October Saints

Saint Dorothy of Montau
(1347-1394)

Saint Dorothy was born at Montau. At the age of seventeen she married the sword-cutler Albrecht of Danzig, to whom she bore nine children, only one of whom survived. Her marriage was difficult. Her husband was a hot-tempered man, who aimed to stop her visions by beating them out of her, but whose nature gradually underwent a change through her humility and gentleness.

Both made frequent pilgrimages to Cologne, Aachen, and Einsiedeln, and they intended to visit Rome also, but Albrecht was prevented by illness and remained at home where he died, while Dorothea journeyed to Rome alone.

In the summer of 1391 Dorothea moved to Marienwerder, and on 2 May, 1393, with the permission of the chapter and of the Teutonic Order, established a hermitage near the cathedral. She led a very austere life, living in a small cell. She had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Numerous visitors sought her advice and consolation, and she had wonderful visions and revelations. Her confessor, the deacon John of Marienwerder, a learned theologian, wrote down her communications and composed a Latin biography in seven books, Septililium. She was never formally canonised, but the people honoured her as the guardian of the country of the Teutonic Knights and Patroness of Prussia.

Saint Dorothy, obtain for us patience in the face of opposition.

(Source: Internet – various)

Our Lady of the Pillar

The image of Our Lady of the Pillar is a wooden statue decorated with gold, about fifteen inches high. The crown adorning the head of the statue is very intricate. The crown of the Infant is identical with that of the Virgin, except in size.

The history of this particular statue of Our Lady is unique and interesting. It is said that in the year 40AD the Virgin visited the Apostle St James while he was at prayer one night on the shore of the Ebro River in Zaragossa. Mary was standing on a column of marble, and she gave St James her effigy, requesting that he build a chapel in her honour. Saint James complied. To the small chapel has been added a large temple which has been called Our Lady of the Pillar. Throughout the years the kisses of the pilgrims have made a hole in the pedestal, so large that a person’s head can rest in it.

Our Lady of the Pillar, strengthen our faith.

(Source: http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-the-pillar.html)

Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926)

Born in Italy, Bartolo grew up in a very Catholic household, where the family said the rosary regularly. His mother died when he was 10, and Bartolo’s life went downhill. As a young man at the University of Naples, he started to attend séances and sex orgies.

Bartolo was ordained into the devil’s brigade as a high satanic priest, during which ceremony he fainted from sheer terror, but was soon performing black masses and publicly ridiculing the Catholic faith. Many were drawn away from the faith as a result.

His family never stopped praying for his return to the faith. One day, Bartolo thought he heard his dead father’s voice urging him to return to the Church. A visit to an old friend, Professor Vincenzo Pepe, was the beginning of that return. A Dominican priest catechised him, heard his confession and allowed him once again to receive Holy Communion. At the age of 30, Bartolo became a Third Order lay Dominican, taking the name Rosario.

From then on, Bartolo actively denounced the falsehood of the devil’s religion while proclaiming at restaurants and parties the beauty and truth of Catholicism. In obedience to his superiors, he set out to repair the damage he had done.

In 1885, he married his former employer, Countess Mariana, and together they took a vow of chastity, dedicating their marriage to charitable works. Bartolo built orphanages, was active in teaching the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and promoted formal definition of the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Blessed Bartolo, obtain for us an active love for the Church.

(Source: http://www.catholicbible101.com/satanisttosaint.htm)