Notburga then entered the service of a peasant in the town of Eben, on condition that she be permitted to go to church evenings before Sundays and festivals. One evening her master urged her to continue working in the field. Throwing her sickle into the air she said: "Let my sickle be judge between me and you," and the sickle remained suspended in the air. Meantime Count Henry of Rothenburg was visited with great reverses which he ascribed to the dismissal of Notburga. He engaged her again and thenceforth all went well in his household. Shortly before her death she told her master to place her corpse on a wagon drawn by two oxen, and to bury her wherever the oxen would stand still. The oxen drew the wagon to the chapel of St. Rupert near Eben, where she was buried. Her ancient cult was ratified on 27 March, 1862, and her feast is celebrated on 14 September. She is generally represented with an ear of corn, or flowers and a sickle in her hand; sometimes with a sickle suspended in the air.
Patroness of servants and peasants, b. c. 1265 at Rattenberg on the died 16th September, 1313. She was cook in the family of Count Henry of Rothenburg, and used to give food to the poor. But Ottilia, her mistress, ordered her to feed the swine with whatever food was left. She, therefore, saved some of her own food, especially on Fridays, and brought it to the poor. One day, according to legend, her master met her, and commanded her to show him what she was carrying. She obeyed, but instead of the food he saw only shavings, and the wine he found to be vinegar. Hereupon Ottilia dismissed her, but soon fell dangerously ill, and Notburga remained to nurse her and prepared her for death.
Notburga then entered the service of a peasant in the town of Eben, on condition that she be permitted to go to church evenings before Sundays and festivals. One evening her master urged her to continue working in the field. Throwing her sickle into the air she said: "Let my sickle be judge between me and you," and the sickle remained suspended in the air. Meantime Count Henry of Rothenburg was visited with great reverses which he ascribed to the dismissal of Notburga. He engaged her again and thenceforth all went well in his household. Shortly before her death she told her master to place her corpse on a wagon drawn by two oxen, and to bury her wherever the oxen would stand still. The oxen drew the wagon to the chapel of St. Rupert near Eben, where she was buried. Her ancient cult was ratified on 27 March, 1862, and her feast is celebrated on 14 September. She is generally represented with an ear of corn, or flowers and a sickle in her hand; sometimes with a sickle suspended in the air. Chosroës, King of Persia, having, in the last days of the reign of the Emperor Phocas, overrun Egypt and Africa, took Jerusalem, where he slaughtered thousands of Christians and carried off to Persia the Cross of the Lord, which Helen had put upon Mount Calvary. Heraclius, the successor of Phocas, moved by the thought of the hardships and horrid outrages of war, sought for peace, but Chosroës, drunken with conquest, would not allow of it even upon unfair terms. Heraclius therefore, being set in this uttermost strait, earnestly sought help from God by constant fasting and prayer, and through his good inspiration gathered an army, joined battle with the enemy, and prevailed against three of Chosroës his chief captains, and three armies. Chosroës was broken by these defeats, and when in his flight, he was about crossing the Tigris, he proclaimed his son Medarses partner in his kingdom. Chosroës' eldest son Siroës took this slight to heart, and formed a plot to murder his father and brother, which plot he brought to effect soon after they had come home. Then he got the kingdom from Heraclius upon certain terms, whereof the first was that he should give back the Cross of the Lord Christ. The Cross therefore was received back after that it had been fourteen years in the power of the Persians, and Heraclius came to Jerusalem and bore it with solemn pomp unto the Mount whereunto the Saviour had borne it. This event was marked by a famous miracle. Heraclius, who was adorned with gold and jewels, stayed perforce at the gateway which leadeth unto Mount Calvary, and the harder he strove to go forward, the harder he seemed to be held back, whereat both himself and all they that stood by were sore amazed. Then spake Zacharias, Patriarch of Jerusalem, saying: See, O Emperor, that it be not that in carrying the Cross attired in the guise of a Conqueror thou shewest too little of the poverty and lowliness of Jesus Christ. Then Heraclius cast away his princely raiment and took off his shoes from his feet, and in the garb of a countryman easily finished his journey, and set up the Cross once more in the same place upon Calvary whence the Persians had carried it away. That the Cross had been put by Heraclius in the same place wherein it had first been planted by the Saviour caused the yearly Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross to become the more famous thenceforward. Sermon of St. Leo the Pope Dearly beloved, when we look to Christ lifted up on the Cross, the eyes of faith see more than what the wicked saw, unto whom it was said through Moses: And thy Life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy Life. They saw in the Crucified nothing but the work of their own wickedness. As it is written: They feared greatly. But their faith was not unto faith, which giveth life by justification, but unto the torture of their own bad conscience. But our understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of Truth. And so with pure and open hearts we can see the glory of the Cross shining over heaven and earth, and discern by inward sight what the Lord meant when his passion was nigh at hand, and he said: Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out; and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. O how wonderful is the power of the Cross! O how unutterable is the glory of the Passion, wherein standeth the Lord's judgment-seat, and the judgment of this world, and the might of the Crucified! Verily, O Lord, thou hast drawn all men and all things unto thee! Albeit thou didst spread out thine hands all the day unto an unbelieving and gainsaying people, yet the world was made to feel and own thy Majesty! Verily, O Lord, thou hast drawn all things unto thee! For the senseless elements gave one wild cry of horror at the iniquity of Jewry; the lights of the firmament were darkened; day was turned into night; earth quaked with strange tremblings; and thus all God's works refused to serve the guilty. Verily, O Lord, thou hast drawn all things unto thee! For the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from top to bottom, and thus the Holy of Holies denied itself as a sanctuary for the ministration of unworthy priests, that the shadow might be changed for the substance, prophecy for realization, and the Law for the Gospel. Verily, O Lord, thou hast drawn all things unto thee! What was once veiled under types and shadows in the one Jewish Temple, is now hailed by the love of all peoples in full and open worship everywhere. There is now a higher order of Levites, a more honourable rank of Elders, a priesthood with an holier anointing. Thy Cross is for all men a well of blessings and a cause of thanksgiving. Thereby for them that believe in thee, weakness is turned into strength, shame into glory, and death into life. The changing ordinance of divers carnal sacrifices is gone; the one oblation of thy Body and Blood fulfilleth them all. For thou art the true paschal Lamb that takest away the sins of the world. Thou art thyself the accomplishment of all mysteries, so that as now there is one Sacrifice in place of many victims, so there shall be one kingdom composed of all peoples. 14 September, 2013 CONCILIARIZING APACE A good article arguing that the June 27 Declaration of three Society of St Pius X bishops is not as faithful to Catholic Tradition as it may seem to be, appeared in the August issue of England’s new Catholic monthly magazine, The Recusant, self-described as “An unofficial SSPX newsletter fighting a guerrilla war for the soul of Tradition.” A brief survey can hardly do justice to the article’s seven dense pages, but the main line of thought deserves to be known. Here it is – At first sight the June 27 Declaration seems to be Traditional, but, as with the documents of Vatican II, there is usually a loophole, a fatal flaw, which allows the rest of the document to be undone. Let us take a closer look, paragraph by paragraph:-- #1 “Filial gratitude” is expressed towards Archbishop Lefebvre, but only harmless and soft-sounding quotes of his are included in the Declaration, with nothing from his 1988 Consecrations sermon, and none of his hard-hitting reasons for creating bishops to resist the “antichrists” in Rome. #3 It is admitted that the “cause” of the errors devastating the Catholic Church is in the Conciliar documents, but that is not to admit that the errors are there, since cause and effect cannot be identical. Yet most serious errors are themselves in the Council’s texts, e.g. religious liberty. #4 It is recognized that Vatican II changed and vitiated the Church’s manner of teaching, or teaching authority, but the main problem is not authority, but doctrine – see #8. #5 Only relatively soft language is used to evoke the Conciliar Church’s “non-preoccupation” with the “reign of Christ”. In fact the Conciliar Church denies and contradicts the full and true doctrine of the Social Kingship of Christ the King, battle-flag of the Archbishop and true Catholics today. #6 As in #3, it is admitted that the Council text’s teaching on religious liberty leads to the dissolving of Christ, but the text is that dissolving, or putting of man in the place of God. Vatican II is the fruit not just of human weakness or absent-mindedness, but of a diabolical conspiracy. #7 Similarly ecumenism and interreligious dialogue are not just “silencing the truth about the one true Church”, they are denying and contradicting it. Nor are they just “killing the missionary spirit”, they are killing the missions, and with them millions of souls, all over the world. #8 On the other hand the ruin of the Church’s institutions is blamed on the destruction of authority within the Church by the Council’s collegiality and democratic spirit. But the essential problem (as the paragraph’s opening sentence does weakly say) is the loss of faith. Authority is secondary. #9 While pointing to real faults and serious omissions in the Novus Ordo rite of Mass, no mention is made of the worldwide carnage of souls wrought by its falsifying of their worship of God. The Novus Ordo Mass has been the main engine of the Church’s destruction from 1969 until today. #10 In conclusion, timid and deferential language is used to “ask with insistence” that Rome return to Tradition. But of course, in accordance with the SSPX’s “re-branding”, the Newsociety wants no more fighters or fighting talk. #11 The three bishops “mean...to follow Providence”, whether Rome returns to Tradition or not. What can that mean other than the eventual acceptance of a deal that will by-pass doctrine ? #12 The Declaration concludes piously, with another dovelike quote from the Archbishop. And The Recusant arrives at the sad but all too probable conclusion that the Declaration is only an apparent step backwards from the Declarations of April 15 and July 14 of last year, which were two clear steps forward in the conciliarizing of the SSPX. Heaven help it ! Kyrie eleison. © 2011-2013 Richard N. Williamson. All Rights Reserved.
A non-exclusive license to print out, forward by email, and/or post this article to the Internet is granted to users who wish to do so provided that no changes are made to the content so reproduced or distributed, to include the retention of this notice with any and all reproductions of content as authorized hereby. Aside from this limited, non-exclusive license, no portion of this article may be reproduced in any other form or by any other electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review, or except in cases where rights to content reproduced herein are retained by its original author(s) or other rights holder(s), and further reproduction is subject to permission otherwise granted thereby. The native place of St. Maurilius was Milan, and his teacher was St. Martin, who had founded a monastery near that city, wherein he lived. After this holy man had been banished from Milan by the Arians, and had become Bishop of Tours, Maurilius went to him to be instructed in virtue and wisdom. When he had made sufficient progress, St. Martin ordained him priest, after which Maurilius repaired to Angers to preach the Gospel, as at that time, a great number of the inhabitants were pagans. While on this way thither, he saw the temple of an idol, standing near the river. Pitying the blindness of the people, he besought God to destroy this temple; when, behold, fire falls from heaven, the temple is overthrown, the idol burned to ashes! Maurilius, having had all the rubbish carried away, assisted by some pious Christians, built a church upon the same spot, together with a monastery in which he took up his abode with a number of devout men, whom he governed as Abbot. During this time he converted an almost countless number of pagans, as well in the city as out of it, by zealous preaching and the miracles he performed on the sick, the possessed and the blind. Meanwhile the Bishop of Angers died, and St. Martin, who went thither to choose a successor, took Maurilius with him. The clergy and people were assembled, and the election was about to begin, when suddenly a white dove was seen which, after having fluttered through the church for some time, at length descended upon the shoulder of St. Maurilius. All looked upon this event as a sign that God had chosen this holy man as Bishop, and hence they unanimously declared that they desired no other. He was therefore consecrated bishop by St. Martin, to the inexpressible comfort of the people, although he himself shed many tears at being obliged to accept the dignity. As Bishop, his virtues shone still more brightly; for he had more opportunities to practise them in the world than in the convent and his exalted station imparted to them an additional lustre. He fasted with great rigor, and on three days of the week he partook only of bread and salt. He never tasted wine, and during Lent, seldom left his residence; "for," said he, "Lent is a time of solitude, during which we ought to contemplate the passion and death of Christ." He was unwearied in instructing his flock and in converting the heathen. One day, while he was standing before the Altar to perform the holy sacrifice, a woman requested him to administer to her sick son the holy sacrament of Confirmation. Maurilius, not thinking that the lad was in danger, continued Mass, but before he had finished it, the child was dead. The holy man was exceedingly grieved at this accident, and as if having committed great sin, he sentenced himself to a severe penance. He secretly left the city, and hastened over hill and dale, until having arrived at the sea, he went on board of a ship which was setting sail for England. During the voyage, the keys of the holy relics which he had taken with him, fell into the sea, and he solemnly declared that he would not return to his diocese, until he should again possess them, which, as he believed, would never happen. At length he arrived in England, where, without making himself known, he took service with a nobleman as gardener. It was his intention to do penance for his sin by the hard labors of this occupation during winter and summer. The inhabitants of Angers were meanwhile greatly dismayed at the disappearance of their highly esteemed bishop, and sent several persons in search of him. Seven whole years had elapsed, when, by divine revelation they found him. Their good angel guided them in such a manner, that they found their holy bishop coming from his garden with a load of vegetables for his master. They immediately recognized him, and besought him, with tears in their eyes, to return to his see, and watch over the spiritual welfare of his flock. St. Maurilius, who thought that they had long since elected another bishop, was greatly disturbed on beholding them. He could not deny his identity, but endeavored to evade their wishes by making different pretexts, and finally declared that he could not return under any circumstances, as he had solemnly vowed that he would not see Angers again until, the keys were found which had fallen out of his hand into the sea. "If this is the only obstacle to your return, we are able to remove it," said the delegates; "for on the voyage, we caught a fish, in whose stomach we found the keys." Showing them to him, they persuaded him to regard the finding of them as an unmistakable proof that God desired his return. Maurilius made no further resistance, but taking leave of the gentleman whom he had served, he returned to his see. It must also be stated that, shortly before the arrival of the delegates, while St. Maurilius was weeping bitterly over his sins, an angel had appeared to him and given him the assurance of their entire remission, which filled his heart with inexpressible joy. It would be difficult to describe the rejoicings of the inhabitants of the entire diocese on the return of their holy bishop. The Saint, however, first went to the place where the abovementioned lad had been buried seven years before. Having said his prayers with the utmost confidence in the power of God, he awakened the child from death, as is testified by St. Gregory of Tours and others. Those present had never so clearly comprehended how pious and holy a man God had bestowed upon them in their bishop, as at the moment of that startling event. Maurilius gave the lad the name of Renatus, which means "born again," and instructed him so carefully in all that pertains to a Christian life, that he afterwards became the successor of his holy teacher. The remainder of his life the Saint passed in his habitual austerity, and in great zeal for the salvation of souls. When he had reached his ninetieth year, God revealed to him the hour of his departure. Preparing himself with the greatest solicitude, he ordered his grave to be dug, and after a short illness, gave up his soul to his Creator. At his funeral, besides other miracles which took place, two persons who had been blind from birth received their sight, and a man who had been paralyzed thirty-one years, regained the use of his limbs, on kissing the coffin in which the relics of the Saint reposed. Well worth considering are the words which the holy man spoke shortly before his death to those around him: "Ponder well," said he, "that your souls are bought at a great price: the precious blood of Jesus Christ." Saint Amatus, also called Saint Ame, was a Benedictine monk. Saint Amatus was a Benedictine abbot and hermit. He was born to a noble family in Grenoble, France, and was put in the Maurice Abbey as a child. After becoming a Benedictine monk, he became a hermit. He went to Luxeuil in 614. In Luxeuil he converted a former Count Palatine from the court of King Theodebert II, the Frankish noble St. Romaric. St. Romaric founded with Amatus a dual monastery for men and women at Remiremont Abbey. This was on land that had been in St. Romaric's possession since his days as a count palatine. St. Amatus was its first abbot. Amatus died in 627. His memorial day is September 13. Amatus has created variations of the name 'Aimee' Sermon by St. Bernard the Abbot It is said: And the Virgin's name was Mary. Let us speak a few words upon this name, which signifieth, being interpreted, Star of the Sea, and suits very well the Maiden Mother, who may very meetly be likened unto a star. A star giveth forth her rays without any harm to herself, and the Virgin brought forth her Son without any hurt to her virginity. The light of a star taketh nothing away from the Vírginity of Mary. She is that noble star which was to come out of Jacob, whose brightness still sheds lustre upon all the earth, whose rays are most brilliant in heaven, and shine even unto hell, lighting up earth midway, and warming souls rather than bodies, fostering good and scaring away evil. She, I say, is a clear and shining star, twinkling with excellencies, and resplendent with example, needfully set to look down upon the surface of this great and wide sea. O thou, whosoever thou art, that knowest thyself to be here not so much walking upon firm ground, as battered to and fro by the gales and storms of this life's ocean, if thou wouldest not be overwhelmed by the tempest, keep thine eyes fixed upon this star's clear shining. If the hurricanes of temptation rise against thee, or thou art running upon the rocks of trouble, look to the star, call on Mary. If the waves of pride, or ambition, or slander, or envy toss thee, look to the star, call on Mary. If the billows of anger or avarice, or the enticements of the flesh beat against thy soul's bark, look to Mary. If the enormity of thy sins trouble thee, if the foulness of thy conscience confound thee, if the dread of judgment appal thee, if thou begin to slip into the deep of despondency, into the pit of despair, think of Mary. In danger, in difficulty, or in doubt, think on Mary, call on Mary. Let her not be away from thy mouth or from thine heart, and that thou mayest not lack the succour of her prayers, turn not aside from the example of her conversation. If thou follow her, thou wilt never go astray. If thou pray to her, thou wilt never have need to despair. If thou keep her in mind, thou wilt never fall. If she lead thee, thou wilt never be weary. If she help thee, thou wilt reach home safe at the last―and so thou wilt prove in thyself how meetly it is said: And the Virgin's name was Mary. - Particular honours were already paid to this worshipful name in divers parts of the Christian world, but the Bishop of Rome, Innocent XI, ordered this Feast in honour of it to be held every year throughout the whole Church, as an everlasting thanksgiving for the great blessing that, under her protection, the brutal Sultan of the Turks, who was trampling upon the necks of the Christian population, was thoroughly beaten before the walls of Vienna in Austria. Sermon by St. Peter Chrysologus Dearly beloved brethren, ye have this day heard how an Angel treated with a woman touching the regeneration of mankind. Ye have heard how it was arranged that man should return to life by the same mean whereby he had fallen into death. The Angel treateth, treateth with Mary concerning salvation, because an angel had treated with Eve concerning destruction. Ye have heard how an Angel set about to raise with unspeakable building a temple of the Divine Majesty out of the dust of the earth. Ye have heard how by a mystery which cannot be understood, God got a place on earth and man a place in heaven. Ye have heard how by a working hitherto unheard of, God and man are joined together in one Body. Ye have heard how at the message of an Angel, the weak nature whereof our flesh is sharer, became strong to bear the whole glory of the Godhead. Then, lest the frail clay of humanity should break down under the weight of God's work, and in Mary the tender stem should snap, which was about to bear the fruit of all mankind, the Angel's first words were a preventive against fear. And the Angel said unto her: Fear not, Mary. Even before the matter is revealed, the exalted station of this Virgin is made clear by her very name, for the name Mary is an Hebrew word, and signifieth Lady. The Angel therefore greeteth her as Lady, that the Mother of the Lord may lay aside the fearfulness of his handmaiden, whom the will of her own Offspring had made to be born and to be called a Lady. Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace. He that hath found grace, need fear no more. Thou hast found grace. Blessed is she who alone among mankind, and first among mankind deserved to hear: Thou hast found grace. And how much grace? Even as the Angel had said: Full! Full of grace. Full indeed! Grace like a bountiful shower drenched and soaked her whole being. For thou hast found grace with God. As he saith this, even the Angel doth marvel. He marvelleth that a woman should merit eternal life, that all men should merit it through her. The Angel marvelleth that the whole Godhead, he to whom the entire universe is small, should enter the narrow womb of a virgin. So he delayeth. He calleth her virgin. That was her right. He haileth her as full of grace. Then, with great trepidation he delivereth his message, scarcely able to phrase it so that it could be understood. Protus and Hyacinth were brethren, eunuchs of the blessed Virgin Eugenia, and were baptized along with her by Bishop Helenus. They gave themselves to the study of God's Word, and dwelt for a while in wonderful lowliness and holiness of life in a monastery in Egypt. However, they afterwards followed the holy Virgin Eugenia to Rome, in the reign of the Emperor Gallienus, and were arrested in that city for professing the Christian faith. By no means could they be brought to leave the Christian religion and to worship the gods, and they were therefore severely scourged and beheaded, upon the 11th day of September. Blessed Charles Spinola (Italian Carlo Spinola), born in Madrid in January 1565 and died (burned) at Nagasaki (Japan) September 10, 1622, was an Italian Jesuit priest, scientist, architect and missionary in Japan. Arrested with many other Christians in 1621 is burned September 10, 1622. 205 Japanese martyrs of the early seventeenth century were all beatified by Pope Pius IX, July 7, 1867. Among them, Charles Spinola and 51 other "Martyrs of Nagasaki" put to death the same day, September 10, 1622. They are liturgically commemorated on February 4. When expressing the desire to enter the Society of Jesus he faces opposition from his family. During this first period of training he taught briefly in Lecce where he knew Father Bernardino Realino preacher of popular missions in the city and its surroundings, and well known confessor. He returned to Naples to study philosophy there with classmate Louis de Gonzague three years his junior . Due to vomiting of blood he was sent to the infirmary of the Roman College (Rome). Taking advantage of his enforced leisure he was under Christopher Clavius, where he became an excellent student . He continues philosophy and theology courses at the college of Brera (Milan) while teaching mathematics there. He was ordained in 1594 and sent to Cremona to prepare the foundation of a new college . . His missionary application was finally accepted and Spinola left Europe through the port of Lisbon in 1596. Adrift near Brazil his ship is boarded by English privateers who bring him prisoner to England ... The ransom paid, he was released and returned to Lisbon. He then made his final religious profession (28 October 1598) . In 1599, he departed for the Far East. He arrived in Macao in August 1600. His scientific knowledge is put to use to draw the plans for the new church of the Mother of God to replace the one that burned in November 1595. He starts the reconstruction. Finally he arrived in Japan in August 1602 , there he studied the Japanese language. Then he founded and directed an academy of mathematics and astronomy at Miyako (now Kyoto), while organizing a Marian Congregation for the seminarians of Kyoto and another for catechists. He campaigned for the admission of candidates in the Japanese Society of Jesus. His reputation as a man of science reaches the emperor but he remains in Japan, as the steward of the missions, with residence in Nagasaki. The situation changes completely when the new emperor ordered the strict implementation of the Decree (1614 ) of his predecessor Tokugawa Ieyasu expelling all foreigners (including missionaries) and banning the Christian religion. Spinola hides and continues his ministry in hiding. But he was arrested Dec. 13, 1618. Locked in prison in Omura, near Nagasaki where he remained for four years. This does not prevent him from writing letters in which he extols his martyrdom for Christ. His letters, which are signed "Carlo prisoner to Santa Fe," circulate in Europe and do a lot to promote missionary vocations. Always an architect, he designed a meticulous plan in one of his letters from his prison of Omura ... In prison he is master of novices for seven young Japanese catechists (prisoners like him) who want to die as a religious Jesuits. The seven will die before their religious profession. Charles Spinola was killed September 10, 1622 , on the hill Nishizaka in Nagasaki. In what is called the "Grand Nagasaki martyrdom", 52 Christians were burned alive or beheaded men, women and children, foreign missionaries and priests from various religious orders, laity and Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese catechists. They were beatified together July 7, 1867, by Pope Pius IX. Nicholas is called of Tolentino, because he lived in that town for most part of his life. He was born at Sant'Angelo, in the March of Ancona. His parents were godly people, and in their desire to have children, vowed and made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Nicholas at Bari, where they were assured of their wish, and therefore gave the name of Nicholas to the son whom they received. From his childhood the boy gave many good signs, but especially as regarded abstinence. In his seventh year, in imitation of his blessed name-sake, he began to fast upon several days in the week, which custom he always kept, and was content with only bread and water. After he reached man's estate, he enlisted himself in the army of the clergy, and was preferred to a Canonry. One day he chanced to hear a sermon upon contempt of the world delivered by a preacher of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, and was so moved by it that he forthwith entered that Order. As a Friar he was most strictly observant of that way of life. He subdued his body with rough clothing, stripes, and an iron chain. He never ate meat, and seldom any relish to his meals. And he was a burning and shining light of love, lowliness, long-suffering, and all other graces. He persisted in constant and earnest prayer, notwithstanding many troubles from the assaults of Satan, who sometimes even flogged him. Every night for six months before his death he heard Angels singing with such sweetness, that it was a foretaste of the happiness of heaven, and he would often repeat the words of the Apostle: I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ. Lastly, he foretold to his brethren the day of his death, which was the 10th day of September. After his death also he was famous for miracles, and when due investigation had been made thereof, Pope Eugene IV enrolled his name among those of the Saints. St. Peter Claver was born at Verdu, Catalonia, Spain, in 1580, of impoverished parents descended from ancient and distinguished families. He studied at the Jesuit college of Barcelona, entered the Jesuit novitiate at Tarragona in 1602 and took his final vows on August 8th, 1604. While studying philosophy at Majorca, the young religious was influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to go to the Indies and save "millions of perishing souls." In 1610, he landed at Cartagena (modern Colombia), the principle slave market of the New World, where a thousand slaves were landed every month. After his ordination in 1616, he dedicated himself by special vow to the service of the Negro slaves-a work that was to last for thirty-three years. He labored unceasingly for the salvation of the African slaves and the abolition of the Negro slave trade, and the love he lavished on them was something that transcended the natural order. Boarding the slave ships as they entered the harbor, he would hurry to the revolting inferno of the hold, and offer whatever poor refreshments he could afford; he would care for the sick and dying, and instruct the slaves through Negro catechists before administering the Sacraments. Through his efforts three hundred thousand souls entered the Church. Furthermore, he did not lose sight of his converts when they left the ships, but followed them to the plantations to which they were sent, encouraged them to live as Christians, and prevailed on their masters to treat them humanely. He died in 1654. The patron saint of slaves, the Republic of Colombia and ministry to African Americans. |
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