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Some holy people have a rather full life spread over a couple of vocations. Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio is such a person having been married twice before becoming a Franciscan.
Was Blessed Luke Belludi just at the right place at the right time, or was there something more at work in his happening to meet Saint Anthony and become his protégé? We would all agree that this is how the Lord works─through convenient happenstances.
Every cathedral has a “cathedra,” a bishop’s chair that is used only by the bishop when he presides in the cathedral. It’s a symbol of his authority as chief teacher and liturgist of the diocese. So, today we celebrate the Chair of Saint Peter.
If it hadn’t been for an elder brother taking him under his wing, Saint Peter Damian may have taken a very different path in life. But with his brother’s guidance, he matured into a holy man, monk, and bishop. A man of prayer and devotion, Peter Damian was also a spiritual writer.
Blessed John of Fiesole, a Dominican Friar, is also known as Fra Angelico. Famous for his devotional artwork John used his talents to praise God through paint. All talents can be used to praise God.
Rather than just talk about the problems of the day, the Seven Founders of the Servite Order did something about it─they consciously left all and formed a new religious congregation to address the issues. They put their money where their mouths were.
Saint Gilbert of Sempringham could have been a wealthy priest, but chose to live far more simply. He founded a religious congregation the Gilbertines, who followed his example of living poorly and caring for those who want. Saint Gilbert live past 100 years of age.
Jesus doesn’t force anyone to believe his teaching or accept the worth of what he promises. He gives us enough evidence to accept what he is all about and leaves the decision of faith and commitment to us.
Simple, humble persons can sometimes be powerful in their effect on and work with the people of God. Saint Giles Mary of Saint Joseph was such a man. Giles Mary was loved on the streets of Naples for his goodness born of prayer.
It is striking to me that in all Marian apparitions, the people Our Lady chooses to appear to are often children—simple and humble.
