Saint of the Month - August 2026: Saint Dominic de Guzman

St. Dominic de Guzman

The "Hound of God" - Feast: August 8th

For this month, this ministry is particularly happy to feature this great Saint - founder of one of the most prolific Religious Orders in the history of the Catholic Church and spiritual father to all Rosary devotees throughout the world.

HIS EARLY YEARS

Born around 1170 in the village of Caleruega, in the Diocese of Osma, Old Castile (modern-day Spain), Dominic de Guzman came from a noble and deeply pious family.  His father was Felix de Guzman, and his mother was Juana de Aza (now known as Blessed Juana de Aza), an exemplary woman renowned for her charity and holiness.  According to pious tradition, before Dominic was born, his mother made a pilgrimage to the monastery of Silos, where she dreamed she gave birth to a dog holding a glowing torch in its mouth—a prophetic vision symbolizing that her son would set the world on fire with the light of Christ.

Showing an early inclination toward scholarship and piety, Dominic was sent at the age of fourteen to the prestigious University of Palencia, where he spent six years studying the liberal arts and theology.  During a severe famine in Spain, Dominic demonstrated his profound compassion by selling his treasured books, notes, and even his furniture to feed the starving poor, famously stating: "Would you have me study from these dead skins when men are dying of hunger?"

The prophetic dream of Bl. Juana de Aza

VOCATION TO RELIGIOUS LIFE

Upon completing his studies, Dominic was ordained a priest and appointed a canon of the cathedral chapter of Osma around 1194.  In this role, he adopted the Rule of St. Augustine, living a life of rigorous communal prayer, austerity, and study.

His life changed dramatically in 1203 when he accompanied Bishop Diego of Osma on a diplomatic mission for King Alfonso VIII of Castile to secure a bride in Denmark.  Traveling through southern France, Dominic was exposed to the Albigensian (Cathar) heresy, a dualistic movement that rejected the Catholic Church, the Sacraments, and the goodness of the material world, teaching instead that all matter was inherently evil.

Observing that the papal legates sent to convert the Albigensians traveled in lavish luxury—which alienated the common people who valued radical poverty—Dominic and Bishop Diego proposed a radical shift.  They dismissed their horses and attendants, traveling on foot, barefoot, and begging for their food.  They engaged the heretics in humble, intellectual, and charitable public debates, demonstrating that the Catholic Faith could be preached through authentic apostolic poverty and profound theological knowledge.

FOUNDER OF A NEW ORDER

Dominic’s spirituality was anchored in a deep synthesis of contemplation and action—to contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation.  He spent his days in active ministry, preaching and teaching, and his nights in intense prayer, penance, and weeping for the salvation of souls.

Recognizing the urgent need for a permanent, highly educated preaching force to combat heresy and renew the Church.  In 1215, Dominic laid the foundations for a new religious community by gathering a small group of followers in Toulouse, France, to establish a new order structured around:

     *  Academic Excellence

     *  Mendicant Poverty

     * Apostolic Mobility

In December 1216 and February 1217, Pope Honorius III officially approved the order as the Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum), otherwise popularly known as the "Dominicans" after their spiritual father.

Dominic quickly dispersed his friars across Europe, establishing houses near major university centers.

HIS MIRACLES AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Dominic was gifted with extraordinary mystical graces.  He possessed the gift of tears, often weeping uncontrollably during prayer for the sins of the world and the conversion of souls.  He was also known for astonishing episodes of levitation during prayer, ecstasies ... and he also read hearts.  Other documented miracles, include the following:

* A Trial by Fire: When Dominic was debating Albigensian leaders in Fanjeaux, France, both sides wrote down their arguments and threw them into a blazing fire to let God judge the truth.  The heretics' papers burned instantly, but Dominic’s manuscript was miraculously ejected unharmed from the flames three times.

* Multiplication of Bread: During the early days of the community in Prouille, the friars had nothing to eat.  Dominic prayed over a small crust of bread, and suddenly a basket of fresh, white bread materialized, abundantly feeding all the brothers.

* Saving Travelers from a Storm: While traveling with his friars, a violent tempest threatened to drown them crossing a swollen river.  Through Dominic's fervent prayer, the waters miraculously receded, allowing the group to cross safely.

THE ROSARY DEVOTION

Tradition holds that in 1214, while preaching against the Albigensians in Toulouse, Dominic experienced an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  According to the story, Our Lady presented him with the Rosary as a powerful weapon against heresy and sin, instructing him to teach its use to the faithful.

While historical scholarship notes that elements of Marian prayer-beads predated the Saint, he and the Dominican Order became the primary instruments for organizing, promoting, and spreading the Rosary throughout the Catholic world.  The devotion became a cornerstone of Dominican spirituality, combining vocal prayer with the meditation of the mysteries of Christ's life.

DEATH AND LEGACY

Exhausted by decades of relentless traveling, fasting, and preaching across Spain, France, and Italy, Dominic fell gravely ill in the summer of 1221.  He arrived at the monastery of St. Nicolas in Bologna, where he died on August 6, 1221, at roughly fifty-one years of age.  True to his vow of poverty, he did not own a cell of his own and died lying on a borrowed wooden plank.

A facial reconstruction of St. Dominic's face based

on first-hand recorded descriptions of him.

Canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1234, St. Dominic's Feast Day is celebrated on August 8th.  The Saint's illustrious legacy lives on through the Dominican Order, which has produced some of the greatest minds and Saints in Church history, including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great, and St. Catherine of Siena.  Even centuries later, the spiritual sons and daughters of St. Dominic continue to serve the Church globally through teaching, preaching, and fruitful missionary work.

St. Dominic de Guzman,

pray for us!

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!

Saints & Relics Presentation (Family Edition): St. Elizabeth Church, 12-7-2025

Tonight's presentation on Saints and Relics "Family Edition" at St. Elizabeth Church was structured to introduce teenagers to the richness of Catholic tradition, highlighting the lives of holy men and women and the sacred relics associated with them.  This presenter emphasized that our Saints were ordinary people transformed by extraordinary faith, which resonated with the teenagers and kept them attentive throughout.

The youthful audience was engrossed as they listened to vivid stories of holy individuals who faced real life struggles - peer pressure, doubts, fears, illness, etc. ‐ and they found the Saints relatable rather than distant historical figures; ample photos also helped to break up the talk and maintain focus.

The relics on display were from St. Bartolo Longo; St. Bernadette of Lourdes; St. Carlo Acutis;

Ven. Domenica Lazzeri; St. Gianna Beretta Molla; St. John Paul II; Bl. Karl of Austria; Sts. Louis &

Zelie Martin w/St. Therese of Lisieux; St. Padre Pio; St. Peregrine Laziosi; Our Lady & St. Joseph.

The presentation concluded with a moment of prayer, encouraging the teens to internalize what they had learned and to see Saints as intercessors and companions in faith.  They were then invited to approach the relics on display, which gave them a concrete way to grow their budding devotion.  Several lingered, whispering prayers, indicating that the talk had sparked genuine interest and sincere veneration.

I'm thankful to God and for my team of behind-the-scenes prayer warriors whose support greatly helped this speaker to successfully meet my threefold goal of maintaining my audience's attention; engaging their participation; and encouraging veneration by fostering personal connections to Saints and relics.  Many of the youth left not only informed but also inspired, carrying with them a sense of reverence and devotion.

Tonight's veneration of relics at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea.

Saint of the Month - October 2025: Saint Maria Crescentia Hoss

St. Maria Crescentia Höss

A Life of Faith & Service

Feast: April 6th

+ Early Life and Calling

Maria Crescentia Höss was born on October 20, 1682, in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, Germany.  She was the sixth of eight children in a poor weaving family, and from an early age, she displayed a profound devotion to prayer and charity.  Despite her family's financial struggles, Crescentia felt a strong calling to religious life and desired to join the Franciscan Tertiaries in Kaufbeuren.  However, due to her lack of a dowry, she was initially denied entry into the convent.

Her fate changed when the Protestant mayor of Kaufbeuren, recognizing her virtue, intervened on her behalf.  He purchased a tavern adjacent to the convent and donated it to the sisters, requesting that Crescentia be admitted in return.  Though reluctantly accepted, she faced harsh treatment from the superior, who saw her as a burden.  She was assigned the most difficult and menial tasks, and was even denied a room in the convent so had to sleep on the floor in the cells of sympathetic nuns.  She endured this humiliation for years, yet remained steadfast in her faith and humility.

+ Life in the Convent

In 1703, Crescentia officially entered the convent, and by 1704, she professed her vows.  Over time, her patience and evident holiness won the respect of her fellow sisters.  In 1726, she was appointed novice mistress, a role in which she guided young women in their spiritual formation.  Her wisdom and deep prayer life made her a sought-after advisor, and even princes, bishops, and cardinals consulted her.

In 1741, our Saint was elected superior of the convent, despite her initial reluctance to accept the position.  She emphasized silence, recollection, and devotion to Christ Crucified, encouraging her sisters to deepen their spiritual lives.  She also promoted trust in Divine Providence, ensuring that the convent remained focused on virtue rather than material wealth.

+ Mystical Experiences

A significant aspect of Crescentia's legacy was her remarkable mystical experiences, which enriched her spiritual life and influenced those around her.  She frequently had visions of heavenly mysteries, particularly after receiving Holy Communion, and she also performed miracles.  One of her most striking supernatural feats was reportedly carrying water in a sieve after she was ordered to do so by her superior.  The task was likely imposed on her to test her obedience, as well as to break her resolve but it backfired in a spectacular manner!  This miraculous act demonstrated to her companions her sincerity and unwavering faith, and the tide began turning in her favor.  

Though her visions initially troubled her, she eventually embraced them as divine graces, recognizing them as gifts meant to strengthen her devotion and guide others in their spiritual journeys.  Furthermore, St. Crescentia's connection to the Holy Spirit was so alive that she saw Him as a beautiful youth dressed in a long white robe, which was a departure from the common iconography of the white dove; a depiction of her visions of the Holy Spirit was later painted in 1728.

The Holy Spirit, as He appeared

to St. Crescentia.

And lastly, this mystic was one of the rare souls who participated in the Passion of Christ in a physical manner - a Stigmatic - who relived the Lord's sufferings every Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM while in a state of prolonged ecstasy.

+ Spiritual Legacy and Canonization

Throughout her life, Crescentia not only endured spiritual trials but she also had various maladies, including severe headaches, toothaches, and crippling chronic pain that eventually left her bedridden.  Despite her afflictions, she remained joyful and continued to offer spiritual counsel.  She passed away on April 5, 1744, which was an Easter Sunday; a fitting end for a woman completely devoted to following Christ even to the Cross.

An A.I.-generated portrait of the Saint based

on the image shown above.

The deceased nun's enduring reputation for holiness in Germany eventually led to her Beatification in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII, and her Canonization in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.  Her relics are venerated at the Crescentiakloster in Kaufbeuren, where pilgrims continue to seek inspiration from her holy life.

The Saint’s tomb in her Franciscan Convent

+ Conclusion

St. Crescentia Höss exemplified unwavering faith, humility, and perseverance.  From enduring rejection and cruel treatment to becoming a revered spiritual leader, her life serves as a testament to the power of trust in God.  Her legacy continues to inspire those who seek a deeper connection with our Faith.

St. Maria Crescentia Hoss,

pray for us!

Saint of the Month - September 2025: St. Hildegard of Bingen

St. Hildegard of Bingen

Prophetess, Visionary, & Doctor of the Church

Feast: September 17th

St. Hildegard of Bingen, often called the “Sibyl of the Rhine”, was one of the most remarkable women of the Middle Ages.  Born in Bermersheim, Germany, she was the tenth child of a noble family.  From early childhood she experienced profound mystical visions, though she often kept them hidden out of humility.  Recognizing a special call upon her life, her parents entrusted her to the care of Bl. Jutta of Sponheim, an anchoress at the Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg.  There, Hildegard received her formation in prayer, Scripture, and the monastic way of life.  At 15 she professed religious vows, dedicating her life entirely to God.

+ Life and Leadership

After the death of her mentor Jutta in 1136, Hildegard was chosen as prioress of the community.  She soon distinguished herself as a wise and courageous leader, guiding her nuns with maternal care and spiritual depth.  Eventually, she founded her own convent at Rupertsberg near Bingen, and later another house at Eibingen.  Her leadership was marked by strength, vision, and profound reliance on Divine Providence.  She insisted on discipline and integrity but also cultivated a joyful atmosphere rooted in beauty, music, and the love of God.

Though a woman in a time when authority in the Church was dominated by men, Hildegard’s sanctity and wisdom earned her respect from abbots, bishops, emperors, and even popes.  She corresponded with figures such as Pope Eugenius III, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and King Henry II of England, offering counsel, prophetic warnings, and encouragement.

+ Mystical Experiences

From 3-years-old, Hildegard began experiencing luminous visions filled with Divine Light.  She described these encounters as the “Living Light,” in which she received knowledge that surpassed her natural capacity.  These visions revealed to her the mysteries of salvation, the beauty of creation, and the harmony of God’s design for the world.  At first reluctant to record them, she only began writing at the command of God and with the encouragement of St. Bernard and Pope Eugenius.

A depiction of St. Hildegard in her visionary

state, receiving the "Living Light"

Her first major work, “Scivias (Know the Ways)”, contains 26 visions illustrating the history of salvation from Creation to the end of time.  Later, she composed “Liber Vitae Meritorum (The Book of Life’s Merits)” and “Liber Divinorum Operum (The Book of Divine Works)”, which delve into theology, ethics, and the cosmic relationship between God and creation.  Her writings reveal a soul immersed in Divine Wisdom and aflame with zeal for truth.

+ Intellectual Gifts and Virtues

Hildegard was not only a visionary but also a polymath.  She wrote extensively on natural science, medicine, and music, seeing all creation as a reflection of God’s sublime beauty.  Her Physica and Causae et Curae examine the medicinal properties of plants, animals, and minerals, demonstrating her deep respect for the healing power of nature.  She also composed an astonishing body of sacred music—antiphons, hymns, and sequences—that continue to be performed today for their haunting beauty and spiritual power.

St. Hildegard’s beautiful vision of

the nine Choirs of Angels.

Her virtues shone clearly in her life.  She embodied humility, often calling herself a “poor little woman” unworthy of her gifts.  Yet this humility did not diminish her courage; she boldly admonished rulers and prelates when they strayed from justice and truth.  Her obedience to God was total, especially in her willingness to proclaim her visions despite fear of criticism.  Her charity was evident in her pastoral care, her guidance of souls, and her compassion for the sick through both spiritual and medicinal remedies.  Above all, Hildegard’s deep love for God was the source of her joy, creativity, and tireless service.

+ Final Years and Canonization

Hildegard continued to write, compose, and advise until her death in 1179 at the age of 81.  Her convents remembered her as a luminous figure of holiness, and veneration of her sanctity spread quickly.  Although she was revered locally as a saint for centuries, her canonization was not formally completed until Pope Benedict XVI declared her a saint and Doctor of the Church in 2012.  She is one of only four women Doctors, recognized for her extraordinary contribution to theology, spirituality, and culture.

An A.I. rendered, realistic image of

St. Hildegard based on an old woodcut

print shown above.

+ Legacy

St. Hildegard of Bingen stands as a radiant example of a life wholly surrendered to God.  Her mystical visions illuminate the Lord's plan of salvation, her writings reveal a mind of profound depth, and her music sings of the eternal harmony between heaven and earth.  Courageous in truth, humble in service, and aflame with Divine Love, she remains a guide for all who seek to unite intellect, faith, and creativity in the service of God.

St. Hildegard, pray for us!

Saint of the Month - August 2025: Saint Jeanne Delanoue

St. Jeanne Delanoue

A Soul Transformed by God's Mercy

Feast: August 17th

St. Jeanne Delanoue was born on June 18, 1666, in the city of Saumur, France, into a devout family who operated a small religious goods store near the local shrine of Our Lady of Ardilliers.  From a young age, Jeanne exhibited great intelligence, resourcefulness, and a keen business sense.  Yet despite her pious upbringing and proximity to a sacred place, her early life was marked more by ambition than holiness.  After the death of her parents, she took over the shop and expanded its profits, running it with keen efficiency but a hardened heart, even keeping her store open on Sundays and feast days, which was a scandal in her time.

But God had greater plans for Jeanne.

In 1693, her life changed profoundly through an encounter with a poor widow named Françoise Fouchet, who prophetically told her that she was destined for a much higher calling: to care for the poor.  At first skeptical, Jeanne resisted, but grace began to stir within her.  Soon after, she experienced a radical interior conversion and she abandoned her materialistic ways, closed her shop on Sundays, and began to visit the sick and destitute in the caves, cellars, and hovels of Saumur.  What had once been a heart of indifference was now set ablaze with divine charity.

Jeanne began welcoming orphans, the elderly, the sick, and the mentally ill into her own home.  Despite the ridicule of neighbors and even physical assaults from those who misunderstood her mission, she remained steadfast.  In 1704, she founded the Congregation of St. Anne of Providence, dedicated to the service of the most abandoned.  Trusting entirely in Divine Providence, Jeanne accepted no regular income or stable funding, relying solely on the mercy of God and the generosity He inspired in others.

The Saint’s work quickly expanded, and by the time of her death, Jeanne had founded or inspired the establishment of over a dozen homes for the poor across western France.  She became known not only for her boundless compassion but for her mystical life of prayer, penance, and spiritual discernment; she was known to heal the sick through her prayers and blessing.  Though she bore many sufferings in silence, her union with Christ deepened, and she often spoke of seeing Him in the faces of the poor.

St. Jeanne Delanoue died on August 17, 1736, worn out by a life of total self-giving.  She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 1982, as a radiant example of how God can transform even the most self-centered heart into one consumed by love.

A relic from St. Jeanne's bones, gifted to

this ministry by her congregation.

This Saint’s life remains a testimony that sanctity begins not with perfection, but with surrender - when the soul opens itself fully to God’s mercy and allows Divine Love to remake it into a likeness of Jesus Christ.

St. Jeanne Delanoue, pray for us!

Celebrating St. Anthony of Padua!

I have to say - I think this year's Feast Day Observances for our parish's Patron Saint was the BEST one yet!  It was a great combination of devotion, meaningful prayer, fellowship, and feasting ... which I personally feel is the right way to do these events.

Our new priest - Fr. Tony - conceived the great idea of preceding the feast with three consecutive evenings of preparatory prayers - a Triduum honoring St. Anthony of Padua between June 10th - 12th - comprised of Rosaries, special prayers to our Saint, and Masses.  Each day of the Triduum concluded with refreshments and time for light-hearted socializing; the last Mass was a powerful Healing Mass.

A few photos from the last day of

the Triduum to St. Anthony

On the night of June 13, 2025 - the actual Feast Day of St. Anthony - we prayed the Rosary; held a Mass; and had a big parish celebration dinner with live entertainment (including former pop star/local celebrity Glenn Medeiros), a wine bar, and lots of lucky drawing prizes!  It couldn't have been any better.

A few photos from our Feast Day

Celebration for St. Anthony

Lastly, throughout the entire series of observances, our parish's relic of St. Anthony of Padua - a small piece of bone from his bodily remains - was prominently displayed for public veneration, which was also very meaningful for our community.  We may have even been blessed with a little "sign" at the end of the Feast Day Mass - see the candle pictured below that was lit beside the relic during the entire Mass ...

Note the curious shape of the candle -

was it just a coincidence?

Rather than melting into a random clump of wax, the candle unexpectedly took the form of a familiar and relevant figure (what are the odds?!).  Fellow parishioners who've seen the pic all agree there's two discernable figures resembling a grown-up carrying a child ... but are divided as to whether it represents St. Anthony with Baby Jesus or Our Lady with the Holy Infant.

Personally, I'm inclined to interpret the figures in the candle as a representation of the Madonna and Christ Child because St. Anthony was already present through his relic.  Plus, June 13th also commemorates Our Lady's second apparition in Fatima so the wax images may just be a reminder that she's celebrating with us, too!

So what a great past four evenings it has been; so abounding in graces - Our Lady and St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!

Saint of the Month - May 2025: Saint Paschal Baylon

St. Paschal Baylon

Model of Eucharistic Devotion

Feast: May 17th

This month we honor St. Paschal Baylon, a Franciscan Friar and an exceptional Eucharistic Saint. In fact, one of his nicknames is "Seraph of the Eucharist" and rightfully so - the Eucharist was the heart of his soul.  Paschal was born on May 16, 1540 - a Pentecost Sunday - in the Spanish hamlet of Torrehermosa to a virtuous peasant couple.  Given his poor circumstances, Pascal was employed from age 7 as a shepherd to a wealthy land owner.

In the solitude and grandeur of the outdoors, little Paschal developed a deep respect for our Creator and a lively piety, which was expressed in the charitable sharing of his meager meals with the poor and his inclination to contemplative prayer.  Whenever the distant church bell rang, it was a signal for him to kneel and pray wherever he was, regardless what he was engaged in ... and thanks to the help of certain educated friends, he slowly learned to read and availed himself of spiritual reading while out in the fields.

Attracted to the religious life, in his adolescence he applied with the Franciscans, but was initially declined because of his youthful age.  In 1564, at the age of 24, he was accepted with the Alcantarine (reformed) Franciscans that was recently founded by St. Peter of Alcantara (d. 1562).  The following year, in February 1565, he made his solemn profession in the Order's Monastery of St. Joseph in Orito.

The Saint’s simple and tiny cell in the

Franciscan monastery of Villarreal

As a spiritual son of the illustrious St. Francis of Assisi, the Saint was exceptional for his ascetic and materially-detached lifestyle.  In fact, he once explained his choice of joining the Franciscans as: "I was born poor and I am resolved to die in poverty and penance." and he lived up to his words.  Paschal not only adhered to his Order's strict rule of poverty but exceeded it -  he only wore cast off, worn-out habits; walked about completely barefoot (even in snow); and fasted rigorously.  His superiors wanted him to study for the Priesthood but Paschal declined, believing himself unworthy of the dignity of the role.  Instead, he volunteered as cook, gardener, doorkeeper, and even the humiliation of begging for food for his monastery.

Despite the humble positions he served in, the saintly friar became well-respected in all the monasteries where he was assigned to.  His apparent humility, charity, and patience towards visitors at the gate also endeared him to the wider community.  Furthermore, word of his blossoming mystical gifts fueled his reputation for lofty holiness.

Concerning the latter, Paschal's extraordinary charisms was said to include the following:

• He spent entire nights enraptured in deep ecstasy while in Eucharistic Adoration; immobile with his arms habitually extended towards Heaven without any discomfort.

• During his ecstatic states, he also often experienced sublime visions, which filled him with an extraordinary understanding of the mysteries of our Catholic Faith.

• Still, at other times, he was witnessed lifted several feet into the air in levitation and surrounded with a heavenly glow!

• His prayers effected cures for the many sick who began seeking him out.

• And lastly, he is among those rare Saints who had the privilege of receiving Holy Communion from the hands of angels when circumstances prevented him from receiving the Host in the normal manner.

Eucharistic Adoration often triggered

the Saint's frequent ecstasies

St. Paschal's infused knowledge became all the more evident when he was sent to Paris on an important mission for his Order.  As he made his way up north through France then back down, he passed through regions taken over by Calvanist Protestants and took the opportunity to preach to fallen-away Catholics in spite of the danger to himself; his teaching impressed many.  On one occasion he was publicly challenged by a Calvanist leader about the Doctrine of the True Presence, but our Saint's defense of the Eucharist was so solid and convincing, he managed to revert many spectators back to Catholicism.  An enraged group then beat Paschal and attempted to stone him to death but he somehow managed to escape.  The attack left the friar with a permanent injury to one of his shoulders that caused him chronic pain for the rest of his life.

Upon his return to his Spanish monastery, Paschal casually resumed his chores and his routine of nocturnal Adoration despite his injury.  He was a much sought-after counselor and healer until his death in Villarreal on May 17, 1592 (another Pentacost Sunday!).  Not surprisingly, miracles were reported immediately after his passing.  For one, his corpse was exposed for three days due to the massive crowd of mourners who came to pay their respects to the deceased holy man.  All the while his body remained supple and showed no signs of decomposing, and a moisture (described as "dew") exuded from its forehead, which effected cures when it was applied to the sick.  Also, during the funeral Mass, his eyes were seen by attendees to open at both the elevations of the Host and the Chalice; the Saint's final act of reverence towards our Eucharistic Lord whom he loved and defended!

St. Paschal's new sarcophagus in his

Sanctuary in Villarreal, Spain

Cures continued at the friar's gravesite, eventually leading up to his Canonization in 1690.

An A.I. generated image, based on early

portraits.  Is this what he looked like?

Sadly, St. Paschal's sacred body, which had remained miraculously incorrupt for centuries, was desecrated and burned by Communist insurgents and secularists during the infamous Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. Several bone fragments survived, however, which are now entombed in a rebuilt Basilica dedicated to St. Paschal in Villarreal.  May this great Saint of the Eucharist inspire in us an ever-deepening love for the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Paschal Baylon,

pray for us!

Is this what two great Saints looked like?

I was researching something on the net the other day when I came upon a pleasant surprise - more forensic reconstruction of the faces of Saints! Those familiar with this blog are likely aware that this author is a big fan of such things (click/tap here to see other forensic "faces of holiness" that I've shared about in the past).  This time around I add two famous Saints who are both Doctors of the Church:

St. Teresa of Avila

   

Compare this Spanish Saint's forensic reconstruction (Above-Left) with the most famous portrait done of her when she was 61 (I personally don't see a similarity and prefer the painting).  To read about St. Teresa's prodigious life, click/tap here.

St. Thomas Aquinas

   

Above, the forensic reconstruction (Left) with a typical representation of the Saint painted shortly after he was canonized in July 1323 (there appears to be a slight resemblance).

So what do viewers think?  I personally find it highly fascinating to see these scientifically reconstructed faces ... then find it amusing when I compare them to statues and paintings to see how they measure up to each other.  The artistic depictions usually don't come close to reality - almost all look too perfect with their tall, slim bodies and their perfect complexion, especially devotional statues I see on sale.

I prefer to see true likenesses of our Saints and Blesseds with their not-so-perfect features.  I think it brings them down to earth, which makes them relatable; mostly ordinary people but who lived their Catholic Faith in an extraordinary manner!

Saints & Relics Presentation, 3/15/2025: Holy Cross Parish, Kalaheo (Kauai)

Once again, the people of Kauai have warmed my heart and exceeded my expectations with their enthusiasm and hospitality!  This morning, this author flew over to Kauai Island to conduct a Lenten "Mini-Retreat" for Holy Cross Parish, which included a talk on Saints, Relics, and Eucharistic Miracles.  Based on feedback, the event was a complete success.  Thanks and Praises be to God!

The church's Pastor, Fr. Danny Galang, and his parish team of organizers were well-prepared to host the Relics, having setup covered tables and generously putting together packets filled with rosaries, holy cards, and even handkerchiefs with which to touch the Relics, so as to create 3rd Class ones for blessed mementos of the occasion.  And there was food prepared for the 70+ attendees!  (Well done, Holy Cross Parish!)

With my new friend - Fr. Danny

What was also exceptional was the invitation extended to the other parishes on the island - I met people from St. Raphael Parish, St. Theresa Parish, and again saw several friends I made when I did the January 2025 talk at St. Catherine Parish in Kapa'a.

Over 30 Relics on display, including Relics

of Our Lady's veil and the True Cross

What a beautiful and highly fruitful event orchestrated by our Lord; all the free sacramentals were scooped up and this ministry was invited to return in October to faith-share about the Blessed Virgin's apparitions and messages.  God's will be done!

Fr. Danny and my new Kauai Ohana