August Part 2… Some more heroes to imitate and intercessors to call on during August. Chock full of links (all the underlined words) to learn more if you care to. Add your favorites to your calendar and do something special to remember them and pray with them on their feast days.
- 8/18 St. Helena – (c.248-c.328) mother of the Emperor Constantine. Led a group to the Holy Land & found the True Cross at age 80. Patron of archeologists, difficult marriages and divorcees… oh, and empresses.
- 8/18 St. Jane Frances de Chantel – (1572-1641) wife, mother, widow, nun. Founded the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady (Visitation nuns) with St. Frances de Sales. Patron of parents separated from children, the forgotten, and against in-law problems. “Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.”
- 8/19 St. John Eudes – (1601-1680) priest. Founded the Congregation of Jesus & Mary (Eudists) and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. Promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- 8/20 St. Bernard of Clairvaux – (1090-1153) Cistercian Abbot, Doctor of the Church (the “Mellifluos” Doctor), Father of the Church, spiritual master, miracle worker. Read On Loving God here.
- 8/21 Pope St. Pius X – (1835-1914) 259th Pope. advocated early and frequent Communion, reformed the liturgy, fought “Modernism”. “Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven.”
- 8/23 St. Rose of Lima – (1586-1617) Virgin, Third Order Dominican, Patron of Latin America and the Philippines. Rubbed her face with pepper until it blistered so her beauty wouldn’t be a temptation to others. Spent her life in penance and service to others. First canonized Saint born in the Americas.
- 8/24 St. Bartholomew – Apostle, Martyr. Mentioned sixth in the three Gospel lists (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14), and seventh in the list of Acts (1:13). May be the same as Nathaniel mentioned in Jn 1:45-51.
- 8/25 St. Louis IX – (1214-1270) King of France, vigorously promoted the faith, father of 11. Patron of construction workers, hair stylists, distillers, parents of large families and much more (see link above).
- 8/27 St. Monica – (333-387) Mother of St. Augustine. “She prayed constantly for the conversion of her [bad-tempered, adulterous pagan] husband (who converted on his death bed), and of her son (who converted after a wild life). Spiritual student of Saint Ambrose of Milan. Reformed alcoholic.” (from Saints.SQPN.com website)
- 8/28 St. Augustine – (354-430) convert, monk, priest, bishop, Doctor of the Church (“Doctor of Grace”). “Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.” His “Confessions” is a must read. Free here or here.
- 8/29 St. Sabina – 2nd century martyr
- 8/30 St. Jeanne Jugen (1792-1897) Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, who serve the elderly and beg for the aged poor. Read Pope Benedict XVI’s Canonization Homily for her (October, 2009).
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