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June - Other Franciscan Saints |
June 8
Bl. Nicholas of Gesturi |
Blessed Nicholas
of Gesturi was born on 5 August 1882 in Gesturi (Sardinia), Italy, to a
family of modest means. Given the name Giovanni at Baptism, he was orphaned
at a young age and raised in the home of his older, married sister. After
receiving his First Communion in 1896, he began to pray in a remarkable way,
frequently receiving Holy Communion, mortifying himself and cultivating the
spiritual life with rigorous detachment from even the licit attractions of
his surroundings. From his love of nature he developed an uncommon nobility
of spirit and refined sense of judgement. He seemed inclined towards the
priesthood, but his family's poverty proved an insurmountable obstacle.
After being cured of a painful rheumatic illness at the age of 29, Giovanni
entered the Capuchins in Cagliari as a third order oblate. Two years later
he received the habit, taking the name of Bro. Nicholas. After a year of
novitiate he made his first profession in 1914 and his solemn profession on
16 February 1919. He spent his first 10 years of religious life in various
friaries, where he served mostly as cook. In 1924 he returned to Cagliari,
where he spent the next 34 years begging for the community. Every day of the
year, from 1924 to 1958, Bro. Nicholas would walk modestly and silently
through the streets of Cagliari, without asking for anything. But people
soon realized that he was an exceptional soul and gifts of money or in kind
would be offered spontaneously. Many confided in him or asked him to pray
for spiritual or material favours. He was frequently called to the bedside
of the sick at home or in hospitals. Extraordinary cures took place and it
became known that God's powerful hand was working through this poor friar.
He gave more than he received. His life, his way of walking and of
presenting himself invited everyone to conversion, to prayer, to love and to
the service of God and neighbour. They said of him: "He was more sought than
a seeker". His holiness was one of silence, which he only broke to point out
the will of God. His conduct was marked by a lively sense of God's presence
and by continuous union with the Lord. Through a Gospel life lived in
penitence, Bro. Nicholas bore witness to Christ's message on the streets of
a distracted and troubled city. He died on 8 June 1958.
(Source: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English)
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June 16
Bl. Anizet Koplin and companions |
Bb. Anizet Koplin,
presbyter, and companions (Henry Krzystofik, Florian Stepniak, Fidelis
Chojnacki, Symforian Ducki), martyrs of the Nazi persecution in Poland.
During the years 1939-45, 108 Polish Martyrs died in odium fidei at
the hands of the Nazis. These martyrs came from various places: three
Bishops, 52 diocesan priests, 26 religious priests, three seminarians, seven
brothers, eight women religious and nine lay people. Seven of these
sacrificed their lives to save others; 16 who could have saved their lives
preferred to stay faithful to their mission or vocation or to support those
in danger; five were students of the Salesians and under torture encouraged
one another to persevere to the end; five were killed for having helped
Jews. Among these new Blesseds are: Bl. Antoni Julian Nowowiejski,
Archbishop-Bishop of Płock (1858-1941), a zealous pastor, eminent teacher of
liturgy and historian, who was tortured when he refused to trample on his
pectoral cross and was put to death in the concentration camp at Działdowo;
Bl. Henryk Kaczorowski (1888-1942), rector of the major seminary of
Włocławek, who was arrested in 1939 but, remaining steadfast in faith, was
taken to Dachau on 6 May 1942 and killed in the gas chamber after
encouraging a group of despairing prisoners with the words of Psalm 23;
Bl. Anicet Koplinski (1875-1941), a Capuchin of German origin, the
apostle of charity of Warsaw, who refused to leave his friary in order to
save his life and so died in the gas chamber at Auschwitz; Bl.
Marianna Biernacka (1888-1943) gave her life in place of her pregnant
daughter-in-law and was shot on 13 July 1943 in Naumowicze near Grodno.
(Partially from: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English)
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June 17
St. Albert Chmielowski |
Saint Albert
Chmielowski was born at Igoalomia, Poland on August 20, 1845 and died at
Krakow, Poland on December 25, 1916. He was of a wealthy family and studied
agriculture. At age 17 he was injured and lost a leg. Through his interest
in politics, he came into contact with the human suffering and misery around
him. He became a Franciscan Tertiary, abandoned his painting, and began
working with the poorest in Krakow. In 1887 he founded the Brothers of
the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants of the Poor, known as the
Albertines (named for him) or the Gray Brothers (after their rough gray
habits). In 1891 he founded the women's congregation of the Order (Gray
Sisters). The Albertines organized food and shelter for the poor and
homeless.
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Jun 12
Bl. Florida Cevoli |
Blessed Florida Cevoli was
an Poor Clare Abess in this monastery (Cevoli) and had great devotion to the
Passion of Our Lord. Florida died in 1767 and was beatified by Pope John
Paul II on May 16, 1993. |
Jun 16
Bl. Guy (Guido) Vignotelli |
Born1185 in Cortona, Italy. He
was known for his charities and recieved the Franciscan habit from Francis
at Cortona in 1211. Guy built a cell on a bridge near Cortona, was ordained,
became famed for his holiness and miracles and died in the Cortona convent
of the Franciscans.
Blessed Guy (Guido) Vignotelli, OFM Tert. (AC) Born in Cortona, Italy, c.
1185; died c. 1245. After hearing a sermon by Saint Francis, the wealthy Guy
invited Francis home for a meal. At the end of the meal he asked to become a
disciple. He liquidated his goods and with Francis distributed the money
among the poor. Guy received the Franciscan habit of a tertiary from the
order's founder, was ordained a priest, built a cell on a bridge near
Cortona, and lived there. He became well known for his holiness and for his
miracles, which were said to include resuscitating a girl who had drowned
and multiplying food during a famine. At age 60, Saint Francis appeared to
him in a dream and foretold his death--the exact hour at which Guy died. |
June 23
St. Joseph Cafasso |
Saint Joseph Cafasso
was born at Castelnuovo d'Asti in Italy. He studied at the seminary at
Turin, and was ordained in 1833. He continued his theological studies at the
seminary and university at Turin and then at the Institute of St. Francis,
and despite a deformed spine, became a brilliant lecturer in moral theology
there. He was a popular teacher, actively opposed Jansenism, and fought
state intrusion into Church affairs. He succeeded Luigi Guala as rector of
the Institute in 1848 and made a deep impression on his young priest
students with his holiness and insistence on discipline and high standards.
He was a sought-after confessor and spiritual adviser, and ministered to
prisoners, working to improve their terrible conditions. He met Don Bosco in
1827 and the two became close friends. It was through Joseph's encouragement
that Bosco decided his vocation was working with boys. Joseph was his
adviser, worked closely with him in his foundations, and convinced others to
fund and found religious institutes and charitable organizations. He became
a Franciscan Tertiary and recommended Diocesan priests to join the Third
Order of St. Francis. Joseph died on June 23 at Turin and was canonized in
1947. His feast day is June 23rd. (from several sources)
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