home

Welcome to our Mystery Saint Project! St. Thomas the Apostle School's 8th grade invite you to take part in guessing our mystery saint. Please read the clues given and use the embedded Google form to submit your guess. Our goal is for everyone to learn more about these wonderful roles models of our faith. GOOD LUCK!

Mrs. Conte

Mystery Saint #14

My mystery saint was born in Portugal in 1995. At a young age he gave up a

future of wealth and power to become a servant of God, and join the Augustinian order

in Lisbon.He later joined the Franciscan order in 1221, when he was 26, after hearing

about 5 Franciscans who had died for their faith in 1220. He wanted to be a martyr

too, because he thought martyrs were the ones closest to Jesus himself. He planned

to preach to the Moors, but an illness prevented him from doing so. Instead he went to

Italy where he was stationed in a small hermitage. He spent most of his time praying

and reading Scriptures.

Sometime later he was at an ordination where no one was prepared to speak.

Even though he was very humble and obedient he decided to say a give a sermon.

Spending his life praying, reading scripture, and serving God in poverty chastity and

obedience <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, enabled him to give a great and powerful sermon. The people there

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">expected some kind of unprepared speech. However, it is believed that the Holy Spirit

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gave him the words for an incredible sermon.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He then preached around Europe and later became the first friar to teach

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">theology to other friars. After leading the friars in northern Italy for three years, he

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">made his headquarters in the city of Padua. He continued to preach and wrote sermon

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">notes to help other preachers.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He would sometimes find himself preaching to heretics who wouldn't listen to

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">him, so he went outside and preached to the fishes. He truly wasn't talking to the fish

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">though. He really did this for the glory of God, the delight of the angels, and the easing

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of his own heart.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My mystery saint died in 1931 and his feast day is June 13. He is the patron

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">saint of lost articles.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In his sermon notes, he wrote: "The saints are like the stars. In his providence

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">invitation of Christ." media type="custom" key="24439956" align="center"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #13 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">saint was born within the 2nd and 3rd century. She was raised in the city of Rome and married to a youth named Valerian. She wore sackcloth next to her skin, and fasted, and invoked the saints and angels and virgins, begging them to guard her virginity. One day she said to her husband, "I will tell you a secret if you will swear not to reveal it to anyone." And when he swore, she added, "There is an angel who watches me, and wards off from me any who would touch me." He said, "Dearest, if this be true, show me the angel." "That can only be if you will believe in one God, and be baptized.” This saint sent him to Pope S. Urban (223-230), who baptized him; and when he returned, he saw her praying in her chamber, and an angel by her with flaming wings, holding two crowns of roses and lilies, which he placed on their heads, and then vanished.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Valerian was soon arrested and executed for burying martyrs slain daily by the prefect of the city. In the meantime this saint had converted four hundred people by preaching. Then she was arrested, and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. This saint was shut in for a night and a day, and the fires were heaped up, and made to glow and roar their utmost, but she did not even break out into perspiration through the heat. Soon an executioner was sent to cut off her head in the bath. The man struck three times without being able to sever the head from the trunk. He left her bleeding, and she lived three days. Crowds came to her, and collected her blood with napkins and sponges, whilst she preached to them or prayed. At the end of that period she died, and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">This mystery saint is regarded as the patroness of music because of the story that she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married. This is represented in art with an organ or organ-pipes in her hand.

media type="custom" key="24439958" <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #12

My saint was born on May 25th, 1887 in Pietrelincina, Italy. He was named Francesco Forgione after St. Francis of Assisi, but later changed it to what we know him as today. My saint was a member of a family of farmers. His father was named Grazio Mario, and his mother was named Maria Giuseppa. He was one of 5 children, with an older brother and three younger sisters. Twice his father had to work in Jamaica, Queens to help supply the family income.

At the early age of five, my saint dedicated his life to God and began to show a religious lifestyle. His mother said that he was quiet, always wanted to be at Church, and was constantly praying. He was able to communicate with his guardian angel, along with Jesus and Mary, and assumed everyone else could as well. At the age of fifteen, my saint joined the Capuchin friars of Morcone, and took his new name. His fellow members admired him, and he was described as “always humble, recollected, and silent”. He was also praised for his love of prayer.

On August 10th, 1910 when my saint was twenty three years old, he was ordained to the priesthood. He had been studying for seven years prior to this. Many of his masses lasted about an hour and a half or even longer due to his long pauses of silence. When he was asked to shorten his mass, he replied, “"God knows that I want to say Mass just like any other priest, but I cannot do it."

Many people sought help from this man, including pilgrims. He would tell them, "It seems to me as if Jesus has no other concern but the sanctification of your soul." My saint’s prayers were also quite simple, and he urged people to pray the rosary.

My saint was drafted during World War 1, but was discharged after they realized he had tuberculosis. In 1917, he was reassigned to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. About a year later, on September 20th, 1918, my saint was kneeling in front of a crucifix, giving thanks after mass, when he noticed his stigmata. This meant the marks Jesus had on the crucifix were visible on his own hands. These marks would constantly bleed, and people said the blood smelled similar to flowers or perfume. He was the first priest to have stigmata.

The stigmata, along with his lifelong poor health, were the largest obstacles my saint faced. At first, people were questioning the authenticity of his stigmata, and he wasn’t allowed to say mass. He also wrote letters often, but had to stop in 1924. His last writing was a pamphlet on the agony of Jesus. People often claimed there were prophecies written by him, but he never did so. My saint did not leave the friary much after this all. He never complained, despite the large amount of confessions he heard, and the people who hoarded around him to ask about the stigmata. After maintaining his peaceful lifestyle through this all, my saint died on September 23rd, (Which is his feast day) 1968, with rosary beads in his hands.

My saint was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 16th, 2002. He is the patron saint of civil defense volunteers. His lifestyle and attitude played a big role in this. His stigmata and poor health, and his preference also helped lead to canonization. Patients also said my saint healed people in a hospital at Mount Gargano. Many people were deeply affected by his masses and words. He saw Jesus in everyone, and only ate one meal a day. He gave most of his time to others who sought purification.

My favorite quote by this saint is, "The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain". This quote is very powerful and true. His life is actually a great example of this quote, as he went through a lot of pain, but was able to lead a completely religious life. I admire my saint greatly.

Can you guess who my saint is based on this information?

media type="custom" key="24439960"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #11 My saint was born near the town of Auriesville, New York in 1656. She was half Algonquin (mother’s side) and half Mohawk (father’s side). She was four years old when her parents and brother died from small pox. She, too, became sick with small pox, but recovered. She was left permanently weakened, scarred, and partially blind. She was later adopted by her aunt and uncle. She converted to Catholicism in her teens. She was baptized when she was twenty years old on Easter Sunday. Her tribe and family disapproved of her becoming a Catholic. She wouldn't work in the fields on Sunday, as it is the Sabbath, so her aunt and uncle wouldn't feed her. In July of 1677, she left the village and walked over two hundred miles through the wilderness to the Catholic mission of Sr. Francis Xavier at Sault Saint- Lois near Montreal in Canada. It took her two months. She received her First Holy Communion on Christmas Day in 1677. At the mission, she taught children and helped the poor and the sick. She wore and prayed the rosary every day. She also made crosses out of sticks and left them throughout the woods in the village to remind herself to pray. Due to her terribly poor health, she died at age twenty four on April 16, 1860, the afternoon before Holy Thursday. Her last words were, “Jesus, I love You.” All of her scars disappeared and her emaciated face changed color moments after she died and she became radiant and beautiful on the outside to match the inside. Her lines of suffering and even her pock marks vanished and a faint smile came upon her glowing face. All in all, she was a very loving, charitable, strong, and religious person and you saw Jesus through all that she said and did. She is known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”. She was declared venerable in 1943, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at Saint Peter's Basilica on October 21, 2012. She is the first Native American to be declared a saint. This is one of her many quotes:“I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love. The state of helpless poverty that may befall me if I do not marry does not frighten me. All I need is a little food and a few pieces of clothing. With the work of my hands I shall always earn what is necessary and what is left over I’ll give to my relatives and to the poor. If I should become sick and unable to work, then I shall be like the Lord on the cross. He will have mercy on me and help me, I am sure.” Another quote of hers is: “I will willingly abandon this miserable body to hunger and suffering, provided that my soul may have its ordinary nourishment.” media type="custom" key="24439962" <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #10
 * 1) 1. She was born in Faughart, Ireland near Dundalk. She is thought to be born in 451 or 452.
 * 2) 2. Her parents were baptized by Saint Patrick. Her and Saint Patrick became close friends. She become a nun and received her veil from St. Macaille. She founded a school of art in Kildare. It was known for its Irish manuscripts. She is also known as Bridget or bride.
 * 3) 3. She was spiritual, even as a child. She was very compassionate to the poor. She is known to be one of the most remarkable women of her time.
 * 4) 4. She was proposed to by Dubthach moccu Lugair. Since she offered herself to God, she denied his offer and told him to go to the woods. There he would find a beautiful girl that would marry him. He found the girl and they got married. On Easter Sunday, a leper approached her asking for a cow. She needed time to rest so she asked him to wait until later. He said he would go find one somewhere else. She told him to wait so she could heal him. He didn’t want to be healed. After she convinced him to let her heal him, she told one of her maids to wash him in holy water. After that, the leper was healed. An elderly woman came begging for food to her door. She only had a dish of butter. The old woman said that is enough to feed her. She gave it to her. Then when she looked back at her table, it had 3 dishes of butter there. God was rewarding her for her kindness.
 * 5) 5. She did not face many obstacles. She lived an easy life with 7 other nouns. Her parents both had jobs.

media type="custom" key="24392970"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #7

My saint was born on April 20, 1586. She was born in the town of Lima in Peru. She was one of 10 children. She was born with the name Isabel, but after seeing how beautiful she turned out to be many people started to call her by her saint name and it just stuck. Her inspiration was St. Catherine of Siena. Her family went through a lot of financial problems, so every day she would work in the garden and then sew for the whole day. Then after she would sale her fine work to markets. She refused to marry and joined the Third Order of St. Dominic. She cared for many homeless children, the elderly, and the sick in her home for the last ten years of her life. She performed many miracles for people with illnesses. After many miracles her body was transferred to the church of San Domingo. She became a saint in 1671 by Pope Clement and her feast day is on August 30th.

Some obstacles that she faced were her family’s financial problems. She had to work very hard for 10 years trying to help her family gain some money. She also faced the challenge of beauty. People paid too much attention to her face and beauty, so she rubbed her face with pepper too give her blisters and blotches. She also wore a sheet over her head and put a flower crown on top of it. Another obstacle she had to overcome was getting married. Her parents wanted her to get married, but she refused because her love for Jesus was so strong that every time she talked about him, she would smile and glow. One last obstacle that she had faced at the end of her lifetime was her severe illnesses that she had gone through at the time.

This saint died at age 31 on August 24, 1617.Some important quotes by my saint was "Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven”. Another meaningful quote from her was “When we serve the poor and the sick we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus.” media type="custom" key="24290592" <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #8 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Lived from 1800s to the 1900s <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Feast day - Aug 21 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Born in Riesi, Province of Treviso, in Venice <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He became pope in the early 1900s and died in 1940. Became a saint on may 29th 1954. 259th pope to become a saint. One of his accomplishments were inauguration of the liturgical renewal and the restoration of frequent communion during childhood. " I was born poor, I have lived in poverty, and I wish to die poor." pope in the 20th century who gave Sunday sermons every week. Rejected any kind of favors for his family. media type="custom" key="24290590"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">Mystery Saint #9

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He opened shelters for the homeless and helped to rescue abandoned children. As an adult he took an many more roles to help others. As a priest he was a teacher and became involved in youth ministry

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">His faith was always his center. He had a desire to help others who were poor because he felt their pain and he had an interest in learning. So he earned a scholarship at Jesuit school and later was ordained a Jesuit priest. He reached out to Chile's poor and neglected youth. He was Chile's second canonized saint.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">When his father died his family became homeless. To help support his mother and younger brother he had to take on many roles.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Quotes:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">"As i leave to return to God, my father, permit me to confide to you one last desire: that you strive to create a climate of true love and respect for the poor because the man is christ".

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">"What you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me".

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Born:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He was born in Chile in 1901 media type="custom" key="24290588" <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Mystery Saint #4

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">My saint was born in Syracuse, Italy on 283 AD and died on 304 AD. Her name stands for "light" which means Lucid; clear, radiant and understandable. Even though her childhood was filled with darkness she was no where near being dark she was caring and sweet. She is mostly known for her dedication to Christ, her bravery, and as the patron of blindness. Her feast day is on December 13.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">My saint died in the persecution of Christians, which took place in the early 4th century. Just before her death her mother planned for her to get married but before her mother had told her about that she had already vowed her life to Christ and her purity so she rejected the marriage and went on.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">At first her mother didn't approve of her rejecting the marriage but soon noticed that what her daughter was doing was right. Just as she was planning to give her money to the poor her rejected bridegroom betrayed her to the governor as a Christian at the same time as they were persecuting the Christians (Diocletian's reign). Soon she was killed like all the other Christians, but died with bravery and dedication for God.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Quote:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">“The Gospel tells us of all that Jesus suffered, of the insults that fell upon him. But, from Bethlehem to Calvary, the brilliance that radiates from his divine purity spread more and more and won over the crowds. So great was the austerity and the enchantment of his conduct.”

media type="custom" key="24241440"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Mystery Saint #5

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He opened shelters for the homeless and helped to rescue abandoned children. As an adult he took an many more roles to help others. As a priest he was a teacher and became involved in youth ministry

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">His faith was always his center. He had a desire to help others who were poor because he felt there pain and he had an interest in learning. So he earned a scholarship at Jesuit school and later was ordained a Jesuit priest. He reached out to Chile's poor and neglected youth. He was Chile's second canonized saint.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">When his father died his family became homeless. To help support his mother and younger brother he had to take on many roles.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Quotes:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">"As i leave to return to God, my father, permit me to confide to you one last desire: that you strive to create a climate of true love and respect for the poor because the man is christ".

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">"What you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me".

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Born:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He was born in Chile in 1901 media type="custom" key="24241442" <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Mystery Saint #6

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">My saint was born on May 6, 972 AD in Bavaria, Germany. He was the son of Henry, Duke of Bavaria, and of Gisella, daughter of Conrad, King of Burgundy. He received an very good education from St. Wolfgang, Bishop of Ratisbon. In 995, St. Henry became Duke of Bavaria after his father’s death, and in 1002, upon the death of his cousin, Otho III, he became holy emperor. He cared greatly for the good of the Church and gained several victories over his enemies, both at home and abroad, but he used these with great moderation and clemency. In 1014, he went to Rome and received the imperial crown from Pope Benedict VIII. On that occasion he confirmed the donation, made by his predecessors to the Pope, of the sovereignty of Rome and the exarchate of Ravenna. He often led the holy Empire into war (not by choice), from which he always was victorious.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He was a very holy and peaceful man. He was strong in battle but kind at heart. He was very calm and peaceful, and even enjoyed meditation. He was a wise military leader but did not like war. He was also very humble and had great humility.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He is a saint because as king, he encouraged the German bishops to reform the practices of the Church in accordance with canon law. During the same period he is said to have brought a peaceful end to a revolt in his territory, which ended with the king mercifully pardoning the rebels. He also acted decisively, but not harshly, against an Italian nobleman who set himself up as a rival king. He became a great patron of churches and monasteries, donating so much of his wealth to them that his relatives complained that he was behaving irresponsibly. But he was far from irresponsible, as his leadership of the Western Empire in both war and peace demonstrated. The emperor was also a great patron of the poor, making enormous contributions for their relief.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">He faced some challenging obstacles during his lifetime. On many different occasions he had to stop uprisings and riots from opposing parties. He always acted swiftly and smartly in the least violent way. For the last several years of his life, he also had to deal with serious illness, and an additional ailment that crippled his left leg, along with his imperial responsibilities.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">This was said about my saint…

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">“We deem it opportune to remind our children of their duty to take an active part in public life and to contribute toward the attainment of the common good of the entire human family as well as to that of their own political community. They should endeavor, therefore, in the light of their Christian faith and led by love, to insure that the various institutions—whether economic, social, cultural or political in purpose—should be such as not to create obstacles, but rather to facilitate or render less arduous man’s perfecting of himself in both the natural order and the supernatural.... Every believer in this world of ours must be a spark of light, a center of love, a vivifying leaven amidst his fellow men. And he will be this all the more perfectly, the more closely he lives in communion with God in the intimacy of his own soul” (Blessed Pope John XXIII, Peace on Earth, 146, 164).

media type="custom" key="24241446"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 170%;">Mystery Saint Number 1

My mystery saint is a famous patron saint. He was born on December 24, 1491 in Azpeitia in his family castle in the Kingdom of Navarre, Spain. He was the son of a wealthy and noble family and the last of 13 children. His name was originally I ñigo Lopez de Recalde. Thanks to his rich and affluent background, he was given a formal and prestigious education. Also, his connections and relationships gave him access to Spanish and Portuguese royalty. Eventually, when he became old enough, he started his career as a page at the Spanish court and later became a soldier to fight against the French. Soon, however, a cannon ball shattered his leg while in combat in the Battle of Pamplona and he had to undergo many surgeries. While he was being rehabilitated, he endured a spiritual conversion. During this recovery, he read the De Vita Christ a commentary describing the life of Jesus and the lives of the saints. Soon, he had begun to have a change of heart towards Christ, deciding to leave behind his old military life and trade it in for devoting himself to labor for God. In March 25, 1522, after his recovery, he voyaged to the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat, where he hung his military vestments in front an image of the Virgin. Then, he journeyed to the town of Manresa, Catalonia and spent several months in a cave near where he practiced rigorous asceticism. He also began having a continuous chain of visions in the middle of the day while in the hospital. In September 1523, he undertook a journey to the Holy Land to settle there, but was sent back by Franciscans. 12 years later, however, standing before the Pope alongside his friends, he suggested – for a second time – sending his companions as emissaries to Jerusalem. Returning to Spain, he and his companions began studying theology at the University of Alcalá with the task of making disciples of women called as witnesses by the Inquisition under the direction of magistrate Alonso Mejias.Later, he studied at the ascetic Collège de Montaigu of the University of Paris, where he remained over seven years.

By 1534 he had mustered six major companions, all of whom he met as fellow students at the University—Francis Xavier, Alfonso Salmeron, Diego Laynez, and Nicholas Bobadilla, all Spanish; Peter Faber, a Frenchman; and Simão Rodrigues of Portugal. Later, Saint Francis Borgia, a member of the House of Borgia who was the main aide of Emperor Charles V, and other nobles, joined him. In 1539, they founded the Society of Jesus, approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III. Loyola wrote the //Constitutions// of the Society.He was the main creator and initial Superior General of the Society of Jesus, a religious organization of the Catholic Church whose members, known as Jesuits, served as the Pope’s missionaries. He is well known as a skilled and spiritual director. He was very vigorous in deploring the Protestant Reformation and supporting the following Counter-Reformation. He sent his companions as missionaries around Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. Juan de Vega, the ambassador of Charles V at Rome had met him there. Esteeming him and the Jesuits, when Vega was appointed Viceroy of Sicily he brought Jesuits with him. A Jesuit college was opened at Messina; success was marked, and its rules and methods were afterwards copied in other colleges. In 1548, Spiritual Exercises was finally printed, and he was briefly brought before the Roman Inquisition, but was released. He died in Rome on July 31, 1556, as a result of the Roman Fever, a severe case of malaria that recurred in Rome, Italy, at different points in history.

He was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1609, canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and declared patron of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922. Ignatius' feast day is celebrated on July 31. Ignatius is a foremost patron saint of soldiers, the Society of Jesus, the Basque Country, and the provinces of Gipuzkoa and Biscay. He once said: to fight, and not to heed the wounds, to toil, and not to seek for rest,  to labor, and not to ask for any reward,   save that of knowing that we do thy will”
 * “To give, and not to count the cost
 * “Teach us to give and not to count the cost.”


 * “Laugh and grow strong”

Submit your guess here....media type="custom" key="24173770"

Mystery Saint Number 2

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">My mystery saint was born on March 28th, 1515, in Avila, Spain. She was born during the period of the Spanish Inquisition. This saint is the youngest of nine children. Her parents were very strict.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">My saint was very religious as a child. This saint is also described as being very charming, serene, and determined. However, when she was 14, her mother died, and she forgot about God. Around age 16, this saint only cared about boys, clothes, and parties. Her father then decided to send her to a covenant school. She enjoyed this, and she later became a part of the Carmelite order. This saint became ill with malaria, and she experienced several divine visions when she was ill. Many people told her that these visions were associated with the devil. She then lost confidence to pray. However, when she was 41, she met a priest who persuaded her to turn back to God (conversion).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">My mystery saint then decided that she wanted to spend her time setting up new covenants. She devoted the rest of her life to traveling around Spain and setting up new covenants. This often brought criticism, but she did not let this affect her work. She died on October 4, 1582 at the age of 67. This saint was canonized on March 22, 1622. She is the patron saint of headaches, and her feast day is on October 15th. She is admired by many for her work for the Carmelite order and the work she did by setting up new covenants.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Some quotes of this saint:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">“Pain is never permanent,”.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">“Be gentle to all and stern with yourself,”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers,”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">Submit your guess for Saint Number 2 here...

media type="custom" key="24173962"

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Mystery Saint Number 3 <span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My saint is a great apostle. He was born in the year 5 AD. He (at first) hated and tortured Christians, making them suffer very much. On his road to Damascus,Jesus changed his heart. A bright light hit him and he was blinded. A voice called out and said “I will show him how much he must suffer for me”. He was instantly healed and was converted. He dedicated himself to spreading the good news of Jesus and became an Apostle.

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We celebrate his conversion on January 25.

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">My saint loved Jesus very much, so much, in fact, that he became a living copy of our Savior. All his life, as a missionary, he met obstacles and went through dangers of every kind. He was whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and lost at sea. Many, many times he was hungry, thirsty and cold. But he always trusted in God and he never stopped preaching. "The love of Jesus presses me onward," he said. In reward, God gave him great comfort and joy in spite of every suffering. We read about his marvelous adventures for Christ in Luke's Acts of the Apostles, beginning with chapter nine. But St. Luke's story ends when he arrives in Rome. He is under house arrest, waiting to be tried by Emperor Nero. A famous early Christian writer, Tertullian, tells us that my saint was freed after his first trial. But then he was put in prison again. This time he was sentenced to death. He died around the year 67 AD, during Nero's terrible torture of the Christians. My saint called himself the Apostle of the Gentiles (people who were not Jews) and he preached the Good News of Jesus to them. That took him to the far ends of the world. Because of him, we too, have received the Christian faith.

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quotes

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"In all your dealings with one another, speak the truth in love, that you may grow up.”

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Love never ends".

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty."

<span style="color: #383d48; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">media type="custom" key="24175152"