Saint of the day and Feast days.

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Saint Vincent Pallotti.
Priest and Founder.
Vincent was an Italian, born in Rome on April 21, 1795. He was the son of a grocer. He became a priest at the age of twenty three. He was awarded a doctorate in theology and taught for some time in Rome and then served as parish priest in several parishes in the city.
It appears that for some reason, Vincent endured constant humiliations at the hands of his fellow curates and he also endured many personal austerities. These experiences made him start apostolic work to organize both the clergy and the laity to promote social justice.
In 1835, Vincent founded the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (known for a time, as the Pious Society of Missions). His followers are the Pallottines. ). From a very humble beginning of only twelve members during his life, the apostolate spread across the world and still operates internationally. They follow his motto, "The love of Christ impels us" (Caritas Christi Urget Nos). Members of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate work as everyday missionaries to "renew faith and rekindle love." They work to fulfill the mission of their founder in the modern world. The Pallottines have major houses in Britain, Germany, New York, Poland, India, Ireland and several other locations.
Vincent also worked to teach the poor; he was a noted confessor and an exorcist.
In 1836, he began the special observance of the Octave of the Epiphany to bring about the eventual reunion of the Orthodox Church with Rome.
Vincent died on January 22, 1850 from what was said to be a severe cold. He was 55 years old.
When Pallotti's body was exhumed in 1906 and 1950, examiners found his body to be completely incorrupt (Dr. Gaynor's book), a sign of holiness in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. His body is enshrined in the church of San Salvatore in Onda, in Rome, where it can be seen, still intact.
Vincent was canonized 20 January 1963 by Pope John XXIII.( The book, Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints lists Paul VI as the canonizing Pope)
Saint Vincent Pallotti
Pray for us!

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23 January

Today is the Memorial of
Blessed Marianne Cope
Among many others.

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Blessed Marianne Cope
 Professed Sister of St Francis,
Missionary to leprosy patients.
Barbara Koob (now officially "Cope") was born on 23 January 1838 in SE Hessen, West Germany. She was the oldest of 10 children born to Peter Koob, a farmer, and Barbara Witzenbacher Koob. About one year after Barbara was born, the family moved to the United States of America.
They settled in Utica, in the State of New York, where they became members of St Joseph's Parish and where the children attended the parish school.
Barbara felt called to Religious life at a very early age but she could not answer to this call because of family obligations. Being the oldest child at home, she went to work in a factory after completing eighth grade in order to support her family when her father became ill.
At long last, in 1862, when she was 24 years old, Barbara entered the Sisters of St Francis in Syracuse, N.Y. On 19 November of the same year, she received the religious habit and the name "Sister Marianne". The following year she made her religious profession and began serving as a teacher and principal in several elementary schools in New York State.
In the 1860s, as a member of the governing boards of her Religious Community, Sr. Marianne participated in the establishment of two of the first hospitals in the central New York area.
In 1870, she began a new ministry as a nurse-administrator at St Joseph's in Syracuse, N.Y., where she served as head administrator for six years. She became well-known and loved in the central New York area for her kindness, wisdom and down-to-earth manner.
In 1883, Mother Marianne, now the Provincial Mother in Syracuse, received a letter from a Catholic priest asking for help in managing hospitals and schools in the Hawaiian Islands, and mainly to work with leprosy patients. The letter touched Mother Marianne's heart and she enthusiastically responded: "I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones, whose privilege it will be to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders.... I am not afraid of any disease; hence, it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned "lepers.”
She and six other Sisters of St Francis arrived in Honolulu in November 1883. Mother Marianne was their supervisor. Their main task was to manage the Kaka'ako Branch Hospital on Oahu, which served as a receiving station for patients with leprosy coming from all over the islands.
The Sisters worked hard cleaning the hospital and caring for the 200 patients already admitted there. By 1885, they had made major improvements to the living conditions and treatment of the patients.
In November of that year, they also founded the Kapi'olani Home inside the hospital compound. This home was established to care for the healthy daughters of those with leprosy at Kaka'ako and Kalawao. The unusual decision to open a home for healthy children on leprosy hospital premises was made because no one else would care for those so closely related to people with the dreaded disease.
Mother Marianne met Fr Damien de Veuster (today Blessed Damien is known as the "Apostle to Lepers") for the first time in January 1884, when he was in apparent good health. Two years later, in 1886, the priest was diagnosed with leprosy. He apparently became an outcast; mother Marianne alone gave him hospitality upon hearing that his illness made him an unwelcome visitor to Church and Government leaders in Honolulu!
In 1887, when a new Government took charge in Hawaii, its officials decided to close the Oahu Hospital and receiving station and to reinforce the former alienation policy. The patients would all be sent to a settlement for exiles on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the island of Molokai. There was still the problem of who would care for these unfortunates in a settlement.
Once again Mother Marianne responded to the plea for help and said: "We will cheerfully accept the work...". The year was 1888. She arrived in Kalaupapa several months before Fr Damien's death together with Sr Leopoldina Burns and Sr Vincentia McCormick, and was able to console the ailing priest by assuring him that she would provide care for the patients at the Boys' Home at Kalawao that he had founded.
Together the three Sisters ran the Bishop Home for 103 Girls and the Home for Boys. The workload was extreme and the burden at times seemed overwhelming. In moments of despair, Sr Leopoldina reflected: "How long, O Lord, must I see only those who are sick and covered with leprosy?”
Mother Marianne's invaluable example of never-failing optimism, serenity and trust in God inspired hope in those around her and allayed the Sisters' fear of catching leprosy. She taught her Sisters that their primary duty was "to make life as pleasant and as comfortable as possible for those of our fellow creatures whom God has chosen to afflict with this terrible disease...”
Mother Marianne never returned to Syracuse.
She died in Hawaii on 9 August 1918 and was buried on the grounds of Bishop Home.
Blessed Marianne Cope
Pray for us!

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24 January
Today is the Memorial of
Saint Francis de Sales
Among many other saints.

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Saint Francis de Sales.
Bishop, Founder, and
 Doctor of the Church.
Francis was born at the Chateau de Sales in Swiss Savoy, France. The date was August21, 156 and the day was Monday. His parents were the aristocrats Francis de Boisy and Frances de Sionnaz.
At his baptism in the parish church of Thorens, he was named Francis Bonaventura, for two greatly loved Franciscan saints.
The room in which he was born was known as the "St. Francis room," from an old painting on the wall showing the friar of Assisi preaching to the birds; and it was this lover of all living creatures whom Francis de Sales was to choose as his patron in later years.
Because he was the first of six children, (13 children from other sources) his father wanted him to attend the best schools; consequently, he enjoyed a privileged education in the nearby towns of La Roche-sur-Foron and Annecy in Paris. In 1588, Francis transferred from the University of Paris to the University of Padua in Italy, where he studied both law and theology. After completing his education and earning a doctorate in both disciplines, he entered the religious life, studying for the priesthood, much against the wishes of his father who opposed him vehemently.
Francis was ordained in 1593, then appointed provost of Geneva , Switzerland and went to Chablais, a stronghold of "Calvinism" and Calvinists, where he undertook his first major mission, the conversion of Protestants back to Catholicism.
Francis offered to travel to Chablais to evangelize. He set out on foot with his Bible and breviary and one companion, his cousin Louis of Sales. It was a work of toil, privation, and danger. Every door and every heart was closed against him. He was rejected with insult and threatened with death. Even then, Francis' unusual patience kept him working.
He told himself that even if no one listened to him, no one opened their door to him, he would not give up! He would find  a way to get under the locked doors!
He wrote out his sermons, copied them by hand, and slipped them under the doors. This is said to be the first record we have of religious tracts being used to communicate with people.
The parents wouldn't come to him out of fear, so Francis went to the children. When the parents saw how kind he was as he played with the children, they began to talk to him.
By the time, Francis left to go home he is said to have converted 40,000 people back to Catholicism (70, 000 according to other sources)
St. Francis developed a sign language in order to teach a deaf man about God. Because of this, he is the patron saint of the deaf.
In 1602, Bishop Granier died, and Francis was consecrated Bishop of Geneva. During his years as bishop, he acquired a reputation as a spellbinding preacher and a friend of the poor, a man of almost supernatural affability and understanding.
Francis died on 28 December 1622 in Lyon, France, while traveling in the entourage of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy.
He was beatified in 1661 by Pope Alexander VII, who then canonized him three years later.
He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Blessed Pius IX in 1877.
Saint Francis de Sales
Pray for us!

[Patricia]

He wrote out his sermons, copied them by hand, and slipped them under the doors. This is said to be the first record we have of religious tracts being used to communicate with people.

St. Francis developed a sign language in order to teach a deaf man about God. Because of this, he is the patron saint of the deaf

Great saint!! St. Francis pray for us!! 

he was the first of six children, (13 children from other sources)

Sorry, this made me laugh because I misunderstood it.  I'm sure St. Francis' father was a good man 

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he was the first of six children, (13 children from other sources)

Sorry, this made me laugh because I misunderstood it.  I'm sure St. Francis' father was a good man  

You certainly did, and now that you mention it, it does suggest the unthinkable of Saint Francis' Dad.
I am sure he too shared in your laughter.
I meant that the different books I read, varried in the detail of the number of siblings Francis had.

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25 January

Today we commemorate the
Conversion of Saint Paul
The Conversion of Saint Paul

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The Conversion of Saint Paul
Paul was born in a seaport city in Asia Minor called Tarsus, in the province of Cilicia. He was born of Jewish parents who maintained, with great care, the Pharisaical traditions and pious customs. They came originally from Galilee and belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. On the eighth day of his birth, the child was circumcised according to the Jewish custom. He was given the name of Saul and in addition, as a Roman citizen, the name Paulus was also added. This too was customary among Jews who were Roman citizens.
In those days, even wealthy Jewish boys learned to work with their hands. Saul was to be a tent maker and he began to learn this trade when he was quite small.
As a young man, he was sent by his parents to Jerusalem where he was instructed in the Law of Moses by Gamaliel, a noble Pharisee and an eminent Doctor of the law.
As Saul grew older, he persecuted the followers of Jesus with zeal, believing them to be heretics and idolaters. His name alone would induce fear in the hearts of the faithful for he breathed nothing but threats and slaughter against them. He was one of those who took part in the murder of Saint Stephen, the first Christian Martyr, by looking after the robes of men who stoned him to death.
In the fury of his zeal, he applied to the high priest for authority to arrest all Christians, men and women, in Damascus, and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Saul was almost at the end of his journey to Damascus when a great light suddenly shone around him; as he fell from his horse, he heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” The voice was gentle but reproaching. “Lord, who are you?” he asked in awe, and the voice answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!”
“Lord, what will you have me do?” asked the instantaneously, miraculously converted Saul, who from now on will be known as Paul. Jesus told him to rise and to proceed on his journey to Damascus where he would learn more of Jesus’ plan for him.
When he got up from the ground, Paul realized that he could not see, he had been stricken blind! The furious persecutor of Jesus Followers, whose name wrought terror to the Christians, was no more; he had to be led by the hand like a child!
In Damascus, Paul was miraculously healed of his blindness.
Thus, a persecutor was turned into an apostle and chosen to be one of the principle instruments of God in the conversion of the nations.
From the moment of his incomparable conversion, Saint Paul knew and loved Jesus!
Let us pray…
God our Father,
In your great mercy you forgave Saul and converted him into a zealous apostle.
Forgive us our sins and strengthen our faith so that we too can collaborate with you in the salvation of others.
Amen!

From “Saints for all.
Lives of Saints for every week”
A Paulines Publication Africa

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26 January

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Timothy and Saint Titus
Among many other saints.

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Saint Timothy and Saint Titus.
From the Bible, we know that Saint Paul did not work completely alone, rather he surrounded himself with several cooperators, both men and women, loyal and dedicated to the Cause.
 Timothy and Titus are among the most outstanding of these collaborators.
They accompanied Paul in some of his missionary journeys, preaching the Gospel with him and helped in the establishment and strengthening of several new Christian communities.

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Saint Timothy.
Timothy was a native of Lystra in Asia Minor, now Turkey. His father was Greek where as his mother was Jewish. He accepted Christianity during Saint Paul’s first missionary journey in 47 when he was about 15. Four years later when they met again, the young man was so highly spoken of by the faithful of Iconium and Lystra that Paul decided to adopt him as his travelling companion and assistant in addition to Silas who had come with him from Jerusalem. In order to have Timothy accepted by the Jewish communities, Paul had him circumcised.
Timothy remained close to Paul throughout the next 13 years; On his missionary journeys; when he was being sent to Rome as a prisoner and after his acquittal when he returned east, as far as Ephesus, some 4000 miles on foot as well as by sea! At times, Timothywas sent ahead to prepare the converts, other times hewas left behind to confirm new converts. While in Corinth at one time, he was sent back north to encourage the brethren in Thessalonica to remain steadfast in the face of persecution they were undergoing.
From the various letters of Saint Paul including those to Timothy, today’s Saint comes across as being young and rather “shy”, so much so that Saint Paul gives him this advise: “ Let no one disregard you because you are young”
Timothy was about 32 years old when he was made Bishop of Ephesus.
Saint John Damascene states that it was as Bishop of Ephesus that Timothy witnessed Mary’s departure from this world.
Saint John the Evangelist terms him “the angel of the Church of Ephesus”.
It is uncertain how Timothy met his death. According to tradition, however, he was stoned to death at Ephesus under the reign of Nerva Caesar Augustus, while trying to dissuade the pagans from worshipping “Diana of the Ephesians”. His long lost relics were reportedly discovered during some reconstructive work in the cathedral of Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy. They had been completely walled up in masonry, no doubt for safe keeping during those troubled times.
He is invoked against diseases of the stomach.
Saint Timothy,
Pray for us!

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Saint Titus.
Saint Titus, another beloved disciple of Saint Paul, was a Gentile . He is thought to have been a native of Antioch.
He was sent to Jerusalem to gather report on Our Lord’s miracles, and he became one of the 72 disciples.
From Paul’s two epistles to the Corinthians, we learn that Titus was not just his interpreter and secretary, but also co-worker as well as fellow missionary, on whom he came to depend more and more.
When Paul returned to Jerusalem in the year 51 to attend the Council on the question of submitting Gentile converts to the requirements of the Mosaic Law, he was accompanied by Titus.
Five years later, we hear of him being sent from Ephesus to the Church in Corinth to settle some internal dissension and to arrange about sending alms to the poor in Jerusalem.
In 64, Titus, whose brother in law was governor of Crete, was chosen by Paul to carry out his missionary work in that island.
In 65, he was sent to preach the Gospel in Dalmatia (former Yugoslavia)
He returned to Crete to continue with his Episcopal duties. Titus died peacefully in Crete in his 94th year
He was laid to rest in the Cathedral at Gortyna and remained there until the Saracens destroyed the city in 823. His head was taken to the basilica of Saint Mark at Venice, where it is  reportedly venerated to this day.
Saint Titus,
Pray for us!

[Patricia]

From the various letters of Saint Paul including those to Timothy, today’s Saint comes across as being young and rather “shy”, so much so that Saint Paul gives him this advise: “ Let no one disregard you because you are young”

   

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27 January

Today is the Memorial of
Saint Angela Merici
Among many other saints.

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Saint Angela Merici.
Foundress of the Ursulines.
Angela was born on 21 March, 1474, at Desenzano, a small town on the southwestern shore of Lake Garda in Lombardy, Italy.
She was orphaned at the age of ten and together with her elder sister; Angela went to live with her uncle at the neighboring town of Salo. Unfortunately Angela’s sister died suddenly without a chance to receive the last sacraments; this event distressed Angela a great deal. She became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis (now known as the Secular Franciscan Order), and lived a life of great austerity , praying for the repose of her sister’s soul.
When she was twenty years old, her uncle died, and she returned to her paternal home at Desenzano. Here, she converted her house into a home for teaching local girls the catechism.
In a vision, Angela learned that she was to found a congregation dedicated to the religious training of young women. She started this work by opening a second school at Brescia, Italy.
In 1524, while making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Angela was stricken blind when she was on the island of Crete; she, however continued her journey to the Holy Places. On her return, while praying before a crucifix at the same place where she was struck with blindness a few weeks before, she was cured, regaining her sight completely!
The following year, Angela travelled to Rome and was received by Pope Clement VII. The Holy Father asked her to remain in Rome, but Angela felt compelled to return to Brescia to continue her work.
On November 25, 1535, Angela laid the foundation of the Ursulines, then called “the Cooperative of Saint Ursula”. They lived in a small house near Saint Afra’s Church in Brescia.
She served as superior for five years before she died on January 27, 1540.
Her body lies buried in the Church of St. Afra at Brescia. She is sometimes called Saint Angela of Brescia. The Ursulines received papal approval in 1544.
Saint Angela is especially venerated in Brescia and in Ursuline communities.
She was beatified in 1768, by Clement XIII, and canonized in 1807, by Pius VII.
Saint Angela Merici,
Pray for us!