Saints of the Day

MAY 25
The current Roman calendar lists three saints on May 25. Their stories are
briefly presented here, one after another.

VENERABLE BEDE

This English priest is famous as a saint, a priest, a monk, a teacher and a
writer of history. He was born in England in 673. His parents sent Bede to
the local Benedictine monastery to receive an education. He loved the life
of the monks so much that when he grew up he became a monk. He remained in
that same monastery for the rest of his life.
St. Bede loved the Holy Bible very much. He tells us that it was a joy for
him to study the Bible. He loved to teach it and write about it. When he
grew older, sickness at last forced him to stay in bed. His pupils came to
study by his bedside. He kept on teaching them and working on his
translation of St. John's Gospel into English. Many people could not read
Latin. He wanted them to be able to read the words of Jesus in their own
language.
As he grew sicker, St. Bede realized that he was about to go back to God.
The monks would miss him very much. He kept on working even when he was
seriously ill. At last, the boy who was doing the writing for him said,
"There is still one sentence, dear Father, which is not written down."
"Write it quickly," answered the saint. When the boy said, "It is finished,"
the saint said, "Good! You are right-it is finished. Now please hold my head
up. I want to sit facing the place where I used to pray. I want to call on
my Heavenly Father."
St. Bede died shortly after, on May 25, 735. His most famous book, Church
History of the English People, is the only source for much of early English
history. People call Bede by the respectful title of "venerable." He is also
a Doctor of the Church.

Venerable Bede's own words can be a source of inspiration to us: " It has
ever been my delight to learn, to teach, or write."-Venerable Bede

ST. GREGORY VII

This pope's name was Hildebrand. He was born in Italy around 1023. His uncle
was a monk in Rome so Hildebrand went to the monastery to be educated.
Later, Hildebrand became a Benedictine monk in France. Soon, however, he was
called back to Rome. There he held very important positions under several
popes until he himself was made pope.
For twenty-five years, he had refused to let himself be elected. But when
Pope Alexander II died, the cardinals made up their minds to elect
Hildebrand pope. With one voice they cried out: "Hildebrand is the elect of
St. Peter!" "They carried me to the throne," the saint wrote afterward. "My
protests did no good. Fear filled my heart and darkness was all around me."
Hildebrand chose the name Gregory VII.
These were truly dark times for the Catholic Church. Kings and emperors were
interfering in Church matters. They named the men they wanted to be bishops,
cardinals and even popes. Many of those appointed were not very good men.
They were bad examples to the people.
The first thing Pope St. Gregory did was to spend several days in prayer. He
also asked others to pray for him. He realized that without prayer nothing
can be done well for God. Afterward, he began to act to make the clergy
better. He also took steps to keep civil rulers out of the affairs of
the Church. This was very difficult because the rulers were all against the
change. However, some gave in.
One ruler, Emperor Henry IV of Germany, caused Pope Gregory great
sufferings. This young man was sinful and greedy for gold. He would not stop
trying to run the affairs of the Church. He even sent his men to capture the
pope. But the people of Rome rescued the saint from prison. Pope Gregory
excommunicated the emperor. That did nothing to stop Henry IV. He chose his
own pope. Of course, the man he chose was not the real pope. But Henry tried
to make people think he was. Then, once again, the emperor sent his armies
to capture the saint. Pope Gregory was forced to leave Rome. He was taken
safely to Salerno where he died in 1085. His last words were, "I have loved
justice and hated evil. That is why I am dying in exile." He was proclaimed
a saint by Pope Paul V in 1606.
Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) is known for his tremendous personal courage.
He stood up for the cause of Jesus and his Church.

"Lord," said Thomas, " we do not know where you are going. How can we know
the way?" Jesus told him: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (Jn.
14:5)

ST. MARY MAGDALEN DE PAZZI

Catherine de Pazzi was born in Florence, Italy, in 1566. She was the only
daughter of very rich parents. When she was fourteen, Catherine became a
boarder at a convent school. There she grew to love life in a religious
house. But about a year later, her father took her home. He began to think
of choosing a rich husband for her. However, Catherine's heart was set on
becoming a nun. She shocked her parents by telling them she had already made
a vow of chastity. They could not believe it. Finally, they let her enter
the Carmelite convent. Only fifteen days later, however, they came and took
her home. They hoped to make her change her mind. After three months of
trying, they gave up. They let her go back for good, with their blessing. It
was 1582, the year St. Teresa of Avila died in Spain.
As a novice, St. Mary Magdalen became very sick. The nuns feared she might
die. She was permitted to pronounce her religious vows. Since she was
suffering greatly, one of the sisters asked her how she could stand that
pain without a word. The saint pointed to the crucifix. She said: "See what
the great love of God has suffered for my salvation. This same love sees my
weakness and gives me strength."
St. Mary Magdalen had great sufferings her whole life. She also had very
strong temptations to impurity and to greed for food. She overcame
everything by her great love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and for Mary.
Often she ate only bread and water. She practiced other acts of self-denial,
too. Moreover, her love for Jesus became so great that she would say, "Love
is not loved, not known by his own creatures." With tears, she would pray
and offer her pains for sinners and unbelievers, right up until she died.
She once said: "O my Jesus, if I had a voice loud and strong enough to be
heard in every part of the world, I would cry out to make you known and
loved by everyone!"
St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi died on May 25, 1607, at the age of forty-one.
She was proclaimed a saint by Pope Clement IX in 1669.

"Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God but that he has
loved us and has sent his Son as an offering for our sins." (1 Jn.4: 10)