One thing I find very touching about St Josephine is that although she was black , a former slave, a foreigner and leading a very,very humble quiet life the local Italians recognised her as a saint even while she was alive. Humanly speaking this seems impossible. The Sense of the Faithful. Very touching.
SAINTS OF THE DAY MONDAY, 9 FEBRUARY, 2026 SAINT APOLLONIA BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH SAINT APOLLONIA (d. c. 249) The persecution of Christians began in Alexandria during the reign of the Emperor Philip. The first victim of the pagan mob was an old man named Metrius, who was tortured and then stoned to death. The second person who refused to worship their false idols was a Christian woman named Quinta. Her words infuriated the mob and she was scourged and stoned. While most of the Christians were fleeing the city, abandoning all their worldly possessions, an old deaconess, Apollonia, was seized. The crowds beat her, knocking out all of her teeth. Then they lit a large fire and threatened to throw her in it if she did not curse her God. She begged them to wait a moment, acting as if she was considering their requests. Instead, she jumped willingly into the flames and so suffered martyrdom. There were many churches and altars dedicated to her. Apollonia is the patroness of dentists, and people suffering from toothache and other dental diseases often ask her intercession. She is pictured with a pair of pincers holding a tooth or with a golden tooth suspended from her necklace. Saint Augustine explained her voluntary martyrdom as a special inspiration of the Holy Spirit, since no one is allowed to cause his or her own death. REFLECTION: The Church has quite a sense of humor! Apollonia is honored as the patron saint of dentists, but this woman who had her teeth extracted without anesthetic surely ought to be the patron of those who dread the chair. She might also be the patron of the aging, for she attained glory in her old age, standing firm before her persecutors even as her fellow Christians fled the city. However we choose to honor her, she remains a model of courage for us. PATRON: Dentists and Toothache. PRAYER FOR TOOTHACHE TO SAINT APOLLONIA: O Glorious Apollonia, patron saint of dentistry and refuge to all those suffering from diseases of the teeth, I consecrate myself to thee, beseeching thee to number me among thy clients. Assist me by thy intercession with God in my daily work and intercede with Him to obtain for me a happy death. Pray that my heart like thine may be inflamed with the love of Jesus and Mary, through Christ our Lord. Amen. O My God, bring me safe through temptation and strengthen me as thou didst our own patron Apollonia, through Christ our Lord. Amen. BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH (ANNA KATHARINA EMMERICK) (September 8, 1774 - February 9, 1824) ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH was born at Flamske, a village situated about a mile and a half from Coesfeld, in the bishopric of Munster, on the 8th of September 1774, and was baptised in the church of St. James at Coesfeld. Her parents, Bernard Emmerich and Anne Hiller, were poor peasants, but distinguished for their piety and virtue. As a child, she spent alot of her time as a shepherdess, maid and seamstress until, aged 28, she entered the Augustinian Order, the Convent of Agnetenberg at Dulmen, Westphalia, and one year later, on 13th November 1803, she made her solemn vows. Even during her earlier youthful years, Anne had been extraordinarily gifted with ecstasies and visions of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, her guardian angel, and many of the saints. The visions with which she was favoured were so like realities, and appeared to her so sweet and delightful, that she supposed all Christian children were favoured with the same; and she concluded that those who never talked on such subjects were only more discreet and modest than herself, so she resolved to keep silence also, to be like them. Although never given an adequate education, Anne seemed to understand Latin beginning in her very early years. Almost from infancy Anne reportedly had the gifts of discerning holy from unholy objects, consecrated objects or locations, and the identification of relics and from which saints they came. During her whole life she had continual intercourse with the souls in purgatory; and all her actions and prayers were offered for the relief of their sufferings. She was frequently called upon to assist them, and even reminded in some miraculous manner, if she chanced to forget them. Often, while yet very young, she used to be awakened out of her sleep by bands of suffering souls, and to follow them on cold winter's nights with bare feet, the whole length of the Way of the Cross to Coesfeld, though the ground was covered with snow. ANNE RECEIVES THE CROWN OF THORNS In 1798, whilst Anne was praying in the Jesuits' Church at Coesfeld absorbed in contemplation before the Crucifix, she recounts a sudden burning sensation in her head and beheld the vision of her “Divine Spouse” approaching her from the altar “where the Blessed Sacrament was kept in the tabernacle” with two crowns in His hands: in His left hand was one made up of flowers, and in the right hand one of thorns. Anne chose the crown of thorns, and from that day on was often subjected to excruciating pain and bleeding from the puncture wounds of the thorns. She kept her head permanently covered to hide the swelling and blood stains from being seen by others.
ANNE RECEIVES THE STIGMATA In 1811, Anne was forced to leave her convent along with all the sisters when King Jerome Bonaparte closed all of the Religious houses during his reign. Four years before the suppression of her convent, Anne made a visit home with her family in Flamske. One day while she was kneeling and praying for hours before the Cross of the Church of St. Lambert at Coesfeld, Anne had asked our Lord for a share in His Passion as a sacrifice for the sake of her convent. From that time on, she began experiencing terrible pains in her hands, feet and side, an indication that God had given her the invisible stigmata. On August 28,1812 (the Feast of St. Augustine), Jesus appeared to her in a vision and imprinted a cross-shaped wound on her breast directly above the heart. Later that same year, specifically on the 29th December 1812, at about 3pm she was lying on her bed in her little room, extremely ill, but in a state of ecstasy and with her arms extended, meditating on the sufferings of her Lord, and beseeching Him to allow her to suffer with Him. She said five Our Fathers in honour of the Five Wounds, and felt her whole heart burning with love. She then saw a light descending towards her, and distinguished in the midst of it the resplendent form of her crucified Saviour, whose wounds shone like so many furnaces of light. Her heart was overflowing with joy and sorrow, and, at the sight of the sacred wounds, her desire to suffer with her Lord became intensely violent. Then triple rays, pointed like arrows, of the colour of blood, darted forth from the hands, feet, and side of Jesus, and struck her hands, feet, and right side. When she recovered her senses she was astonished when she beheld blood flowing from the palms of her hands, and felt violent pain in her feet and side. In 1813, Anne was examined by a group of both medical and Church authorities; an inquiry which lasted for five months. The examiners found Anne to be mentally sound, and they could not find any medical or temporal explanation for the wounds of the stigmata. ANNE LIVES OFF THE EUCHARIST ALONE FOR 12 YEARS From the moment she received the Sacred Wounds until her death, Anne Catherine Emmerich took no solid food, existing only on the Sacred Host. In fact, when she would try to eat or drink she would have a severe reaction and would vomit violently when attempting to consume food, even broth. She was however able to consume the Holy Eucharist and her diet consisted only of the Eucharist. In 1819 she was once again investigated by high-ranking secular authorities. She was taken away from all of her acquaintances and moved to a house in the country belonging to one of the authorities. They referred to her as ‘The Imposter'. She was locked up for three weeks with the authorities watching her 24×7 in 6 hour shifts. Much to the aggravation of her captors, she still consumed no food and bled through her Stigmata even though she prayed not to bleed so they would release her. After three weeks, she was finally sent back to her home in Dulmen by her frustrated captors. Two of them became very sympathetic to her cause. During her last few years, she did not sleep at all, a miracle in itself according to the testimonies of many doctors. She was given shelter by various charitable people in the area, and was bedridden for the rest of her life. God had chosen this gifted soul to become His victim, and she voluntarily suffered and sacrificed as a means of atonement and expiation for the souls that were living in sin. Because of the great trouble caused by her visible stigmata, Anne implored our Lord to remove them, a prayer which was granted – at least partially – starting in 1819. Over the next seven years, her wounds became less visible until finally they disappeared, except for on special occasions or particular feast days of the Church calendar. They would reappear and continue to bleed, however, during each Lenten season, particularly on Good Fridays. There were other occasions when Anne Catherine Emmerich's wounds would manifest and bleed severely, including some Holy Thursdays and a few Fridays outside of Lent. Yet she was never without the stigmata, for the rest of the time they were invisible but equally as painful. Anne also possessed the gift of many extraordinary visions, known as ecstasies. She was given visions of almost the entire life of Jesus, and most of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary also. These private revelations of Jesus and Mary's life included the most intimate details and can be considered a complete vision of the Gospel story. Other visions included those of Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, along with intimate details in the lives of many Saints. Of the many visions and prophesies of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, her accounts concerning the future of the Church and the rising of the false church, are the most poignant in light of the upheavals we are witnessing in the Church, and which could be referring to our times. DEATH AND BEATIFICATION Anne Catherine Emmerich died a most holy death on 9th February 1824, aged 49. At her beatification ceremony, on 3rd October 2004, Pope St. John Paul II said that “her special mystical vocation shows us the value of sacrifice and suffering with the crucified Lord”. She is one of those special victim souls whose complete self-abnegation allows them to be more completely filled with grace. PRAYER: O, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, devout and pious follower of Christ, who patiently endured the frailty of this mortal condition, who humbly received the honorable marks of Christ Jesus on your hands, feet, side, head, and chest, the marks which you were blessed by the Lord to witness for yourself in His own sufferings; we graciously ask for your intercession with God, that we sinners may be forgiven of our sins and be drawn more completely into spiritual communion with Christ Our Lord and Saviour. We ask this in the Name of the Most Holy Lamb of God and through the intercession of Holy Mary, Our Mother. Amen. Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich: Pray for us!
Well the biggest thing that springs to mind for me with Catherine are her visions of a False Church being constructed. Something which is actually happening as I write. Prophesy has now become newspaper headlines.
SAINT OF THE DAY TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2026 SAINT SCHOLASTICA VIRGIN AND RELIGIOUS (2 March 480 AD - 10 February 543 AD) St. Scholastica was born in Nursia, Italy, in 480 AD. She is the twin sister of St. Benedict. As a young woman she consecrated herself to God, and she remained at home to assist her father while her brother Benedict went to Rome to study. St. Benedict is the founder of Western monasticism, the one who developed the concept of men living together in a religious community in a monastery for a spiritual purpose under a rule of life. Upon his return from Rome he founded a monastery at Monte Casino. In parallel fashion, St. Scholastica founded a house for women religious or a convent at Plombariola only five miles south of Monte Casino. Previously women who wished to live a more intense spiritual life did so on their own in seclusion and occasionally a few women would live together. St. Scholastica expanded the communal life dimension. She gathered women who wished to focus more exclusively on God into larger groups, usually younger virgins and older widows. In the convent they were able to separate themselves from the concerns and temptations of the world to concentrate on a life of prayer, mutual support, and good works. St. Benedict was the abbot or superior of the monastery, and St. Scholastica was the abbess or superior of the convent. Even though they lived separately they stayed in close communication and shared a strong spiritual bond. Once each year they met for a single day to pray and discuss spiritual matters, and because Scholastica was not permitted to enter the monastery, their meeting took place at a home between the two. They had a remarkable final meeting. Scholastica was advanced in age and had a premonition that her time was short, so after dinner she asked her brother to stay longer. The Benedictine Rule requires a monk to be in the monastery every night, so Benedict declined. Scholastica said a quick prayer and almost instantly a violent thunderstorm broke out which forced Benedict to remain indoors. Benedict exclaimed, “Sister, what have you done?” She answered, “I asked a favor of you and you refused it. I asked it of God and he has granted it.” Three days later St. Scholastica died and St. Benedict, who was praying at that moment, looked up and saw her soul ascending to heaven in the form of a dove. St. Scholastica is considered the founder of the Benedictine sisters. PATRON: Against rain; convulsive children; nuns; storms, education, and books. SYMBOLS: Nun with crozier and crucifix; nun with dove flying from her mouth. PRAYER: O God, Thou causedst the soul of Thy blessed virgin Scholastica to enter heaven in the form of a dove, to show us the way of innocence. Grant us, by her prayers and merits, to live in such innocence, that we may deserve to attain eternal joys. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Saint Scholastica reminds me of all those coupled Saints who were deep friends in love and walked the Mountain of God together Hand in Hand. Scholastica and Benedict, Francis and Clare, Francis De Sales and Jane Chantal and on and on. What a gift to walk together like this. Two saints met along the road.
FEAST OF THE DAY WEDNESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2026 OUR LADY OF LOURDES Apparitions of our Lady - (February 11, 1858 - July 16, 1858) LOURDES AND SAINT BERNARDETTE SOUBIROUS In Lourdes, France, in 1844 a baby girl named Bernadette Soubirous was born. Bernadette's family was very poor, and Bernadette was responsible for looking after and caring for her brothers and sisters. The only education Bernadette received was the Catholic teachings which she studied faithfully in the evenings. At the age of 13, Bernadette was preparing for her First Holy Communion. One of Bernadette's chores was to collect wood for the fire. On a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette and 2 companions headed off to the Gave River to collect pieces of wood. The 2 companions ran ahead and left Bernadette struggling to keep up. As Bernadette was taking off her shoes to make her way through the river, she was startled by a peculiar wind and rustling sound. Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank. Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light. Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet. Bernadette rubbed her eyes. What a beautiful lady! But where did she come from? And what was she doing here? The beautiful lady smiled at Bernadette and asked her to say her rosary. Bernadette said her prayers and when she was finished she looked up, the lady had vanished. Bernadette caught up to her 2 friends and discovered that they were upset with her. What have you been doing? Playing in the river, while we are out here collecting wood? Bernadette told them about the vision she had just witnessed. The girls told Bernadette she was silly and probably just seeing things. Bernadette felt drawn to the grotto and returned there on the next Sunday. Again Bernadette saw the beautiful lady. The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her. The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days. She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there. She told her to drink water from the stream. The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners. Bernadette followed the requests. The apparitions saw the Blessed Virgin voicing Her concerns for Her children, She who sees the punishments that await sinners. During the sixth apparition, February 21st, Bernadette asked Her what made Her sad, the Blessed Virgin replied:”Pray for sinners.” She called on people to repent, saying “repentance, repentance, repentance.” During the February 27th apparition She spoke of penance, asking Bernadette to do penance for herself first and then for others. In the second apparition, the Blessed Virgin had also drawn our attention to the next life and to Her powerful role; remember that for those who embrace Her and who are devoted to Her, She is our Mother in this life and the next; She said to Bernadette: “I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the other.” The Blessed Virgin also performed a public miracle at Lourdes.On 25th March 1858, the day of the sixteenth apparition, Bernadette goes to the Grotto where, at the request of Abbé Peyramale, Curé of Lourdes, she asks the ‘Lady' to give her name. Bernadette asks her three times without receiving a reply. At the fourth request, the ‘Lady' replies in the local dialect, “Que soy era Immaculada Counceptiou”, meaning “I am the Immaculate Conception”. Bernadette did not immediately understand the meaning of these words. According to Church teachings, the Immaculate Conception means that ‘Mary was conceived without sin by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race' (definition of the dogma promulgated in 1854). Bernadette immediately goes to see the Curé to give him the name of the ‘Lady'. He realises then that it is the Mother of God who is appearing at the Grotto. Later on, the Bishop of Tarbes, Mgr Laurence, will confirm this revelation.The miracles of body and soul performed at Lourdes are the proof that this message was a true warning from the queen of heaven to her children and that she was deeply interested in their welfare. Bernadette's daily visits to the grotto caused quite a stir in the countryside. Crowds of people began to gather and watch Bernadette as she examined the cave and obediently did the things the lady asked of her. They watched Bernadette scrape away soil beside the grotto until a spring of water started to trickle out. Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water everyday! This is the sacred Lourdes water which heals all! At first, the priests, the town's folk, and the families doubted Bernadette's visions and the purpose in her activities. But Bernadette was stubborn and determined to follow Mary's plans for her. Eventually everyone did believe Bernadette and the grotto at Lourdes became a place of worship and the Lourdes holy water was sacred for performing miracles. At the age of 22, Bernadette became a nun and devoted her life to Mary, to praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God. Bernadette died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 36. She will be remembered for believing in the greater glory of God as she was faithful to her mission, she was humble in glory and she was valiant in her sufferings. Today, Lourdes remains one of the most frequented Christian shrines in the world. More than 3 million visitors, pilgrims and tourists come each year to the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette 18 times in 1858. Of the 3 million individuals who come to Lourdes every year, 500,000 are sick people hoping to be cured miraculously. Recent data from the Lourdes Bureau Médical, 66 cases have officially been acknowledged as miraculous, from 1858 to nowadays; from the first case occurring a few days after the first apparition at Massabielle, to the last case, relating to Mr. Jean-Pierre Bély, acknowledged in 1999, versus an overall number of 7000 recoveries claimed. PATRON: Lourdes, France, Quezon City, Tagaytay City, Barangay Granada of Bacolod, Daegu, South Korea, Tennessee, Diocese of Lancaster, bodily ills, sick people, protection from diseases. PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES FOR HEALING: Oh ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. My loving Mother, obtain my request. (State your intentions here…) I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in eternity. Amen.
I am ashamed to say I never ever got to visit Lourdes. It is about a five hour drive from here and I hope to get there in the summer. The thing I love about Bernadette was that she was so down to Earth. Nothing that ever happened to her went to her head, she always stayed Bernadette. One priest asked her about eating grass at the grotto and she asked him if he had never ate salad When asked what she might do in the convent she said simply said that she did not think she was good for anything She also said Our Lady had told her if she could find anyone more unworthy in Lourdes than Bernadette she would have done so. Bernadette's humility was so baked in it was part of her. She never even had to try. She was humility walking. Someone argued with her that he did not believe in the apparitions to which Bernadette replied, 'I was only asked to tell you the messages, not to persuade you they were true'. Bernadette in a nutshell.
Bernadette is my absolute favorite saint. She had such a plain simple approach to everything: Be faithful, never waver, be humble and virtuous, fulfill your mission.
SAINT OF THE DAY THURSDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2026 SAINT EULALIA OF BARCELONA VIRGIN AND MARTYR (c.290 - c.303) St. Eulalia, descended from one of the best families in Spain, was educated in the Christian religion, and in sentiments of perfect piety, from her infancy distinguished herself by an admirable sweetness of temper, modesty, and devotion, showed a great love of the holy state of virginity, and by her seriousness and her contempt of dress, ornaments diversions, and worldly company, gave early proofs of her sincere desire to lead on earth a heavenly life. Her heart was raised above the world before she was thought capable of knowing it, so that its amusements, which usually fill the minds of young persons, had no charms for her, and every day of her life made an addition to her virtues. She was but twelve years old when the bloody edicts of Dioclesian were issued, by which it was ordered that all persons, without exception of age, sex, or profession, should be compelled to offer sacrifice to the gods of the empire. Eulalia, young as she was, took the publication of this order for the signal of battle; but her mother, observing her impatient ardor for martyrdom, carried her into the country. The saint found means to make her escape by night, and after much fatigue arrived at Merida before break of day. As soon as the court sat, the same morning, she presented herself before the cruel judge, whose name was Dacianus, and reproached him with impiety in attempting to destroy souls, by compelling them to renounce the only true God. The governor commanded her to be seized, and first employing caresses, represented to her the advantages which her birth, youth and fortune gave her in the world, and the grief which her disobedience would bring to her parents. Then he had recourse to threats, and caused the most dreadful instruments of torture to be placed before her eyes, saying to her, "All this you shall escape if you will but touch a little salt and frankincense with the tip of your finger." Provoked at these seducing flatteries, she threw down the idol, trampled upon the cake which was laid for the sacrifice, and, as Prudentius relates, spat at the judge; an action only to be excused by her youth and inattention under the influence of a warm zeal, and fear of the snares which were laid for her. At the judge's order two executioners began to tear her tender sides with iron hooks, so as to leave the very bones bare. In the mean time she called the strokes so many trophies of Christ. Next, lighted torches were applied to her breasts and sides: under which torment, instead of groans, nothing was heard from her mouth but thanksgivings. The fire at length catching her hair, surrounded her head and face, and the saint was stifled by the smoke and flame. Prudentius tells us, that a white dove seemed to come out of her mouth, and to wing its way upward when the holy martyr expired: at which prodigy the executioners were so much terrified that they fled and left the body. A great snow that fell covered it and the whole forum where it lay; which circumstance shows that the holy martyr suffered in winter. The treasure of her relics was carefully entombed by the Christians near the place of her martyrdom: afterwards a stately church was erected on the spot, and the relics were covered by the altar which was raised over them, before Prudentius wrote his hymn on the holy martyr in the fourth century He assures us that "pilgrims came to venerate her bones; and that she, near the throne of God, beholds them, and, being made propitious by hymns, protects her clients. Her relics are kept with great veneration at Oviedo, do, where she is honored as patroness. The Roman Martyrology mentions her name on the 10th of December. PATRON: Merida, Spain; Oviedo, Spain, runaways; torture victims; widows. SYMBOLS: Maiden with a cross, stake, and dove; naked maiden lying in the snow. PRAYER OF ST. EULALIA IN HER AGONY: Lord Jesus Christ, hear my prayer and perfect Thy merciful goodness in me, and grant me to be received among the number of Thine elect into the rest of life eternal, making of me a sign of righteousness that men believing on Thee may behold and praise Thy power. Amen.
Wow! These tortures are incredible and so many young girls not only bore them but did so with huge heroism. A sure sign of supernatural grace. Saint Eulalia pray for us.
SAINT OF THE DAY FRIDAY, 13 FEBRUARY, 2026 SAINT CATHERINE OF RICCI MYSTIC AND STIGMATIST (23 April 1522 - 2 February 1589) Catherine was born to a well-known wealthy family in Florence, Italy, in 1522, and baptized with the name Alexandrina. When her mother died, Catherine was raised by a loving and devout stepmother, who immediately recognized the holiness and sanctity of her charge. Even in infancy, Catherine was prone to spending long periods of time in solitary prayer, a practice her stepmother encouraged. In her youth, Catherine was determined to join a religious order, but none she encountered were serious enough for her, their rules too relaxed for her devotion to the Lord. At age fourteen, finding what she wanted, Catherine entered the Dominican convent of San Vincenzo in Tuscany. Her early years in the convent were marked by suffering and humiliation at the hands of the community. Her supernatural gifts of mysticism were not well understood, but eventually her sisters came to recognize her faith, humility, and service to others. Shortly thereafter she was chosen as Mistress of Novices, and at age 25, the community embracing her calling, Catherine was made Perpetual Prioress of the Order. Gaining her position so young, Catherine served as counsel to many, including three future popes (Marcellus II, Clement VIII, and Leo XI). She corresponded supernaturally with Saint Philip Neri (“The Apostle of Rome, feast day: May 26), and she is reported to have miraculously appeared to him in visions during his life (they never having physically met). Throughout her life, Catherine endured countless physical ailments and sufferings, the remedies offered at the time seemingly only increasing the severity of her symptoms. Despite her suffering, she engaged in extreme fasting and penance, and is said to have worn a heavy iron chain around her neck in recognition of the chains of sin that Jesus loosed for all humanity. As Father Stephen Razzi, a Dominican Friar who knew her, wrote in 1594, “Her obedience, humility, and meekness were still more admirable than her spirit of penance.” She was known for treating the poor, sick, and ill, traveling the countryside on her knees in service and humility to others. Saint Catherine's experience of the Passion of Our Lord occurred for twelve years, until she and the community prayed for it to stop. The attention and the visitors the convent was gaining due to her ecstasy had become disruptive to the Rules of the Order. During her weekly experience, Catherine's body was tortured, allowing her sisters to follow the Passion step by step. Catherine would bleed as if being scourged, her forehead would run with blood as if she were being crowned with thorns, a large indentation on her shoulder appeared where Jesus had carried the cross. She further experienced the stigmata and bled from a wound in her side where the lance had been thrust. During these moments of passion, and other moments of deeply penitential prayer, a coral ring would appear on Catherine's finger, a sign of her marriage to the suffering of Christ. During her first ecstatic experience, she was presented with The Canticle of the Passion by Our Blessed Mother; a prayer which Mary urged her to share with others, so that they, too, may contemplate the sufferings of the Lord.Saint Catherine died in 1589, her body having suffered both the trauma of the Passion, as well as a long illness. Her remains repose in the Convent of San Vincenzo where the Dominican Order still serves the Lord and the world. PATRON: Against illness; sick people. PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, who wast pleased that Blessed Catherine, Thy Virgin, should be inflamed with Thy love and made illustrious by the contemplation of Thy Passion, grant, through her intercession. that, devoutly dwelling on the mysteries of the passion, we may merit to receive its fruits. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. THE CANTICLE OF THE PASSION My friends and My neighbors have drawn near and stood against Me. I was delivered up and came not forth; My eyes languished through poverty. And my sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down and upon the ground. For many dogs have encompassed Me the council of the malignant hath besieged Me. I have given My body to the strikers and My cheeks to them that plucked them. I have not turned away My face from them that rebuked Me and spit upon Me. For I am ready for scourges, and My sorrow is continually before Me. The soldiers, plaiting a crown of thorns, placed it upon My head. They have dug My hands and feet; they have numbered all My bones. And they gave Me gall for My food; and in My thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink. All they that saw Me laughed Me to scorn; they have spoken with lips and wagged their heads. They have looked and stared upon Me; they parted My garments among them and upon My vesture they cast lots. Into Thy hands I commend My spirit; Thou has redeemed me, O God of truth. Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servants, when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom. And Jesus having cried out with a loud voice gave up the ghost. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for all eternity. Surely He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows. He was bruised for our sins. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; every one hath turned aside into his own way. For the Lord hath placed upon him the iniquities of us all. Arise, why sleepest Thou, O Lord? Arise and cast us not off to the end. Behold, God is my Savior, I will deal confidently, and will not fear. We beseech Thee, O Lord, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. Have mercy on us, O benign Jesus. Who in Thy clemency didst suffer for us. Look down, we beseech Thee, O Lord, on this Thy family for which Our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be delivered into the hands of the wicked, and suffer the torments of the Cross. Amen.
These women saints and mystics are fantastic. But what really amazes me is how the Church recognised them and accepted them at that time. What are the chances of this happening today? Zero. There is insufficient Faith and grace to do so? Why? Because they are not men of prayer.
SAINT OF THE DAY SATURDAY, 14 FEBRUARY, 2026 SAINT VALENTINE BISHOP AND MARTYR (3rd Century) ST. VALENTINE HEALS A BLIND GIRL AND A HOUSEHOLD BECOMES CATHOLIC St. Valentine at one point of time, as the Bishop of Terni, Narnia and Amelia, was on house arrest with Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the Judge, Valentine pledged the validity of Jesus. The judge immediately put Valentine and his faith to the test. St. Valentine was presented with the judge's blind daughter and told to restore her sight. If he succeeded, the judge vowed to do anything for Valentine. Placing his hands onto her eyes, Valentine restored the child's vision. Judge Asterius was humbled and obeyed Valentine's requests. Asterius broke all the idols around his house, fasted for three days and was baptized, along with his family and whole household of 44 members. Judge Asterius now faithful, then freed all of his Christian inmates. ST. VALENTINE BLESSED CLANDESTINE MARRIAGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FAMILY AND THE FAITH Under the rule of Emperor Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families. To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. FROM YOUR VALENTINE During the last weeks of Valentine's life a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentine read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength. On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From your Valentine." His death sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. ST. VALENTINE TRULY EXISTED - A CATHOLIC MARTYR Valentine did really exist, because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom. Relics of St. Valentine can be found all over the world. A flower-crowned skull of St. Valentine can be found in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. In 1836, other relics were exhumed from the catacombs of Saint Hippolytus on the Via Tiburtina and were identified as Valentine's. These were transported for a special Mass dedicated to those young and in love. Pope Gregory XVI gave a gift to Fr. John Spratt in 1836, contianing a "small vessel tinged" with St. Valentine's blood, which now is placed in Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, Ireland. PATRON: Love, lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers. NOVENA TO ST. VALENTINE O holy Martyr, St. Valentine, pray for the Faithful, who are so persevering in celebrating thy memory. The day of Judgment will reveal to us all thy glorious merits. Oh! intercede for us, that we may then be made thy companions at the right hand of the Great Judge, and be united with thee eternally in heaven. Amen. ANTIPHON: This Saint fought, even unto death, for the law of his God, and feared not the words of the wicked; for he was set upon a firm rock. LET US PRAY: Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who solemnize the festival of St. Valentine, Thy Martyr, may, by his intercession, be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Here mention your petitions...) Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father St. Valentine: Pray for us!
The Shrine of Saint Valentine in Whitefriar Street Church, Dublin. https://whitefriarstreetchurch.com/saint-valentine/ Saint Valentine, pray for us.
SAINT OF THE DAY SUNDAY, 15 FEBRUARY, 2026 SAINT CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIERE JESUIT PRIEST AND THE CONFESSOR OF SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE (2 February 1641 - 15 February 1682) EARLY LIFE - ST. CLAUDE Claude La Colombiere was born on 2nd February 1641 as the third child of the notary Bertrand La Colombière and Margaret Coindat, in St. Symphorien d'Ozon near Lyon in the Southeastern France. His family was well-known, pious and had a good social status. After the family moved to Vienne Claude began his early education there, completing his studies in rhetoric and philosophy in Lyon. It was during this period that Claude first sensed his vocation to the religious life in the Society of Jesus. However, from one of his early notations, we know that he "had a terrible aversion for the life embraced". This affirmation is not hard to understand by any who are familiar with the life of Claude, for he was very close to his family and friends and much inclined to the arts and literature and an active social life. On the other hand, he was not a person to be led primarily by his sentiments. HIS VOCATION At the age of 17 he entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Avignon. In 1660 he moved from the Novitiate to the College, also in Avignon, where he pronounced his first vows and completed his studies in philosophy. Afterwards he was a professor of grammar and literature in the same school for another five years. In 1666 he went to the College of Clermont in Paris for his studies in theology. Already noted for his tact, poise and dedication to the humanities, Claude was assigned by superiors in Paris the additional responsibility of tutoring the children of King Louis XIV's Minister of Finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert. His theological studies concluded and now a priest, Claude returned to Lyon. For a time he was teacher in the College, then full-time preacher and moderator of several Marian congregations. HIS PREACHING Claude became noted for solid and serious sermons. They were ably directed at specific audiences and, faithful to their inspiration from the gospel, communicated to his listeners serenity and confidence in God. His published sermons produced and still produce significant spiritual fruits. Given the place and the short duration of his ministry, his sermons are surprisingly fresh in comparison with those of better-known orators. The year 1674 was a decisive one for Claude, the year of his Third Probation at Maison Saint-Joseph in Lyon. During the customary month of the Exercises the Lord prepared him for the mission for which he had been chosen. His spiritual notes from this period allow one to follow step-by-step the battles and triumphs of the spirit, so extraordinarily attracted to everything human, yet so generous with God. He took a vow to observe all the constitutions and rules of the Society of Jesus, a vow whose scope was not so much to bind him to a series of minute observances as to reproduce the sharp ideal of an apostle so richly described by St. Ignatius. So magnificent did this ideal seem to Claude that he adopted it as his program of sanctity. That it was indeed an invitation from Christ himself is evidenced by the subsequent feeling of interior liberation Claude experienced, along with the broadened horizons of the apostolate he witnesses to in his spiritual diary.On 2nd February 1675 he pronounced his solemn profession and was named rector of the College at Paray-le-Monial. Not a few people wondered at this assignment of a talented young Jesuit to such an out-of the-way place as Paray. The explanation seems to be in the superiors' knowledge that there was in Paray an unpretentious religious of the Monastery of the Visitation, Margaret Mary Alacoque, to whom the Lord was revealing the treasures of his Heart, but who was overcome by anguish and uncertainty. She was waiting for the Lord to fulfill his promise and send her "my faithful servant and perfect friend" to help her realize the mission for which he had destined for her: that of revealing to the world the unfathomable riches of his love. SACRED HEART DEVOTION AND ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE After Father Colombière's arrival and her first conversations with him, Margaret Mary opened her spirit to him and told him of the many communications she believed she had received from the Lord. He assured her he accepted their authenticity and urged her to put in writing everything in their regard, and did all he could to orient and support her in carrying out the mission received. When, thanks to prayer and discernment, he became convinced that Christ wanted the spread of the devotion to his Heart, it is clear from Claude's spiritual notes that he pledged himself to this cause without reserve. In these notes it is also clear that, even before he became Margaret Mary's confessor, Claude's fidelity to the directives of St. Ignatius in the Exercises had brought him to the contemplation of the Heart of Christ as symbol of his love. After a year and half in Paray, in 1676 Father La Colombière left for London. He had been appointed preacher to the Duchess of York - a very difficult and delicate assignment because of the conditions prevailing in England at the time. He took up residence in St. James Palace in October. In addition to sermons in the palace chapel and unremitting spiritual direction both oral and written, Claude dedicated his time to giving thorough instruction to the many who sought reconciliation with the Church they had abandoned. And even if there were great dangers, he had the consolation of seeing many reconciled to it, so that after a year he said: "I could write a book about the mercy of God I've seen Him exercise since I arrived here!" SICKNESS AND DEATH The intense pace of his work and the poor climate combined to undermine his health, and evidence of a serious pulmonary disease began to appear. Claude, however, made no changes in his work or life style. All of a sudden, at the end of 1678, he was calumniously accused and arrested in connection with the Titus Oates "papist plot". After two days he was transferred to the severe King's Bench Prison where he remained for three weeks in extremely poor conditions until his expulsion from England by royal decree. This suffering further weakened Claude's health which, with ups and downs, deteriorated rapidly on his return to France.During the summer of 1681 he returned to Paray, in very poor condition. On 15 February 1682, the first Sunday of Lent, towards evening Claude suffered the severe hemorrhage which ended his life. BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION On the 16 June 1929 Pope Pius XI beatified Claude La Colombière, and Pope John Paul II declared him a saint on 31 May 1992. The Universal Church celebrates his feast day on February 15. His charism, according to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, was that of bringing souls to God along the gospel way of love and mercy which Christ revealed to us. PATRON: Toy makers; turners. PRAYER OF SAINT CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIERE: A DESPAIR PRAYER Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others. Other people will glorify You by making visible the power of Your grace by their fidelity and constancy to You. For my part I will glorify You by making known how good You are to sinners, that Your mercy is boundless and that no sinner no matter how great his offences should have reason to despair of pardon. If I have grievously offended You, My Redeemer, let me not offend You even more by thinking that You are not kind enough to pardon Me. Amen.
Awww. I am kicking myself I have never been in that Church! It looks wonderful . Maybe someday if I am ever in Dublin again...I hope/
