April 1. St Hugh

He was born in France in 1053. Thanks to the education received from his mother, Hugh grew up to live a life of self-denial dedicated to fasting and prayer. These characteristics led him to embrace the priesthood at an early age. During the Council of Avignon in 1080, he was elected Bishop of Grenoble although he had not yet been ordained. In Grenoble, St. Hugh encounters a devastating panorama. The purchase and sale of the church’s goods was a daily thing and usury was abundant in the city, the priests had concubines and morality was low. He was ordained in Rome by Pope Gregory VII. Upon his return to Grenoble, he takes on the tasks of reforming the abuses occurring in the diocese. Discouraged by the lack of progress after two years of struggles, he gives up and retires to a Benedictine abbey, which seemed to be his true dream. However, after a few months he receives orders from the pope to return to Grenoble to fulfill his obligations. Upon the death of Pope Gregory, Hugh attempts to resign as bishop with each subsequent pope. The next six popes keep him in his position and 52 years went by. By then a notable and positive change in the public and religious life of Grenoble could be observed, thanks mostly to the exemplary life of St. Hugh. Although he had wanted to leave his position as bishop, St. Hugh always respected the decision of his superior and continued to be a bishop until the end.

How far are you willing to obey the orders of your parents even when you are not in agreement with them?

April 3. St. Richard Wyche

He was born in England around 1197. Following the death of his father when he was barely a child, the family’s economic situation begins to deteriorate. Richard takes charge of the family’s farm and manages to turn things around thanks to his hard work and responsibility. In search of a better future, he went to Oxford, where he lived in poverty together with two companions. The friendship with his teacher, the bishop of Canterbury, grew closer and Richard was appointed his confessor. He studied canon law in Bologna, earned a great reputation on the subject, and was appointed chancellor of the University of Oxford. From their youth, God’s providence begins preparing men who will later take on a great mission. The memory of the difficult days as a student and the habit of enduring daily difficulties would become a great experience for Richard, who later became the bishop of Chichester. He retired to Orleans, where he taught for two years and was ordained a priest in 1243. He was a parish priest in Deal, England, but was quickly elected to become the bishop of Chichester by the archbishop of Canterbury. For two years he worked as a missionary bishop. He visited the fishermen’s huts and their humble homes, always traveling by foot, and lacking everything. The discipleship of St. Richard Wyche, bishop of Chichester was a continuous defense of the doctrine of the Gospel. His eight years as bishop were proof of his charity with the poor and a spirit of austerity for himself.

St. Richard had endured poverty but it did not cut his desires to fly high. Are you afraid of difficulties or take them as a sign of something bigger that will come later?

 
April 5. Vincent Ferrer

Born in Valencia in January 23, 1350, Vincent belonged to a noble family. Upon his birth, the plaque was just ending in Valencia. His father was a notary and was well connected to the higher classes. His early years were spent studying in multiple schools where he was educated in Latin. One day he called upon the doors of the neighboring Dominican convent and in February 1367 he took his vows. He was sent to Lerida, Barcelona and Toulouse to further his studies. In Lerida he taught philosophy. Pope Pedro de Luna, who took the name Benedict XIII, in 1394 appointed Vincent as his confessor and theologian. On October 3, 1398 a vision would changed his life and from then on, he dedicated his life to preaching. From that moment on, he consecrated himself as an apostle of Christ, preaching, always on foot, all over Western Europe for as long as his health allowed. As a preacher, Vincent insisted on repentance and conversion, the reform of the institutions and the unity of the Church, maintaining an alliance with the Avignon Popes. Through his preaching, Vincent converted thousands of Jews and Moors and his work was benefited thanks to his knowledge of Hebrew, traditions and the Scriptures. He was asked to attend the Council of Constance but opted to continue his work preaching throughout France and avoiding the war zones. He died in Vannes on April 5, 1419 and was canonized in 1455.

St. Vincent abandoned the comforts of his office to consecrate his life as an itinerant preacher. Would you be willing to sacrifice some of your pleasures and comforts to dedicate time to good deeds in your community?

April 7. St. John Baptist De La Salle

He is the founder of the Brothers of Christians Schools and patron of Christian teachers. He was born in Reims, France on April 30, 1651. His parents, Louis De La Salle and Nicole Moet, provided him and his six siblings an education founded on Christian values. John demonstrated a desire to become a priest and entered the Seminary of St. Sulpice, was ordained on April 9, 1678 and earned the title of Doctor in Theology in 1680. He was always concerned with the education of the needy, maintaining that the education received in the early years of life would mark the existence of the human being. In June 1684 he initiated the congregation, positioning it as a pioneer in the implementation of schools of formation for rural teachers, special schools for young people serving penal sentences, technical schools and high schools for literature and the sciences. John’s family was rich and prestigious and expected he would remain faithful to their ranking. But he had recognized the humbleness of children and the teachers that accompanied them and this is where his life made the most sense. Pressuring him to leave his way, the family little by little abandons him while his teachers remain at his side. Twelve teachers follow him, ruled by the values of poverty, charity, order, work, service, devotion… and take him as their father and director. Together they put together the Rule they would later promise to obey and on May 27, 1684 a new institution was born in the Church. In 1717 he retires and is succeeded by Brother Bartholomew. St. John Baptist died on April 4, 1719 at the age of 68.  

Would you allow your family to turn their back on you even if you knew the reason behind it was your closeness to those who have less than you: those who need your help the most?

April 11. St. Gemma Galgani 

She was born in Camigliano, Italy in 1878. As a child she suffered the loss of her parents and brother. She was unable to enter religious life due to her frail health. She endured rejection as a result of her devotion, ecstasies, and other phenomenon. She lived for Jesus, his Blessed Mother, and to rescue sinners. As a child, Gemma showed signs of her holiness. At an early age prayer was already the support in her life and her virtues. Her first and greatest teacher in the school of love for Jesus was her mother, Aurelia, who instilled in her daughter’s heart what would distinguish her for life: the love for the crucified Christ and the Blessed Virgin. For her entire life, she spent hours in her home praying for others and taking care of many people who came from other towns to visit and hear her words of comfort, help and love of Jesus Christ. She only left her convent, as she called her home to attend Mass. On more than one occasion she had mystical experiences. Her prayers to the Lord were to seek conversion and help the needy of her town. On April 11, 1903 when she was barely 25 years old, she died of tuberculosis in the midst of a great commotion. Following her death, a popular following developed and Pope Pius XI declared her blessed just 30 years after her death and she was canonized in 1940 by Pius XII.

Would you stop doing what you like to do the most out of a fear that others will criticize you? Are you more interested in what others think of you or do your freely express what you feel?

April 13. St. Hermenegild

He was born in 564 in Spain. His father, Leovigild, King of Spain, believed in the Arian ways that Jesus was just a man. At an early age, Hermenegild and his younger brother Reccared were associated with the paternal throne. At the age of 15, he married Indegundis, a Catholic princess from France, in an effort to expand the relationships begun by the first marriage of his father. He was sent to govern Betica and his arrival coincided with that of Bishop St. Leander. Through his relationship with the bishop and the continued insistence of his wife, Hermenegild was penetrating into the authentic Christian revelation and learning about the falsehood behind the Arian sect. He became a Catholic, was baptized, and took the name of John. The political problems that a conversion in the royal succession would present and the suspicious diplomatic relations between Hermenegild and the Byzantine governor of the neighboring province of Hispania provoked growing tensions with his father, who became enraged and sent his army against him. Hermenegild was abandoned by his allies and fled taking refuge in the temple. His father, with deceit gets him to leave and locks him in a tower in Seville. The following year he sends an Arian bishop so he can renege on his Catholic faith. When he could not obtain his objectives, his father has him decapitated. He died on April 13, 585.

Hermenegild embraced the Catholic faith after recognizing the divinity of Christ, thanks to a previous evangelization. Do you recognize the divinity of Christ?

April 16.  St. Bernadette Soubirous

Born in Lourdes, France in 1844, Bernadette is the eldest of four children in a family the lived in poverty. The economic difficulties of the Soubirous family gave Marie, Bernadette’s wet nurse, the task of caring for her. The excuse was that Bernadette would help Marie care for the other children, but in reality she wanted her to tend to the sheep. This is how she became a little shepherd although she was not paid. Denied the opportunity to go to school, at the age of 13 Bernadette could still not read or write. Her ignorance, poverty and sickly aspect did not prevent others from appreciating in her the simplicity and piety. The priest of her town said on one occasion: “Look at this young girl. When the Blessed Virgin wishes to appear on earth, she picks children like this one.” His words were prophetic since a few months later the Virgin begins to appear in a cave above the riverbanks near Lourdes. A shrine was built on the site and since then thousands of miracles have occurred. Bernadette desired with all her heart to receive her first communion and asked her father to bring her home so she could attend catechism. Following the apparitions in July 1866, she began her novitiate with the Sisters of Charity at Nevers and on September 22, 1868 she took her vows. Among the sisters, Bernadette suffered as a result of her poor health, but also because the Superior did not believe in her visions or illness. She suffered from tuberculosis. For nine years, she was dedicated to nursing and was caretaker of the church. She died on April 16, 1879 when she was barely 35 years old.

There are those who believe in witches, extraterrestrials and ghosts. If it is possible to believe in these things we cannot see, then why do we refuse to believe that Mary can appear to someone and leave them a message?

April 29. St. Catherine of Siena

Catherine was born in Siena in 1347 and was the youngest in her family. From an early age, she was distinguished for her knowledge, virtue and holiness. Around the age of five or six, she experienced her first mystical vision, which moved her toward a virtuous life. Catherine did not have a formal education; she always demonstrated a love for solitude and prayer. At the age of seven she took her vows of chastity, but her parents began to make plans for Catherine to marry when he was 12. She refused and as a sign of protest, she cut her hair and covered her head with a veil. In an effort to persuade her to marry, her parents forced her to carry out harsh domestic tasks; however Catherine became even more convinced. Finally her parents concede and at the age of 17, she became a Dominican tertiary.  She dedicated her time to orphans, the needy and sick. Catherine helped care for the sick during the plague that killed one third of the population in Siena. In June 1372, she was sent to Avignon as an ambassador form the Republic of Florence, with the goal of attaining peace with the Pontifical States and the Pope and ending the schism in the Church. Catherine made such a positive impression on the Pope that he brought her to Rome on January 17, 1377 to help with his administration. Although she was illiterate, as were a large part of the women and men of the time, she dictated a beautiful book titled Dialogue of the divine providence, where she writes about the mystical experiences she had and where the path to salvation is taught. She also has 375 letters of great theological profoundness. She died from a stroke on April 29, 1380, at the age of 33.

Although she was illiterate, St. Catherine is considered one of the most illustrious women of her time. Are you among those who underestimate the abilities of others who unfortunately have been unable to receive a good education?