Blessed Benvenuta Bojani

Oct 292009
 

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Youngest of seven daughters. Refused to play any childhood games that smacked of worldliness or vanity; by age twelve she was voluntarily wearing hair shirts and a rope belt. As she grew, the rope began to cut into her; it had to be removed, but was too embedded to be untied. She prayed over it, and it fell to her feet.

Dominican tertiary as a very young woman. Lived her entire life at home, practicing extreme austerities. Confined to her bed for five years with a serious illness, she had to be carried to daily Mass. During a Mass on the eve of the feast of Saint Dominic de Guzman, the saint appeared to her, and later in the liturgy, she was miraculously healed.

Visionary who had visits from both angels and demons; she could banish the demons by mentioning the name of Our Lady. However, hard life or no, sickness or no, visions and demonic oppression or no, she was known to be always cheerful and confident in God.

Born

Died

Beatified

Representation

  • holding a length of rope

Prayers

Lord, you gave Blessed Benvenuta the gifts of penance, prayer and humility. Through self-denial and contemplation on heavenly things may we too live in the Spirit and find rest and glory in you, the one God. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Blessed Benvenuta Bojani”. Saints.SQPN.com. 11 August 2010. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-benvenuta-bojani/>

Saint Gaetano Errico

Oct 282009
 

[Saint Gaetano Errico]
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Second of nine children born to Pasquale, a pasta factory manager, and Marie Marseglia Errico, who worked weaving plush. A good child, pious, always ready to help his father at work, or his mother with his younger siblings. He felt a call to the priesthood at age fourteen. He was turned away by the Capuchins and Redemptorists due to his youth. Studied at a diocesan seminary in Naples, Italy from age sixteen, walking the five miles to class each day, and was ordained on 23 September 1815 in Naples.

School teacher for twenty years. Parish priest at the church of Saint Cosmas and Damian. Known for his devotion to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and ministry to the sick, his self-imposed austerties and penances. He made yearly retreats to the Redemptorist house in Pagani, Italy.

During his retreat in 1818, Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori appeared to him in a vision, and told him that God wanted Gaetano to build a new church, and to found a new religious congregation. While Gaetano initially received strong support from the local people, it faded in the face of fund-raising and work, and it wasn’t until 9 December 1830 that he dedicated and blessed the church Our Lady of Sorrows at Secondigliano; it has since become one of Italy‘s most popular pilgrimage sites.

Nearby he built a small house for himself and a lay-brother who took care of the church; this was the beginning of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The Missionaries received local approval on 14 March 1836, approval by the Congregation of Bishops on 30 June 1838, royal approval on 13 May 1840, and papal approval by Blessed Pope Pius IX on 7 August 1846. Gaetano served as first Superior General.

His beatification miracle occurred in southern Italy in January 1952 and involved a man with a perforated stomach wall. Just before emergency surgery, his wife slipped a relic of Father Gaetano under his pillow, and together they prayed for his intercession. His health began to improve immediately, and he was soon healed without medical intervention.

Born

Died

Venerated

Beatified

Canonized

Images

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Readings

Let us kindle the love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in the hearts of all people. - Saint Gaetano

Blessed Simon Ballachi

Oct 252009
 

[Blessed Simon Ballachi]
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Born to the nobility, the son of Count Ballachi. His family had a close association with the Church clergy; two of his uncles became archbishops of Rimini, Italy, and a younger brother was a priest. Trained as a soldier and in administration, he was expected to take over the family estates. Against his family wishes, he joined the Dominicans as a lay-brother at age 27.

Assigned to work in the garden of his friary, something he knew nothing about but which he loved instantly. He saw God in everything, and prayed constantly as he worked. Noted for his simple life, his strict adherence to the Dominican Rule, and his excellent work as a catechist to children. A visionary, Simon was visited by the devil, by Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Dominic de Guzman, Saint Peter Martyr, and the Blessed Virgin Mary; other brothers saw his cell glowing, and heard angelic voices. Blinded at age 57, he was nearly helpless during the last years of his life; he never despaired, and used the extra free time for prayer.

Born

Died

Beatified

Additional Information

Saint Lorenzo Maiorano

Oct 182009
 

[Saint Lorenzo Maiorano]
Also known as

  • Laurence Majoranus
  • Laurence of Siponto
  • Lorenzo of Siponto
  • Patron of Foreigners

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Related to Emperor Zeno of Byzantium. Bishop of Siponto, Italy in 492, consecrated by Pope Gelasius I. Received a series of visions of the Archangel Michael following Michael‘s appearance on Mount Gargano.

Born

Died

Canonized

Patronage

Saint Philip Neri

Oct 182009
 

[Saint Philip Neri]
Also known as

  • Amabile Santo
  • Apostle of Rome
  • Philip Romolo Neri

Memorial

Profile

Though he was related to Italian nobility, Philip came from a poor family. His father, Francisco Neri, worked as a notary. Philip’s brother died in childhood, but his two sisters, Caterina and Elisabetta survived. Known as a pius youth, Philip was taught humanities by the Dominicans.

Moved to San Germano in 1533 to help some family with their business, and while there would escape to a local Dominican chapel in the mountains. Having received a vision that he had an apostolate in Rome, Philip cut himself off from his family, and went there.

Befriended by Galeotto Caccia who took Philip in and paid him to tutor his two sons. Wrote poetry in Latin and Italian. Studied philosophy and theology. When he tired of learning, he sold all his books and gave the money to the poor.

Began to visit and care for the sick, and impoverished pilgrims. Founded a society of like-minded folk to do the same. Friend of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. A layman, he lived in the city as a hermit. During Easter season of 1544, while praying in the catecomb of San Sebastiano, he received a vision of a globe of fire that entered his chest, and he experienced an ecstasy that physically enlarged his heart.

With Persiano Rose, he founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity. He began to preach, with many converts. In 1550 he considered retiring to the life of a solitary hermit, but received further visions that told him his mission was in Rome. Later he considered missionary work in India, but further visions convinced him to stay in Rome.

Entered the priesthood in 1551. He heard confessions by the hour, could tell penitents their sins before they confessed, and had the gift of conferring visions. He began working with youth, finding safe places for them to play, becoming involved in their lives.

Pope Gregory XIV tried to make him a cardinal, but Philip declined. His popularity was such that he was accused of forming his own sect, but was cleared of this baseless charge. In 1575 he founded the Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorians, a group of priests dedicated to preaching and teaching, but which suffered from accusations of heresy because of the involvement of laymen as preachers. In later years he was beset by several illnesses, each of which was in turn cured through prayer.

“Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.” – Saint Philip Neri

Born

Died

Beatified

Canonized

Patronage

Images

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Saint Philip Neri”. Saints.SQPN.com. 25 May 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-philip-neri/>

Blessed Anne Mary Javouhey

Sep 052009
 

[Blessed Anne Mary Javouhey]
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Daughter of a wealthy farmer, she grew up during the French Revolution, and saw her family risk everything by hiding priests. Pious girl who wanted to devote herself to teaching children and helping the poor. In 1800 she had a vision in Besançon where she was surrounded by a group of black children, but did not understand it at the time.

In 1807, she and eight friends at Cabillon started the group that would become the Congregation of Saint Joseph of Cluny, which was formally founded in 1812 when the group purchased an old friary at Cluny to act of mother-house. The group was dedicated to teaching, and soon became famous for its innovative techniques. Anne established houses in Europe, Africa, and South America.

In 1834 the French government sent her to French Guiana where she was to teach 600 Guianan slaves who were about to receive their freedom. She spent nine years there teaching, fulfilling her vision. In 1843 she returned to her homeland to work on establishing houses in other countries.

Born

Died

Venerated

Beatified

Canonized

Additional Information

Saint Basilides of Alexandria

Jun 292009
 

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Pagan Roman soldier. Guard to the prefect of Egypt. Defended Saint Potomiana from the mob as she was being led to her martyrdom. She appeared to Basilides in visions each of three nights after her martyrdom, claiming to be praying for him and his conversion. He converted and was martyred for his new faith.

Died

Canonized

Additional Information

Readings

Basilides was one of the guards that led Saint Potamiana to a martyr‘s death. Whilst the rest of the soldiers and the crowd of spectators insulted the holy virgin, he treated her with great respect and protected her from the assaults of the rabble. The martyr thanked him for his kindness, and promised to pray for him when she came into God’s presence. A few days after her death the grace of God touched Basilides’ heart, and he professed himself a Christian. His comrades at first imagined that he was jesting. But when he persevered in the confession of the Faith, he was brought before the judge, who sentenced him to be beheaded next day. Taken to prison, he was baptized, and at the appointed time, executed.

- Father John J Burke, Mary, Help of Christians, 1909

Blessed Columba of Rieti

Jun 282009
 

[Blessed Columba of Rieti]
Also known as

  • Angelella Guardagnoli
  • Colomba of Rieti

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Legend says that at her birth, angels gathered around Columba’s house to sing. During her Baptism, a dove suddenly flew down to the font. From that point on, no one used her by her given name (Angelella = little angel), but called her Columba (= dove). She was raised in a poor but pious family; her parents gave away nearly everything thing they had to people even poorer than themselves. As a small girl Columba learned to spin and sew; she and her mother repaired the clothes of the local Dominicans. Educated by Dominican nuns.

Columba quickly developed a strong devotion to Saint Catherine of Siena and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. While still in her teens she prayed about her vocation in life, and received a vision of Christ on a throne surrounded by saints. She took this as instruction to dedicate herself to God, and so she cut herself off from the world, made a private vow of chastity, and spent her time in prayer. Unbeknownst to Columba, her parents had arranged a marriage for her, but she cut off her hair and sent it to her would-be suitor, an accepted way at that time of telling him that she was devoting her life to God, not marriage.

She had the gifts of prophecy, healing, exorcism, raising the dead, and miracles. Given to ecstacies during one of which her spirit toured the Holy Lands. Dominican tertiary at age 19. Her reputation for wisdom and holiness spread throughout the region, and she was a much sought after counsellor. Some people from the city of Narni, Italy tried to kidnap her so she could be their miracle worker, but she escaped.

Following a revelation that she should leave Rieti, Italy, she walked away with no destination in mind. Along the way she was arrested in Foligno, Italy as a vagrant, but she eventually stopped and stayed in Perugia, Italy. On 1 January 1490 she and several other women took vows as a community of Dominican teritary nuns. Noted spiritual counselor to any who sought her advice. During an epidemic she worked among the sick, healing many by praying for them. She offered her own health in exchange for the city; when the general epidemic ended, she became ill, eventually recovering through the intercession of Saint Catherine of Siena. Her sanctity caused her to be persecuted by Lucrezia Borgia for years; at one point Borgia had a decree issued accusing Columba of practicing magic.

Born

Died

  • 20 May 1501 at Perguia, Italy of natural causes
  • at the moment of her death, her friend, Blessed Osanna Andreasi, saw Columba’s soul as a radiance rising to heaven
  • the whole city turned out for her funeral, which was paid for by the city fathers

Beatified

Patronage

Representation

Additional Information

Blessed Anne Marie Taigi

Jun 082009
 

[Blessed Anne Marie Taigi]
Also known as

  • Anna Maria Gesualda Antonia Taigi
  • Anna Maria Taigi
  • Anne Marie Gianetti

Memorial

Profile

Daughter Luigi Giannetti and Maria Masi. Her father was a pharmacist in Siena, Italy, but his business went bankrupt when Anna Marie was five years old. The family moved to Rome, Italy in search of work, but Luigi could only find a job as a household servant. Anne was married on 7 January 1789 to Dominico Taigi, a butler to the noble family of Chigi. She was married for 48 years, and mother of seven, two of whom died very young.

Anne Marie was always very concerned about her dress and appearance, far more than would be expected of a working class mother. Life at home was not always peaceful, Dominico could be ill-tempered and caustic, and Anne was known to have had an adulterous affair with an older man. But one day while at prayer at Saint Peter’s Cathedral, she felt a sudden strong inspiration to ignore the things of this world. She began to live a more austere life, and to listen to the Spirit. Trinitarian tertiary. She found holy spiritual directors, gave all she could to the poor, visited the sick, and counselled many of the patients at the hospital of San Giacomo of the Incurables. She worked hard to evangelize her own family, changing her husband’s demeanor, and they all regularly assembled in a small personal chapel to pray together.

As the years went on and Anne Marie devoted herself more and more to prayer, she began to receive mystical gifts, including prophecy and clairvoyance. She sometimes went into ecstacies, and received heavenly and prophetic visions. Her simple presence had a powerful effect on many, and she helped with many conversions. Counsellor to cardinals, royalty and three popes.

Because of her charismatic gifts, and her lack of concern about worldly matters, Anne was often the topic of gossip and sander, but she was the recipient of public veneration soon after her death, and her Cause for beatification began in 1863.

Born

Died

Venerated

Beatified

Canonized

Patronage

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Blessed Anne Marie Taigi”. Saints.SQPN.com. 29 February 2012. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-anne-marie-taigi/>

Saint Robert of Newminster

Jun 072009
 

[Saint Robert of Newminster]
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Studied at the University of Paris. Wrote a commentary on the Psalms, but it has been lost. Parish priest at Gargrave, England, and later a Benedictine monk at Whitby, England. With his abbot‘s permission, he joined the founders of the Cistercian monastery of Fountains Abbey in 1132. He headed the first Cistercian colony sent from Fountains in 1138. He established the abbey of Newminster near the castle of Ralph de Merlay, one in Morpeth, England, one in Pipewell, England in 1143, one in Roche, Cornwall in 1147, and another in Sawley, Lancashire, England in 1148. Friend of Saint Godric of Finchale. Reputed to have had supernatural gifts, received visions, and suffered encounters with demons.

At least one biography says that Robert was accused by his own monks of sexual misconduct with a local woman, and that he went abroad c.1147-1148, to defend himself before Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. However, there seems little support for this story except the desire by its originator to claim he was acquitted by the great Bernard.

Legend says that he fasted so rigorously during Lent that a brother monk pleaded with him to eat. Robert agreed, and was given some buttered oatcake. But he suddenly feared to commit the sin of gluttony, and asked it be given to the poor. A beautiful stranger at the gate took the cake – and the dish. As a brother was explaining the incident, the dish suddenly appeared on the table before the abbot; the brothers decided the stranger was an angel.

Born

  • c.1100 at Gargrave, Craven district, Yorkshire county, England

Died

Representation

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Saint Robert of Newminster”. Saints.SQPN.com. 11 August 2010. Web. {today’s date}. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-robert-of-newminster/>
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