Communio: Franciscan saints & blesseds: March 2010 Archives

Saint Peter Regalado

By

on March 30, 2010 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The upright live forever, their reward is with the Lord and the Most High has them in His care.

Father, You lifted up and enflamed Saint Peter Regalado with the gifts of heaven. Through his loving intercession and by the example of his mortified life, may we come to eternal blessedness with all Your holy ones.

From a wealthy family and having lived in an era of history making (the Western Schism), Peter entered the Conventual Franciscans but later joined a reformed group of Franciscan friars. He inspired and educated his brother Franciscans by his life. He lived with significant mortifications; his biographers note that Peter lived with hunger, subsisting on bread and water. Solitude and a devoted life are key aspects of Saint Peter Regalado's life.

His body is incorrupt. In some places Saint Peter's feast day is May 13.

Blessed Diego José of Cádiz

By

Paul Zalonski

on March 24, 2010 6:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

O God, who did endow Thy blessed confessor, Diego, with the science of the saints and didst work wonders through him for the salvation of his people, grant us through his intercession to think those things that are right and just, so that we may arrive safely at the kingdom of Thy glory.

The wiki article on Blessed Diego

According to the OFM liturgical ordo Blessed Diego's memorial is observed on January 6 but other liturgical sources note his feast is on March 24.

Blessed Angela Salawa

By

Paul Zalonski

on March 12, 2010 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Come, blessed of my Father, says the Lord: I was ill and you comforted me. I tell you, anything you did for one of my brothers, you did it for me.

Lord God, You teach us that the commandments of heaven are summarized in love of You and of our neighbor. By following the example of blessed Angela, the virgin, in practicing the works of charity may we be counted among the blessed in Your kingdom.

Blessed Angela's life (1881-1922) is striking because of its simplicity and the felt sense of love. Some parts of her family history, though, was tough: she was the youngest child of nine brothers, often undernourished, weak and sick, she was unruly and capricious. Angela received some schooling and learned to read, but spelling was not a skill she could take pride in. Angela learned to be a pious woman and in time she was eager to read good book. By her late teenage years, she entered to the Association of Saint Zita (caring for sick people.)

Little by little she understood that her vocation was to suffer with Christ, and accept it resolutely, but conscious of its weakness. She spent many hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and read books of spiritual depth, taking copious notes. By order of her confessor, Angela began to make notes of the mystical experiences. When one of the people she was looking after died, interpersonal difficulties with the deceased's family surfaced for Angela. She wrote that it feels suddenly that Jesus says to her: "Daughter, why do you worry? I have not left to you."

In order to follow more closely Christ crucified and poor, she joined the Secular Franciscan Order on March 15 1912, and is professed vows on the 6th of August of 1913. As a lay woman consecrated to Christ living under the Rule of St Francis for the Laity, Angela is an example to all of us that obstacles can be overcome with grace.

At her 1991 beatification in Kraków, Pope John Paul II said: "It is in this city that she worked, that she suffered and that her holiness came to maturity. While connected to the spirituality of St. Francis, she showed an extraordinary responsiveness to the action of the Holy Spirit" (L'Osservatore Romano, 34.4, 1991).

Saint John Joseph of the Cross

By

Paul Zalonski

on March 5, 2010 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

He was in prayer and even spent the night praying and giving thanks.

Father, You raised Your servant Saint John Joseph of the Cross through the rugged way of poverty, humility and patience to heavenly glory. Grant us the grace to follow his example so as to share in eternal joy.

Saint John Joseph comes from the island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples. Some might say it is better than Capri. Virtuous from his earliest days he followed the path set by Saint Peter of Alcantara -the same person who was a spiritual father to Saint Teresa of Jesus-- who developed a strict observant Franciscan fraternity which emphasized contemplation and penance. John Joseph was such an exemplary friar that he was asked to be ordained a priest and to make Franciscan foundations. In time he was appointed both master of novices and provincial superior. His humility endeared him to others; he insisted on menial tasks even though he had noble birth and positions of influence. John Joseph was zealous for souls and it is reported that he had the gift of prophecy and healing. As an insightful confessor John Joseph would encourage people to pray, live simply and be devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

More on Saint John Joseph can be read here.

Blessed Agnes of Prague

By

Paul Zalonski

on March 2, 2010 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let us rejoice and shout for joy, because the Lord of all things has favored this holy and glorious virgin with his love.

Heavenly Father, You drew blessed Agnes away from the pleasures of royalty, and through the lowly way of the cross led her on the path of perfection. Grant that in imitation of her we may depreciate transitory things and always strive after those of heaven.

Blessed Agnes is known for her poverty and humility. She was an obedient daughter of the Franciscan charism.

A portion of Blessed Agnes' life and deeds can be read here.

Franciscan saints & blesseds: March 2010 Archives

Saint Peter Regalado

Blessed Diego José of Cádiz

Blessed Angela Salawa

Saint John Joseph of the Cross

Blessed Agnes of Prague

About the author

July 2013: Monthly Archives

Categories

stblogs.org

Search

About this Archive