September Saints

September 3. Pope St. Gregory The Great.

Have you ever heard of Gregorian Chant? Well it is the invention of this great pope, Gregory, who truly desired to reform the liturgy of the Church with the goal of renewing the fervor and devotion of the people. He was born in Rome and held a high political position but he abandoned it to become a monk at the age of 35. He was named Pope and embarked on the great task of revitalizing the church sending missionaries to England, reforming the liturgy and leaving many writings that revealed his great knowledge of the Scriptures. Together with Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, Theresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux, he is a Doctor of the universal Church.

You turn
What talents do you have that can be used in evangelizing other young people?

September 9. St. Peter Claver.

The son of wealthy Spanish landowners, Peter Claver joined the Jesuits and was sent to Colombia, where he discovered the tragedy of slavery. Stationed in the Port of Cartagena, Peter would go out to meet the slave ships and bring them clothing and food. He would always care for the weakest first and took the sick to a hospital he had built. Peter dedicated his life to the service of these people, caring for the lepers and sick, and consoling them when everyone had turned their backs on them. He was accused of doing too much and caring for people who did not deserve the Sacraments or the Word of God. But he did not stop. His writings and works laid down the basis for the abolition of slavery. It is said that during his time he baptized 300,000 people.

Your turn
What would you dedicate your life to? What causes do you believe are worthwhile?

September 13. St. John Chrysostom.

A native of Antioch, Syria, he was born at the end of the 4th century. He was baptized at the age of 20 and ordained at 30. He dedicated his life to preaching and he did it so well, he was called “golden-mouthed.” During the final years of his life he was the bishop of Constantinople. His courage when preaching the morality of the Gospel, the defense of the poor and justice, earned him the antagonism of others, among them the empress, who had him exiled. One of his most famous passages is also one of his most defiant. “Do you want to honor the body of Christ? Then don’t ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him tribute when he is dressed in silk in the temple only to ignore him when he cold and has no clothes. The one who said: “This is my body is the same one who said “I was hungry and you did not feed me… What can be gained from a Eucharistic table filled with gold chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Begin by satisfying their hunger and then you may decorate the altar.”

Your turn
In what ways are you challenged by your faith on a daily basis? Do you think you could honor Christ and at the same time not take care of the people around you?

September 16. Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian.

Cornelius and Cyprian were friends. Cornelius was a pope in the 3rd century. There had been no pope until more than a year after the death of Pope Fabian, as a result of the intense persecution of the Christians. One of the greatest problems faced by Cornelius during his pontificate was readmitting the Christians who apostasized during the persecution. He also had to confront Novatus, who had declared himself pope. Cornelius and Cyprian helped the church find the balance between the two extremes of excessive rigor and the lax customs, morals, and beliefs.

Your turn
What ideas and beliefs would you be willing to defend at the risk of having to confront someone else?

September 17. St. Robert Bellarmine.

A Jesuit from the 17th century he was born in a noble but impoverished family. He was very intelligent and his father wanted him to embark on a political career in the hope that he would restore the family’s prestige. His mother, however, wanted him to become a priest. He was the first Jesuit to teach in the university at Louvain, Belgium. He became ill and in 1576 went to Italy to recover and stayed because Pope Gregory XIII wanted him to give conferences in the new Roman College. He remained there for many years as a professor and later became rector of the college. In 1599 he was named a cardinal. In 1602 he was appointed Archbishop of Capua. He defended the church in diverse problems and political conflicts. He was able to return to his home town when he retired and during his retirement continued writing books to help the humble people in their spiritual life.

Your turn
What do your parents want for you? What do you seek to do with your life?

September 20. Andrew Kim and companion martyrs.

Christianity arrived in Korea during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and some Koreans were probably baptized by Christian Japanese soldiers. But the evangelization was difficult because Korea was completely closed to the outside world. A few laity were among the first to announce the Christian faith in Korea. When a Chinese priest was able to clandestinely enter Korea, he found more than 4,000 Catholics that had never seen a priest. It was not until a century later that ordained missionaries arrived. Those first Christian communities endured persecution during the XIX century, which led to more than a hundred martyrs. Andrew was one of the first priests and was martyred along with a hundred Korean laity. Among them was Columba Kim, a single, 26-year-old woman. She was imprisoned, pierced with hot irons and burned. She and her sister were taken in the nude to a cell where they remained for days. The stories of some of the other martyrs are no less horrible.

Your turn
Do you have a vocation to the laity, to live your faith in the world? What types of persecutions—not physical ones—do you think you would face today? Are you willing to defend your faith above all else?

September 21. St. Pio Pietrelcina.

Known as Father Pio, he is famous for the stigmata (the reproduction of the wounds of Christ on him) and for his mystical visions. He was born in Italy in 1887 and suffered from fragile health, as well as much spiritual suffering. Thousands of people went to him to ask for advice and confession. Like many saints, he endured accusations and persecutions but subsequent investigations have concluded that he was innocent.

Your turn
Have you ever been accused of something you did not do? How did you react?

September 27. St. Vincent de Paul.

Vincent was born in France in the 16th century, came from a family of peasants, and studied theology at Dax. While returning from a voyage by ship, he was captured by pirates and taken to Tunis where he was sold as a slave. He escaped and returned to France and later went to Rome to complete his studies. He worked as a tutor for a wealthy family and from there began confraternities (small communities) that worked with the poor. In addition to caring for the poor, Vincent felt the call to work with galley prisoners. He converted many, as well as some people who would help him with his work. He established a hospital to care for them. His work was fortified with the creation of the Congregation of the Mission (known as Vincentians), which continues to work with society’s marginalized. He also founded the Daughters of Charity.

Your turn
Where will your passion for the kingdom of God take you? Are you willing to go?

September 28. St. Lawrence Ruiz.

Born in Manila, Philippines during the 17th century, Lawrence was always distinguish for his charity. He was educated in the convent of the Dominicans but in 1636 was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Lorenzo took refuge in with the Dominicans and escaped to Japan. He encountered bad luck because there was a persecution against Christians in Japan and together with his companions, Lawrence was tortured for refusing to renounce his faith. He said “if I had a thousand lives, a thousand lives I would give up to God.”

Your turn
How many lives or what part of your life are you willing to give to God and for the service of others?