Visitation

The Visitation of Mary

Feast Day: May 31

Visitation means "visit." The Archangel Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was going to have a baby boy in her old age. Mary loved Elizabeth and knew she could use some help. So she set out at once on the journey.

Mary too was expecting a baby, the baby Jesus. The trip into the hill country where Elizabeth lived was long, dangerous and uncomfortable. But that would not stop Mary and she rode there on a donkey, as that was the best way to travel in the hill country. 

Mary reached her cousin's house and greeted Elizabeth. At that moment, the Holy Spirit revealed to Elizabeth that Mary had become the mother of God our savior. 

Elizabeth asked joyfully, "How have I deserved that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?" Mary was not boastful or proud of this great honor, but remained humble and quickly gave all the credit to God. He had blessed her so richly.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior," she said. "For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid, and holy is his name."

What graces the Blessed Mother brought to the home of her cousin! St. John, while still hidden in his mother's womb, was cleansed of original sin. His father Zachary who had lost his voice, was able to speak again. St. Elizabeth was filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Mary stayed three months at her cousin's home. With great kindness and love, she helped Elizabeth.

St. Joan of Arc

Feast Day: May 30
Born: 1412 :: Died: 1431

Joan was born at Greux-Domremy, Lorraine, a little village in France. Jacques d'Arc, her father, was a hard working farmer. Her mother Isabelle Romee was gentle and loving. She taught Joan many practical things. "I can sew and spin as well as any woman," she once said. 

Joan was a shepherdess who loved to pray, especially at the shrines of Our Blessed Mother. This honest little peasant girl was to become a heroine. One day while she was watching her sheep, St. Michael the Archangel, appeared to her and said, "Daughter of God, go save France!" 

For three years she heard the voices of saints calling her to action. When she was sixteen, she began her mission.

At that time, there was a war going on between France and England. It was called the Hundred Years' War. England had won so much French land that the king of England called himself the king of France, too. The real French king was weak and fun-loving. He thought the French armies would never be able to save the country.

With his permission, St. Joan led an army into the city of Orleans, which the English had almost captured. In her white, shining armor, this young heroine rode with her banner flying above her. On it were the names of JESUS and MARY. 

She was hit by an arrow in the great battle of Orleans, but she kept on urging her men to victory. At last they won! St. Joan and her army won more and more battles. The English armies had to retreat.

After the victories, Joan's time of suffering began. She was captured by the Burgundians. Then she was sold to the English for ten thousand Francs. The ungrateful French king did not even try to save her. She was put in prison and after an unfair trial at Rouen in France, she was tied to a stake and burned to death. 

Joan was not even twenty. She had a great horror of fire. Yet she went bravely to her death on May 29, 1431. Her last word was "Jesus." Four hundred and eighty-nine years later, on May 16, 1920, Pope Benedict XV proclaimed Joan a saint.

St. Maximinius

Feast Day: May 29
Died: (around) 347

Maximinius was born at Silly near Poitiers in France. As a young man, he heard of a saintly bishop of Trier, in Gaul. He traveled to that city and became a disciple of St. Agritius. This holy bishop saw to it that Maximinius received a good education. After many years of study and preparation, Maximinius became a priest and then bishop. He took over the diocese of Trier. Bishop Agritius could not have been more pleased. He knew that his people would have a wonderful bishop.
When St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt, was sent into exile to Trier, St. Maximinius welcomed him. He did everything to help Athanasius and to make his time away from his people less painful. Another brave bishop of those times, St. Paul, bishop of Constantinople, was also protected by Maximinius from the anger of Emperor Constantius.
St. Athanasius wrote that Maximinius was brave, holy and a well known as a miracle worker. Because he was a great man, he was willing to defend the Church of Jesus from the Arians and others who attacked it.
He was willing also to protect those brave bishops who fell out of favor with the political powers. Maximinius put his own life in danger even if he had to lose his position or his life, if necessary. He died around the year 347 and his body was buried in the church of Saint John near Trier in Germany.

Blessed Margaret Pole

Feast Day: May 28
Born: 1471 :: Died: 1541

Margaret Plantaganet was born in England. She was the niece of two English kings, Edward IV and Richard III. King Henry VII arranged her marriage to Sir Reginald Pole who was a brave soldier and a friend of the royal family. They had five children and Margaret also privately helped raise the king's son Henry VIII. Years later, Sir Reginald died leaving Margaret a widow. The young Henry VIII became king, he called Margaret the holiest woman in England. He was so impressed with her that he returned some property her family had lost in the past. He also made her a countess of Salisbury. Henry trusted her so much that Countess Margaret was appointed the governess of Princess Mary, his and Queen Catherine's daughter.
But then Henry tried to marry Anne Boleyn although he was already married. Margaret told the king that what he did was wrong. This upset the king very much and he made her leave the court. The king was even more upset when one of Margaret's sons, a priest (and who later became the famous Cardinal Reginald Pole), wrote a long article against Henry's claim to be head of the Church in England.
Henry was out of control. He had become cruel and hateful. He threatened to get rid of Margaret's whole family. Henry sent people to question Countess Margaret to prove her a traitor. They questioned her from noon until evening but could not find any fault with her. She had nothing to hide.
Then Margaret was wrongly accused and kept under house arrest at the castle of a nobleman. She was later moved to the huge tower of London without even a trial. During the long winter months, she suffered very much from the cold and dampness. She had no fire and not enough warm clothing.
Finally, on May 28, 1541, when she was seventy years old, Blessed Margaret was led out of the tower to the place of execution. She was tired and sick, but she stood tall and proud to die for her faith. "I am no traitor," she said bravely. Margaret was beheaded on Tower hill and died a martyr for her faith in Jesus.

St Augtine of Canterbury

St. Augustine of Canterbury

Feast Day: May 27
Died: 605

St. Augustine was born in Rome, Italy. When he grew up, he became a monk. Years later he was made the abbot of St. Andrew's monastery in Rome. Pope St. Gregory the Great chose him and forty other monks for a mission dear to his heart. They were to preach the Gospel or the Good News of Jesus to the people of England. Abbot Augustine and the monks started on their journey for the British Isles. When they reached southern France, people warned them that the Celts in England were fierce. The monks felt discouraged and frightened.
They asked Augustine to go and ask the pope's permission to give up the whole idea. He did, but the pope would not change his mind. He said that the people in England wanted to accept the Christian faith. The monks went to England. They arrived in 596.
The missionaries were well received by King Ethelbert, whose wife was a Christian princess from France. When they landed, the monks formed a procession and walked along singing psalms. They carried a cross and a picture of our Lord. Many people received the monks' message. King Ethelbert himself was baptized on Pentecost, 597. Abbot Augustine became a bishop that same year.
St. Augustine often wrote asking the pope for advice. And Pope St. Gregory gave him much holy advice, too. Speaking about the many miracles St. Augustine worked, the pope said: "You must rejoice with fear and fear with joy for that gift." He meant that Augustine should be happy that through the miracles the English were being converted. But he should be careful not to become proud because the miracles were worked by God through him.
He worked to make peace between the Celtic churches and the Church of Rome. It was there that he was buried. At Canterbury, St. Augustine built a church and a monastery, which became the most important in England. St. Augustine died seven years after his arrival in England, on May 26, 605.

St. Philip Neri

Feast Day: May 26
Born: 1515 :: Died: 1595

St. Philip Neri was born at Florence, in Italy to poor parents. His father Francisco Neri who worked as a lawyer had two sons and two daughters. But Philip's brother died when he was a little child. 

As a child, Philip was affectionately called "Good little Phil." He was always so jolly and friendly that everyone he met loved him. Philip went to Rome as a teenager. He studied theology and philosophy for three years under Dominican priests and was a good student. 

Above all, Philip was a very active Christian. He lived simply and worked hard. But he also did much good for the people around him. He helped poor children and spent time with the sick. He was a friend to people who were troubled and lonely. In fact, he reached out to everybody he could for the love of Jesus.

Philip with the help of a few people started an organization to take care of poor pilgrims. That ministry gradually continued as a famous Roman hospital. The priest who guided him realized that Philip was doing so much to help the Christians of Rome come close to God again.

But when Philip was thirty-six he felt a strong calling to be a priest. It was then that he began his most wonderful ministry for others. He was available for the sacrament of Reconciliation for several hours every day. The lines of people who came to him grew longer. But Father Philip was never in a hurry. He never ran out of patience and gentleness.

People began to notice that he could often read their minds. He could sometimes tell the future and the Lord even worked miracles through him. But all Philip wanted to do was bring Jesus to the people. To avoid their admiration, he acted silly once in a while. He wanted people to laugh and forget that they thought he was holy.

St. Philip was making a difference, though. Because of him, the whole city of Rome was becoming better. Once he started to think about being a missionary to far-off lands. He was very impressed by the life of St. Francis Xavier, who had died in 1552 at the gate of China.

Philip had been a priest for just one year at the time of St. Xavier's death. Should he leave Rome and volunteer for the missions? A holy Cistercian monk told him "Rome is to be your mission land." After that, Father Philip was at peace.

St. Philip spent the last five years of his life offering the sacrament of Reconciliation to the people. He began working with youth, finding safe places for them to play, becoming involved in their lives. He died at the age of eighty in 1595. 

St. Gregory VII

Feast Day: May 25
Born: (around) 1023 :: Died: 1085

Hildebrand was born at Soana, in Italy. His uncle was a monk in Rome so Hildebrand studied in the monastery. When he grew up, Hildebrand became a Benedictine monk in France. Soon, however, he was called back to Rome. There he was given very important positions under five popes until he himself was made pope.For twenty-five years, he refused to become pope. But when Pope Alexander II died, the cardinals made up their minds to elect Hildebrand pope. With one voice they cried out: "Hildebrand is the elect of St. Peter!"
The saint wrote afterwards, "They carried me to the throne, and my protests did no good. Fear filled my heart and darkness was all around me." Hildebrand chose the name Gregory VII.
These were truly difficult times for the Catholic Church. Kings and emperors were meddling in Church matters. They named the men they wanted to be bishops, cardinals and even popes. Many of those chosen were bad examples to the people.
The first thing Pope St. Gregory did was to spend many days in prayer. He also asked others to pray for him. He knew that without prayer nothing can be done well for God.
Afterward, he began to act to make the clergy better. He removed all the bad and dishonest men in important positions who were destroying the faith of the Church. He also did what he could to keep the rulers out of the affairs of the Church. This was very difficult because the rulers were all against the change.
One ruler, Emperor Henry IV of Germany, caused Pope Gregory great sufferings. This young man was sinful and greedy for gold. He would not stop trying to run the affairs of the Church. He even sent his men to capture the pope. But the people of Rome rescued the saint from prison.
Then Henry IV chose his own pope. Of course, the man he chose was not the real pope. But Henry tried to make people think he was. Then, once again, the emperor sent his armies to capture Pope Gregory and the pope was forced to leave Rome.
He was taken safely to Salerno where he died in 1085. His last words were, "I have loved justice and hated evil. That is why I am dying in exile. Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) is known for his fantastic courage. He stood up for the cause of Jesus and his Church.

St. David I of Scotland

Feast Day: May 24
Born: 1080 :: Died: 1153

David was born in Scotland. He was the youngest son of King Malcom and St. Margaret, queen of Scotland. David became king when he was about forty. Those who knew him well realized that he did not want the royal crown. But once he was king, he was a very good one.St. David ruled his kingdom with great justice and charity. All his people were allowed to visit him whenever they wished. He set a good example with his own love of prayer. Under this holy king, the people of Scotland united more closely into one nation. They became better Christians.
King David established new dioceses. He built many new monasteries. He gave much money to the Church and the poor during his twenty years as king.
Two days before he died, he received the last sacraments of Holy Communion and Anointing of the Sick. He spent his time praying with those caring for him. The next day, they begged him to rest, but King David answered, "Let me think about the things of God, instead, so that my soul may be strengthened on its trip from exile to home."
He was talking about his heavenly home. "When I stand before God's judgment seat, you will not be able to answer for me or defend me," he said. "No one will be able to deliver me from his hand." So he kept on praying right up until he died. St. David died on May 24, 1153.

St. John Baptist Rossi

Feast Day: May 23
Born: 1698 :: Died: 1763

John Baptist Rossi was born in a village near Genoa, Italy to Charles de Rossi and Frances Anfossi. He was one of four children and his family loved him. They were proud when a wealthy couple visiting their town offered to educate him. His parents knew the couple and trusted them. John was happy to be able to go to their house in Genoa because he could attend school. He then met some Capuchin friars who became fond of him and helped him continue his education in Rome. He became a student for the priesthood at the Roman College run by Jesuit priests. He realized that studies were easy for him and took on more and more of a load.
John became very sick and had to stop his studies for a while. Sometime later he completed his preparation and became a priest. Even though his health was always poor, Father John did so much good for the people of Rome. He knew what it was like not to feel well, so Father Rossi took a special interest in sick people. He was a frequent visitor in Rome's hospitals.
He especially loved to spend time with the poor people at the Hospice of St. Galla. This was a shelter for the poor and homeless. But Father Rossi became aware of poor people who had no one to look after their spiritual needs.
He noticed those who brought cattle and sheep to sell in the Roman markets. What hard lives they had. They came in the morning with their herds. Father Rossi would walk among them and stop and talk with them. When possible, he would teach them about the faith and offer them the sacrament of Reconciliation. Father Rossi's priestly ministry made a big difference in their lives.
The priest also felt deep compassion for the homeless women and girls. They wandered through the streets day and night begging. This was dangerous and very sad. The pope gave Father Rossi money to open a shelter for homeless women.
It was right near the Hospice of St. Galla. Father Rossi placed the house under the protection of one of his favorite saints, Aloysius Gonzaga. Father Rossi became best known for his kindness and gentleness in confession. People formed lines near his confessional and waited patiently for their turn. He once said to a friend that the best way for a priest to reach heaven was to help people through the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Another favorite job he was given by Pope Benedict XIV was to teach Catechism to prison and government officials, including the public hangman. Father Rossi suffered a stroke in 1763 and did not get better again. He was able to celebrate Mass but he suffered greatly. This wonderful priest died at the age of sixty-six. It was May 23, 1764.

St. Rita of Cascia

Feast Day: May 22
Born: 1381 :: Died: 1457

Rita was born in a little Italian village called Roccaparena in Umbria. Her parents Antonio and Amata Lotti who did not have children, begged God to send them a child. God answered their prayer and they brought Rita up well. From a young age Rita used to visit the Augustinian nuns at Cascia and wanted to enter the convent when she was fifteen. But her parents thought that she should marry Paolo Mancini. Only, Paolo turned out to be a mean and unfaithful husband. He had such a bad temper that everyone in the neighborhood was afraid of him.
Yet, for eighteen years, his wife patiently took all his insults. Her prayers, gentleness and goodness finally won his heart. He apologized to Rita for the way he had treated her and he returned to God. Rita's happiness over her husband's conversion did not last long. One day, shortly after, he was murdered.
Rita was shocked and heart-broken. But she forgave the murderers, and tried to make her twin sons forgive them, too. The boys, however, could not forgive them and were determined to avenge their father's death.
Rita prayed that they would die rather than commit murder. Within a few months, both boys became seriously ill. Rita nursed them lovingly. During their illness, she was able to help them to forgive, and to ask God's forgiveness for themselves. They did and both died peacefully.
Now that her husband and her children were dead and she was left alone in the world, Rita tried three times to enter the convent in Cascia. The rules of the convent did not permit a woman who had been married to join even if her husband had died.
Rita refused to give up, and at last, she was allowed to join them. In the convent, Rita lived in prayer, complete obedience and was know for her charity. She had great devotion to the crucified Jesus.
Once, while praying, she asked him to let her share some of his pain. One thorn from his crown of thorns pierced her forehead and made a sore that never healed. In fact, it grew so bad and smelled so bad that St. Rita had to stay away from the others. She was happy to suffer to show her love for Jesus.
St. Rita died on May 22, 1457, when she was seventy-six. Like St. Jude, St. Rita is often called "Saint of the Impossible."

Blessed Eugene De Mazenod

Feast Day: May 21
Born: 1782 :: Died: 1861

Eugene was born in France in 1782. He became a priest in 1811. Father Eugene was sensitive to the needs of the poor and he ministered to them. He was always eager to find new ways to reach out to the young. He wanted to bring them to the love and practice of their faith. He believed in the value of parish missions. He realized that missionary priests in a parish could do so much good to reawaken in people dedication to their faith.Father de Mazenod began a new religious order of priests and lay brothers in 1826. They were missionaries called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Their particular ministry was to go to people who had never heard of Jesus and his Church. Father de Mazenod and his order were courageous in answering the requests of bishops who needed their help. Bishops of North America eagerly awaited the Oblates. Bishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal was especially eager. He must have been very convincing because the founder sent several of his members. Within ten years, the Oblates had grown rapidly. They reached all of Canada and had begun to minister in the United States, too.
In 1837, Father de Mazenod was consecrated bishop of Marseilles, France. He became known for his loyalty and love for the pope. He was also a gifted organizer and educator. Bishop de Mazen-od remained superior of his order until he died in 1861.
The great work Bishop de Mazenod started continues today through the Oblate missionaries around the world. They staff mission posts, parishes and universities.

St. Bernadine of Siena

Feast Day: May 20
Born: 1380 :: Died: 1444

St. Bernardine of Siena was born in 1380 in a town near Siena, Italy. He was the son of an Italian governor. His parents died when he was seven. His relatives loved him as if he were their own. They also gave him a good education. He grew up to be a tall, handsome boy. He was so much fun that his friends loved to be with him. Yet they knew better than to use any dirty words when he was around. He would not put up with it. Twice when a man tried to lead him into sin, Bernardine punched him and sent him on his way.The saint had a special love for the Blessed Mother. She was the one who kept him pure. Even when he was a teenager, Bernardine would pray to her as a child talks with his mother.
Bernardine was tender hearted. He felt great pity for the poor. Once, his aunt had no extra food to give a beggar. The boy cried, "I'd rather go without food myself than leave that poor man with none." When a plague struck the area in 1400, Bernardine and his friends volunteered their services at the hospital. They helped the sick and dying day and night for six weeks until the plague had ended.
Bernardine joined the Franciscan order when he was twenty-two. He became a priest. After several years, he was assigned to go to towns and cities to preach. The people needed to be reminded about the love of Jesus. In those days, bad habits were ruining both young and old people. "How can I save these people by myself?" Bernardine asked the Lord in prayer. "With what weapons can I fight the devil?" And God answered, "My Holy Name will be enough for you." So Bernardine spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. He used this Name a great many times in every sermon. He asked people to print Jesus' Name over the gates of their cities, over their doorways-everywhere. Through devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and devotion to the Blessed Mother, Bernardine brought thousands of people from all over Italy back to the Church.
St. Bernardine spent forty-two years of his life as a Franciscan. He died at the age of sixty-four in Aquila, Italy. It was May 20, 1444. He was declared a saint just six years later, in 1450, by Pope Nicholas V.

St. Celestine V

Feast Day: May 19
Born: 1210 :: Died: 1296

Pietro (Peter) di Morrone was born in Isernia, Italy. He was the eleventh of twelve children and his father died when he was small. The family was poor, but Peter's mother raised her children with great love. She sent Peter to school because he showed such promise and an eagerness to learn. Once she asked as usual, "Which one of you is going to become a saint?" Little Peter who was to become Pope Celestine answered with all his heart, "Me, Mama! I'll become a saint!" And he did. But it wasn't easy.

When he was twenty, Peter became a hermit. He spent his days praying, reading the Bible and doing his work. Other hermits kept coming to him and asking him to guide them. Eventually, he started a new order of monks.

When Peter was eighty-four years of age, he was made pope. It came about in a very unusual way. For two years there had been no pope. This was because the cardinals could not agree on whom to choose. Peter sent them a message. He warned them to decide quickly, because God was not pleased with the long delay. The cardinals did as the monk said. Then and there, they chose Peter the hermit to be pope! The poor man wept when he heard the news. He accepted sadly and took the name Celestine V.

He was pope only about five months. Because he was so humble and simple, people took advantage of him. He could not say "no" to anyone. Soon there was great confusion. Pope Celestine felt very responsible for all the trouble. He decided that the best thing he could do for the Church was give up his position. He did so. He asked forgiveness for not having governed the Church well.

All St. Celestine wanted was to live in one of his monasteries in peace. But the new pope, Boniface VIII, thought it would be safer to keep him hidden in a small room in one of the Roman palaces. St. Celestine spent the last ten months of his life in a plain cell-like room. But he became his cheerful self again. "All you wanted was a cell, Peter," he would repeat to himself. "Well, you've got it." He died on May 19, 1296. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement VI in 1313.

St. John I

Feast Day: May 18
Died: 526

John I was a priest of Rome who became the fifty-third pope. At that time, Italy's ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian. (The Arians did not believe that Jesus is God.)When Theodoric became Emperor, he let the Catholics live in peace at the start of his reign. But later, he changed and became rude and suspicious of everyone. He imagined that everyone was plotting against him.
After a while, he believed the whole world was out to get his throne and his power. The one person who most certainly did not want either was Pope John I.
Theodoric then got Pope John involved in his political problems. The Emperor Theodoric was having trouble with Emperor Justin I of Constantinople. He heard that Justin was being too hard on the Arians in the east. Theodoric sent a group of people to make peace with Justin.
The party was headed by Pope John I. Emperor Justin was very happy to meet the pope and received him and his companions with rejoicing. Justin willingly agreed to change his harsh policy. Pope John's mission was successful.
But Emperor Theodoric was not pleased. He now imagined that Pope John and Justin I were against him. When the pope was returning to Rome, he got as far as Ravenna, Theodoric's capital. There Pope John was kidnapped and thrown into prison by Theodoric's soldiers. He was left to die of thirst and starvation in 526.

St. Paschal Baylon

Feast Day: May 17
Born: 1540 :: Died: 1592

Paschal was born at Torre Hermosa, in Aragon (which today is Spain). His pious parents Martin Baylon and Elizabeth Jubera were peasants. From the time he was seven, he worked as a shepherd. His parents could not afford to send him to school but he taught himself to read and write by asking everyone he met to help him. He did this so that he could read from holy books and he often whispered prayers during the day as he took care of the sheep.When he was twenty-four, Paschal became a Franciscan brother. The other friars liked him. Paschal was easy to get along with and kind. They noticed that he often did the most unpleasant and hardest jobs that no one wanted to do.
He did hard penances that were even stricter than their rules. Yet he was a happy person. When he was a shepherd, he had wished he could be in church praying to Jesus. Now his wish had come true. He loved to keep Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament company. He was also very happy to serve at Mass.
St. Paschal's two great loves were the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. Every day Paschal prayed the Rosary with great love. He also wrote beautiful prayers to our Heavenly Mother.
Out of some scraps of paper, St. Paschal made himself a little notebook. In it, he wrote down some beautiful thoughts and prayers. After he died, his superior showed the little book to the local archbishop who reading it said, "These simple souls are stealing heaven from us!"
Paschal died in 1592 at the age of fifty-two.

St. Ubald

Feast Day: May 16
Born: 1160 :: Died: 1192

St. Ubald was born at Gubbio near Ancona, Umbria, in Italy. When both his parents died, he was raised by his uncle who was a bishop and received a good education. Ubald finished his schooling and decided not to get married as he wanted very much to become a priest.He became Dean of the cathedral in his home town and many years later, the pope made him bishop of Gubbio, the city of his birth. St. Ubald became well known for his mild and patient nature.
Once when a worker was repairing the city wall, he badly damaged the bishop's vineyard. The saint gently pointed it out to him. The workman who must have been very tired probably did not even recognize the bishop. He shoved Bishop Ubald so hard that he fell into a pile of wet cement and was soon covered with it. Ubald silently got up, cleaned himself off and went into the house.
Some people saw the whole thing and demanded that the worker be brought to court. Bishop Ubald appeared in the courtroom and set the man free. The holy bishop loved peace and he had the courage it takes to keep it.
When the Bishop was walking down the street one day, he saw that the people of Gubbio were fighting in the streets. He threw himself between the two angry crowds, unafraid of the swords clashing and the rocks flying. Suddenly he fell to the ground. The people were shocked. They thought the bishop had been killed. But when he got up unhurt, the people thanked God, stopped fighting and went home.
Another time, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was on his way to attack Gubbio. St. Ubald did not wait for him and his army to come to the city. He went out on the road to talk to him. No one knows what he said. All they know is that he convinced the emperor to leave Gubbio alone.
The saint suffered much pain and he was sick quite often as he got older. Yet he never complained. On the morning of Easter Sunday, he said Mass giving a beautiful sermon and blessed the people. Then he was forced to go back to bed, not able to get up ever again.
He died on May 16, 1160. All the people came to pay their respects. They cried and prayed to St. Ubald to take care of them from heaven.

St. Isidore the Farmer

Feast Day: May 15
Born: 1070 :: Died: 1130

Isidore was born at Madrid, in Spain. His parents were deeply religious and named their son after the great St. Isidore, archbishop of Seville, Spain, whose feast we celebrate on April 4.Isidore's parents wanted to offer their son a good education, but they could not afford it. They were tenant farmers and like them, their son would be a farmer too.
When he grew up, Isidore went to work for a rich land owner, John de Vargas, in Madrid and worked there all his life. He married a good girl, Mary de la Cabeza, from a family as poor as his own. Isidore and Mary loved each other very much. They had a son, but he died when he was just a baby. Isidore and his wife offered to Jesus their sadness over the child's death, knowing that their son was happy with God forever.
St. Isidore went to Mass every morning before going to work. He worked hard even if he didn't feel like it. He plowed and planted and prayed. He called on Mary, the saints and his guardian angel and they helped turn his ordinary days into special, joyful times.
The world of faith became very real to St. Isidore. When he had a day off, Isidore spent extra time praying and adoring Jesus in church. Sometimes, on holidays, Isidore and his wife would visit a few neighboring parishes on a one day pilgrimage of prayer.
Once the parish had a dinner. Isidore arrived early and went into the church to pray. Then he arrived in the parish hall late and he didn't come in alone. He brought a group of beggars, too! The parishioners were upset. What if there wasn't enough food for all those beggars? But the more they filled up their plates, the more there was for everybody else. St. Isidore said kindly, "There is always enough for the poor of Jesus."
Stories of miracles began to spread about this farm worker saint. It is said that one day, Isidore was late back from Church, Mr. Vargas was looking for him and found angels plowing the fields in place of Isidore.
Isidore was an unselfish, loving and compassionate human being. He is one of Spain's most popular saints. Isidore died on May 15, 1130. In March, 1622, Pope Gregory XV proclaimed five great saints together. They were St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Philip Neri and St. Isidore the Farmer.

St. Matthias

Feast Day: May 14
Born: (around the time of Jesus) :: Died: 80 A.D

St. Matthias had been a follower of Jesus and was one of his seventy-two disciples. After the Lord's Resurrection, St. Peter asked the 120 people gathered in prayer to choose an apostle to replace Judas. This was very important because that man would be a bishop, as the other apostles were. He said it should be someone who had been with Jesus from his baptism in the Jordan until the resurrection. The first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles explains that the group proposed two names. One was Matthias, the other, Joseph, called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus).
Both men were very good but they only needed one. So they prayed and asked God to reveal to them who the chosen one was. Then they cast lots and Matthias' name was chosen.
St. Matthias was a very good apostle. He preached the Good News in Judea. Then he went to Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey), Egypt and Ethiopia. Many people listened to Matthias and believed his wonderful message. The enemies of Jesus grew furious to see how people listened to Matthias. They decided to stop him and stoned him to death in Colchis. Matthias died a martyr for his faith in Jesus.

St. Andrew Fournet

Feast Day: May 13
Born: 1752 :: Died: 1834

St. Andrew Fournet was born at Maille, a little town near Poitiers, in France. Andrew's parents were religious people and his mother had her heart set on Andrew becoming a priest. The little boy was fed-up of hearing this. One day he declared, "I'm a good boy, but I'm still not going to be a priest or monk."When he grew up, he went to Poitiers to study college subjects. But he made some bad friends and soon dropped out to have a good time. His mother tried to help by finding him good jobs but Andrew could not keep them. His mother was frantic.
There was now only one more possibility. She talked Andrew into going to stay for a while with his uncle, a priest. His uncle's parish was poor and his uncle was a holy man. For some reason, Andrew agreed. This was God's "teachable moment."
Andrew's uncle recognized his nephew's good qualities. His own example sparked something in Andrew and he settled down. He began to study seriously and to make up for lost time. He was ordained a priest and was assigned to his uncle's parish. In 1781, he was transferred to his home parish in Maille. His mother was delighted. He had become a caring, prayerful priest.
When the French Revolution began, St. Andrew refused to take an oath that was against the Church. He became a hunted man. In 1792, he was forced to flee to Spain. There he remained for five years. But he worried about his people and went back to France. The danger was as great as before.
Father Fournet was protected by his flock nearly escaping death several times. Meanwhile, he heard confessions, celebrated the Eucharist and gave the Last Rites.
When the Church was free again, St. Andrew came out of hiding. He was always inviting his people to love and serve God. One of the good ladies from the area, St. Elizabeth Bichier des Ages, helped St. Andrew very much. Together they started an order of sisters called the Daughters of the Cross. St. Elizabeth's feast day is August 26.
St. Andrew died on May 13, 1834, at the age of eighty-two.

St Pancras

St. Nereus, St. Achilleus and St. Pancras

Feast Day: May 12
Died: (around) 304

Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers who worked under Emperor Trajan. In 398, Pope Siricius built a church in their honor in Rome. Pope Damasus wrote a brief tribute to the martyrs. 

He explained that Nereus and Achilleus were converted to the Christian faith. They gave up their jobs in the army and left behind their weapons forever. They were true followers of Jesus even at the cost of their own lives. 

Around the year 304, Nereus and Achilleus were exiled (sent away) from Rome to the island of Terracina where they were beheaded. These martyrs willingly died for their faith in Jesus.

St. Pancras, a fourteen-year-old orphan, who was not a native of Rome. He was brought there by his uncle who looked after him. He too was converted, became a follower of Jesus and was baptized. 

Although just a boy, he was arrested for being a Christian. Pancras refused to give up his faith. For that, he too was killed. Pancras was beheaded but his death which he faced so bravely, won him the admiration of many. Many non-Christians converted and became Catholics.

He became a very popular martyr in the early Church. In 514, a large church was built in Rome to honor him. In 596, the famous missionary, St. Augustine of Canterbury, went to bring the Christian faith to England. He named his first church there after St. Pancras.

St Ignatius

St. Ignatius of Laconi

Feast Day: May 11 
Born: 1701 :: Died: 1781

Ignatius was born at Laconi, Sardinia in Italy. He was the son of a poor farmer with seven children and Ignatius grew up working in the fields. When he was about seventeen, he became very ill and Ignatius promised God he would become a Franciscan if he got cured. But when the illness left him, his father convinced him to wait. Two years later, Ignatius was almost killed when he lost control of his horse. But suddenly, the horse stopped and trotted on quietly. Ignatius was certain, then, that God had saved his life. He made up his mind to follow his religious calling and became a Franciscan friar at once.
Brother Ignatius never had any important position in the Franciscan order. For fifteen years he worked in the weaving shed. Then, for forty years, he was part of the team who went from house to house asking for food and donations to support the friars.
Ignatius visited families and received their gift. But the people soon realized that they received a gift in return. Brother Ignatius consoled the sick and lonely and cheered the children of the street. He made peace between enemies, softened the hearts of people that had become hardened by sin and advised those in trouble. They began to wait for his visits.
There were some difficult days, too. Once in a while, a door was slammed in his face, and often the weather was bad. Always, there were miles and miles to walk. But Ignatius did his duty well.
People noticed that Ignatius always skipped the house of a rich moneylender. This man never forgave a debt and made the poor pay back much more than they could afford. He felt bad because Ignatius never visited his home to ask for donations and complained to Brother Ignatius' superior.
The superior knew nothing about the moneylender so he sent Ignatius to his home. Brother Ignatius obeyed without a word. He returned with a large sack of food. It was then that God worked a miracle. When the sack was emptied, blood dripped out.
"This is the blood of the poor," Ignatius explained softly. "That is why I never ask for anything at that house." The friars began to pray that the moneylender would repent. Brother Ignatius died at the age of eighty, on May 11, 1781.

Saint Antoninus

Feast Day: May 10 
Born: 1389 :: Died: 1459

St. Antoninus was born at Florence in Italy. Even as a young boy he showed that he had good sense and will power. When he was just fifteen, he asked to join the Dominican order. He looked young, and he was small and not very healthy. The prior (parish priest) studied him for a moment and then said, "I'll accept you when you know 'Gratian's Decree' by heart." "Gratian's Decree" (or the Canon law) was a book, hundreds of pages long. So, in other words, the prior was telling Antoninus that he could not join them.
But Antoninus accepted the challenge and returned one year later. It is hard to describe how surprised the prior was when he found that Antoninus had learnt by heart, the whole decree! Of course, he was accepted at once. (Though, it was not his skill to memorize that changed the prior's mind. It was because he had proved he was serious about his vocation to become a priest.)
Antoninus was just sixteen but continued to surprise everyone by the way he lived the hard life of his order. As he grew older, he was given one important position after another. He was a member of the council of Florence which tried to end the arguments between the churches of the east and west. Then he was made Bishop of the Dominicans. Diplomat. Theologian. Healer.
He was a good example for his fellow Dominicans and they loved and respected him. He had the gift of healing and was also a good teacher of religious studies and the Catholic faith. In March, 1446, Antoninus became the archbishop of Florence, Italy.
He was named "The father of the poor". He never refused to help anyone. When he had no more money, he would give his clothes, his shoes, his furniture or his one mule. Many times this mule was sold to help someone. Then it would be bought back for him by rich parishioners. Of course, he would soon sell it again to help someone else!
Often St. Antoninus would say, "A successor of the apostles should not own anything except the wealth of virtue." St. Antoninus died in 1459.

Blessed Nicholas Albergati

May 09 

Born: 1375 :: Died: 1443

Blessed Nicholas was born in Bologna, Italy. When he grew up, he studied law at the university. But after a few years, he decided not to become a lawyer. Instead, at the age of twenty, Nicholas joined the Carthusian order. When he was about thirty-five Nicholas was chosen to be bishop of his native diocese. He reluctantly agreed but could not believe it could be God's will. His superiors assured him it was.
People liked Bishop Nicholas. Like them, he lived in a small, plain house and he often visited the people of his diocese. He went to the poorest families first. He blessed their homes, talked with them and helped them with their needs. The people were very grateful.
This wise and holy Bishop was made a cardinal in 1426. He helped maintain peace between Pope Martin V and the emperor. He also acted as peacemaker between Pope Eugene IV and the French king. These popes asked him for advice about important Church matters. 
Blessed Nicholas is named the patron of learning and he wrote many books to encourage people to learn about their faith. He died in 1443 while on a visit to Siena, Italy. Pope Eugene IV had his body brought back to Bologna. The pope himself participated in the funeral Mass and burial.

Blessed Catherine of St Augustine

Catherine grew up in France, watching her grandparents care for the poor and sick in their home.  She knew when she was very young that she too wanted to help the sick and poor.  She entered the convent before she was even 16 years old; following her older sister who became a nun the day Catherine entered the convent.  Her sister was sent to Canada first and Catherine begged the convent to send her too.  They finally decided she could go, and Catherine made the long journey to Quebec, Canada to serve the poor and sick.  Life was very hard and there was lots of danger for those serving the Lord in the new country of Canada.  Lots of nuns got tired of the hard life and went back to France, but Catherine had promised to stay in Canada no matter what and to take care of the people there and she did.  As the Church in Canada grew, more missionaries came to Canada.  Sr. Catherine was in charge of all the new girls joining the convent and she also continued to work hard in the hospital.  She died when she was only 36 years old.

Saint Rose Venerini

Rose thought she knew what God wanted her to do with her life when she was very young, but God showed her that He had other great plans for her.  When she was young, Rose was engaged to be married, but the young man died before they were able to be married.  Rose then decided that because she loved God so much she should become a nun and she joined a convent.  Shortly after, her father died and Rose left the convent to take care of her mother.  It was during this time that Rose began to realize that God was calling her to be a leader and a teacher.  She began to meet with other young woman in the community she lived in and she began to realize that they knew very little about their faith.  She began to teach them and many people began to realize what a wonderful teacher she was.  She was encouraged to keep teaching and was asked to organize the schools and train the teachers in one of the Bishop’s Diocese.  It was during this time that she became friends with Lucy Filippini who later started a religious community of sisters and became a saint.  During her life Rose organized 40 schools all over Italy, including in Rome.  After she died, her teachers decided to become nuns and formed the Order of the Venerini Sisters.  They continued teaching, just as Rose has shown them, all over the world.

Blessed Francois-Xavier de Montmorency Laval (1623-May 6, 1708)

Francois grew up in a good Catholic family and he studied with priests as he grew up.  So it wasn’t surprising that Francois felt called by God to become a priest too, even when he was very young.  Francois became a priest and then a Bishop who travelled all the way to New France (which is now the province of Quebec in Canada) to lead the Church in the new country.  Bishop Laval was a great missionary, he helped build the Church in the new country; he built a seminary to train more priests; he started Catholic schools; and he also built the beautiful Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.  When he finally retired, he lived as a hermit (alone with God) in Quebec; he spent his time helping the poor and encouraging people to become more like God.  After he died, many miracles happened for people who asked for his prayers.

Saint Judith of Prussia

Judith came from a rich family and was married when she was very young.  Even though she was very rich, she wanted to live like St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who was a Queen that took care of the poor around her.  Judith helped her husband to realize that if they lived more simply they would have more to give to the poor around them and together they were very generous.  After her husband died and her children were grown up, Judith sold all that she had and moved to Prussia so that no one would know she was rich and she could live as a hermit (alone with God).  She lived in a little hut and took care of travellers that needed a place to stay.  She told everyone that she met about Jesus and prayed that they would come to know Jesus too.  Judith lived a simple life, even though she was rich, because she believed it would help her get closer to God.

Blessed Marie Leonie

Marie-Leonie Paradis was named Elodie Paradis when she was born.  She was born into a poor but very Catholic family.  Even though they were poor, her parents sent Elodie to a boarding school when she was 9 years old, because they wanted her to get a good education.  The teachers at the school were the Sisters of Notre Dame.  In order to make more money, Elodie’s father went to California because he heard that there was Gold there.  He came back with no gold and found out that his daughter had joined the convent with the Sisters of Notre Dame.  He loved his daughter so much that he didn’t want her to stay in the convent; he wanted her to come home to be with her family.  He begged her to leave and go back home to be with him and her mother, but Elodie really loved God and wanted to become a nun.  Her father saw how much she loved God and agreed to let her stay; she became a nun in 1857 and chose the name Marie-Leonie.  She taught in many schools in many different cities in Quebec until she felt like God was asking her to start her own order of Sisters.  She started the Little Sisters of the Holy Family; and their mission is to care for Priests in their homes, so they can concentrate on taking care of the people in their parishes.  There are now 67 convents of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family in Canada, the USA, Rome and Honduras.  Sr. Marie-Leonie served the priests, her sisters and God’s people until she died at 71 years old.

Saint Philip

Phillip and James were two of Jesus’ Apostles.  Phillip was a follower of John the Baptist, who was telling people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Jesus.  When Jesus told Phillip to “Follow Me”, he was ready to go right away, because he had already prepared his heart for Jesus' coming.  He was so happy to be following Jesus that he invited his friend Nathaniel to come and follow him too.  After Jesus died and rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, Phillip travelled to Greece and Asia Minor to spread the Good News.  He died a martyr because of his faith in Jesus; the Emperor of Rome during that time, did not let anybody believe in Jesus.

St Athanasius

Athanasius was a good student; he loved to read books about the Catholic faith and about God during University.  He became a priest after he finished University and he made sure that the truth about God and Jesus was kept in our Church.  The Arian people living in Egypt at the time, did not believe that Jesus was God and they were trying to change this teaching in the Church.  Athanasius was at the meeting where the Nicene Creed was written and he made sure that it said that Jesus was God.  Athanasius then became the Archbishop of Alexandria in Egypt.  He was only 30 years old and he took care of his people for 46 years.  There were lots of people that didn’t like the teachings of Archbishop Athanasius, including 4 emperors of Alexandria.  They tried to make him stop writing and speaking the Truth about Jesus, but he never stopped.  Even when they tried to catch him so that they could kill him, he was never afraid and never stopped spreading the Truth about God and his son Jesus.  During the last 7 years of his life, the people he shepherded hid him from those who were trying to kill him, because they loved him so much.  During this time he wrote a book called, “The Life of St. Anthony the Hermit”.  Athanasius had been friends with St. Anthony when he was very young.  He was able to stay away from those that wanted to kill him and he died peacefully in the year 373.  He is a Doctor of the Church, for the great teachings that he left us.