Saint John of the Cross

December 14

A Story for those who have God to turn to in Troubled Times

Saint John of the Cross was born in Spain in 1542. His father was a wealthy man
but fell in love with a weaver’s daughter. He gave up wealth, status, and comfort and
was disowned by his noble family. Here John came to learn the importance of self-
sacrificing love from his parents. After his father died, his mother kept the destitute
family together as they wandered homeless in search of work. These were the
examples of sacrifice that John followed with his own great love -- God.
Saint John joined the Carmelite order where Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to
help her make a reform movement. John supported her belief that the order should
return to its life of prayer. But many Carmelites felt threatened by this reform, and
some members of John's own order kidnapped him. He was locked in a cell six feet
by ten feet and beaten three times a week by the monks. There was only one tiny
window high up near the ceiling. Yet in that unbearable dark, cold, and desolation,
his love and faith were like fire and light. He had nothing left but God -- and God
brought John his greatest joys in that tiny cell.
He escaped after nine months, carrying with him his mystic poetry, and hid
himself from his captors in a convent where he shared these poetries to the nuns.
From then on his life was devoted to sharing and explaining his experience of God's
love. His life of poverty and persecution could have produced a bitter cynic. Instead
it gave birth to a compassionate mystic, who lived by the beliefs that "Who has ever
seen people persuaded to love God by harshness?" and "Where there is no love, put
love -- and you will find love."
Saint Lucy
December 13

A Story for those who have Wavering Faith

Saint Lucy’s name means “light”, with the same root as "lucid" which
means "clear, radiant, and understandable." Born in Sicily 283 AD.,
within a rich family, she vowed her life to be a servant of Christ.
However, her life did not reflect the name she was given. An incident
occurred with a suitor of hers when she did not give him her hand in
marriage. Frustrated, he accused her of being a Catholic. During those
times, Catholics were always persecuted and so the Emperor ordered
her capture and tried to make her denounce her faith. But she would
always say "Long Live Christ the King and the Holy Spirit." So he asked
her "Is the holy spirit in you?" She responded "Those whose hearts are
pure are the temples of the Holy Spirit." The emperor was furious and
told her furiously "Well I will make you fall in to the hands of sin and
the Holy Spirit will abandon you." She responded again saying "I will
never happen because the Holy Spirit will protect me." She said to
them "Do you not see I am the temple of the Holy Spirit and that he
protects me?" The emperor had her eyes taken out but GOD healed
her. The emperor asked to burn her on the stake but she did not burn.
At last he had her stabbed once the sword past through her heart she
did not die until a priest brought the Eucharist to her. She died after
she received communion. Today she is known as the Patron Saint of
the Blind and will be remembered as a brave woman who stood by her
faith.
St. Mary Di Rosa
December 16
An Unwavering Soul
Saint Mary Di Rose was born in Italy during 1813. As early as seventeen she had tackled numerous
projects, arranging retreats and special missions for her parish and setting up a women's guild. Because
of all she accomplished, when she was only twenty-four she was asked to be supervisor of a workhouse
for poor girls. However, trouble started as the trustees of the workhouse refused to provide the place for
the girls any longer. So she quit the workhouse to set up a boardinghouse for poor girls while helping her
brother with a school for the deaf. At 27 she stood before another door. She was appointed superior of
the Handmaids of Charity, a religious society whose purpose was to dedicate all their time and attention
to the suffering in hospitals. With her friends Gabriela Bornati and Monsignor Pinzoni, she won the
respect of those who thought of these "handmaids" as intruders.

Then in 1848, her whole life seemed to fall apart. First she lost Gabriela and then Monsignor Pinzoni
died, leaving her without the support and friendship she had come to depend on. War started in Europe
and her homeland was invaded. In the middle of the war in Brescia (Italy) in 1848, the wounded, sick,
and those who cared for them knew what that pounding meant. The shouts from beyond the door came
from soldiers, not obeying any command but their inner desire to destroy and plunder. Who could do
anything to stop them? The only people here were some Sisters, the Handmaids of Charity, who devoted
themselves to helping the sick. The doctors had not even wanted them there. The doctors wanted
medical people who were secular and military, not nuns. And in the face of this new danger they were
even more useless! Worse than useless -- because that Paula (as she was known) di Rosa was actually
moving to open the door!

When the door swung wide, the soldiers saw their way blocked with a great crucifix held by Paula di Rosa
and two candles held by two of the six sisters who stood by her. Suddenly their frenzy to destroy
disappeared, and full of shame before this display of courage and faith, they slunk back into the
shadows.

Throughout her life, Paula di Rosa was never afraid to open the door on a new opportunity to serve God,
especially when she was unsure of what lay beyond. People who didn't know her well must have thought
she was too frail and delicate for these ventures, but she came armed not only with her faith but
boundless energy, intelligence, and hunger to serve.
Saint Olympias
December 17
Unending Sacrifice
This saint was born around the year 361. She belonged to a great family of Constantinople.
When she was left an orphan, she was given into the care of a wonderful Christian woman.
Olympias had inherited a large fortune and was both sweet and attractive. So her uncle found it
easy to marry her to Nebridius, a man who had been governor of Constantinople. St. Gregory
Nazianzen apologized for not being able to attend the wedding. He even sent a poem full of
good advice for Olympias.

Nebridius died very soon afterward, however, and the emperor urged Olympias to marry again.
She answered: "Had God wished me to remain a wife, he would not have taken Nebridius
away." And she refused to marry again. St. Gregory called her "the glory of the widows in the
Eastern Church." With a number of other pious ladies, Olympias spent her life performing
works of charity. She dressed plainly and prayed much. She gave her money away to everyone.
Finally, St. John Chrysostom had to tell her to be careful in giving away her goods. "You must
not encourage the laziness of those who live upon you without necessity," he said. "It is like
throwing your money into the sea."

St. John Chrysostom became archbishop of Constantinople. As their archbishop, he guided St.
Olympias and her disciples in their works. The women started a home for orphans and they
opened a chapel. They were able to give help to great numbers of people. St. John Chrysostom
became Olympias' dearest guide. When he was exiled, she was deeply grieved. She then had to
suffer persecution, too. Her community of widows and single women was forced to stop their
charitable works. Besides this, Olympias was in poor health and was being criticized. Yet St.
John wrote to her: "I cannot stop calling you blessed. The patience and dignity with which you
have borne your sorrows, your prudence, wisdom and charity have won you great glory and
reward."

St. Olympias died in 408, when she was about forty. Someone described her as "a wonderful
woman, like a precious vase filled with the Holy Spirit."
Saint Nino
December 15

Spreading the Faith

Nino was a Christian girl who lived in the fourth century. She was captured and carried off to
Iberia as a slave. In that pagan country, her goodness and purity made a great impression on
the people. Noticing how much she prayed, they asked her about her religion. The simple
answer she gave them was that she adored Jesus Christ as God.

God chose this pure, devout slave-girl to bring Christianity to Iberia. One day, a mother
brought her sick child to Nino, asking her to suggest a cure. The saint wrapped the baby in her
cloak. Then she told the mother that Jesus Christ can cure the worst cases of sickness. She
handed the child back and the mother saw that her child was completely cured. The queen of
Iberia learned of this miracle. Since she herself was sick, she went to the saint. When she, too,
was healed, she tried to thank the Christian girl. However, Nino said: "It is Christ's work, not
mine. And he is the Son of God who made the world."

The queen let the king know the whole story of her cure. She repeated to her husband what
the slave-girl had said of Jesus Christ. Shortly after this, the king got lost in a fog while out
hunting. Then he remembered what his wife had told him. He said that if Jesus Christ would
lead him safely home, he would believe in him. At once, the fog lifted, and the king was true
to his promise. St. Nino herself taught the king and the queen the truths of Christianity. They
gave her permission to teach the people. Meanwhile, the king began building a Christian
church. Then he sent messengers to the Christian emperor, Constantine, to tell him of his
conversion. He asked the emperor to send bishops and priests to Iberia.

So it was that a poor slave brought a whole country into the Church.

Reflection: Through her life, Nino gives witness that God is able to draw good from even the
most difficult circumstances.