April 2 - Saint Francis of Paola

Hermit - Optional memorial

Francis was born at Paola (Calabria), Italy in 1416. After three years in a convent of the Friars Minor, he left to withdraw to a cave by the sea, where he led a life of prayer, fasting, work, and mortification. He was joined by many followers, leading to the formation of the Hermits of St. Francis, later called the Minims (Minimi Fratres, "least brethren"), with a rule approved in 1506. Francis was called to France by Louis XI and died there in 1507. He was canonized in 1519. He is depicted with a long beard and wears a brown habit; the word charitas inscribed within a sun or on the cover of a book. He is invoked against sterility.

PROTECTOR: Hermits, Seafarers.
NAME: Francis (Frank) is of German origin, from the name of the people who settled in France; it has come to mean "forthright, sincere.

March 9 Saint Frances of Rome

Saint Frances of Rome
Foundress

Born at Rome in 1384, Frances was an exemplary wife and mother and dedicated her life to prayer and the assistance of the poor. She founded the Congregation of thr Oblates of Mary. She died in Rome in 1440 and was canonized in 1608. She is depicted in the black cassock and white veil of the Benedictines while distributing bread to the poor: She is often accompanied by a guardian angel. She is invoked against the plague and for the liberation of souls in Purgatory.

PROTECTOR: Car drivers and widows.
NAME: Frances (Frank) is of German origin, from the name of the people who settled in France; It has come to mean "forthright, sincere."

"SAINTS A Year in Faith and Art"
Rosa Giorgi

March 8, 2011 Saint John Of God

Saint John of God
Founder

John was born in Portugal at Montemor-o-Novo in 1495. Before his conversion, at age forty, he was a soldier, shepherd, and bookseller. In 1537, he felt himself called to do charitable works and began giving to the poor and sick, even transforming his house in Granada into a hospital. He died in 1550 and was canonized in 1690. He is depicted in a cassock while healing the sick.

PROTECTOR: The sick, nurses, doctors, people with heart problems, booksellers, bookbinders, and hospitals.
NAME: John is from a Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh is gracious."

"SAINTS A Year In Faith And Art"
Rosa Giorgi

March 7 - Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Saints Perpetua and Felicity
Martyrs

Perpetua, a noblewoman and mother of a nursing child, and her slave Felicity, far advanced in pregnancy, died at Carthage in the amphitheater during the persecutions of Septimus Severus in the 3rd century. They had been imprisoned before being baptized. Perpetua herself wrote a description of the prison, and her words were collected by Tertullian. The two women died tied to a net, torn in pieces by a bullock. In art, they are usally depicted together, sometimes with the animal.

PROTECTOR: Felicity is the protector of women in childbirth.
NAMES: Both names are of Latin origin. Perpetua indicates eternal faith in Christ; Felicity means "happiness."

"SAINTS A Year In Faith and Art"
Rosa Giorgi

March 6 - Saint Rose of Viterbo

Saint Rose of Viterbo
Virgin

Born at Viterbo, Italy, in 1235, Rose had a vision when still a child and was very young when she entered the Franciscan tertiaries. At age ten, having been healed of an illness, she began preaching in the streets of Viterbo against the emperor Fredrick II, enemy of the pope. Deemed dangerous, she was exciled from the city, returning only after the emperor's death. She herself died at age eighteen, consumed by the tireless exercise of charity. Her cult began immediatley after her death. Her relics were translated to the church of Santa Maria della Rosa on September 4, an event that is still celebrated with a procession. She is depicted in the robe of a tertiary, and her attributes are roses and lilies.

PROTECTOR: Since 1922, Rose has been the protector of the young female members of Catholic Action.
NAME: Rose is from the Latin and indicates the flower.

"SAINTS - A Year In Faith and Art"
Rosa Giorgi

March 5 - Saint Adiran of Caesarea

Saint Adrian of Caesarea -Martyr

Adrian was martyred in the 4rth century at Caesarea and is called in the writings of Eusebius, who related the events of Adrian to those of Ebulus. The two arrived at Caesarea with the precise aim of joining and assisting the Christians living there. They were soon discovered, arrested, and tried. Refusing to abjure their faith, they were condemned to death during the games in the amphitheater. Adrian was torn apart by wild beasts and then beheaded on March 5 or 7 of the year 309.

NAME : Adriean is from the Latin and means "born at Adria."

"Saints - A Year in Faith and Art"
Rosa Giorgi

March 4, 2011 Saint Casimir

Saint Casimir
Prince

Casimir was born in 1458, son of King Casimir IV of Poland and Elizabeth of Austria. he fled the life of ease and privileges, and when the Hungarians deposed their king Matthias Corvinus in 1461 and offered him the crown, he refused it. He spent his brief life (He died at age twenty-five) following ascetic ideals and assisting his father in the rule of the kingdom. He was cannonized in 1521.
He is depicted as a youth in regal clothes often with a royal crown nearby. He is invoked against illnesses caused by chills and against carnal temptations.

PROTECTOR: The youth of Lithuania
PATRON: Casimir is the patron saint of Lithuania.
NAME: Casimir is of Polish origin and means "to destroy peace"

"Saints - A year in Faith and Art"
Rosa Giorgi

Saint for the Day - March 3 - Saint Cunegund

Saint Cunegund Empress

Born around 978, daughter of Siegfried, first earl of Luxembourg, and Hedwig of Germany, Cunegund was given in marriage to Henry, duke of Bavaria, shortly after elected emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Together with her husband she conducted an exemplary life and, at his death, she retired as a Benedictine nun, laying aside all symbols of power to join the convent of Kaufungen, which she had founded. She died around 1040. The cult of Saint Cunegund was approved by Innocent III in 1200. She is depicted in regal clothes and often holds a model of the cathedral of Bamberg; on occasion she apprears in a monastic habit.

PATRON: Cunegund is the patron saint of Luxembourg.

NAME: Cunegund is from the German and means "brave in war"

Saints - A Year In Faith and Art

Rosa Giorgi



Jesus, Mary and the Miraculous Palm Tree

The apocryphal liturature describes the journey into Egypt in fantastic detail. On the third day of the trip, Mary was fatigued by the excessive heat of the desert sun and sought rest under a palm tree. Seeing that it was full of fruit, she longed to eat some of it. Jesus, always attentive to his Mother's wishes, asked the tree to bend its branches so that they could pick some date nuts. Satisfied by the obedient tree, the Child asked an angel to carry a branch to Heaven. Having thus blessed the tree, he decided that winners of competitions should henceforth be greeted thus: "You have attained the palm of victory." From that time on, the palm would be used as a symbol of the martyrdom and glory of the saints.

Walk the path through your barriers and you shall be greeted with the glory of the Palm.

(Psudo-Matthew 20:1-2, 21)
Entry from Martina Degl'Innocenti and Stella Marinone "Mary"



The Rosary

"Rosary" refers to many small roses on a rosebush or in a rose garden. Following a medieval tradition, flower garlands were placed on the statue of the Virgin, and each rose corresponded with a beautiful, sweet -smelling prayer dedicated to her. From this custom orginated the string of prayer beads that guides the faithful through the four Mysteries (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious), retracing the message of the Gospels, from the Assumption to Heaven. The Rosary then is a garland of mystic roses offered to the Madonna, the preeminent flower, and becomes a message of the salvation that Christ brings through his Mother's mediation.