Saint Lorenzo Ruiz

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz(Filipino:San Lorenzo Ruiz ng Maynila,Spanish:San Lorenzo Ruiz de ManilaLatin:Laurentius Ruiz Manilensis; ca. 1600 29 September 1637) is aFilipinosaintvenerated in theRoman Catholic Church. AChinese-Filipino, he became the country'sprotomartyrafter his execution inJapanby theTokugawa Shogunateduring its persecution ofJapanese Christiansin the 17th century. Saint Lorenzo ispatron saintof, among others, the Philippines and theFilipino people.

Early life

Lorenzo Ruiz was born inBinondo,Manilato aChinesefather and aFilipinomother who were both Catholic. His father taught himChinesewhile his mother taught himTagalog. Ruiz served as analtar boyat the Binondo Church. After being educated by theDominicanfriars for a few years, Ruiz earned the title ofescribano(calligrapher) because of his skilfulpenmanship. He became a member of theCofradia del Santsimo Rosario(Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary). He married Rosario, a native, and they had two sons and a daughter.The Ruiz family lead a generally peaceful, religious and content life. In 1636, whilst working as a clerk for the Binondo Church, Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Ruiz soughtasylumon board a ship with threeDominicanpriests: SaintAntonio Gonzalez; Saint Guillermo Courtet; Saint Miguel de Aozaraza, aJapanesepriest; Saint Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz; and alayleperSaint Lzaro of Kyoto. Ruiz and his companions left forOkinawaon 10 June 1636, with the aid of the Dominican fathers and Fr Giovanni Yago.

Martyrdom

TheTokugawa shogunatewaspersecuting Christiansby the time Ruiz had arrived in Japan. The missionaries were arrested and thrown into prison, and after two years, they were transferred toNagasakito face trial by torture. He and his companions faced different types of torture.

On 27 September 1637, Ruiz and his companions were taken to the Nishizaka Hill, where they were tortured by being hung upside down a pit. This form of torture was known astsurushi() inJapaneseorhorca y hoya("gallowsand pit") inSpanish. The method was supposed to be extremely painful: though the victim was bound, one hand was always left free so that victims may signal their desire to recant, leading to their release. Ruiz refused to renounce Christianity and died from blood loss and suffocation. His body was cremated, with the ashes thrown into the sea. According to Latin missionary accounts sent back to Manila, Ruiz declared these words upon his death:''Ego Catholicus sum et animo prompto paratoque pro Deo mortem obibo.Si mille vitas haberem, cunctas ei offerrem."("I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God;Had I a thousand lives, all these to Him shall I offer.")

Cause of beatification and canonization

ThePositio Super Introductione Causaeor the cause of beatification of St. Lorenzo Ruiz was written by respected historian, Fr.Fidel Villarroel, O.P. Ruiz was beatified duringPope John Paul II's papal visit to the Philippines.It was the first beatification ceremony to be held outside theVaticanin history. San Lorenzo Ruiz wascanonizedby the same pope inVatican Cityon 18 October 1987, making him the first Filipino saint.

Miracle

His canonization was based on a miracle that took place in 1983, when Cecilia Alegria Policarpio, a 2-year-old girl suffering from brain atrophy (hydrocephalus), was cured after her family and supporters prayed to Ruiz for his intercession. She was diagnosed with the condition shortly after birth and was treated at Magsaysay Medical Center.

St. Pedro Calungsod

Early years and Missionary work

Calungsod (spelledCalonsorin Spanish records) was born ca. 1655. Historical records never mentioned his exact place of origin and merely identified him as Bisaya. Historical research, however, identifiesCebuas his birthplace.Few details of his early life prior to missionary work and death are known. It is probable that he received basic education at a Jesuit boarding school, mastering theCatechismand learning to communicate inSpanish. He likely honed his skills in drawing, painting, singing, acting, and carpentry as these were necessary in missionary work. Calungsod would have been expected to have some aptitude in serving in the Tridentine Mass (now known as the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite). Calungsod, then around 14, was among the exemplary young catechists chosen to accompany the Jesuits in their mission to the Ladrones Islands (Islas de los Ladronesor Isles of Thieves). In 1668, Calungsod travelled with Spanish Jesuit missionaries to these islands, renamed theMarianas Islands(Las Islas de Mariana) the year before in honour of both theBlessed Virgin Maryand of the Queen Regent ofSpain,Mara Ana of Austria, who funded their voyage. Calungsod and San Vitores went toGuamtocatechisethe nativeChamorros. Missionary life was difficult as provisions did not arrive regularly, the jungles and terrain was difficult to traverse, and the islands were frequently devastated by typhoons. Despite all these, the mission persevered, and was able to convert a significant number of locals.

Martyrdom

A Chinese merchant named Choco began spreading rumours that the baptismal water used by missionaries was poisonous. As some sicklyChamorroinfants who were baptised eventually died, many believed the story and held the missionaries responsible. Choco was readily supported by themacanjas(medicine men) and theurritaos(young males) who despised the missionaries.In their search for a runaway companion named Esteban, Calungsod and San Vitores came to thevillageofTumon,Guamon 2 April 1672. There they learnt that the wife of the village chiefMatapanggave birth to a daughter, and they immediately went to baptise the child. Influenced by the calumnies of Choco, the chief strongly opposed;to give Matapang some time to calm down, the missionaries gathered the children and some adults of the village at the nearby shore and started chanting with them the tenets of the Catholic religion. They invited Matapang to join them, but he shouted back that he was angry with God and was fed up with Christian teachings.Determined to kill the missionaries, Matapang went away and tried to enlist another villager, named Hirao, who was not a Christian. Hirao initially refused, mindful of the missionaries kindness towards the natives, but when Matapang branded him a coward, he became piqued and capitulated. Meanwhile, during that brief absence of Matapang from his hut, San Vitores and Calungsod baptised the baby girl, with the consent of her Christian mother. When Matapang learnt of his daughters baptism, he became even more furious. He violently hurled spears first at Pedro, who was able to dodge the spears. Witnesses claim that Calungsod could have escaped the attack, but did not want to leave San Vitores alone. Those who knew Calungsod personally meanwhile believed that he could have defeated the aggressors with weapons; San Vitores however banned his companions to carry arms. Calungsod was hit in the chest by a spear and he fell to the ground, then Hirao immediately charged towards him and finished him off with machete blow to the head. San VitoresabsolvedCalungsod before he too was killed. Matapang took San Vitores crucifix and pounded it with a stone whilstblasphemingGod. Both assassins then denuded the corpses of Calungsod and San Vitroes, tied large stones to their feet, brought them out to sea on theirproasand threw them into the water. In theRoman Catholic Church, Calungsodsmartyrdomis calledIn Odium FideiorIn Hatred of the Faith, referring to thereligious persecutionendured by the person in evangelisation.Beatification

A year after the martyrdom of San Vitores and Calungsod, a process for beatification was initiated but only for San Vitores. Political and religious turmoil, however, delayed and halted the process. WhenHagtawas preparing for its 20th anniversary as adiocesein 1981, the 1673 beatification cause of Padre Diego Lus de San Vitores was rediscovered in old manuscripts and revived until San Vitores was finally beatified on 6 October 1985. This gave recognition to Calungsod, paving the way for his own beatification.

In 1994, then-Cebu ArchbishopRicardo Cardinal Vidalasked permission from the Vatican to initiate the beatification and canonisation cause of Pedro Calungsod. In March 1997, theSacred Congregation for the Causes of Saintsapproved theactaof the diocesan beatification process. That same year, Cardinal Vidal appointed Fr Ildebrando Leyson as vice-postulator for the cause, tasked with compiling aPositio Super Martyrio(position regarding the martyrdom) to be scrutinised by the Congregation. ThePositio, which relied heavily on the documentation of San Vitores beatification, was completed in 1999.

Blessed John Paul II, wanting to include young Asian laypersons in his first beatification for the Jubilee Year 2000, paid particular attention to the cause of Calungsod. In January 2000, he approved the decreesuper martyrio(concerning the martyrdom) of Calungsod, setting his beatification for 5 March 2000 atSaint Peters SquareinRome.Regarding Calungsods charitable works and virtuous deeds,Pope John Paul IIdeclared:

From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to his call. Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a lay catechist. Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly accepted the challenge put to him by Fr. Diego de San Vitores to join him on the Mission to the Chamorros.In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger, Pedro would not forsake Fr. Diego, but as a good soldier of Christ preferred to die at the missionarys side.Sainthood

On 19 December 2011, theHoly Seeofficially approved themiraclequalifying Calungsod forsainthoodby theRoman Catholic Church.The recognisedmiracledates from 2002, when aLeytewoman who was pronouncedclinically deadby accreditedphysicianstwo hours after aheart attackwas revived when a doctor prayed for Calungsods intercession. CardinalAngelo Amatopresided over the declaration ceremony on behalf of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints. He later revealed thatPope Benedict XVIapproved and signed the official promulgation decrees recognising the miracles as authentic and worthy of belief. The College of Cardinals were then sent a dossier on the new saints, and they were asked to indicate their approval. On 18 February 2012, after the Consistory for the Creation of Cardinals, Cardinal Amato formally petitioned Pope Benedict XVI to announce the canonization of the new saints.The Pope set the date for 21 October 2012 (World Mission Sunday). After SaintLorenzo Ruiz, Calungsod will be the second Filipino declared asaintby theRoman Catholic Church. TheRoman Martyrologycelebrates Calungsods feast along with BlessedDiego Luis de San Vitoresevery 2 April.

St. Maria Goretti Maria Goretti(October 16, 1890 July 6, 1902) is anItalianvirgin-martyrof theRoman Catholic Church, and she is one of the younges tcanonizedsaints. She was born on the eastern side of Italy to a farming family, but increased poverty forced the family to move to the western side of the country when she was only six. Her father died when she was nine, and the family had to share a house with another family, the Serenellis. She took over household duties from her mother, while her mother and the rest of her family worked in the fields. One afternoon ,Alessandro, the son of the Serenelli family, made sexual advances to her, but when she refused to submit to him because that would be amortal sin, he stabbed her fourteen times. She was taken to the hospital, but she died after forgiving him. He was promptly arrested, convicted, and jailed. After three years he repented, and when eventually released from prison, he visited her mother begging forgiveness, which she readily granted. He later became alay brotherin a monastery, eventually dying peacefully in 1970. She wasbeatifiedin 1947, and canonized in 1950. Her mother attended both ceremonies.

Early life

Maria Teresa Gorettiwas born on October 16, 1890 inCorinaldo, in theProvince of Ancona, then in theKingdom of Italy, to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. She was the third of seven children: Antonio (who died in infancy), Angelo, Maria, Mariano (Marino), Alessandro (Sandrino), Ersilia, and Teresa.

By the time she was six, Maria's family had become so poor that they were forced to give up their farm, move, and work for other farmers. In 1896, they moved to Colle Gianturco, nearPalianoandFrosinone, about fifty miles outsideRome; and then in 1899 toLe Ferriere, near modernLatinaandNettunoinLazio, where they lived in a building, "La Cascina Antica," they shared with another family which included Giovanni Serenelli and his son, Alessandro. Soon, her father became very sick with malaria, and died when she was just nine.While her brothers, mother, and sister worked in the fields, she would cook, sew, watch Teresa, and keep the house clean. It was a hard life, but the family was very close. They shared a deep love for and faith inGod.

Beatification and Canonization

On the evening of thebeatificationceremonies inSaint Peter's Basilica, April 27, 1947,Pope Pius XIIwalked over to Assunta. She almost fainted. "When I saw the Pope coming, I prayed, 'Madonna, please help me.' He put his hand on my head and said, blessed mother, happy mother, mother of aBlessed!" They both had eyes wet with tears.

Three years later, on June 24, 1950, Pius XII canonized Maria as a saint, the "Saint Agnesof the 20th century." Assunta was again present at the ceremony, along with her four remaining sons and daughters. She was the first mother ever to attend the canonization ceremony of her child.[6]Alessandro was also present.

Owing to the huge crowd present, the ceremonies associated with the canonization were held outside ofSaint Peter's Basilica, in thePiazza San Pietro. Pius XII spoke, not as before in Latin, but in Italian. "We order and declare, that the blessed Maria Goretti can be venerated as a Saint and We introduce her into the Canon of Saints". Some 500,000 people, among them a majority of youth, had come from around the world. Pius asked them: "Young people, pleasure of the eyes of Jesus, are you determined to resist any attack on your chastity with the help of grace of God?" A resounding "yes" was the answer.

All three of her brothers would claim that she intervened miraculously in their lives. Angelo heard her voice telling him to immigrate to America. Alessandro was reportedly miraculously given a sum of money to finance his own emigration to join Angelo. Sandrino died in the United States in 1917, and Angelo died in Italy when he returned there in 1964. Mariano said he heard her voice telling him to stay in his trench when the rest of his unit charged the Germans inWorld War I. He, the only survivor of that charge, lived until 1975 and had a large family.

Her body is kept in the crypt of the Basilica ofNostra Signora delle Grazie e Santa Maria GorettiinNettuno, south ofRome. It has been often reported that it isincorruptbut this is not the case. It is kept inside a statue which is lying down beneath the altar, which has been mistakenly believed by some to be its entirety.

Feast Day

Maria'sfeast day, celebrated on July 6, was inserted in theGeneral Roman Calendarwhen it wasrevised in 1969. She is the patron saint ofchastity, rape victims, girls, youth, teenage girls, poverty, purity and forgiveness.

St. Therese of Lisieux Saint Thrse of Lisieux(Born Marie-Franoise-Thrse Martin, January 2, 1873 September 30, 1897), orSaint Thrse of theChild Jesusand theHoly Face, O.C.D., was a FrenchDiscalced Carmelitenun. She is popularly known as "The Little Flower of Jesus" or simply, "The Little Flower".

Thrse has been a highly influential model of sanctity for Catholics and for others because of the "simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life". Together with St.Francis of Assisi, she is one of the most popular saints in the history of the church. Pope Pius Xcalled her "the greatest saint of modern times".Thrse felt an earlycall to religious life, and overcoming various obstacles, in 1888 at the early age of 15, she became a nun and joined two of her elder sisters in thecloisteredCarmelite community ofLisieux,Normandy. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, having fulfilled various offices such assacristanand assistant to thenovice mistress, and having spent her last eighteen months in Carmel in anight of faith, she died oftuberculosisat the age of 24. Herfeast dayis on October 1. Thrse is well known throughout the world, with theBasilica of Lisieuxbeing the second largest place of pilgrimage in France afterLourdes.

Early Life

At the age of 14, on Christmas Eve in 1886, Therese had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love, instead of keeping herself happy. At 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Living a hidden, simple life of prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in His merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: "My God, I love You!"The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, "Story of a Soul". She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love." Therese lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She believed that just as a child becomes enamored with what is before her, we should also have a childlike focus and totally attentive love. Therese's spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love.She loved flowers and saw herself as the "little flower of Jesus," who gave glory to God by just being her beautiful little self among all the other flowers in God's garden. Because of this beautiful analogy, the title "little flower" remained with St. Therese.

Beatification and Canonization

Pope Pius Xsigned the decree for the opening of her process of canonization on June 10, 1914.Pope Benedict XV, in order to hasten the process, dispensed with the usual fifty-year delay required between death andbeatification. On August 14, 1921, he promulgated the decree on theheroic virtuesof Thrse and gave an address on Thrse's way of confidence and love, recommending it to the whole Church.There may, however, have been a political dimension to the speed of proceedings, partly to act as tonic for a nation exhausted by war, or even a retort from the Vatican against the dominant secularism and anti-clericalism of the French government.

Thrse was beatified on April 29, 1923 and canonized on May 17, 1925, byPope Pius XI, only 28 years after her death. Her feast day was added to theGeneral Roman Calendarin 1927 for celebration on October 3.In 1969, 42 years later,Pope Paul VImoved it to October 1, the day after herdies natalis(birthday to heaven). Thrse of Lisieux is thepatron saintof aviators, florists, illness (es) and missions. She is also considered by Catholics to be the patron saint of Russia, although theRussian Orthodox Churchdoes not recognize either her canonization or her patronage. In 1927, Pope Pius XI named Thrse a patron of the missions and in 1944 Pope Pius XII decreed her a co-patron of France withSt. Joan of Arc. By the Apostolic LetterDivini Amoris Scientia(The Science of Divine Love) of October 19, 1997,Pope John Paul IIdeclared her aDoctor of the Church,one of only four women so named, the others beingTeresa of vila(Saint Teresa of Jesus),Hildegard of BingenandCatherine of Siena. Thrse was the only saint to be named a Doctor of the Church during Pope John Paul II'spontificate.

St. Clare of Assisi

Saint Clare of Assisi(July 16, 1194 August 11, 1253), bornChiara Offreduccio, is anItaliansaintand one of the first followers ofSaint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, amonasticreligious orderfor women in the Franciscantradition, and wrote their Rule of Lifethe first monastic rule known to have been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honor as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as thePoor Clares.

Early Life

St. Clare was born in Assisi, the eldest daughter of Favorino Sciffi, Count of Sasso-Rosso and his wifeOrtolana. Traditional accounts says that Clare's father was a wealthy representative of an ancient Roman family, who owned a large palace in Assisi and a castle on the slope of Mount Subasio. Ortolana belonged to the noble family of Fiumi, and was a very devout woman who had undertaken pilgrimages toRome,Santiago de Compostelaand theHoly Land. Later in life, Ortolana entered Clare's monastery, as did Clare's sisters, Beatrix, and Catarina (who took the nameAgnes).

As a child, Clare was devoted to prayer. Although there is no mention of this in any historical record, it is assumed that Clare was to be married in line with the family tradition. However, at the age of 18 she heard Francis preach during a Lenten service in the church of San Giorgio at Assisi, and asked him to help her to live after the manner of the Gospel. On the evening ofPalm Sunday, March 20, 1212, she left her father's house, and accompanied by her aunt Bianca and another companion, proceeded to the chapel of the Porziuncula to meet Francis. There, her hair was cut, and she exchanged her rich gown for a plain robe and veil.

Saint Clare intervenes to save a child from a wolf, in this panel by Giovanni di Paolo, 1455.

Francis placed Clare in the convent of the Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, near Bastia. Her father attempted to force her to return home. She clung to the altar of the church and threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair. She resisted any attempt, professing that she would have no other husband butJesus Christ.In order to provide the greater solitude Clare desired, a few days later Francis sent her to Sant' Angelo in Panzo, another monastery of the Benedictine nuns on one of the flanks of Subasio. Clare was soon joined by her sister Catarina, who took the name Agnes. They remained with the Benedictines until a small dwelling was built for them next to the church ofSan Damiano, which Francis had repaired some years earlier.

Other women joined them and they were known as the "Poor Ladies of San Damiano". They lived a simple life of poverty, austerity and seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order (Poor Clares). San Damiano became the center of Clare's new religious order, which was known in her lifetime as the "Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano". San Damiano was long thought to be the first house of this order, however, recent scholarship strongly suggests that San Damiano actually joined an existing network of women's religious houses organized by Hugolino (who later becamePope Gregory IX). Hugolino wanted San Damiano as part of the order he founded because of the prestige of Clare's monastery.[5]San Damiano emerged as the most important house in the order, and Clare became its undisputed leader. By 1263, just ten years after Clare's death, the order had become known as theOrder of Saint Clare.In 1228, when Gregory IX offered Clare a dispensation from the vow of strict poverty, she replied: I need to be absolved from my sins, but not from the obligation of following Christ.

Accordingly, the Pope granted them thePrivilegium Pauperitatis that nobody could oblige them to accept any possession. Unlike theFranciscan friars, whose members moved around the country to preach, Saint Clare's sisters lived inenclosure, since an itinerant life was hardly conceivable at the time for women. Their life consisted of manual labour and prayer. The nuns went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence.

For a short period the order was directed by Francis himself. Then in 1216, Clare accepted the role ofabbessof San Damiano. As abbess, Clare had more authority to lead the order than when she was theprioress, who had to follow the orders of a priest heading the community. Clare defended her order from the attempts of prelates to impose a rule on them that more closely resembled theRule of Saint Benedictthan Francis' stricter vows. Clare sought to imitate Francis' virtues and way of life so much so that she was sometimes titledalter Franciscus, another Francis. She also played a significant role in encouraging and aiding Francis, whom she saw as a spiritual father figure, and she took care of him during his old age.After Francis's death, Clare continued to promote the growth of her order, writing letters to abbesses in other parts of Europe and thwarting every attempt by each successivepopeto impose a rule on her order which watered down the radical commitment tocorporate povertyshe had originally embraced. She did this despite enduring a long period of poor health until her death. Clare's Franciscan theology of joyous poverty in imitation of Christ is evident in the rule she wrote for her community and in her four letters toAgnes of Prague.

In 1224, the army ofFrederick IIcame to plunder Assisi. Clare went out to meet them with theBlessed Sacramenton her hands. Suddenly a mysterious terror seized the enemies, who fled without harming anybody in the city. Before breathing her last in 1253, Clare said: Blessed be You, O God, for having created me.

Canonization

The most vocal of these advisors was Cardinal Raynaldus who would later become Pope Alexander IV who in two years time would canonize Clare (Pattenden, 2008). At Pope Innocent's request the canonization process for Clare began immediately. While the whole process took two years, the examination of Clare's miracles took just six days. On August 15, 1255,Pope Alexander IVcanonized Clare as Saint Clare of Assisi. Construction of theBasilica of Saint Clarewas completed in 1260, and on October 3 of that year Clare's remains were transferred to the newly completed basilica where they were buried beneath thehigh altar. In further recognition of the saint,Pope Urban IVofficially changed the name of the Order of Poor Ladies to theOrder of Saint Clarein 1263.

St. Rose of Lima

Saint Rose of Lima,T.O.S.D.(April 20, 1586 August 24, 1617), was aSpanishcolonistinLima,Peru, who became known for both her life of severeasceticismand her care of the needy of the city through her own private efforts. Alaymember of theDominican Order, she was the first person born in theAmericasto becanonizedby theCatholic Church.As a saint, Rose of Lima is designated as a co-patroness of the Philippines along withSaint Pudentiana, who were both moved as second-class patronage in September 1942 byPope Pius XII, but remains the primary patroness of Peru and the indigenous natives ofLatin America. Her image is featured on the highest denomination banknote of Peru.

Early Life

She was born Isabel Flores y de Oliva in the city ofLima, then in theViceroyalty of Peru, on April 20, 1586. She was one of the many children of Gaspar Flores, aharquebusierin the Imperial Spanish army, born inSan Germnon the island of San Juan Bautista (nowPuerto Rico), and his wife, Mara de Oliva, a creole from Lima. Her later nickname "Rose" comes from an incident in her babyhood: a servant claimed to have seen her face transform into a rose. In 1597 she wasconfirmedby theArchbishop of Lima,Turibius de Mongrovejo, who was also to be declared a saint. She formally took the name of Rose at that time.

As a young girlin emulation of the notedDominican tertiary, St.Catherine of Sienashe began tofastthree times a week and performed severepenancesin secret. When she was admired for her beauty, Rose cut off her hair and smeared pepper on her face, upset that suitors were beginning to take notice of her.She rejected all suitors against the objections of her friends and her family. Despite the censure of her parents, she spent many hours contemplating theBlessed Sacrament, which she received daily, an extremely rare practice in that period. She was determined to take avowofvirginity, which was opposed by her parents. St. Rose worked hard to support her poorparentsand she humbly obeyed them, except when they tried to get her to marry. But Rose had no desire to be admired, for her heart had been given to Jesus. So she put a long pin into that wreath and it pierced her so deeply, that she had a hardtimegetting the wreath off afterward. Anothertimeshe became afraid that her beauty might be atemptationto someone, since people could not take their eyes off her. Therefore, she rubbed her face with pepper until it was all red and blistered.Rose had many temptations from the devil, and there were also many times when she had to suffer a feeling of terrible loneliness and sadness, forGodseemed far away. Yet she cheerfully offered all these troubles to Him. In fact, in her last long, painful sickness, this heroic youngwomanuse to pray: "Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart."

She helped the sick and hungry around her community, bringing them to her room and taking care of them. Rose sold her fine needlework, and took flowers that she grew to market, to help her family. She made and sold lace and embroidery to care for the poor, and she prayed and did penance in a littlegrottowhich she had built. Otherwise, she became arecluse, leaving her room only for her visits to church.

She attracted the attention of thefriarsof theDominican Order. She wanted to become anun, but her father forbade it, so she instead entered theThird Order of St. Dominicwhile living in her parents' home. In her twentieth year she donned the habit of atertiaryand took a vow of perpetual virginity. She only allowed herself to sleep two hours a night at most, so that she had more hours to devote to prayer. She donned a heavy crown made of silver, with small spikes on the inside, in emulation of theCrown of Thornsworn byChrist.

Beatification and Canonization

Rose wasbeatifiedbyPope Clement IXon May 10, 1667, andcanonizedon April 12, 1671, byPope Clement X, the first Catholic in theAmericasto be declared a saint. Her shrine, alongside those of her friends, St. Martin de PorresandSaint John Macas, is located inside theconventofSt. Dominicin Lima. TheRoman Catholic Churchsays that many miracles followed her death; there were stories that she had cured a leper. Many places in the New World are namedSanta Rosaafter her.Pope Emeritus Benedict XVIis especially devoted to her.

Feast Day

Her liturgical feast was inserted into theGeneral Roman Calendarin 1729 for celebration initially on August 30, because August 24, the date of her death, is the feast of SaintBartholomew the Apostleand August 30 was the closest date not already allocated to a well-known saint.[4]Pope Paul VI's1969 revisionof the calendar made August 23 available, the day on which herfeast dayis now celebrated throughout the world, includingSpain, but excluding Peru and some other Latin American countries, where August 30 is apublic holidayin her honor.She is honored together withMartin de PorresandTuribius of Mogrovejowith afeast dayon theliturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA)on August 23.

Pio of Pietrelcina

Pio of Pietrelcina(Italian:Pio da Pietrelcina)O.F.M. Cap., commonly known asPadre Pio(May 25, 1887 September 23, 1968), was afriar, priest,stigmatistand mystic of theRoman CatholicOrder of Friars Minor Capuchin. Padre Pio became famous for bearing thestigmatafor most of his life. This condition generated much interest and controversy around him. He is now venerated as asaintin theCatholic Church. Pio was bornFrancesco Forgioneand given the name of Pius (Italian:Pio) when he joined the Capuchins. After hisbeatificationin 1999 he wascanonizedbyPope John Paul IIon June 16, 2002.

Early Life

Francesco Forgione was born to Grazio Mario Forgione (18601946) and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio Forgione (18591929) on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, a farming town in thesouthern Italianregion ofCampania.His parents made a living as peasant farmers. He was baptized in the nearby Santa Anna Chapel, which stands upon the walls of a castle. He later served as analtar boyin this same chapel. His siblings were an older brother, Michele, and three younger sisters, Felicita, Pellegrina, and Grazia (who was later to become aBridgettinenun). His parents had two other children who died in infancy.When he was baptized, he was given the name Francesco. He stated that by the time he was five years old, he had already made the decision to dedicate his entire life to God. He began taking on penances and was chided on one occasion by his mother for using a stone as a pillow and sleeping on the stone floor. He worked on the land up to the age of 10, looking after the small flock of sheep the family owned. This delayed his education to some extent.

Padre Pio became a very well-known priest. Franciscan spirituality is characterized by a life of poverty, love of nature, and giving charity to those in need. Franciscan prayer recognizes God's presence in the wonder of creation. This is seen clearly in St. Francis'Canticle of the Sun. Franciscan spirituality is focused on walking in Christ's footsteps, understanding God by doing what Christ asked, experiencing and sharing God.

Later Padre Pio became a spiritual director. He had five rules for spiritual growth: weekly confession, daily Communion, spiritual reading, meditation, and examination of conscience.

Padre Pio was devoted torosary meditationsand said:

"The person who meditates and turns his mind to God, who is the mirror of his soul, seeks to know his faults, tries to correct them, moderates his impulses, and puts his conscience in order."

He compared weekly confession to dusting a room weekly, and recommended the performance of meditation and self-examination twice daily: once in the morning, as preparation to face the day, and once again in the evening, as retrospection. His advice on the practical application of theology he often summed up in his now famous quote, "Pray, Hope and Dont Worry". He directed Christians to recognize God in all things and to desire above all things to do the will of God.

The novelistGraham Greene, had two photos of Padre Pio in his wallet after attending one of his Masses. He said that Padre Pio had introduced a doubt in my disbelief.

Many people who heard of him traveled to San Giovanni Rotondo in the south of Italy to meet him and confess to him, ask for help, or have their curiosity satisfied. Padre Pio's mother died at the village around the convent in 1928. Later, in 1938, Padre Pio had his old father Gratzio, living with him in the village of San Giovanni Rotondo. His brother Michele also moved into the village with their father. Padre Pio's father lived in a little house outside the convent, until his death in 1946.

Canonization

Padre Pio was considered holy even during his lifetime. In 1971 three years after his death,Pope Paul VIsaid to the superiors of the Capuchin Order about the monk:Look what fame he had, what a worldwide following gathered around him! But why? Perhaps because he was a philosopher? Because he was wise? Because he had resources at his disposal? Because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from dawn to dusk and wasit is not easy to say itone who bore the wounds of our Lord. He was a man of prayer and suffering.

In 1982, the Holy See authorized thearchbishop of Manfredoniato open an investigation to determine whether Padre Pio should be considered a saint. The investigation continued for seven years. In 1990 Padre Pio was declared aServant of God, the first step in the process of canonization.

Beginning in 1990, theCongregation for the Causes of Saintsdebated how Padre Pio had lived his life, and in 1997Pope John Paul IIdeclared himvenerable. A discussion of the effects of his life on others followed. Cases were studied such as a reported cure of an Italian woman, Consiglia de Martino, associated with Padre Pio'sintercession. In 1999, on the advice of the Congregation, Pope John Paul II declared Padre Pio blessed.

After further consideration of Padre Pio's virtues and ability to do good even after his death, including discussion of another healing attributed to his intercession, the pope declared Padre Pio a saint on June 16, 2002.An estimated 300,000 people attended the canonization ceremony.

St. Joseph of Cupertino

Joseph of Cupertino(Italian:Giuseppe daCopertino) (June 17, 1603 September 18, 1663) was anItalianConventual Franciscanfriarwho is honored as aChristian mysticandsaint. He was said to have been remarkably unclever, but prone to miraculous levitationand intense ecstatic visions that left him gaping.

Early Life

He was bornGiuseppe Maria Desa, the son of Felice Desa and Francesca Panara in the village ofCupertino, then in the Province ofApulia, in theKingdom of Naples, now in the ItalianProvince of Lecce. His father having died before his birth, however, the family home was seized to settle the large debts he had left, and his mother was forced to give birth to him in a stable.

Joseph began to experienceecstatic visionsas a child, which were to continue throughout his life, and made him the object of scorn. His life was not helped by his frequent outbursts of anger. He was soon apprenticed by his uncle to a shoemaker. Feeling drawn toreligious life, in 1620 he applied to the Conventual Franciscan friars, but was rejected by them due to his lack of education. He then applied to theCapuchin friarsin Martino, nearTaranto, by whom he was accepted in 1620 as alay brother, but was soon dismissed as his continued ecstasies made him unfit for the duties required of him.

After Joseph returned to the scorn of his family, he pleaded with the Conventual friars near Cupertino to be allowed to serve in their stables. After several years of working there, he had so impressed the friars with the devotion and simplicity of his life that he was admitted to their Order, destined to become aCatholic priest, in 1625. He wasordaineda priest on March 28, 1628. He was then sent to theShrine of the Madonna della Grazia, where he spent the next 15 years.

After this point, the occasions of ecstasy in Joseph's life began to multiply. It was claimed that he began to levitate while participating at the Massor joining the community for theLiturgy of the Hours, thereby gaining a widespread reputation of holiness among the people of the region and beyond. He was deemed disruptive by his religious superiors and Church authorities, however, and eventually was confined to a small cell, forbidden from joining in any public gathering of the community.As the phenomenon of flying or levitation was widely believed to be connected withwitchcraft, Joseph was denounced to theInquisition. At their command, he was transferred from one Franciscan friary in the region to another for observation, first toAssisi(163953), then briefly to Pietrarubbiaand finallyFossombrone, where he lived with and under the supervision of the Capuchin friars (165357). He practiced a severe asceticismthroughout his life, usually eating solid food only twice a week. He passed 35 years of his life following this regimen.

Finally, on 9 July 1657, Joseph was allowed to return to a Conventual community, being sent to the one inOsimo, where he soon died.

Beatification and Canonization

Joseph wasbeatifiedin 1753 andcanonizedin 1763. He has been declared thepatron saintofair travelers,aviators,astronauts, people with amental handicap, test takers and poor students.