The Feast Day of St. Hyacinth of Poland is celebrated on August 17.
St. Hyacinth was born in 1185 to noble parents in Odrowacz, Poland. He was educated by his uncle who was a pious priest who eventually became the Bishop of Cracow. He was a very happy and pious child with an early calling to the religious life. He studied at Bologna earning the degree of Doctor of Canon Law and Divinity.
St. Hyacinth returned to Poland. On a trip to Rome with his uncle he met St. Dominic. He was one of the first to join the Order of Preachers, becoming a Dominican. He returned to Poland to establish the Dominican Order.
St. Hyacinth was a wonderful preacher. He converted many people and was able to build churches and convents. He visited the sick and was a friend to the poor. He became known for the many miracles which occurred. The most famous happened during the Tartars siege of the city of Kiev. Hyacinth had a tender devotion to the Mother of God. After celebrating Mass unaware of the siege occurring, he retrieved the Blessed Sacrament and a statue of Mary and fled with the community to the river Dnieper. Although the river was deep he led them across the river walking on the water. His footprints could be seen on the water for centuries.
The last years of St. Hyacinth’s life were lived in a convent at Cracow. On the feast of St. Dominic, he fell ill with a fever. He celebrated Mass on the Feast of the Assumption in spite of his illness. He was anointed at the Altar and died later that day on August 15, 1257.
St. Hyacinth was canonized by Pope Clement VIII in 1594.
“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”
Quote of Michelangelo
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Feast Day of St. Stephen of Hungary is celebrated on August 16.
St. Stephen was born in the year 973. His mother was the Duchess Sarolt. She had had a vision in which the first St. Stephen, the first martyr of the church had appeared to her. She was told she would bear a son who would evangelize the land.
St. Stephen’s father was the Duke Geza. Both his mother and father were converted to Christianity by Bishop St. Adalbert of Prague. The Bishop baptized St. Stephen at the age of ten. St. Stephen married Gesela who was a sister to the Duke of Bavaria in 995. Sadly, he survived all his children. Only one child lived to be an adult. This son, Emeric, died in a hunting accident in 1031.
St. Stephen use their wealth to build a monastery and encouraged the people of the land to convert to Christianity. The laws of the land which St. Stephen enacted favored Christianity over paganism. He sent a request to Pope Sylvester II to proclaim him as King of Hungary. Pope Sylvester II was happy to oblige. He sent Stephen a crown and gold processional cross.
As King, St. Stephen was generous to the poor and sick. He was devoted to the Virgin Mary, building several churches in her honor. Mary is credited with preventing both a war and the assassination of King Stephen. While he was king, St. Stephen also established a monastery in Jerusalem.
St. Stephen died on August 15, 1038, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary after suffering an illness. He was buried next to his son Emerick. They were both canonized saints in 1083.
Suffering comes in many forms. Pain, illness, loss, and death of a loved one all cause grief and sorrow. Turning to God during troubled times can be very difficult. Let the words of the Saints help you as you travel on your spiritual journey.
1. I’m suffering very much, but am I suffering very well?
5. O my Jesus, give me Your strength, when my weak nature rebels against the distress and sufferings of this life of exile, and enable me to accept everything with prosperity and peace.
With my whole strength, I cling to Your merits Your sufferings, Your atonement, and Your tears so that I may be able to cooperate with you in the work of Salvation.
6. The Passion of Jesus is a sea of sorrows, but it is also an ocean of love. Ask the Lord to teach you to fish in this ocean. Dive into its depth. No matter how deep you go, you will never reach the bottom
11. Sorrow for sin is indeed necessary, but it should not be an endless preoccupation. You must dwell also on the glad remembrance of God’s loving kindness; otherwise, sadness will harden the heart and lead it more deeply into despair.
12. In every disappointment, great or small, let your heart fly directly to your dear Savior, throwing yourself against every pain and sorrow, Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.
16. He will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
17. In suffering God gives strength, but in action and in joy the soul does but show its own weakness and imperfection. And in suffering the soul practices and acquires virtue and becomes pure, wiser and more cautious.
Bl. Teresa of Calcutta U.S. Stamp Public Domain Image
20. All the science of the saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.
21. We should strive to keep our hearts open to the suffering and wretchedness of other people, pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the Spirit of God.
22. To suffer and be happy through suffering, to have ones feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough path of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels–this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.
23. Those who pray and suffer, leaving action for others, will not shine here on earth; but what a radiant crown they will wear in the Kingdom of Life! Blessed be the “apostolic of suffering!”
24. Suffering is transformed and elevated when in these moments we become aware of God’s closeness and solidarity. This is the certainty that gives inner peace and spiritual joy to the person who suffers generously and offers his pain as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12.)
25.My Lord Jesus Christ, two graces I beg of you before I die. The first is that in my lifetime I may feel in my soul and in my body, as far as possible, that sorrow which you, sweet Jesus, endured in the hour of your bitter passion. The second is that I may feel in my heart, as far as possible, that abundance of love with which you, Son of God, were inflamed, so as willing to endure so great a passion for us sinners.
Grace is a wonderful gift from God. It is not earned but given to us in love. When we become aware that God is with us, guiding us…everything changes. Grace is the present of God’ presence! God is not a distant God. He created us and loves us.
Let’s turn to the saints to find out how they felt about grace.
1. Let us not be afraid to suffer for the truth; for if we suffer for the truth, we shall find grace.
St. Hyacinth
St. Hyacinth of Poland
2. Without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.
3. How great it is to possess Divine Grace, How beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights!
5. If only we would learn how great it is to possess Divine Grace and how many riches it has within itself, how many joys and delights. We would devote all our concern to winning for ourselves pains and aflictions in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace.
6. I am where God wills me to be. I have found rest and security. His wisdom governs me. His grace sanctifies me. His mercy encompasses me. His joy sustains me and all will be well with me.
9. Grace is like the sun. It shines on all, but only those who open their eyes and look up receive the light. The soul must be willing and awake, or the light passes by unnoticed.
13. The greatest grace God can give someone is to send him a trial he cannot bear with his own powers…and then sustain him with His grace so he may endure to the end and be saved.
20. He who knows how to forgive, prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.
21. Let us ask three graces of Jesus, to avoid Purgatory, to learn from Purgatory, to empty Purgatory.
Blessed James Alberione
Blessed James Alberione
22. What grace is meant to do, is to help good people, not to escape their sufferings, but to bear them with a stout heart, with a fortitude that finds it’s strength in faith.
I also understood that God’s love shows itself just as well in the simplest soul which puts up no resistance to His grace, as it does in the loftiest soul.
25. Take, O Lord and receive my liberty, my memory, my whole understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me. I surrender it all to You to be disposed acording to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace, with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.
The Feast Day of St. Cajetan is celebrated on August 7. He was born in Vicenza, Italy, in 1480. St. Cajetan is the patron saint of the unemployed.
Even as a child Cajetan was very devout. He studied at Padua becoming a lawyer. He then was ordained a priest in Rome working for the Roman Curia. He joined the Oratory of Divine Love in Rome, which was devoted to charity and piety.
At the age of 42, he founded a hospital for incurables in Venice. He served the sick and the poor. St. Cajetan along with three friends decided to bring zeal back to the clergy. They founded an order known as the Theatines. They focused on reforming the clergy. After the sack of Rome, they escaped to Venice when their house was ruined in 1527. Members of his order took a strict vow of poverty, depending entirely on Divine Providence rather than on income.
One Christmas Eve when Cajetan was passing the Church of St. Mary Major, the Holy Child appeared to him, and the Blessed Virgin laid the child in the Saints arms filling his soul with joy. He had many visions in his life and was known for being in a state of ecstasy during prayer. He miraculously cured many who were sick including a man whose foot was to be amputated due to gangrene. After telling the man to trust in God and ask for the intercession of St. Francis, he kissed the foot, rebandaged it and made the sign of the cross over it. The following day the foot was healed.
St. Cajetan died in 1547 after receiving the last sacraments. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death. St. Cajetan was canonized by Clement X in 1671.
“There is no road to Heaven
but that of Innocence or Penance.”
Quote of St. Cajetan August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Feast Day of St. Peter Julian Eymard is celebrated on August 2. Peter was born in 1811 in La Mure, France. He worked with his father as a cutler until he was 18.
While he was still a teenager, St. Peter told his father of his desire to become a priest. His father was adamantly against it, wanting him to stay in the family business. Peter began to study Latin while continuing to work for his father. Two years later, Peter’s father refused his request to attend college, wanting him to continue to work with him. Peter managed to attend college by accepting a scholarship. He also worked for a priest at a hospital for the insane.
While at college, his mother died. A priest from the Oblates of Mary received permission at this time from Peter’s father for him to enter the Oblate novitiate. His father died two years later. Five months after entering the novitiate, Peter became very ill. he struggled with illness throughout his life. After his father’s death he entered the seminary at Grenoble. After his ordination he joined the community of Marists. His devotion to the Eucharist and perpetual adoration grew. He helped to spread the devotion of perpetual adoration. St. Peter became known as the Apostle of the Eucharist. He wrote many different books about the Eucharist including How to get more out of Holy Communion.
St. Peter Julian Eymard died in 1868 and was canonized in 1962. He is the patron saint of Eucharistic Devotion.
The Lord comes into us Sacramentally in order to live there spiritually.
Quote of St. Peter Julian Eymard
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Feast Day of St. Alphonsa is celebrated on July 28. She was born in Muttahupadathu, India in 1910. She is the second canonized saint of India.
Baptized with the name Anna, she had a difficult birth and childhood. Her mother died three months after she was born. She was raised by her maternal Aunt. After falling into a pit of burning chaff, her feet were badly burned leaving her disabled. At an early age, after reading the biography of St. Therese of Lisieux, she had a great desire to become a saint.
In 1927 at the age of 17 she joined the Poor Claresat Christ Convent at Bharananganam. She took the name Alphonsa. She completed her permanent vows in 1936. After completing her own education. Alphonsa taught school but she was plaqued by illness.She became known for her willingness to accept suffering. After enduring several different types of illnesses over many years St. Alphonsa died at the age of 35. Her tomb is a site for pilgrims due to the many reported miracles at the site. The miracle which was approved by the Vatican for her canonization was the curing of a child with a club foot. St. Alphonsa was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.
Since only grief and suffering have fallen to the lot of my Spouse, I too lovingly embrace them and my soul is at peace, though the body continues to be tormented. For the last seven years I have ceased to be my own, being given over entirely to my Divine Spouse. You know all that and now let the Lord do as He will with me. It is not a cure I am anxious for but only that His Holy Will be fulfilled in me.
The Feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden is celebrated on July 23. St. Bridget of Sweden was born on June 14, 1303. She was the daughter of Berger Persson and wife, Ingeborg. Her family was wealthy, pious, and went on long pilgrimages to the Holy Land. St. Bridget of Sweden is the patron of Sweden, Europe, and widows.
At the age of ten her mother died. Her sister Kathleen, infant brother Israel, and Bridget were sent to her maternal aunt for education and care. As a young child Bridget had a vivid dream vision of The Man of Sorrows. When she asked who had done this to him He responded,
“All those who despise my love.”
This dream vision left an indelible mark on her. She married early, as was the custom, at 13 years old to Ulf Gudransson. They had eight children, four sons and four daughter. The newly married King of Sweden asked her to be a Lady in waiting and teach the young queen the language and customs of her new country.
St. Bridget became a widow when she was 41 years old when her husband died of severe illness. She prayed for guidance, after which she founded a new religious order (The Brigitta’s), mainly for women. She reported many visions and revelations, some which can be found in the “Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget”.
In August, 1370, Pope Urban V confirmed the Rule of her congregation. Bridget made earnest representations to Pope Urban, urging the removal of the Holy See from Avignon back to Rome.
In 1349 she journeyed to Rome where she stayed until she died in 1373.
My Lord Jesus Christ, Your blessed, royal, and magnificent heart could never, by torments or terrors or blandishments, be swayed, from the defense of Your kingdom of truth and justice.
Pride often keeps us from having healthy relationships. It prevents us from asking for help when we need it. Turning to God is difficult to do when we have too much pride.
The saints can help us know when pride is detrimental and how to conquer it. The following quotes from the saints can inspire us to be humble of heart.
1. It was pride that changed angels into devils. It is humility that make men as angels.
3. Do you know where the tree of death is rooted? In the height of pride, which is nourished by their sensual selfishness. Its core is impatience and its offshoot is the lack of any discernment. These are the four chief vices, which together tell the souls of those I have called trees of death, since they have failed to feed on the life of grace.(Pride, selfishness, lack of discernment, impatience)
4. If the poison of pride is swelling up in you, turn to the Eucharist.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
5. Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of Pride and anger. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises man to Heaven.
6. You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy – the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good… for God resists the proud.
8. As pride is the beginning of all sin, so humility is the foundation of all virtue. Learn to be really humble, and not, as the hypocrite, humble in only appearance.
11. The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water – it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire – it dries up – it burns. The humble soul is like a grain of wheat, thrown into the earth – it descends, it hides itself, it disappears, it dies but to revive in heaven.
St. Mary of Jesus Crucified
St. Mary of Jesus Crucified
12. For what else is pride but, as a saint has defined it, the love of one’s own excellence.
14. If you are discouraged, it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own powers. Your self-suffering, your selfishness, and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that.
16. We must all be on our guard against pride and empty boasting and beware of worldly or natural wisdom. A worldly spirit lives to talk a lot, but do nothing, striving for the exterior signs of holiness that people see, with no desire for true piety, and interior holiness of spirit.
19. How can one be pleasing to God when one is inflated with pride and self-love under the pretense of striving for God’s glory wile in fact one is seeking one’s own glory?
21. We put pride into everything like salt. We like to see that our good works are known. If our virtues are seen, we are pleased; if our faults are perceived, we are sad. I remark that in a great many people, if one says anything to them, it disturbs them, it annoys them. The saints were not like that- they were vexed if their virtues were known, and pleased that their imperfections should be seen.
23. We must observe also that among the heathen the names of the poor men are more likely to be known than of the rich. Now our Lord mentions the names of the poor, but not the names of the rich, because God knows and approves the humble, but not the proud.
24. Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins. All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all is pride of the heart. Do not consider yourself learned and wise; otherwise, all your efforts will be destroyed, and your boat will reach the harbor empty. If you have great authority, do not threaten anyone with death. Know that, according to nature, you are susceptible to death, and that every soul sheds its body as its final garment.
25. Lord, free me from every pride, which is the source of all sins. Give me the grace to recognize sick and unbridled ambitions, that make me choose false greatness, or they cause complexes. Jesus, martyred on the cross, obedient to everything to the Father, I am asking for a humble heart like Your Heart. I am asking for humble eyes, who see themselves and others in truth. Amen
Meditating on the following quotes from the saints can lead us on our journey of faith.
It is by faith that God dwells in our hearts, in our memory, our intellect and penetrates even into our imagination. St. Bernard of Clairvaux
St. Bernard Clairvaux
2. The Lord is always near to all who call upon his help with sincerity, true faith, sure hope, and perfect love. St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
St. Ambrose,
3. The faith of those who live their faith is a serene faith. What you long for will be given to you, what you love, will be yours forever. St Leo the Great , Bishop of Rome
St. Leo the Great
4. Jesus saved the thief on the holy hill at Golgotha because of one hour’s faith, will he not save you too since you have believed? St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
5. Faith is to believe what you do not see, the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. Augustine of Hippo
St. Augustine
6. Faith lifts the soul. Hope supports it. Experience says it must, and love says let it be! St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
7. Faith is a beam radiating from the face of God. St. John Eudes
St. John Eudes
8. Live in faith and hope, though it may be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone for that would be to wrong Him. St. John of the Cross
15. Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things, as well as all things in God. St. Francis de Sales
S
t. Francis de Sales
16. Our door is faith. of it is strong enough, the entire house is safe. St. Ambrose
St. Ambrose
17. By itself, faith accomplishes nothing, for even the devil believes and trembles. No, faith must be joined to an active love which is expressed in good works. St. Maximus the Confessor
20. Faith leads us beyond ourselves. It leads us directly to God. St. John Paul II, Bishop of Rome
21. Your faith will help you realize that it is Jesus Himself who is present in the Blessed Sacrament, working working for you and calling you to spend one special hour with Hime each week. St. John Paul II, Bishop of Rome
St. John Paul II
22. If faith is lacking, it is because there is too much selfishness., too much concern for personal gain. For faith to be true, it has to be genuine and loving. Love and faith go together…they complete each other. St. Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa
23. Among the many signs of a lively faith is the hope we have in eternal life. One of the secrets is not being overly sad at the death of those whom we dearly love in our Lord. St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Ignatius Loyola
24. Your soul must hold fast to Him. You must follow after Him in your thoughts, you must tread His way, by faith, not in outward show. St. Ambrose
St. Ambrose
25. Faith fills a man with love for the beauty of its truth, with faith in the truth of its beauty. St. Francis de Sales
During our journey of faith, all of us at some time in our life need an extra dose of courage. To face our fears can be very daunting, requiring a decision from deep within ourselves not to run from adversity. Reflecting on the wisdom of the saints can help during those times. The following quotes are on the virtue of courage…another name for fortitude.
1. Grace and truth will in turn give rise to courage. Following Christ has always demanded courage.
2. Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.
5. We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage is steadfast and our trust is fixed on God.
10. True love is love that causes us pain, that hurts and yet brings us joy. That is why we must pray to God and ask Him to give us the courage to love.
11. Many people say “I don’t have the courage to make the sacrifice.” Let them do what I did: exert a great effort. God never refuses that first grace which gives one the courage to act. Afterward the heart is strenghthened.
12. Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and he will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet; that is courage and a persevering spirit.
14. If one is to do good, he must have a little courage, be ready for sacrifice, deal affably with all and never slight anybody. By following this method, I have always had significant success, in fact, marvelous success!
16. Remember, that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing with you, nothing that you have received – only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.
18. Even if I must suffer greatly, thanks be to God’s mercy, I will not lack courage.
St. Genoveva Torres Morales
St. Genoveva Torres Morales
19. Courage, courage, my daughters. Remember that God does not give anyone more trials than can be suffered and that His Majesty is with the afflicted… for this is certain, there is no reason to fear God, but to hope in His mercy.
21. O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve you. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived, when the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.
22. Let us never lose courage or despair of God’s mercy. We may not understand His will for us in time, but in eternity the veil will be drawn, and we shall see that He acted only for our happiness. Let us bear our cross and leave it to God to determine the length and the weight.
24. When I am weak, Help me find courage. When I am afraid of what the future holds, Help me find trust. When I cannot see God anymore in my life, Hel me find faith.
25. God of our life. There are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies gray and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage.
Flood the path with light, turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; turn our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so, quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to your honor and glory. Amen
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