The feast day of St. Perpetua and St. Felicity is celebrated on March 7.
Both St. Perpetua and St. Felicity were martyred during a time of great persecution. They were put to death in the year 202 in the games which made public spectacles of those who refused to renounce their faith.
St. Perpetua was a well educated noblewoman living in Carthage, North Africa. Her mother was a Christian but her father was a pagan. Her father tried unsuccessfully to convince her to renounce her faith. Perpetua was 22 when she was arrested and imprisoned. She kept a diary of her sufferings and the nature of the torture she endured. She continued to care for her child in spite of the torture she was forced to endure.
St. Felicity was a pregnant slave girl who was imprisoned at the same time as Perpetua. She also was tortured and condemned to die. Several days before the games began she gave birth to a baby girl. The baby girl was secretly taken away to be raised by Christians.
Both St. Perpetua and St. Felicity are honored on their Feast day of March 7.
I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.
In Sunday’s address to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel of Matthew (5:13-14). “You are the salt of the earth…. You are the light of the world”. According to Zenit News Agency, Pope Francis told those gathered that this gospel directly follows the Beatitudes.
In his address, Pope Francis asked “Who were those disciples? They were fishermen, simple people. But Jesus looked upon them with the eyes of God and his statement should be understood precisely as a consequence of the Beatitudes. He wishes to say: If you will be poor in spirit, if you will be meek, if you will be pure of heart; if you will be merciful….you will be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
Pope Francis explained the gospel’s images, saying that Jewish Law prescribed putting a little salt upon every offering to God, as a sign of the covenant. “Light, for Israel, was a symbol of the messianic revelation that triumphs over the darkness of paganism. Thus, Christians, the new Israel, received a ‘mission’ for all men; with faith and charity they can direct, consecrate, and make humanity fruitful. All of us baptized are missionary disciples and we are called to become a living gospel in the world; with a holy life we will give ‘taste’ to the different spheres of society, and defend them from corruption just as salt does; and we will bring the light of Christ, with the witness of a genuine charity. But if we Christians lose our taste and extinguish our presence as salt and light we will lose effectiveness.”
Pope Francis continued:
“But how beautiful is this mission to give light to the world! It is a mission we have. It is beautiful! It is also very beautiful to keep that light that we have received from Jesus, protect it and keep it. The Christian must be a shining person, who brings light, who always gives light! A light that is not his, but a gift from God, it is Jesus’ gift. And we carry this light. If the Christian extinguishes this light, his life has no meaning. He is Christian in name only, he does not bring light with him, his light is without meaning. But I would like to ask you now, how do you want to live? Do you want to live like a light that is on aor one that is off? On or Off? How do you want to live? (The people gathered responded “On!”) A light that is on! It is God himself who gives us this light, and we give it to others. A light that is on! This is the Christian vocation.”
Following the Angelus, Pope Francis spoke about Feb. 11, the memorial for Our Lady of Lourdeswhen we will observe the World Day of the Sick. He asked everyone to pray for the sick and to be close to them. He quoted St. John, “Faith and Charity: We ought to lay down our lives for one another (1Jn 3:16). “In particular,” he said, “we can imitate the attitude of Jesus toward the sick; the sick of every sort. The Lord cares for them; shares their suffering and opens their heart to hope.”
Pope Francis thanked health workers saying how precious their work is. “The attitude toward the sick that is generous and Christian,” he said, “is salt of the earth and light of the world. May Mary help us to practice and obtain peace for all those who are suffering.”
Pope Francis concluded his address with the following statement:
And before I depart the question I asked comes back to my mind. Light on or light off? What do you want? On or Off? The Christian brings light! He is a light that is on. Always forward with the light of Jesus!”
The feast day of St. Colette is celebrated on March 6.
St. Colette was born in Corbie, France in 1380. Her father was a carpenter. Both her parents were near sixty when she was born. She was orphaned at the age of 17 and left in the care of a Benedictine abbot.
In her search for a vocation, St. Colette first joined the Bequins, then the Benedictines and the Urbanist Poor Clares. She then chose to live the life of a recluse. In her dreams, she received direction to reform the Poor Clares. She joined the Poor Clares, founding the Colettine Poor Clares. She founded over 17 convents under the reformed rule which was quite strict. Her reform movement met with resistance. She was even accused of sorcery.
St. Colette was well known for her sanctity, ecstasies and visions of the Passion. She foretold the date of her own death. She had a deep devotion to the Passion of Christ and was known for her love of animals. Her sanctity was rewarded with the gift of miracles and supernatural favors.
St. Colette died in 1447. She was canonized in 1807.
If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured.
The feast day of St. John Joseph of the Cross is celebrated on March 5.
St. John Joseph was born on the Feast of the Assumption, to a noble family on the Island of Ischia in Southern Italy in 1654. From early childhood he lived a life of penitence and prayer. Although he was from a noble family his love of poverty led him to wear the clothes of the poor and often he gave them food and money.
When John was sixteen years old he entered the Order of St. Francis at Naples. He joined the Franciscan Friars of the Alcantarine Reform, which was begun by St. Peter of Alcantara. He fasted constantly and slept little.
In 674, St. John Joseph founded a friary at Afila in Piedmont. He worked alongside the builders while it was being built. He was ordained a priest and was appointed Vicar Provincial of the Alcantarine Reform in Italy. He was known for having the gift of miracles. As a result, many people came to him seeking cures from illness.
St. John Joseph had a great devotion to Our Lady and urged others to have the same devotion.
St. John Joseph died in1734. St. John Joseph of the Cross was beatified in 1789 and canonized in 1839.
There stood by the cross of Jesus His Mother…the nails pierced the hands of the Son and the heart of the Mother.
Quote of St. Thomas of Villanova; Feast day Sept. 22
The feast day of St. Casimer is celebrated on March 4.
St. Casimer was born to the King of Poland, King Casimer IV and Elizabeth of Austria in 1469. He was the third of thirteen children.
From an early age, Casimer was drawn to a life committed to God. He rebelled against a rich lifestyle, wearing only plain clothes. He slept little, preferring prayer. When he did sleep, he slept on the floor rather than in a bed meant for royalty. He was mocked for his faith and lifestyle but he chose to ignore it.
Out of obedience to his father, he led an army to take over the throne of Hungary even though he felt it was wrong. After soldiers began to desert he turned the army around and returned home. His angry father banished him to a castle in Debski. Casimer refused to cooperate with his father anymore. He preferred to spend time in prayer to the true king in his life, Christ. Choosing to remain celibate, he refused to marry the emperor’s daughter.
For a short time St. Casimer reigned as king of Poland during his father’s absence. St. Casimer was also the Grand Duke of Lithuania.
While visiting Lithuania, he died at the age of 23 from tuberculosis in 1482. He was buried in Vilnius, Lithuania with his favorite song; “Omni die die Mariae” which is Latin for “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary.” It became known as the Hymn of St. Casimereven though he had not written the hymn.
There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.
Quote of St. Augustine of Hippo; Feast day August 28
The feast day of St. Katherine Drexel is celebrated on March 3.
St. Katherine Drexel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Nov. 26, 1858. She was the child of wealthy parents who taught her to be generous. She is the patron saint of philanthropists and racial justice.
Katherine became a Sister in 1889 at the age of 31. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American people. She dedicated her life and great wealth to this work. She helped to open the first mission school for Indians in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools soon followed. She then founded Xavier University in New Orleans.
In 1935, St. Katherine Drexel suffered a heart attack. Two years later she retired from her leadership position. She died in 1955 at the age of 96. Her order had over 500 active members at the time of her death. They had opened 145 missions, 49 elementary schools and 12 high schools.
St. Katherine Drexel is the second recognized American born saint. Katherine Drexel was beatified on Nov. 2, 1988 by Pope John Paul II. St. Katherine Drexel was canonized on Oct. 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II.
O most merciful Jesus! I embrace Your wounded hands and feet!
