27 FEBRUARY – SAINT GABRIEL OF THE MOST SORROWFUL VIRGIN

Saint Gabriel of the Most Sorrowful Virgin (Francis Possenti) was born on 1 March 1838 in Assisi, Italy, to Sante and Agnes Possenti. He was one of thirteen children, several of whom died in infancy. His mother died in 1842 when he was only four years old. Francis was educated at a Jesuit college in Spoleto.

While still a student he became dangerously ill and promised to enter a religious order if he recovered. He did not keep his vow and after a few years he became seriously sick again. He renewed his promise and was again cured. Believing this to be a miracle which he attributed to the intercession of the Polish Jesuit priest Blessed Andrzej Boboba (1591–1657), he applied to the Society of Jesus and was accepted. However, he delayed entering the Jesuits. Then his sister Maria Louisa was stricken with cholera and died. After seeking the advice of a priest, Francis decided to join the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (the Passionists). In 1856 he entered the noviceship at Morrovalle in the Marche and was given the religious name of Brother Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows:

“The rest of Gabriel's career is simply a record of an extraordinary effort to attain perfection in small things. His brightness, his spirit of prayer, his charity to the poor, his consideration for others, his exact observance of every rule, his desire (constantly checked by wise superiors) to adopt forms of bodily mortification which were beyond his strength, his absolute submission in all matters in which he could practise obedience evidently made an ineffaceable impression upon all who lived with him. Their testimony in the process of his beatification is most convincing. It was a life of continual self-surrender, but the most charming feature of the whole was the cheerfulness with which the offering was made”.

(Butler's Lives of the Saints, Vol 1, page 430)

After four years in the Passionists, Gabriel became ill with tuberculosis. He died on 27 February 1862 at the age of 23 at Isola di Gran Sasso near Teramo in the Abruzzi. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X in 1908 and canonised by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. St. Gabriel is a patron saint of Catholic youth, of students, and of those studying for the priesthood.

In leap years, his feast day is observed on 28 February.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs Macarius, Rufinus, Justus and Theophilus.

At Alexandria, the passion of the Saints Caerealis, Pupulus, Caius and Serapion. In the same city, in the reign of the emperor Valerian, the commemoration of the holy priests, deacons and other Christians in great number who encountered death most willingly by nursing the victims of a most deadly pestilence then raging. They have been generally revered as martyrs by the pious faithful.

In the territory of Lyons, on Mount Jura, the demise of St. Romanus, abbot, who was the first to lead the heremitical life there. His reputation for virtues and miracles brought under his guidance numerous monks.

At Pavia, the translation, from the island of Sardinia, of the body of St. Augustine, bishop, by Luitprand, king of the Lombards.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

26 FEBRUARY – SAINT MARGARET OF CORTONA (Penitent)

 

Margaret of Cortona (so called from the town where she died) was born at Alviano in Tuscany. In her early youth she was a slave to the pleasures of this world and led a vain and sinful life in the city of Montepulciano. Her attention was one day attracted by a dog which seemed to wish her to follow it. She did so, and it led her to a pile of wood which covered a large hole. Looking in, she saw the body of her lover whose enemies had murdered him and thrown his mangled body into that place. She suddenly felt that the hand of God was upon her, and being overwhelmed with intense sorrow for her sins, she went forth and wept bitterly.

Margaret returned to Alviano, cut off her hair, laid aside her trinkets and, putting on a dark-coloured dress, she abandoned her evil ways and the pleasures of the world. She was to be found in the churches with a rope tied round her neck, prostrated on the ground and imploring pardon of all whom she had scandalised by her past life. She shortly afterwards set out for Cortona and there, in sackcloth and ashes, she sought how she might appease the divine anger. For three years she tried herself in the practice of every virtue and at the end of that time she obtained permission from the Friars Minors (under whose spiritual guidance she had put herself) to receive the habit of the Third Order.

From that time forward, her tears were almost incessant and the sighs which deep contrition wrung from her heart were such as to leave her speechless for hours. Her bed was the naked ground and her pillow, a stone or piece of wood so that she frequently passed whole nights in heavenly contemplation. Evil desires no longer tormented her, for her fervent spirit was so prompt that the weak flesh was made to labour and obey. The devil spared neither snares nor violent assaults by which to lead her from her holy purpose but she, like a strong woman, detected him by his words and drove him from her. This wicked spirit having tempted her to vain glory, she went into the streets and cried out with a loud voice that she had been a great sinner and deserved the worst of punishments. It was obedience to her confessor that alone prevented her from disfiguring her features, which had been the cause of much sin: for the long and severe penance she had imposed on herself had not impaired her beauty.

By these and such like exercises of a mortified life, Margaret cleansed her soul from the stains of her sins and gained such a victory over herself that the allurements of the world had not the slightest effect upon her, and our Lord rewarded her by frequently visiting her. She also received the grace she so ardently desired, of being allowed to have a share in the sufferings of Jesus and Mary: so much so, indeed, that at times she lay perfectly unconscious as though she were really dead. All this made her be looked up to as a guide in the path of perfection, and persons would come to her, even from distant countries, in order to seek her counsel. By the heavenly light granted her she could read the hearts and consciences of others, and could see the sins committed against our Lord in various parts of the world, for which she would offer up, in atonement, her own sorrow and tears.

Great indeed was the good Margaret effected by the ardent charity she bore to God and her neighbour. She healed the sick who came to her and drove out the devil from those possessed. A mother besought her, with many tears, to restore her child to life, which she did. Her prayers more than once averted war when on the point of being declared. In a word, both the living and the dead experienced the effects of her unbounded charity. While engaged in these manifold holy works, she relented not in the severity of her bodily mortifications, or in her contemplation of heavenly things. The two lives of Mary and Martha were admirably blended together in her, and rich in the merits of each, she besought our Lord to take her from this valley of tears and give her to enter the heavenly country. Her prayer was heard and the day and the hour of her death were revealed to her.

Laden with meritorious works and divine favours, her bodily strength began to fail. For the last seventeen days of her life her only food was that of conversation with her Creator. At length, after receiving the most holy Sacraments of the Church, with a face beaming with joy and her eyes raised lip to Heaven, her happy soul fled to its divine Spouse on the eighth of the Calends of March (February 22nd), in the fiftieth year of her age, the twenty-third of her conversion, in 1297. Her body, which even to this day is fresh, incorrupt and unaltered and sheds a sweet fragrance, is devoutly honoured in the Church called after her belonging to the Friars Minors. The many miracles which have been wrought at her shrine, have induced the Sovereign Pontiffs to promote devotion to Saint Margaret by the grant of many spiritual favours. She was canonised with great solemnity by Pope Benedict XIII on the 16th of May, which was the Feast of Pentecost in 1728.

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

Close to the faithful Virgins who form the court of Jesus, there stand those holy women whose repentance has merited for them a prominent place in the Calendar of the Church. They are the bright trophies of God’s mercy. They expiated their sins by a life of penance. The tears of their compunction wiped away their guilt. He that is Purity itself has found them worthy of His love, and, when Pharisees affect to be shocked at His allowing them to be near Him, He warmly defends them. Foremost among these is Mary Magdalene to whom much was forgiven because she loved much (Luke vii. 47), but there are two on the list of Penitent Saints whose names shine most brightly on the Calendar of this portion of the year and were, like Mary Magdalene, ardent in their love of the Divine Master whom they had once offended: these are Mary of Egypt and Margherita of Cortona. It is the second of these who today tells us the consoling truth, that if sin separate us from God, penance has the power of not only disarming His anger, but of forming between God and the sinner that ineffable bond of love which the Apostle alludes to when he says: “Where sin has abounded, grace has more abounded” (Romans v. 20).

*****

If the Angels of God rejoiced on the day of your conversion, when Margherita the sinner became the heroic and saintly Penitent, what a grand feast must they not have kept when your soul left this world and they led you to the eternal nuptials with the Lamb! You are one of the brightest trophies of Divine Mercy, and when we think of the Saint of Cortona, our hearts glow with hope. We are sinners. We have deserved Hell. And yet when we hear your name, Heaven and mercy seem so near to us. Yes, even to us, Margherita of Cortona! See how we are like you in your weakness and your wanderings from the fold, but you force us to hope that we may, like you, be converted, do penance and reach Heaven at last. The instrument of your conversion was death, and is not death busy enough around us? The sight of that corpse taught you, and with an irresistible eloquence, that sin is madness, for it exposes the soul to fall into infinite misery. How comes it that death is almost daily telling us that life is uncertain and that our eternal lot may be decided at any hour, and yet the lesson is so lost upon us? We are hard-hearted sinners, and we need your prayers, O fervent Lover of Jesus! The Church will soon preach to us the great Memento. She will tell us that we are but dust, and into dust must speedily return. Oh that this warning might detach us from the world and ourselves, and man us to the resolution of Penance, that port of salvation for them that have suffered shipwreck. Oh that it might excite within us the desire of returning to that God who knows not how to resist the poor soul who comes to Him, after all her sins, throws herself into the bosom of His mercy, and asks Him to forgive! Your example proves that we may hope for every grace. Pray for us, and exercise in our favour that maternal charity which filled your heart, even when you were living here below.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Pergen in Pamphylia, during the persecution of Decius, the birthday of the blessed bishop Nestor, who, praying night and day for the preservation of the flock of Christ, was put under arrest. As he confessed the name of the Lord with great joy and freedom, he was most cruelly tortured on the rack by order of the governor Pollio, and still courageously proclaiming that he would ever remain faithful to Christ, he was suspended on a cross and thus triumphantly went to heaven.

In the same place, the passion of Saints Papias, Diodorus, Conon and Claudian who preceded St. Nestor to martyrdom.

Also the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felix and twenty-seven others.

At Alexandria, the bishop St. Alexander, an aged man held in great honour, who succeeded blessed Peter as bishop of that city. He expelled from the Church Arius, one of his priests, tainted with heretical impiety, and convicted by divine truth, and subsequently was one of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers who condemned him in the Council of Nicaea.

At Bologna, the bishop St. Faustinian, whose preaching strengthened and multiplied the faithful of that Church, which had been much afflicted during the persecution of Diocletian.

At Gaza in Palestine, in the time of the emperor Arcadius, St. Porphyry, bishop, who overthrew the idol Marnas and its temple, and after many sufferings went to rest in the Lord.

At Florence, St. Andrew, bishop and confessor.

In the territory of Arcis, St. Victor, confessor, whose eulogy was written by St. Bernard.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

21 FEBRUARY – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

In Sicily, in the reign of Diocletian, the birthday of seventy-nine holy martyrs who deserved by various torments to receive an immortal crown for the confession of their faith.

At Adrumetum in Africa, during the persecution of the Vandals, the holy martyrs Verulus, Secundinus, Syricius, Felix, Servulus, Saturninus, Fortunatus and sixteen others who were crowned with martyrdom for the confession of the Catholic faith.

At Scythopolis in Palestine, St. Severian, bishop and martyr.

At Damascus, St. Peter Mavimenus, who was killed by some Arabs who visited him in his sickness because he said to them, “Whoever does not embrace the Christian and Catholic faith is lost, like your false prophet Muhammed.”

At Ravenna, St. Maximian, bishop and confessor.

At Metz, St. Felix, bishop.

At Brescia, St. Paterius, bishop.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

18 FEBRUARY – SAINT SIMEON (Bishop and Martyr)

 

Simeon, the son of Cleophas (Matthew xiii. 55), was ordained Bishop of Jerusalem in 62 AD and was Saint James’ immediate successor in that See. In the reign of the Emperor Trajan he was accused to the Consul Atticus of being a Christian and a relation of Christ for, at this time, all they, that were of the House of David were seized. After having endured various tortures, Simeon was put to death by the same punishment which our Saviour suffered, and all the beholders were filled with astonishment to find how at his age (for he was 120 years old) he could go through the intense pains of crucifixion without showing a sign of fear or irresolution.

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

How venerable our Saint of today, with his hundred and twenty years, and his episcopal dignity, and his Martyr-crown! He succeeded the Apostle Saint James in the See of Jerusalem. He had known Jesus and had been His disciple. He was related to Jesus, for he was of the House of David. His father was Cleophas, and his Mother that Mary whom the tie of kindred united so closely to the Blessed Mother of God that she has been called her sister. What grand titles these of Simeon who comes with all our other Martyrs of Septuagesima to inspirit us to penance! Such a veteran who had been a contemporary of the Saviour of the world and was a Pastor who could repeat to his flock the very lessons this Jesus had given him — such a Saint, we say, could never rejoin His Divine Master save by the path of martyrdom, and that martyrdom must be the Cross. Like Jesus, then, he dies on a Cross and his death, which happened in the year 106, closes the first period of the Christian Era or, as it is called, The Apostolic Age. Let us honour this venerable Pontiff whose name awakens within us the recollection of all that is dear to our Faith. Let us ask him to extend to us that fatherly love which nursed the Church of Jerusalem for so many long years. He will bless us from that throne which he won by the Cross, and will obtain for us the grace we so much need — the grace of conversion.

*****

Receive, most venerable Saint, the humble homage of our devotion. What is all human glory compared with yours! You were of the family of Christ. Your teaching was that which His divine lips had given you. Your charity for men was formed on the model of His Sacred Heart, and your death was the closest representation of His. We may not claim the honour you had of calling ourselves brothers of the Lord Jesus, but pray for us that we may be of those of whom He thus speaks: “Whoever will do the will of my Father that is in Heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew xii. 50). We have not, like you, received the doctrine of salvation from the very lips of Jesus, but we have it in all its purity by means of holy Tradition, of which you are one of the earliest links. Obtain for us a docility to this word of God, and pardon for our past disobedience. We have not to be nailed to a cross, as you were, but the world is thickly set with trials to which our Lord Himself gives the name of the Cross. These we must bear with patience, if we would have part with Jesus in His glory. Pray for us, O Simeon, that henceforth we may be more faithful; that we never more become rebels to our duty, and that we may repair the faults we have so often committed by infringing the law of our God.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Ostia, the holy martyrs Maximus and his brother Claudius, and Praepedigna, the wife of Claudius, with her two sons Alexander and Cutias, all of an illustrious family. By the order of Diocletian, they were apprehended and sent into exile. Afterwards being burned alive, they offered to God the sweet-smelling sacrifice of martyrdom. Their remains were cast into the river, but Christians found them and buried them near that city.

In Africa, the holy martyrs Lucius, Sylvanus, Rutulus, Classicus, Secundinus, Fructulus and Maximus.

At Constantinople, the holy bishop Flavian, who for having defended the Catholic faith at Ephesus, was buffeted and kicked by the partisans of the impious Dioscorus, and being banished, ended his life within three days.

At Toledo, St. Helladius, bishop and confessor.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

17 FEBRUARY – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Rome, the passion of St. Faustinus, whom forty-four others followed to receive the crown of martyrdom.

In Persia, during the persecution of Decius, the birthday of blessed Polychronius, bishop of Babylon, who, being struck in the mouth with stones, stretched out his hands, lifted up his eyes to heaven and expired.

At Concordia, the holy martyrs Donatus, Secundian, and Romulus, with eighty-six others, partakers of the same crown.

At Caesarea in Palestine, St. Theodulus, an aged man, in the service of the governor Firmilian. Moved by the example of the martyrs, he confessed Christ with constancy, was fastened to a cross, and thus by a noble victory merited the palm of martyrdom.

In the same place, St. Julian, a Cappadocian, who, because he had kissed the relics of the martyrs, was denounced as a Christian and led to the governor who had him consumed with a slow fire.

In the territory of Terouanne, St. Silvinus, bishop of Toulouse.

In Ireland, St. Fintan, priest and confessor.

At Florence, blessed Alexius Falconieri, confessor, one of the seven Founders of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, in the one hundred and tenth year of his age, terminated his blessed career in the consoling presence of Jesus Christ and the angels.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

12 FEBRUARY – THE SEVEN FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER

 

In the thirteenth century when the more cultured parts of Italy were rent by the dread dissension of the Emperor Frederick II and by bloody civil wars, the mercy of God set forth various men eminent for holiness, and among others raised up seven nobles of Florence who were bound one to another in charity and gave an illustrious example of brotherly love. Their names were Bonfiglio Monaldi, Bonajuncta Manetti, Manetto Antalli, Amadeo de’ Amidei, Uguccio de’ Uguccioni, Sosteneo de’ Sostenei and Alexis de’ Falconieri. On the holiday of the Assumption of the Virgin into Heaven in 1233 they were praying in the oratory of a guild called the Guild of Praise when the same Mother of God appeared to each one of them and bade them embrace a life of greater holiness and perfection. These seven men discussed the matter with the Bishop of Florence and then, considering neither the nobility of their birth nor their wealth and clad in haircloth under vile and worn-out garments, they withdrew into a little house in the country on the eighth of September that they might begin their holier life on the same day on which the Mother of God herself had by her birth begun her life of holiness upon Earth.

God showed by a miracle how acceptable in His sight should be their manner of life, for a short while after, when these seven men were begging alms from door to door through Florence, it came to pass that some children, among whom was holy Philip Benizi who had then scarcely entered the fifth month of his age, called them blessed Mary’s servants, by the which name they were called ever after. To avoid meeting people and in the desire to be alone, they all withdrew together to the solitude of Monte Senario, and there began a kind of heavenly life. They lived in caves and on herbs and water only, while they wore out their bodies with watching and other hardships while they contemplated unweariedly the sufferings of Christ and the woes of His most sorrowful Mother. One Good Friday when their thoughts were fixed on it more than ever, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to them twice and showed them her garments of mourning as those in which they should clothe themselves. She bade them know that she would take it right well that they should raise up in the Church a new order to recall the memory of the sorrows which she bore beneath the Cross of the Lord. Holy Peter, the illustrious martyr of the Order of Friars Preachers, learnt this not only from his familiar converse with these holy men, but also from a special vision of the Mother of God, and it was on his incitement that they founded the regular Order called that of the Servites, or Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the which Order was afterward approved by the Pope Innocent IV.

These holy men, when they had gathered to themselves some companions, began to go through the cities and towns of Italy, especially of Tuscany, everywhere preaching Christ crucified, stilling contests among the citizens and calling back almost countless backsliders into the path of grace. Neither did they make Italy only the field of their Gospel labours, but also France, Germany and Poland. They passed away to be ever with the Lord when they had spread far and wide a sweet savour of Christ and were famous also for the glory of signs and wonders. As one love of brotherhood and of the monastic life had joined them together upon Earth, so one grave held their dead bodies and one honour was paid them by the people. For this reason the Popes Clement XI and Benedict XIII confirmed the honour which had for centuries been paid to them individually, and Pope Leo XIII, after proof of their miracles which had been wrought by God on the common invocation of these saints, after their veneration had been sanctioned in the jubilee year of his priesthood, decreed to them the honours paid to Saints and ordered that their memory should every year be kept throughout the universal Church with an Office and Mass.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Barcelona in Spain, in the time of the emperor Diocletian, St. Eulalia, virgin, who, being racked, torn with iron hooks, cast into the fire and crucified, received the glorious crown of martyrdom.

In Africa, St. Damian, soldier and martyr.

At Carthage, the holy martyrs Modestus and Julian.

At Benevento, St. Modestus, deacon and martyr.

At Alexandria, the holy children Modestus and Ammonius.

At Antioch, St. Meletius, a bishop, who often suffered exile for the Catholic faith, and finally died at Constantinople and went to his reward. His virtues have been highly extolled by St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Nyssa.

At Constantinople, St. Anthony, a bishop in the time of the emperor Leo VI.

At Verona, St. Gaudentius, bishop and confessor.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

9 FEBRUARY – FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Epistle – Colossians iii. 12‒17

Brethren, put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another, even as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel – Matthew xiii. 24‒30

At that time, Jesus spoke another parable to the multitudes: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and over-sowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade had sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him: “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then has it cockle?” And he said to them: “An enemy has done this.” And the servants said to him: “Do you want us to go and gather it up?” And he said: “No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my barn.”

Praise to you, O Christ.

8 FEBRUARY – SAINT JOHN OF MATHA (Confessor)

 

John of Matha, the institutor of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Ransom of Captives, was born at Fancon in Provence, France, of parents conspicuous for their nobility and virtue. He studied first at Aix, and afterwards at Paris where, after having completed his theological course, he received the degree of Doctor. His eminent learning and virtues induced the Bishop of Paris to promote him in spite of his humble resistance to the holy order of priesthood that, during his sojourn there, he might be a bright example to young students by his talents and piety. While celebrating his first Mass in the Bishop’s chapel in the presence of the Prelate and several assistants, there appeared to John an Angel clad in a white and brilliant robe. He had on his breast a red and blue cross, and his arms were stretched out, crossed one above the other, over two captives, one a Christian, the other a Moor. Falling into an ecstasy at this sight, the John immediately understood that he was called to ransom captives from the infidels. But that he might the more prudently carry out so important an undertaking, he withdrew into a solitude. There, by divine appointment, he met with Felix of Valois who had been living many years in that same desert. They agreed to live together, and for three years John devoted himself to prayer, contemplation and the practice of every virtue.

One day, as they were seated near a fountain, conferring with each other on holy things, a stag came towards them, bearing a red and blue cross between his antlers. John, perceiving that Felix was surprised by so strange an occurrence, told him of the vision he had had in his first Mass. They gave themselves more fervently than ever to prayer, and having been thrice admonished in sleep, they resolved to set out for Rome to obtain permission from the Sovereign Pontiff to found an Order for the ransom of captives. Innocent III who had shortly before been elected Pope received them kindly, and while deliberating on what they proposed it happened that as he was celebrating Mass in the Lateran Church on the second feast of Saint Agnes, there appeared to him, during the elevation of the sacred Host, an Angel robed in white, bearing a two-coloured cross, and in the attitude of one that was rescuing captives. The Pontiff then gave his approbation to the new institute, and would have it called the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Ransom of Captives, bidding its members wear a white habit, with a red and blue cross.

The Order being thus established, its holy founders returned to France and erected their first Monastery at Cerfroid in the diocese of Meaux. Felix was left to govern it, and John returned, accompanied by a few of his brethren, to Rome. Innocent III gave them the house, church and hospital of Saint Thomas de Formis, together with various revenues and possessions. He also gave them letters to Miramolin, king of Morocco, and thus was prosperously begun the work of Ransom. John afterwards went into Spain, a great portion of which was then under the Saracen yoke. He stirred up kings, princes and others of the faithful to compassion for the captives and the poor. He built monasteries, founded hospitals and saved the souls of many captives by purchasing their freedom. Having, at length, returned to Rome, he spent his days in doing good. Worn out by incessant labour and sickness, and burning with a most ardent love of God and his neighbour, it was evident that his death was at hand.

Calling his brethren round him, John eloquently besought them to labour in the work of Ransom which Heaven had entrusted to them, and then slept in the Lord on the sixteenth of the Calends of January (December 17th) in 1213. His body was buried with the honour that was due to him in the same Church of Saint Thomas de Formis.

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

We were celebrating, not many days ago, the memory of Peter Nolasco who was inspired by the Holy Mother of God to found an Order for the ransoming of Christian captives from the infidels. Today we have to honour the generous Saint to whom this sublime work was first revealed. He established, under the name of the Most Holy Trinity, a body of religious men who bound themselves by vow to devote their energies, their privations, their liberty, nay, their very life, to the service of the poor slaves who were groaning under the Saracen yoke. The Order of the Trinitarians, and the Order of Mercy, though distinct, have the same end in view, and the result of their labours during the [eight] hundred years of their existence has been the restoring to liberty and preserving from apostasy upwards of a million slaves. John of Matha, assisted by his faithful cooperator, Felix of Valois (whose feast we will keep at the close of the Year) established the centre of his grand work at Meaux in France. We are preparing for Lent when one of our great duties will have to be that of charity towards our suffering brethren: what finer model could we have than John of Matha, and his whole Order, which was called into existence for no other object than that of delivering from the horrors of slavery brethren who were utter strangers to their deliverers, but were in suffering and in bondage. Can we imagine any alms-giving, let it be ever so generous, which can bear comparison with this devotedness of men who bind themselves by their Rule not only to traverse every Christian land begging alms for the ransom of slaves, but to change places with the poor captives, if their liberty cannot be otherwise obtained? Is it not, as far as human weakness permits, following to the very letter, the example of the Son of God Himself who came down from Heaven that He might be our ransom and Redeemer? We repeat it: with such models as these before us we will feel ourselves urged to follow the injunction we are shortly to receive from the Church, of exercising works of mercy towards our fellow-creatures as being one of the essential elements of our Lenten penance.

*****

And now, generous hearted Saint, enjoy the fruits of your devoted charity. Our Blessed Redeemer recognises you as one of His most faithful imitators, and the whole court of Heaven is witness of the recompense with which He loves to honour your likeness to Himself. We must imitate you. We must walk in your footsteps, for we, too, hope to reach the same eternal resting place. Fraternal charity will lead us to Heaven, for the works it inspires us to do have the power of freeing the soul from sin, as our Lord assures us (Ecclesiasticus iii. 33). Your charity was formed on the model of that which is in the heart of God, who loves our soul, yet disdains not to provide for the wants of our body. Seeing so many souls in danger of apostasy, you ran to their aid and men were taught to love a religion which can produce heroes of charity like you. Your heart bled at hearing of the bodily sufferings of these captives, and your hand broke the chains of their galling slavery. Teach us the secret of ardent charity. Is it possible that we can see a soul in danger of being lost, and remain indifferent? Have we forgotten the divine promise, told us by the Apostle: “He that causes a sinner to be converted from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of his own sins”? (James v. 20). Get us also a tender compassion for such as are in bodily suffering and poverty, so that we may be generous in comforting them under these trials which are but too often an occasion of their blaspheming Providence. Dear friend and Liberator of slaves! Pray, during this holy Season, for those who groan under the captivity of sin and Satan: for those, especially, who, taken with the frenzy of earthly pleasures, feel not the weight of their chains but sleep on peacefully through their slavery. Ransom them by your prayers, convert them to the Lord their God, lead them back to the land of freedom. Pray for France which was your country, and save her from infidelity. Protect the venerable remnants of your Order so that it may labour for the present wants of the Christian world, since the object for which you instituted it has ceased to require its devotedness.

Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

St. Jerome Aemiliani, confessor, founder of the Congregation of Somascha, who slept in the Lord on the eighth of this month. He was numbered among the saints by Pope Clement XIII, his feast being assigned to the twentieth of July.

At Rome, the holy martyrs Paul, Lucius and Cyriacus.

In Lesser Armenia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Denis, Aemilian and Sebastian.

At Alexandria, under the emperor Decius, the martyr St. Cointha, whom the pagans seized, led to the idols and urged to adore them. As she refused with horror, they put her feet in chains and dragged her through the streets of the city, mangling her body in a barbarous manner.

At Constantinople, the birthday of the holy martyrs, monks of the monastery of Dins, who, bringing the letter of Pope St. Felix against Acacius, were barbarously killed for their defence of the Catholic faith.

In Persia, in the time of king Cabades, the commemoration of the holy martyrs who were put to death by various kinds of torments on account of their faith in Christ.

At Pavia, the bishop St. Juventius, who strenuously laboured in preaching the Gospel.

At Milan, the demise of St. Honoratus, bishop and confessor.

At Verdun in France, St. Paul, a bishop renowned for miracles.

At Muret near Limoges, the birthday of the abbot St. Stephen, founder of the Order of Grandimont, celebrated for his virtues and miracles.

In the monastery of Vallombrosa, blessed Peter, cardinal-bishop of Albano, of the Congregation of Vallombrosa, of the Order of St. Benedict, surnamed Igneus, because he passed through fire uninjured.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

1 FEBRUARY – SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (Bishop and Martyr)

Ignatius was the third Bishop of the Church of Antioch, Saint Peter the Apostle being the first. During the persecution under Trajan he was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts and was sent in chains to Rome. During this voyage, which was made by sea, he had to stop at Smyrna where Polycarp, the disciple of Saint John, was Bishop. From this city he wrote several Epistles: one to the Ephesians, a second to the Magnesians, a third to the Trallians, a fourth to the Romans. When he had left Smyrna, he addressed an Epistle to the Philadelphians and Smyrneans, and one to Polycarp himself, recommending to him his Church of Antioch. It is in this last named Letter that he quotes from the Gospel a passage bearing testimony to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. “From Syria,” he says, “even unto Rome, I am fighting with wild beasts, both by sea and land, both by night and day, for I am fastened to ten leopards, I mean, to the soldiers who have care of me. When I show them a kindness, they grow more brutal. Their injuries are my instruction, but I am not thereby justified. I long for the wild beasts that are prepared for me, which I heartily wish may rush on me, and torture me, and devour me, and not be afraid to touch me, as has happened with other martyrs. Nay, if they refuse to approach me, I will make them come on, I will rush upon them, that so they may devour me. Pardon me, my little children: I know what is for my own welfare. Now do I begin to be a disciple of Christ, and care for nothing in this world so that I may find Jesus. Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my bones, or the cutting me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea, all the tortures of the devil — let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my God.” When he was sentenced to be devoured by wild beasts and heard the roaring of the lions, his impatience to suffer made him exclaim: “I am the wheat of Christ — let me be ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may become the pure bread.” He suffered in the eleventh year of Trajan’s reign.

Dom Prosper Guéranger:

Two days more and the happy season of Christmas will be over! This is the vigil of its termination, and lo! — there comes to gladden us one of the grandest Martyrs of the year — Ignatius surnamed the Theophorus, Bishop of Antioch. A venerable tradition tells us that this old man who so generously confessed the faith before Trajan was the child whom Jesus took into His arms and showed to His Disciples as a model of that simplicity which we must all have if we would enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Today he appears before us standing near the crib in which this same Jesus gives us His own divine lessons of humility and simplicity.

But in this the Court of our Emmanuel Ignatius stands near to Peter, for the Prince of the Apostles made him his second successor in his first See of Antioch. From so honoured a position Ignatius derived that courage which made him resist a powerful emperor even to his face, defy the wild beasts of the amphitheatre and triumph by a glorious martyrdom. As it were to show the supremacy of the See of Rome, Divine Providence willed that he, with his chains on him, should go to see Peter and finish his course in the Holy City, and thus mingle his blood with that of the Apostles. Rome would have been imperfect without the glory of Ignatius’ martyrdom, which is the pride of her Colosseum, rich as it is with the blood of so many thousands of Martyrs. Ignatius’ character is impetuosity of love for his God. He has but one fear — it is that the prayers of the Romans will stay the lions from devouring him, and his desire of being united to Christ be thus denied him. Let us admire this superhuman fortitude which shows itself thus suddenly amid the pagan world, and let us acknowledge that so ardent a love of God and so vehement a longing to possess Him could only have come from the accomplishment of the Mysteries of our Redemption which showed man how much God loved him. The crib of Bethlehem, even had there never been the Sacrifice of Calvary, would of itself be sufficient to convince us of all this. God comes down from Heaven for the sake of His creature, man. He Himself becomes Man, nay, a child, and is laid in a manger! Such miracles of love would have sufficed to save the guilty world. How, then, will they not have power to prompt men to give their whole heart to their loving God? And would it be too much if we made a sacrifice of our very lives to repay our Jesus for only that much of His love which He showed us by being born among us?

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All your desires were satisfied, O glorious Martyr! You have died for Jesus. You are with Jesus. Rome’s sons and daughters filled the Colosseum. Their savage joy made it tremble with their cheers as they saw you mangled by the lions. It was the hour you had prayed for — your sacrifice for Him who had sacrificed Himself for you is over, and your soul is buried in His divine embrace! Generous and impetuous lover of Christ! You were ambitious to pay your debt to the Crucified — the debt of suffering. It seemed to you that you had no right to His kingdom until you had repaid His Passion by some cruel tortures endured for Him. Worthy companion of Stephen, Sebastian, Vincent and Agnes! How rich and verdant is the palm you hold over your Jesus’ crib! Can you look upon us, weak Christian cowards, and not pity us? Pray for us that we may at least be faithful to our Lord when we are persecuted by the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil; that we may at least give our hearts to His service, if we are not to be permitted to give our bodies to be tortured for His Name. You were chosen, when a little child, as the model of the simplicity which our Saviour was teaching to His Disciples, and this innocence never left you. Ask for us from Him who is the King of little children that one of the graces of the Christmas we have been keeping may be this holy simplicity of heart.

Successor of Peter in the See of Antioch! Pray for the Churches of your Patriarchate that they may return to the true Faith and Catholic unity. Intercede for the Holy City of Rome which you watered with your blood, and which is now in possession of your sacred relics that were saved from the lions’ jaws. Watch over the maintenance of ecclesiastical discipline and order, of which you left such admirable rules in your Epistles, and obtain for the Church that all the members of her hierarchy may be united in the bonds of duty and love, that thus she may be beautiful in the strength of her unity and terrible to the enemies of God, as an army set in array (Canticles vi. 3).