MEMORIAL OF SAINT HEDWIG, RELIGIOUS; SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE, VIRGIN; SAINT GERARD MAJELLA, REDEMPTORIST; SAINT MARGUERITE D’YOUVILLE, SGM, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT GALL, ABBOT – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 16TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Hedwig, Religious; Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin; Saint Gerard Majella, Redemptorist, Marguerite d’Youville, SGM, Religious and Saint Gall, Abbot. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for all Mothers, especially expectant mothers, unborn children and all those seeking for the fruit of the womb. We pray for peace, love, and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill, those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏
SAINT HEDWIG, RELIGIOUS: St. Hedwig was born in 1174 in Bavaria, the daughter of the Duke of Croatia. She was the maternal aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She married Duke Henry of Silesia and raised seven children, with the boys being quite a handful. She outlived all but one of her children, Gertrude. Hedwig persuaded her husband to use her dowry to found a Cisterian monastery for nuns at Trebnitz. Their daughter Gertrude later became abbess of the monastery. Hedwig led a life of piety and solicitude for the sick and poor, including their religious education. She lived a life of poverty and humility, despite her prominent position. Every day, even in winter, she would walk barefooted, so her feet were in bad shape. A story tells us her husband sent her a pair of shoes, insisting that she not be without them — so she kept them under her arm. After the death of her husband Hedwig completely renounced the world and entered the monastery of Trebnitz which she had founded. She died on October 15, 1243 and is venerated as patroness of Poland. She was canonized by Clement IV, 26 March, 1267. She’s the Patron Saint of Bavaria; brides; duchesses; death of children; marital problems; Silesia; victims of jealousy; widows.
PRAYER: Almighty God, may the venerable intercession of St. Hedwig obtain heavenly aid for us, for her life constitutes a wonderful example of humility for all. Amen 🙏
SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE, VIRGIN: (22 July 1647 – 17 October 1690), was a French Roman Catholic Visitation nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form. After a girlhood marked by painful illness and even more painful family discord, Margaret Mary Alacoque entered the Visitation convent of Paray-le-Monial, France, at the age of 22. She was ignorant, sickly, and clumsy, but she had great charity and humility. Our Lord chose her to spread devotion to his Sacred Heart, at a time when rebellion without (Protestantism) and heresy within (Jansenism) were doing their best to separate Catholics from their faith and their God. She died on October 17, 1690. She was Beatified on September 18, 1864, Rome by Pope Pius IX and Canonized on May 13, 1920, Vatican City, by Pope Benedict XV. She’s the Patron Saint of those suffering with polio, devotees of the Sacred Heart, loss of parents
PRAYER: Lord, pour out upon us spirit with which You enriched St. Margaret Mary. Help us to know the love of Christ, which is too great for human knowledge, and to be filled with the fullness of god. Amen 🙏
SAINT GERARD MAJELLA, REDEMPTORIST: (April 9, 1726 – October 16, 1755), was an Italian lay brother of the Congregation of the Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists. Born very frail and unhealthy, Gerard was immediately baptized as his parents feared the worst for their newly born child. But from childhood, the Lord granted this boy many favors even if they were followed by many hardships too. He became a full-time tailor at the age of only twelve as his father passed away and he was responsible for caring for his mother and siblings. Gerard didn’t like his job and longed to become a priest. But twice he was denied the religious cloak due to his poor health. Gerard was such a holy and gentle soul that eventually his perseverance paid off and became a brother monk. He spent his life evangelizing the faith, converting many. He is known for his countless miracles and was called the “Wonder Worker” and his wonderful and well authenticated life was a series of supernatural phenomena — bilocations, reading of consciences, prophecies, multiplying of food, etc. He was canonized in 1904. He’s the Patron Saint of childbirth; children; expectant mothers; falsely accused people; good confessions; lay brothers; motherhood; mothers; pregnant women; pro-life movement; unborn children.
PRAYER: God, by Your grace St. Gerard persevered in imitating Christ in His poverty and humility. Through his intercession, grant that we may faithfully follow our vocation and reach the perfection that You held out us in Your Son. Amen🙏
SAINT MARGUERITE D’YOUVILLE, SGM RELIGIOUS Marguerite d’Youville was a French Canadian widow who was born on October 15, 1701, Varennes, Canada and died on December 23, 1771, Montreal, Canada. She founded the Order of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, commonly known as the Grey Nuns of Montreal. She and her companions welcome and cared for the poor, the elderly, the sick, and the mentally handicapped, without distinction of sex, race, or ethnicity. They give shelter to both French and English soldiers who were wounded during the Seven Years’ War. Marie-Marguerite died on December 23, 1771, leaving behind the memory of an extraordinary woman guided by a profound spirituality and a great sensitivity to human suffering. In 1959 Pope John XXIII declared Marguerite d’Youville Blessed and conferred on her the title of Mother of Universal Charity, and on December 9, 1990, Vatican Basilica, she was canonized by Pope John Paul II. She’s the first native-born Canadian to be declared a saint. She’s Patron Saint of widows, difficult marriages, death of young children.
Saint Marguerite d’Youville, Religious ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT GALL, ABBOT: (c. 550 – c. 645 CE), also known as Saint Gallus, was an Irish monk who lived in what is present-day Switzerland during the 6th century CE and was one of twelve companions of Saint Columbanus’ Christian mission to the European continent. Associated with various legends, myths, and miracles, Gall is chiefly remembered for this role in the spread of Christianity in Switzerland and as the founder of a hermitage that would eventually become the Abbey Cathedral of St. Gallen. St. Gall is thus subsequently claimed additionally as the founder of the city of St. Gallen in Switzerland and remains the city’s patron saint. Saint Deicolus was the elder brother of St. Gall. He died at the age of ninety-five around 646–650 in Arbon. He’s the Patron Saint of birds, geese, poultry, Switzerland, St. Gallen.
Saint Gall, Abbot ~ Pray for us 🙏