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St. Damien of Molokai Feast Day: May 10 Saint Damien of Molokai At age 13, he quit school to work on the family farm. Joseph entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, six years later taking the name of Damien. When his brother who was a priest in the same congregation, became ill and was unable to go to the Hawaiian Islands as assigned, Damien quickly volunteered in his place. In May 1864, two months after arriving in his new mission, Damien was ordained a priest in Honolulu and assigned to the island of Hawaii. In 1873, he volunteered to go to the Hawaiian government's Hansen disease colony on the island of Molokai. Father Damien soon begged his superiors to let him remain permanently on Molokai. His request was granted and he would spend the rest of his life caring for the physical, medical and spiritual needs of the people banished to Kalaupapa. Father Damien contracted Hansen's disease and later died from it at the age of 49. As requested, he was laid to rest at Kalaupapa. In 1936, the Belgian government was successful at having his body brought back to Belgium. After his beatification in 1995, part of Father Damien's body was returned to his beloved Hawaiian brothers and sisters on Molokai. In October 2009, Father Damien de Veuster was canonized a saint, by Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Damien is the patron saint of Hawaii. St. Bernadette Soubirous Feast Day: April 16 A young 14 year old Bernadette Soubirous, would see 18 visions of "the Lady in White" in a grotto near Lourdes, France. Her first vision was on February 11, 1858 while out gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. She relcutantly told her companions of what she had seen and they reported it to her parents. Her mother forbade her to return to the grotto. However, the usually obidient Bernadette felt drawn to return to the site. On her third visit, on February 18th, a few adults accompanied Bernadette to the location. This was the first time "the Lady in White" spoke to her saying, 'she could not promise her (Bernadette) happiness in this world, only in the next'. Although some beleived that Bernadette was experiencing a miracle, there were many others who were suspicious and critical. The police and elders of the town brought her in for questioning, but Bernadette maintained her faith and childlike innocence. There were no flaws to be found in her recount of her experiences. Bernadette never sought to "brag" about what she had seen, but to merely share her experience. On the ninth apparition, the Lady asked Bernadette to 'drink from the spring'. Seeing no water, Bernadette began to dig in the dirt with her bare hands and began to drink of the muddy patch. In the days following this event a spring began to flow from the spot where Bernadette was digging. Many people experienced miraculous healing from the water, and the spring draws thousands of people to the grotto even today. Her final vision would be on the feast of Our Lady of Carmel, July 16. Bernadette eventually entered a Convent in Nevers, France. Now known as Sister Marie-Bernard, she would live the next 13 years of her life as a simple nun. Bernadette would suffer greatly with various ailments which left her confined to a bed much of the time. When asked why she did not go to the grotto in Lourdes for healing, she said, '"It is not for me." She died on April 16, 1879, was Beatified in 1925, and Cannonized in 1933 under Pope Pius IX. St Bernadette Soubirous is the patron saint of sick persons, family, and poverty. St. Valentine Feast Day: February 14
St. Valentine, with St. Marius and his family, was accused of assisting the martyrs. He was arrested and beaten with clubs, but he remained strong and firm in his faith. He continued to live a life of holiness and prayer. The Prefect of Rome, finding all his promises and tortures ineffectual, had him beheaded on February 14, 269, on the Flaminian Way. In 350, a church was built in his honor on the site where he died. The name Valentine signifies "valor," and for many centuries lovers have appealed to him for courage and strength when facing difficulties in their love affairs. (taken from "A Year with the Saints" published by Don Bosco Press, Inc. 2001) St. Francis de Sales Bishop and Doctor of the Church Feastday: January 24 St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, was born in Savoy, France in 1567. Showing an early inclination for consecrated life, he vowed perpetual chastity and placed himself under the protection of the Virgin Mary. At 24, he obtained a doctorate in law at the University of Padua. In 1593, he obtained his father's permission to be ordained, and soon afterwards took upon himself the dangerous mission of Chablais on the south shore of the Lake of Geneva, which was infested by armed Protestants. On several occasions after being attacked by wolves and armed enemies he almost died but he miraculously survived. In the midst of his apostolate he spoke to the people with wisdom and charity that he converted many to the Catholic Faith. Francis found time to write leaflets and books to spread the teaching of the Church. Asked about the reason of his success, he answered: Whoever preaches with love is preaching effectively against the heretics, even if he does not say a single controversial word against them. Chosen Bishop of Geneva in 1602, he busied himself in the ministry of confession, preaching, and teaching catechism. The saintly educator and writer, whose primary concern was to lead the reader to the love of God died at Lyons in 1622 with the word JESUS on his lips. St. Hilary Feast: January 13
Though a layman, he was chosen by the people to become Bishop of Poitiers. He did all in his power to escape the promotion, but his humility only made the people more confident with their choice. Elected Bishop in 353, he distinguished himself by his stand against Arianism and became one of the most strenuous defenders of the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Exiled in 356 by Emperor Constantius because of his anti-Arian efforts, he used his time to write his theological masterpiece, On the Trinity. He returned to Poitiers in 361 and continued to defend the Catholic Faith until his death in 367. He was the mildest of men, affable to all; but he was steadfast against the enemies of the Church. (taken from the book, "A Year with the Saints" by Don Bosco Press, Inc.) "The chief service I owe you, O God, is that every thought and word of mine should speak of you."† St. Hilary |
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was born in Tremelo, Belgium.in the year 1840 and named Joseph de Veuster.
Priest and Martyr St. Valentine, the Patron of Lovers, was a holy priest from Rome. He lived during the third century when the Christians suffered religious persecution under Emperor Claudius II.
St. Hilary, the leading theologian of the 4th century, was born of a noble family at Poitiers, France in 315. He was brought up in idolatry, got married, and had a daughter, Apra. At thirty he discovered the absurdity of polytheism and got convinced that there could be only one eternal God, the author of all things. He found an answer to his search for truth in the Christian Scriptures that led him to conversion and baptism.