THE WOMAN CLOTHED with THE SUN
MOVIE
Patron Saints for the film, "The Woman Clothed with the Sun"
The following saints are some of the saints who have intimately inspired the film, "The Woman Clothed with the Sun". We dedicate our prayers to these saints and all the saints in heaven. We also call on all the Holy Souls in Purgatory to pray for us to bring this film to fruition and to bring souls to Jesus, Our Savior through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
St. Joseph
St. Joseph was foster father to Jesus and husband to Mary. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the universal church, fathers, carpenters, social justice and the dying. We celebrate two feast days for Joseph: March 19 for Joseph the husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker. As St. Joseph was honored to be chosen the father of Jesus and husband of Mary, so we honor him in asking for help with this film; to bring others to Jesus through Mary.
St. Joseph protected Jesus and Mary, he worked as a carpenter to provide for them, he was a "just" man called by God in a powerful way. So we ask St. Joseph for his intercession to bring all that we need for the success of this film.
St. Faustina
In 1931, Our Lord appeared to St. Faustina and told her to "speak to the whole world about My Mercy." The film, "The Woman Clothed with the Sun" is all about speaking to the whole world about His Divine Mercy. St. Faustina was called to be the Secretary of Divine Mercy and she recorded Our Lord's words to her. "Mercy is My Greatest Attribute" are words recorded in St. Faustina's diary. "My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world" are encouraging words of hope to all of us, beautiful words of hope.
The film is all about Mercy and Hope.
St. Padre Pio
St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar, who like St. Francis of Assisi, took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Like St. Francis, St. Padre Pio bore the wounds of Christ crucified. St. Padre Pio dedicated his entire life to God, to save souls, to bring them to Jesus through Mary. St. Padre Pio suffered much in life for souls and he dedicated hours of each day to hearing confessions. It is through hearing confessions that penitents received God's Mercy and Love.
St. Padre Pio's faith and love remind of us to have Hope in Christ, Our Savior.
St. Luke the Evangelist
St. Luke the Evangelist wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. St. Luke was one who loved the poor, who wanted the door to God's kingdom opened to all, who saw hope in God's mercy for everyone. Throughout Luke's gospel, Jesus takes the side of the sinner who wants to return to God's mercy. This film, The Woman Clothed with the Sun is all about God's Mercy for sinners. It was St. Luke who carved the black Madonna statue found in Extramedura, Spain where Our Lady appeared to a herdsman. The black Madonna signifies sorrw and the preparation for the New Evangelization. Queen Isabella, Christopher Columbus and Bishop Zumarraga prayed at the foot of this statue.
St. Don Bosco
St. Don Bosco received dreams as early as nine years old. Pope Piux IX met the saint who worked with neglected boys and learned of the dreams. So Pius IX requested that St. Don Bosco write down his dreams. Pius IX saw John's dreams as a legacy for those John worked with and an inspiration for those he ministered to. St. Don Bosco founded the Salesian Society. Don Bosco had a vision of great threats facing the church. Don Bosco taught young boys how to make shoes. He opened up shoemaking and tailor shops. He did so much for the poor especialy for abandonded boys while leading them to God. His vision of hell and his boys going there affected him greatly. He worked to save souls.
St. Bernadette
Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette on February 11, 1858 while she was with a younger sister and friend gathering wood. Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette 17 more times. She told Bernadette to pray for poor sinners, do penance and have a chapel built there in her honor. She suffered much. One day Our Lady told Bernadette to dig in the mud and a spring of water began to flow. Many miracles happened when people began to use the water. She became a nun working in the infirmary though her own suffering was worse.
St. Bernadette is shown here incorrupt. St. Bernadette also prophesized that muslims will convert to christianity, it is especially for this resason that we pray for her intercession. Today, over 6 million people travel to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes each year.
St. Maria Goretti
St. Maria Goretti was born in Ancona, Italy on October 16, 1890. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children. In 1902 an 18 year old Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather die than submit, Alexander begain stabbing her with a knife. As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn't end her forgiveness. Alexander was captured and sentenced to 30 years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden, Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and began living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went directly to her mother to beg for forgiveness, whch she gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withold forgiveness, " she said. When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1050 for her purity as a model of youth. St. Maria is patroness of youth and victims of rape.
Padre Pro
Padre Pro was born in Guadalupe, Mexico. When his older sister entered the convent, he realized his own vocation to the priesthood. Although he was popular with the senoritas and had prospects of a lucrative career managing his father's thriving business, Miguel renounced everything for Christ his King and entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1911. He studied in Mexico until 1914 when a tidal wave of anti-Catholicism crashed down upon Mexico, forcing the novitiate to disband and flee to the U.S. Miguel and his brother seminarians treked through Texas and New Mexico before arriving at the Jesuit house in California. Miguel was sent to a seminary in Spain, and went onto Belguim for his ordination. Miguel suffered from severe stomach problems and after 3 operations, when his health didn't improve, his superiors, allowed him to return to Mexico in spite of the grave religious persecution. The churches were closed and priests went into hiding. Miguel spent the rest of his life in a secret ministry to the sturdy Mexican Catholics. In addition to fulfilling their spiritual needs, he also did works of mercy for the poor. He adopted many interesting disguises in carrying out his secret ministry. He was executed, but Fr. Pro forgave his executions and bravely prayed aloud, "Long Live Christ the King!"
St. Anne Catherine Emmerich
As a young lay woman, Anne Catherine Emmerick, employed as a seamstress, attended daily mass, visited the Blessed Sacrament, and in the late evening spent hour upon hour praying on her knees. Around midnight, she would leave her home to make the Stations of the Cross by candlelight. She offered her devotions especially for the souls in purgatory, who in turn assisted her as she explained. Whenever I do something for them, they pray for me. In her interior life, she drew much inspiration from the liturgical ceremonies of the Church, especially those of Holy Week. At the age of 28, Anne Catherine entered an Augustinian convent. But, In 1811, after 9 years of religious life, she was forced to leave when her convent was suppressed by Napoleon, who controlled the region. Soon afterward, she feel ill, and spent her remaining years bedridden. In this state of suffering, she received numerous visions, private revelations and the mystical gift of the stigmata.
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and Doctor of the Chrch, is patron of all universities and students. When St. Thomas was 5 years old, he was placed under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino. His teachers were surprised at the progress he made, for he surpassed his fellow pupils in learning and virtue. St. Thomas renounced the things of this world and entered the Order of St. Dominic in spite of oppostition of his family. At the age of 17, he joined the Dominicans of Naples. Some members of his family resorted to means to break his constancy even so far as to send an impure woman to tempt him. But all efforts were in vain and St. Thomas perservered in his vocation. As a reward for his fidelity, God conferred upon him the gift of perfect chastity. At the age of 22, he was appointed to teach in Cologne where he published his first works. He went to Paris and was honored with the friendship of the King, St. Louis, whom he dined with frequently. St. Thomas not only wrote but he preached often and with greatest fruit. He left the great monument of his learning, the "Summa Theologica".
St. Catherine Laboure
St. Catherine Laboure, virgin, was born May 2, 1806. At an early age she entered the community of the Daughters of Charity, In Paris, France. Three times in 1830, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine, who was a 34 year old novice. On July 18, the first apparition occured in the community's motherhouse. Our Lady promised to entrust St. Catherine with a mission which would cause her great suffering. Our Lady showed St. Catherine the medal of the Immaculate Conception, now universaly known as the "Miraculous Medal." At the time, only her spiritual director, Fr. Aladael, knew of the apparitions. Forty-five years later, St. Catherine spoke fully of the apparitions to one of her superiors. Our Lady said that all who wear this medal will receive great graces. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent was born of poor parents in the village of Pouy in Gascony, France about 1580. He enjoyed his first schooling by the Franciscan Fathers at Acqs. He went to the Universtiy of Toulouse for theological studies and was ordained a priest there in 1600. In 1605, a voyage by sea, he fell into the hands of African pirates and was carried as a slave to Tunis. His captivity lasted about two years, until Divine Providence enabled him to effect his escape. He began to preach missions and in 1625 he lay the foundations of a congregation which afterward became the Congregation of the Mission of Lazarists. It would be impossible to enumerate all the works of this servant of God. Charity was his predominat virtue. It extended to all classes of persons. Though honored by the great ones of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility. St. Vincent is the patron of all works of charity.
St. Charbel
Yousseff Antoun Makhlouf was born in 1828, in Bekaa Kafra (North Lebanon). He had a true Christian upbringing, which had given him passion for prayer. He followed his two hermit uncles in the hermitage of St. Antonious Kozhaya monastery and was converted to monastic and hermetical life. In 1851, he spent his first monastic year at Our Lady of Maifouk monastery, then went to St. Maron monastery where he entered the Maronite Order, carrying the name Charbel, a name of one of the Antioch church martyrs of the second century. He was ordained a priest in Bkerkky, the Maronite Patriarchate in 1859. He lived there 16 years. He entered St. Peter and Paul hermitage. He spent his time praying and worshipping. He lived in the hermitage for 23 years. On Dec. 16, 1898 he was struck with an illness while performing the holy mass. He died on Christmas eve, buried in St. Maron monastery cemetery. A few months later, dazzling lights were seen around his grave. His corpse had been secreting sweat and blood. Hordes of pilgrims swarmed the place for his intercession. Many healings occured.
St. Peter Chanel
St. Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr, was born in 1803 in France. His intelligence and simple piety led him to the attention of the local priest, Fr. Trompier, who saw to his elementary education. Entering the seminary, Peter won theh affection and the esteem of both students and professors. After his ordination, he was in a rundown country parish and completely revitalized it in 3 years. His mind was set on missionary work and he joined the newly formed Society of Mary. He was appointmed to teach at the seminary at Belley and was there 5 years.
In 1936, the Society was given the New Hebrides in the Pacific as a field for evangelization, the jubilant St. Peter was appointmed Superior of a little band of missionaries sent to proclaim the faith. The kings' jealousy and fear was aroused when the missionarles learned the language and gained the people's confidence so the king dispatched a group of warriors who clubbed St. Peter to death. His death brought his work to completion - within 5 months, the entire island was converted.
St. Benedict
St. Benedict knew the power in the Word of God, the Power of Scripture. In the 5th century, young Benedict went to Rome to finish his education. The subject that dominated his studies was rhetoric - the art of persuasive speaking. Benedict watched in horror as vice unraveled the lives and ethics of his companions. Afraid for his soul, Benedict fled Rome, gave up his inhertiance and lived in a small village with his nurse. When God called him beyond this quiet life to even deeper solitude, he went to the mountains of Subiaco. There he lived as a hermit. After years of prayer, word of his holiness brought nearby monks to ask for his leadershop. He warned that he would be too strict, but they insisted - then tried to poison him when his warning proved true. His next set of followers were more sincere and he set up 12 monasteries in Subiaco where monks lived in separate communities of 12. He left abrupty when another hermit made it impossible to continue spiritual leadership. In Monte Cassino he founded the monastery that became the roots of the Church's monastic system. Instead of small separate communities he gathered his disciples into one who community. Benedict believed with Jesus that "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was born in Fussen, Bavaria, Germany in 1819. He entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), founded for the evangelization of the most abandoned. He decided to enter the Congregation and to minister to the German speaking immigrants in the United States. On Dec. 22, 1844, after having completed his notitiate and theological studies, Francis was ordained a priest in the Redemptorist Church of St. James in Baltimore, Maryland. His availability and innate kindness in understanding and responding to the needs of the faithful, quickly made him well known as an expert confessor and spiritual director, so much so that people came to see him even from neighboring towns. He dedicated his life to missionary preaching in English and German in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rholde Island and Wisconsin.
St. Joseph Cupertino
St. Joseph was born at Cupertino, in th diocese of Nardon in the Kingdom of Naples, in 1603. He joined th Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination, he gave himself up entirely to a life of humiliation, mortification and obedience. He was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and promoted devotion to her among all classes of people.
St. Joseph. Over seventy times, people saw him rise from the ground while saying mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be completely rapt up in talking with God. He became so holy that everything he saw made him think of God. St. Joseph became so famous for the miracles that he was kept hidden, but he was happy for the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. Over seventy times, people saw him rise from the ground while saying mass or praying. The people flocked to him in droves seeking help and advice in the confessional, and he converted many to a truly Christian life. However, this humble man had to endure many severe trials and terrible temptations throughout his life. He died on September 18, 1663.
St. Katherine Drexel
Saint Katharine Drexel, Religious (Feast Day-March 3) Born in 1858, into a prominent Philadelphia family, Katharine became imbued with love for God and neighbor. She took an avid interest in the material and spiritual well-being of black and native Americans. She began by donating money but soon concluded that more was needed - the lacking ingredient was people. Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American peoples, whose members would work for the betterment of those they were called to serve. From the age of 33 until her death in 1955, she dedicated her life and a fortune of 20 million dollars to this work. In 1894, Mother Drexel took part in opening the first mission school for Indians, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools quickly followed - for Native Americans west of the Mississippi River, and for the blacks in the southern part of the United States. In 1915 she also founded Xavier University in New Orleans. At her death there were more than 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the coutry. Pope John Paul II canonized her on October 1, 2000 to become only the second recognized American-born saint.
St John Chrysostom
St. John, named Chrysostom (golden-mouthed) on account of his eloquence, came into the world of Christian parents, about the year 344, in the city of Antioch. His mother, at the age of 20, was a model of virtue. He studied rhetoric under Libanius, a pagan, the most famous orator of the age. In 374, he began to lead the life of an anchorite in the mountains near Antioch, but in 386 the poor state of his health forced him to return to Antioch, where he was ordained a priest.
In 398, he was elevated to the See of Constantinople and became one of the greatest lights of the Church. But he had enemies in high places and some were ecclesiastics, not the least being Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who repented of this before he died. His most powerful enemy, however, was the empress Eudoxia, who was offended by the apostolic freedom of his discourses. Several accusations were brought against him in a pseudo-council, and he was sent into exile.
In the midst of his sufferings, like the apostle, St. Paul, whom he so greatly admired, he found the greatest peace and happiness. He had the consolation of knowing that the Pope remained his friend, and did for him what lay in his power. His enemies were not satisfied with the sufferings he had already endured, and they banished him still further, to Pythius, at the very extremity of the Empire. He died on his way there on September 14, 407.
St. Peter the Apostle
Peter was a native of Bethsaida, near Lake Tiberias, the son of John, and worked, like his brother St. Andrew, as a fisherman on Lake Genesareth. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus, and Christ called Peter to become a disciple. In Luke is recounted the story that Peter caught so large an amount of fish that he fell down before the feet of Jesus and was told by the Lord, Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. Jesus also gave Simon a new name: Cephas, or the rock. Becoming a disciple of Jesus, Peter acknowledged him as "... the Messiah, the son of the living God. Christ responded by saying: "... you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.... He added: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Peter was always listed as the first of the Apostles in all of the New Testament accounts and was a member of the inner circle of Jesus, with James and John. He is recorded more than any other disciple, and was at Jesus' side at the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus' daughter, and the Agony of the Garden of Gethsemane. He helped organize the Last Supper and played a major role in the events of the Passion. When the Master was arrested, he cut off the right ear of a soldier.
St. Francis of Assisi
The role of St. Francis of Assisi can never be underestimated. St. Francis was asked by Our Lord, "to go and build up my church." St. Francis' love for Lady Poverty, for his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience has forever changed our world. St. Francis' simplicity, love of God and great faith are evident throughout this film. The Franciscans of the early 16th century played a pivotal role in the conversion of the Aztec Indians to the Catholic faith. It was the Franciscans who arrived in New Spain and worked ardously to convert the Aztec Indians, even suffering abuse themselves from both Indians and Spaniards.
St. Maximilian Kolbe
St. Maximilian Kolbe, was a Franciscan friar who used the technology of his day to spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the printing press and radio. St. Maximilian Kolbe teaches us about true charity as he sacrificed his own life for the sake of another at the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz.. He is the patron saint of modern media. Today, modern media is the internet and movies. He spread devotion to Our Lady through the radio and printing presses. St. Maximilian founded the Imacculata Movement and spread the movement through a magazine entitled, "The Knight of the Immaculata." He formed a religious community of 800 men.
St. Teresa of Avila
As a young child of 7, St. Teresa of Avila ran away from home to be martyred by the Moors.
St. Teresa's paternal grandfather was interrogated at the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Her father was very pios and strict.
She entered the Carmelite order and sought to reform it. She had many mystical experiences and visions. St. Teresa became a Doctor of the Church for her writings on prayer. She lived in Spain during the time Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego and entered the convent in 1535, just 4 years after the apparitions.
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Antony of Padua, a Doctor of the Church, entered the Franciscan Oder in 1221 after leaving the Augustinian Order. St. Antony became a Franciscan because of the deaths of St. Bernard, St. Peter, St. Otho, St. Accursius and St. Adjutus. These saints shed their blood for the Catholic Faith in Morocco, North Africa and their headless and mutilated bodies were brought to St. Antony's monastary. St. Anthony became a Franciscan in the hope of shedding his own blood and becoming a martyr. His teaching of the faith were so simple that the most unlettered, uneducated and innocent might understand it. His great protection was simply to utter the name of Mary.
St. Kateri Tekawitha
St. Kateri Tekawitha was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior. When she was 4 years old, her mother died of smallpox. This same disease transfigured her face. She became converted as a teenager. She was baptized at the age of twenty and incurred great hostility from her tribe. Although she suffered greatly for her faith, she remained firm in it. She lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices and care for the sick. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified. She is known as "Lily of the Mohawks."Devotion to Kateri is responsible for establishing Native American ministries in the Catholic Church all over the U.S. and Canada.
Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey
Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey was born in a three room log cabin in Oak Grove, Wisconsin. As a teenager he saved a man from drowning and believed that it was with the help of Our Lady. As a young man several difficult incidents brought him closer to God. One, the ending of a relationship with a young woman whom he loved and being a witness to a murder. He decided he wanted to devote his life to God. Fr. Solanus was ordained a simplex priest, which meant he could not hear confessions or preach homilies. People waited in lines to speak to him. They noticed the power of his prayers, a man with great faith in God. Reports of healing and conversions became everday occurances in the Capuchin house. He was a man who submitted his will to God's will.
St. Rose of Lima
St. Rose of Lima is the patroness of Latin America and the Philippines. Her real name was Isablel, but she was such a beautiful baby that she was called Rose. As she grew older, she bacame more and more beautiful. One day her mother put a wreath of flowers on her head to show off her loveliness to friends, but Rose had no desire to be admired. She had given her heart to Jesus. So she put a long pin into that wreath and it pierced her so deeply, that she had a hard time getting the wreath off afterward. Another time she became afraid that her beauty might be a temptation to someone, since people could not take their eyes off her. Therefore, she rubbed her face with pepper until it was all red and blistered. She worked hard to support her poor parents and humbly obeyed them except they tried to get her to marry. This she would not do. Her love of Jesus was so great that when she talked about Him, her face glowed and her eyes sparkled. In her last long, painful sickness, this heroic young woman use to pray: "Lord, increase my sufferings , and then increase Your love in my heart." Many miracles followed her death.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Elizabeth grew up in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. She continued to love the scriptures for her entire life. In 1794, Elizabeth married a wealthy young William Seton whom she loved deeply. Four years later, William's father died and they were left in charge of 7 half brothers and sisters and the family's importing business.
The business and Will's health failed. He died of tuberculosis but was awakened to things of God. The many separations from death and distance served to draw Elizebeth's heart to God. The accepting and embracing of God's will.
Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her to the Catholic Church. Elizabeth's desire for the Berad of Life was to be a strong force leading her to the Catholic Church. Having lost her mother at an early age, seh felt comfort in the idea that the Blessed Virgin was truly her mother. She asked the Blessed Virgin to guide her to the True Faith. She began a Sisterhood based on the Rule of St. Vincent de Paul, founded schools and orphanages.
St. Juan Diego
St. Juan Diego was a humble peasant whom Our Lady appeared to in 1531. Our Lady asked for Juan to go to the bishop and tell him all that he has seen, heard and marveled. Juan Diego was not believed by the bishop and was laughed at by others. The film, "The Woman Clothed with the Sun", tells the story of Juan Diego's apparitions and some of what led up to the apparitions and what happened after the apparitions. In essence, the faith and obedience of one, Juan Diego, brought about the conversions of 9 million Aztec Indians of his time and continues to this day to bring many to Jesus through Our Lady of Guadalupe.
St. Pope John Paul II
St. Pope John Paul II was dedicated to the message of Divine Mercy as given to St. Fausina. It is through St. Pope John Paul II that we have the Feast of Divine Mercy. St. Pope John Paul II dedicated his pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe. He travelled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and dedicated all of the Americas to Our Mother of Mercy, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. St. John Paul II prophesized about Our Lady of Guadalupe and called her the "Star of the New Evangelization." He created a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Peters Square. And, he canonized St. Juan Diego, St. Maximilan Kolbe, St. Faustina and St. Padre Pio.
St. Teresa the Little Flower
St. Teresa the Little Flower is a parton saint of missions. She never went on missions, never founded a religious order and never performed great works. In her journal, "Story of a Soul," St. Teresa writes, "O Jesus, my Love...my vocation, at last I have found it....my vocation is Love!". St. Teresa did simple works with great love. Today she is known all over the world for her simplicity and love. As a parton saint of missions, we ask St. Teresa to help and guide us in this mission to create this film according to God's will. We ask her to pray for us to do this work with the same vocation and that is Love.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine had a huge conversion from a former life of loose living, whch included parties, entertainment and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break. The famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was very intelligent, he was brought up Christian, but his sins of impurity and pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand Divine Truth. Through the prayers of his holy mother and preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Augustine began a new life and is a Doctor of the Church.
St. John Vianney
St. John Vianney was ordained a priest in 1815 after much difficulty. He was made a parish priest of Ars, a remote French hamlet, where his reputation as a confessor and director of souls made him known throughout the Christian world. His life was one of extreme mortification. Accustomed to the most severe austerities, beleagureed by swarms of penitents, and besieged by the devil, this great mystic manifested a imperturabable patience. He was a wonderworker loved by the crowds, but he retained a childlike simplicity. He heard confessions of people from all over the world for sixteen hours a day. His life was filled with works of charity and love.
Blessed Mother Teresa
In 1928, Mother Teresa left her home at the age of 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto. Sister Teresa was assigned to the Loreto community in Calcutta and taught at St. Mary's school for girls. In 1944, she became the shools principal. The twenty years in Loreto were filled with much happiness. She was noted for her charity, unselfishness and courage. During a train ride on September 10, 1946 Mother Teresa received her "call within a call" On that day, Jesus' thrist for love and for souls took hold of her heart and the desire to satiate His thirst becamse the driving force of her life. By means of interior locutions and visions, Jesus revealed to her the desire of His heart for "victims of Love" who would "radiate His love on souls." He asked Mother Teresa to establish a religious community, the Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor.
St. Martin de Porres
St. Martine de Porres was born at Lima, Peru. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed slave from Panama, of African or possibly part Native American descent. By law in Peru, descendants of Africans or Indians were barred from becoming full members of religious orders. He was given admission to the Dominican Convent of the Rosary and was first received as a servant boy and then an almoner. After 8 years, Juan de Lorenzana turned a blind eye to the law and accepted Martin as a third order Dominican. At age 24, he was allowed to profess vows of a lay brother. He was mocked for being illegitimate and a descendant of a slave. He was known for his care of the sick. Many miracles were attributed to him. Martin's life is said to have reflected extraordinary gifts: ecstasies that lifted him into the air, light filling the room where he prayed, bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures and remarkable rapport with animals.
St. John of the Cross
Born in Spain in 1542, John learned the importance of self-sacrificing love from his parents. His father came from wealth but when he married a weaver's daughter, he was disowned by his noble family. After his father died, his mother kept the destitue family together as they wandered homeless. It was out of this poverty and suffering, that John learned to search for beauty and happiness not in the world, but in God. After John joined the Carmelite order, St. Teresa of Avila asked him to help her reform the movement. John supported her belief that the order should return to its life of prayer. Many Carmelities felt threatened by this reform, and some members of John's own order kidnapped him. He was locked in a tiny cell and beated three times a week by the monks. After 9 months, he escaped taking with him his mystical poetry that he wrote in his cell. He hid from his pursuers in a convent infirmary where he read his poetry to the nuns. From then on his life was devoted to sharing his experience of God's love.
St. Claude la Colombiere
St. Claude la Colombiere was a Roman Catholic priest and the confessor of St. Mary Mary. At the age of 17, Colombiere entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus at Avignon. He studied theology in Paris at College de Clemont. He tutored the children of the Royal Minister of Finances, Jean-Baptiste Colbert. After completing his studies, he was ordained a priest and assigned to teach at his former school in Lyon. He was assigned to the preaching team of the Jesuit community, through which he gained notice for the clarity and soundness of his sermons.
In 1675, Colombiere was appointmed the Rector of the Jesuit commuity at Paray-le-Monial, where he also became the spiritual director of the nuns of the Monastery of the Visitation. He came to know Sr. Margaret Mary and she wrote that his spiritual gift "was that of bringing souls to God along the Gospel way of love and mercy which Christ revealed to us." He was convinced of St. Margaret Mary's visions and became both a supporter and a zealous apostle of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
Audrey Santo
Audrey gained worldwide attention after falling into her family's pool August 9, 1987, at age 3 and ending up in a nonmoving, non-speaking state, surrounded by consecrated hosts, statues and picures said to ooze blood or oil. The first image to ooze oil was Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Hundreds of people from all over flocked to her home and "ministry house" and her family's parish, Christ the King, to see her and seek miracles and her prayers. Audrey died April 14, 2007 at age 23. Audrey manifested unexplainable marks on her body that resembled the wounds of Christ. There have been 7 consecrated hosts that began bleeding.
Significant dates in Audrey's life echo monumental historic events. Aug. 9th, 11:03 am, the first recorded medical entry on the day of the drowning accident, is also the exact date and time of the bombing of Nagasaki some 42 years earlier. The date of Audrey's release from the hospital, November 14th, is the anniversary of the bombing of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Audrey was fed by a feeding tube but she could consume only one thing by mouth, this was the Holy Eucharist. The cause for her canonization is in progress.
St. Margaret Mary
St. Margaret Mary was sent to the Poor Clares school on the death of her father when she was 8 years old. She was bedridden for 5 years with rheumatic fever until she was 15 and developed a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She refused marriage and entered the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial and was professed the next year. From the time she was 20, she experienced visions of Christ, and on Dec. 27, 1673, she received a series of revelations. In them, Christ informed her that she was His chosen instrument to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart. Jesus instructed her in a devotion that was to become known as the Nine Fridays and the Holy Hour. Jesus asked for the feast of the Sacred Heart to be established. In her efforts to follow instructions she received from Jesus, she was rebuffed by her superior. She received the support of St. Claude La Colombiere, the communities confessor. In 1683, opposition in her community ended when Mother Melin was elected her superior. In 1686, she saw her convent observe the feast of the Sacred heart privately, two years later a chapel was built and the feast spread to other Visitation convents.
St. Thomas More
St. Thomas More, (Patron of Lawyers) was born in London. After thorough grounding in religion and the classics, he entered Oxford to study law. He embarked on a legal career which took him to Parliament. He married and had 4 children, was widowed and quickly married another widow. He had many bishops and scholars among his friends. By 1516, he wrote his world-famous book, "Utopia." He attracted the attention of Henry VIII who appointed him to a succession of high posts and missions. and finally made him Lord Chancellor in 1529. However, he resigned in 1532, at the height of his career and reputation, when Henry persisted in holding his own opinions regarding marriage and the supremacy of the pope. The rest of his life was spent in writing in defense of the Church. He was tried and convicted of treason. He told the court that he could not go against his conscience and wished his judges that "we may yet hereafter in heaven merrily all meet together to everlasting salvation."
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Catherine was a tertiary of the Dominican Order and a scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France and to establish peace among the Italian city-states. She is one of two patron saints of Italy, the other is St. Francis of Assisi. She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Chrch by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II named her as one of the six patrons of Europe. Catherine is said by her confessor and biographer Raymond of Capua to have had her first vision of Christ when she was 5 or 6 years old. At age 7, Catherine vowed to give her whole life to God. Catherine experienced what she described in her letters as a "Mystical Marriage" with Jesus. She was told by Christ to leave her withdrawn life and enter the public life of the world. Catherine rejoined her family and began helping the ill and poor. Her pious activities attracted a group of followers. As social and political tensions mounted in Siena, Catherine found herself drawn to intervene in wider politics. She travelled throughout Italy advocating reform of the clergy and advising people that repentance and renewal could be done through "the total love for God."
St. Charles Boromeo
St. Charles was born at the family castle of Aron on Kake Maggiore, Italy. He received the clerical tonsure when he was 12 and was sent to the Benedictine abbey. In 1559 his uncle was elected Pope Pius IV and the following year, named him Secreatary of State and created him a cardinal and administrator of the see of Milan. He served as Pius' legate on numerous diplomatic missions and was instrumental in having Pius reconvene the Council of Trent. He was ordained a priest in 1563 and consecrated bishiop of Milan the same year. Before being allowed to take possession of his see, he oversaw the catechism, missal and breviary called for by the Council of Trent. He he arrived at Trent in 1556, he instituted radical reforms despite great opposition, with such effectiveness that it became a model see. He put into effect measures to improve the morals and manners of the clergy and laity, raised the effectiveness of the diocesan operation, established seminaries, founded a Confrternity of Christian Doctrine for the religious instruction of children and encouraed Jesuits in his see. He increased the systems to the poor. He was active in preaching, resisting the inroads of protestantism annd bring back lapsed Catholics to the church. He encountered much opposition.
St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis was born in the family castle of Xavier, near Pamplona in the Basque area of Spanish Navarre. He went to the University of Paris where he met St. Ignatius Loyola and besame one of seven who founded the Society of Jesus. He was ordained in 1537, went to /Rome in 1538 and in 1540, when the pope formally recognized the Society, he was ordered, with Fr. Simon Rodiguez, to the Far East as the first Jesuit missionaries. He went to mozamgique where he preached and gave aid to the sick and eventually arrived in Goa, India. There he began preaching ot the natives and atempted to reform his fellow Europeans, living among the natives. During the next decade he converted tens of thousands to Christianity. He travelled to Malacca, New Guinea, the Phillippines and Japan. In 1551, India and the East were set up as separate provinces and Ignatius made Francis his first provincial. There are 32 silver plats on all 4 sides of his casket depicting different episodes of his life. They represent things like: He baptises in Travancore, he resuscitates a boy who died, he converts a Portuguese soldier, a deaf Japanese is cured and he baptizes three kings in Cochin. St. Francis levitates as he distrubes communion in the College of St. Paul.
St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis was a patient man. He knew for 13 years that he had a vocation to the priesthood before he mentioned it to his family. His father sent him to Paris to study, then he went to Padua to get a doctorate in law and said nothing. He studied theology and practiced mental prayer while getting into swordfights and going to parties. Throughout Francis' life, he waited for God's will to be clear. He never wanted to push his wishes on God. God finally made His will clear to Francis while he was riding. Francis feel from his horse 3 times. Each time he fell the sword came out of the scabbard, each time it came out the scabbard and sword would make a cross. Francis decided he should lead an expedition to convert 60,000 Calvinists back to Catholicism. For 3 years, he trudged through the countryside, had doors slammed in his face and rocks thown at him. He slept in haylofts, in trees and once had to be cut out of a tree after being frozen. His only help, his cousin, left him alone and he had not made one convert. Francis patience kept him working. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. So Francis wrote his sermons out by hand and slipped them under the doors. The parents wouldn't come to him, so he went to the chirldren. The parents saw his kindness and began to talk to him. He converted 40,000 back to Catholicism.
St. Louis de Monfort
St. Louis de Monfort was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He is known in his time as a preacher but he wrote a number of books. His books became classic Catholic titles and influenced several popes. St. Louis is known for his particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the practice of praying the Rosary.
At age 12, he entered the jesuit College of St. Thomas Becket. He was inspiried to teach missions among the very poor. Through a benefactor he went to Paris to study but didn't have enough funds so he lodged in at boarding houses living among the very poor. Less than two years later, he became very ill, was hopsitalized and survived his hospitalization and the blood letting that was part of his treatment. Upon release, he found a place at the Little Saint-Sulpice, where he was a librarian. He was ordained a priest in 1700. His letters of this period show he felt frustrated from the lack of opportunity to preach. He became constantly occupied with preaching missions, but he wrote. He wrote "True Devotion to Mary, The Secret of Mary. and the Secret of the Rosary.
St. Philomena
Little is known about the life of St. Philomena but she was martyerd at about age 14 in the early days of the Church. In 1802 the remains of a young woman were found in the catacomb of St. Priscilla on the Via Salaria. It was covered by stones, the symbols of which indicated that the body was a martyr named Saint Philomena. St. Philomena was a virgin martyr who is recognized as a saint solely on the basis of her powerful intercession. After being miraculously cured, Ven. Pauline Jaricot insisted that Pope Gregory XVI begin an examination for the beatification of St. Philomena. She became known as the "wonder worker". After hundreds of other miraculous cures, she was beatified in 1837. St. Philomena was given the name "Patroness of the Living Rosary and patroness of the Children of Mary by the pope. She has been a model of spiritual life for many Saints, Blessed and Venerable. Great devotion spread all over the world and Pontiffs have granted the Saint the "Liturgical Cult" with Mass and its own Office.
St. Dominic
St. Dominic (1170-1221), was son of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza, he was born at Calaruega, Spain. He was appointed canon at Osma in 1199, became prior superior of the chapter, which was noted for its strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. He preached against the Albiegensians (heresy) and helped reform the Cistercians. Dominic founded an institute for women at Prouille in Albigensian territory. When papal legate Peter of Castelnan was murdered by the Albigensians in 1208, Pope Innocent III launched a crusade against them headed by Count Simon IV of Montfort which was to continue for the next seven years. Dominic followed the army and preached to the heretics but with no great success. In 1214 Simon gave him a castle at Casseneuil and Dominic with six followers founded an order devoted to the conversion of the Albigensians; the order was canonically approved by the bishop of Toulouse the following year. He failed to gain approval for his order of preachers at the fourth General Council of the Lateran in 1215 but received Pope Honorius III's approval in the following year, and the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) was founded.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin (Feast day November 13) St. Frances was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850, one of thirteen children. At eighteen, she desired to become a Nun, but poor health stood in her way. She helped her parents until their death, and then worked on a farm with her brothers and sisters. One day a priest asked her to teach in a girls' school and she stayed for six years. At the request of her Bishop, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. Then at the urging of Pope Leo XIII she came to the United States with six nuns in 1889 to work among the Italian immigrants. Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful administrative ability, this remarkable woman soon founded schools, hospitals, and orphanages in this strange land and saw them flourish in the aid of Italian immigrants and children. At the time of her death, at Chicago, Illinois on December 22, 1917, her institute numbered houses in England, France, Spain, the United States, and South America. In 1946, she became the first American citizen to be canonized when she was elevated to sainthood by Pope Pius XII. St. Frances is the patroness of immigrants.
St. Jerome
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Claude Newman
Claude Newman was an African American man who was born on December 1, 1923 in Arkansas. In 1928, his father took him to his grandmothers home, Ellen Newman in Mississippi. In 1939, Claude's grandmother marries a man named Sid Cook who abuses her. On Dec. 19, 1942, Claude is still angered by the mistreatment of his grandmother and lies in wait at Sid Cook's house (his grandmother was separated) and shoots Sid as he enters his home and kills him, then takes his money and flees to his mother's house in Arkansas.
Claude is arrested and sentenced to death row. Our Lady appeared to Claude in his cell at the prison. He screamed to see a Catholic priest, then received instructions in the faith.
He received lessons from Our Lady on confession and the Eucharist. Claude becomes Catholic and is scheduled to be executed. On the day of his execution, he receives a 2 week stay of execution. Claude began to cry and said, But you don't understand! If you ever saw Her face, and looked into Her eyes, you wouldn't want to live another day!" Claude offered his execution for another man on death row who in the last moment before his execution, he too called for a priest because he saw Our Lady with Claude and a vision of hell. The man cried for a priest and received confession.
St. Claire of Assisi
Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewoman who bame the foundress of an order of nuns now called "Poor Clares." When she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a poor humble life for Jesus. She ran away from home to a little chapel outside of Assisi and gave herself completely to God. St. Francis cut of her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Soon her sister, St. Agnes joined her as well as other young women. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Once, an army of soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed there. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters.
A sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could.
St. Ignatious Loyola
St. Ignatius was born in the family castle in Spain, the youngest of 13 children. He becamse a page and then a soldier to Spain to fight against the French. A cannon ball and a series of bad operations ended his military career in 1521. While St. Ignatius recovered, he reasd the lives of the saints, and decided to dedicate himself to becoming a soldier of the Catholic Faith. Soon after he experienced visions, but a year later he suffered a trial of fears and scruples, driving him almost to despair. Out of this experience he wrote his famous "Spiritual Exercises." Many first hated St. Ignatius because of his humble lifestyle. Despite this, he attracted several followers at the university, including St. Francis Xavier, and soon started his order called, The Society of Jesus or Jesuits. There are 38 members of the Society of Jesus who are declared blesseds and 38 wh have been canonized as saints.
St. Alphonsus Ligori
St. Alphonsus Ligori was a bishop and founder of the Redemptorist Congregation. He was raised in a pious home, went on retreats with his father, was the oldest of 7 children and was raised by a devout mother of spanish decent. Educated at the Universtiy of Naples, he received his doctorate at the age of 16 and was practicing law by 19. While visiting the local Hospital for Incurables on August 28, 1723, he had a vision and was told to consecrate his life solely to God. In response, Alphosus dedicated himself to the religious life, even while suffering persecution from his family. He finally agreed to become a priest but to live at home as a member of a goup of secular missionaries. Alphonsus fed the poor, instructed families, reorganized the seminary and religous houses, taught theology and wrote. His austerities were rigorous and he suffered daily pain from rheumatism that deformed his body. He is a Doctor of the Church.
St. Patrick
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him. He escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, who loved and trusted God. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.
St. Rita
At an early age, St. Rita begged her parents to allow her to enter the convent. Instead, they arranged a marriage for her. Rita was a good wife and mother but her husband was a man of violent temper. He mistreated St. Rita. He taught their children his evil ways. After nearly 20 years of marriage, her husband was stabbed to death by an enemy. He repented because Rita had prayed much for him. Shortly afterwards, her two sons died. St. Rita was admitted to the convent of the Augustian nuns at Cascia and began a life of perfect obedience and charity. St. Rita was devoted to the Passion of Christ. She prayed, "Please let me suffer like you, Divine Savior." and suddenly one of the thorns from the crucifix struck her on her forehead leaving a deep wound which never healed. She died May 22, her feast day is May 22 and she is patroness of impossible causes.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, was born of noble parentage in Burgundy, France. St. Bernard embraced the newly established and very austere institute of the Cistercian Order. He persuaded his brothers and several friends to follow his example. His superior, seeing hte great progress he had made in the spiritual life, sent him with 12 monks to found a new monastery, which afterward became known as the celebrated Abbey of Clairvaux. He founded numerous other monsateries, composed a number of works and undertook many journeys for the honor of God. The reputation of St. Bernard spread far and wide; even the Popes were governed by his advice. He was commissioned by Pope Eugen III to preach the second Crusade. In obedience to the Soverign Pontiff he traveled through France and Germany, and aroused the greatest enthusiasm for the holy war among the masses of the population. St. Bernard was eminently endowed with the gift of miracles. He died August 20, 1153, His feast day is August 20.
St. Gertrude the Great
St. Gertrude the Great is invoked for souls in purgatory and for living sinners. Our Lord told St. Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well.
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."
In 1281, at the age of twenty-five, she experienced the first of a series of visions that continued throughout her life, and which changed the course of her life. Her priorities shifted away from secular knowledge and toward the study of Scripture and theology. Gertrude devoted herself strongly to personal prayer and meditation, and began writing spiritual treatises for the benefit of her monastic sisters. Gertrude became one of the great mystics of the 13th century. Together with her friend and teacher St. Mechtild, she practiced a spirituality called "nuptial mysticism," that is, she came to see herself as the bride of Christ.
St. Philip Neri
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St. John the Apostle
St. John, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake our Savior in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross when our Savior made him the guardian of His Mother. His later life was passed chiefly in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia Minor. He wrote the fourth Gospel, and three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation is also attributed to him. Brought to Rome, tradition relates that he was by order of Emperor Dometian cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came forth unhurt and was banished to the island of Pathmos for a year. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died at Ephesus about the year 100. St. John is called the Apostle of Charity, a virtue he had learned from Jesus.
St. Paul
St. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, was converted from Judaism on the road to Damascus. He remained some days in Damascus after his Baptism, and then went to Arabia, possibly for a year or two to prepare himself for his future missionary activity. Having returned to Damascus, he stayed there for a time, preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. For this he incurred the hatred of the Jews and had to flee from the city. He then went to Jerusalem to see Peter and pay his homage to the head of the Church.
Later he went back to his native Tarsus, where he began to evangelize his own province until called by Barnabus.
St. John the Baptist
John the Baptist was the son of Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary who visited her. He was probably born at Ain-Karim southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel told Zachary that his wife would bear a child even though she was an old woman. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea. When he was thirty, he preached on the banks of the Jordan against the evils of the times and called men to penance and baptism "for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand". He attracted large crowds, and when Christ came to him, John recognized Him as the Messiah and baptized Him, saying, "It is I who need baptism from You". When Christ left to preach in Galilee, John continued preaching in the Jordan valley. Fearful of his great power, Herod Antipas, had him arrested and imprisoned. John denounced Herod's adultrous and incestuous marriages with Herodias, wife of half brother Philip. John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias. John is presented in the New Testament as the last of the Old Testament prophets and the precursor of the Messiah. His feast day is June 24th and the feast for is beheading is August 29th.
St. Jude
St. Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles and brother of St. James. Ancient writers tell us he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia and Lybia. He is an author of an epistle to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts directed against heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. St. Luke is said to have suffered martydom in Armenia, which was then subject to Persia. Jude was the one who asked Jesus why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after his resurection. Little else is known of his life. St. Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should perserver in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. He is the patron saint of desperate cases and his feast day is Oct. 28.
St. Anne
By tradition, Joachim and Anne are considered to be the names of the parents of Mary, the Mother of God. We get the oldest story from a document called the Gospel of James, though in no way should this document be trusted to be factual, historical, or the Word of God. The legend told in this document says that after years of childlessness, an angel appeared to tell Anne and Joachim that they would have a child. Anne promised to dedicate this child to God (much the way that Samuel was dedicated by his mother Hannah -- Anne -- in 1 Kings). it was the parents of Mary who nurtured Mary, taught her, brought her up to be a worthy Mother of God. It was their teaching that led her to respond to God's request with faith, "Let it be done to me as your will." It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own son, Jesus. It was their faith that laid the foundation of courage and strength that allowed her to stand by the cross as her son was crucified and still believe.
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Gabriel the Archangel
