Memorial of Saints (October 3)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Francis Borgia, priest
• Hesychius;
• The Two Ewalds, martyrs
• Gerard of Brogne, abbot
• Froilan and Attilanus, bishop
• Thomas of Hereford, bishop

St. Francis Borgia (1510-1572 A.D.) was married to Eleanor de Castro in 1529 A.D. When Eleanor died in 1546 A.D., he was left with eight children. In 1548 A.D. Francis decided to join the Jesuits. He went to Rome, returned to Spain the next year to turn over his inheritance to his son, Charles, and was ordained later in the year. Francis Borgia founded numerous monasteries, colleges and foundations. In 1565 A.D., he was elected father general of the Jesuit Order (the third general from St. Ignatius of Loyola). As superior general, he expanded the Society of Jesus greatly. He was so successful in revitalizing and reinvigorating the Jesuit Order that he is often called the second founder. He was canonized in 1671 A.D. (the Dictionary of Saints by John Delaney mentions his feast day on October 10 while the Lives of the Saints by Richard P. McBrien mentions his feast day on October 3).

Related blog posts:

• Eight Days of the Spiritual Exercises
• St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Jesuit
• Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits
• St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Jesuit Scholastic
• St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Founder
• Heroic Leadership

The Two Ewalds (d. ca. 695 A.D.) were two brothers from Northumbria. They were educated in Ireland and were sent as missionaries to Germany. They were named "the Dark" and "the Fair" to distinguish them. Both were murdered by barbarians who feared that their friendship with the local chieftain of Aplerbeke, Dortmund, would lead to the adoption of Christianity and the eradication of pagan rites. However, the chieftain put the murderers to death.

Learn more of Saints with Memorials on October 3

Memorial of Saints (October 2)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Guardian Angels
• Eleutherius, martyr;
• Leodegarius or Leger, bishop and martyr

Guardian Angels: Observed since the 16th c. A.D. in Spain, Pope Clement X in 1670 A.D. assigned this memorial to the first free day following Michaelmas day.

St. Eleutherius (d. ca. 303 A.D.) was a soldier in Nicomedia when the Emperor Diocletian's palace got burned. He was accused of being the leader of a group that set it on fire, he was tortured and then burned to death. (A lot of Christians were martyred during the time of Emperor Diocletian). His story is in the Roman Martyrology.

Learn more

The Spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux

An extraordinary charity

What makes St. Therese such a great saint was not because she accomplished many great things, but that she accomplished simple tasks with extraordinary charity. According to author Segundo Galilea, the spirituality of St. Therese is not complicated. No excessive will power was exercised and no emphasis was made to accomplish what was difficult. She rather insisted on the quality of love and charity in everything that she did. The spirit of extraordinary charity she placed in all that she did was rooted in God - in the core of her heart and soul as a Carmelite nun.

Her "Little Way"

Even in her childlike attitude is found an amazing wisdom that leads us to see how small each one is in relation to God and all the trials and tribulations experienced in life. This is especially seen when Therese said to her sister Celine:

"Do not try to rise above your trials, for we are too small to rise above our difficulties. Therefore, let us try to pass under them."

All things in the Church for God

Because of her extraordinary charity, St. Therese wanted to live and experience every existing vocation in the Church. She wanted to become a contemplative, a missionary, a martyr, an evangelizer, a penitent, an educator, dedicated to the poor, and the servant of the sick. Like St. Paul, she wanted to be all things to all people so that she may win many souls to God.

St. Therese did live all what she desired for God as she expressed in her desire to be many things for Him. She "mystically" (as Segundo Galilea stated) lived the substance of every Catholic vocation in her state of life as a Discalced Carmelite. Through God's divine grace, she has "mystically" integrated the entire multiform mission of the Church in her soul.

A missionary in heart and soul

St. Therese sacrificed herself for the missions. But unlike St. Francis Xavier who traveled thousands of miles, preached the gospel incessantly, and died a martyr, St. Therese never left her Carmelite convent. Her missionary journey was more an inner journey - what author Mary Neill, OP, calls the "emigres de l'Interieur". In her inner journey, St. Therese experienced "spiritual martyrdoms" and "dangerous adventures". She traveled the inner geography of her soul in a very deeply affecting way that really touches the heart of anyone who has read her autobiography. Many will be inspired to live a more contemplative approach to life after reading her autobiography.

What also made St. Therese a true missionary in heart and soul was her ministry and mission of encouraging missionaries through her correspondence with them. In the midst of laundry work, cleaning rooms, looking after linen, she took time to bring courage and faith to the missionaries she corresponded with. She wrote to Carmelite sisters in Hanoi, Vietnam, to Pere Roulland (a missionary in China), and to a seminarian named Maurice Belliere.

"The Story of a Soul"

A lot can be learned from St. Therese. Not only from secondary sources on her life and spirituality, but most important of all the primary source of her little Way - her autobiography, "The Story of a Soul". It is really a very inspiring book - one that anyone can identify with spiritually. She writes her autobiography in a candid and very simple style. After reading the book, one will truly know in mind, heart and soul, that there is a God who truly loves all - no matter how small or simple one is.

Sources of this blog post

• Great Saints Great Friends, by Mary Neill, OP, and Ronda Chervin
• The Doctors of the Church, by John F. Fink
• The Friendship of God, by Segundo Galilea