pigeon or turtledove by way of a sin offering was required of all whether rich or poor but as the expense of a lamb might be too great for persons in poor circumstances they were allowed to substitute for it a second dove Our savior having been conceived by the Holy Ghost and his blessed mother remaining always a spotless virgin is evident that she did not come under the law but as the world was as yet ignorant of her miraculous conception she submitted with great punctuality and exactness to every humbling circumstance which the law required devotion and zeal to honor God by every observance that was required by his law prompted Mary to perform this act of religion though evidently exempt from the precept being poor herself she made the offering appointed for the poor but however mean in itself it was made with a perfect heart which is what God chiefly regards in all that is offered to him the law which obliged the mother to purify herself there was another which ordered that the first born son should be offered to God and that after his presentation the child should be ransomed with a certain sum of money and peculiar sacrifices offered on the occasion Mary complies exactly with all these ordinances she is not only in the essential points of the law but has strict regard to all the circumstances she remains 40 days at home she denies herself all this time the liberty of entering the temple she partakes not of things sacred and on the day of her purification she walks several miles to Jerusalem with the world's redeemer she waits for the priest at the gate of the temple makes her offerings of thanksgiving and expiation presents her divine son by the hands of the priest to his external father with the most profound humility adoration and thanksgiving she then redeems him with five shekels as the law appoints again as a sacred charge committed to her special care till the father shall again demand him for the full accomplishment of man's redemption the ceremony of this day was closed by a third mystery the meaning in the temple of the holy persons Simeon and Ann with Jesus and his parents holy Simeon that occasion received into his arms the object of all his desires and size and praise God for being blessed with the happiness of beholding the so much longed for messiahs he foretold to Mary her martyrdom of sorrow and that Jesus brought redemption to those who would accept of it on the terms that it was offered them but a heavy judgment on all infidels who should obstinately reject it and on Christians also whose lives were a contradiction to his holy maxims and example Mary hearing this terrible prediction did not answer one word felt no agitation of mine from the present no dread for the future but courageously and sweetly committed all to God's holy will and also the prophetess who in her widowhood served God with great fever had the happiness to acknowledge and adore in this great mystery the redeemer of the world Simeon having beheld our savior exclaimed now dismiss servant O Lord according to thy word because my eyes have seen thy salvation this feast is called candlemas because the church blesses the candles to be born in the procession of the day reflection let us strive to imitate the humility of the ever blessed mother of God remembering that humility which leads to abiding peace and brings us near to the consolations of God end of section 35 recording by Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver B.C. section 36 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints volume 1 January to March this is a Libra Vox recording are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libra Vox.org recording by Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver B.C. Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints volume 1 January to March by John Gilmary Shea February 3 St. Blaise and martyr St. Blaise devoted the earlier years of his life to the study of philosophy and afterwards became a physician in the practice of his profession he saw so much of the miseries of life and the hollowness of worldly pleasures that he resolved to spend the rest of his days in the service of God and the holy elements to become a physician of souls the Bishop of Sebast in Armenia having died our saint much to the gratification of the inhabitants of that city was appointed to succeed him St. Blaise at once began to instruct his people as much by his example as by his words and the great virtues of this servant of God were attested by many miracles from all parts the people came flocking to him for the cure of bodily and spiritual ills Egricolis Governor of Cappadocia and the lesser Armenia having begun a persecution by order of the Emperor Licenius who seized and hurried off to prison while on his way there a distracted mother whose only child was dying of a throat disease threw herself at the feet of St. Blaise and implored his intercession touched at her grief the saint offered up his prayers and the child was cured and since that time his aid has often been in cases of a similar disease refusing to worship the false gods of the heathens St. Blaise was first scourged his body was then torn with hooks and finally he was beheaded in the year 316 Reflection there is no sacrifice which by the aid of grace human nature is not capable of accomplishing when St. Paul complained to God of the violence of the temptation God answered my grace is sufficient for thee, for power is made perfect in infirmity End of Section 36 Recording by Linda Brie Nielsen, Vancouver, BC Section 37 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to 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 Linda Brie Nielsen, Vancouver, BC Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January to March Gilmerie Shea February 4 St. Jane of Valois Born of the Blood Royal of France herself a queen Jane of Valois let a life remarkable for its humiliations even in the annals of the Saints Her father, Louis XI who had hoped for a son to succeed him banished Jane from his palace and, it is said even attempted her life at the age of 5 the neglected child offered her whole heart to God and yearned to do some special service in honour of his blessed mother At the king's wish though against her own inclination she was married to the Duke of Arlene's towards an indifferent and unworthy husband her conduct was ever more patient and dutiful her prayers and tears saved him from a traitor's death and shortened the captivity which his rebellion had merited still nothing could win a heart which was already given to another when her husband ascended the throne as Louis XII his first act was to repudicate by false expectations one who through twenty-two years of cruel neglect had been his true and loyal wife at the final sentence of separation the saintly queen explained God be praised who has allowed this that I may serve him better than I have herefor done retiring to Borges there she realised a long-form desire of founding the order of the Annunciation in honour of the mother of God under the guidance of Saint Francis of Paula the director of her childhood Saint Jane was enabled to overcome the serious obstacles which even good people raised against the foundation of her new order in 1501 the rule of the Annunciation was finally approved by Alexander VI the chief aim of the institute was to imitate the ten virtues practised by our lady in the mystery of the incarnation the superioris being called Ansel Handmaid in honour of Mary's humility Saint Jane built and endowed the first convent of the order in 1502 she died in heroic sanctity AD 1505 and was buried in the royal crown and purple beneath which lay the habit of her order reflection during the lifetime of Saint Jane the Anglic was established in France the sound of the ave thrice each day gave her hope in her sorrow and fostered in her the desire still further to honour the incarnation how often we might derive grace from the same beautiful devotion so enriched by the church yet neglected by so many Christians end of section 37 recording by Lynda Marie Nielsen Vancouver BC section 38 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 Christina Buie little pictorial lives of the saints volume 1 January through March by John Gilmarie Shea Saint Agatha, virgin martyr and the martyrs of Japan February 5th Saint Agatha, virgin martyr Saint Agatha was born in Sicily of rich and noble parents a child of benediction from the first for she was promised to her parents before her birth and consecrated from her earliest infancy to God in the midst of dangers she served Christ in purity of body and soul and she died for the love of chastity Quintanus who governed Sicily under the Emperor Decius had heard the rumor of her beauty and wealth and he made the laws against the Christians a pretext for summoning her from Palermo to Quintania where he was at the time oh Jesus Christ she cried as she set out on this dreaded journey Am is thine preserve me against the tyrant and our Lord did indeed preserve one who had given herself so utterly to him he kept her pure and undefiled while she was imprisoned for a whole month under charge of an evil woman he gave her strength to reply to the offer of her life and safety if she would but consent to sin Christ alone is my life in salvation when Quintanus turned from protection to cruelty and cut off her breasts our Lord sent the Prince of his apostles to heal her and when after she had been ruled naked upon pot-shirts she asked that her torments might be ended her spouse heard her prayer and took her to himself Saint Agatha gave herself without reserve to Jesus Christ she followed him in virginal purity and then looked to him for protection on this day Christ has shown his tender regard for the very body of Saint Agatha again and again during the eruptions of Mount Etna the people of Quintania have exposed her veil for public veneration and found safety by this means and in modern times on opening the tomb in which her body lies waiting for the resurrection they beheld the skin still entire and felt the sweet damage issued from this temple of the Holy Ghost reflection purity is a gift of God we can gain it and preserve it only by care and diligence in avoiding all that may prove an incentive to sin the martyrs of Japan about 40 years after Saint Francis Xavier's death a persecution broke out in Japan and all Christian rites were forbidden under pain of death a confraternity of martyrs was at once formed the object of which was to die for Christ even the little children joined in Peter a Christian child 6 years old was awakened early and told that he was to be beheaded together with his father strong in grace he expressed his joy at the news dressed himself in his gayest clothing and took the hand of the soldier to lead him to death the headless trunk of his father first met his view calmly kneeling down he prayed beside the corpse and loosening his collar prepared his neck for the stroke moved by this touching scene the executioner threw down his saber and fled none but a brutal slave could be found for the murder's task with unskilled and trembling hand he hacked the child to pieces who at last died without uttering a single cry Christians were branded with the cross were all but buried alive while the head and arms were slowly sawn off with blunt weapons the least shudder under their anguish was interpreted into apostasy the obstinate were put to the most cruel death but the survivors only envied them five noblemen were escorted to the stake by 40,000 Christians with flowers and lights singing the litanies of Our Lady as they went in the great martyrdom at which thousands also assisted the martyrs set up a flood of melody from the fire which only died away as one after another went to sing the new song in heaven later on a more awful doom was invented the victims were lowered into a sulfurous chasm called the mouth of hell near which no bird or beast could live the chief of these Paul Wilberg whose family had been already massacred for the faith was thrice let down thrice he cried with a loud voice eternal praise be to the ever adorable sacrament of the altar the third time he went to his reward reflection if mere children face torture and death with joy for Christ can we begrudge the slight penance that asks us to bear End of Section 38 Recording by Christina Buie Section 39 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 Christina Buie Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmoury Shea February 6th St. Dorothy Virgin Martyr St. Dorothy was a young virgin celebrated at Caesarea where she lived for her angelic virtue her parents seemed to have been martyred before her by Ecclesian persecution and when the Governor Ceprecius came to Caesarea, he called her before him and sent this child the martyrs to the home where they were waiting for her She was stretched upon the rack and offered marriage if she would consent to sacrifice or death if she refused but she replied that Christ was her only spouse and death her desire She was then placed in charge by the people who had fallen away from the faith in the hope that they might pervert her but the fire of her own heart rekindled the flame in theirs and led them back to Christ when she was sent once more on the rack, Ceprecius himself was amazed at the heavenly look she wore and asked her the cause of her joy because, she said I have brought back two souls to Christ and because I shall soon be in heaven rejoicing with the angels her joy grew as she was buffeted in the face and her signs burned with plates of red hot iron blessed be thou, she cried when she was sentenced to be beheaded blessed be thou, oh thou lover of souls who dost call me to paradise and inviteest me to thy nuptial chamber Saint Dorothy suffered in the dead of winter and it is said that on the roads in her passion a lawyer called Theophilus who had been used to columniate and persecute the Christians asked her in mockery to send him apples or roses from the garden of her spouse the saint promised to grant his request and, just before she died a little child stood by her side bearing three apples and three roses she bade him to take them to Theophilus and tell him this was the present which he sought from the garden of her spouse Saint Dorothy had gone to heaven and Theophilus was still making merry over his challenge to the saint when the child entered his room he saw that the child was an angel in disguise and the fruit and flowers of no earthly growth he was converted to the faith and then shared in the martyrdom of Saint Dorothy Reflection Do you wish to be safe in the pleasures and happy in the lovelies of the world? Pray for heavenly desires and say with Saint Philip Paradise Paradise End of Section 39 Recording by Christina Buie Section 40 of Little Pictorial 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 please visit LibriVox.org Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea February 7 Saint Romulod Abbot In 976 Sergius, an opal man of Ravenna quarreled with a relative about an estate and slew him in a duel His son Romulod horrified at his father's crime entered the Benedictine monastery at Classe to do a 40 days penance for him This penance ended in his own vocation to religion After three years at Classe Romulod went to live as a hermit near Venice where he was joined by Peter Ercellulus, Duke of Venice and together they led a most austere life in the midst of assaults from the evil spirits Saint Romulod found at many monasteries the chief of which was that had Camaldoli a wild desert place where he built a church which he surrounded with a number of separate cells for the solitaries who lived under his rule His disciplines were hence called Camaldolis He is said to have seen here a vision of a mystic ladder and his white clothed monks ascending by it to heaven Among his first disciples was Saint Boniface Apostles of Russia and Saints John and Benedict of Poland Martyrs for the Faith He was an intimate friend of the Emperor Saint Henry and was reverenced and consulted by many great men of his time He once passed seven years in solitude and complete silence In his youth Saint Romulod was much troubled by temptations of the flesh To escape them he had recourse to love for solitude His father's sin, as we have seen first prompted him to undertake a forty days penance in the monastery which he forthwith made his home Some bad example of his fellow monks induced him to leave them and adopt the solitary mode of life The penance of Orceolus who had obtained his power wrongfully brought him his first disciple The temptations of the devil compelled him to a severe life and finally the persecutions of others were the occasion of his settlement at Kamaldoli and the foundation of his order He died as he had foretold twenty years before alone in his monastery of Vulkastro on the 19th of June 1027 Reflection Saint Romulod's life teaches us that if we only follow the impulses of the Holy Spirit we shall easily find good everywhere even in the most unlikely occasions Our own sins, the sins of others their ill will against us or our own mistakes and misfortunes are equally capable of leading us with softened hearts to the feet of God's mercy and love End of section 40 section 41 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 8th Saint John of Matha The life of Saint John of Matha was one long course of self-sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of his neighbor As a child his chief delight was serving the poor and he often told them he had come into the world for no other end but to wash their feet He studied at Paris with such distinction that his professors advised him to become a priest in order that his talents might render greater service to others and for this end John gladly sacrificed his high rank and other worldly advantages At his first mass an angel appeared, clad in white with a red and blue cross on his breast, in his hands reposing on the heads of a Christian and a Moorish captive To ascertain what this signified John repaired to Saint Felix of Valois, the Holy Hermit living near at Moor under whose direction he led a life of extreme penance The angel again appeared and they then set out for Rome to learn the will of God from the lips of the sovereign Pontiff who told them to devote themselves to the redemption of captives For this purpose they found it the order of the Holy Trinity The religious fasted every day and gathering alms throughout Europe took them to Barbary to redeem the Christian slaves They devoted themselves also to the sick and prisoners in all countries The charity of Saint John in devoting his life to the redemption of captives was visibly blessed by God On his second return from Tunis he brought back 120 liberated slaves But the Moors attacked him at sea overpowered his vessel and doomed it to destruction with all on board by taking away the rudder and sails and leaving it to the mercy of the winds Saint John tied his cloak to the mast and prayed saying let God arise and let his enemies be scattered, O Lord Thou wilt save the humble and wilt bring down the eyes of the proud Suddenly the wind filled the small sail and without guidance carried the ship safely in a few days to Ostia, the port of Rome 300 leagues from Tunis Worn out by his heroic labors John died in 1213 at the age of 53 Reflection Let us never forget that our blessed Lord bade us love our neighbor not only as ourselves but as he loved us and blessed himself for us End of Section 41 Section 42 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints Volume 1 January through March This is the LibriVox recording While 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 9th Saint Apollonia and the martyrs of Alexandria At Alexandria in 249 the mob rose in savage fury against the Christians Metrus, an old man perished first His eyes were pierced with reeds and he was stoned to death A woman named Quinta was the next victim She was led to a heathen temple in Bidden Worship She replied by cursing the false god and she too was stoned to death After this the houses of the Christians were sacked and flundered They took the spoiling of their goods with all joy Saint Apollonia, an aged virgin was the most famous among the martyrs Her teeth were beaten now She was led outside the city A huge fire was kindled She was told she must deny Christ or else be burned alive She was silent for a while and then moved by a special inspiration of the Holy Ghost she leaped into the fire and died in its flames The same courage showed itself the next year when Desius became emperor and the persecution grew till it seemed as if the very elect must fall away The story of Dioscorus illustrates the courage of the Alexandrian Christians and the esteem they had for martyrdom He was a boy of 15 To the arguments of the judge he returned wise answers He was proof against torture His older companions were executed but Dioscorus was spared on account of his tender years Yet the Christians could not bear to think that he had been deprived of the martyr's crown except to receive it afterwards more gloriously Dioscorus wrote Dionysus Bishop of Alexandria at this time remains with us reserved for some longer and greater combat There were indeed many Christians who became pale and trembling to offer the heathen sacrifices but the judges themselves were struck with horror at the multitudes who rushed to martyrdom Women triumphed over torture till at last the judges were glad to execute them at once and put an end to the ignominy of their own defeat Reflection Many saints who were not martyrs have longed to shed their blood for Christ We too may pray for some portion and the least suffering for the faith born with humility and courage is the proof that Christ has heard our prayers End of section 42 Section 43 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 10th, St. Scholastica, Abbas Of this Saint Little is known on earth save that she was the sister of the great patriarch St. Benedict in that under his direction she found it in govern a numerous community near Monte Casino St. Gregory sums up her life by saying that she devoted herself to God from her childhood her pure soul went to God in the likeness of a dove as if to show that her life had been enriched with the fullest gifts of the Holy Spirit Her brother was accustomed to visit her every year for she could not be sated or wearied with the words of grace which flowed from his lips On his last visit after a day passed in spiritual converse the saint knowing that her end was near said My brother, lead me not, I pray you this night this course with me till dawn on the bliss of those who seek God in heaven St. Benedict would not break his rule at the bidding of natural affection and then the saint bowed her head on her hands and prayed and there arose a storm so violent that St. Benedict could not return to his monastery and they passed the night in heavenly conversation Three days later St. Benedict saw a vision the soul of his sister going up in the likeness of a dove into heaven and he gave thanks to God for the graces he had given her and for the glory which he crowned them When she died St. Benedict her spiritual daughters and the monks sent by St. Benedict mingled their tears and prayed Alas, alas dearest mother to whom dost thou leave us now pray for us to Jesus to whom thou art gone They then devoutly celebrated holy mass commending her soul to God and her body was born to Monte Cassino and laid by her brother in the tomb he had prepared for himself and they bewailed her many days and St. Benedict said weep not sisters and brothers for assuredly Jesus has taken her before us to be our aid and defense against all our enemies that we may stand in the evil day and be in all things perfect She died about the year 543 Reflection Our relatives must be loved in and for God Otherwise the purest affection becomes inordinate and is so much taken from him End of Section 43 Section 44 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 11 St. Severinas Abbot of Ogonom St. Severinas of a noble family in Burgundy was educated in Catholic faith at a time when the Aryan heresy reigned in that country He forsooped the world in his youth and dedicated himself to God in the monastery of Ogonom which then only consisted of scattered cells till the Catholic King Sigismund built there the great happy of Saint Maurice St. Severinas was the Holy Abbot of that place and had governed his community many years in the exercise of penance and charity when in 504 Clovis the first Christian king of France laying ill of a fever which his physicians had for two years ineffectually endeavored to remove sent his chamberlain to conduct the saint to court for it was said that the sick from all parts recovered their health by his prayers St. Severinas took leave of his monks telling them he should never see them more in this world on his journey he healed Eulahius Bishop of Nevers who had been for some time deaf and dumb also a leper at the gates of Paris in coming to the palace immediately restored the king to perfect health by putting on him his own cloak the king in gratitude distributed large alms to the poor and released all his prisoners Saint Severinas returning toward Ogonom stopped at Chateau Landon in Gatenot were two priests serving God in the solitary chapel among whom he was admitted at his request as a stranger it was soon greatly admire them for his sanctity he foresaw his death which happened shortly after in 507 the place is now an abbey of reformed cannons regular of St. Austen the Eugannot scattered the greater part of his relics when they pondered this church reflection God loads with favor those who delight in exercising mercy according to thy ability be merciful if thou hast much give abundantly thou hast little take care even so to bestow willingly a little end of section 44 section 45 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 12 St. Benedict of Anion Benedict was the son of Aikov, governor of Lankadok and was born about 750 in his early youth he served as cup bearer to King Pepin and his son Charlemagne enjoying under them great honors and possessions Grace entered his soul at the age of 20 and he resolved to seek the kingdom of God with his whole heart without relinquishing his place at court he lived there a most mortified life for three years then an arrow escaped from drowning made him thou to quit the world and he entered the cloister of Saint Sain in reward for his heroic austerities in the monastic state God bestowed upon him the gift of tears and inspired him with the knowledge of spiritual things as procurator he was most careful of the wants of the brethren and most hospitable to the poor and to guests declining to accept the abyssey he built himself a little hermitage on the brook Anion and lived some years in great solitude and poverty but the fame of his sanctity drawing many souls around him he was obliged to build a large abbey and within a short time governed 300 monks he became the great restorer of monastic discipline throughout France with immense labour a coat of the rules of Saint Benedict his great namesake which he collated with those of the chief monastic founders showing the uniformity of the exercises in each and enforced by his penitential their exact observance secondly he minutely regulated all matters regarding food clothing and every detail of life and thirdly by prescribing the same for all he excluded jealousies and ensured perfect charity in a provincial council held in 813 under Charlemagne at which he was present it was declared that all monks of the west should adopt the rule of Saint Benedict he died February 11 821 reflection the decay of monastic discipline and its restoration by Saint Benedict prove that none are safe from loss of furfer but that all can regain it by fidelity to grace end of section 45 section 46 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 13th Saint Catherine of Ricci Alexandrina of Ricci was the daughter of a noble Florentine at the age of 13 she entered the third order of Saint Dominic in the monastery of Prattl taking in religion the name of Catherine after her patron and namesank of Siena her special attraction was to the Passion of Christ in which she was permitted miraculously to participate of 1541 being then 21 years of age she had a vision of the crucifixion so heart-rending that she was confined to bed for three weeks and was only restored on Holy Saturday by an apparition of Saint Mary Magdalene and Jesus risen during twelve years she passed every Friday in ecstasy she received the sacred stigmata the wound in the left side and the crown of thorns she had an intense suffering and inspired her with a loving sympathy for the yet more bitter tortures of the holy souls in their behalf she offered all her prayers and penances and her charity toward them became so famous throughout Tuscany that after every death the friends of the deceased hastened to Catherine to secure her prayers Saint Catherine offered many prayers fast and penances for a certain great man and thus obtained his salvation it was revealed to her that he was in purgatory in such was her love of Jesus crucified that she offered to suffer all the pains about to be inflicted on that soul her prayer was granted the soul entered heaven and for forty days Catherine suffered indescribable agonies her body was covered with boosters emanating heat so great that her cells seemed on fire her flesh appeared as if roasted in her tongue like red-hot iron amid all she was calm and joyful saying, I long to suffer all imaginable pains that souls may quickly see and praise their redeemer she knew by revelation the arrival of a soul in purgatory in the hour of its release she held intercourse with the saints in glory and frequently conversed with Saint Philip Neri at Rome without ever leaving her convent at Prato she died amid angels songs in 1889 reflection if we truly love Jesus crucified we must long like Saint Catherine to release the holy souls whom he has redeemed but has left to our charity to free end of section 46 section 47 of little pictorial eyes of the saints, volume 1 January through March this is a Librivox recording all Librivox recordings 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 14 Saint Valentine Priest and martyr Valentine was a holy priest in Rome with who with Saint Marius and his family assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II He was apprehended and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome who in finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith in the factual commanded him to be beaten with clubs and afterward to be beheaded which was executed on the 14th of February about the year 270 Pope Julius I is said to have built a church near Ponte Moeve to his memory which for a long time gave name to the gate now called Ponte del Popolo formally Port de Valentini The greater part of his relics are now in the church of Saint Paroxades to abolish the heathens lewd superstitious custom of boys throwing the names of girls in honor of their goddess February 15 on the 15th of this month several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day Reflection Because of justice and truth prudence should not be held in account otherwise prudence is mere human respect Saint Paul says the wisdom of the flesh is death End of Section 47 Section 48 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 February 15 Saints Faustinas and Jovita Martyrs Faustinas and Jovita were brothers nobly born in zealous professors of the Christian religion which they preached without fear in their city of Bresia While the bishop of that place lay concealed during the persecution their remarkable zeal excited the fury of the heathens against them and procured them a glorious death for their faith at Bresia and Lombardy under the emperor Adrien. Julian the heathen lord apprehended them and the emperor himself passing through Bresia when neither threats nor torments could shake their constancy commanded them to be beheaded and have suffered about the year 121. The city of Bresia honors them as its chief patrons, possessed their relics and a very ancient church in that city bears their names. Reflection The spirit of Christ is a spirit of martyrdom at least of mortification and penance it is always the spirit of the cross The more we share in the suffering life of Christ the greater share we inherit in his spirit and in the fruit of his death to souls mortified to their senses and disengaged from earthly things. God gives frequent ortees of the sweetness of eternal life in the most ardent desires of possessing him in his glory. This is the spirit of martyrdom which entitles a Christian to a happy resurrection and to the bliss of the life to come. End of section 48 Section 49 of Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Vol. 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, Vol. 1 January through March by John Gilmary Shea February 16th John de Brito, martyr Don Pedro II of Portugal when a child had among his little pages a modest boy of rich and princely parents much had John de Brito for so he was called to bear from his careless living companions to whom his holy life was a reproach. A terrible illness made him turn for aid to Saint Francis Xavier, a saint so well loved by the Portuguese and answered to his prayers he recovered his mother vested him for a year in the dress worn of those days by the Jesuit fathers. From that time John's heart earned to follow the example of the apostle of the Indies. He gained his wish. On December 17th, 1662 he entered the novitiate of the society at Lisbon and 11 years later in spite of the most determined opposition of his family to the court he left all to go to convert the Hindus of Madhura. When blessed John's mother knew that her son was going to the Indies she used all her influence to prevent him leaving his own country and persuaded the papal nuncio to interfere. God who called me from the world into religious life now calls me from Portugal to India was the reply of the future martyr. Not to answer the vocation to provoke the justice of God. As long as I live I shall never cease striving to gain a passage to India. For fourteen years he toiled preaching, converting, baptizing multitudes at the cost of privations, hardships and persecutions. At last after being seized tortured and nearly massacred by the Heathens he was banished from the country forced to return to Portugal John once more broke through every obstacle and went back again to his labor of love. Like Saint John the Baptist he died a victim to the anger of a guilty woman whom a convert king had put aside and like the precursor he was beheaded after a painful imprisonment. Reflection. It is a great honor, a great glory to serve God and to condemn all things for God. They will have a great grace to themselves, to God's Most Holy Will. The Imitation of Christ. Saint Onesimus, disciple of Saint Paul. He was a Phyrgian by birth slave to Philemon, a person of note of the city of Colossae converted to the faith by Saint Paul. Having robbed his master in being obliged to fly he providentially met with Saint Paul and then a prisoner for the faith at Rome who there converted and baptized him and sent him with his canonical letter of recommendation to Philemon by whom he was pardoned set at liberty and sent back to his spiritual father whom he afterwards faithfully served. That apostle made him with Tychus the bearer of his epistle to the Colossians and afterwards as Saint Jerome and other fathers witness a preacher of the gospel and a bishop. He was crowned with martyrdom under Domitian in the year 95. Reflection. With what excess of goodness does God communicate himself to souls that open themselves to him? With what caresses does he often visit them? With what a profusion of graces does he enrich and strengthen them? In our trials and temptations let us then offer our hearts to God remembering as Saint Paul says to them that love God and all things work together unto good. End of Section 49 Section 50 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 17th Saint Flavian Bishop and martyr Flavian was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in 447. His short Episcopate of two years was a time of conflict and persecution from the first. Chrysapheus, the emperor's favorite tried to extort a large sum of money from him on the occasion of his consecration. The hostility in refusing this Simoniacal betrayal of his trust brought on him the enmity of the most powerful man in the empire. A graveer trouble soon arose. In 448 Flavian had to condemn the rising heresy of the monk Utikes, who obstinately deny that our Lord was in two perfect natures after his incarnation. Utikes drew to his cause all the bad elements which so about the Byzantine court. His intrigues were long baffled by the vigilance of Flavian. But at last he obtained from the emperor the assembly of a council at Ephesus in August 449, presided over by his friend Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria. Into this robber council, as it is called, Utikes entered surrounded by soldiers. The Roman troops could not even read the pope's letters, and at the first sign of resistance to the condemnation of Flavian, fresh troops entered with drawn swords. And in spite of the protests of the legates, terrified most of the bishops into acquiescence. The fury of Dioscorus reached its height when Flavian appealed to the Holy Sea. Then it was that he so forgot his apostolic office as to lay violent hands in the office area. St. Flavian was set upon by Dioscorus and others, thrown down, beaten, kicked, and finally carried into banishment. Let us contrast their ends. Flavian clung to the teaching of the Roman panta, and sealed his faith with his blood. Dioscorus excommunicated the vicar of Christ and died obstinate and impenitent in the heresy of Eustachios. Reflection By his unswerving loyalty to the vicar of Christ, Flavian held fast to the truth and gained the martyr's crown. Let us learn from him to turn instinctively to that one true guide in all matters concerning our salvation. End of section 50