Saints of the Week: Benedict, Brychan, Isidore of Seville, Mary of Egypt, F.Marto, F.Paola, V.Ferrer, Catherine, LaSalle& More

Visit Direct Link

Today is the second Sunday of Easter, or Divine Mercy Sunday. On this day in particular, we remember Christ’s infinite mercy and beg Him to bestow it on us. We should strive not only to seek God‘s mercy ourselves, but to bring others to ask for it. That is something all the Saints we celebrated this past week did.

St. Benedict the Black (April 5) was an African slave born in Italy in 1524. Freed by his master, Benedict became a hermit and then a Franciscan lay brother. Though illiterate, he was elected the superior and then the novice master of the convent, but voluntarily chose to return to being a cook. Famed for his miracles, holiness, and skill as a confessor.

St. Brychan of Brycheiniog (April 6) was a 5th century Welsh king, a friend of St. Patrick. Brychan spread the faith in Wales. A stunning 24 of his children and others of his relatives are recognized as saints too. St. William of Eskilsoe (April 6) was a 12th century priest in Gaul (France) known for his austerities. Sent to Denmark to reform monasteries, and founded a monastery in Zeeland.

St. Isidore of Seville (April 4) was from a family of Spanish saints; he evangelized heretics and was a scholar in grammar, astronomy, geography, history, biography, and theology. “Isidore succeeded his brother as Archbishop of Seville. He was a master of ecclesiastical learning in Spain and a great Doctor of the Church. He died in 636 [Missal].”

St. Mary of Egypt (April 1) was a spoiled, 4th century rich girl who ran away to become a performer and prostitute. Arriving in Jerusalem and seeking customers at the church, an invisible force repelled her, and she was overcome with remorse. She became a hermit in the desert for half a century before being discovered by St. Zosimus (April 4), a monk and hermit who gave Communion to and later buried Mary.

St. Francisco Marto (April 4) was a young shepherd boy in the Portuguese town of Fatima in 1917 when he and his sister and cousin saw visions first of an angel, and then of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The visions and miracles of Our Lady of Fatima so impressed young Francisco that his desire was to die and go to heaven, which was fulfilled when he was only 11 years old. St. Francis of Paola (April 2) “founded the Order of Minims, whose name shows that they wished to be accounted the least in the household of God. Summoned to France, he died there in 1508 [Missal].” Originally a contemplative hermit, he was a miracle worker and prophet who rebuked royalty and defended the poor.

St. Vincent Ferrer (April 5): “A famous Dominican who gave luster to the Church by his preaching and miracles. He converted thousands of sinners and heretics. He died in 1419 [Missal].” St. Catherine of Palma (April 5) overcame a difficult childhood to become a religious sister (after being a servant). She “experienced numerous extraordinary phenomena and mystical encounters,” but besides her holy ecstasies she was also assaulted by demons. She died in Palma, Spain, in 1574.

St. John Baptist de La Salle (April 7) was a French priest and theologian who founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools. John gave his fortune to the poor, founded schools, and revolutionized education, including by dividing students into grades.