Saint of the day and Feast days.

[odhiambo]

9 March

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Frances of Rome.

Saint Frances of Rome
(Saint Francesca Romana) (1384 – March 9, 1440).

Frances was born at Trastevere in the city of Rome in 1384 to a wealthy, noble family, a pious household. Her father was Paul Bosco and her mother was Jacobella dei Roffredeschi. While still a little girl, she used to go with her mother to visit the poor and care for the sick. She liked to read about the saints especially hermits in the Egyptian deserts. By the time she was eleven, Frances had developed a strong desire to consecrate herself to God. She told her parents that she knew what God wanted for her; she was going to be a nun. Her father , however had other plans for her. He had already promised her in marriage to the son of another wealthy family. Father and daughter were both strong willed.Frances wouldn't listen to him. She stubbornly prayed to God to prevent the marriage until her confessor pointed out, "Are you crying because you want to do God's will or because you want God to do your will?" She reluctantly gave in to the marriage.Within two years, in 1396, she was married to Lorenzo Ponziani, commander of the papal troops of Rome. Although the marriage had been arranged, it was a happy one, lasting for forty years. She had three children: Her first born son was Battista, after John the Baptist. The second child was also a boy, Giovanni Evangelista, the third and last child was a girl, Agnes.

After Agnes was born, a flood brought disease and famine to Rome. Frances gave orders that no one asking for alms was to be turned away and she and Vannozza , her sister in law, went out to the poor with corn, wine, oil and clothing; They prayed, visited the poor, and took care of the sick, inspiring other wealthy women to do the same. In 1401, Frances lost her son Evangelist in the Plague. Two years later, her daughter Agnes, also died.
When the forces of Landislaus of Naples took Rome in 1408 and 1410, Lorenzo was forced to flee the city. Frances remained and saw her family’s castle and lands looted and burned.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "With her husband's consent St. Frances practiced continence, and advanced in a life of contemplation. Her visions often assumed the form of drama enacted for her by heavenly personages. She had the gift of miracles and ecstasy, (as) well as the bodily vision of her guardian angel, had revelations concerning purgatory and hell, and foretold the ending of the Western Schism. She could read the secrets of consciences and detect plots of diabolical origin. She was remarkable for her humility and detachment, her obedience and patience".
St. Francesca had turned part of the family's country estate into a hospital. On 15 August 1425, the feast of the Assumption, she founded the Oblates of Mary, a society of lay women affiliated to the Olivetan Benedictines. The women lived in the world but pledged to offer themselves to God and serve the poor. Eventually they bought a house where the widowed members could live in community
When Lorenzo died in 1436, Frances entered the Society and was made the superior.

For the last twenty three years of her life, Frances had an angel as her companion, yes, an angel. He was visible only to her. John Matteotti, her confessor, recorded her visions and prophecies.

Frances died in Rome on March 9, 1440. Her last words were: "The angel has finished his task -- he beckons me to follow him."

Saint Frances
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

"labor without stopping; do all the good works you can while you still have the time"

Is a splendid motto. Considering how much depends on every moment.

Reminds me of Paul the Simple I was reading from your post.

[Shin]

"labor without stopping; do all the good works you can while you still have the time"

Is a splendid motto. Considering how much depends on every moment.

Reminds me of Paul the Simple I was reading from your post.

St. Paul the simple, the model for monks.

[Shin]

I also read that on St. Frances of Rome's feast day it is customary for priests to bless people's cars, because St. Frances of Rome has patronage over cars and drivers. This is because when she went abroad at night, her guardian angel would go before her and light the way, keeping her safe on the journey.

A priestly blessing for cars from the old Roman Ritual goes like this:

BLESSING OF AN AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER VEHICLE

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.
Lord God, be well disposed to our prayers, and bless + this
vehicle with your holy hand. Appoint your holy angels as an
escort over it, who will always shield its passengers and keep
them safe from accidents. And as once by your deacon, Philip, you
bestowed faith and grace upon the Ethiopian seated in his
carriage and reading Holy Writ, so also now show the way of
salvation to your servants, in order that, strengthened by your
grace and ever intent upon good works, they may attain, after all
the successes and failures of this life, the certain happiness of
everlasting life; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water.

 

[Shin]

Fr. F.X. Schouppe, from his book, 'Purgatory' also describes St. Frances of Rome's vision of purgatory:

'She saw there souls which suffered cruelly, but angels visited and assisted them in their sufferings. Purgatory, she said, is divided into three distinct parts, which are as the three large provinces of that kingdom of suffering. They are situated the one beneath the other, and occupied by souls of different orders. These souls are buried more deeply in proportion as they are more defiled and farther removed from the time of their deliverance.

The lowest region is filled with a fierce fire, but which is not dark like that of Hell; it is a vast burning sea, throwing forth immense flames. Innumerable souls are plunged into its depths: they are those who have rendered themselves guilty of mortal sin, which they have duly confessed, but not sufficiently expiated during life. The servant of God then learned that, for all forgiven mortal sin, there remains to be undergone a suffering of seven years. This term cannot evidently be taken to mean a definite measure, since mortal sins differ in enormity, but as an average penalty. Although the souls are enveloped in the same flames, their sufferings are not the same; they differ according to the number and nature of their former sins.

In this lower Purgatory the saint beheld laics and persons consecrated to God. The laics were those who, after a life of sin, had had the happiness of being sincerely converted; the persons consecrated to God were those who had not lived according to the sanctity of their state. At that same moment she saw descend the soul of a priest whom she knew, but whose name she does not reveal. She remarked that he had his face covered with a veil which concealed a stain. Although he had led an edifying life, this priest had not always observed strict temperance, and had sought too eagerly the satisfactions of the table.

The saint was then conducted into the intermediate Purgatory, destined for souls which had deserved less rigorous chastisement. It had three distinct compartments ; one resembled an immense dungeon of ice, the cold of which was indescribably intense; the second, on the contrary, was like a huge caldron of boiling oil and pitch; the third had the appearance of a pond of liquid metal resembling molten gold or silver.

The upper Purgatory, which the saint does not describe, is the temporary abode of souls which suffer little, except the pain of loss, and approach the happy moment of their deliverance.

Such, in substance, is the vision of St. Frances relative to Purgatory.'

... I think this is very timely for Lent!

[odhiambo]

"For the last twenty three years of her life, Frances had an angel as her companion.  He was visible only to her"

We should all  take comfort  from the fact that we all  have our own Guardian Angels  who are our constant companions. God, in His love for us, saw to that. We may not see him but he is there.

[martin]

Shin those quotes from St Frances on Purgatory have got me thinking again of how much we can do here on earth for those suffering souls and Lent is a great time to remember them even more so.
With Purgatiry being seldom mentioned these days it's even more important we pray for them as there must be so many forgotten souls.

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.
If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?
But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered.
I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word.
My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord,
For with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption;
And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

[odhiambo]

10 March

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Dominic Savio
Just one of other saints we remember today

Dominic Savio.

The following account of the life of Saint Dominic Savio, is heavily borrowed from wapedia.
Wiki: Dominic Savio
The account is rather long so I will post in three parts.

Dominic was born in Riva di Chieri, Italy, on April 2, 1842.
He was the second of eleven children born to Charles and Brigid Savio; a poor, hard-working and pious couple. Charles was a blacksmith. He was apparently so frail looking at birth that his parents took him to Church for Baptism the very evening of his birth. But the baby survived.
When he was two years old, his parents returned to their native place at Murialdo on the outskirts of Castelnuovo d'Asti , the birth-place of John Bosco,
His parents gave him a sound Christian upbringing and by the age of four, Dominic was able to pray by himself and was even occasionally found in solitude, praying. Most of what we know about Dominic Savio comes from his biography written by John Bosco.He records that Savio's parents recollect how he used to help his mother around the house, welcome his father home, say his prayers without being reminded, (even reminding others when they forgot) and say Grace at mealtimes unfailingly.
Fr. Giovanni Zucca from Moriondo, who was then the chaplain at Murialdo when Dominic was five years old, notes in a statement to John Bosco that he came to notice Dominic due to his regular church attendance with his mother, and his habit of kneeling down outside the church to pray (even in the mud or snow) if he happened to come to Church before it had been unlocked in the morning.

The priest arranged for Dominic to enter Don Bosco’s Oratory at Turin. He was a remarkable boy and made good progress at the village school. He was bright, friendly and showed early leadership qualities.
At the age of five, Dominic learned to serve Mass, and would try to participate at Mass every day as well as go regularly to Confession. He had much reverence for the Eucharist and was also permitted to make his First Communion at an early age.
At the time, it was customary for children to receive their First Communion at the age of twelve. ( the age was later lowered to seven by Pope Pius X ). After initial hesitation, and subsequent consultation with other priests, the parish priest agreed to permit Dominic to receive his First Communion at the age of seven, since he knew the catechism and understood something of the Eucharist.
Dominic spent much time praying and reading in preparation for this big day. He asked his mother's forgiveness for anything he might have done to displease her and then went to Church. In his biography of Dominic Savio, John Bosco devotes a chapter to tell of Dominic's First Communion. He says that several years later, whenever Dominic talked of the day of his First Communion, he said with joy:

"That was the happiest and most wonderful day of my life"

John Bosco records that on the day of his First Communion, Dominic made some promises which he wrote in a "little book", and re-read them many times. John Bosco once looked through Dominic's book, and he quotes from it the promises that he made: [

Resolutions made by me, Dominic Savio, in the year 1849, on the day of my First Communion, at the age of seven.

1. I will go to Confession often, and as frequently to Holy Communion as my confessor allows.
2. I wish to sanctify the Sundays and festivals in a special manner.
3. My friends shall be Jesus and Mary.
4. Death rather than sin.

Saint Dominic’s account continues in the next post.

[odhiambo]

Saint Dominic of Savio Part II

A few years after this, it was time for Dominic to go to another school and it was decided that he would go to the County School at Castelnuovo, three miles (5 km) from his home.
Ten years old, Dominic walked daily to and from school. In his biography of Dominic, John Bosco records how a local farmer once asked Dominic, on a hot sunny day, if he was not tired from walking, and received the reply:
"Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a master who pays well."

Don Bosco also notes that Dominic refused to go swimming with his friends since Dominic considered that in such a situation, it would be "also easy to offend God", he believed that on a previous occasion his friends behaved in, what was to him, a vulgar manner.

It was Fr. Giuseppe Cugliero, Dominic's teacher at school, who gave a high account of him to John Bosco and recommended that Bosco meet him during the Feast of the Rosary, when he would take his boys to Murialdo. Accordingly, accompanied by his father, Dominic met John Bosco on the first Monday in the month of October, 1854. Dominic was eager to go to Turin with John Bosco, and he also told John Bosco that he wished to become a priest after completing his studies in that town. This meeting was the beginning of their relationship, the result of which was that John Bosco agreed to take Dominic to Turin with him.
Once at the Oratory, Dominic placed himself under the guidance of John Bosco. He worked hard and followed the school rules.. John Bosco also notes how Dominic was obedient to his teachers and chose his companions carefully.

In 1854, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was being defined. Preparations for the observation of this feast were going on at the Oratory. Don Bosco records that, at the advice of his confessor, Dominic renewed his First Communion promises at the altar of Mary at the Oratory. John Bosco says that, from this point the result of Dominic's attempts towards holy life were so apparent, that he (John Bosco) took to recording the various incidents that occurred for future reference.

One day, John Bosco's own mother, Mamma Margaret, remarked to him of Dominic,
"You have many good boys, but none can match the good heart and soul of Dominic. I see him so often at prayer, staying in church after the others; every day he slips out of the playground to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. When he is in church he is like an angel living in Paradise."
Around six months after Dominic had come to the Oratory, he had the occasion to listen to a talk on sainthood. John Bosco records that the talk had three main points that impressed Dominic:
1. That it is God's will that each one should become a saint.
2. That it is easy to become a saint.
3. That there is a great reward waiting in heaven for those who try to become saints.
This inspired Dominic to take a conscious decision to become a saint. On learning that his first name meant "belonging to God", his desire to be a saint intensified,if at all that was possible.
In his desire to become a saint, Dominic tried to perform physical penances, like making his bed uncomfortable with small stones and pieces of wood, sleeping with a thin covering in winter, wearing a hair shirt, and fasting on bread and water.
When his superiors came to know this, they forbade him from doing bodily mortification, as it would affect his health. John Bosco told Dominic that as a schoolboy, the best penance would be to perform all his duties with perfection and humility, and that obedience was the greatest sacrifice. Thus, Dominic formed an important aspect of his philosophy of life, which was, in his words, "I can't do big things but I want everything to be for the glory of God."
Don Bosco notes that from that time on, Dominic did not complain about the food or the weather, unlike some other boys at the Oratory, bore all suffering cheerfully.

This account continues in the next post.

[odhiambo]

Saint Dominic of Savio-Conclusion

The definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary had an impact on Dominic and he was anxious to create at the school a lasting reminder of this event. He now felt that he had not long to live. With the help of his friends, he started a group called the Sodality of Mary Immaculate, the main aim of which was to be to obtain the special protection of Mary during life and at the time of death. The means Dominic proposed to this end were:
(1)To honour, and to bring others to honour, Mary by different means.
(2) to encourage frequent Communion.
On June 8, he and his friends read out together before the altar of Mary at the Oratory, the set of rules they had drawn up. There were twenty-one articles (which were recorded by John Bosco in his biography), ending with an appeal to Mary for her assistance. These were submitted to the rector, and, after careful perusal, he gave his approval, under certain conditions. One of the members of this Sodality, Giuseppe Bongioanni, (who was later ordained a priest) was later to found the Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament, which became a traditional sodality in Catholic schools.

All the pupils under John Bosco observed a monthly event called The Exercise of a Happy Death; this practice continues under the name The Monthly Day of Recollection. This practice was encouraged by Pope Pius IX. Part of this was to make a Confession and Communion as though they were the last ones to be made before death. Bosco notes that Dominic observed this practice devoutly, and that one day, Dominic said that he would be the first amongst the group to die. During the month of May, before his death, the intensity of his spiritual practices increased. John Bosco notes that he said, "Let me do what I can this year; if I am here next year I'll let you know what my plans are."

Dominic's health was steadily deteriorating, but he spent most of his time with his friends, talking with them, and encouraging those who were experiencing troubles. He also helped at the school infirmary whenever his companions were admitted. On the recommendation of doctors, Dominic was sent home to recover from his ill health, but a few days later Bosco found him back at the Oratory. In spite of his affection for Dominic, and his wish to allow Dominic to remain at the Oratory, John Bosco decided to follow the recommendation of the doctors, especially since Dominic had developed a severe cough.
He wrote to Dominic's father, fixing the date of his departure on March 1, 1857. Though Dominic said that he wanted to spend his last days at the Oratory, he accepted this decision and spent the evening before his departure at John Bosco's side, discussing spiritual matters. On the morning of his departure, Don Bosco notes that Dominic made the Exercise of a Happy Death with great zeal, even saying that this would be his final such devotion. He said his farewell to John Bosco.
He then took leave of his friends with great affection, which surprised them, for his illness was not considered by many of his companions to be serious.
At home, Dominic’s condition worsened. He was sure that his death was approaching, and asked that he be allowed to make his Confession and receive Communion. Though they thought it unnecessary, his parents sent for the parish priest who heard Dominic's confession and administered the Eucharist. After four days, in spite of the conviction of the doctor and his parents that he would get better, Dominic asked that he be given the Anointing of the Sick in preparation for death. Again, his parents agreed, to please him. On March 9, he was given the papal blessing and he said the Confiteor. Don Bosco records that throughout these days, he stayed serene and calm.

On the evening of March 9, 1857, after being visited by his parish priest, he asked his father to read him the prayers for the Exercise of a Happy Death from his book of devotions. Then he slept a while, and shortly awakened and said in a clear voice,

"Goodbye, Dad, goodbye . . . what was it the parish priest suggested to me ... I don't seem to remember . . . Oh, what wonderful things I see ...".
With these words, Dominic died, though, at first, it appeared to his father that he was asleep. He was just 14 years old.

Dominic's father wrote in a letter to John Bosco, conveying the news of the death of his son,
"With my heart full of grief I send you this sad news. Dominic, my dear son and your child in God, like a white lily, like Aloysius Gonzaga, gave his soul to God on March 9th after having received with the greatest devotion the Last Sacraments and the Papal Blessing."
Dominic was canonized in June, 1954 by Pope Pius XII.

Saint Dominic,
Pray for us!

[Shin]

Good morning odhiambo!

1. That it is God's will that each one should become a saint.
2. That it is easy to become a saint.
3. That there is a great reward waiting in heaven for those who try to become saints.

As easy as one, two three!

 

[odhiambo]

Good morning odhiambo!

1. That it is God's will that each one should become a saint.
2. That it is easy to become a saint.
3. That there is a great reward waiting in heaven for those who try to become saints.

As easy as one, two three!

 

I tell you Shin, Saint Dominic has left me in absolute awe. He lived very briefly and yet achieved so much!

[Patricia]

I like how St. John Bosco and St Dominic Savio , two great saints knew each other.

[odhiambo]

11 March

Today is the Feast day of
Saint John Ogilvie
One among other saints remembered today.

Saint John Ogilvie

John was born in 1579 in Scotland. His father was a nobleman; a wealthy Scottish Lord. He was raised a Calvinist and was educated in mainland Europe where he attended a number of Roman Catholic educational establishments. In the midst of the religious controversies and turmoil that engulfed Europe at that time, John decided to become a Roman Catholic.
In 1596, aged seventeen, he was received into the Catholic Church at Louvain, Belgium. He then joined the Society of Jesus in 1608 and was ordained priest in Paris in 1610. After ordination he served in Rouen in Normandy.
Meanwhile in his homeland in Scotland, from 1560, it had become illegal to preach, proselytise for, or otherwise endorse Roman Catholicism. John asked to be sent to Scotland to minister to the few remaining Roman Catholics in the Glasgow area.
He was hoping that some Catholic nobles there would aid him, but none did. He went to London, then back to Paris, and finally returned to Scotland in November 1613 disguised as a horse trader named John Watson. Thereafter he began to preach in secret, celebrating mass clandestinely in private homes.
He was able to do this for just one year before he was betrayed by one posing as a Catholic. He was arrested in Glasgow and taken to gaol in Paisley. He was then tortured in prison in an effort to get him to reveal the names of other Catholics, but he refused.

After three trials, John was convicted of high treason because he converted Protestants to the Catholic Faith and for refusing to accept the King's spiritual jurisdiction. He was sentenced to death.

In March 1615, aged thirty-six years, he was paraded through the streets of Glasgow , then hanged and disembowelled, according to the penalty of the time. He was hanged at a junction in the city known as Glasgow Cross.
His last words were "If there be here any hidden Roman Catholics, let them pray for me but the prayers of heretics I will not have".
After he was pushed from the stairs, he threw his concealed rosary beads out into the crowd. The tale is told that one of his enemies caught them and subsequently became a devout lifelong Roman Catholic.

After his execution Ogilvie's followers were rounded up and put in gaol. They suffered heavy fines, but none was to receive the death penalty.

Saint John Ogilvie
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

I like how St. John Bosco and St Dominic Savio , two great saints knew each other.

Yes, I do too. Two of a kind they were and from the same  blessed village too. 

[Shin]

"If there be here any hidden Roman Catholics, let them pray for me but the prayers of heretics I will not have."

St. John Ogilve

A memorable quote!

"He worked as an underground missionary in Edinburgh and Glasgow, dodging the Queen‘s priest-hunters, disguised as a soldier named Watson. After 11 months in the field (and on the run), John was betrayed by a phony Catholic, imprisoned, interrogated, then tortured for the names of active Catholics. He gave no information. “Your threats cheer me; I mind them no more than the cackling of geese,” he told his captors. Asked if he feared to die Father John replied, “No more than you do to dine.”"