May Saints

Saint Rosa Venerini
(1656-1728)

Rosa Venerini was one of a family of four children born in Viterbo, Italy, the daughter of a brilliant doctor. At the age of seven she vowed to consecrate her life to God. As she grew up, the attractions of the world were strong, but gradually gave way to prayer and mortification. In 1676, she joined the Dominicans, but family bereavements caused her to leave.

In 1684, Rosa started gathering the girls and women of the area in her home to recite the rosary and her mission became clear - to dedicate herself to the instruction and Christian formation of young women through schools. She opened the first Public School for Girls in Italy, offering her pupils a complete Christian formation and preparation for life in society. The initial stages were not easy but Rosa faced all the antagonism for the love of God.

She opened a school in the centre of Rome in 1713. Three years later, she received a visit from Pope Clement XI and eight Cardinals. The Pope commended her work: “Signora Rosa, you are doing that which we cannot do. We thank you very much, because with these schools you will sanctify Rome.”

Prayer was the breath of Rosa’s day and she advocated, not long vocal prayers, but a continual speaking with God, of God and for God.

Rosa Venerini died in 1728, consumed by two great passions: passion for God and passion for the salvation of souls. Her charism: to free from ignorance and evil so that the project of God which every person carries within can be visible.

Saint Rosa, help us to speak with God, for God and of God in our daily lives.

Source: Internet – various

Blessed Enrico Rebuschini
(1860-1938)

Enrico Rebuschini was born in Gravedona, Como, Italy. His mother and maternal aunt were active in parish activities, but his father was not interested in religion.

From childhood, Enrico felt a call to the priesthood but his father opposed it. He enlisted in the armed forces but later left to complete his diploma in accounting, from which he graduated with honours.

At age 24, he persuaded his father to allow him to begin his ecclesiastical studies in Rome. In March 1886, though previously at peace and calm, Enrico was overcome with nervous depression and had to return home to recover. A year later, he was able to return to his studies. He joined the Camillians in September 1887 and was ordained in 1889. 

For the rest of his life, he served in various capacities in his Order as well as ministering to the sick in various clinics and nursing homes. From time to time he was afflicted with severe bouts of depression, but persevered in his calling.

He died from pneumonia in 1938.

Blessed Enrico, obtain for us the grace to persevere in the faith despite any health setbacks we may experience.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Rebuschini

Saint Mariana de Paredes
(1618-1645)

At Mariana’s birth, those attending to her mother were astonished to see amazing phenomena among the stars in the heavens, to which they testified when the local bishop initiated an inquiry into a cause for her canonisation.

From her earliest childhood, Mariana exhibited a great love of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother, an extraordinary attraction to prayer and physical mortification, and the desire to bring the faith to those who were spiritually impoverished and ignorant of Jesus Christ.

In March 1645, Mariana offered herself, in the place of the parish priest, as a victim to save the people of Quito from the ravages of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and plagues which were decimating the population. Upon arriving home, she was immediately struck with a mortal illness and died within two months. During her final suffering the earthquakes stopped, the volcano quieted, and the plagues died out.

Saint Mariana, teach us to suffer for the salvation of others.   

Source: http://catholicism.org/saint-mariana-de-jesus.html