Cristy Li

Saint Peter Claver (1581-1654)
Image: Catholic Online

(CNA) Born in Spain into a farming family, Peter would go on to study at the Univ of Barcelona and would join the Jesuits at the age of 20 — Later while studying Philosophy, Peter developed a friendship with an older Jesuit Lay Brother (who would later together with Peter be Canonized) Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez (Feast Day: 30 October)

Although St. Alphonsus spent his days doing menial work as a door-keeper, he had immense insight into spiritual matters and encouraged young Peter to become a Missionary in the Spanish colonies.

In 1610 now a Priest–Fr. Claver, arrived in Cartagena a port city (present day Colombia) despite Pope Paul III repeated condemnations of slavery during the previous century, European Colonists continued importing African Slaves that if they survived the journey would expect to be worked to death on plantations and in mines.

Fr. Peter Claver was determined to sacrifice his own freedom, to bring material aid and eternal salvation to the African Slaves in keeping with his solemn vow to become ‘the Slave of the Blacks forever,’ the young Priest made and kept this resolution despite his own health issues (aggravated by the climate) and the language barrier between himself and the population he served.

Many Spanish Royal officials in Cartagena appreciated Fr. Claver’s work and made contribution for the Slaves ‘relief and education’ — the Slave traders on the other hand found Fr. Claver and his interpreters to be a nuisance. — Meanwhile some bigoted Spanish expats, who sought out Fr. Claver because of his Holy reputation, refused to enter the same Church or Confessional as the African Slaves.

In order for Fr. Claver to minister to African Slaves who spoke a different language, he would often employ ‘pictorial representations’ of Catholic truths and would effectively communicate by generosity, expressions of love, together with giving food and drink to the ailing Slaves and would visit with them during times of illness which often times proved fatal to them.

“We must speak to them with our hands,” Fr. Claver reasoned,
“before we try to speak with our lips.”

In keeping with his vow of ‘Slavery’ Fr. Peter Claver survived on minimal amounts of food and sleep–his life of humility and penance, led to miraculous occurrences, as when the sick were healed with the touch of his cloak or he appeared surrounded by a supernatural light during his hospital visits.

Fr. Peter Claver’s work came to an end with his death in September 1654 he had Baptized and had taught Christianity to more than 300,000 African Slaves during his four decades in Cartagena — The city Magistrates ordered that he should be buried at public expense with great ceremony.

In 1851 Fr. Peter Claver was Beatified by Pope Blessed Pius IX and Canonized together with his friend St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in 1887 who declared St. Peter Claver, the worldwide patron of missionary work among Black Slaves.

More here from EWTN 

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Visit: -ISCCB

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Image Courtesy: Meadowsweet

(Franciscan Media) The Church has celebrated Mary’s Birth since the end of the 7th century according to EWTN brought there by Eastern Monks. Gradually and in varied ways, it spread to other parts of the West in the centuries that followed.

From the 13th century on, the celebration assumed notable importance becoming a Solemnity with a major Octave and preceded by a Vigil calling for a Fast–the Octave was reduced to a simple one during the reform of Pope Saint Pius X (1903-1914) and was abolished altogether under the reform of Pope Pius XII (1939-1958)

The present calendar characterizes the ‘Birth of Mary’ as a Feast, placing it on the same plane as the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast Day: 31 May) — For some centuries now, the birth has been assigned to the 08 September both in the East and West but in ancient times it was celebrated on different dates from place-to-place. However when the Feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Feast Day: 08 December) was extended to the whole Church, the Birth little-by-little became assigned everywhere to the 08 September, nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s Birth however the Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value but it does reflect the development of Christian faith. According to this account, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim are infertile but pray to God for a child and subsequently receive the promise of a child that will advance God’s plan of Salvation for the world. — Such a story (as many Biblical counterparts) stress the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the very beginning.

Saint Augustine connects the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Birth with Jesus’ saving work and describes it according to Catholic News Agency with cosmic and historic significance, an important prelude to the Birth of Jesus Christ.

“She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed
the precious lily of the valley.
Through her Birth the nature inherited
from our first parents is changed.”

The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the Birth of Mary’s Son as the dawn of our Salvation and asks for an increase of peace.

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

Blessed Claudio Granzotto -Image: Pinterest

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Santa Lucia di Piave in 1900, Claudio was the youngest of 9 children in a peasant farming family according to SQPN and so was accustomed to hard work in the fields. At the age of 9, Claudio’s father passed away and six years later at 15, Claudio was drafted into the Army serving three years.

Claudio loved art especially religious themed art and graduated with Honors from Italy Venice ‘Academy of Fine Arts’ in 1929 — Four yrs after graduation, Claudio entered the ‘Order of Friars Minor’ which his Parish Priest wrote of him: “The Order is receiving not only an artist but a Saint.”

Prayer, charity to the poor and artistic work characterized Claudio’s short life as he died on the day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1947 at the age of just 46 of a brain tumor.

Claudio was Beatified in 1994 by Pope Saint John Paul II

Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
Image Courtesy: –A Celebration of Women

(Franciscan Media) Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the tiny Woman recognized throughout the world for her work among the poorest of the poor, was Beatified the 19 October, 2003 on World Mission Sunday by Pope Saint John Paul II who said in his Homily:

“With the witness of her life, Mother Teresa reminds everyone that the evangelizing mission of the Church passes through charity, nourished by prayer and listening to God’s word. Emblematic of the missionary style is the image that shows the new Blessed, clasping a child’s hand in one hand, while moving her Rosary beads with the other.

Contemplation and action, evangelization and human promotion, Mother Teresa proclaimed the Gospel living her life as a ‘total gift to the poor’ but at the same time, steeped in prayer.”

Mother Teresa’s birth name Agnes Gonxa Bojaxhiu in Macedonia Skopje and was the youngest of three children. As a youth, ‘Agnes’ attended a group meeting called ‘Sodality’ run by a Jesuit Priest at her Parish, Agnes’ involvement opened her to the call of service as a Missionary Nun.

Agnes would join the ‘Sisters of Loretto’ at the age of 17 and was sent to Calcutta where she would teach at a high school. — Later contracting TB, Agnes was sent to rest in West Bengal Darjeeling, it was on the train to Darjeeling that Agnes received her calling–what she would call “an Order” from God to leave the Convent to work and live among the poor.

At this point in her life, Sister Teresa didn’t know that she was to found an Order of Nuns or even exactly where she was to serve. “I knew where I belonged but I did not know how to get there,” Mother Teresa said once, recalling the moment on the train.

Confirmation of the calling came to Sister Teresa when the Vatican granted her permission to leave the ‘Sisters of Loretto’ and fulfill her calling under the Archbishop of Calcutta — Sister Teresa started working in the slums, teaching poor children and caring for the sick in their homes, she was joined a year later by some of her former students and together they would take in Women, Men and Children who were dying in the gutters along the streets, caring for them.

In 1948 the Missionaries of Charity Sisters was founded ‘to be a channel of God’s love to Calcutta’s poorest of the poor, convinced that they were a presence of the suffering Jesus,” who has said:

“I was hungry…I was thirsty…I was a stranger…I was naked…I was sick…I was in prison and you came to me.” Matthew 25:35-36

Sister Teresa’s Missionary Order grew very quickly from a single house for the dying and unwanted to nearly 500 around the world. Later, Mother Teresa would establish homes for AIDS patients, for Prostitutes to Battered Women and Orphanages for children.

Mother Teresa would often say ‘the poorest of the poor were those who had no one to care for them and no one who would know them,’ often times remarked with sadness and desolation of millions of souls in the developed world, whose spiritual poverty and loneliness was such an immense cause of suffering.

A fierce defender of the unborn, Mother Teresa said: “If you hear of some Woman who does not want to keep her child and wants to have an abortion, try to persuade her to bring him to me. I will love that child, seeing in him the sign of God’s love.”

Mother Teresa passed away on this date in 1997 and Beatified just six years after her death.

Remembered fondly by many worldwide, Mother Teresa one time reminded us, which is still true to this day:

• “A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.”
• “Give yourself fully to God, He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.”

Painting: ‘The Virgin and Child with Saint Rose of Viterbo’
Image Courtesy: Painting Arts Picture.com

(Franciscan Media) Born 1234 in Italy Viterbo, Rose achieved Sainthood in only 18 yrs of life.

Even as a child, Rose had a great desire to pray and aid the poor. While still very young, Rose began a life of penance in her home, she was generous to the poor as religiously devout with herself.

At the age of 10, Rose became a ‘Secular Franciscan’ and soon began ministering in the streets about sin, faith and the sufferings of Jesus.

Viterbo at this time was in revolt against the Papacy, when Rose sided with Pope Innocent IV (1243-1254) against the Emperor Frederick II (1220-1250) Rose and her family were exiled from the city. When Pope Innocent IV side prevailed, Rose was permitted to return to Viterbo.

Rose at the age of 15 so wished to enter the Monastery of ‘St. Mary of the Roses’ but was refused because of her poverty and returned to life of prayer and penance in her family home where she died in 1252 — Rose was Canonized in 1457 by Pope Callistus III

Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)
Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

(CNA) Born in Italy Rome, Gregory received an education in the liberal arts and law, together with receiving a critical Christian foundation in his youthful days from his mother also St. Silvia of Rome (Feast Day: 03 November) and his family, Aunties: St. Emiliana and St. Trasilla together with the influences left on his family by Gregory’s Great-Grandfather Pope Saint Felix III

By the age of 30, Gregory was successful in advancing to high political office in Rome, during what was nevertheless a period of marked decline for the city.

After (nearly) 5 years on office according to Franciscan Media Gregory chose to resign his position, founded 6 Monasteries on his Sicilian estate and became a Benedictine Monk in his home at Rome under the Patronage of St. Andrew according to EWTN probably in 574

In 578 much against Gregory’s will, the Pope ordered him out of seclusion, Ordained him a Priest and made Fr. Gregory one of the Pope’s Seven Deacons of Rome, also serving in the East as Papal representative in Constantinople — In either the year 585 or 586 Fr. Gregory was recalled to Rome and with the greatest of joy returned to the monasteries of St. Andrew (that he founded) which he became Abbot soon thereafter, growing famous under his enthusiastic and energetic tenure, producing many Monks — On this date in 590 at the age of 50 Gregory was elected Pope by the Clergy and people of Rome.

As Pope, Gregory was direct and firm, removing unworthy Priests from office together with forbidding the taking of money for many services. Pope Gregory emptied the Papal treasury to pay the ransom of prisoners from the Lombards and to care for the persecuted Jews together with caring for victims of plague and famine. Pope Gregory was also very concerned about the spirituality of England and sent there 40 Monks from the Monastery that he had founded. — Pope Gregory is known for his reform of the liturgy and for strengthening respect for doctrine.

An Anglican historian has written: “It’s impossible to conceive what would have been the confusion, the lawlessness, the chaotic state of the Middle Ages without the medieval Papacy and of the medieval Papacy, the real Father is Gregory the Great.”

Pope Saint Gregory’s book Pastoral Care on the duties and qualities of a Bishop, was read for centuries following his death. Pope Gregory described Bishops mainly as physicians whose main duties were preaching and the enforcement of discipline. In his own down to earth ministry, Pope Saint Gregory was skilled at applying the daily Gospel to the needs of his listeners.

Called ‘The Great’ Pope Saint Gregory the Great, has been given a place with Saint Augustine (Feast Day: 28 August) Saint Ambrose (Feast Day: 07 December) and Saint Jerome (Feast Day: 30 September) as one of the four key Doctors of the Western Church.

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

French Martyrs for Christ of the September Massacres
Image: Tradition in Action

(Franciscan Media) These Priests were victims of the French Revolution–Though their Martyrdom spans several years, they are recognized together in the Church’s memory because they all sacrificed their lives for the same principle.

The ‘Civil Constitution of the Clergy’ in 1791 required that all Priests take an oath which amounted to a denial of their faith–each of these men refused and were executed.

Fr. John Francis Burte became a Franciscan at 16 and subsequent to his Ordination, he taught Theology to the young Friars–Later he was Guardian of the large Conventual Friary in Paris until he was arrested and held in the Convent of the Carmelites.

Fr. Apollinaris of Posat was born in Switzerland 1739 he joined the Capichins and acquired a reputation as an excellent Minister, Confessor and Instructor of Clerics. Sent to the East as a Missionary, he was in Paris studying Asian languages when the French Revolution began. Refusing to execute the oath, he was swiftly arrested and detained in the Carmelite Convent.

Fr. Severin Girault a member of the ‘Third Order Regular’ and Chaplain for a group of Sisters in Paris, he was imprisoned with the Priests and was the first to be Martyred in the slaughter at the Convent.

These three Priests together with 182 others (which included several Bishops) were massacred at the Carmelite House in Paris on this date in 1792 and were Beatified in 1926 by Pope Pius XI

Fr. John Baptist Triquerie born in 1737 entered the Conventual Franciscans, he was Chaplain and Confessor of the ‘Poor Clare Monasteries’ in three cities before he was arrested for refusing to take the oath, he and 13 Diocesan Priest were guillotined in Laval on 21 January, 1794 — Fr. John Baptist Triquerie was Beatified in 1955 by Pope Pius XII