Saints and Souls

The saints are being placed in alphabetical order, taken from books or the website of Fr Liam Hickey and various other sources:-

Bernadette, Brigid, Ciaran. Colette - France, Damasus,  Elizabeth Ann Seton, Francis de Sales  - France St. Finbarr ‘Barry’, Gerard Majella, Hilary France, Isaiah, Jimmy Dolan, John of Capistrano, John of GOD - Portugal, Julie  Billiart Lawrence, Margaret Birmingham, Margaret of Cortona,  Martin of Tours, Mary of the Rosary, Mother Teresa, Peregrine Laziosi, Paschal Baylon, Spain, Patrick, Philip Benizi, Roch, Ruth , Teresa of  Avila.

There are many ordinary saints surrounding our lives. They are called parents, grandparents, teachers, nurses, people in public office, caretakers, telephonists, publicans, security personnel, widows and widowers, drivers on road, sea and sky, those who pray in silence. There is no end to the list. God’s family includes all saints, all souls and all sorts.
 
 

Force is never God’s way - invitation is.
 

St.  Bernadette - France - 19 Century 

My favourite shrine is Lourdes. It fills my mind with soothing images. The presence and sound of water. The Lady asked Bernadette to scratch the earth, and healing water flowed.

It is a place of wheelchairs and stretchers , where the sick are hosted , like nowhere else on earth. They take first place, in all processions and celebrations. People from all over the world come together here. There is peace, hospitality, joviality in the air, with everyday bargaining.

When Bernadette was hassled by the authorities about the truth of her visions, she said

’’The Lady did not ask me to make anyone believe, she only asked me to tell my story ‘’.

Brigid - Ireland - 5th Century 

There is a taste of Spring about St. Brigid. She is the Celtic Goddess, turned Christian. She is Mary of the Gael. Green, riverside rushes are interwoven into her beautiful Brigid Cross. Its heart stretches in four directions.

For Brigid, all of life, and the four corners of the earth, are graced in God’s presence, through Jesus Christ. She is Saint of field and farm-the woman of hospitality. She is loved for her feminine qualities, choosing to take the veil, when the ‘done thing’ was to get married, taking the responsibility of Bishop, with the blessing of St.

Ciaran- 6th.century -Ireland

Ciaran died at Clonmacnoise at 33 yrs.of age.  Silent stones mark his resting place. He chose the most beautiful place for his monastery cum university, because God for him was Beauty.  The lovely Shannon river circles his memory with a boquet of respect.  The sky is endless.  The meadow lands mystical.  His monastery flourished for a thousand years.  Scholars came from all over Europe to study here.  High Kings of Ireland are buried in this quiet watered land.

Friends of Ciaran were Kevin of Glendalough, Mobhi of Glasnevin, Enda of Aran Islands,Finian Clonard. Vacancy in Clonmacnois is full of sound.  The Cross of the Scriptures stands with awesome beauty to the memory of King Flann. 1045 ad. A panel on the Cross shows Ciaran  staking his infant monastery, hand and hand with rebel King Dermot 445ad. who gave him this land.  Ciaran is Gods peacemaker.

Colette - France - 15th Century

It is true that we get tired at times, get stale, and lose touch. We can resent change .Yet there is no growth without change. Colette breathed new life into her decaying family of religious sisters, called The Poor Clares. She was deeply resented by many, but her love of God and goodness of people kept her on course.

How can I get my teen children to go to Mass, the mother asked the lecturer. Not by argument, not by attack, he said. You sit down and listen, without interruption and tolerantly, to their reasons for not going to Mass. You will find yourself agreeing with many of their reasons, even though some are not very well thought out .Then, they will sit down and listen without interruption, and tolerantly, for your reasons for going to Mass. Where there is tolerance and challenge there is room for The Spirit to move, but even if nothing happens, you still keep the door open.

Damasus - Spain - 4th Century  

Not least of Damasus’ distinctions was that he wrote his own funeral speech. ‘He who calms the waves, and gives life to dying seeds in the earth, and loosed Lazarus from the darkness of his chains, will make Damasus rise again from the dust ‘. Jesus stressed living life before death, as the best recipe for the Kingdom. Damasus certainly lived for the day and praised its blessings. A pagan by birth, his choice as Pope was violently contested. He lived under the shadow of an anti-Pope and his supporters. He encouraged St. Jerome to make the Scriptures available to all of us. He restored the catacombs to the memory of Christian martyrs, and shortened the Mass.
 

St Elizabeth Ann Seton

Born in New York City, August 28, 1774, Elizabeth lost her mother early, her education became the concern of her father. At nineteen, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton of New Youk. Five children were born of their happy union. After her husband's death, the Filicchi-life-long friends-welcomed the grieving widow to their home in italy. Elizabeth returned to New York in 1804 and entered the Catholic Church on March 14, 1805. she started the Sisters of Charity and lived in Emmitsburg. Elizabeth died on January 4, 1821. In 1963 she became the first American-born citizen to be beatified and on September 14,1975 she was canonised by Paul V1. 21. In 1963 she became the first American-born citizen to be beatified and on September 14,1975 she was canonised by Paul V1.
 

Finbarr ‘Barry’ – Ireland - 7th Century

Finbarr means the “fair headed one”. It is a name revered in County Cork, Ireland. Finbarr must have had a sunshine Idea of God too. He chose Gougane Barra as a place of solitude. It is an idyllic island. The gentle water lapping the Shore soothes the heart.  The beauty of mountain,trees, and passing clouds ,delight the eye.  Its a wedding day in the Small church beside the lake shore.  I think that Finbarr saw Gods world and God’s people as a fantastic wedding Celebration.

Francis de Sales  - France - 17th Century

A lawyer, priest, bishop and saint. Francis is called The Gentleman Saint because of his kindness. He was a brilliant teacher who used simple language and mottoes like "A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than gallons of vinegar." Praise warms us. The charm of Jesus is that He saw praiseworthy things in people who were rejects, and without any standing in church or state. Jesus was great because He made people feel great. Francis said To speak well we have to love well, and if we speak too much, we pick up too little.
 

Gerard Majella - Italy - 18th Century

I wonder how Gerard Majella became patron saint of childbirth. He was never married, nor did he have children. His gifts were tailoring and being a friend of the sick. He had a special way with the sinner, and suffered false accusation himself.  It is said that the person with a generous heart can take on any job in life. We long to be affirmed, thought sincerely of, listened to for ourselves. People who make us feel good are real life-givers.

Hilary – France - 4th Century

Hilary was elected Bishop of Poitiers in 350 AD. He was married with a young daughter. He fought for truth in a Church that was split by the heresy of Arius. Hilary was banished by the Emperor. We are not used to the idea of a Bishop being married ...in the Catholic Church .., and becoming a Saint. Yet Hilary was one of the great men of the Christian Church. There is scope for much variety and change in mother church. The love of God reaches every person no matter what job one does.

Isaiah - born 765 BC.

The days before Christmas evoke the memory of God’s prophets. The prophet was God’s friend, chosen to interpret God’s word now, to tell how to live in the present world. Because the truth is sometimes bitter and hard to take, the prophets were misunderstood and rejected. Despite all the harsh realities and disasters of the times, the prophets held high the candle of hope, of God’ mercy, love, and forgiveness .

Isaiah gave dire warnings because God’s people had become over-rich and were exploiting the helpless and poor. God says –not fair .That’s the bad news. The good news is that God never forgets his sinful people.’You will return from your prison and exile, so rejoice, take off your dress of sorrow, put on the beauty of the glory of God, and put a crown of glory on your head. Now God brings you back, back like royal princes. There is joy in the light of God’ mercy’.

Jimmy Dolan - Ferbane, Ireland - 20th.century

Jimmy Dolan looms large on my private calendar of ordinary saints. He encouraged me to play football. He would borrow a pair of football boots and a jersey for me, which only the exceptional family could afford in those days. He was the local postman. He always encouraged us to play a clean game. He rubbed his hands vigorously when he was excited.

I never heard a foul or condemnatory word from his lips. He fought to get his charges on the county minor team. This honour was paradise on earth for a young person. Through football I met many friends. But perhaps even more blessed, football, gave a healthy self confidence, which proved a great support during dark and cloudy days of failing exams, and feeling inadequate.

John Baptist de la Salle

Born in Rheims, France, 1651, began to prepare for the priesthood at the age of 11, he was ordained atthe age of 27. John Baptist was admired for his devotion to the blessed sacrament.

John Bosco

Born near Turin Italy 1850 John walked 4 miles to school every day for 6 months per year and worked as a laborer for the other 6 months, this enabled him to work his way through high school college and the seminary in order to become a priest.

John of Capistrano - Italy - 15th century

It is easy to forget the good work that prison tries to do. The prison aims to reform, to heal the person, rather than to punish .John Capistrano reformed when he went to prison .He became an inspiration for Europe. He was chosen by Popes for all kinds of charity and peace making missions. At 70 years of age he led an army against the Turks, in the name of the cross.....not a very Christian ideal. But at least he was enthusiastic, if not perfect .

Perhaps we need a kind of prison solitude, a desert seclusion, to find our soul, our inner mirror. Like the tree, our  human roots go deep down into darkness that is full of life, and we grow outwards to the world with outstretched, branched arms. With our respect for the roots, the branches won’t balance .Our inner thoughts, memory, imagination, need time and attention.

John of GOD - Portugal - 16th Century

John of GOD was a man of many parts, a shepherd, a soldier, a seller of religious books. He beat himself up once in a rage, and did time in a lunatic asylum. There, he was advised to devote his time to needy people, so in his forties, he began to set up night shelters, for the poor, the sick and the homeless.

He used to say ,’For God’s sake do yourself a good turn ‘. John was accused of consorting with tramps and prostitutes. He explained to the Archbishop, that Jesus was a friend of prostitutes and tax collectors. They would not have accepted Jesus if He didn’t speak their language. ‘I am unfaithful to  my vocation, if I do not speak the language of the poor and underprivileged’, he said.
 

Julie  Billiart   - France -18th Century

Lawrence

Lawrence was the first of the seven deacons, who served the Roman Church. Lawrence helped the Pope to serve mass and to give out Holy communion, He also looked after the practical side of the running of the church, maintaining church property and giving alms which had been collected from other Christians to the poor.

When Pope Sixtus was led out to die, Lawrence cried because he could not die with him, the Pope said "do not cry, my son; in three days you will follow me." Lawrence was arrested when the governor of the city ordered him to turn over the treasures of the Church, he gathered the poor and the sick, and showed them to the governor saying "these are the real treasures of the church."

There is a legend that, Lawrence was put to death by being placed on a gridiron to be roasted over a slow fire, after a while he said "You may turn my body over; it is roasted enough on that side."Lawrence died in the year 258.
 

Margaret Birmingham –Ireland -16th Century  

Margaret chose harsh imprisonment in Dublin Castle, and eventual death, rather than deny her faith in the Catholic Mass. She befriended hunted priests, hiding them in her home.  When her own son, who had turned priest hunter, became Mayor of Dublin, he had his mother arrested.The same Dublin Castle is resplendent to-day for different reasons. It welcomes peacemaking people from all over the world. The silence of its stones cries out with gladness.

Margaret of Cortona  - Italy -13th Century

Margaret ran off with her lover. He was killed tragically nine years later. She was left with her faithful dog, and a little child. She decided to give her whole life to the poor and sick. She had great attraction for all kinds of sinners.

The Easter Poet calls our Adam and Eve story a ’happy fall’. By our very failures, inconsistencies, and crushed spirit the heart of God is touched. We are embraced, rather than condemned. Weeds of temptation, touched by the sunshine of love, can be transformed. There is no virtue without temptation.

Martin of Tours - Hungary - 4th Century

Martin must be one of the great characters of the Heavenly Kingdom. He gave up army life saying’ I am a soldier of Christ, it is not lawful for me to fight. He lived as a monk and set up one of the first monasteries at Poitiers. The people demanded that he be their bishop, and tricked him into taking that responsibility. Some people thought that his scruffy hair and shaggy appearance wasn’t a good sign.

He was a compassionate man, who pleaded with the Emperor for Priscillian and his followers, who were accused of being a threat to the State, with their radical ideas.   While still a soldier, he gave half his precious cloak to a beggar, and in a dream saw Christ wearing the half cloak in Heaven. His prayer was ‘Lord, if your people still need me, praised be your good will.

Mary of the Rosary

We are encouraged by many Popes to pray the Rosary. It is called ‘a circle of love’, the ordinary persons Gospel and Bible .During days when Mass was outlawed, and education was for the few, the Rosary   was the people’s life line to God .They could celebrate joy and new life, have hope in the depths of darkness and crucifixion, trusting in God .In the Rosary there are twenty stories from the life of Christ and His mother Mary. Even to name the stories in one’s mind is healing .Often we don’t know how to pray or what to say .It is consoling to pass all our concerns to Mary, who prays for us now and at the hour of our death

 Mother Teresa - Albania - 20th.century

She gave her life to bring love to the dying and the destitute, especially the abandoned children, on the streets and in the slums of Calcutta. She was asked once why she did not enlarge her mission to reach the millions of other starving children.  She said that God asked her to be faithful, not successful .  God does not ask us to control everything, but to be faithful to the daily routine of children, work, friends, neighbours, and to trust in the middle of darkness, temptation and worries.  This is faithfulness to the Good God.

      
Paschal Baylon  - Spain   - 16th Century

The month of May is First Communion time in many places over the world. First Communion celebrates the wonder of a child and the wonder of God’s assurance to us .. ’You are my friends’.
It is a time to remember and say thanks. To say thanks is the best gift of a human being. We celebrate thanks at church. Paschal Baylon spent hours praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. His thanks was expressed in the every duty of door-keeping.
We are always being asked to open doors or answer phones for others in the duties of life, in business, in hospital and elsewhere. The Jesus of our First Communion shows us ways of opening our hearts to others and giving us the strength that we need.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

St. Patrick

Patrick born in Scotland 387 Captured by pirates at the age of 16 and sold as a slave to an Irish Chief. Patrick prayed a lot when he was in Ireland as a slave, looking after sheep. when Patrick had been in Ireland he heard a voice telling him to go home, Patrick went to Rome to become a priest first. Patrick was sent to England and begged to be allowed to go to Ireland. The Pope made Patrick into a bishop and sent him to Ireland as a missionary. a pagan king arrested Patrick but when he saw the miracles Patrick was performing he said, "Tell us about your God. He has given you great power."  

Peregrine Laziosi- Born in Forli, Italy- 1265

There was conflict between the Pope and the Emperor in Rome Philip Benizi a Servite  was asked to mediate and was punched in the face and drove out of town. Among the ringleaders was the young Peregrine Laziosi, who felt so bad about his part in the incident that he could not rest until he sought out Philip and asked for his forgivness. The wild boy became a Man of peace. St Peregrine patron st of people with cancer, by Maire Ni Chearbhaill
 

St Philip Benizi

A Servite monk Born in Florence in 1233, he studied philosophy and medicine at the universities of Paris and Padua and then joined the Servite Order of Friers, in Florence. St Philip was a skilled negotiator and diplomat.

Roch - France - 14th Century

Roch is always painted with a dog. The dog is carrying bread in his mouth. When Roch, the hermit got ill in the woods his dog brought food to keep him alive. When my favourite dog... ' Kerri' died I wanted to say, "Lord, thank you for all the joy, love and humour that you have given me through this gifted little dog. The enthusiasm of his welcomes, the excitement of his friendship, his soothing cuddles, his gratitude for little favours, his god like faithfulness, his ways of relaxing, his little tricks of naUghtiness.

His tail wagged an endless ... Thank you ... to life even in his final sleeping moments. Such beauty and loveliness cannot be lost. There is pain, but somehow it is pain that one would not have wanted to miss, because of the treasure that lay hidden within it.

Ruth   - Old Testament 

Ruth is a fond favourite, a Christmas Saint. Naomi lost her husband and two sons in Moab. She longed to go back to her own people in Bethlehem, to die. Ruth, her daughter in law pledged to go with her, to leave her own people for a foreign land, and also forfeit an opportunity for marriage. The words of Ruth to Naomi are now a wedding song. ”Wherever you go I shall go. Wherever you live so shall I live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God too”.

Ruth is faithful in her love for her mother in law. God is never outdone in generosity. Ruth meets a wealthy farmer in Bethlehem. There is a marriage. Ruth becomes the great grandmother of David, and Jesus came from the family of David through Mary .God writes straight through crooked lines in loving us people.

Teresa of  Avila  - Spain  -  16th Century

Avila is a wonderland, circled by a rosary of ninety castle towers .A Silver River embroiders its loveliness .Here Teresa danced, sang, played music. liked perfume, and became God’s great lover .Before entering religious life, when a man admired her neat feet, she said ‘take a good look, you won’t have a chance again’.

Avila makes one dream .Those mighty rock boulders of Roman days. what stories they could tell...and those strong ramparts have secret messages. In the midst of this awesome grandeur I noticed a frail little girl with her dog, searching through the refuse for some food. In a wonderful world too Teresa saw wounds that needed healing and love, and she did not pass by. From silly devotions and sour faced saints, she prayed, deliver us, O Lord ....Better no convents, than melancholic people, she said .

The holier you are the more sociable you should be . She hated business and money dealings, but took it on for love’s sake .In her later years she like to compliment people, rather than find fault .She wondered whether this was virtue or laziness.