Free Republic

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of Saint Julie Billiart | Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church, Hamilton, OH | photo by Nheyob Saint Julie Billiart Saint of the Day for April 8 (July 12, 1751 – April 8, 1816)  Saint Julie Billiart’s Story Born in Cuvilly, France, into a family of well-to-do farmers, young Marie Rose Julie Billiart showed an early interest in religion and in helping the sick and poor. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful and uncomplicated, Julie had to take up manual work as a young teen when her family lost its...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of St. John Baptist de la Salle | Saint Peter Basilica, Rome | photo by JordiferrerSaint John Baptist de la Salle Saint of the Day for April 7 (April 30, 1651 – April 7, 1719)  Saint John Baptist de la Salle’s Story Complete dedication to what he saw as God’s will for him dominated the life of John Baptist de la Salle. In 1950, Pope Pius XII named him patron of schoolteachers for his efforts in upgrading school instruction. As a young 17th-century Frenchman, John had everything going for him: scholarly bent, good...

April 7, 2017 Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent Reading 1 Jer 20:10-13I hear the whisperings of many:"Terror on every side!Denounce! let us denounce him!"All those who were my friendsare on the watch for any misstep of mine."Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,and take our vengeance on him."But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.In their failure they will be put to utter shame,to lasting, unforgettable confusion.O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,who probe mind and heart,Let me witness the vengeance you take on...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Detail | Stained glass of Saint Crescentia Hoess | photo by GFreihalterSaint Crescentia Hoess Saint of the Day for April 6 (October 20, 1682 – April 5, 1744)  Saint Crescentia Hoess’ Story Crescentia was born in 1682, the daughter of a poor weaver, in a little town near Augsburg. She spent play time praying in the parish church, assisted those even poorer than herself and had so mastered the truths of her religion that she was permitted to make her first Holy Communion at the then unusually early age of 7. In the town...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Detail | Apocalyptic Virgin and Saint Vincent Ferrer with two Donors | Pere Garcia de BenavarriSaint Vincent Ferrer Saint of the Day for April 5 (January 23, 1350 – April 5,1419)  Saint Vincent Ferrer’s Story The polarization in the Church today is a mild breeze compared with the tornado that ripped the Church apart during the lifetime of this saint. If any saint is a patron of reconciliation, Vincent Ferrer is.Despite parental opposition, he entered the Dominican Order in his native Spain at 19. After brilliant studies, he was ordained a priest by Cardinal...

Saint Isidore of Seville Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint Isidore of Seville | photo by Sacristia mayor de la catedral de SevillaSaint Isidore of Seville Saint of the Day for April 4 (c. 560 – April 4, 636)  Saint Isidore of Seville’s Story The 76 years of Isidore’s life were a time of conflict and growth for the Church in Spain. The Visigoths had invaded the land a century and a half earlier, and shortly before Isidore’s birth they set up their own capital. They were Arians—Christians who said Christ was not God. Thus, Spain was split in two:...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of Saint Benedict the Moor | Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil | photo by Mateus Hidalgo Saint Benedict the African Saint of the Day for April 3 (1526 – 1589)  Saint Benedict the African’s Story Benedict held important posts in the Franciscan Order and gracefully adjusted to other work when his terms of office were up.His parents were slaves brought from Africa to Messina, Sicily. Freed at 18, Benedict did farm work for a wage and soon saved enough to buy a pair of...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint Francis of Paula holding a walking stick and looking | Engraving | Wellcome ImagesSaint Francis of Paola Saint of the Day for April 2 (March 27, 1416 – April 2, 1507)  Saint Francis of Paola’s Story Francis of Paola was a man who deeply loved contemplative solitude and wished only to be the “least in the household of God.” Yet, when the Church called him to active service in the world, he became a miracle-worker and influenced the course of nations.After accompanying his parents on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, he began...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint Hugh of Grenoble in the Carthusian Refectory | Francisco de ZurbaránSaint Hugh of Grenoble Saint of the Day for April 1 (1053 – April 1, 1132)    Saint Hugh of Grenoble’s Story Today’s saint could be a patron for those of us who feel so overwhelmed by all the problems in the world that we don’t know where to begin.Hugh, who served as a bishop in France for 52 years, had his work cut out for him from the start. Corruption seemed to loom in every direction: the buying and selling of Church...

April 4, 2017 Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Reading 1 Nm 21:4-9From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road,to bypass the land of Edom.But with their patience worn out by the journey,the people complained against God and Moses,"Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,where there is no food or water?We are disgusted with this wretched food!" In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,which bit the people so that many of them died.Then the people came to Moses and said,"We have sinned in...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Icon | Saint Stephen of Mar Saba Saint Stephen of Mar Saba Saint of the Day for March 31 (725 – 794)  Saint Stephen of Mar Saba’s Story A “do not disturb” sign helped today’s saint find holiness and peace.Stephen of Mar Saba was the nephew of Saint John Damascene, who introduced the young boy to monastic life beginning at age 10. When he reached 24, Stephen served the community in a variety of ways, including guest master. After some time he asked permission to live a hermit’s life. The answer from the abbot...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: San Pedro Regalado | Santa Maria del Pi, Barcelona | © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro Saint Peter Regalado Saint of the Day for March 30 (1390 – March 30, 1456)  Saint Peter Regalado’s Story Peter lived at a very busy time in history. The Great Western Schism (1378-1417) was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France and England were fighting the Hundred Years’ War, and in 1453, the Byzantine Empire was completely wiped out by the loss of Constantinople to the Turks. At Peter’s death, the age of printing had just begun in...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of Father Ludovico da Casoria in the portico of the sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei | photo by Dario Crespi Saint Ludovico of Casoria Saint of the Day for March 29 (March 11, 1814 – March 30, 1885)  Saint Ludovico of Casoria’s Story Born in Casoria, near Naples, Arcangelo Palmentieri was a cabinet-maker before entering the Friars Minor in 1832, taking the name Ludovico. After his ordination five years later, he taught chemistry, physics, and mathematics to younger members of his province for several years.In 1847, he had...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint Catherine of Bologna | Guglielmo Giraldi Saint Catharine of Bologna Saint of the Day for March 28 (September 8, 1413 -March 9, 1463 )  Saint Catharine of Bologna’s Story Some Franciscan saints led fairly public lives; Catharine represents the saints who served the Lord in obscurity.Born in Bologna, Catharine was related to the nobility in Ferrara, and was educated at court there. She received a liberal education at the court and developed some interest and talent in painting. In later years as a Poor Clare, Catharine sometimes did manuscript illumination and also painted...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: The Raising of Lazarus | Albert van Ouwater Lazarus Saint of the Day for March 27 (? – ?)  Lazarus’ Story Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was the one of whom the Jews said, “See how much he loved him.” In their sight, Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead.Legends abound about the life of Lazarus after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is supposed to have left a written account of what he saw in the next world before he was called back to life....

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Detail | Stained glass of Saints Lucy, Catherine of Genoa, Pope Leo the Great | Sainte Anne de Detroit Catholic Church, Detroit, MI | photo by Nheyob Saint Catherine of Genoa Saint of the Day for March 26 (1447 – September 15, 1510)  Saint Catherine of Genoa’s story Going to confession one day was the turning point of Catherine’s life.When Catherine was born, many Italian nobles were supporting Renaissance artists and writers. The needs of the poor and the sick were often overshadowed by a hunger for luxury and self-indulgence. Catherine’s parents were members...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: The Annunciation | Leonardo da Vinci Annunciation of the Lord Saint of the Day for March 25  The Story of the Annunciation of the Lord The feast of the Annunciation, now recognized as a solemnity, was first celebrated in the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realized. The God-Man embraces all humanity, indeed all creation, to bring...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Blessed Oscar Romero at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, 1977 | Archdiocese of San Salvador Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero Saint of the Day for March 24 (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980)  Blessed Oscar Romero’s Story The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Santo Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo, Arzobispo de Lima | photo by MNBAArgentina Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo Saint of the Day for March 23 (November 16, 1538 – March 23, 1606)  Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo’s Story Together with Rose of Lima, Turibius is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for 26 years.Born in Spain and educated for the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca and eventually became chief judge of the Inquisition at...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Edward Oldcorne; Nicholas Owen | Gaspar Bouttats Saint Nicholas Owen Saint of the Day for March 22 (? – 1606)  Saint Nicholas Owen’s Story Nicholas, familiarly known as “Little John,” was small in stature but big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits.Born at Oxford, this humble artisan saved the lives of many priests and laypersons in England during the penal times (1559-1829), when a series of statutes punished Catholics for the practice of their faith. Over a period of about 20 years, Nicholas used his skills to build secret hiding places for priests...