The Saints

¶ Communion of Saints St. Thomas Aquinas: the “good of each is communicated to the others” St. Thomas Aquinas: the “good of each is communicated to the others” – Pope Benedict XVI This communion involves “holy things” shared “among holy people” This communion involves “holy things” shared “among holy people” ¶952: Stewardship ¶952: Stewardship ¶953: No one lives alone, and no one dies alone ¶953: No one lives alone, and no one dies alone – Image of the Body of Christ – Sin harms this communion. ¶956: “By their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped” ¶956: “By their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped”

¶ “Cloud of Witnesses” How are the saints present to us in prayer? How are the saints present to us in prayer? Their influence is felt in three ways: Their influence is felt in three ways: – The example of their lives – Their writings – Their continuous prayer (intercession) for us We have been entrusted to their care because of their communion with God and share in his mission of love. We have been entrusted to their care because of their communion with God and share in his mission of love.

St. Philip Neri ( ) May 26 Patron of practical jokers, teenagers, and joy Patron of practical jokers, teenagers, and joy Night was his special time of prayer. Night was his special time of prayer. Gave guidance to young men through meetings of spiritual readings and prayer. The group grew so large that he built what was known as the Oratory. Gave guidance to young men through meetings of spiritual readings and prayer. The group grew so large that he built what was known as the Oratory. Philip understood that it wasn't enough to tell young people not to do something -- you had to give them something to do in its place. Philip understood that it wasn't enough to tell young people not to do something -- you had to give them something to do in its place. "They can chop wood on my back so long as they do not sin." "They can chop wood on my back so long as they do not sin."

Maxims and sayings… Maxims and sayings… We must not be behind time in doing good; for death will not be behind his time. We must not be behind time in doing good; for death will not be behind his time. Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it. Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it. He who wishes to be perfectly obeyed, should give but few orders. He who wishes to be perfectly obeyed, should give but few orders. Men are generally the carpenters of their own crosses. Men are generally the carpenters of their own crosses. He who cannot put up with the loss of his honor, can never make any advance in spiritual things He who cannot put up with the loss of his honor, can never make any advance in spiritual things

St. Anthony of Padua ( ) June 13 Patron of lost and stolen articles Patron of lost and stolen articles Franciscan who wanted to be a martyr. Died at 36 but not a martyr. Franciscan who wanted to be a martyr. Died at 36 but not a martyr. Doctor of the Church Doctor of the Church “Hammer of Heretics” “Hammer of Heretics” Preacher whose tongue was found incorrupt 336 years after his death. Preacher whose tongue was found incorrupt 336 years after his death. – Preaching discovered at an ordination of Dominicans and Franciscans in 1222…

St. Thérèse of LisieuxSt. Thérèse of Lisieux ( ) October 1 St. Thérèse of Lisieux Doctor of the Church Doctor of the Church Patron of the missions Patron of the missions “Little Flower” “Little Flower” Awesome was her middle name…I’m pretty sure… Awesome was her middle name…I’m pretty sure… “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.” –Communion of Saints “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.” –Communion of Saints

Quotes “God does not call those who are worthy but those whom he pleases.” “God does not call those who are worthy but those whom he pleases.” “God cannot inspire unrealizable desires. I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up, and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections.” “God cannot inspire unrealizable desires. I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up, and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections.” “It is in my weakness that I glory, and I expect each day to discover new imperfections in myself.” “It is in my weakness that I glory, and I expect each day to discover new imperfections in myself.” "My joy is to love suffering. I smile in the midst of tears and receive with thanksgiving the thorns as well as the flowers." "My joy is to love suffering. I smile in the midst of tears and receive with thanksgiving the thorns as well as the flowers." “God alone, content with my weak efforts, will raise me to himself and make me a saint.” “God alone, content with my weak efforts, will raise me to himself and make me a saint.” “It is prayer, it is sacrifice which give me all my strength.” “It is prayer, it is sacrifice which give me all my strength.” “The more one advances, the more one sees the goal is still far off. And now I am simply resigned to see myself always imperfect and in this I find my joy.” “The more one advances, the more one sees the goal is still far off. And now I am simply resigned to see myself always imperfect and in this I find my joy.”

Quotes "I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: TO LOVE" "I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: TO LOVE" “Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing” “Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing” My vocation is love! My vocation is love! Let us see life in its true light… It is a moment between two eternities Let us see life in its true light… It is a moment between two eternities “Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender” “Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender” "The sun shines equally both on cedars and on every tiny flower. In the same way God looks after every soul as if it had no equal..." "The sun shines equally both on cedars and on every tiny flower. In the same way God looks after every soul as if it had no equal..."

Books Story of a Soul – Autobiography of St. Therese Story of a Soul – Autobiography of St. Therese My Life With the Saints – Fr. James Martin My Life With the Saints – Fr. James Martin

Lives of the Saints “To get good from reading the Lives of the Saints, and other spiritual books, we ought not to read out of curiosity, or skimmingly, but with pauses; and when we feel ourselves warmed, we ought not to pass on, but to stop and follow up the spirit which is stirring in us, and when we feel it no longer then to pursue our reading.” –St. Philip Neri

Rosary with the Saints 1.Announce the Sorrowful Mystery 2.Our Father 3.Your intention 4.(Your favorite saint), pray for us. 5.Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus… 6.Repeat steps 3-5 for the other 9 beads of the decade. 7.Begin again at step 1