Bede was an expert in many fields of learning, including natural philosophy, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, Church history, and Scripture; he authored many books, including the famous History of the English Church and People, and was the first known writer of English prose. As his reputation spread, various kings and even the pope desired his presence as a scholar-in-residence, but except for a few months teaching in the school of the Archbishop of York, Bede remained in the monastery of St. Paul until his death.

Only a century after he died, St. Bede was unofficially given the title “Venerable” (worthy of honor), and in 1899 Pope Leo XIII declared him a Doctor (an eminent and reliable teacher) of the Church.

Lessons

1. As the life of St. Bede shows, scholarship can lead to holiness; the Book of Wisdom states, “Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her” (6:12).

2. Serving God is more important than one’s own reputation; rather than seeking honor as a scholar-in-residence, St. Bede preferred to continue his studying and writing in the obscurity of the monastery.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Gregory VII (1085), Pope

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi (1607), Virgin

St. Urban I (230), Pope, Martyr

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1865), Virgin, Foundress

Lessons1. So many of us are willing to follow Christ ” as long as it doesn’t require too much of us. But as Jesus reminded the rich young man, we have to go beyond merely keeping the commandments: God wants everything we have to give. Donatian and Rogatian would have been fully aware of the kind of tortures that awaited those who professed belief in Christ, yet they bravely continued to preach the Faith, both by word and deed.

2. St. Donatian should give hope to those who are praying for the conversion of a family member or close friend. As his exemplary Christian life finally brought about the conversion of his brother, let us pray that we too may live lives that proclaim Christ’s love to all the world.

Other Saints We Remember Today

Our Lady, Help of Christians

St. Joanna (1st Century)

He completed the classical course of studies, but began practicing severe mortifications after reading an ascetical book. Their severity, combined with a heavy course load and a bout of epilepsy, led to a breakdown, and he was forced to leave the college. He recuperated and completed his training at Minerva, but was never again very strong.

At age 23 he was ordained a priest. He had visited hospitals as a student, and now he focused his attention upon them. He concentrated especially on the hospice of Saint Galla, an overnight shelter for paupers that had been founded by Pope Celestine III.

St. John spent the next 40 years of his life ministering to the sick and the needy, especially homeless women for whom he founded a refuge. Assigned to Santa Maria Church near the Aventine, he acquired a reputation as a confessor that drew throngs of penitents to his confessional. Pope Benedict XIV also chose St. John to instruct prison and other state officials, including the public hangman. His preaching was in great demand, and he was often asked to give addresses in religious houses.

His frail health eventually compelled him to move to the Trinita dei Pellegrini in 1763, where he suffered a stroke and received the last sacraments. He recovered enough to resume celebrating Mass, but in 1764 he had another stroke and died at the age of 66. The hospital of the Trinita undertook to pay for the poor priest’s burial. His funeral was attended by 260 priests as well as the papal choir. He was canonized in 1881.

Lessons

1. St. John’s only thought was for souls, so much so that he was called “Hunter of Souls.” In all our relationships, we too should always consider what good we may do for others’ souls. Let us pray for the love which casts out all fear so that everything we do will be for the salvation of others.

2. St. John’s life was one of complete poverty and trust in the Lord’s providence. Any money he was given was immediately distributed to the poor or spent on the needs of his parish. May we too learn to trust God to take care of all our temporal needs so that we can more generously share with others all the gifts He has given us.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Julia of Corsica (440), Virgin, Martyr, Patron of Corsica

St. Rita, obedient to her parents’ wishes, entered into the marriage and became a model wife and mother, although she suffered much from her husband’s cruel treatment. She bore him two sons, and although she tried to set them an example by her devotion to prayer and to the sacraments, the boys seemed destined to follow in their father’s violent footsteps.

After 18 years of ceaseless prayer, St. Rita was rewarded with the penitent conversion of her husband. He begged her forgiveness and became a considerate, God-fearing man. But her joy was short-lived, for soon afterward her husband was murdered in a vendetta. When St. Rita learned that her sons planned to avenge their father’s murder, she prayed to God to take them from this world before they committed such a grievous sin. Almost immediately, both boys fell ill. She nursed them lovingly, and they both died, reconciled with God.

Now a widow and childless, St. Rita applied for admission to the Augustinian convent in Cascia, but was refused because its rule only permitted virgins. After much prayer and entreaty, an exception was finally granted to her and she was allowed to enter in 1413. The story is told that St. Rita was miraculously transported into the monastery itself, despite its locked doors; when the nuns found her there in the morning, they allowed her to stay, taking it as the will of God.

In the same way that St. Rita had been a model mother and wife, now she became an exemplary religious, becoming known for her great charity and severe penances. Her prayers were effective in obtaining for others remarkable cures and other favors from God, and she also worked to bring about a return to the Faith by those who had left it.

In 1441, St. Rita heard a sermon by St. James della Marca on the Crown of Thorns. Wishing to share in our Lord’s passion, she prayed fervently until one day she felt her forehead being pierced, as if by a thorn. The pain was extreme and the wound gave off an unpleasant odor, but St. Rita considered it a great grace. She prayed, “O loving Jesus, increase my patience accordingly as my sufferings increase.” The wound, which remained with her for the rest of her life, became gaping and so unattractive to those around her that she was eventually forced to live in seclusion. The wound did heal enough, however, for St. Rita to make a pilgrimage to Rome, but it returned the moment she returned to her convent.

St. Rita died on May 22, 1457, at the age of 76. Her body remained incorrupt for several centuries, at times giving off a sweet fragrance. It is said that at her beatification, the body of the saint raised itself up and opened its eyes. St. Rita is called “The Saint of the Impossible” and is particularly invoked in cases of matrimonial difficulties.

Lessons

1. Saint Rita can certainly be considered a saint for our time when people — both married and religious — have such great difficulty remaining faithful to their vows. Today, when divorce is so common, let us look to St. Rita’s example of patience and fortitude which eventually brought about the conversion of not only her husband, but her two sons as well.

2. Padre Pio, when asked if his stigmata hurt, once snapped in reply, “They’re not decorations!” Saints like Padre Pio and Rita of Cascia, who were allowed to experience physically a portion of our Lord’s passion, had to endure extreme pain daily. They never asked for these pains to be removed from them; they understood too well the redemptive nature of suffering. May we, too, make an effort to join our sufferings, great or small, with Jesus’ death on the cross. Then we may say with St. Paul, “In my body I complete what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Col 1:24).

On returning to Norfolk, he worked briefly as a steward for a wealthy man, but left this position to travel again, making a pilgrimage to St. Giles in France and to Rome. For a while, Godric spent time in the wilderness, living the monastic life with another devout soul named Godwin. They had met while on pilgrimage. Both being devoted to God and desiring to lead the life of hermits, they retired to the wilderness where they spent their days praying and living austere lives. After a brief illness, Godwin died and so Godric again traveled to Jerusalem. He then retired to the desert of Finchale near the Wear River. There he practiced daily devotions, praying the psalms and other prayers. For sixty-three years he remained in the desert, but spent the last several years prior to his death confined to bed by illness and old age. On May 21, 1170, the Lord took the humble and pious St. Godric to be with Him.

Saint Godric was buried in the chapel that he had built in honor of St. John the Baptist. Many miracles took place that confirmed his sainthood. Later Richard, brother to the bishop of Durham, built a chapel in honor of St. Godric.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to not only admire the spiritual values of others, but to seek the same values in our own lives. Forgive us for the time that we waste pursuing worldly pleasure. May we always remember that our goal is heaven and not the things of this world and live our lives seeking Your Kingdom. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Companions (1915-1928), Martyrs

St. Andrew Bobola (1657), Priest, Martyr

When Siena was struck by a plague, Bernardine nursed the sick until he himself became ill. After recovering, he became a Franciscan monk, and was ordained a priest in 1404. Bernardine spent a dozen years in solitude and prayer, and was then sent forth as a preacher. For many years he traveled on foot throughout Italy, preaching to crowds as large as 30,000 — accomplishing all this with a weak and hoarse voice (though, according to legend, it later miraculously improved because of his devotion to Mary).

Bernardine was especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and he devised a symbol — IHS (the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek) — to represent it. As this devotion spread, the symbol began to replace the superstitious signs and symbols of the day. When a manufacturer of playing cards complained that the saint’s preaching against gambling was depriving him of his livelihood, Bernardine told him to start making medallions with the symbol IHS. The man took this advice — and ended up making more money than ever.

Some of Bernardine’s teachings were criticized, and three attempts were made to have the pope discipline him, but the saint’s obvious faith and holiness overcame all opposition. St. Bernardine helped strengthen the Franciscan Order, and he contributed to a great increase of piety among the laity. He died soon after attending the Council of Florence in 1444, and was canonized only six years later.

Lessons

1. As St. Paul stated, “God bestowed upon Jesus the Name that is above every other name” (Philippians 2:9). As St. Bernardine realized, honoring the Holy Name of Jesus is the sign of a true Christian.

2. God will provide for those who, even at financial cost to themselves, seek to do what’s right; St. Bernardine helped the maker of gambling equipment find a better and holier way to make a living.

3. Bernardine followed the advice of St. Francis of Assisi to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” His success shows that many people are willing to listen to the proclamation of the truth.

Peter would have been happy to spend the rest of his life with his religious community in the mountains, but an extraordinary occurrence took place in the history of the Church, and his relatively peaceful life was disrupted, never to be the same again. After the death of Pope Nicholas IV, more than two years passed with the papacy remaining vacant because of political rivalry in the college of cardinals. Peter, 84 years old at this time, reputedly sent the cardinals a message telling them that God was not pleased with the delay and that they must elect a successor quickly or the wrath of God would be upon them. To his horror, the cardinals immediately decided upon the elderly hermit himself.

Despite grave misgivings, Peter, deciding that it must be God’s will, accepted and was consecrated Bishop of Rome in August of 1294, taking the name of Celestine. The results were disastrous because Peter was completely unfit for the office of pope in every respect except for his holiness. He immediately fell prey to the schemes of King Charles II of Naples who took advantage of Peter’s simplicity, otherworldliness, and naiveté. He committed many serious blunders in his short time in office; we do not have detailed records of all of his mistakes because his official acts were annulled by his successor.

Heartbroken and overwhelmed by the burden of the office he had not sought and was incapable of filling, Peter abdicated his office in December 1294. He had been pope for less than five months.

Boniface VIII was immediately elected as pope. Because he feared that the popularity of his predecessor might lead some plotters to attempt to put Peter back on the papal throne and cause a further split in the Church, he ordered Peter to be confined to the castle of Fumone. St. Peter is said to have declared, “I wanted nothing in the world but a cell, and a cell they have given me.”

After nine months of fasting and prayer, closely watched by guards but attended by two of his own religious, he died at the age of 86.

1. Some consider Peter Celestine the most pathetic figure in the history of the papacy, but we should look at his failure as pope as yet another proof of Jesus’ promise to Peter concerning the Church: “The gates of hell will never prevail against it.” No matter how imperfect or incompetent a pope may be, Christ will always protect His bride, the Church.

2. Peter may have failed as a pope, but he certainly cannot be faulted for his love of God and the Church. When the cardinals elected him pope, he was known to have wept at the news, but after prayer felt that this was indeed a call from God to leave behind the monastic community he had spent his life building and nurturing. How many of us would be willing to give up our seemingly established lives to take on a what appears to be an impossible burden? Let us pray to St. Peter Celestine for the grace to do as our Blessed Mother Mary instructs: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Prudentiana (160), Virgin

St. Ivo (Yves) (1303), Priest, Patron of lawyers

Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. King Theodoric, the German chieftain who was in effect the Western emperor, was himself an Arian, though he was initially tolerant of the Catholics in his kingdom. Soon after John was elected pope, Justin, the Eastern emperor, began repressing the Arians in the East. Theodoric was upset by this, and he forced John and other religious leaders from the West to visit Justin in Constantinople (capital of the Eastern empire) for the purpose of lessening the restrictions placed upon the Arians. (Because religious questions had political implications, it was not uncommon for kings to involve themselves in religion, and for bishops to find themselves involved in politics.)

Little is known about the outcome of the negotiations Pope John conducted with Emperor Justin, but because the two leaders got along well together, a paranoid Theodoric assumed they were plotting against him. When John returned to Italy in 526, Theodoric had him arrested. Pope John died soon after he was imprisoned, perhaps as a result of the treatment he received, thus earning a martyr’s crown. John was the first of twenty-three popes of that name, and the only one to be canonized a saint.

Sometimes religion is inescapably involved in politics. As St. John knew, when this happens, our primary loyalty must be to Christ, not to the rulers of this world.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Venatius of Camerino (257), Martyr

St. Eric (1160), Martyr, King and Patron of Sweden

In order to help support his family, Pascal worked as a shepherd from the time he was 7 years old until he was 24. During this time, he not only taught himself to read, but he also advanced greatly in perfection through meditation, prayer, and spiritual reading.

In 1564 he sought entrance into a Franciscan friary but insisted upon remaining a simple lay brother. For the rest of his life he served primarily as a doorkeeper for various friaries in Spain, but his counsel was much sought after by people of every station in life. His prayers proved efficacious, and there are many stories of miraculous healings through his intercession.

Pascal was once sent by his friary to France to deliver a message to the minister general of his order. Even though religious persecution was widespread, Pascal courageously wore his habit on the trip. At one point, he fearlessly defended the dogma of the Real Presence to a Calvinist preacher, but narrowly escaped death at the hands of the mob that had gathered. He was also stoned by a party of Huguenots, and the injuries he suffered as a result plagued him for the rest of his life.

Saint Pascal was deeply devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and his love for the Eucharist was the focus of his entire life. For this reason, Pope Leo XIII, in the Apostolic Brief “Providentissimus Deus,” named Saint Pascal Baylon the patron of all Eucharistic Congresses and Eucharistic Associations, whether presently existing or to come in the future.

Pascal died on the same feast on which he had been born: Pentecost Sunday in 1592. It is said that the saint died at the exact moment the bells were tolling to announce the consecration at the high Mass. His tomb in the Royal Chapel in Valencia, Spain, immediately became a popular pilgrimage site, even by the King of Spain and his nobles. Because of the many miracles during his life and after his death, his cultus spread rapidly. He was canonized in 1690 and he is considered not only the patron of Eucharist Congresses and Associations, but also the patron of shepherds.

Lessons

1. Like Pascal Baylon, we should all strive for devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, that awesome gift whereby God humbles Himself in order that we might share in His life. If our devotion is not what it could be, let us pray to St. Pascal to help us increase our love for the Eucharist. In addition, we should make every effort to spend time in the presence of the Lord at our local Catholic Church.

2. Pascal’s life of humility and love should encourage us when we feel unnoticed and alone. He spent 17 years in the solitary life of a shepherd and 28 years as a simple Franciscan brother, performing the most menial tasks. But God used him to accomplish extraordinary healings — physical and spiritual — in the lives of those who sought his help. Before God can use us, though, we must learn to truly, humbly love Him and seek His will in all things, “then all the rest will be added unto you.”

In 1393, King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia, wishing to found a new bishopric for one of his favorites, ordered that at the death of the present abbot of Kladrau Abbey, no new abbot should be elected and that the abbey church should be turned into a cathedral. The archbishop and John thwarted the king’s plan by approving the election of a new abbot immediately on the death of the old one. Upon hearing this, Wenceslaus fell into a violent rage and had the vicar-general and several cathedral officials thrown into prison. John was tortured by having his sides burnt with torches, but even this could not move him. Finally, on March 20, 1393, the king ordered him to be put in chains and led through the city with a block of wood in his mouth. His martyrdom was complete when he was then thrown from a bridge into the Moldau River at Prague. A strange brightness is said to have appeared above the spot where he drowned; because of this John of Nepomucene is often portrayed in art with seven stars above his head.

An additional reason for John’s violent death may be because of the tale that is traditionally told about him: as the queen’s confessor, John was once ordered by King Wenceslaus to tell him what the queen had said in confession, but John vehemently refused to break the seal of the confessional. For this reason, St. John is also called the “Martyr of the Confessional” and is sometimes pictured with his finger to his lips.

Lessons

1. St. John’s refusal to reveal what the queen told him in confession is a lesson for our times when the seal of confession is under siege. Let us pray for our priests today that they, like St. John, may be firm in withstanding the pressure of the courts and the media to reveal what they have heard in the confessional.

2. Standing up for what is right may not result in a painful martyrdom like St. John’s. Nonetheless, it can prove to be painful in other ways: we may lose friends, the support of our family, we may even lose our jobs or be thrown into jail. But we should take courage by Jesus’ reminder: “Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but not the soul…. If anyone declares himself for Me in the presence of men, I will declare Myself for him in the presence of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:28,32).

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Ubaldus (1160), Bishop

St. Brendan the Navigator (578), Abbot, Patron of sailors

St. Simon of Stock (1265), Religious, received the brown scapular