Saint of the day and Feast days.

[odhiambo]

I don't understand. How can I refuse to serve my country by being a soldier if my country requires me to? 

We are not told precisely why Maximilian chose to die rather than become a soldier, or why he regarded the military profession as incompatible with his Christian faith. It may have had something to do with the early Christian attitudes to war and military service; It could have been fear of being forced to commit idolatry.I remember from a previous post on the same thread at CAF, we learnt of the decimation of the Theban Legoin consisting of 6666 soldiers or thereabouts, all Christians, all put to the sword on 22 September 286, hardly 10 years before Saint Maximilian's own martyrdom,  because they would not offer sacrifice to idols nor agree to the  emperor 's command that they should take the oath of allegiance and swear to assist in the extirpation of Christianity in Gaul.

[odhiambo]

Not that I can imagine myself as a soldier. Heh heh    My family would laugh if they ever thought of me as  a soldier.

You are a soldier Patricia, a soldier of Christ.

[odhiambo]

15 March

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Louise de Marillac
Among many other saints.

[odhiambo]

15 March

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Louise de Marillac
Among many other saints.

Saint Louise de Marillac.

(also known as Louise de Marillac Le Gras)
Foundress and patroness of social workers.
Co-founder, (with St. Vincent de Paul)
of the Daughters of Charity.

Louise was born at Ferrieres-en-Brie, France on August 12, 1591. She was born out of wedlock and never knew her mother. Her father, Louis de Marillac, a member of the then prominent Marillac family, was a military courtier and a widower at the time of Louise’s birth. He claimed Louise as his natural daughter but not his legal heir.
When Louise was about three years old, her father remarried. His new wife was Antoinette Le Camus. She refused to accept Louise as part of their family.
Louise was thus entrusted to the care of her aunt who was a Dominican nun at the royal monastery of Poissy near Paris.
Louise studied among the country’s elite, receiving an excellent education. She also developed a deep spiritual life. She remained at Poissy until her father’s death when she was twelve. She was then placed in a boarding home to learn domestic or household management skills.
At this time, Louise felt drawn to the cloistered life. She applied to the Capuchins in Paris, but she was refused admission. It is not clear if her refusal was due to her continual poor health or other reasons, but her spiritual director’s prophetic response to her application was that God had “other designs” for her.
When she was about 22 years old, her uncle arranged for her to marry Antoine Le Gras, secretary to Queen Marie de Medicis.
Louise and Antoine were married in the fashionable church of St. Gervaise on February 5, 1617. Later in that same year, the couple had their only child, Michel. Louise grew to truly love Antoine and to mother her son. Along with being devoted to her family, she was also active in ministry in her parish.
Around 1621, Antoine contracted a chronic illness and eventually became bedridden. He died on 21 December, 1625.

Louise now focused intently on her own spiritual development. Being a woman of great energy, intelligence, determination and devotion, she wrote her own "Rule of Life in the World" which detailed a structure for her day. Time was set aside for reciting the Office of the Blessed Virgin, attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion, meditation, spiritual reading, fasting, penance, reciting the rosary and special prayers. She also managed to find time to maintain her household, entertain guests and care for Michel, her thirteen year old son.

Around the time that Antoine died, Louise met Vincent de Paul.Vincent quickly recognized Louise's power and intelligence and understood her desire for spiritual direction. Over the next four years, the two communicated often through letters and personal meetings. In 1629, Vincent invited Louise to get involved in his work with the Confraternities of Charity.
In 1633, Louise opened her home to train workers for the poor , founding the Sisters or the Daughters of Charity of Saint Paul.

Louisa traveled throughout France to establish orphanages, hospitals, and other services for the poor, founding forty houses before she died on March 15, 1660, six months before the death of her dear friend and mentor, Vincent de Paul. She was sixty-eight years old.
Her remains are enshrined in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris.

Louise de Marillac was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and, in 1934, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI.
She was declared Patroness of Christian Social Workers by Pope John XXIII in 1960. Those with disappointing children, those who have lost parents, people rejected by religious orders, sick people, the Vincentian Service Corps and widows could also take St. Louise as an example and intercessor. As a wife, mother, teacher, nurse, social worker and religious foundress, she stands as a model for all women.

Saint Louise de Marillac
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Quotable quote.

“Above all be very gentle and courteous toward the people you serve; love them tenderly and respect them deeply.”

Louise de Marillac

[martin]

There must have been something particularly immoral about the matter at the time, I would think, or dangerous for his soul.

That's what I was thinkng too Shin when I read St Maximilian's answer when asked,

"What wrong do those commit who serve in the
army?" Maximilian answered, "You know very well what they do."

Not that I can imagine myself as a soldier. Heh heh  Grin

A true soldier of Christ is our Patricia,   

odhiambo those posts are great to read. 

[odhiambo]

There must have been something particularly immoral about the matter at the time, I would think, or dangerous for his soul.

That's what I was thinkng too Shin when I read St Maximilian's answer when asked,

"What wrong do those commit who serve in the
army?" Maximilian answered, "You know very well what they do."

Not that I can imagine myself as a soldier. Heh heh  Grin

A true soldier of Christ is our Patricia,    

odhiambo those posts are great to read.  

Thanks Martin, good to hear  

[Shin]

'Certainly it is the great secret of the spiritual life to abandon to God all that we love by abandoning ourselves to all that He wills.'

St. Louise de Marillac

'Take good care of the service of the poor. Above all, live together in great union and cordiality, loving one another in imitation of the union and life of our Lord. Pray earnestly to the Blessed Virgin, that she might be your only Mother.'

St. Louise de Marillac

[Shin]

'If we only knew the precious treasure hidden in infirmities, we would receive them with the same joy with which we receive the greatest benefits, and we would bear them without ever complaining or showing signs of weariness.'

St. Vincent de Paul

[odhiambo]

16 March

Today is the Feast day of
Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer
Among many other saints.

[odhiambo]

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer

Clement was born Johannes ("Hansl") Hofbauer on 26 December, the feast of Saint Stephen, in 1751. He was born in Tasswitz Moravia. He was the ninth of twelve children born to Maria (Steer) and Paul Hofbauer.( Pavel Dvorak). The father changed the family name from the Moravian "Dvorák" to the Germanic "Hofbauer"). He was baptized the following day and given the name of Johannes.
When Johannes was 6 years old, his father died. In a few years, he wanted to be a priest but his family was poor and unable to give him the necessary education. Johannes also needed to learn a trade so he became a baker’s assistant but devoted all his spare time to study.
In 1770 Johannes went to work in the bakery of the Premonstratensian monastery of the White Monks in Kloster Bruck. At that time, the effects of war and famine were sending many homeless and hungry people to the monastery for help. Johannes worked day and night to feed the poor people who came to his door.

In 1771, Johannes traveled to Tivoli, Italy.He decided to become a hermit at the shrine of Our Lady of Quintiliolo and requested the hermit's habit from the local bishop. It was at this time that Johannes Hofbauer took on the name of Clement Mary: Clement from the bishop of Ancyra in Asia and Mary from the Mother of Jesus.
As a hermit, Clement prayed for himself and for all the people in the world who forgot to pray. He worked at the shrine and assisted the pilgrims who came.
In less than six months, however, Clement left Quintiliolo. He was not settled as all he wanted was to be a priest, not a hermit.
He returned to the monastery of the White Monks at Kloster Bruck to bake bread and to begin to study Latin.By the year 1776, he completed his studies in philosophy. Unfortunately by this time, The Emperor would allow no new novices for the White Monks.
He went home and lived for two years as a hermit at Muehlfraun, forcing himself to endure strict fasts, harsh penances, and long vigils of prayer. At the insistence of his mother he left the hermitage to become once more a baker of bread. This time he got a job at a famous bakery in Vienna where he met the two distinguished ladies who became his greatest benefactors.
At the age of twenty-nine, Clement entered the University of Vienna. Since the government had closed all seminaries, students for the priesthood had to study at government-controlled universities.

During a pilgrimage in 1784, Clement and his traveling companion, Thaddeus Huebl, decided to join a religious community. The two seminarians were accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate at San Giuliano in Italy. On the feast of Saint Joseph, March 19, 1785, Clement Hofbauer and Thaddeus Huebl became Redemptorists, publicly professing to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Ten days later they were ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Alatri.
A few months after their ordination the two foreign Redemptorists were summoned by their Superior General, Father de Paola. They were told to return to their homeland across the Alps and establish the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in northern Europe.
The political situation , however, did not allow Clement to remain in his own country. The Austrian Emperor had already closed over 1,000 monasteries and convents, it was very unlikely he would allow the establishment of a new religious Order. Realizing this, the two Redemptorists moved on to Poland.
On their journey to Poland, the two new Redemptorist priests were joined by Peter Kunzmann, a fellow-baker who had accompanied Clement on a pilgrimage. He became the first Redemptorist Lay brother from outside Italy. Together they arrived in Warsaw with no money; Clement had given the last three silver coins to beggars along the way.
They reached Warsaw, a city of 124,000 people in February ,1787. The city had 160 churches plus 20 monasteries and convents. The people were poor and uneducated; their houses were in need of repair. Many people had turned from Catholicism to Freemasonry. They met with the apostolic delegate, Archbishop Saluzzo, who put them in charge of St. Benno's Church to work with the German-speaking people of Warsaw. Clement and his companions worked to help restore Catholic Faith.
When Clement saw a homeless boy on the street, he brought him to the rectory, cleaned him up, fed him, and then taught him a trade and instructed him in the Christian way of life. When the number of boys grew too large for the rectory, Clement opened the Child Jesus Refuge for his homeless boys. To keep the boys fed and clothed, he had to beg constantly. He did so unashamedly. Going into a bakery to buy a loaf of bread he came upon a master baker without an assistant. Clement spent the day working at the dough trough and the oven, using all his old baking skills. He got bread for his boys that day and for many days to come.
On another occasion, legend has it that he went begging to a local pub. When Clement asked for a donation, one of the patrons scornfully spat beer into Clement's face. Wiping off the beer, he responded, "That was for me. Now what do you have for my boys?" The men in the bar were so astounded by the response that they gave Clement more than 100 silver coins....

Please continue at the next post

[odhiambo]

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer-Part 2

When the Redemptorists first opened their church they preached to empty benches. It took several years for the Redemptorists to gain the trust of the people; but in time St. Benno's became the thriving center of the Catholic Church in Warsaw.

In 1791, four years after their arrival, the Redemptorists enlarged the children's refuge into an academy. A boarding school had been opened for young girls under the direction of some noble Warsaw women. The number of orphan boys continued to grow steadily. Money to finance all this came from some regular benefactors and many other people who were willing to help in different ways; but Clement still had to beg from door to door seeking help for his many orphans.
In the church, Clement and the community of five Redemptorist priests and three lay Brothers began what they called the Perpetual Mission. Instead of having just a morning Mass in the church on a weekday, they had a full-scale mission every day of the year. You could attend St. Benno's every day and know that you would hear five sermons in both German and Polish. There were three high Masses, the office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, public visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the Way of the Cross, vespers, prayer services, and litanies. And priests were available for confessions all hours of the day and night.

By the year 1800 the growth could be seen both in the work at the church and in the Redemptorist community. Reception of the sacraments jumped from 2,000 (in 1787) to over 100,000. The number of men serving at St. Benno's had grown to 21 Redemptorist priests and seven lay brothers. There were also five novices and four Polish seminarians.

As often happens, there were those in Poland who were against the Redemptorists and had labeled them as traitors. They wanted the Redemptorists out of Poland. The decree of expulsion was signed on June 9, 1808. Eleven days later, the Church of St. Benno's was closed and the forty Redemptorists serving there were taken off to prison. They lived there for four weeks and then were ordered to return to their own countries.

In September 1808, after being exiled from Poland, Clement reached Vienna. About one year later In 1809 when the forces of Napoleon attacked Vienna, Clement worked as a hospital chaplain caring for the many wounded soldiers. The archbishop, seeing Clement's zeal, asked him to care for a little Italian church in the city of Vienna. He remained there for four years until he was appointed chaplain to the Ursuline Sisters in July 1813.
Attending to the spiritual welfare of the Sisters and the lay people who came to their chapel, Clement gained a reputation as a powerful preacher and gentle confessor.
Towards the end of his life,Clement was able to have an audience with Emperor Franz of Austria , to seek permission to start a Redemptorist foundation in the Country. The Emperor was agreeable.A church was selected and refurbished to become the first Redemptorist foundation in Austria. It was to be started without Clement, however as he became ill in early March of 1820, and died on March 15 of that year.

He was beatified on January 29, 1888, by Pope Leo XIII; canonized a saint of the Catholic Church on May 20, 1909 by Pope Pius X.

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer
Pray for us!

[odhiambo]

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer

Clement was born Johannes ("Hansl") Hofbauer on 26 December, the feast of Saint Stephen, in 1751. He was born in Tasswitz Moravia. He was the ninth of twelve children born to Maria (Steer) and Paul Hofbauer.( Pavel Dvorak). The father changed the family name from the Moravian "Dvorák" to the Germanic "Hofbauer"). He was baptized the following day and given the name of Johannes.
When Johannes was 6 years old, his father died. In a few years, he wanted to be a priest but his family was poor and unable to give him the necessary education. Johannes also needed to learn a trade so he became a baker’s assistant but devoted all his spare time to study.
In 1770 Johannes went to work in the bakery of the Premonstratensian monastery of the White Monks in Kloster Bruck. At that time, the effects of war and famine were sending many homeless and hungry people to the monastery for help. Johannes worked day and night to feed the poor people who came to his door.

In 1771, Johannes traveled to Tivoli, Italy.He decided to become a hermit at the shrine of Our Lady of Quintiliolo and requested the hermit's habit from the local bishop. It was at this time that Johannes Hofbauer took on the name of Clement Mary: Clement from the bishop of Ancyra in Asia and Mary from the Mother of Jesus.
As a hermit, Clement prayed for himself and for all the people in the world who forgot to pray. He worked at the shrine and assisted the pilgrims who came.
In less than six months, however, Clement left Quintiliolo. He was not settled as all he wanted was to be a priest, not a hermit.
He returned to the monastery of the White Monks at Kloster Bruck to bake bread and to begin to study Latin.By the year 1776, he completed his studies in philosophy. Unfortunately by this time, The Emperor would allow no new novices for the White Monks.
He went home and lived for two years as a hermit at Muehlfraun, forcing himself to endure strict fasts, harsh penances, and long vigils of prayer. At the insistence of his mother he left the hermitage to become once more a baker of bread. This time he got a job at a famous bakery in Vienna where he met the two distinguished ladies who became his greatest benefactors.
At the age of twenty-nine, Clement entered the University of Vienna. Since the government had closed all seminaries, students for the priesthood had to study at government-controlled universities.

During a pilgrimage in 1784, Clement and his traveling companion, Thaddeus Huebl, decided to join a religious community. The two seminarians were accepted into the Redemptorist novitiate at San Giuliano in Italy. On the feast of Saint Joseph, March 19, 1785, Clement Hofbauer and Thaddeus Huebl became Redemptorists, publicly professing to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Ten days later they were ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Alatri.
A few months after their ordination the two foreign Redemptorists were summoned by their Superior General, Father de Paola. They were told to return to their homeland across the Alps and establish the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in northern Europe.
The political situation , however, did not allow Clement to remain in his own country. The Austrian Emperor had already closed over 1,000 monasteries and convents, it was very unlikely he would allow the establishment of a new religious Order. Realizing this, the two Redemptorists moved on to Poland.
On their journey to Poland, the two new Redemptorist priests were joined by Peter Kunzmann, a fellow-baker who had accompanied Clement on a pilgrimage. He became the first Redemptorist Lay brother from outside Italy. Together they arrived in Warsaw with no money; Clement had given the last three silver coins to beggars along the way.
They reached Warsaw, a city of 124,000 people in February ,1787. The city had 160 churches plus 20 monasteries and convents. The people were poor and uneducated; their houses were in need of repair. Many people had turned from Catholicism to Freemasonry. They met with the apostolic delegate, Archbishop Saluzzo, who put them in charge of St. Benno's Church to work with the German-speaking people of Warsaw. Clement and his companions worked to help restore Catholic Faith.
When Clement saw a homeless boy on the street, he brought him to the rectory, cleaned him up, fed him, and then taught him a trade and instructed him in the Christian way of life. When the number of boys grew too large for the rectory, Clement opened the Child Jesus Refuge for his homeless boys. To keep the boys fed and clothed, he had to beg constantly. He did so unashamedly. Going into a bakery to buy a loaf of bread he came upon a master baker without an assistant. Clement spent the day working at the dough trough and the oven, using all his old baking skills. He got bread for his boys that day and for many days to come.
On another occasion, legend has it that he went begging to a local pub. When Clement asked for a donation, one of the patrons scornfully spat beer into Clement's face. Wiping off the beer, he responded, "That was for me. Now what do you have for my boys?" The men in the bar were so astounded by the response that they gave Clement more than 100 silver coins....

Please continue at the next post

Rather long-winded I am afraid  Sorry for that.

[Shin]

Don't mind.

It's a good story.

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer
Pray for us!

[Bailey2]

Thanks for the bio on St. Louise de Marillac.  Today is her feast day!
She is one of my favorites as she endured depression (among other Saints).  They called it melancholia back then.  St. Vincent de Paul tried to help her several times.

Here is a book of her life: Louise de Marillac: A Light in the Darkness by Kathryn B. LaFleur, SP

[martin]

'If we only knew the precious treasure hidden in infirmities, we would receive them with the same joy with which we receive the greatest benefits, and we would bear them without ever complaining or showing signs of weariness.'

St. Vincent de Paul

There seems to be three ways of bearing our trials.
1) with complaint  
2) with resignation  
3) with joy.  

The third one obviously has the right attitude.
Now, how do I get there?  

On another occasion, legend has it that he went begging to a local pub. When Clement asked for a donation, one of the patrons scornfully spat beer into Clement's face. Wiping off the beer, he responded, "That was for me. Now what do you have for my boys?" The men in the bar were so astounded by the response that they gave Clement more than 100 silver coins....

Ah... The humility of the saints.  Wins the day every time.