Neither are the souls of the pious dead separated from the Church which even now is the kingdom of Christ. Otherwise there would be no remembrance of them at the altar of God in the communication of the Body of Christ. -- Saint Augustine of Hippo from “The City of God

Please Note

Whenever you use the links on my blog's to make purchases, such as from Mystic Monk Coffee, CCleaner, and others, I earn a small commission. This commission does not have any effect on your costs.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi


Caterina de Pazzi was born into the nobility in the year 1566, her parents were deeply devout and passed this on to their beloved daughter.
From an early age Caterina loved Jesus and displayed this by her longing to receive Him in the Eucharist, she would often approach others and beseech them to tell her what it was like to receive our Lord in Communion, her devotion was outstanding when one considers how very young she was.
Caterina though born wealthy was drawn to lead an ascetic life from an early age she also practiced acts of mortification which was common in that era for those who had a great longing to become closer to God. Even though she practiced these mortifications she was not a dour person and was known for her charm and simplicity of manner which draw admiration from all who met her.
This young girl also had a great love of prayer and of a love for the poor, in whom she tried to help by practicing the corporal works of mercy but her greatest love was reserved for Jesus especially in the Blessed Sacrament upon which she would spend hours contemplating this deep mystery and love. Finally at the age of 10 years her dream came true as she made her first Communion, this so touched her heart that she near wept for joy to be so closely connected to her Lord and Savior in the Eucharist, it was around this time that she vowed herself to God and God alone!
Upon reaching 14 years of age, Caterina was sent to school at the Convent of Cavalaresse, where her obvious holiness, humility and penances impressed the Sisters who were instructing her, many of whom noted that if the young Caterina continued to live in this way she would become a Saint, they would prove to be correct!
It was while she was living and learning at the Convent that Caterina decided she too would enter the Religious life, in order to spend her life entirely centered on her beloved Lord, most especially in the Blessed Sacrament. Caterina was blessed in that both her parents were truly devout people and after a little persuasion Caterina managed to convince her parents that this is where God wished her to be, serving Him through her Religious Community.
Caterina's dream came true in 1582 when she entered the Carmelite Convent of Santa Maria degl Angeli, what drew Caterina to this particular Order was its austere penances and lifestyle, this suited Caterina's own manner of living. Another factor was its ability to receive daily Communion a fact which pleased Caterina greatly and was the deciding factor.
Once Caterina entered the Order as so happens with many Religious who are Graced with extraordinary experiences, Caterina's soul entered the 'dark night' her physical condition also decorated, so she took her Vows as she lay seriously ill, as her religious name she chose Sister Mary Magdalen.
Though Sister Mary Magdalen suffered greatly she also began to experience the Mystical events which would continue throughout the rest of her life and though in ill health she also undertook her duties as a Sister within her community faultlessly.
During this period though Sister Mary Magdalen would be constantly plagued by the temptations and other forms of attack as God brought her closer to Himself and Satan was left to fume in impotent rage at Sister Mary Magdalena's obvious holiness. Through all her mystical experiences, this did not make the other Sisters jealous of her, for many of them had come to love Sister Mary Magdalen's personable character and her deep sense of humility.
It was also due to the fact that in herself Sister Mary Magdalen was always common sensical and not given to hysteria or whimsy, as she with great consideration fulfilled her daily obligations within the Religious community. This most holy Sister also never complained of the great aridity of soul nor of her sufferings as she lived her daily life, content in the knowledge that God loved her and had not abandoned her, for Sister Mary Magdalena did not rely on her feelings but on God's Promise.
Through all her hardships Sister Mary Magdalen was also privileged by God to be the recipient of miraculous gifts and events, some of which she would speak out loud while continuing her work, through this many Sisters in her Community noted down Sister Mary Magdalen's words which were kept for prosperity. She also had the Gift of reading peoples hearts within and outside of her community which brought in many visitors who sought her wisdom. One of the miracles attributed to this most holy Sister was that she kept up a correspondence with Catherine de Ricci who would become another great Saint of the Church. Though both these Sisters corresponded they never met, but Sister Mary Magdalen did see as in a vision, that holy Sister Catherine de Ricci answer one of her letters.
Sister Mary Magdalen's great legacy to all who read about her, is her great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, may we also develop such a high love for our God of Love, Divine.
Sister Mary Magdalen of Pazzi died in 1607.
Saint Mary Magedalen was canonized in 1669 by Pope Clement IX.
Some Quotes.
"Come Holy Spirit Spirit of truth, you are the reward of the saints, the comforter of souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure to lovers, food for the hungry, comfort to those who are wandering; to sum up, you are the one in whom all treasures are contained."
"Come! As you descended upon Mary that the Word might become flesh, work in us through grace as you worked in her through nature and grace."
"Come! Food of every chaste thought, fountain of all mercy, sum of all purity."
"Come! Consume in us whatever prevents us from being consumed in you."
Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Sister Consolata Betrone-Victim Soul



Pierina Betrone was born in the year 1903 in Italy to a family of bakers who also ran a restaurant, nothing in her attitude or background could foretell that this young girl would become one of Jesus beloved victim souls.

The Lord first moved within the soul of this young and studious girl when she was only 13 years old. It was as she was busy running errands for her hectic parents that Pierina first felt our Lord touched her heart which filled the young girl with such fervour that she exclaimed "My God, I love you!"The young Pierina also held a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and made a personal vow to promise herself to the service of our Lord and our Lady.

It was after she received Communion that Pierina would hear an interior voice request of her, "Do you want to be mine?" Pierina was awestruck that our Lord would speak with someone as unimportant as she, so she replied with her heart full of tender love and reverence, "Jesus, yes". Though the young Pierina gave her consent, it would still be many years before she could fulfill it.

During this time of waiting, Pierina also struggled an intense battle within her soul as doubts filled her mind and soul as she tried to live a holy and dedicated life. Finally after many trials, temptations and spiritual dryness, Pierina entered the Order of the Poor Clares taking as her name, Sister Consolata. This humble Nun lived a humble life of prayer, her duties and mortifications, done to console her Beloved for the souls of unrepentant sinners, for as our Lord confided to Sister Consolata, "Do not make me a harsh God while I am no less than the God of love!".

Though Sister Consolata was Graced with the Presence of God within her soul, still she felt small and saw herself as the smaller one which Saint Therese of Lisieux had referred to in her diary. This certainty that Consolata felt within her soul was confirmed by our Lord in these words, "well, I have found that still weaker soul who has abandoned herself with complete faith to My infinite mercy: it is you, Consolata, and through you I will perform marvels which will far exceed your fondest desires." When our Lord chooses a soul He with infinite wisdom and tenderness chooses those who though they be weak within themselves only further His Power to move within and transform that weak soul into a living reflection of Himself.

As always though the chosen souls go through many area's of the spiritual life including aridity of soul and temptations of the evil one, but as our Lord consoled Sister Consolata with these words to her vocation in life, "Since I am the Most Holy it is my thirst to communicate it to souls ... You only love. You are too small to climb to the summit: I will carry you on my shoulders". In her diary Sister Consolata wrote an impassioned plea to those who would one day come to read this source of spiritual enlightenment, "Jesus reveals to me the intimate sufferings of His Heart caused by the faithlessness of souls consecrated to Him".

Our Lord also inspired Sister Consolata with this universal prayer, " Jesus, Mary, I love you! Save souls!" Sister Consolata would repeat this one prayer during all her waking hours and in every form of work as she went about her daily tasks. Sister Consolata lived a holy and humble life and did as our Lord requested of her as He revealed her mission in life with these words, "Among the youngest members of Catholic action there are the Little Ones, and among the Little souls there are the Littlest Ones. You belong to these; and to them will belong all those souls who will follow you in offering Me the unceasing act of love."

There was also this interior inspiration which she noted in her diary, "For many days my soul has halted on this divine phrase - 'Sacrificial victim for sacrificial victim'". So it was to be for Sister Consolata became gravelly ill with no chance for recovery.

Sister Consolata Betrone died in 1946.

Here are some of the revelations given to her by Jesus.

"You must think only of loving Me! I will think of everything else, even to the smallest details!"

"You see, Consolata, sanctity means self-forgetfulness in everything, in thoughts, desires, words....Allow Me to do it all! I will do everything; but you should, at every moment, give Me what I ask for with much love!"

"I delight to work in a soul. You see, I love to do everything Myself; and from this soul I ask only that she love Me."

"You see, even in good thoughts which creep in, there is always a bit of self-love, of complacency; and it is easy to see how they will spoil the act of love. But if you will complete trust in Me, that I am attending to everything and will continue to do so, and if you will not permit even one other thought to enter, then your act of love will possess a virginal purity."

"Consolata, place no limits on your confidence in Me, then I will place no limits on My graces for you!"

"Trust always in Jesus! If you only knew how much pleasure that gives Me! Grant Me this solace to trust in Me even in the shadow of death."

"If you are in Me and we are one then you will bring forth much fruit and will become strong, for you will disappear like a drop of water in the ocean; My silence will pass into you, and My humility, My purity, My charity, My gentleness, My patience, My thirst for suffering, and My zeal for souls whom I wish to save at all costs!"

Sister Consolata's cause for Beatification is before Rome.

Peace of Christ to ALL
Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Saint Monica-Prayer Warrior



Monica of Hippo did not have an easy life, she was married to a much older man who was known for his abusive treatment of any who displeased him. Though Monica's marriage was not a match made in Heaven in that she was not in love with her husband as her marriage was an arranged one, still though she embraced the role of both wife and mother with great care and diligence.

Things were not made easier for her in that Monica also lived with her temperamental and taciturn mother in law who seemed to gain pleasure by making Monica's life as intolerable as she could. Throughout this ordeal Monica never lost her Faith indeed these trials and ordeals merely strengthened Monica's faith.

Monica and her husband had three children, two boys, Augustine and Navigius and a daughter Perpetua to complete Monica's joy. Though Monica maintained a strong prayer life and attended Mass as often as possible she also with great patience prayed and shared her faith with her volatile husband and his equally vocal mother, the patient endurance displayed by Monica eventually worked a miracle in her husband, Patricius who did convert to the Catholic Faith, followed by his mother. This brought true joy to Monica and also much relief when her husband died a year later, the knowledge of his conversion brought much comfort to this holy wife and mother.

The troubles in Monica's life did not stop as she tried her hardest to persuade her dissolute son, Augustine to embrace the Faith as had the rest of his family. This difficult and intelligent son of hers was to share his fathers obstinacy as he continued to live a worldly life, though I am sure the words his mother spoke to him would have touched a chord within the heart of Augustine.

Two of Monica's children entered the Religious life which greatly pleased Monica as she prayed for their continued strengthening, but much of her prayer life was devoted to her stubborn son Augustine who refused to listen to his mothers pleadings. This led Monica to approach many Priests to pray for the conversion of her much loved son, many of whom would become impatient at what they thought was a lost cause the conversion of Augustine. Though many may have washed their hands of the problem of Augustine, Monica was not one of them as she continued to spend a life of prayer and mortification for the conversion of this very intellectual and worldly son of hers.

Through all her trials Monica maintained her spirit of gentleness which was greatly respected by all her children who had been witness to some of their fathers violent excesses. This is why though Augustine refused to listen to his mothers entreaties he did not abandon her in that he not only loved his mother but respected her obvious devoutness.

This great woman of prayer was also very disciplined when it came to morals and Faith and she could no longer bear to see her beloved but dashing son throw his soul away so in another attempt to rouse Augustine's conscience Monica refused at times to allow her son to visit her, which caused much pain and anguish to Monica as she wept for her son.

It was during one of these enforced absences that Monica received a vision of a man who asked why she was weeping? When Monica explained her sons condition the man in the vision replied "Your son is with you." This strengthened Monica and gave her renewed hope, upon seeing her son, she conveyed this vision to Augustine who dismissed it immediately but upon his mothers quick retort as she said, "He did not say I was with you: he said that you were with me."Augustine was to remember his mothers words as he continued on with his studies and his loose lifestyle.

At the age of 29 years Augustine decided to go to Rome with his mistress and their child. Monica was distraught fearing that her son would never be able to embrace the Faith once he was so far out of her reach and her entreaties. It was here that Monica decided that she too would travel to Rome which she did, passing through the violent sea's with great serenity which calmed the other passengers of her ship. When Monica arrived in Rome she found that her son, had traveled onwards towards Milan, hence Monica also set out for Milan to once again plead with her son. One has to wonder if Augustine's stubbornness was an inherent trait shared by both mother and son.

It was in Milan that both Augustine and Monica met Bishop Ambrose, who would have a great impact on both their lives. While she settled in Milan, Monica also practiced the corporal works of mercy with the other ladies of the region which greatly impressed Bishop Ambrose. As both mother and son befriended this eminent Bishop both were to be touched in different ways, Monica was to relinquish many superstitions which she had brought with her from her home in North Africa, under the wise counsel of Bishop Ambrose. While Augustine would be challenged intellectually by this greatly wise Bishop of the Church, as he discussed different elements of the Catholic Faith with Augustine as both debated major issues.

The meetings and discussions with Bishop Ambrose would be the deciding factor in the conversion of Augustine, no greater joy could be felt when Augustine finally embraced the Catholic Faith, his mother wept not from sorrow but with sheer joy that this errant son of hers had now come home to her beloved Church.

Monica's life is a testament to the strength of persevering prayer and of never giving up hope no matter who difficult the road may seem. Monica loved her children and the Church her joy was complete to see all her children live their Faith for God had answered the prayers of this woman of immense fortitude and patience. Her joy had truly reached its completion.

Monica died in 387.

Saint Monica was canonized by the Catholic Church though the date is not known.



Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Faith of the Fathers Blogs. All rights reserved.