Cristy Li

St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Image: Catholic Online

Bishop of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church, little is known of Cyril except from information that one gathers from his younger contemporaries  Epiphanius, Jerome and Rufinus, together from 5th century historians Socrates, Sozomen and Theodoret.

Raised in Jerusalem and well educated, especially in the Scriptures, Cyril was ordained a Priest by the Bishop of Jerusalem according to Franciscan Media and given the task of catechizing during Lent those preparing for baptism and during the Easter season the newly baptized. Cyril’s ‘Catecheses’ remain valuable as examples of the ritual and theology of the Church in the 4th century.

The crisis the Church faces today may seem minor when compared with the threat posed by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Jesus Christ and almost overcame Christianity during the 4th century–Cyril was caught up in the controversies, accused later of Arianism by St. Jerome (345-420) but ultimately vindicated in his own time. In the Synodal Letter of 382 after the 2nd Council of Constantinople (381) writes Idle Speculations the Eastern Bishops, officially recognized Cyril’s flawless doctrine.

Cyril became Bishop of Jerusalem according to Justus Anglican.org in about 349 his ‘Catechetical Lectures’ found here at Amazon and here at SQPN.com remain invaluable resource documents for the Church’s early teachings.

Saint Patrick (415-493)
Image: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Legends about Patrick abound but the truth is best served by our seeing the solid qualities in him: (1) a humble and courageous servant of God; (2) the determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided Patrick’s life; (3) winning much of Ireland for Jesus Christ.

Specific details of Patrick’s life are a little uncertain but what one does know is that Patrick was a man of action. About in the year 442 tradition teaches us according to EWTN that Patrick went to Rome and met with Pope Leo the Great who had taken a special interest in the Irish Church.

In all of the ancient biographies of Saint Patrick, the marvelous is continually present–fortunately we have three of Patrick’s own writings, which helps us to see and learn about the man himself:

• The Letter to Coroticus was intended to shame the 5th century General, according to NC Register whose raiding soldiers declared to be ‘blood-stained, with the blood of innocent Christians’ as they were being baptized.

In his writings, Patrick shows his ardent human feelings and his intense love of God. — Patrick’s marvelous harvest, filled him with gratitude. During his apostolate of 30 years, he is reported to have consecrated some 350 Bishops and was instrumental in bringing the Christian faith to many thousands to which Patrick wrote:

“Wherefore those in Ireland who never had the knowledge of God but until now only worshiped idols and abominations, from them has has been lately prepared a people of the Lord and they are called children of God. Sons and Daughters of Chieftains are seen becoming Monks and Virgins of Christ.”

Related: St. Patrick’s Day Prayer -Direct From Lourdes

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer
Image: TLDM

(Franciscan Media) Clement Hofbauer, was born the day after Christmas 1751 in Moravia Tasswitz (modern day Czech Republic) and was the 9th of 12 children–although he longed to enter the Priesthood, his family couldn’t afford it as his father died when he was just 6 yrs old according to SQPN.com and young Clement had to accept an apprenticeship to a Baker but God was guiding this young mans fortunes–finding work in the Bakery of a Monastery where he was permitted to attend classes in its Latin school.

After the Abbot at the Monastery passed away, Clement attempted to live the life in solitude and prayer but when Emperor Joseph II abolished monasteries and religious orders, Clement returned to Vienna and Baking.

One day after serving Mass at the Cathedral of St. Stephen, Clement called for a carriage for two ladies waiting in the rain, in conversation with them, they learned that Clement could not pursue his studies for the Priesthood because of a lack of funds–They generously offered to financially support him and his friend Thaddeus, in seminary studies.

Clement and Thaddeus went to Rome where they were drawn to St. Alphonsus and the Redemptorists and entered among them–the two young men were ordained in 1785

As new Priests, Fr. Clement Mary (as he was now called) and Fr. Thaddeus, were sent back to Vienna but religious difficulties persisted there, resulting them having to leave and go to Poland Warsaw, there they encountered many German speaking Catholics who had been left without Priests.

At first, they lived in extreme poverty and ministered outdoors, subsequently they were assigned to St. Benno Catholic Church and for the next 9 yrs they preached 5 sermons a day–two in German and three in Polish, converting many to Christianity. There they were also active in social work among the poor, founding an orphanage and then a school for boys.

Drawing new Parishioners to their congregation they were able to send Missionaries throughout Poland, Germany and Switzerland but all of these foundations had to be abandoned because of the political and religious tensions of the times.

After some 20 years of difficult work Fr. Clement Mary was imprisoned and later expelled from the country–Only after a subsequent arrest did he make it back to Vienna where he was to live and work for the remainder of his life.

Fr. Clement Mary soon became known as the ‘Apostle of Vienna’ hearing the confessions of the rich and poor alike, visiting the sick and establishing a Catholic college in his beloved city.

One of the most remarkable of the many figures behind the scenes at the Congress of Vienna was Fr. Clement Mary, helping to establish the Redemptorists following his death and as a consequence to this achievement, he was regarded by the Redemptorists as their second founder.

Fr. Clement Mary Hofbrauer, was Beatified in January, 1888 by Pope Leo XIII In May, 1909 he was Canonized by Pope Pius X and in 1914 was named the Patron Saint of Austria, Vienna.

Saint Louise de Marillac (1591-1660)
Image: The Journey of a Bishop

(Franciscan Media) Louise was born in France Meux and lost her mother, when she was yet a child and her beloved father when she was just 15 yrs old–Educated at the Dominican Convent at Poissy, Louise felt called to lead a religious life however after consulting her confessor, she decided not to pursue this vocation and instead was married in 1613 to Antony LeGras, a court official to the Queen.

Antony and Louise were blessed with a son in 1617 however shortly thereafter, Antony fell ill and Louise found herself caring for their son virtually alone and nursing her sick husband, after a long battle, Antony died in 1625

Following Antony’s death, Louise once again began thinking about joining a religious community and met with Fr. Vincent de Paul as her spiritual director, with his encouragement and direction, Louise formed a group of Women ‘Daughters of Charity’ dedicated to serving the sick, poor and neglected.

In 1642 Louise wrote the formal Rule for the ‘Daughters of Charity’ and in 1655 they received formal approval from the Vatican and placed under the direction of Fr. Vincent de Paul congregation of priests–Louise subsequently took her vows in the new Order and served as Superior for the rest of her life.

Sister Louise worked zealously continuing to help wherever she was needed and subsequently traveled throughout France, forming convents and instituting the ‘Daughters of Charity’ workers in hospitals, orphanages and other institutions dedicated to helping the neglected and the ill until her death on this day in 1660 in Paris.

In 1920 Sister Louise was Beatified by Pope Benedict XV and in 1934 Canonized by Pope Pius XI

More here from EWTN

(Catholic Online) Matilda daughter of Count Dietrich of Westphalia, would wed King Henry the Fowler, noted for her piety, works of charity and considerable alms giving.

Queen Matilda would build many Church’s, three Convents and a Monastery during her life and would pass away in 968 at a Convent she had constructed.

More here from EWTN

Related: Why Do Catholic’s Seek the Intercession of Saint’s?

How Can You Become a Saint?

St. Leander of Seville (550-600)
Image: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Leander was born in Spain Cartagena of a family that included three other sibling Saints: Isidore, Fulgentius and Florentina — Leander became a Monk at Seville and later Bishop of the Holy See.

Saint Leander of Seville, is remembered for revising and unifying the Spanish  liturgy as a way to reinforce the faith of other Spaniards and as an antidote against the heresy of Arianism which denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. By the end of Leander’s life, Christianity flourished in Spain at a time of political and religious unrest.

Leander presided over the ‘Third Council of Toledo’ in 589 and introduced the saying the Nicene Creed at Mass so that Christians could continually be reminded that “God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity–Our creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and foundation of all God’s works.”

(Catholic Online) Fina a beautiful child born into poverty, as impoverished as she was, Fina always kept back half of her food to give to those worse off than her. Growing up, Fina would sew to help bring money into the family at night she would spend much of it in prayer.

Stricken by paralysis at an early age, Fina would lose her beauty and became bedridden, her bed consisted of a plank which she laid in one position, desiring to be like Jesus, she would never complain, always maintaining serenity with her eyes fixed on a Crucifix praying, “It is not my wounds but Thine, O Christ, that hurt me.”

Following the death of her parents, Fina was left completely destitute and alone except for one devoted friend Beldia who made sure that Fina was not neglected.

Someone shared with Fina the story of Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540-604) and his destitute as a child forced to live for a time only on grass and nettles, Fina conceived a special veneration for him and would seek his intercession with God, that she may learn patience in her affliction.

Eight days before Fina’s death as she laid alone and untended, Pope Saint Gregory the Great appeared to her and said, “Dear child, on my festival God will give you rest.”

Following Fina’s death, when her body was removed from the plank where she laid, the rotten wood was found to be covered with white violets. Many in the city where Fina lived attended her funeral, many miracles have been reported  by her intercession with God, including the healing of her friend Beldia‘s injured arm.

Related: Why Do Catholic’s Seek the Intercession of Saint’s?

How Can You Become a Saint?

Mosaic of the Martyrdom of St. John Ogilvie
Image Courtesy: Jesuits of Britain

(CNA) John Ogilvie was born in 1579 and was the son of a respected Calvinist family who came home to the Catholic Church subsequent to receiving his education from the Benedictines and Jesuits. In 1599 he entered the ‘Society of Jesus’ subsequent to extensive study and training, John became a Jesuit Priest in Paris in 1610

Fr. John Ogilvie greatly wanted to return back home to Scotland to encourage its return to the Catholic Church. John met two Jesuits who had just previously returned from Scotland, according to Franciscan Media after suffering arrest and imprisonment for their faith–they saw little hope for any successful work there in view of the tightening penal laws but a fire had been lit with Fr. Ogilvie and for the next two years he pleaded to be a missionary there.

Sent by his Superiors, Fr. Ogilvie secretly entered Scotland as a horse trader. Being unable to do any significant work amongst the few Catholics there, he made his way back to Paris to consult his Superiors–Rebuked for having left his assignment in Scotland, Fr. Ogilvie was sent back and had some success in his missionary work and in secretly serving Scottish Catholics but soon was betrayed, arrested and brought before the court.

Fr. Ogilvie’s trial dragged on and he was deprived of food and sleep for 8 days and nights he was dragged around, prodded with sharp sticks and his hair pulled out in an effort to betray the names of other Catholics in Scotland, yet he refused to reveal the names of others and acknowledge the jurisdiction of the King despite his distress–he was put on trial a second and third time but held firm in his convictions.

At Fr. Ogilvie’s third and final trial. he assured his persecutors:

“In all that concerns the King, I will be slavishly obedient. If any attack his temporal power, I will shed my last drop of blood for him but in the things of spiritual jurisdiction which a King unjustly seizes, I cannot and must not obey.”

Condemned to death as a traitor, Fr. Ogilvie was faithful to the end, even when on the scaffold, he was offered his freedom and a fine living if only he would deny his faith.

Fr. John Ogilvie’s last words before he was martyred for Jesus Christ were: “If there be any hidden Catholics let them pray for me but the prayers of heretics, I will not have.”

After Fr. Ogilvie was pushed from the stairs hanging, he threw his concealed rosary beads into the crowd according to the Jesuits of Britain and it’s claimed, that one of his enemies caught them and became a devout lifelong Catholic–subsequently his followers were rounded up and imprisoned, while they incurred heavy fines, none were executed.

Fr. John Ogilvie was Beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929 and subsequently Canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1976

Saint Dominic Savio (1842-1857)
Image: The Pinoy Catholic

(Franciscan Media) Dominic was born in Northern Italy in the Province of Turin, to humble but very devout Christian parents. While still a very young boy, Dominic decided that he wanted to emulate Jesus Christ and would avoid anything that would distance himself from the Lord.

At the age of 7, Dominic made his first Holy Communion and at the age of 12, he joined Saint John Bosco as a student at the ‘Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for Boys.’ Dominic impressed John Bosco with his desire to become a Priest and to help him in his work with neglected boys. A peacemaker and an organizer, young Dominic founded a group he called the ‘Company of the Immaculate Conception’ which besides being devotional, aided John Bosco with the boys that he worked with.

Dominic was known to spend hours in prayer as a youth, his soul interest was God and  how to lead others to use all their strength to serve Him–Dominic’s happiness he called “my distractions’ according to Franciscan Media and even in play, Dominic said that at times, “It seems heaven is opening just above me. I am afraid I may say or do something that will make the other boys laugh.” Dominic would say, “I can’t do big things but I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God.”

Always in frail health Dominic developed lung problems and was sent home to recuperate. As was the custom of his day, Dominic was bled in the though that may help him but it only worsened his already frail condition.

Dominic passed away at the age of 15 after receiving the Last Sacraments–the first biography of Dominic was written by his teacher Saint John Bosco and those pages led to many vocations including that of future Pope Benedict XV, who watched over the Holy Childhood Society with loving concern.

Some thought Dominic was too young to be considered a Saint, Pope Pius XII declared that the opposite was true–Dominic was Beatified on the 05 March, 1950 and was Canonized four years later.

More here from EWTN

Saint Frances of Rome (1384-1440)
Image: Catholic Culture

(Franciscan Media) Born in Rome to a noble family, Frances desired a life of prayer and service, longing to enter a convent when she was young but in obedience to her parents she instead married at the age of twelve to a young nobleman Lorenzo de Ponziani and became a devoted young wife, homemaker and good mother to two sons and a daughter.

As Frances became acquainted with her new relatives, she soon discovered that her sister-in-law Vannozza also wished to live a life of service and prayer–with their husbands blessings, the two set out to become lay persons with the Benedictine Oblate Congregation of ‘Tor di Speechi’ and organized a group of Women to minister to the needs of Rome’s poor.

Frances spent much of her time in prayer and doing great works of charity, she cared for victims of epidemics and wars–In 1409 Lorenzo was forced into exile because of a civil war, he returned 5 yrs later a broken man–Frances cared for him, along with her other activities, the family flourished under Frances care until a great plague swept across Italy, striking Rome with devastating cruelty leaving two of Frances’ children dead–following which she opened a section of her home as a hospital.

In an effort to alleviate some of the suffering in the country, Frances sold off all of her possessions to buy for the sick and dying, all they may require. When all of their resources became exhausted, Frances and Vannozza went door-to-door seeking charity of others.

Following the death of Lorenzo in 1436 after 40 years of marriage, Frances founded and governed the Congregation of Mt Olivet and spent the remaining four years of her life living with the community until her death at the age of fifty six.

Frances was Canonized in by Pope Paul V in May, 1608

More here on the Life of St. Frances by Lady Georgiana Fullerton