SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 4TH

MEMORIAL OF SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL, RELIGIOUS; SAINT BERTHA OF ARTOIS, WIDOW, ABBESS; SAINT ULRIC OF AUGSBURG, BISHOP AND BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 4TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, Religious; Saint Bertha of Artois, Widow, Abbess; Saint Ulric of Augsburg, Bishop and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for all expectant mothers, for difficult marriages, for the poor, the needy and most marginalized, for justice, peace and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏🏽

SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL, RELIGIOUS: St. Elizabeth of Portugal was a Spanish princess, whose parents were Peter III, King of Aragon and Constance of Sicily, Queen of Aragon. She came into the world at the royal palace in Saragossa in 1271, and received the name of Elizabeth after her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who several years before had been canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1235. Their lives were similar in some important ways: both of them were married at very young ages, they sought to live the precepts of the Gospel despite their status as royalty, and finished their lives as members of the Third Order of St. Francis. St. Elizabeth’s grandfather, James I, who then occupied the throne of Aragon, took charge of her education, but he died before she was six years of age. Her early years were spent in the most extraordinary pieta and at the age of twelve she was given in marriage to King Denis (Dionysius), King of Portugal who was 20 at the time. She was very beautiful and very lovable. They were blessed with two children, a daughter, Constance of Portugal (Constantia) and a son, Alfonso IV of Portugal, however, king Denise fathered an additional seven children with other women. Her husband left her free to practice her devotions, and she lived on the throne with the virtue and regularity of a Religious. She was very devout, and went to Mass every day. St. Elizabeth was a holy wife, but although her husband was fond of her at first, he soon began to cause her great suffering. Though a good ruler, King Denis was faithfully devoted to his country, known as the “Worker King” because of his diligence. Unfortunately, he generally failed to live out the same faithfulness toward his wife, he did not imitate his wife’s love of prayer and other virtues. In fact, his sins of impurity gave great scandle to the people. St. Elizabeth was upset about her husband’s sinful ways, less because he was unfaithful but more so as he was offending God. She prayed with great devotion and did many penance on her husband’s behalf to win him back. Eventually, her prayer, patience and gentleness bore fruit and she succeeded in converting her husband, who had been leading a licentious life and he asked forgiveness of her. Many members of the king’s court likewise embraced or accepted various forms of immorality, and it would have been easy for the young queen to fall into these vices herself. But Elizabeth remained intent on doing God’s will with a humble and charitable attitude. Rather than using her status as queen to pursue her own satisfaction, she sought to advance Christ’s reign on earth. Like her namesake and great-aunt St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Elizabeth of Portugal was a devoted patroness and personal friend of the poor and sick, and she compelled the women who served her at court to care for them as well. The queen’s bishop testified that she had a custom of secretly inviting lepers, whom she would bathe and clothe, even though the law of the land barred them from approaching the castle.

St. Elizabeth’s virtue also had to pass through the crucible of suffering. Her commitment to the Gospel also became evident when she intervened to prevent civil war in the kingdom on two occasions. Saint Elizabeth helped her country avoid war during the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the keenest pangs she endured came from the revolt of her son, Alfonso, the only son of king Denis and St. Elizabeth, he resented the king’s indulgent treatment of one of his illegitimate sons, to the point that the father and son gathered together rival armies that were on the brink of open war in 1323. On this occasion, St. Elizabeth placed herself between the two opposing armies, insisting that Denis and Alfonso come to terms and make peace with one another. The King, however, soon acknowledged his error and made amends, and the saintly woman succeeded in effecting a reconciliation between father and son. In 1336, the last year of her life, she intervened in a similar manner to prevent her son from waging war against the King of Castile for his poor treatment of Alfonso’s own daughter. King Denis died in 1325 and his son Alfonso succeeded him. After the death of her husband, St. Elizabeth became a  Franciscan, she took the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis and retired to a convent of Poor Clares, she had established some years before devoting her life to the poor, the sick and the most marginalized. Hearing that her son, Alphonsus IV, King of Portugal, had gone to war with her grandson, Alfonso XI, King of Castile, she set out on a journey to reconcile them and succeeded. This was the Saint’s last act of mercy, for having arrived at Estremoz, on the frontiers of Castile where her son was, she fell ill. After receiving the Last Sacraments, she died on July 4, 1336. The testimony of miracles accomplished through her intercession, after her death in 1336, contributed to her canonization by Pope Urban VIII in 1625. Charity to the poor was one of her characteristic virtues, and her works for the good of her fellowmen knew no bounds. Because St. Elizabeth was faithful to daily Mass, she found strength to carry her many great crosses. We should try our best to make it a habit to go to Mass daily. St. Elizabeth is the Patron Saint of  brides; charitable societies; against jealousy; charitable workers; charity workers; charitiesm; Coimbra, Portugal; difficult marriages; falsely accused people; invoked in time of war; peace; queens; tertiaries; victims of adultery; victims of jealousy; victims of unfaithfulness; widows.

PRAYER: God, Author of peace and Lover of charity, You endowed St. Elizabeth with the wondrous grace of bringing dissidents together. Through her intercession enable us to practice works of peace so that we may be called children of God. Amen. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, Religious ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

SAINT BERTHA OF ARTOIS, WIDOW, ABBESS: St. Bertha (644-723) was born in France in the year 644, was the daughter of Count Rigobert, who served in the court of Clovis II, and Ursanna, daughter of the king of Kent in England. In the twentieth year of her age this beautiful and pious maiden was married to the cousin of the king, the noble Sigfried, who determined to advance with his spouse along the paths of Christian perfection. They were blessed with five daughters, of whom two died in infancy; two others, Gertrude and Deotila, are canonized Saints like their mother. After several years of the most harmonious union, Sigfried died in 672, and Saint Bertha took the veil in a monastery which by divine instructions she built at Blangy in the district of Artois, France, a little distance from Hesdin. The monastery was solemnly consecrated in January of the year 682, and the holy widow endowed it with her terrains. Her daughters Gertrude and Deotila, greatly impressed by their mother’s act, soon followed her example.

St. Bertha was persecuted by Roger, or Rotgar, a young lord of the court of King Thierry III, who was furious over her refusal to give him Gertrude, already a professed religious, in marriage. He endeavored to slander her mother as being opposed to the succession of Thierry and involved with the English royalty in a conspiracy. The King sent for the Abbess to defend her cause, not sure that such conduct could be attributed to this holy woman. He took her in fact under his protection, and the persecution was halted. On her return to Blangy, St. Bertha had three churches built, to honor Saint Omer, Saint Vaast, and Saint Martin of Tours, and completed the construction of her convent. And then, after establishing the Rule of Saint Benedict and a regular observance in her community, she named Saint Deotila to replace her as abbess, and retired to a solitary cell to spend the remainder of her days in prayer. At the age of 79, having already buried her two daughters Deotila and Emma, she left Gertrude as Abbess in the monastery of Blangy, and died peacefully in the year 723.

Saint Bertha of Artois, Widow, Abbess ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

SAINT ULRIC OF AUGSBURG, BISHOP: St. Ulric (890-973) was born in 890 at Kyburg, Zurich, Switzerland as the son of Count Hucpald and Thetbirga. He was related to the dukes of Alamannia and the imperial family of the Ottos. He was a sickly child, but as a boy was educated at the monastic school of Saint Gall and proved to be an excellent student. He also served as chamberlain to his uncle, Blessed Adalbero, bishop of Augsburg and later ordained him. The young man was wise in the ways of God and carried out his duties with utmost reverence and great prudence. He was zealous at prayer, diligent in study, and magnanimous toward the poor. Aware of the fragile character of chastity, he shunned every hint of danger, saying: “Take away the fuel, and you take away the fire.” He was ordained as Bishop of Augsburg on December 28, 923. During his time as bishop, he built churches, visited from parish to parish, worked with the sick in hospitals and provided for the instruction, relief, and comfort his flock—working long hours and praying unceasingly. He set a good example for his priests to follow, and brought relics from Rome. He made a visitation of his diocese annually and held synods of the clergy semi-annually. His good works paid off in the form of improved moral and social conditions for both the clergy and laity.

In 955, the Magyars plundered Germany and once again attacked Augsburg. This time, however, they were stopped and hurled back. Due to St. Ulric’s courage, his leadership, and his ability to organize the resistance, Augsburg held firm until Emperor Otto arrived and the people attributed this triumph to the prayers of their holy Bishop who had continued in prayer for his flock, like Moses on the mountain. On August 10, 955, a battle was fought in Lechfeld, and the invaders were finally defeated. Some legends say that St. Ulric actually fought in the battle, but that was impossible.

After 48 years as bishop, an ill and exhausted Ulric resigned his seat, and handed the diocese over to his nephew-a move which had the blessing of the emporer, but which the Synod of Ingelheim ruled uncanonical, and they charged and tried the aging bishop for nepotism. St. Ulric apologized, did penance, and was forgiven, the message of which reached him on his death bed. St. Ulric died on July 4, 973 at Augsburg, Germany of natural causes. He was buried in the Church of Saint Afra. A letter circulated for a while that indicated St. Ulric did not support priestly celibacy, seeing it as an unnecessary burden. However, this was later proven a forgery, and St. Ulric had certainly enforced the discipline upon himself as well as his clergy. St. Ulric was the first saint to be canonized by a Pope, which led to the formal process that continues today. Legend has it that pregnant women who drank from his chalice had easy deliveries, and thus developed his patronage of pregnant women and easy births. The touch of his pastoral cross was used to heal people bitten by rabid dogs. Miracles recorded at his tomb influenced Pope John XV to canonize St. Ulric on February 3, 993. He’s Patron Saint against birth complications, against faintness, against fever, against mice and moles (except those in holes); diocese of Augsburg, Germany; happy death, weavers, San Dorligo della Valle, Creazzo, Italy.

PRAYER: God, You willed that St. Ulric, Your Bishop, should shine forth with pastoral solicitude and compassion for the poor. Help us who celebrate his merits to imitate his charity. Amen. Saint Ulric of Augsburg, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏🏽

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was born in Turin, Italy, to a wealthy and prominent Italian family on on April 6, 1901. He was a handsome, vibrant, joyful, courageous, devout Catholic and athletic youth with an adventurous spirit and a strong zest for life. He loved mountain climbing, the theater, opera, and literature. He also had a deep spiritual life and a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, even while his piety provoked criticism from his parents. He challenged his friends to a life of virtue, leading them in spiritual exercises such as daily Mass and the rosary. He joined the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in 1918 and became a Lay Dominican in 1922. He was also politically active in resisting fascism and communism; he took part in public  demonstrations and joined religious-political organizations such as the Catholic Students Federation and Catholic Action. He also spent much time caring for the sick and poor to a heroic degree, yet his parents punished him when they caught him giving away his money and possessions. While ministering to the sick he contracted polio and died just six days later at the age of 24. His family, thinking he suffered from a mild sickness, did not realize the seriousness of his condition until it was too late. At his funeral his parents were shocked to find thousands of the city’s poor, whom their son had helped in some way, arrive to pay their respects. He died too soon at just 24 but has since become the model for lay people – and future popes! – all over the world. He’s a saint for the modern world, and especially for the young people of our time.

These are 12 amazing facts of his short but very intense life: 1. Despite being raised by agnostic parents, Pier Giorgio’s inclinations to help others manifested in his childhood. Once as a child, he answered the door to find a mother begging with her son who was shoeless. He took off his own shoes and gave them to the child; 2. At an early age, Pier Giorgio joined the Marian Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer, and obtained permission to receive daily Communion, which was rare at the time. 3. At the same time, Pier Giorgio was known among his friends as “Il Terrore” (“the Terror”) due to his fondness for practical jokes. 4. At 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to take care of the poor, the homeless, the sick and the demobilized servicemen returning from World War I. 5. In 1919, he joined the Catholic Student Foundation and the Popular Party, whose principles were based in the Social Doctrine of the Church. He strongly opposed the rise of Fascist leader Benito Mussolini and was jailed in Rome after joining the protest of the Catholic Workers’ Association. 6. Pier Giorgio would be notable for giving literally everything he had to the poor. He would even use his bus fare for charity and then run home to be on time for meals. 7. An avid and accomplished mountain-climber, he saw many parallels between Catholic life and his favorite pastime. He would regularly organize trips into the mountains with occasions for prayers and conversations about faith on the way up or down from the summit. 8. After what would become his final climb he wrote a simple note on a photograph: “Verso L’Alto” (“To the Heights”)–a phrase that has become a popular Catholic motto. 9. At 24, Pier Giorgio became very ill with polio. Some of his friends believed that he contracted the disease from the people in the slums of Turin. In his last days, he whispered the names of people who still needed assistance to his family and friends who gathered at his bedside. He died on July 4, 1925 (aged 24) at Turin, Kingdom of Italy. Bl. Pier Giorgio’s mortal remains were found incorrupt in 1981 and were transferred from the family tomb in the cemetery of Pollone to the Cathedral of Turin. 10. Frassati was declared “Blessed” on May 29, 1990 by Pope St. John Paul II, who called him a “Man of the Eight Beatitudes” and a “joyful apostle of Christ.” A year before, after visiting his tomb, Pope John Paul II revealed that he also had felt in his own youth “the beneficial influence of his example.” He left the world rather young,” he said, “but he made a mark upon our entire century.” 11. In her biography of her brother, Pier Giorgio’s sister, Luciana wrote that “he represented the finest in Christian youth: pure, happy, enthusiastic about everything that is good and beautiful.” 12. Pier Giorgio’s popularity is big among young people, especially in America. Many apostolates have been created with his name and he is currently regarded as the Catholic patron of Students (mainly because he wasn’t good at school), Young Catholics, Mountaineers, Youth groups, Catholic Action, Dominican tertiaries (he became one), and World Youth Day. According to the website dedicated to him by the USCCB, for years he has been “a significant global patron for youth and young adults – and has a special place in the hearts of young people across the United States as well. Pope St. John Paul II declared him a patron for World Youth Days and deemed him the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes” as he exemplified those blessings in his everyday life” at his beatification on May 20, 1990 at Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City. His feast day is July 4th.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati ~ Pray for us🙏🏽