Saint Monica-Prayer Warrior

Monica of Hippo did not have an easy life, she was married to a much older man who was known for his abusive treatment of any who displeased him. Though Monica's marriage was not a match made in Heaven in that she was not in love with her husband as her marriage was an arranged one, still though she embraced the role of both wife and mother with great care and diligence.

Things were not made easier for her in that Monica also lived with her temperamental and taciturn mother in law who seemed to gain pleasure by making Monica's life as intolerable as she could. Throughout this ordeal Monica never lost her Faith indeed these trials and ordeals merely strengthened Monica's faith.

Monica and her husband had three children, two boys, Augustine and Navigius and a daughter Perpetua to complete Monica's joy. Though Monica maintained a strong prayer life and attended Mass as often as possible she also with great patience prayed and shared her faith with her volatile husband and his equally vocal mother, the patient endurance displayed by Monica eventually worked a miracle in her husband, Patricius who did convert to the Catholic Faith, followed by his mother. This brought true joy to Monica and also much relief when her husband died a year later, the knowledge of his conversion brought much comfort to this holy wife and mother.

The troubles in Monica's life did not stop as she tried her hardest to persuade her dissolute son, Augustine to embrace the Faith as had the rest of his family. This difficult and intelligent son of hers was to share his fathers obstinacy as he continued to live a worldly life, though I am sure the words his mother spoke to him would have touched a chord within the heart of Augustine.

Two of Monica's children entered the Religious life which greatly pleased Monica as she prayed for their continued strengthening, but much of her prayer life was devoted to her stubborn son Augustine who refused to listen to his mothers pleadings. This led Monica to approach many Priests to pray for the conversion of her much loved son, many of whom would become impatient at what they thought was a lost cause the conversion of Augustine. Though many may have washed their hands of the problem of Augustine, Monica was not one of them as she continued to spend a life of prayer and mortification for the conversion of this very intellectual and worldly son of hers.

Through all her trials Monica maintained her spirit of gentleness which was greatly respected by all her children who had been witness to some of their fathers violent excesses. This is why though Augustine refused to listen to his mothers entreaties he did not abandon her in that he not only loved his mother but respected her obvious devoutness.

This great woman of prayer was also very disciplined when it came to morals and Faith and she could no longer bear to see her beloved but dashing son throw his soul away so in another attempt to rouse Augustine's conscience Monica refused at times to allow her son to visit her, which caused much pain and anguish to Monica as she wept for her son.

It was during one of these enforced absences that Monica received a vision of a man who asked why she was weeping? When Monica explained her sons condition the man in the vision replied "Your son is with you." This strengthened Monica and gave her renewed hope, upon seeing her son, she conveyed this vision to Augustine who dismissed it immediately but upon his mothers quick retort as she said, "He did not say I was with you: he said that you were with me."Augustine was to remember his mothers words as he continued on with his studies and his loose lifestyle.

At the age of 29 years Augustine decided to go to Rome with his mistress and their child. Monica was distraught fearing that her son would never be able to embrace the Faith once he was so far out of her reach and her entreaties. It was here that Monica decided that she too would travel to Rome which she did, passing through the violent sea's with great serenity which calmed the other passengers of her ship. When Monica arrived in Rome she found that her son, had traveled onwards towards Milan, hence Monica also set out for Milan to once again plead with her son. One has to wonder if Augustine's stubbornness was an inherent trait shared by both mother and son.

It was in Milan that both Augustine and Monica met Bishop Ambrose, who would have a great impact on both their lives. While she settled in Milan, Monica also practiced the corporal works of mercy with the other ladies of the region which greatly impressed Bishop Ambrose. As both mother and son befriended this eminent Bishop both were to be touched in different ways, Monica was to relinquish many superstitions which she had brought with her from her home in North Africa, under the wise counsel of Bishop Ambrose. While Augustine would be challenged intellectually by this greatly wise Bishop of the Church, as he discussed different elements of the Catholic Faith with Augustine as both debated major issues.

The meetings and discussions with Bishop Ambrose would be the deciding factor in the conversion of Augustine, no greater joy could be felt when Augustine finally embraced the Catholic Faith, his mother wept not from sorrow but with sheer joy that this errant son of hers had now come home to her beloved Church.

Monica's life is a testament to the strength of persevering prayer and of never giving up hope no matter who difficult the road may seem. Monica loved her children and the Church her joy was complete to see all her children live their Faith for God had answered the prayers of this woman of immense fortitude and patience. Her joy had truly reached its completion.

Monica died in 387.

Saint Monica was canonized by the Catholic Church though the date is not known.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Faith of the Fathers Blogs. All rights reserved.

Saint Claude De La Colombiere

When our thoughts turn to the devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus, two names spring forth, Saint Margaret Mary Alocque and Bl. Claude De La Colombiere, for it was through these two holy souls that our Lord wished to proclaim this August devotion.

Claude was born in the year 1641 in France to parents who were wealthy and held a high position in society, during his young years Claude was noted as being of a serious nature and took to studying philosophy at Lyon where he excelled. Claude also mixed well with his friends and took part in an active social life as he was a gifted student of rhetoric with a curious mind and longing to learn about life.

It us unknown when Claude first felt the calling to enter the Priesthood for he was not a man to confide his innermost thoughts, and tended instead to turn to the Lord in prayer in order to find his vocation. It is known that he struggled internally with the call to enter the Priesthood as it meant leaving his old life behind and embracing a more difficult and rigorous lifestyle.

In the end Claude obeyed the calling he felt within and entered the Jesuit Order at only 17 years of age, this was a big step for the young man to make, but Claude was never one to be moved by emotionalism, and instead relied on his common sense and his deep feelings towards the Church and where he felt God was calling him.

Claude completed his studies and was Ordained a Priest into the Society of Jesus in 1675, he then became superior at Paray-le-Monial, and it was here that he met Sister Margaret Mary, this meeting would change their lives forever as Claude became her spiritual director. It would be both Sister Margaret Mary and Father Claude who would spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as our Lord described Claude as His, "faithful and perfect friend." This devotion to our Lords Sacred Heart continues to this day.

Father Claude's life would take a dramatic turn when he was sent to England at the request of the Duchess of York, who was impressed by this Priest knowledge and Gift of wisdom. When Claude arrived in England things seemed to go smoothly enough and through his dedication and gift of rhetoric he quickly made friends and impressed many more with his obvious talents and holiness. Though not all were impressed with Father Claude, as some within the Court of St. James heard that Father Claude was drawing converts to the Catholic Faith, this threatened the power of the Church of England which had broken with Rome!

The tension and rumour mongering would take its toll on Father Claude's health until finally the English arrested this charismatic Priest, and held him in detention. This was not good for Father Claude's health as he was already having heart problems before his imprisonment. Though he spent only 3 weeks in a notoriously cruel prison the cold and wet conditions would have a detrimental affect on Father Claude's health which suffered greatly.

Fortunately through the intervention of King Louis XIV, Father Claude was released and banished to France, this almost broke the stout heart of this most devoted disciple of Jesus Sacred Heart. Is it not the kiss of Christ that a holy Priest such as Claude should have his own heart rent asunder at the calumny of others, for upon his return to France, Father Claude's health was in serious decline.

Though Claude struggled on it was not long before his health took a turn for the worse and this promoter of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, breathed his last.

Claude de la Colombiere died in 1682.

Saint Claude de la Colombiere was canonized in 1991 by Pope John Paul II

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

St Paul Of The Cross

Paul Danei was born literally into his family business, as he came into the world above his fathers tobacco shop, in the year 1694. The Danei family eventually had 16 children but not all of them lived to enjoy long lives as the infant mortality rate in that era was high.

Through observing the deaths of his siblings this was able to give Paul an insight into the pain of bereavement but also how fragile life can be, the shadow of the Cross was already manifested in his life. This would lead Paul from an early age to embrace prayer and to live life as if it were his last day on earth. The whole Daneii family were known for their piety and Paul's parents, Luke and Anna Maria tried to attend daily Mass and also to instill a deep love of God and Church.

The young Paul already felt drawn to the Crucified Christ, as he contemplated the mystery of Jesus Passion. This devotion to the Passion of Christ did not lead to morbidity but instead led Paul to greater love and reverence for this Majestic God who would send His beloved Son to die in our place. Each day Paul would try and spend many hours of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament as well as attending school and his home chores.

It was plain to see that God was moving within the heart of this holy young man, for he had decided against marriage and upon the death of his Uncle who happened to be a Priest Paul was left a substantial amount of money which he declined to accept , but he did keep his uncles breviary. Already in his heart was the idea of starting a new Religious Order to honour Christ's Passion, for this was at the heart of Paul's spirituality.

Paul's obvious piety and holiness impressed many around him and soon Priests and Bishops would ask Paul to lead retreats for the people in his parish. Through this he was able to establish prayer groups and to evangelise the Faith to the poor, lonely and dispossessed, but already within Paul's mind lay the rule which he was already formulating in his heart of hearts. To live lives completely devoted to prayer, spreading the Faith, and to honour the Passion of Our Lord in particular.

With his burning zeal Paul attempted to begin this Order, which would allow men to spread the Faith but also to return to the Monastery and spend many hours contemplating the Lords Passion. The way was not always easy for Paul as he struggled to maintain the Rule of the Order as he felt God Willed it to be, for as he said to his Confessor, "I began, "to write this holy rule on the! second of December in the year 1720, and I finished it on the seventh of the same month. And be it known that when I was writing, I went on as quickly as if somebody in a professor's chair were there dictating to me. I felt the words come from my heart"

So it was that Paul began to collect a small community to spread devotion among the faithful to our Lords Passion where Jesus suffered for the salvation of sinners. This holy man was also sensitive to the needs of the people he would be dealing with and so spoke to each person with respect and dignity. Paul would speak as he found people, for those who spoke and lived simply Paul was able to reach out to them on an equal basis, and for those who were perhaps more learned Paul was able to go into greater depth about the sufferings endured by the Son of God.

Even though Paul felt this deep devotion to the Crucified Christ, he was not in himself a dour or long-faced individual but instead radiated the love of Christ to all he met, in a practical manner, without the sentimentality of emotionalism. The Mission that Paul was developing was not to make people sad but instead to challenge them to love God for who He is, and to live in a spirit of deep gratitude and awe towards God.

After living in a small community of men, Paul eventually won the approval to formulate this Order in 1725 by Pope Benedict XIII this was followed by Paul's Ordination into the Priesthood in the year 1727. Father Paul would be joined in his mission to spread the devotion to Christ's Passion by his brother, John Baptist who also joined him in the Priesthood.

Father Paul and his brother were able to establish what would become known as the Passionist Order, where they dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel message, the devotion to Christ's Passion and retreats where people could gather in order to reflect more deeply on their spiritual path. The centre of Passionist Order was their deep sense of community and living as the early disciples did when Jesus was amongst them.

The Passionist Order would also receive the approval of their Rule in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV, and in 1769 Pope Clement XIV confirmed the Rule which placed this particular Order among the greatest.

Father Paul himself was a man of simple needs, who led a deep prayer life and devoted himself to spreading the love of Christ to all he met. Though Father Paul began this Order he had no wish to become its Superior and instead wished to serve his fellow Priests and community as a humble servant. But because of his obvious holiness and his sense of practicalities Paul was chosen to become the Superior General which he retained for the rest of his life.

This remarkable man who began this Order which still thrives to this day was an excellent example of how to live a holy life and speak about it without patronising those he spoke with even though he was well learned.

Father Paul Danei died in the year 1775.

Saint Paul of the Cross was canonized in 1852 by Pope Pius IX.

Some Quotes

"It is very good and holy to consider the passion of our Lord, and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God. In this most holy school we learn true wisdom, for it was there that all the saints learned it."

"Therefore, be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to his will."

""Oh, what beautiful virtues can be practiced in sickness, especially a total love for one’s own abjection, gratitude and gentleness of heart to those who attend you, and blind obedience to the doctor and the infirmarian, always with a happy face."

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

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