January 5

John Nepomucene Neumann, born in the Czech Republic, became the first male American saint. After attending seminary in Prague, he came to upstate New York at the young age of 25, preaching and evangelizing throughout New York, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio. A gifted linguist, Father Neumann learned eight languages during his ministry, enabling him to preach to, pray with, and hear the confessions of many groups of immigrants to the United States who had no pastors to attend to their spiritual needs.

Saint Neumann became the fourth bishop of Philadelphia at age 41. He is perhaps best known as the “founder of the Catholic School system within the U.S.,” as he established more than 30 schools throughout the Philadelphia area. During his brief tenure, Bishop Neumann actively invited many religious orders—both domestic and from abroad-- to establish new houses within the diocese. He founded a congregation of Franciscan sisters,brought the School Sisters of Notre Dame to the New World to assist in religious instruction and staffing an orphanage, and intervened to save the Oblate Sisters of Providence from dissolution. He greatly expanded the Church’s presence in Philadelphia, completing the construction of new parishes at almost the rate of one every month.

Prayer for the intercession of Saint John Neumann

O Saint John Neumann, your ardent desire of bringing all souls to Christ impelled you to leave home and country; teach us to live worthily in the spirit of our Baptism which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the first-born of the family of God.

Obtain for us that complete dedication in the service of the needy, the weak, the afflicted and the abandoned which so characterized your life. Help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and, at times, painful paths of duty, strengthened by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and under the watchful protection of Mary our Mother.

May death still find us on the sure road to our Father's House with the light of living Faith in our hearts. Amen. (From the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, http://www.stjohnneumann.org/)

Today we look to Saint Neumann, inspired by his willingness to leave his home, follow God’s will, put his faith in the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin, and reach out to strangers of every race, creed, and nationality. We pray to be more like “the Immigrant Shepherd” in our daily lives. We pray for all those who are in school, and who’s work or life situations separate them from those they love. We also keep the first submitted prayer request in mind, praying for those who are preparing for surgery.



Day 5 of 365
Prayer Intention: Students of all ages; Those who are far from home
Requested Intention: Those preparing for surgery (L)*

*administrative note: submitted prayer requests will be noted here, at the bottom of each post.  The first initial of the submitter will be indicated in parentheses.