MEMORIAL OF SAINT GALDINUS, ARCHBISHOP OF MILAN; BLESSED MARY OF THE INCARNATION, RELIGIOUS; SAINT PETER OF SAINT JOSEPH BETANCUR, MISSIONARY AND SAINT APOLLONIUS, MARTYR – FEAST DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Galdinus, Archbishop of Milan; Blessed Mary of the Incarnation (Barbe Avrillot) and St. Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick, the poor and the needy in our world. We also pray for all Christians, for increase in faith and devotion to God.🙏
SAINT GALDINUS, ARCHBISHOP OF MILAN: St. Galdinus was born in 1100 to the renowned Della Scala family of Milan, Galdinus became a priest and served as chancellor and archdeacon under two Archbishops of Milan. He diligently carried out his duties and gained the confidence of the people. At the election of Pope Alexander III in 1159, a few disgruntled Cardinals sought to establish a rival Pope who was more favorable to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and his schemes to extend his power. However, the people chose to accept Alexander as their Pontiff and so aroused the ire of Barbarossa. Galdinus and Archhbishop Hubert were forced to flee, seeking exile outside the city for a time in 1161 when Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa took revenge on Milan in the dispute with the Holy See.
St. Galdinus was elected archbishop and created a cardinal in 1165. Galdinus was made a Cardinal and –the next year upon the death of Archbishop Hubert—Archbishop of Milan. In this position, Galdinus assisted in rebuilding Milan in the wake of Barbarossa’s occupation, which had begun in 1160. The Saint preached continuously and aided and comforted the poor. He restored discipline among the clergy, directed his wisdom against the schism, and strove to overcome the teaching of the Cathari, who were making inroads into Lombardi. He was a fierce opponent of the Lombards. In 1176, St. Galdinus died in the pulpit after delivering a passionate sermon against false teachings. That same year, the Lombard league overwhelmed the imperial army at the Battle of Legnano. In the wake of this defeat, in 1177 Barbarossa went humbly to meet the Pope in Venice, abjured his schism, and made his peace with the Church. St. Galdinus was known for his sweetness and goodness, welcoming all as equals, except in the case of defending his position, when he was an example of fortitude and vigor. He is remembered also for his charity in Milan to the poor and to those imprisoned for debt. He is a Patron Saint of both Lombardy and Archdiocese of Milan.
PRAYER: God, You made Your Bishop St. Galdinus an outstanding minister of Your Church by his prayer and pastoral zeal. Through his prayers grant that Your faithful flock may always find pastors after Your heart and salutary pastures. Amen🙏
BLESSED MARY OF THE INCARNATION, RELIGIOUS: Blessed Mary of the Incarnation, also as Madame Acarie or Barbe Avrillot (1566-1618) was the foundress of the nuns of the Discalced Carmelite Order in France, who later became a lay sister of the Order. She has been called the “mother of Discalced Carmel in France”. Blessed Mary of the Incarnation was born in Paris on February 1, 1566; both of her parents were members of the most ancient families of that great city. Before she was born, several other children had seen the light of day, but all died in their infancy. During the time her mother awaited this child, she vowed her to the Blessed Virgin and Saint Claude, promising to clothe her in white until the age of seven and to offer her in a church of the Blessed Virgin. She was born a very healthy babe, and baptized with the name of Barbara, on the day after the Purification of Our Lady. She was of a gentle temperament and an angelic modesty, and at the age of eleven was placed as a intern student in a religious house of the Order of Saint Clare near Paris, where she had a maternal aunt. She continually advanced in virtue and felt great distaste for all the things of this world, along with an insatiable ardor for those of heaven. When she returned home at the age of fourteen, she wished to enter a religious Order for the care of the sick in Paris, but her parents opposed this plan. Her mother informed her she would never permit her to become a nun. The young girl believed God was speaking to her through her mother and obeyed. Several offers of marriage were presented, and before her eighteenth birthday she married Pierre Acarie de Villemor, a man of great nobility, piety and charity. Six children were born to them, and their pious mother raised them with great care. She taught them never to complain of circumstances or persons, inspired in them horror for lying, and strove to make them recognize in their hearts any sentiments of vainglory. Her three daughters became Carmelites, and her three sons entered, in turn, the magistracy, the priesthood and the military career. In spite of her household duties and many hardships, she attained the heights of the mystical life. She was distinguished by her spirit of prayer and her zeal for the propagation of the Catholic faith.
When her husband encountered difficulties of a political nature, his household was seized, and the very furniture where the family was seated at table was removed from beneath them. She accepted these circumstances without growing troubled, and in fact defended her husband in court, drafting memoirs, writing letters and furnishing proofs of his innocence. He was acquitted and enabled to return to the city after three years. Blessed Mary was so sage in her almsgiving that during a famine the wealthy persons who desired to help the poor caused their alms to pass through her hands, and this holy woman was universally honored. She entered into the spirit of the current reforms of the religious Orders and the foundation of new Congregations which were reviving the spirit of piety in France. Through her efforts she merited the title of Foundress of the Carmelites in France. Six nuns from Spain brought the spirit of Saint Teresa with them, and soon the principal cities of France had a house of this Order. Blessed Mary of the Incarnation also contributed to the works of the first Ursulines in Paris for the education of youth, and to the establishment of the Oratorians of Italy in France. Her worthy spouse died in 1613; she then requested admission to the Carmelite Order herself. She arrived saying, I am a poor mendicant who begs of you the divine mercy, and that I may cast myself into the arms of religion. At Amiens where she dwelt, her own daughter was Superior; and a perpetual contest in humility began, observed by all. She died in 1618, on Wednesday of Easter week, at the age of fifty-two years, loved and praised by all who had known her. She was Beatified on April 24, 1791 at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Papal States by Pope Pius VI; her mortal remains are in the chapel of the Carmelites of Pontoise. She’s the Patron Saint of those with Hepatitis and the poor.
Prayer From Blessed Mary of the Incarnation
“Lord Jesus “conform my spirit to your blessed humanity, filling my mind with knowledge and my memory with a continual recollection of You, my will with an ardent affection for your Majesty, [conform] my soul to your very holy soul… Enlighten me inwardly with the light of your Divinity, all the more so as I believe, by it, that you are totally within me. By this means, I very humbly beg you to look from now on through my eyes, speak by my tongue, and accomplish by all my members and senses the things which are agreeable to you.”
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you gave Blessed Mary of the Incarnation heroic strength in the face of the adversities she met along life’s road, and zeal for the extension of the Carmelite family. May we your children courageously endure every trial and persevere to the end in your love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever… Amen. Blessed Mary of the Incarnation, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏
SAINT PETER OF SAINT JOSEPH BETANCUR, MISSIONARY: St. Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur y Gonzáles or Pedro de San José Betancur (1626-1667), also known as Hermano Pedro, was a Spanish saint and missionary in Guatemala. He was born on March 21, 1626 in Vilaflor, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain in the Canary Islands, into poverty to Amador Betancur and Ana Garcia Gonzalez Betancur. He was a shepherd until the age of 24 at which time he traveled to Guatemala, then the capital of New Spain, hoping to connect with a relative and to begin training to be a priest. The journey so impoverished him that he entered a bread line served by the Franciscans. He took up work in a textile factory and later entered a Jesuit college to study for the priesthood. Being too poor to continue his studies, he instead became a Franciscan tertiary. He dedicated his life to helping the poor and oppressed in jails and hospitals, as well as ministering to African slaves, Native Americans, and anyone else in need. He also founded a hospital, a school for the poor, and a homeless shelter. He also preached to the rich, inviting them to repent of their sins.
Because of his effective apostolate he became known as “St. Francis of the Americas.” People were attracted to his way of life and followed him, leading to the founding of the Order of Bethlehemite Brothers and Sisters, Instituto de Hermanas Bethlemitas. In addition to serving the poor, they had the charism of special devotion to the Divine Child and the Blessed Virgin, and offered prayer and sacrifices for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Each night St. Peter would carry a heavy wooden cross through the streets as a form of penance and evangelization. It is also said that he was the first to start the Posadas procession during Advent. He died on April 25, 1667 at Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala and was buried at Iglesia Católica San Francisco el Grande, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. He was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II as the first saint from Central America. His feast day is April 18.
St. Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur, Missionary ~ Pray for us🙏
SAINT APOLLONIUS, MARTYR: St. Apollonius the Apologist or Saint Apollonius of Rome was born in Rome Italy and died April 21, 185. He was a 2nd-century Christian martyr and apologist. His Apologia, or defense of the faith, is considered one of the most priceless documents of the early Church. Apollonius was a Roman senator who was denounced as a Christian by one of his slaves. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius had persecuted the Christians, but his son Commodus, who in 180 succeeded to the throne, was favorable to them, out of regard to his Empress Marcia, an admirer of the Faith. During this calm the number of the faithful greatly increased, and many persons of first rank, among them Apollonius, a Roman senator, enlisted themselves under the banner of the cross. He was already very well versed both in philosophy and Holy Scripture, as we learn from Saint Jerome, who had read and admired his discourse in the Senate of Rome on behalf of the Christian religion. The loss of this document is much regretted.
In the midst of the peace which the Church enjoyed, Saint Apollonius was publicly accused of Christianity by one of his own slaves. What followed evokes our surprise. Marcus Aurelius, during his reign, had published an edict ordering that the accusers of Christians be put to death, but he had done so without repealing the former laws against convicted Christians. Thus the slave was immediately condemned to have his legs broken and be put to death; but immediately afterwards, to ascertain whether the accusation was true, the same judge sent an order to Saint Apollonius to renounce his religion if he valued his life and fortune. The Saint courageously rejected such ignominious terms of safety, whereupon the judge referred him to the Roman senate, to give an account of his faith to that body, very hostile to Christians. Persisting in his refusal to comply with the condition, Saint Apollonius was condemned by their decree and beheaded.
Saint Apollonius, Martyr ~ Pray for us🙏