St. Nunzio Sulprizio

St. Nunzio Sulprizio

He may be overlooked since he was 'added later' and his canonization coincides with the Synod for youth, and all of that controversy.  Now, with Catholics actually casting doubt regarding the legitimacy of canonization, the saint may be further overlooked.  Somehow, that suits his reputation for sanctity quite well.

St. Nunzio is the saint whose portrait I have been working on - I set it aside to do some background work for an Nativity exhibit.)  Nunzio was a poor kid, orphaned and mistreated, he died when he was nineteen. I see him as a special intercessor for kids who are or were abused. A brief biography here.

Blessed Solanus, Simplex Priest

Fr. Solanus, pray for us.

July 31 - anniversary of his death.

I forgot yesterday was his feast day, I thought today was, being the anniversary of his death in 1957.  Naturally he couldn't take St. Ignatius' day.

I like that he was a simplex priest.  Too bad they did away with that.  A simplex priest is so designated because the bishop or religious superiors do not grant faculties to hear confessions or preach.  (Perhaps they should consider restoring the designation.)

Anyway, I think the secret to Fr. Solanus' sanctity is that he really believed in the Gospel, in all that the Church teaches, and he especially believed in the Eucharist.  I think his simplicity and humility was absolutely genuine, that he was absolutely devoid of self-interest, his devotion sincere, which permitted his confidence and love to overflow to others.  He really and truly believed.  He did not have to preach - his example of an authentic religious life was a sermon in itself.  His outreach to laity, his counsel was as close to the sacrament of reconciliation one could get outside the confessional.  He directed souls to the sacraments and encouraged faith in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass - in and through participation in the Seraphic Mass Association.  He had faith, living faith in the sacraments and Holy Mass.

His is a very simple way of holiness.  No church-jokes, no silliness at the pulpit to make Mass fun.  No socialite fund-raisers, or those fund-raising events and drives offering compensation for the participants, such as wine tasting and silent auctions for resorts and lavish dinners and banquets.  Fr. Solanus was available - to all.  He listened, he offered counsel, prayer, and Masses.

Fr. Solanus was a really simple 'guy' who knew what his vocation was all about.  He was so holy because he loved Our Lady.  Really, truly loved her.  He read Ven. Maria Agreda's Life of the Blessed Virgin on his knees.  He prayed the Little Office and the regular Office.  He prayed the rosary - many rosaries.  Never seeking notice or calling attention to himself ... his was a hidden, ordinary life.  The faithful, the poor, the little, all flocked to him.  He never had to advertise.

Faith.  Holy faith.  He believed and rejoiced in the faith, his life a living Eucharist of praise and thanksgiving - thanks be to God!

Thank you Bl. Solanus.

Feast of St. Anthony of Padua

If then you ask for miracles,

Death, error, all calamities, 

Leprosy and demons fly, 

And health succeeds infirmities.

The sea obeys and fetters break, 

And lifeless limbs do you restore; 

While treasures lost are found again, 

When young and old your aid implore. 

All dangers vanish at your prayer, 

And direst need does quickly flee; 

Let those who know your power proclaim, 

Let Paduans say: these are of thee. 

To Father, Son, may glory be 

And Holy Spirit, eternally. 

Pray for us, blessed Anthony. 

Make us worthy of the promises of Christ.

Pope Francis on Friday cleared an Italian layman for sainthood.

Thank you Blessed Nunzio for your patronage.

Yes!

My favorite young saint - a simple man, very much abused and very holy.

A decree recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Italian layman, Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio. He was born in Pescosansonesco (Italy) on 13 April 1817 and died in Naples (Italy) on 5 May 1836. Blessed Sulprizio is now cleared for canonization, the date for which will be fixed later in a consistory of cardinals with the Pope. - VR

Dear Blessed Nunzio, pray for us!

Thank you Fr. Horgan for your prayers and kindness to us.

A special thanksgiving for:

A miracle through the intercession of Venerable Servant of God, Maria Concepcion Cabrera de Armida was recognized. The mother of a family who later became a widow was born in San Luis Potosí (Mexico) on 8 December 1862 and died in Mexico City (Mexico) on 3 March 1937.

Trump to retain the ban on elephant trade.

Song for this here.

The first bit of news I saw today, and it is good.

Thanks be to God.  I hope and pray that Trump doesn't reverse it again.  Story here.

As I said on Facebook, I thank God for this grace - not Trump - he is only doing his duty.  Just as he did in the case of reversing the contraception mandate in the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Today's Gospel seems to apply to this development, since the outcry against the reversal and trophy hunting was so great.

Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, "There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.'" - Luke 18:1-8

Thank God alone.  As Our Lord instructs us in this parable:

The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.


But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" - Luke 18

Prayer obtains all.  Thanks be to God!

Put not your trust in princes or guns, God alone suffices. 

Sometimes I get books to read ...

Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary,

 shall receive signal graces. - Promises of Our Lady to those who pray the Rosary.

It always seems like a job, and so I'm not very good at it.  I've read books and reviewed them on the blog from time to time, but I'm not very good at that either.  I must be a disappointment to the authors, and I apologize.

Today I received a book I ordered myself - and I am very excited to read it.  It is the biography of Sr. Lucia of Fatima by the Carmel of Coimbra - Lucia's monastery.  "A Pathway Under the Gaze of Mary".  I was moved to send for the book after reading the circular letter from her Carmel - which I've read over and over by now.  These writings dispel every foolish notion, interpretation, and conspiracy idiocy regarding Fatima and the secrets - as well as the absurdities regarding Sr. Lucia herself.

Even historians of good will who write solid books on Fatima, do not come close to the testimony of Sr. Lucia, her Carmel, and most especially, the Holy See.  Likewise, no one can grasp the meaning and mission of Sr. Lucia without responding to the message of Fatima intended for all the Church - that secret has been known since the beginning, as Sr. Lucia always affirmed.

What a treasure has come into my hands these last few weeks before the anniversary of the Miracle on October 13.  What a joy, what a grace.

Mid-Century Saints

Bl. Solanus is holding the broom.

The 20th Century has given many saints to the Church.

I'm so happy the beatification of Ven. Solanus Casey has been confirmed today:

Ven. Solanus Casey (1870-1957), the Capuchin Franciscan friar who ministered in Detroit

I've known several of his promoters - ordinary people who distributed 3rd class relics and prayer cards to spread devotion to him.  I also knew a couple of holy people deeply devoted to Fr. Solanus.  If I remember correctly, I think Fr. Groeschel witnessed Fr. Solanus in ecstasy once.  Fr. Solanus is from around here, at one point he was a prison guard in Stillwater, MN I think.  I liked him because he seemed to me to be one of the last Friars Minor Capuchin of what I would call the 'strict observance', and of course, because his spirituality was so much like that of the lay brother saints of old.  He was ordained a simplex priest because studies were difficult for him.  He could say Mass but wasn't allowed to preach or hear confessions.  As porter, he welcomed everyone, and touched many who struggled and strayed.  I think his lack of 'intellectuality' helped to keep him untainted by clericalism and allowed him to remain close to the ordinary people who came to him.

He led a deeply mystical life while actively ministering to the faithful who came to the monastery for help and advice.  His devotion to Our Lady was edifying and authentic - it is said he read the Life of the Blessed Virgin as told by Ven. Maria Agreda on his knees.  I may be mistaken, but I think he also recited the Little Office of the BVM along with his regular Office (Liturgy of the Hours).

For some unknown reason to me, the announcement of the beatification(s) today, brings with it the grace of compunction and hope.  It is good to know we are surrounded by this 'cloud of witnesses' and to realize anew that the traditional way of sanctity remains the sure way to heaven.  That our Lord has raised up these witnesses to show us the way and to help us - to rouse us.

One person declared venerable today is an Italian laywoman - Edvige Carboni.  An extraordinary mystic, marked by the stigmata, she was a victim soul who died in Rome in 1952.  Here story is here.  May she pray for us - especially me - to renew my fervor and devotion and faith.  I sometimes make light of victim souls like Ven. Edvige, yet these souls are chosen by Christ and deserve our deepest respect and veneration.  May they pray for us when they pray for the conversion of sinners and those most in need of mercy.  

Solemnity of the Annunciation

Hail Mary!

Full of grace!

Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin cried to the ministering one: Tell me, how can a son be born from a chaste womb? Then he spake to Her in fear, only crying aloud thus: 

Rejoice, initiate of God’s ineffable will: Rejoice, assurance of those who pray in silence! Rejoice, beginning of Christ’s miracles: Rejoice, crown of His dogmas!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came down: Rejoice, bridge that conveyest us from earth to heaven! Rejoice, wonder of angels sounded abroad: Rejoice, wound of demons bewailed afar! Rejoice, Thou Who ineffably gavest birth to the Light: Rejoice, Thou Who didst reveal Thy secret to none! Rejoice, Thou Who surpassest the knowledge of the wise: Rejoice, Thou Who givest light to the minds of the faithful! Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Venerable Matt Talbot update ...

Matt is going to a church in California.

Thanks be to God!

My apologies, the photos are not very good.

He will be packed and shipped this week.