September Saints

Saint Lawrence Justinian
(1381-1456)

Lawrence Justinian belonged to a Venetian patrician family. His pious mother sowed the seeds of a devout religious life in the boy’s youth. In 1400, he entered the monastery of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine near Venice. Despite his youth he excited admiration by his poverty, mortifications, and fervour in prayer. Following ordination in 1406, Lawrence was chosen prior of the community, and, shortly after that, general of the congregation. He gave them their constitution, and was so zealous in spreading it that he was looked upon as the founder. In 1433, he was raised to the Bishopric of Castello, where he restored churches, established new parishes in Venice, aided the foundation of convents, and reformed the life of the canons. Above all he was noted for his Christian charity. All the money he could raise he bestowed upon the poor, while he himself led a life of simplicity and poverty. In 1451, Lawrence was named the first Patriarch of Venice, and exercised his office till his death about four years later.

Saint Lawrence, obtain for us true devotion to the poor and needy.

(Source: http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6928)

Blessed Herman the Cripple (1013-1054)

Herman, son of Count Wolverad II von Altshausen, a cripple from birth, was powerless to move without assistance, and it was only by the greatest effort that he was able to read and write, but he was so highly gifted intellectually that when he was only seven years of age his parents confided him to the learned Abbot Berno, on the island of Reichenau. Here he took monastic vows in 1043, and probably spent his entire life. His iron will overcame all obstacles, and it was not long before his brilliant attainments made him a shining light in the most diversified branches of learning, including, mathematics, astronomy, music, the Latin, Greek, and Arabic tongues, as well as theology. Students soon flocked to him from all parts, attracted not only by the fame of his scholarship, but also by his monastic virtue and his lovable personality. In addition, he composed religious hymns, such as the “Alma Redemptoris Mater”, and the “Salve Regina”.

Blessed Herman, help us to use our own disabilities for God’s glory.

(Source: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07266a.htm)

Saint Zygmunt Szczeny Felinski
(1822-1895)

Saint Zygmunt Felinski was born in 1822 in Wojutyn, present-day Ukraine. The third of six children, he was brought up with faith and trust in Divine Providence, love for the Church and Polish culture. When he was eleven, his father died. Five years later his mother was arrested and exiled by the Russians for ‘patriotic activity’, working for the improvement of the social and economic conditions of farmers.

Zygmunt was well educated in Moscow and Paris and had good connections in society. In 1851 he returned to Poland and entered the seminary, being ordained four years later. Assigned to a parish in St Petersburg, he founded the charitable organisation Recovery for the Poor and the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary. In 1862 he was consecrated Archbishop of Warsaw. Times in Warsaw were difficult because of the clashes between the occupying Russian power and the Nationalist Party. Despite suspicion from some citizens and even clergy, the Archbishop always made it clear that he was at the service only of the Church. He reformed the diocese, its charitable organisations and the diocesan seminary, giving new impetus to the spiritual and intellectual development of the clergy, whom he encouraged to proclaim the Gospel openly, catechise their parishioners and begin parochial schools. He started an orphanage in Warsaw, entrusting it to the Sisters.

His efforts led to his deportation to Siberia. Deprived of any contact with his flock, he nevertheless set about organising works of mercy to help his fellow prisoners, especially the priests. Despite the restrictions of the Russian police, he managed to collect funds to build a Catholic Church.

In 1883, following negotiations between the Holy See and Russia, Archbishop Felinski was freed and for the last 12 years of his life he lived in semi-exile in south-eastern Galizia where he launched an intense pastoral activity, setting up in the village the first school and kindergarten and building a church and convent for the Sisters of the Family of Mary. In his spare time he prepared for publication the works he had written during his time in Siberia. He died in Krakow in 1895.

Saint Zygmunt, teach us to care for others even in times difficult for ourselves.

(Source: Internet – various)