A Community of Love, Unity and Service

St. Henry II

Henry the Pious or the Lame, Duke of Bavaria, was born in 972, and bore his father’s name. Saint Wolfgang, bishop of Ratisbonne, baptized him and afterward raised him in the practices ofvirtue fitting for a great sovereign. His father died when his son was 23 years old, and SaintHenry assumed the paternal title of Duke of Bavaria. It was at this time that he marriedCunegundes, the holy spouse whom God gave him, and who like himself is today a canonizedSaint. They observed perfect chastity all their lives, and rivaled one another in their zeal and lovefor their subjects.

One night Saint Henry had a dream and saw his very dear deceased master, Saint Wolfgang, whotold him to read the words written on a wall: “After six.” He supposed this meant he would die insix months, and then, after that did not occur, in six years, and he prepared himself for thateventuality by giving generous alms and initiating other good works. At the end of the sixth year,he found the prediction verified in an unexpected way, by his election as emperor and king ofGermany on the first day of the year 1002. It was an archbishop who consecrated him emperoron July 8^th of that same year. Trained in the fear of God, he ascended the throne with only onethought — that of reigning for God’s greater glory. By his happy combination of Christian, royaland military virtues, he proved that a good king is a true gift of heaven. He prayed often,meditated the law of God constantly, and to be armed against pride practiced humility in allcircumstances, and never let himself be fascinated by human glory.

The pagan Slavs were then despoiling the empire. He provided for the reparation of theepiscopal churches of six dioceses, which had been almost entirely destroyed by the invaders. Menaced by an army of one of these, he prayed to the patron of the ruined church of Merseburg,saying, “Great Saint Lawrence, illustrious martyr of Jesus Christ, if by your assistance I cansubmit these barbaric nations to the Christian religion, I will with the help of God re-establish inits original dignity, this church consecrated to your honor.” He prayed again before the battle,invoking three martyrs, and then attacked the invaders with a small force; but an Angel and thethree holy martyrs were seen leading his troops, and the heathen simply fled in despair. Polandand Bohemia, Moravia and Burgundy, were in turn annexed to his kingdom, and Pannonia andHungary won for the Church.

When the Faith was secure in Germany, Henry passed into Italy, drove out an antipope andbrought Benedict VIII back to Rome. He was crowned in Saint Peter’s Basilica by that Pontiff, in1014. It was Henry’s custom, on arriving in any town, to spend his first night in prayer, in somechurch dedicated to our Blessed Lady. As he was praying in Saint Mary Major’s, during the firstnight of his arrival in Rome, he saw “the Sovereign and Eternal Priest-Child Jesus” enter to sayMass. Saints Lawrence and Vincent assisted, as deacon and sub-deacon. Countless Saints filledthe church, and Angels sang in the choir. After the Gospel, an Angel was sent by Our Lady togive Henry the sacred book to kiss. Touching him lightly on the thigh, he said, “Accept this signof God’s love for your chastity and your justice,” and from that time on, the emperor alwayslimped.

Saint Henry employed the fruits of his conquests in the service of the temple, imitating in this the royal prophet-king. The forests and mines of the empire, all the best resources which his treasurycould provide, were consecrated to the sanctuary. Stately cathedrals, noble monasteries,innumerable churches enlightened and sanctified the once heathen lands. In 1024 Henry lay on hisdeathbed; he then gave back to her parents his wife, Saint Cunegundes, “a virgin still, as a virginhe had received her from Christ,” and at the age of 52 years surrendered his own pure soul toGod.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

According to the most ancient Carmelite chronicles, the Order has its origins with the disciples of the prophets Elias and Eliseus. They lived in caves on Mount Carmel. They honored the Queenof Heaven as the Virgin who is to give birth to the Saviour. When the reality replaced the symbol,the pious ascetics of Carmel were converted to the Christian Faith. In the 12^th century, manypilgrims from Europe who had followed the Crusaders came to join the solitaries. A rule wasestablished and the Order began to spread to Europe.

Amid the many persecutions raised against the Order of Mount Carmel, newly arrived in Europe,Saint Simon Stock, General of the Order, turned with filial confidence to the Blessed Mother of God. As he knelt in prayer on July 16, 1251, in the White Friars’ convent at Cambridge, She appeared before him and presented him with the well-known brown scapular, a loose sleeveless garment destined for the Order of Carmel, reaching from the shoulders to the knees. It was givenas an assurance, for all who died wearing it, of Her heavenly protection from eternal death. Anextraordinary promise indeed, but one requiring a life of prayer and sacrifice.

Devotion to the blessed habit spread quickly throughout the Christian world. Pope after Popeenriched it with indulgences, and innumerable miracles put their seal upon its efficacy. The first ofthem was worked at Winchester on a man dying in despair, who when the scapular was laid uponhim by Saint Simon Stock at once asked for the Sacraments.

In the year 1636, a certain gentleman, member of a cavalry regiment, was mortally wounded atthe battle of Tehin, a bullet having lodged near his heart. He was then in a state of grievous sin,but he had time to make his confession. Afterwards a surgeon probed his wound, and the bulletwas found to have driven his scapular into his heart. When it had been withdrawn he soonexpired, making profound acts of gratitude to the Blessed Virgin who had prolonged his lifemiraculously, thereby preserving him from the irremediable death of his soul.

At Lourdes in 1858, the Virgin chose to make Her last apparition on July 16^th, feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the day the Church commemorates Her apparition to Saint Simon Stock. Andat Fatima on October 13, 1917, it is as Our Lady of Mount Carmel that Mary appeared when Shesaid farewell to the three children. Throughout the ages, the Queen of Carmel has always kept afaithful watch over the destinies of Her cherished children on earth.

St. Alexius

Saint Alexius, born in Rome in the fourth century, was the only son of parents pre-eminent among the Roman nobles for both their virtue and their great wealth. They were particularly noted fortheir almsgiving; three tables were prepared every day for all who came for assistance — pilgrims,the poor and the sick. Their son, fruit of their prayers, was married with splendid feasting to anoble young lady of the imperial family, but on his wedding night, by God’s special inspiration, hesecretly left Rome, longing for a solitude where he could serve God alone. He went to Edessa inthe far East, gave away all that he had brought with him, content thereafter to live by alms at thegate of Our Lady’s church in that city. His family, in the deepest grief, could not fathom themystery of his disappearance, and would have been consoled if God had taken him insteadthrough death.

It came to pass that the servants of Saint Alexius, whom his father had sent in search of him, arrived in Edessa, and seeing him among the poor at the gate of Our Lady’s church, gave him analms, not recognizing him. Whereupon the man of God, rejoicing, said, “I thank You, Lord, whohave called me and granted that I should receive for Your Name’s name’s sake an alms from myown slaves. Deign to fulfill in me the work You have begun.”

After seventeen years spent at the portico of the church, when his sanctity was miraculouslyconfirmed by the Blessed Virgin, speaking through Her image to an officer of the church, SaintAlexius once more sought obscurity by flight. On his way to Tarsus contrary winds drove his shipto Rome. There no one recognized, in this pale and tattered mendicant, the heir of Rome’snoblest house, not even his sorrowing parents, who had vainly sent throughout the world insearch of him. From his own father’s charity Saint Alexius begged a miserable shelter in hispalace, under a staircase, with the leavings of his table as food. There he spent another seventeenyears, bearing patiently the mockery and ill usage of his own servants, and witnessing daily thestill inconsolable grief of his spouse and parents.

At last, when death had ended this cruel martyrdom, they learned too late, in the year 404, who it was that they had unknowingly sheltered. A voice was heard by all in attendance at the Pope’sMass, saying: “Seek the man of God, he will pray for Rome, and the Lord will be favorable to it;he will die Friday.” All the city undertook in vain to find this unknown Saint. But God hadcommanded Alexius himself to write down his life story and sign it, in this way He Himselfconfirmed His servant’s sanctity, when he was found lifeless in his retreat, holding that documentin his hand. The Pope read aloud what was written on the parchment of the Saint, and everywhere in Rome there was a single cry of admiration, impossible to describe. The house of Alexius’ father Euphemian was later transformed into a church dedicated to Saint Alexius.

St. Camillus of Lellis

Saint Camillus was born in the kingdom of Naples in the year 1549. His early years gave noindication of his future sanctity. At the age of nineteen he entered into military service with hisfather, an Italian noble, against the Turks. After four years of hard campaigning he foundhimself, through his violent temper, reckless habits, and inveterate passion for gambling, adischarged soldier in bad health, and in such straitened circumstances that he was obliged to begin the streets. Finally he found work as a laborer for a Capuchin convent which was being built. A few words from a Capuchin Friar brought about his conversion; the following day he casthimself on his knees, seeing himself clearly by a divine illumination. He prayed, “Forgive, Lord,this wretched sinner! and give him time to do penance!” And he resolved to become a religious.

He served the Capuchin Fathers, working in the garden, sweeping the convent, washing thedishes, until he could be received as an aspirant. Thrice he begin his novitiate with them, but eachtime an obstinate ulcer on his leg forced him to leave. God had other designs for him. He went toRome for medical treatment, and there took Saint Philip Neri as his confessor. He entered, as aservant, the hospital of San Giacomo. The carelessness of the paid personnel and nurses towardsthe suffering patients inspired him with the thought of founding a Congregation of voluntaryservants of the sick, to minister to their wants without thought of remuneration. He recalled theCross of Our Lord, thinking, “If they wore it on their breast, the sight of it would sustain them,encourage them, reward them.” He spoke of this intention to the most pious ones among hiscompanions, who joined him with enthusiasm. They set up an oratory in a little room where theyretired to read and pray. They met great obstacles; their oratory was closed when they weresuspected of wanting to control the hospital. But eventually Saint Camillus was ordained priest in1584 and founded his Congregation with only two co-workers, at the chapel of Our Lady ofMiracles. They continued to serve in the large Holy Spirit Hospital, and in 1586 his community,the Servants of the Sick, was confirmed by the Pope.

Its usefulness was soon felt, not only in hospitals, but in private houses. Summoned at every hour of the day and night, the devotion of Camillus never grew cold. With an inexhaustible tendernesshe attended to the needs of his patients. He wept with them, consoled them, and prayed withthem. During a famine in 1590, the poor were reduced to eating dead animals and often rawherbs; about sixty thousand died during that winter, which was exceptionally cold. Saint Camillusprocured bread and clothing and went out to distribute them in Rome to all who needed them. Never did he refuse what was asked, giving away his cloak more than once, and the last sack offlour in the storeroom. But God always provided for the Brothers when they had nothing more to give.

Saint Camillus knew miraculously the state of the souls of his patients; and Saint Philip sawAngels whispering to two Servants of the Sick who were consoling a dying person. One day asick man said to the Saint, “Father, may I beg you to make up my bed? it is very hard.” Camillusreplied, “God forgive you, brother! You beg me? Don’t you know yet that you should commandme, for I am your servant and slave!” The Saint founded houses of what had become his Order inseveral cities — Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Florence, Ferrare and others, and sent out his religiouswhen a pestilence afflicted Hungary and surrounding regions. Several of his religious died on thatoccasion.

In his hospital he was heard to say, “Would to God that in the hour of my death one sigh or one blessing of these poor sick creatures might fall upon me!” His prayer was answered. He wasgranted the same consolations in his last hour, which he had so often procured for others. It wasin the year 1614, and on the feast of Saint Bonaventure, to whom he had a great devotion, that hedied as he had foretold, having the full use of his faculties, as the priest was reciting the words ofthe ritual, “May Jesus Christ appear to thee with a mild and joyful countenance!”

St. Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent was born in 1576 near Dax, south of Bordeaux, of a poor family which survived by means of their labor. It seemed that “mercy was born with him.” When sent by his father to the mill to procure flour, if he met a poor man coming home, he would open the sack and give himhandfuls of flour when he had nothing else. His Christian father was not angry; seeing his gooddispositions, he was sure his son should become a priest, and placed him as a boarding studentwith a group of religious priests in Dax. Vincent made rapid progress, and after seven years ofstudying theology at Toulouse and in Saragossa, Spain, was ordained a priest in 1600. Healways concealed his learning and followed the counsel of Saint Paul who said, “I have wanted toknow nothing in your midst but Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ crucified.”

Soon after his ordination, he was captured by corsairs and sold as a slave in Tunisia. Heconverted his renegade master, and escaped with him to France. Then, after a time of study inRome, he returned to Paris and took for his spiritual director Abbé de Berulle, a famous directorof souls. This servant of God saw in him a priest called to render outstanding service to theChurch, and to found a community of priests who would labor for its benefit. He told SaintVincent this, that he might prepare himself insofar as was humanly possible. When Saint Vincentwas appointed chaplain-general of the galleys of France, his tender charity brought hope intothose prisons where hitherto despair had reigned. When a mother mourned her imprisoned son,Vincent put on his chains and took his place at the oar, and gave him to his mother.

His charity embraced the poor, the young and the aged, the provinces desolated by civil war,Christians enslaved by the infidels. The poor man, ignorant and degraded, was to him the imageof Him who became as “a leper and no man.” “Turn the medal,” he said, “and you will see Jesus Christ.” He went through the streets of Paris at night, seeking the infants and children left there to die — three or four hundred every year. Once robbers rushed upon him, thinking he carried a treasure, but when he opened his cloak, they recognized him and his burden, an abandoned infant,and fell at his feet. Not only was Saint Vincent the providence of the poor, but also of the rich,for he taught them to undertake works of mercy. When in 1648 the work of the foundlings was indanger of failure for want of funds, he assembled the ladies of the Association of Charity, andsaid, “Compassion and charity have made you adopt these little creatures as your children. Youhave been their mothers according to grace, when their own mothers abandoned them. Will younow cease to be their mothers? Their life and death are in your hands. I shall take your votes; itis time to pronounce sentence.” The tears of the assembly were his only answer, and the workwas continued.

The Priests of the Mission or Lazarists, as they are called, and thousands of the Daughters of Charity still comfort the afflicted with the charity of their holy Founder. It has been said of himthat no one has ever verified more perfectly than Saint Vincent, the words of Our Lord: “He whohumbles himself shall be exalted...” The more he strove to abase himself in the eyes of all, themore God took pleasure in elevating him and bestowing His blessings on him and on all hisworks. He died in 1660, in an old age made truly golden by his unceasing good works.

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