A Community of Love, Unity and Service

St. Ignatius of Antioch

Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was the disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. Believing thatthe Church on earth should resemble that of the heavenly Jerusalem of which Saint John wrote inhis Apocalypse, he established singing in choirs in his church at Antioch, after a vision of thecelestial choirs who sang in that manner. When the emperor Domitian persecuted the Church,Saint Ignatius obtained peace for his own flock by fasting and prayer, although for his own parthe desired to suffer with Christ, and to prove himself a perfect disciple.

The Roman emperors often visited Antioch, one of the cities of first importance of the empire. In107, the eighth year of the reign of the emperor Trajan, he came to Antioch and forced theChristians to choose between apostasy and death. Saint Ignatius, who had already governed thatchurch for forty years, continued to fortify it against apostasy, and did not flee. Arrested andbrought before the emperor, the latter addressed him: “Who are you, poor devil, to set ourcommands at naught?” “Call not poor devil,” Ignatius answered, “one who bears God withinhim.” And when the emperor asked him what he meant by that, Ignatius explained that he bore inhis heart Christ, crucified for his sake. “Change your ideas, and I will make you a priest of thegreat Jupiter, and you will be called ‘father’ by the Senate.” “What could such honors matter tome, a priest of Christ, who offer Him every day a sacrifice of praise, and am ready to offer myselfto Him also?” “To whom? To that Jesus who was crucified by Pontius Pilate?” “Yes, and withwhom sin was crucified, and the devil, its author, vanquished.”

The questions and the courageous replies continued for a time that day and also on the followingone. Saint Ignatius said, “I will not sacrifice; I fear neither torments nor death, because I desireto go quickly to God.” Thereupon the emperor condemned him to be torn to pieces by wildbeasts in Rome. Saint Ignatius blessed God, who had so honored him, “binding him in the samechains as Paul, His apostle.” When his people wept, he told them to place their hope in thesovereign Pastor, who never abandons His flock. On passing through the city of Smyrna, heexhorted the faithful, who were grieved at his fate, to remain true to Christ until death, and hegave some of them who were going to Rome a letter for the Christians of the capital of theChristian world. This letter is still extant. He writes: “I fear your charity, I fear you have anaffection too human for me. You might prevent me from dying, but by so doing, you wouldoppose my happiness. Suffer me to be immolated while the altar is ready; give thanks to God... If when I arrive among you I should have the weakness to seem to have other sentiments, do notbelieve me; believe only what I am writing to you now.” This letter of Saint Ignatius hasencouraged all generations of Christians in their combats.

He journeyed to Rome, guarded by soldiers, and with no fear but of losing the martyr’s crown. Three of his disciples, who accompanied him and were eyewitnesses of the spectacle, wrote theacts of his martyrdom: His face shining with joy, he reassured them as the lions were released,saying: “I am the wheat of Christ, I will be ground by the teeth of the beasts and made into flourto be a good bread for my Lord Jesus Christ!” He was devoured by lions in the Romanamphitheater. The wild beasts left nothing of his body except a few bones, which were reverentlytreasured at Antioch until their removal in the year 637 to the Church of Saint Clement in Rome. After the martyr’s death, several Christians saw him in vision, in prayer to Christ, and intercedingfor them.

St. Bridgid of Ireland, Abbess

Next to the glorious Saint Patrick, Saint Bridgid, whom we may regard as his spiritual daughter inChrist, has ever been held in singular veneration in Ireland. She was born about the year 453, atFochard in Ulster. During her infancy, her pious father saw in a vision men clothed in whitegarments pouring a sacred unguent on her head, thus prefiguring her future sanctity. While stillvery young, Bridgid consecrated her life to God, bestowed everything at her disposal on the poor,and was the edification of all who knew her.

Saint Bridgid was very beautiful, and fearing that efforts might be made to induce her to break thevow by which she had bound herself to God, she prayed that she might become ugly anddeformed. Her prayer was heard, for her eye became swollen, and her whole countenance sochanged that she was allowed to follow her vocation in peace, and marriage with her was nomore thought of. When about twenty years old, our Saint made known to the nephew anddisciple of Saint Patrick, Saint Mel, her intention to live only for Jesus Christ, and he consented toreceive her sacred vows. On the appointed day, the solemn ceremony of her profession wasperformed according to the manner introduced by Saint Patrick, the bishop offering up manyprayers, and investing Bridgid with a snow-white habit, and a cloak of the same color. While shebowed her head on this occasion to receive the veil, a miracle of a singularly striking andimpressive nature occurred: The section of the wooden platform adjoining the altar on which sheknelt, recovered its original vitality and put on all its former verdure, retaining it for a long timeafterwards. At the same moment Bridgid’s eye was healed, and she became beautiful once again.

Encouraged by her example, several other young persons made vows, and in compliance with thewish of the parents of her new associates, the Saint agreed to found a religious residence for all ofthem in the vicinity. When a site was chosen by the bishop, a convent, the first in Ireland, waserected upon it; and in obedience to the prelate Bridgid assumed the superiority. Her reputationfor sanctity became greater every day; and in proportion as it was diffused throughout thecountry, the candidates for admission into the new monastery increased in number. The bishopsof Ireland, soon perceiving the important advantages which their own dioceses would derive fromsuch foundations, persuaded the young and saintly abbess to visit different parts of the kingdom,and, when an opportunity was offered, they introduced branches of her institute everywhere.

While she was in the province of Connaught, a deputation arrived from Leinster to solicit theSaint to take up her residence in that territory; the prospect of the many spiritual advantageswhich would result induced her to accede to their wishes. Taking with her a number of herspiritual daughters, she journeyed to Leinster, where they were received with many demonstrationsof respect and joy. At the site on which Kildare now stands, Saint Bridgid and her companionstook up residence. Bridgid contrived out of their small means to relieve the poor of the vicinityvery considerably; and when the wants of these indigent persons surpassed her slender finances,she did not hesitate to sacrifice for them the movables of the convent. On one occasion, imitatingthe burning charity of Saint Ambrose and other great servants of God, she sold some of thesacred vestments in order to procure the means of relieving their necessities. The renown ofBridgid’s unbounded charity drew multitudes of the poor to Kildare; the fame of her pietyattracted to the region many persons anxious to solicit her prayers or to profit by her holyexample.

In time the number of her followers and admirers increased so greatly that it became necessary toprovide accommodation for them in the neighborhood of the new monastery, and thus were laidthe foundations of the town of Kildare. There an episcopal see was erected, which eventuallybecame the ecclesiastical metropolis of the province to which it belonged.

Saint Bridgid died after seventy years devoted to the practice of the most sublime virtues, duringwhich her holy institute had become widely diffused throughout the Green Isle, and had greatlyadvanced the cause of religion in the various districts where it was established. Like a river ofpeace, its progress was steady and silent; it fertilized all the regions fortunate enough to receiveits waters, and caused them to put forth spiritual flowers and fruits with all the sweet perfume ofevangelical fragrance.

The day on which the holy nun was to terminate her course, February 1, 523, having arrived, shereceived from the hands of a saintly priest the blessed Body and Blood of her Lord in the divineEucharist, and passed to the eternal vision of the God she had always adored. Her body wasinterred in the church adjoining her convent, but later was exhumed and deposited in a splendidshrine near the high altar, afterwards to be moved again and placed in the same grave with therelics of the glorious Saint Patrick. Their holy remains, together with those of Saint Columba,were translated afterwards to the cathedral church of Kildare.

St. Scholastica

Of this Saint but little is known on earth, save that she was the very pious younger sister of thegreat patriarch Saint Benedict, and that, under his direction, she founded and governed anumerous community near Monte Casino. Saint Gregory sums up her life by saying that shedevoted herself to God from her childhood, and that her pure soul rose to God in the likeness ofa dove, as if to show that her life had been enriched with the fullest gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Her brother was accustomed to visit her once every year, before Lent, and “she could not besated or wearied with the words of grace which flowed from his lips.” On his last visit, after aday passed in spiritual conversation, the Saint, knowing that her end was near, said, “My brother,leave me not, I pray you, this night, but discourse with me till dawn on the bliss of those who seeGod in heaven.” Saint Benedict would not break his rule for the sake of natural affection, but hissister bowed her head and prayed, and there arose a storm so violent that Saint Benedict couldnot return to his monastery, and they passed the night as she had prayed, in heavenlyconversation.

Three days later Saint Benedict saw in a vision the soul of Saint Scholastica going up in thelikeness of a dove into heaven. Then he gave thanks to God for the graces He had given her andthe glory which had crowned them. When she died, Saint Benedict as well as her spiritualdaughters, and the monks sent by their patriarch to her conventual church, mingled their tears andprayed, “Alas! alas! dearest mother, to whom dost thou leave us now? Pray for us to Jesus, towhom thou art gone.” They then devoutly celebrated holy Mass, “commending her soul to God;”and her body was borne to Monte Casino, where her brother lay her in the tomb he had preparedfor himself. It was written that “they all mourned her many days.” Finally Saint Benedict said,“Weep not, my sisters and brothers; for assuredly Jesus has taken her, before us, to be our aidand defense against all our enemies, that we may remain standing on the evil day and be perfect inall things.” Her death occurred in about the year 543.

St. Severinus

Saint Severinus, of a noble family in Burgundy, was educated in the Catholic faith at a time whenthe Arian heresy reigned in that region. He forsook the world in his youth and dedicated himselfto God in the monastery of Agaunum, which consisted only of scattered cells until, some timelater, the Catholic King Sigismund built there the great Abbey of Saint Maurice.

Saint Severinus became the holy abbot of Saint Maurice, with its distinct convents for men andwomen, all of whom bore voluntarily the yoke of penance and celibacy without solemn vows. The Abbot had governed his community for many years in the exercise of penance and charity,when, in 504, Clovis, the first Christian king of France, who was lying ill of a fever, sent hischamberlain to conduct the Saint to court. After his physicians had for two years endeavoredwithout success to cure him, Clovis was told that the sick from all parts recovered their health bythe prayers of Saint Severinus. The Abbot therefore took leave of his monks, and told them hewould never see them again in this world.

On his journey he healed Eulalius, Bishop of Nevers, who had been for some time deaf and dumb;he also healed a leper at the gates of Paris. And coming to the palace he immediately restoredthe king to perfect health, by covering him with his own cloak. He cured many other sick personsat the court and in Paris. The king, in gratitude, distributed large alms to the poor and releasedall his prisoners.

Saint Severinus, returning toward Agaunum, stopped at Chateau-Landon in Gatinais, where twopriests served God in a solitary chapel. Foreseeing his imminent death, he asked admittanceamong them, and they received this stranger, whom they soon greatly admired for his sanctity. His death followed shortly after, in 507. This site became the Abbey of Saint Severinus, with abeautiful church dedicated to him. His relics were later scattered, when this church wasplundered.

Our Lady of Lourdes

The first of the eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the humble Bernadette Soubirous took place at Lourdes on February 11, 1858. On March 25^th, when Bernadette askedthe beautiful Lady Her name, She replied: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” The Church forlong centuries had believed in Her Immaculate Conception, Her exemption from every trace of theoriginal sin which through Adam, our first and common father, separated man from his God. Itwas never proclaimed a dogma, however, until 1854. Mary Herself, in 1830, had asked of a Vincentian Sister at the Rue du Bac in Paris, that a medal be struck bearing Her likeness and theinscription: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.” OurLady by Her apparitions at Lourdes in 1858 seems to convey Her appreciation for the formalproclamation of Her great privilege, by Pius IX, in 1854. Countless and magnificent miracles ofhealing have occurred at Lourdes, confirmed by physicians and recorded in the Lourdes shrine“Book of Life.” To name but one: a doctor wrote a book describing the great miracle he hadwitnessed for a dying girl, whom he had observed on the train that was carrying handicappedpersons from Paris to Lourdes. He had not expected her to survive and return home from thesanctuary.

Through the Lourdes Apparitions, the devotion of persons in all parts of the world to theImmaculate Mother of God has been wonderfully spread, and countless miracles have beenwrought everywhere through Her intercession. The Virgin Mother of God is truly the chosenMessenger of God to these latter times, which are entrusted to Her, the chosen vessel of theunique privilege of exemption from original sin. Only with Her assistance will the dangers of thepresent world situation be averted. As She has done since 1858 in many places, at Lourdes, too,She gave us Her peace plan for the world, through Saint Bernadette: Prayer and Penance, tosave souls.

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