SecondHandSaintsblog

I remember when I was younger, hearing the old adage, that ‘Behind every good man, there stands an even better woman‘…. Saint Monica of Hippo was one such woman.

Born in North Africa in the town of Tagaste, she was raised by Christian parents. Not much is written about her childhood, but we do know that as the result of an arranged marriage, she was wed at an early age to a pagan official named Patritius. Her husband was known to disregard his role as husband and provider for his wife and often carried on in inappropriate relations with other women. In addition to this he was a violent man who often had fits of anger towards Monica. Some claim that  even though her husband was annoyed by her habits and generosity with others, that because of her devout and pious nature, he could not bring himself to carry out acts of physical violence against her,  he never raised his hand against her….but he did yell at her and insult and her…offering nothing but anguish for the young wife. Her married life was a far cry from being a happy and joyous one…but Monica relied on God and stayed true to her Faith, and with sweetness and patience, set a good example to all those who knew her…eventually even her husband.…

The marriage bond brought forth three children who survived infancy, Augustine, Navigius and a daughter named Perpetua. And although she was happy raising her young children, her heart was grieved because Patritius would not allow her to have the children baptized. Once when Augustine was extremely ill, she pleaded so much, that Patritius had agreed to allow him to be baptized, but as soon as Augustine regained his health, he withdrew his permission. This event caused the mother to focus most of her energy and prayers on Augustine, who had already begun his downward spiral away from the Lord.

As Augustine grew, he soon followed the pagans ways of his father. He was lazy and arrogant, clinging to heresies. And even though he was a brilliant man, he refused to accept the True Faith of the Church and broke his mother’s heart. There are accounts that say that Monica wept for Augustine every night…pleading for his conversion. It was during this time, that Monica received a bit of consolation from the Lord…her husband Patritius was converted and became a Christian. Soon after he became gravely ill and died…but at least with his conversion, Monica’s soul was at peace. But Monica still had troubling days ahead of her, for shortly after his father’s death, Augustine went to Carthage to continue his studies…only to fall deeper into his life of sin.

When Augustine returned home to his mother, he brought with him heretical ideas. As he spouted these ideas from his mouth, Monica drove him out of her house. But after a  vision, in which she was assured that Augustine would come to the Faith, she called him back into her home.

During these years her other children were living lives as Christians, and Monica focused all of her energy on Augustine. Always remaining in close contact with him….trying …praying for his conversion. When Augustine was going to Rome, he told his mother that he was just going to the dock to bid a friend farewell. When she found out what he had done, she was heartbroken , but found her way to Rome to be with her son again. She then followed him to Milan. It was here that the two met Saint Ambrose. His teachings influenced the two, Saint Augustine began to study the Faith and St. Ambrose became the spiritual director of Monica.

Under the spiritual guidance of Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine converted and became one of the most prolific writers in the history of the Catholic Church. Monica and her son were able to spend six months together after he was baptized. These were the happiest days of her life. She told Augustine that there was no more for her to do here on earth, and then in the year 387, Monica left this earthly life. Some of St. Augustine’s writings in his “Confessions” were inspired by his holy mother.

As faithful Catholics in a modern world, where we expect everything to be done here and now…when we expect everything ought to be done just so…we should look to Saint Monica and pray for help with our own lack of patience in the face of our own adversaries. When our families don’t convert…or our spouses may not live up to what we expect of them…let us remember this holy and pious women who spent her entire adult life praying fasting and suffering for the conversion of her family… often times fighting small battles with them so that they could find it in their heart to convert to the Lord. Though she was often heartbroken by those she loved, she always remained devoted and charitable with her actions and her words. Saint Monica pray for us. Amen.

As we near the end of August we come to the 1st canonized saint of the Americas; Saint Rose of Lima. She was born in Peru in the year 1586, and named Isabella at her baptism. It was only shortly after that her name was changed to Rose after one of the family’s servants had seen a blossoming rose bud suspended directly over the infant girl. So much, was her mother taken with her daughter’s beauty, that she took to calling her Rose after the incident, often saying that her daughter was as beautiful as a rose.

Her family had at one time enjoyed wealth and comfort but due to a loss of fortune in a mining venture, young Rose often did needlework and sold flowers that she grew in the family’s garden to help support her family.  At a young age she began practicing severe penances and praying for long hours. And as she blossomed into a beautiful young woman, she took great pains to hide her  beauty from others. One time she even rubbed pepper over her face to swell it and cause blisters to form. She eventually cut off her beautiful hair and hid what was left under a veil.

Her parents had hoped that she would marry a wealthy noble man to ease their financial burdens but Rose wished to dedicate her life to God and become a nun. When her parents refused to let her join a convent, she built a small hut in their back yard and spent many hours there praying and offering penances for the conversion of the people of Peru, many of whom were Incas and pagans. She often brought the sick and infirm into her small hut and cared for them. Then finally after many years of protests from her parents, she was able to join the Third Order of St. Dominic, donning their habit and taking a vow of perpetual virginity.

Often neighbors would see Rose with a young child playing near the trees or walking hand in hand in the yard. The people did not recognize the Infant at first, but then when they followed the path of Rose and her companion, they found  that the infant Child left silver footprints where His feet touched the earth. Many graces were spread through the young saint and soon she found herself standing up for people who were being mistreated. Many times people were cured under her care due to the specials graces she received from the Child Jesus.  As word spread of her charitable deeds, she earned the nickname “Mother of the Poor.” Soon more and more people began to realize just how special Rose was.

For fifteen years Rose cared for the poor people of Peru, serving God and bringing the Faith to those around her. She was friends with Saint Martin de Porres, who lived in the same city and spent much time with him, working to spread the Faith. By the time she was just thirty- one, her health was failing due to the long hours of work and the way she punished her body. She became ill and died on August 24, 1617.

It was not until her death, did the people of Lima realize how widely known she had become, and how much her life had influenced the common people of Peru. For when her body was taken down the street to the cathedral, a great crowd of mourners gathered…crying as news spread of her passing. For several days it was impossible to perform the burial because of the great crowds that came to bid her farewell. She was finally laid to rest in the Dominican Convent of Lima. Later though, when miracles and cures began to be attributed to her, her body was transferred to the Church of San Domingo. There it is reposed still today in a special chapel. Rose of Lima was declared patroness of South America and the Philippines; she was canonized by Pope Clement in 1671, with August 30 being appointed her feast-day. This holy woman is highly honored in all Spanish-American countries. The emblems associated with her are an anchor, a crown of roses, and a city. Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us. Amen.

“More than all the angels and all the saints has God ineffable freely endowed Mary with the fullness of the heavenly gifts that abound in the divine treasury; and she, preserving herself ever immaculately clean from the slightest taint of sin, attained a fullness of innocence and holiness so great as to be unthinkable apart from God Himself, a fullness that no one other than God will ever possess.” – Pope Pius IX

On the 11th of October in 1954, Pope Pius XII established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary to be celebrated throughout the world, and commanded that on that day each year, the world should renew its consecration to her. In the future, the Feast came to be celebrated on August 22nd, one week after the celebration of Her Assumption into Heaven.

Pope Pius XII wrote : “The purpose of the Feast is that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of Her who bore God in Her womb.”

Prayer to Our Amiable Queen by Saint Alphonsus Liguori

O Mary, of all Creatures thou art the Noblest, the Purest, the Holiest, the most Sublime, the most Beautiful. Oh, that All Knew you, my Lady, and Loved thee as thou Deserveth! I too, though I am a Sinner, Love thee, my most Amiable Queen. And yet I Love thee too-Little. I Long, to Love thee with a Greater and more Tender Affection, and it is thou who must Obtain this Grace for me. To Love thee, is a Singular Mark of Predestination, a Grace that God Grants-to those who are Saved. Then too, my Mother, I realize my Great Obligation to Love thy Son; I see that He Deserves an Infinite Love. Since thou Desireth so-much to see Him Loved, Obtain this Grace for me, a Deep Love for Jesus Christ.

I have no Wish-for Earthly Goods, for Honors, for Riches. I ask for that, which thine Heart Desires far more, to Love my God alone. Is it likely that thou wilt not Help me in my Desire, which is so Pleasing-to thee? Ah no, for even now thou art Praying-for me. But I am Consoled in thinking that so many Souls in-Heaven, and Saintly People on Earth, Love thee for thy Goodness and Beauty. Above all, I Rejoice that God Himself Loves thee alone, more than He Loves all Men and Angels together.

Pray for me, Mary; Pray and never Cease-to Pray, until thou dost greet me in Heaven. There I shall Possess my God Forever. There too I shall Possess my Dearest Mother. So I Hope. So may it be.

Amen

On the evening of August 21st, 1879, at roughly 8 p.m.  at the Saint John the Baptist Church in Knock Ireland, there appeared in a blaze of light, the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist. The images appeared to float about two feet above the ground, hovering and occasionally moving towards the visionaries.

The Blessed Mother was clothed in white robes with a brilliant crown on Her head. Just below the rim of the crown, there was a full – bloom golden rose. She had her eyes and her hands lifted towards Heaven as she prayed. Saint Joseph was also wearing white robes. But he was facing towards the Blessed Virgin with an attitude of respect.

Saint John was on the Blessed Mother’s left side and was wearing vestments that resembled a bishop’s attire. He was wearing a mitre and holding an open book in his left hand, from which he appeared to be preaching. Behind them was a white altar with a cross and a lamb on top. There were adoring angels near the altar as well. The apparition was witnessed by fifteen people. Shortly after the apparition, miraculous healings were reported. Once word spread, the sight became a major pilgrimage destination.