a year of prayer: 365 Rosaries

Today, August 12, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641), mother, tireless servant to the poor and needy, friend and follower of Saint Frances de Sales, and co-founder of the New Order of the Visitation.

Jane Frémoit de Chantal was born at Dijon, France in Burgundy, of noble parents. From an early age, Jane demonstrated clear signs of her future sanctity. It was said that when she was only five years old, she outwitted a Calvinist nobleman by substantial arguments-- arguments far beyond her age. In conciliation, he offered her a small present, which she immediately threw into a nearby fire, proclaiming: “This is how heretics will burn in hell, because they do not believe Christ when He speaks.”

Jane lost her mother at an early age, and from that time, put herself under the care of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God. Her father, president of the parliament of Borgoa, provided her with the best education available at the time, as well as in the ways of faith and virtue. Jane took the message of Christianity to heart, dismissing her servant (while still a child), as she worried that the servant’s presence would entice her to love the world and privilege, and cause her to sin. Instead, she shrank from worldly pleasures, devoting herself entirely to religious pursuits, and longing for martyrdom. She took the name Frances at her confirmation.

As was the custom of the time, when Jane turned 20 her father arranged a marriage for her, which she obediently accepted. She was married to the Baron de Chantal, a young soldier with proud military accomplishments. In this new state of life she strove to cultivate every virtue, and busied herself in instructing in faith and morals the children the couple produced (their first three children died shortly after birth, but the young spouses later had a boy and three girls), her servants and all under her authority. The Baroness loved her husband very much, dressing in a very modest way when he was traveling. If someone was to ask her why, she responded: “The eyes of who I want to please are very far away.”

Jane devoted herself to sharing the wealth of the household with the poor, and as reward, received miraculous provisions in her storehouse. On more than one occasion, when she believed her larder to be empty, it was miraculously filled by the Lord. On this account, she promised to never refuse anyone who begged for alms in the name of Jesus.

Jane was to experience great suffering, however. After nine years of marriage, her husband was wounded in a hunting accident, and died nine days later at the hands of unskilled surgeons. Jane, following a period of depression and listlessness, resumed the duties of her household, caring for her children, and doubling her efforts in service to the poor. She reached out to the man who had shot her husband, forgiving him, providing his household with necessities, and becoming Godmother to his children.

Jane recommitted herself to the Lord, vowing a life of chastity from that time on (she was only 28!). She streamlined her home, living more modestly, donating excess to those in need. She traded her fine garments for simple, modest dresses. Her gowns and fineries she donated to the Church to be converted into fine religious garments.

Jane Frances spent the majority of each day (when she wasn’t serving the poor) in prayer, pious reading, and works. Bound by vow to Jesus Christ, she received a number of honorable and advantageous offers to re-marry, but declined them all. To strengthen her resolve of observing chastity, Jane imprinted the most Holy Name of Jesus Christ upon her breast with a red-hot iron. Her love for all grew, and she had the poor, the abandoned, the sick, and those who were afflicted with the most terrible diseases, brought to her. Not only did she shelter and nurse them, she comforted them, washed and mended their filthy garments, and did not shrink from putting her lips to their running sores.

Wishing for still higher ascensions in her heart, she bound herself by a most difficult vow always to do what she thought most perfect. She prayed to God incessantly to provide her with a holy spiritual director, capable of helping her perfectly fulfill God’s will. Once, following this prayer, she was rewarded with a vision of a man whom she would later recognize as Saint Francis de Sales. That recognition occurred in 1604, as Saint France preached a Lenten homily in Dijon.

Saint Frances eventually became Jane’s spiritual advisor, and instructed her in the ways of balance, encouraging her to relax some of her harsher penitential practices, and spend more time tending to the duties of her household—namely her children and her aging father-in-law. With his guidance, Jane was able to balance the urgings of her heart to the Lord with her many responsibilities in the world. Someone once said of her, “This lady is capable of praying all day without bothering anyone.” Following a strict rule of life, consecrated for the most part to her children, she visited the sick in the area and spent entire nights in vigils next to the agonizing and dying.

The benevolence and meekness of her character demonstrated how far she responded to the demands of grace since her natural this strict demeanor through long years of prayer, suffering and patient submission to spiritual direction. This was the work of St. Francis de Sales, whom Jane Francis visited on and off in Annecy and with whom she had fruitful correspondence through letters.

Following some years of spiritual direction with Saint Frances, Jane felt drawn to the religious life, and was inclined to enter a convent. Together, the two prayed about her vocation, and in 1607, Saint Frances announced his intention to found a new order—the New Congregation of the Visitation. With great joy, Jane embraced the project, but her joy was to be short lived as her father’s age and illness, as well as the continued education of her children, required her to delay her involvement, and suffer much in the world. Saint Frances directed her that her children were no longer little and that from the cloister she was better able to care of them, especially taken into account that the two elders were old enough to “enter the world” and care for their grandfather. In this logical and serene way, Saint Francis resolved her difficulties.

Before abandoning the world, Jane Francis kneeled before her father, crying, and asking his blessing. The elderly man put his hands on her head and said: “I cannot reproach your actions, go with my blessing. I offer you Lord, my daughter, as Abraham offered Isaac, whom he loved so much as I love you. Go where God calls you and be happy in His house. Pray for me.”

A new convent was built at Annecy, and Jane entered it on Blessed Trinity Sunday in the year 1610. Shortly afterwards, fifteen women entered the order, including two of Jane’s daughters. While no formal rule had been developed yet, the congregation’s purpose was that it should be a source of refuge to those who couldn’t enter other congregations and that the religious sisters should not live in cloister in order to dedicate themselves to apostolic works of charity. Due to opposition from both within and outside the Church, the plans were eventually modified, and the women accepted the cloister and adopted the Rule of Saint Augustine. Saint Frances wanted humility and meekness to be the base of the religious observance. “But in practice,” he said to the religious, “humility is the fountain of all other virtues; don’t limit humility, make of it the principal one of all your actions.”

Saint Jane took her vows and was made Mother Abbess of the convent. She traveled throughout the region, establishing new convents (65 in all) and bringing more and more young women to God. Many of these women were of nobility, giving up their station and privilege, and committing to the humble and charitable order.

In 1622, Saint Francis de Sales died and his death constituted a harsh blow for Mother de Chantal; but her resignation to Divine Will helped her embrace all with invincible patience. Her son was killed in battle shortly thereafter. Saint Jane received the news of her son’s death with heroic fortitude and offered her heart to God and said: “Destroy, cut and burn all that opposes your holy will.”

Saint Jane Frances fell ill while visiting the convent of Moulins, where she died on December 13th, 1641 at the age of 69. Her body was taken to Annecy—her first convent-- and buried close to Saint Francis de Sales. At the time of her death, Saint Vincent de Paul was visiting, and reported a vision of Saint Frances escorting the pious saint to heaven. He said of Saint Jane Frances:

“She was a woman of great faith, and had temptations against the faith all her life. Even though she appeared to have reached the peace and tranquility of spirit of virtuous souls, she suffered terrible interior trials which she communicated to me on several occasions. She seemed so harassed by abominable temptations that she had to take her eyes away from herself so as not to contemplate her unbearable state. To look at her soul horrified her as if it was an image of hell. But through these great sufferings she never lost her serenity, yielding with joy to what God wanted from her. That is why I consider her as one of the most holy souls I have met on earth.”

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal left behind a legacy of service, suffering, meekness, and obedience. She was willing to soften herself, giving up control of her life to the Lord, and following the direction given to her. Not without loss and sacrifice, her life was difficult—all of which she embraced with patience and joy. When the daily struggles of our lives become too great, we might think of the message of Saint Jane Frances: “You want to be humble? Try to know yourself well; desire for others to know you as imperfect; love contempt, in all its forms and in any which way it may come. Don’t hide your defects; let them be known, accepting with love the abjection that will come by them. Never let your heart to be weakened because of a fault committed. Distrust self and trust only and continuously in God, persuaded that not able to do anything by yourselves, you can do all with His grace and powerful help.”

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal's reflections on prayer

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal: "The Martyrdom of Love"

Selection Quotations of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal:

"When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can?"

"We should go to prayer with deep humility and an awareness of our nothingness. We must invoke the help of the Holy Spirit and that of our good angel, and then remain still in God's presence, full of faith that he is more in us than we are in ourselves."

"Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about."

“Jesus Christ is a great Lord, rich and powerful, who doesn’t have necessity of our goods. What gift can we give Him if the whole world is his? It is necessary to offer Him pure souls and clean hearts, white and empty of all earthly things; notice that our souls are to be very clean to be able to be offered to the Divine Child, who is born on this day, creator of all purity and holiness. This is the most pleasing gift we can give: a clean heart, contrite and humble. He only wants from us our hearts.”

“My dear daughters, let us not have illusions; it is necessary that for our affection, to be blessed by God, it has to be equal and uniform for all, for our Savior has not ordered us to love some more than others, but He has said: Love your neighbor as yourself.


Sometimes we think our affections are very pure; but before God it is very different; the affection that is all pure looks only at God, only aspires to God and does not pretend anything but God. I love my sisters because I see God in them and because God wants it this way . . . your charity is false if it is not equal, general and complete with all the sisters, this way your are to be gentle with one sister as well as with the other.


The motive behind the love you profess for your sisters should only come from the womb of God; if it is outside of it, then it is worth nothing . . . . When this union with our sisters is more pure, more general and more complete, only then will our union with God be greater.”

“It is true my dear daughters, it is lack of self knowledge that amazes us when we see ourselves so lacking and with defect, because we presume or boast so much of ourselves, that we always expect something good; we deceive ourselves, and Our Lord himself allows us to fall, many times in a stupid, clumsy way, so we can know ourselves better. This knowledge of self consists in that we should believe, with certitude and faith, that we are nothing, we can do nothing; we are weak, feeble and imperfect. Decide in your will to love your misery and poverty. The reformation of the soul starts in self knowledge and confidence in God; our self knowledge will let us know we have many things to correct and reform and it cannot be done by our own efforts; confidence in God will let us hope in Him, we can do all in Him, and with His grace all things are possible and easy.”

“Perhaps at some time it will occur that a sister has bothered us, or did something not pleasing to us, or that simply we don’t have a liking for her. Another sister will come to us and speak well of her, and we might answer with half words putting down all the good. This will produce the effect of a drop of oil that falls on fabric, an incurable spot on the heart of the sister we are talking to. All the bad the sister might have done in consequence of this bad impression we have caused will be on our conscience, and we will be guilty of it and punished severely. God said he hates six things, but the seventh he abominates: those who divide hearts and plant discord among brothers.”

“When we have conquered ourselves we have done a good action, and feel some satisfaction and pleasure, this ruins everything, making us lose all if we are not careful. What a disgrace after making sacrifices, self denial of attitudes or words or any other thing, we end up satisfying ourselves! Never or rarely, is good done without some satisfaction and this is not bad in itself; what ruins all is to distract ourselves and to seek pleasure in it. What are we to do? We have to chase away and annihilate all thoughts of pleasure and vain satisfaction, humble ourselves and seek contempt, give God the glory for everything and recognize we can do nothing on our own. We are only to seek the Glory of God in everything and to do all to please Him.”

“If someone wants to follow me, renounce self . . . ”“These words are the foundation of all Christian and religious perfection. To deny self is to renounce to all the will of the flesh, all our inclinations, desires, pleasures, satisfactions, softness, tastes, humor, preferences, habits, susceptibility, aversions and repugnance to rough things; in other words, to renounce in all and for all our perverse self. Fight to destroy your character, passions and inclinations; in one word, all your nature; and this, with energetic will, with generosity, and persevering mortification of all your being.

It is necessary to know we are to only mortify the imperfect inclinations of bad things, and not the good or the tendency to the good; for example; I’m sent to do a task and I feel inclined to do another one; we have to mortify this inclination and submit it to obedience. But if I’m sent to do a task I like, we are not by any means to mortify our inclination and reject the task, but we are to offer God the work and say: I do it not because of the inclination I feel, but because obedience requests it (in the case of lay people: I do it for love of God or because it is my obligation).”



Lord, you chose Saint Jane Frances to serve you both in marriage and in religious life. By her prayers help us to be faithful in our vocation and always to be the light of the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.





Year 2: Day 224 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Simple obedience; Hearts of charity.

Today, August 4, we celebrate the feast day of Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla (1981-1936), Martyr, Dominican tertiary, and first Gypsy to be beatified by the Church. In his beatification homily, Pope John Paul II proclaimed, "His life shows how Christ is present in the various peoples and races, and that all are called to holiness which is attained by keeping his commandments and remaining in his love


Ceferino Giménez Malla was born into a gypsy family of the Romani (a nomadic people who moved from place to place). Born at Benevent de Lérida, his parents practiced Catholicism and had him baptized at Fraga. The family moved consistently throughout his childhood, generally supporting themselves through selling baskets they weaved. While he never received formal education, and was possibly illiterate, Ceferino’s intelligence, wisdom, and sound judgment was obvious to all he encountered. He was valued by his community as a peacemaker and wise arbiter, settling disputes and disagreements. He also demonstrated a consistent faith, practicing charitable works, modeling the love and patience of Christ.

In accordance with tradition, Ceferino married at a young age, and together with his wife continued the nomadic life. He worked as a horse trader, and was recognized by all for his honesty and fair practices. The couple never had children, but took in a niece and assumed responsibility for raising her. Ceferino attended Mass every day, and received the Holy Eucharist as frequently as possible. On many days, Ceferino would gather the local children he encountered—gypsy and non-gypsy together—and teach them the Bible through stories and basic prayers.

Ceferino’s wife died in 1922, and his niece married, leaving him in solitude. At this time, Ceferino grew in his contemplation and love of the Lord, and entered the Franciscan Order as a tertiary. He spent most evenings in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and eventually became a member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

When the Spanish Civil War broke out, there was much anti-Catholic sentiment, and many were being persecuted. Ceferino defended a priest who was being taken to prison, and was arrested and imprisoned alongside him. While in prison, Ceferino clung to his Rosary, praying constantly. Offered freedom if he would renounce his faith, he declined and was eventually taken to a cemetery and executed by firing squad. Even in death, he maintained his prayer, holding his Rosary aloft and proclaiming, “Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”). His body was buried in a common, unmarked grave and never recovered.


O God our Father, great and good,
through the light and power of your Spirit
the gypsy Ceferino,
the proto-martyr of his people,
was united to the sufferings of Jesus.


We thank you that you have thus in your love
honored all the traveling people of the world.


We pray that you will raise up holy missionaries
among these people and in the whole Church.


Help us to follow the example of this true believer
who loved you intensely and was a good Samaritan to others.


You strengthened him through the Eucharist
and through Mary's intercession;
in the same way lead us to be true Christians,
ready to walk the way of the cross
in the hope of sharing in your glory forever.
Amen.




Year 2: Day 216 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Acceptance of the diversity of God’s creation within the Church.
Requested Intentions: For a family’s intentions (T); Successful examination results (B); Healing of a friend with cancer, for all those who help others (B); Healing and love (L); Grace and healing (V); Healing of a heart, consecration of a marriage (M); Health of a family, intentions of apostolate (H); For repentance (J); For a family in trouble (R); Healing, successful relationships for son, financial success (J); Success of a company (L); For a religious society (J); Healing of a husband, strength as a faithful caregiver (D); Healing of a son (T); Financial security, Healing and guidance (M); Healing of a heart and relationship (V); Employment for daughter (J); For a marriage that glorifies the Lord (K); Resolution of family situation, parents’ health (A); Positive results (C); For a son’s employment, faith, and relationships (S); Restored family relationships (A); Healthy conception and delivery of children (J); For a girlfriend’s recovery from a debilitating mental illness (J); For a daughter’s successful examination results (A); Occupational success, health and safety of family (S).

“We have in heaven the heart of a mother, The Virgin, our Mother, who at the foot of the Cross suffered as much as possible for a human creature, understands our troubles and consoles us.”



"Some say that I am too good. But if you come and kneel before me, isn't this a sufficient proof that you want to have God's pardon? God's mercy is beyond all expectation."

"Be at peace; place everything on my shoulders. I will take care of it. I give my penitents only small penances because I do the rest myself."

"A priest must die from apostolic hard work; there is no other death worthy of a priest."

Today, July 30, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandic (1866-1942), Capuchin friar, referred to as both the Apostle of the Confessional and the Apostle of Unity. At a time when Pope Pius XII said that the greatest sin of our time is "to have lost all sense of sin," Leopold had a profound sense of sin and an even firmer sense of God’s grace awaiting human cooperation. To all who came to his confessional, Saint Leopold was a guiding voice toward the redemption of Heaven.

Bogdan was born the twelfth child to Peter and Caroline Mandic in Castelnuovo, a small port at the southern tip of Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia). Born physically malformed and frail of health, he was baptized with the name Bogdan, which means 'the God-given-one'. Despite his physical weaknesses, he demonstrated great spiritual strength and integrity as a child. Leopold was physically short and weak, and developed chronic arthritis which would plague him throughout his life. He suffered from abdominal pain and discomfort, spoke with a stammer, and lacked the strength to speak loudly. Even as a child these afflictions plagued him, and would gradually worsen over time, until he would be forced to walk with a cane, stooped over, and his hands would be rendered practically useless due to arthritis. Nevertheless, his humility and faith shone through his crippled frame, and he placed his life in the hands of the Lord, through which all things are possible at the age of 16.

Able to accept all that the Lord had given him, Bogdan left his home and traveled to Italy at 16, where he undertook studies with the Capuchins at their Seraphic School in Udine. Excelling at his studies, he entered the order as a novice at age 22, taking the name Leopold. Making his profession of vows the following year, Leopold began the clerical studies in Padua and Venice, and was ordained at the age of 24. Despite the rigors and austerities of Capuchin life, Saint Leopold was to become a model of spirituality, obedience, and faith.

Wishing nothing more than to be sent as a missionary to Eastern Europe, his heart yearned to assist in the re-unification of the area which had been torn apart by religious strife. However, his superiors denied his every request, due to his frail nature and generally ill health. Rather, he was stationed at various Friaries in Venice, ministering in the confessional and as a spiritual advisor. This was a difficult time for Leopold, but he obediently did as instructed. He once expressed his feelings about this when he said: "I am like a bird in a cage, but my heart is beyond the seas."

In1906, Father Leopold was sent to Padua, where he would spend the majority of the rest of his life. It was there, in Padua, that he embraced his mission as Confessor and Spiritual Director—a role through which the Lord would work within him for nearly 40 years. During World War I, however, Leopold was sent to prison, as he would not renounce his Croat nationality. His year in prison was difficult for him, and his health worsened dramatically.

Returning to Padua, Leopold spent nearly twelve hours each day (sometimes more!) in the confessional, counseling thousands of penitents. His voice was weak, his body frail, but his love and faith in the Lord was always present, as was his hope and belief in reconciliation. Through his tireless work in the confessional, Saint Leopold freed many from the chains of sin. Saint Leopold possessed the knowledge and acceptance of his own lowliness in relation to God's mighty power - that without God he could do nothing. This strong faith was communicated to others when they came to the confessional for spiritual advice. He would say: "Have faith! Everything will be alright. Faith, Faith!"

Saint Leopold had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary whom he referred to as "my holy boss.” He was known to pray the rosary quite often, and celebrated the Eucharist daily at the side altar in the Little Office of the Virgin Mary. He would then visit the sick in nursing homes, hospitals and homes all over Padua. He visited the Capuchin infirmary to comfort the sick friars, giving them words of advice and reminding them to have faith. He was an outspoken on issues with children, and being pro-life was especially fond of expectant mothers and young children. He did considerable work in setting up orphanages for children without parents.

On 22nd September, 1940, Father Leopold celebrated his Golden Jubilee of the Priesthood. Soon thereafter, his health declined quickly, as he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. In 1942, while preparing for the liturgy, he collapsed on the floor. He was then brought to his cell, where he was given the last rites. Friars that had gathered at his bed sang "Salve Regina," and when they got to the words, "O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary," Leopold died.

During World War II, the church and friary where Leopold had lived in Padua were demolished by bombs, with the exception of Leopold’s cell and confession, which were miraculously left standing. Prior to his death, Saint Leopold had predicted this occurrence, when he stated, “The church and the friary will be hit by the bombs, but not this little cell. Here God exercised so much mercy for people, it must remain as a monument to God's goodness."

The life of Saint Leopold Mandic inspires us today, to embrace our struggles and complaints as opportunities to grow in love, service, obedience, and humility to the Lord. Through the acceptance of ourselves, and our reliance on Our Loving Father for strength and ability, we grow closer to the salvation of Heaven, and are better able to serve others in our communities. Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandic, pray for us!



O God, source of life and love, you gave Saint Leopold a tremendous compassion for sinners and a desire for church unity. Through his prayers, grant that we may acknowledge our need of forgiveness, show love to others, and strive to bring about a living unity among Christians. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.


We have in heaven the heart of a mother, The Virgin, our Mother, who at the foot of the Cross suffered as much as possible for a human creature, understands our troubles and consoles us. Amen.




Year 2: Day 211 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Humility; Acceptance of our flaws; Reliance on the Lord; Service to others.
Requested Intentions: For a family’s intentions (T); Successful examination results (B); Healing of a friend with cancer, for all those who help others (B); Healing and love (L); Grace and healing (V); Healing of a heart, consecration of a marriage (M); Health of a family, intentions of apostolate (H); For repentance (J); For a family in trouble (R); Healing, successful relationships for son, financial success (J); Success of a company (L); For a religious society (J); Healing of a husband, strength as a faithful caregiver (D); Healing of a son (T); Financial security, Healing and guidance (M); Healing of a heart and relationship (V); Employment for daughter (J); For a marriage that glorifies the Lord (K); Resolution of family situation, parents’ health (A); Positive results (C); For a son’s employment, faith, and relationships (S); Restored family relationships (A); Healthy conception and delivery of children (J); For a girlfriend’s recovery from a debilitating mental illness (J); For a daughter’s successful examination results (A); Occupational success, health and safety of family (S).

"You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving."


Today, January 24, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1612), bishop, Doctor of the Church. Known as the “gentleman,” Saint Francis lived a life of patience, humility, Christian meekness, and love. Through his example, and his prolific writing, he reinforced the role of faith and love in every day life—not only for the clergy, but for the faithful as well.

For more on the life of Saint Francis, see my post from last year here.

Saint Francis affirmed that the practice of Christian virtue—especially love—should be the aim of all people. He counseled gentleness and encouragement of each other, despised rash judgment, and preached against devisiveness and exclusionary labeling and language. His text, “Introduction to the Devout Life,” as we read below in an excerpt, maintained and instructed that true devotion was for everyone:

When God the Creator made all things, he commanded the plants to bring forth fruit each according to its own kind; he has likewise commanded Christians, who are the living plants of his Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion, each one in accord with his character, his station and his calling.


I say that devotion must be practised in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by the servant and by the prince, by the widow, by the unmarried girl and by the married woman. But even this distinction is not sufficient; for the practice of devotion must be adapted to the strength, to the occupation and to the duties of each one in particular.


Tell me, please, my Philothea, whether it is proper for a bishop to want to lead a solitary life like a Carthusian; or for married people to be no more concerned than a Capuchin about increasing their income; or for a working man to spend his whole day in church like a religious; or on the other hand for a religious to be constantly exposed like a bishop to all the events and circumstances that bear on the needs of our neighbor. Is not this sort of devotion ridiculous, unorganised and intolerable? Yet this absurd error occurs very frequently, but in no way does true devotion, my Philothea, destroy anything at all. On the contrary, it perfects and fulfils all things. In fact if it ever works against, or is inimical to, anyone’s legitimate station and calling, then it is very definitely false devotion.


The bee collects honey from flowers in such a way as to do the least damage or destruction to them, and he leaves them whole, undamaged and fresh, just as he found them. True devotion does still better. Not only does it not injure any sort of calling or occupation, it even embellishes and enhances it.

Moreover, just as every sort of gem, cast in honey, becomes brighter and more sparkling, each according to its colour, so each person becomes more acceptable and fitting in his own vocation when he sets his vocation in the context of devotion. Through devotion your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love between husband and wife becomes more sincere, the service we owe to the prince becomes more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more pleasant and agreeable.


It is therefore an error and even a heresy to wish to exclude the exercise of devotion from military divisions, from the artisans’ shops, from the courts of princes, from family households. I acknowledge, my dear Philothea, that the type of devotion which is purely contemplative, monastic and religious can certainly not be exercised in these sorts of stations and occupations, but besides this threefold type of devotion, there are many others fit for perfecting those who live in a secular state.


Therefore, in whatever situations we happen to be, we can and we must aspire to the life of perfection.





The Prayer of Saint Francis de Sales: “Be at Peace”

Be at Peace
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto,
and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.


Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.




Year 2: Day 24 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Peace, Humility, Acceptance of all, Love for one another.
Requested Intentions: End to grief after death of son (B&C); End to grief (S); Successful marriage (N); For an RCIA candidate struggling with financial and family stressors (O); Freedom from anxiety regarding medical procedure (J); Return home of an ill mother, peace and financial security (J); Restoration of a marriage; family peace (N); Freedom from persecution (A); For a friend struggling with medical problems and surgery (L); Financial blessings (D); For the success of a project (T); Improved financial stability (A); Improved relationship with business partner (A); For employment (N); Reconciliation of a workplace relationship (R); Healing of son, cousin, and friend (L); Healing of a husband from cancer, end to medical problems (T); Freedom from persecution (E); Successful employment (R); Reconciliation of a marriage (M); Successful marriage, employment, healing (J); For a family struggling with a difficult situation (M); For family intentions (I); Reconciliation of a marriage (S); For blessings upon a family (R); Permanent employment (N); Successful employment (M); Healing of a father following stroke (S).

The veneration of the Holy Name of Jesus was encouraged by the example of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, and later by Saint Bernardine of Siena and and Saint John Capistrano. Together, they worked great miracles, carrying the Christogram of the Holy Name through the streets, healing the ill, casting out demons, and converting thousands. From that time, devotion to this blessed name has continued, with the seal of the Lord gracing doorways and churches, and reminding us of His power and our redemption.

All things are created in and through Jesus, who came to save all people. As written in Colossians (1:15-20):


enjoy His friendship in this life
and be filled with eternal joy in His Kingdom,
where He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.






Looking Back: Read last year’s post on the Most Holy Name of Jesus here.

“The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”


Today, January 2, we celebrate the feast of Saint Basil the Great (329-379), Bishop of Caesarea, Church Father and Doctor of the Church. Saint Basil is remembered for his reformation of the Liturgy, fight against heresies, and defense of both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. Together with Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Saint Basil is referred to as a “Cappadocian Father,” and his monastic rule is still followed today by many Eastern monks, combining prayer, community life, and manual labor. Truly “great,” we look to Saint Gregory’s faith, service, humility, and charity as we begin our new year.

Basil was born into a wealthy Christian family in Cappadocia (modern day Turkey), Asia Minor. While his family was devout, with two brothers becoming bishops, and both his mother (Saint Nona) and his sister (Saint Macrina) honored as saints, Basil was drawn more to academic and worldly pursuits. He achieved great academic success in school, studying law and rhetoric in Constantinople and Athens. During his schooling, Basil began a friendship which would last throughout his lifetime, with future saint, Gregory Nazianzen, a contemplative poet. Basil was quickly elevated to an esteemed teacher and lecturer, and during this time, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening. In a letter, he described this moment in his life:

“I had wasted much time on follies and spent nearly all of my youth in vain labors, and devotion to the teachings of a wisdom that God had made foolish. Suddenly, I awoke as out of a deep sleep. I beheld the wonderful light of the Gospel truth, and I recognized the nothingness of the wisdom of the princes of this world.”

Thus raised above worldly ambition and desire, and encouraged by his pious sister, Basil decided to enter the monastery and commit himself to the Lord. He gave up his inheritance, distributing it to the poor and needy, and traveled throughout the region (Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia), practicing asceticism and giving himself over to the Spirit. Basil settled in the family home in Pontus, where his sister had become Superior of a convent, and later his mother had joined the order. There, opposite the convent, he founded a monastery, establishing the monastic rule of prayer, community, and manual labor. He governed the monastery for four years, establishing other religious houses throughout the region, writing great ascetic manuscripts, and spending his days in prayer and charitable works.

Following these years, Saint Basil retired from his position, leaving it to his brother (Saint Peter of Sebastus), and determined to spend his days in contemplative prayer. However, he was called upon to counter the Arian heresies which were spreading throughout the region, and after being ordained a priest by Eusebius, he (along with Saint Gregory Nazianzen), actively debated the heretics with great success.

On the death of Eusebius, Saint Basil was selected as his successor, and appointed Bishop of Caesarea. A model for all bishops, Basil was both commanding and eloquent, firm and charitable. He embraced and modeled a life of austerity, forgoing the usual appointments that bishops were privileged with. Rather, he demonstrated humility and poverty, giving all that he had to those in need. After founding an immense hospital—referred to as the Basiliad, “a new city”—in Caesarea, Saint Basil could be found there each day, ministering to the sick and dying, feeding the hungry, and providing consolation and spiritual direction. He urged his followers to Give your last loaf to the beggar at your door, and trust in God's goodness.

Despite his active work against the Arian heresies, eventually Emperor Valentius ordered Saint Basil to admit the Arians to Communion. Of course, the saintly bishop refused, and was summoned before the emperor. Continuing to resist, the emperor’s prefect admonished the bishop: “Are you mad, that you resist the will before which the whole world bows? Do you not dread the wrath of the emperor, nor exile, nor death?”

Saint Basil, Bishop of Caesarea answered calmly, “No. He who has nothing to lose need not dread loss of goods; you cannot exile me, for the whole earth is my home; as for death, it would be the greatest kindness you could bestow upon me; torments cannot harm me; one blow would end both my frail life and my sufferings.”

The prefect, speaking for the emperor, answered, “Never has anyone dared to address me thus.”

“Perhaps,” suggested Basil, “you never before measured your strength with a Christian bishop.”

The emperor desisted from his commands. Similarly, through the working of miracles through him, Saint Basil restored the Catholic presence to churches and cathedrals that had been taken by the Arians.

The life of Saint Basil was one of constant work and physical suffering. At times, it appeared that he was the only voice opposing the emperor and heresies, for which he was banished and exiled on numerous occasions. He further suffered from a liver disease, which along with his ascetic practices, likely caused both pain and suffering, and eventually led to his early demise. Despite his suffering, Saint Basil lived a life of love, denouncing sin, but accepting and working among all peoples. Extant letters demonstrate his commitment to those that society had wrongly judged or written off, including criminals, thieves, and prostitutes. Looking to Jesus as his model, Saint Basil preached acceptance, forgiveness, charity, and love. His fervor and zeal for the Lord restored discipline to the clergy and renewed the faithful!

He is remembered for preaching: “Be aware of God's compassion, that it heals with oil and wine. Do not lose hope of salvation. Remember what is written--the one who falls shall rise again, and the one who turns away shall turn again, the wounded is healed, the one caught by wild beasts escapes, the one who confesses is not rejected.


For the Lord does not want the sinner to die, but to return and live.


There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand among sinners, but leap aside. For when you turn away and weep, then you will be saved.”

Saint Basil the Great died peacefully in 379 at the age of fifty-one, and is venerated as a Doctor of the Church. His writings, though not recognized greatly in his lifetime, rightly place him among the great teachers of the Church. The most famous of his writings, “On the Holy Spirit,” defends the divinity of the Spirit. Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as “the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.”


Selected Quotations of Saint Basil the Great:
“The love of God is not taught. No one has taught us to enjoy the light or to be attached to life more than anything else. And no one has taught us to love the two people who brought us into the world and educated us. Which is all the more reason to believe that we did not learn to love God as a result of outside instruction. In the very nature of every human being has been sown the seed of the ability to love. You and I ought to welcome this seed, cultivate it carefully, nourish it attentively and foster its growth by going to the school of God's commandments with help of His grace.”

“Let us raise ourselves from our fall and not give up hope as long as we are free from sin. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. ‘Come, let us adore and prostrate ourselves and weep before him’ (Psalm 95:6). The Word calls us to repentance, crying out: ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you’ (Matthew 11:28). There is, then, a way to salvation if we are willing to follow it”

“He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”

“Troubles are usually brooms and shovels that smooth the road to the good man's fortune; and many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away hunger.”

“Do not measure your loss by itself; if you do, it will seem intolerable; but if you will take all human affairs into account you will find that some comfort is to be derived from them.”

“It is God who is active within us, giving us both the will and the achievement, in accordance with his good purpose. Through his Spirit, God also reveals his wisdom in the plan he has preordained for our glory.


God gives power and strength in our labours. I have toiled harder than all the others, Paul says, but it is not I but the grace of God, which is with me.


God rescues us from dangers beyond all human expectation. We felt within ourselves that we had received the sentence of death, so that we might not trust ourselves but in God, who raises the dead; from so great a danger did he deliver us, and does deliver us; we hope in him, for he will deliver us again.”

“O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity.”

“By the command of your only-begotten Son we communicate with the memory of your saints…by whose prayers and supplications have mercy upon us all, and deliver us for the sake of your holy name.”

“Envy is a gnawing pain which springs from the success and prosperity of another; and this is the reason why the envious are never exempt from trouble and vexation. If an abundant harvest fills the granaries of a neighbor, if success crowns his efforts, the envious man is chagrined and sad. If one man can boast of prudence, talent, and eloquence; if another is rich, and is very liberal to the poor, if good works are praised by all around, the envious man is shocked and grieved. The envious, however, dare not speak; although envy makes them counterfeit gladness, their hearts are sore within. If you ask him what vexes him, he dare not tell the reason. It is not really the happiness of his friend that annoys him, neither is it his gaiety that makes him sad, nor is he sorry to see his friend prosper; but it is that he is persuaded that the prosperity of others is the cause of his misery. This is what the envious would be forced to acknowledge, if they spoke the truth sincerely; but because they dare not confess so shameful a sin, they, in secret, feed a sore which tortures them and eats away their rest. As the shadow ever accompanies the pedestrian when walking in the sun, so envy throws its shadow on those who are successful in the world.”



Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

O God and Lord of the Powers, and Maker of all creation, Who, because of Thy clemency and incomparable mercy, didst send Thine Only-Begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind, and with His venerable Cross didst tear asunder the record of our sins, and thereby didst conquer the rulers and powers of darkness; receive from us sinful people, O merciful Master, these prayers of gratitude and supplication, and deliver us from every destructive and gloomy transgression, and from all visible and invisible enemies who seek to injure us. Nail down our flesh with fear of Thee, and let not our hearts be inclined to words or thoughts of evil, but pierce our souls with Thy love, that ever contemplating Thee, being enlightened by Thee, and discerning Thee, the unapproachable and everlasting Light, we may unceasingly render confession and gratitude to Thee: The eternal Father, with Thine Only-Begotten Son, and with Thine All-Holy, Gracious, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.




Year 2: Day 2 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Lives of acceptance, forgiveness, charity, and love; Healing within the Church; An end to judgment and division.
Requested Intentions: For family intentions (I); Reconciliation of a marriage (S); For blessings upon a family (R); Permanent employment (N); Successful employment (M); Successful completion of nursing exam (M); For a daughter in an abusive relationships (J); For the consecration of a granddaughter to Our Blessed Mother (A); For a successful marriage (S); Restoration of a teaching job (L); Health and spirituality of family members (R); For a return to health for a friend (C); Healing from cancer of a brother-in-law (C); Healthy relationship; Joy in everyday life (J); Successful employment and financial assistance for education (M); For the return home of father and husband suffering from mental illness (C); Successful passing of examination; Employment for Son (J); Healing of a family and son (S); Successful marriage (G); End to husband’s addictions; Son’s employment (M); Freedom from financial burdens (M); Healing after a miscarriage (E); For healing of friend; successful resolution of legal matter (A); Complete healing of a friend with pancreatic cancer (J); Healing of a father following stroke (S).