|
The Miles Jesu vocation is a real calling to follow Jesus. We take as our models and patrons those saints who lived in the ordinary conditions of life, yet lived out their Faith in such a way that they made a great impact on society. Let's imitate them.
St. Thomas More
St. Thomas More is a great example for keeping our loyalties and priorities straight. St. Thomas More did what was politically very incorrect. Although he was the Lord Chancellor of England and King Henry VIII's friend, he would not accept the divorce of the King. Even though all the bishops of England, except one, compromised themselves and accepted the divorce of the King and the Act of Parliament which named him the Head of the Catholic Church in England, St. Thomas More did not.
This cost him his high position as Lord Chancellor of England; it cost him his income and his ability to maintain his household; it cost him his freedom as he was imprisoned in the Tower of London; it cost him his family because eventually his wife and children were denied access to visit him; and it finally cost him his head as he was executed for not bending to the will of the King. At his execution St. Thomas More said, "I call you to witness, brothers, that I die in and for the Faith of the Catholic Church; the King's loyal servant, but God's first".
The Servant of God, Queen Isabel the Catholic
The Servant of God, Queen Isabel the Catholic is a model for young people, spouses, parents, and women leaders. She is a remarkable example of purity for young people, for as a young lady she was taken to the corrupt and irreligious court of her half-brother King Henry, but she would not take part in their immoralities nor allow herself to be influenced by them.
She is also an outstanding model of justice, for when the influential nobles and hierarchy of the Church begged her at 17 years old to be part of a rebellion and to take the crown of Spain from her half-brother, who was destroying the country with his scandalous life and his lack of governance, she said that since her brother was the legitimate ruler of Spain she would not raise her hand against him.
For married people she is also a great example because her husband, King Fernando, who had children out of wedlock, sometimes had wandering eyes for the ladies-in-waiting at the Court. When Queen Isabel noticed this, she would find a nice dowry for the young lady and send her to another city where she could marry. And even though, she was an incredibly active Queen she sewed her husband's own garments. On her deathbed, she had a crucifix in one hand and her husband's in the other. She asked to be buried next to wherever her husband would be buried.
Finally, she is a marvelous example of zeal for souls for when after Columbus' first trip to the New World, it appeared that it would not be very lucrative for Spain, she said that even though there be only rocks and stones she wanted to continue the expeditions so that the natives could receive the gift of the Catholic Faith and be saved. Her influence changed the world dramatically.
Others
The Immaculate Heart of the Virginal Mother of God, Queen of the Universe, especially in the mystery of the Epiphany.
St. Joseph, Her Spouse and Special Protector of the Universal Church.
St. Anthony Mary Claret, considered our spiritual Father.
- St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael (Archangels)
- St. Peter and St. Paul and the other Apostles (Foundations of the Church)
- St. Casimir (Lay model of chastity and leadership)
- St. Francis of Assisi (Poverty of spirit and rebuilder of the Church)
- St. Francis Xavier (Zeal for souls and availability)
- St. Frances de Sales (Promoter of lay spirituality)
- St. Henry, Emperor (Lay model for rulers)
- St. Ignatius, Bishop and Martyr (Eastern saint)
- St. Isidore, Farmer (Lay model for workers)
- St. John Bosco (Model as youth leader)
- St. John Chrysostom (Father and model of Eastern spirituality)
- St. John of the Cross (Doctor of the Church in spirituality)
- St. John Fisher (Martyr of loyalty to the Papacy)
- St. John Nepomucene (Martyr of Confession)
- St. John Neumann (Model for bishops)
- St. Joseph Cupertino (Model of simplicity and joy)
- St. Josaphat (Martyr for unity and model for bishops)
- St. Maximilian Kolbe (Model of dynamic zeal with modern means)
- St. Thomas More (Model of lay professionals and martyr of loyalty to the Papacy)
- St. Volodomyr (Lay founder of Church in the East)
- St. Wenceslaus, King (Lay martyr and model for rulers)
- The Blessed Claretian Martyrs (Generosity in youth)
- St. Catherine of Siena (Lay model of courage and zeal for the Church)
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Widow, foundress, first American-born canonized saint)
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Wife and mother, lover of the poor)
- St. Jane Fancees de Chantal (Widow and foundress)
- St. Margaret of Cortona (Lay penitent, example of repentance)
- St. Mary de la Cabeza (Lay model and wife of St. Isidore the Farmer)
- St. Monica (Model for mothers and wives and widows)
- St. Olga (Model for lay leaders, widows, and co-foundress of Church in the East)
- St. Rita (Model for wives in difficult marriages and mothers)
- St. Rose of Lima (Lay model for virginity and love for the poor)
- St. Teresa of Jesus (First woman Doctor of the Church in spirituality)
- St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Spirit of filial simplicity)
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (First Native American saint)
|
|
