Annual Novena to St. Joseph: March 11th - 19th

It's that time again - this ministry cordially invites readers to honor and celebrate St. Joseph through this annual novena.  The novena will be prayed beginning from March 11th through March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph.  All those participating and their respective prayer petitions will be commended to St. Joseph in the special presence of his relic in this ministry's custody.  So let's pray together - for each other - in the course of these 9 days of prayer.

Blessings and best wishes to all participants - St. Joseph, pray for us!

Dear St. Joseph, glorious foster father

of our Lord Jesus Christ; protector of

His Mystical Body, the Church - I entrust

myself, this day, to your fatherly care.

As you lovingly did for Jesus and your

beloved spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary,

watch over me and assist me with my

daily needs... and through the intercession

of your most Chaste Heart, obtain for

me from your Divine Son, this favor

I humbly ask of you:

[mention or describe your petition]

St. Joseph, benevolent and efficacious

advocate, pray for us who have recourse

to you.  Amen.

[Add an Our Father, a Hail Mary,

and a Glory Be in honor of St. Joseph]

Saint of the Month - March 2026: Blessed Francisco Palau y Quer

Bl. Francisco Palau y Quer

Priest, Hermit, Founder, Mystic, & Exorcist

Memorial: March 20th

Early Life (1811–1832)

Blessed Francisco Palau y Quer was born on December 29, 1811, in Aytona (Lleida), Catalonia, Spain, during a time of political unrest and religious upheaval.  Spain was still reeling from the effects of the Napoleonic Wars, and anti-clerical sentiments would soon intensify.  From a young age, Francisco displayed a serious temperament, deep piety, and a love for silence and prayer.  Though raised in a humble farming family, he showed intellectual promise and was sent to study at the seminary in Lleida.

As a seminarian, Francisco felt drawn not merely to diocesan priesthood but to the contemplative and prophetic spirit of Carmel.  Inspired by the reform of Sts. Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross, he longed for a life of prayer united to apostolic zeal.  In 1832, he joined the Discalced Carmelites, taking the habit at the monastery of Barcelona.  His formation was marked by austerity, silence, and a deepening interior life centered on Christ and the Church.

However, political turmoil soon disrupted his religious formation.  In 1835, the Spanish government suppressed many religious orders, and Carmelite monasteries were dissolved.  Francisco was forced into exile before he could fully settle into conventual life.  Though deprived of the cloister, he would carry Carmel within him for the rest of his life.

A Religious in Exile

Ordained a priest in 1836, Palau found himself living as a Carmelite without a monastery.  He withdrew to isolated places, including caves and remote hermitages, embracing a life of intense contemplation.  For him, solitude was not escape but encounter.  He experienced the Church not merely as an institution but as a living, mystical reality—Christ’s Bride.

Political suspicion and civil unrest led to his banishment from Spain.  From 1840 to 1851, he lived in exile in France.  Even there, he continued his eremitical life while exercising priestly ministry discreetly.  These years deepened his understanding of suffering, purification, and fidelity.  Like many mystics, he endured misunderstanding and opposition, both civil and ecclesial.

Upon returning to Spain, he began a more active apostolate.  He preached missions throughout Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, calling people to conversion, prayer, and love of the Church.  He also began publishing spiritual writings, most notably El Ermitaño (“The Hermit”), in which he explained his mystical ecclesiology—the Church as the object of supernatural love.

In 1860, he founded the Carmelite Missionary Sisters (now known as the Carmelite Missionary Sisters and the Carmelite Missionary Teresian Sisters), communities dedicated to contemplation united with active service, especially among the poor and sick.  His vision was bold: Carmel was not only for cloisters but for the renewal of the Church in the world.

Mystical Gifts and Spiritual Theology

Blessed Francisco Palau is also remembered for his profound mystical experiences.  Central to his spirituality was the contemplation of the Church as a living Person—the Mystical Body of Christ.  In his writings, he describes dialogues with the Church, whom he perceived as both divine and human: Christ united with humanity.

His mystical experiences were accompanied by extraordinary gifts.  He experienced private apparitions and was reputed to have the charism of discernment of spirits, and was sought out for spiritual direction.  By a direct command from our Lord, he also ministered to those afflicted by demonic oppression and possession, exercising a highly successful deliverance ministry under ecclesiastical obedience.

Despite such extraordinary experiences, Palau remained grounded in humility and obedience.  When his mystical claims were questioned, he submitted to investigation without resentment.  His understanding of mysticism was deeply ecclesial: authentic contemplation must bear fruit in love, obedience, and service.

His spirituality stands firmly within the Carmelite tradition shaped by Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross, yet with a distinctive emphasis on the Church as Bride.  For Palau, love of Christ could never be separated from love of the Church, even when the Church suffered weakness or persecution.

The chapel and final resting place of Bl. Francisco

in Tarragona, Spain

Later Years and Death (1865–1872)

In his later years, Palau increasingly devoted himself to missionary preaching and to the formation of his religious daughters.  He traveled frequently between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, especially Ibiza, where he spent extended periods in solitude and ministry.  The rocky islet of Es Vedrà became one of his favored places of contemplation.

Age and hardship gradually weakened his health.  Nevertheless, he continued to preach and write until near the end of his life.  In 1872, while ministering during an outbreak of yellow fever in Tarragona, he contracted illness.  He died on March 20, 1872, in Tarragona, offering his sufferings for the Church he so deeply loved.

His death was marked by serenity and faith.  Those who knew him remembered a man of intense gaze, austere habits, and burning charity—a hermit who became a missionary, a contemplative who embraced the cross of exile and misunderstanding.

Legacy and Beatification

The legacy of Bl. Francisco Palau y Quer lives on primarily through the religious congregations he founded and inspired.  His Carmelite Missionary Sisters continue their work of education, healthcare, and pastoral ministry in many countries, embodying his union of contemplation and action.

His spiritual writings have gained renewed attention for their theological depth and originality, particularly his vision of the Church as the living Bride of Christ.  In a time when many struggle with ecclesial wounds and divisions, Palau’s mystical love for the Church offers both challenge and consolation.

He was beatified by John Paul II on April 24, 1988, recognizing the heroic virtue of a man who lived Carmel beyond the cloister and loved the Church in her beauty and her suffering.  His feast day is celebrated on March 20.

Bl. Francisco Palau stands as a witness that authentic mysticism is not escape from the world but deeper communion with Christ and His Body.  In solitude he discovered the Church; in exile he embraced fidelity; in suffering he found love.  His life reminds the faithful that contemplation and mission, prayer and sacrifice, are not opposing paths but one single offering to God through the Bride who is both divine and wounded, holy and in need of renewal.

A bodily relic from Bl. Francisco in this

ministry's custody

Let us pray for the speedy Canonization of this exemplary Carmelite holy man!

Bl. Francisco Palau y Quer,

pray for us!

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: February 2026

  "Dear Children, in this time of grace, anew, I am calling you to offer your lives to God that He may lead you towards the resurrection through your personal conversion.  Little Children, God is near to you and heeds your prayers, but you are lulled to sleep, and that is why He sent me to you to awaken you, and that you may shine holiness like a spring flower.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

Saints & Relics Presentation: Schofield Barracks Catholic Community, 2-24-2026

Last night, the Schofield Barracks Young Adult Group hosted a presentation that turned out to be as memorable for its message as for its unexpected challenges.  What was supposed to be a routine talk on Saints & Relics quickly transformed into a lesson on spiritual warfare when this author's laptop suddenly stopped working from the very start, along with a second one provided by a participant.  Instead of allowing the eerie occurrence to derail the evening, the presentation went on without the usual slideshow and it still turned out pretty well!

Among the relics present were hair clippings from, and

part of a compression sock worn by, the late Fr. Rookey,

whose sainthood this ministry is helping to promote.

Participants remained engaged throughout the hour-long talk, then asked thoughtful questions after; shared personal experiences about Saints; and displayed a genuine eagerness to understand the deep spiritual significance behind the sacred relics ... and what do you know - my laptop started working normally again after the presentation!  Seriously - how can people deny the existence of evil spirits?

Young men praying before relics of St. Bernadette of Lourdes;

Ven. Domenica Lazzeri; Bl. Carmen of the Child Jesus; St.

Damien of Molokai; Bl. Rolando Rivi; St. Maria Goretti; St.

Pier Giorgio Frassati; St. Louis & Zelie Martin; St. Therese the

Little Flower; St. Padre Pio; St. Peregrine Laziosi; Our Lady.

By the end of the night, the combination of unexpected obstacles, heartfelt engagement, and the recovery of the computer created an uplifting experience—one of those rare times where everything that goes “wrong” ends up making the message land even more powerfully.  All thanks and praises be to God!

Lent 2026

“By the sweat of your brow you shall

eat bread, until you return to the ground,

from which you were taken; for you are

dust, and to dust you shall return.”

- Genesis 3:19

“So submit yourselves to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from

you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw

near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you

sinners, and purify your hearts, you of

two minds.  Begin to lament, to mourn, to

weep.  Let your laughter be turned into

mourning and your joy into dejection.

Humble yourselves before the Lord

and he will exalt you.”

- James 4:7-10

Saint of the Month - February 2026: Blessed Marie of Providence

Bl. Marie of Providence

Advocate of the Poor Souls

Memorial: February 7th

Blessed Marie of Providence - born Eugénie Smet on March 25, 1825, in Lille, France - is remembered as a woman of deep faith, remarkable spiritual intuition, and unwavering charity.  Her life unfolded during a period of social upheaval in France, yet she cultivated a serene and steadfast devotion that would eventually lead to the founding of a new religious congregation dedicated to assisting the souls in Purgatory.

Early Life and Spiritual Formation

Eugénie was born into an affluent but deeply Christian family, the third of six children.  Her upbringing was marked by a lively personality, strong intelligence, and a natural inclination toward prayer and compassion.  From a young age, she experienced what she later recognized as the first stirrings of her vocation: a profound concern for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  This early sensitivity to the suffering of others - both living and departed - became a defining thread throughout her life.

Her education at the Sacré-Cœur boarding school in Lille provided a structured environment where her faith deepened.  Although France was experiencing widespread poverty and political unrest in the years leading up to the Revolution of 1848, Eugénie’s sheltered upbringing allowed her to focus intensely on spiritual matters.  She also developed friendships with influential spiritual figures, including St. John Vianney, whose guidance strengthened her sense of mission.

Founding of the Helpers of the Holy Souls

Eugénie’s spiritual intuition matured into a clear calling: to establish a community dedicated to assisting Purgatorial Souls through prayer, sacrifice, and charitable works.  After years of discernment, she received decisive confirmation from trusted clergy, including the Curé d’Ars, who encouraged her to pursue this mission.

On January 19, 1856, she founded the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls (Auxiliatrices des Âmes du Purgatoire) in Paris.  The congregation was unique in its dual focus:

• Intercessory prayer for the departed

• Active service to the suffering, marginalized, and spiritually neglected

Her vision was rooted in the belief that helping the living - especially the poor, sick, and abandoned - was a powerful way to aid the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  The congregation grew steadily and eventually expanded to 22 countries, continuing its mission worldwide.

    

Bl. Marie enjoyed a close spiritual bond with the great

St. John Vianney, who fully endorsed her ministry.

Devotion to the Poor Souls

Blessed Marie of Providence’s devotion to the Poor Souls was not merely theological; it was deeply personal.  From childhood, she felt moved by their suffering and believed that acts of charity performed on earth could bring them relief.  This conviction shaped the spirituality of her congregation, which combined contemplative prayer with active apostolic work.

Her writings and actions emphasized:

• The mercy of God toward all souls

• The interconnectedness of the Church on earth and the Church suffering

• The transformative power of sacrifice and service

This devotion became the hallmark of her life and the enduring legacy of her congregation.

Final Years and Death

Despite her tireless work, Eugénie’s health began to decline.  She faced her final illness - cancer, which claimed her life on February 7, 1871, in Paris - with the same serenity and trust in Divine Providence that had guided her entire life; she was only 46-years-old.  Her final years were marked by suffering, yet she remained steadfast in prayer and leadership, offering her pain for the souls she loved so dearly.

Her death occurred during a turbulent period in French history, yet her congregation continued to flourish, sustained by the spiritual foundation she had laid.

Glorification and Legacy

Eugénie Smet was Beatified on May 26, 1957, by Pope Pius XII in Rome, receiving the title Blessed Marie of Providence.  Her Canonization Cause remains open, and she is honored annually on February 7th.

Her legacy endures through:

• The ongoing global mission of the Helpers of the Holy Souls

• Her example of trust in Divine Providence

• Her profound devotion to the communion of saints

• Her witness to the power of prayer united with charitable action

Bl. Marie of Providence stands as a model of spiritual courage, compassion, and unwavering faith.  Her life continues to inspire those who seek to serve both the living and the departed with love rooted in God’s Divine Mercy.

Grant unto them, O Lord, Eternal Rest;

let perpetual light shine upon them.  May

they rest in peace.  Amen.

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: January 2025

  "Dear Children, Today, I am calling you to be prayer and a blessing for all those who have not come to know God's love.  Little children, be different from others and be positive people of prayer and love towards God, that with your lives, you may be a sign of God's love to others.  I bless you with my motherly blessing and intercede for each of you before my Son Jesus.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

"Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!"

The phrase posted above is from Psalm 144, which was today's Responsorial Psalm during Mass ... and it took on a profound relevance for this author, given something unusual that recently took place - allow me to just show you, my reader:

The stone pictured was included in a batch of decorative petrified (agatized) wood I purchased from Etsy earlier this month.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered upon its surface, a small image, which I can't help but recognize as a likeness of the Holy Face.  Compare it to the illustration of Jesus shown in the inset - the resemblance is simply striking!

After pondering it over and over, I can't consider the image to be anything but another affirmation of the Holy Face Devotion; a sign, amongst several I've witnessed, that continues to strengthen my faith and enthusiasm for a devotion that I've been practicing and promoting for over 30 years now ... and which has resulted in many signal graces in both my spiritual and secular life.  The Holy Face Devotion is truly anointed and very important for our times.  I can't emphasize enough how one should embrace it.

... and going back to the Psalm, incidentally, earlier today I had decided to take my "Jesus Rock" to Mass at the Honolulu Cathedral Basilica to have a priest bless it.  While I was lectoring, it was another surprise when I had to announce the Responsorial Psalm:

"Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!"

- Psalm 144

How personally relevant, I thought to myself as the words of the Psalm jumped out at me from the Lectionary.  It all seemed surreal and almost prophetic, given this unusual rock I happened to have in my pocket. 

To read more about the origin of the Holy Face Devotion and to view other Holy Face signs experienced by this author, click/tap here.

The Mystery of Bilocating Saints

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, the lives of our many Saints have borne witness to extraordinary and unique signs of God’s presence and power.  Among the most mysterious of these phenomena is Bilocation - the reported ability of certain people to be present in two different places at the same time.  While one may struggle with such accounts, Bilocation has been well-documented in the lives of several Saints and holy individuals, often corroborated by reliable witnesses and ecclesiastical investigations.  Far from being magical feats, these occurrences are understood by the Church as charisms, or gratuitous gifts of God, granted for the salvation of souls and the building up of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Bilocation in Catholic Theology

In Catholic mysticism, Bilocation is not viewed as a natural human ability, nor as something a person can do at will.  Rather, it is considered an extraordinary mystical charism permitted by God, usually in moments of great spiritual need.  The Church teaches that God, who is omnipotent and not bound by space or time, may allow certain individuals to participate momentarily in His divine action for a specific purpose.  As such, bilocation does not contradict reason or faith, though it transcends ordinary experience.

Still, importantly, the Church approaches claims of Bilocation with caution.  Such phenomena are never the basis for Canonization on their own; instead, they are examined alongside a candidate’s heroic virtue, orthodoxy, humility, and obedience.  Authentic Bilocation is typically marked by profound charity, spiritual fruit, and a complete absence of self-promotion.  The following are some of the most well-known and best documented cases of the phenomenon:

St. Anthony of Padua (d. 1231)

A Saint commonly associated with bilocation is this renowned preacher and Doctor of the Church.  One account describes Anthony entering into ecstasy in a church, in full view of the congregation, while simultaneously being seen/heard preaching to another crowd at a different location (illustrated above).  Still, in another case, he reportedly bilocated to Lisbon, Portugal, to defend his own father in court against false charges.  These events occurred in the context of his tireless preaching against heresy and moral corruption.

St. Francis Xavier (d. 1552)

The great Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier was reported by contemporaries to have appeared simultaneously in multiple villages across Asia while evangelizing India and Japan.  Some witnesses claimed to have received instruction or encouragement from Xavier in places where historical records show he could not have been physically present.

These accounts arose in the context of intense missionary labor, where vast distances and limited communication made such reports all the more striking.  The purpose of these alleged bilocations was consistently pastoral: preaching the Gospel, strengthening the faithful, and calling souls to repentance.

St. Martin de Porres (d. 1639)

Known for his humility and love for the poor, this great Peruvian holy man was said to have bilocated to Africa, China, Japan, and the Philippines while never leaving his Dominican monastery in Lima.  Fellow friars also testified that Martin would suddenly appear in locked rooms to minister to the sick, while being engaged in his daily chores elsewhere in the monastery.  Furthermore, he sometimes made specific comments about personally witnessing certain practices in far-off lands - especially medical procedures that he performed, himself - despite not having once left Peru.

What is particularly notable in St. Martin’s case is that witnesses in those distant places later described a dark-skinned Dominican friar matching his appearance who spoke to them of Christ - despite no missionaries being present at the time.

Venerable Maria de Jesus of Agreda (d. 1665)

Astounding incidences of bilocation are also recorded in the remarkable life of this Spanish Franciscan Conceptionist nun.  Incredibly, between 1621 to 1631, she was said to have been sent by our Lord, over 500 times, to parts of the southwest region of the USA to prepare the native inhabitants for the imminent arrival of the Spanish missionaries.  She would descend from the sky to teach them basic catechism, and became so familiar amongst the people, that they named her the "Lady in Blue" (her nuns wear a sky blue mantle as depicted below).

Maria relayed her mystical travels to her Franciscan confessor, who in turn, reported them to his superiors, which sparked an investigation by the Franciscan field missionary, Fray Alonso de Benevides.  The friar documented how his missionary team had on several occasions been surprised by bands of Indians seeking them out for baptism after being instructed to do so by the Lady in Blue.  Fray Alonso later learned about Sr. Maria of Jesus and went to see her upon returning to Spain.  He questioned her about the native people, their customs, and the terrain of the new world to which the nun answered with such accuracy, it left no doubt in the missionary's mind that Sr. Maria was indeed the mysterious lady of whom the Indians told him about.

St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori (d. 1787)

A case involving St. Alphonsus, Doctor of the Church and founder of the Redemptorists, occurred in 1774.  While gravely ill and confined to his bed in Arienzo, Italy, Alphonsus was reportedly seen in Rome assisting Pope Clement XIV while the Pontiff lay on his deathbed.  Multiple witnesses, including members of the papal household, testified to seeing Alphonsus present and interacting with the dying Pope.

When questioned later, St. Alphonsus had no recollection of physically traveling to Rome but described experiencing an intense ecstasy at the time.  Church authorities carefully investigated the incident, and the testimonies were deemed credible.  This case remains one of the strongest historical examples of bilocation recognized by the Church.

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (d. 1968)*

Perhaps the most widely known modern saint associated with bilocation is Padre Pio, the famous Capuchin friar marked by the Stigmata.  Numerous accounts - some from military officers, physicians, and fellow clergy - report Padre Pio appearing in distant locations while physically remaining in his friary in San Giovanni Rotondo.

During World War II, numerous Allied pilots claimed that a friar resembling Padre Pio appeared in the sky over Italy, preventing them from bombing certain towns.  In another instance, Padre Pio was reportedly seen hearing confessions or offering spiritual counsel in places he had never physically visited.  When asked about these occurrences, he responded with humility and discretion, often deflecting attention away from himself.  In at least one case - a bilocation to a woman in Wisconsin, USA - the Saint even placed his stigmatized hand on her bedsheet to leave a bloodstain, when she asked him to leave proof of his visit!

Servant of God, Fortunata "Natuzza" Evolu (d. 1997)*

Lastly, this humble peasant laywoman (shown below) - a wife and mother - is amongst the most gifted of modern mystics, whose numerous bilocations have been attested to by dozens of witnesses who have benefitted from her ministry.  She was a bishop-approved visionary and Stigmatic who was often sent by the Lord to various destinations to heal, counsel, or perform important acts of charity while at the same time remaining in her home in Calabria, Italy.

For example, there was account of a certain elderly mother who was praying to the Blessed Virgin for the cure of her gravely ill daughter when Natuzza suddenly appeared.  The mystic, undoubtedly sent by Our Lady, prayed over the sick patient who was soon after healed.  There were many such reports.

The list of mystics compiled above is by no means complete - other names of bilocating mystics include Adrienne Von Speyer*; Bl. Agnes of Jesus*; Bl. Alexandrina Maria da Costa*; Bl. Ana of Monteagudo; Bl. Andrew Hibernon; Ven. Anfrosina Berardi; St. Angelo of Acri*; Bl. Anna Katherina Emmerich*; Bl. Anna Rosa Gattorno*; St. Anna Schaffer*; St. Antonio Galvao de Franca; Antonio Ruffini*; Little Audrey Marie Santo*; Bl. Beatrice of Kochem; St. Benedict Joseph Labre; Ven. Padre Berardo Atonna; Bl. Bernardo of Offida; St. Catherine dei Ricci*; St. Colette of Corbie*; Bl. Columba of Rieti; Padre Dolindo Ruotolo*; Ven. Domenica Lazzeri*; Bl. Edvige Carboni*; Bl. Esperanza of Jesus*; St. Faustina Kowalska*; St. Francis of Assisi*; Padre Francisco del Castillo; St. Gaetano Errico; St. Gerard Majella*; Bl. Giovanna of Orvieto*; Bl. Giovanna Maria Bonomo*; Padre Giulio Castelli; St. Jacinta Marto of Fatima; St. John Bosco; Joseph Thamby*; St. Lydwina of Scheidam*; Maria Tartaglino*; Sr. Maria de Jesus de Leon Delgado*; Madre Maria Candida de San Augustin*; Madre Maria de los Dolores y Patrocinio*; Sr. Maria Columba Schonath*; Maria Esperanza Bianchini of Betania*; Maria Giuliana of the Blessed Sacrament*; Bl. Maria Grazia Tarallo of the Passion*; Sr. Maria Lanceata Morelli*; Bl. Maria Pilar Izquierdo Albero*; Bl. Maria Romero Meneses; Maria Teresa Carloni*; St. Mariam of Jesus Crucified*; Bl. Mariantonia Sama; Marie Julie Jahenny*; Sr. Marie Marguerite of the Angels*; Madre Marie Marthe Vandeputte*; Marie Rose Ferron*; Bro. Nazareno Zucca of Pula; Madre Passitea Crogi*; St. Paul of the Cross*; Rafaela Leonetti*; Madre Ramona Maria Llimargas Soler*; Sr. Rita Montella of the Holy Spirit*; Ven. Archbishop Teofilo Camomot; Ven. Madre Teresa Solari*; Teresa Helena Higginson*; Therese Neumann*; Bl. Tiburcio Arnaiz Munoz; Sr. Ursula Micaela Morata*; St. Vincent Pallotti; and Sr. Yvonne Aimee de Malestroit* ... and, allegedly, the famous Irish missionary nun, Sr. Briege McKenna, who is still alive as of this post and has a powerful healing ministry.

NOTE:  The names mentioned above that are followed by a red asterisk (*) are known to have been mystics who were marked with the Sacred Stigmata.  How interesting is it that most who were gifted with Bilocation were these rare souls who resembled the Lord most completely through intimate participation in His Passion?

Bilocations Captured on Camera?

Obviously, in the cases of early bilocating mystics, Church investigations could only rely on sworn testimonies from witnesses, many of whom possessed characters beyond reproach and/or had nothing to gain from lying (e.g. St. Philip Neri vouched for the bilocation visits made to him by St. Catherine dei Ricci).  However, the advent of photography, has dramatically changed how we record events, including alleged miracles.  The bilocations of at least two modern mystics were visibly documented, further testifying to the veracity of the phenomenon - see below:

ABOVE:  Leonie Van Den Dijck* (L), the Marian visionary

& Stigmatic of Onkerzele, Belgium, appeared in this photo with

her granddaughter despite not being with her at the time it was

taken.  The girl, however, felt her grandmother's presence

(note Leonie's missing feet).

BELOW:  Capuchin Mystic & Stigmatic, Padre Domenico of

Cese* was captured on film footage at St. Padre Pio's funeral in

San Giovanni Rotondo, while simultaneously meeting with

pilgrims at the Holy Face Shrine in Manopello, Italy,

where he lived.

Discernment and Spiritual Meaning

The Church emphasizes that such extraordinary gifts must never distract from the heart of the Christian life: holiness, charity, and union with Christ.  Saints themselves often viewed these phenomena as burdens rather than honors.  Authentic mystics consistently demonstrated obedience to Church authority, deep humility, and a desire to remain hidden.

Bilocation, when genuine, serves as a sign, not an end in itself.  It points to God’s sovereignty, His closeness to human suffering, and His ability to act beyond the limits of nature.  As St. Paul reminds us, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4).

         

Three modern Priests - little-known Servants of God -

who experienced Bilocation: Padre Berardo Atonna, Padre

Dolindo Ruotolo, and Ven. Archbishop Teofilo Camomot

Conclusion

The accounts of Bilocation in the lives of Catholic Saints invite believers not merely to marvel at the miraculous, but to reflect on the nearness of God and the radical availability of those who surrender themselves entirely to His will.  These Saints remind us that holiness transcends space and time - not through human power, but through divine grace.  Ultimately, Bilocation stands as a testimony to the truth that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Saint of the Month - January 2026: Saint Bernardo of Corleone

St. Bernardo of Corleone

Feast: January 12th

From Swordsman to Saint

Early Life

St. Bernardo of Corleone was born Filippo Latini on February 6, 1605, in the Sicilian town of Corleone, then part of the Kingdom of Sicily.  His family home was known locally as “the house of saints” because of the deep piety and charity practiced by his parents and siblings.  His father, Leonardo Latini, was a cobbler renowned for his compassion toward the poor, often bringing the needy into the family home to wash, clothe, and feed them.  In this atmosphere of Christian mercy, young Filippo developed a strong devotion to Christ Crucified and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Filippo learned the cobbler’s trade from his father, but his energetic temperament made it difficult for him to remain in the workshop.  After his father’s death, he supported his widowed mother for a time, but he was increasingly drawn to the adventurous culture of fencing and swordsmanship that flourished in Sicily, then garrisoned by Spanish mercenary troops.  Filippo became one of the most skilled swordsmen in the region, known for his strength, agility, and fearlessness.

Yet even in this turbulent period, he displayed noble instincts.  He used his sword only in what he called “Christian causes,” defending the elderly, women, and the poor from abuse by soldiers and brigands.  Still, his fiery temper and readiness to duel placed him in spiritual danger.  At age 27, after gravely wounding an opponent who had repeatedly provoked him, Filippo fled in fear of retaliation and legal consequences.  This crisis became the turning point of his life.

Conversion & Religious Vocation

Seeking sanctuary and repentance, Filippo turned to the Capuchin Franciscans in Palermo.  There he experienced a profound interior conversion, recognizing the vanity of worldly honor and the destructive power of anger.  He begged to be admitted to the Order as a lay brother, desiring a life of penance, humility, and service.

He received the habit in 1632 and the religious name Bernardo.  From the moment of his entrance, he embraced the Capuchin ideals with extraordinary fervor.  He asked for the most menial tasks, sought obscurity, and practiced rigorous asceticism.  His superiors, impressed by his sincerity, allowed him to live a life of intense prayer, fasting, and manual labor.

Bernardo’s transformation was so complete that those who had once known him as a fiery swordsman now saw only gentleness, meekness, and radiant charity.  His life became a living testimony to the power of grace to reshape even the most impetuous heart.

A life-like A.I.-generated image of St. Bernardo

based on old prints depicting his likeness.

His Virtues

St. Bernardo’s virtues were many, but several stood out with particular brilliance:

+ Humility: Bernardo deliberately chose the lowest tasks in the friary - kitchen work, cleaning, begging for alms - seeing in them opportunities to imitate Christ the Servant.  He avoided praise and preferred to remain unnoticed.

+ Meekness and Peacefulness: The man once known for dueling became a model of gentleness.  He bore insults patiently, forgave readily, and sought reconciliation wherever he went.  His transformation was so striking that it became a source of edification for the entire Order.

+ Charity Toward the Poor and Sick: Bernardo was tireless in caring for the sick in the friary infirmary.  He spent long hours comforting the suffering, praying with them, and performing acts of mercy.  His compassion reflected the example of his father and the Gospel spirit he had embraced.

+ Penitential Spirit: He practiced severe mortifications - fasting, vigils, and bodily penances - not out of self-hatred but out of love for Christ Crucified.  His penitential life was marked by joy, not gloom, and he encouraged others to trust in God’s mercy.

His Mystical Gifts

Bernardo’s intense life of prayer opened him to extraordinary miracles and mystical gifts.  Witnesses reported that he experienced:

+ Ecstasies: He was often seen rapt in contemplation, immobile and radiant, especially before the Blessed Sacrament.  His union with God was so deep that he seemed unaware of the world around him.

+ Prophetic Insight and Discernment: Bernardo possessed a supernatural ability to read hearts and offer spiritual counsel.  Many sought him out for guidance, and he often knew their needs before they spoke.

+ Miraculous Healings: Accounts from his contemporaries describe healings attributed to his prayers, especially among the sick he tended in the infirmary.

+ The Stigmata (Hidden Wounds of Christ): Although not publicly displayed, Bernardo is traditionally believed to have borne mystical participation in the wounds of Christ.  His intense devotion to the Passion and his extraordinary sufferings in prayer led many to recognize in him a hidden stigmatic - one who shared spiritually, and at times physically, in Christ’s redemptive wounds.  These mystical sufferings deepened his humility and intensified his union with the Crucified Lord.

The Saint's remains are encased in a statue

displayed at his tomb in Corleone, Italy.

Death & Glorification

St. Bernardo of Corleone died on January 12, 1667, in Palermo at the age of 61.  His passing was peaceful, marked by the serenity of a soul fully surrendered to God.  The people of Sicily immediately venerated him as a holy man, and devotion to him spread rapidly.

The Church formally recognized his sanctity in stages:

+ Beatification: May 15, 1768, by Pope Clement XIII

+ Canonization: June 10, 2001, by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square

In canonizing him, the Church held up Bernardo as a model of conversion, humility, and charity - a man who allowed grace to transform a fiery temperament into a vessel of peace and holiness.

Today he is venerated especially in Sicily and among the Capuchins.  He is considered a patron of victims of violence and expectant mothers, reflecting both his past as a defender of the vulnerable and his tender compassion for human life.

Conclusion

St. Bernardo of Corleone stands as a powerful witness to the transforming mercy of God.  His journey - from a skilled but hot‑tempered swordsman to a humble Capuchin filled with mystical grace - reveals the depth of God’s love for every soul.  His virtues, his hidden stigmata, and his radiant charity continue to inspire the faithful to seek holiness through humility, service, and devotion to Christ Crucified.

A relic from St. Bernardo's clothing gifted

to this ministry by a Capuchin Priest.

St. Bernardo of Corleone, pray for us!