MEMORIAL OF SAINT LOUIS IX OF FRANCE, KING AND SAINT JOSEPH OF CALASANZ, PRIEST AND SAINT GENESIUS OF ROME, MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY – AUGUST 25TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Louis IX of France, King and Saint Joseph of Calasanz, Priest and Saint Genesius of Rome, Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed, and we pray for those who mourn. We pray for the safety and well-being of all students and youths, for the poor and needy, and for peace, love, and unity in our marriages, our families, and our world. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, 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.🙏
SAINT LOUIS IX OF FRANCE, KING: St. Louis IX (1215-1270) was born in Poissy, France, on April 25th, 1215. His father was King Louis VIII, and his mother was Blanche, daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile. At the age of twelve, he lost his father, and he became King of France at the age of twelve, and his mother, Blanche of Castile, became regent of the kingdom. From his tenderest infancy, she had inspired him with love for holy things and had religiously brought him up. In 1234, the Saint married Margaret, the virtuous daughter of Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, and two years later, he took the reins of government into his own hands. Reigning from 1226 to 1270, St. Louis IX showed how a saint would act on the throne of France. He was a lovable personality, a kind husband, a father of eleven children, and at the same time a strict ascetic.Throughout his life, he remained deeply devout and as a king, his conduct was that of a real saint. He devoted himself to the affairs of his kingdom and to those of Christendom and was a great peacemaker — kings and princes constantly sought his aid in settling disputes. He was humble and upright, helpful to the needy, and in-person nursed lepers and the sick. St. Louis gave to all the examples of a life overflowing with charity and sovereign justice. He was a tertiary of the Order of the Holy Trinity and Captives (the Trinitarians) and a strong supporter of the Franciscan Orders and other mendicant orders as well
In 1238, he headed a crusade, in which he fell a prisoner among the Mohammedans, but a truce was concluded, and he was set free and returned to France. In 1267, he again set out for the East at the head of a crusade, but he never again beheld his native land. In 1270, he was stricken by the pestilence at the siege of Tunis and died after receiving the Last Sacraments. St. Louis died of the plague near Tunis, lying on a bed of ashes, during a crusade for the deliverance of the Holy Land during the Second Crusade on August 25th, 1270. He is the patron of masons and builders.A full decade before he died in Tunis, in honor of the King’s support and Catholic manner of life, St. Bonaventure proposed to the Franciscans’ General Chapter that suffrages be prayed for the King annually (essentially a Feast Day, as for those already sainted!), the Chapter approved the proposal three years later. Immediately after Louis IX’s death, the Franciscans began an active campaign for his canonization, and he was venerated by the Secular Franciscan Order and the Third Order Regular as protector and advocate as soon as he was canonized. He was canonized in 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII. St. Louis IX is the Patron Saint of Third Order of Franciscans (Secular Franciscans); barbers; builders; button makers; construction workers; Crusaders; death of children; difficult marriages; distillers; embroiderers; French monarchs; grooms; haberdashers; hairdressers; hair stylists; kings; masons; needle workers; parenthood; parents of large families; prisoners; sculptors; sick people; soldiers; stone masons; stonecutters; tertiaries; Archdiocese of Saint Louis, Missouri.
PRAYER: God, You transferred St. Louis from the cares of an earthly throne to the glory of the heavenly Kingdom. Grant, through his intercession, that we may seek Your eternal Kingdom by carrying out our earthly duties. Amen 🙏
SAINT JOSEPH OF CALASANZ, PRIEST: St. Joseph of Calasanz (1556-1648) was born at Peralta de la Sal in Aragon, Spain, in 1556. At an early age, St. Joseph loved to care for children; he gathered them together, conducted religion classes in boyish fashion, and taught them how to pray. After a time of severe illness, he studied law and theology and was ordained a priest in 1583. He always showed a great interest in the religious instruction of children, especially of those who were poor and neglected. In 1592, the Saint journeyed to Rome and became theologian to Cardinal Marc-Antonio Colonna. Here he joined the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. His reputation for sanctity inspired the Bishop of Lerida to appoint him as his confessor, theologian, and synodal examiner. He became so convinced of the necessity of imparting religious instruction to children at an early age that he began this work alone in the Trastevere, where he rented several rooms in which he opened a little school, a free school for the education of homeless children, teaching the children reading, writing, and arithmetic. After some time several companions joined him in the good work and he began to lead a community life with them. Thus, he laid the foundation of a congregation, in 1602 he founded the Order of Piarists who were to continue this charitable work among youth.
The Poor Clerks Regular (Piarists) is a community devoted to the task of educating youth. In the course of time grew the Congregation was that of the “Clerics Regular of the Poor Schools of the Mother of God”. During the life of the holy founder, the Order spread throughout Italy and afterward to other countries. By a brief of 1622 Pope Gregory XV approved the constitutions and appointed the holy founder General of the Order. The virtuous and austere life of this great servant of God came to an end on August 25, 1648 at Rome. He was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. St.Joseph is the Patron Saint of Colleges; schoolchildren; schools; schools for the poor; students; universities.
PRAYER: God, You adorned St. Joseph Your Priest with excelling love and patience so that he might labor for the formation of Christian youth. Grant that as we honor this teacher of wisdom we may follow his example in working for truth. Amen 🙏
SAINT GENESIUS OF ROME, MARTYR: St. Genesius of Rome (d. 303 AD) was a renowned actor and playwright, the leader of a popular acting troupe during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. When the Emperor was killing Christians, St. Genesius wrote plays to mock them and expose their secret rites to ridicule. To research for a play mocking baptism, he went to a priest pretending to desire the sacraments and was fully instructed as a catechumen. St. Genesius prepared his play and instructed the other actors in their parts. On performance day the Emperor was present. St. Genesius played the lead character seeking baptism, and the rite was performed in such a ludicrous manner that all present laughed. As the water was poured over St. Genesius’ head by an actor playing the priest’s part, St. Genesius saw a vision of the heavens opened and the hand of God touching him. He also saw an angel who showed him that his many sins had been washed away through the valid baptism he had just received. At that moment St. Genesius’ heart was changed by the Holy Spirit and he believed in the truth of Christianity.
At the conclusion of the play St. Genesius boldly declared his new faith, recounting how he had been a scoffer until that moment. He implored the audience, including the Emperor, to follow Christ. The crowd thought this was part of the performance, but once they understood it was real, St. Genesius was seized. The Emperor, furious, subjected him to cruel tortures daily to make him renounce his faith in Christ. St. Genesius staunchly refused and was beheaded. The Christians collected his body and buried him with the other martyrs. St. Genesius is the patron saint of comedians, dancers, actors, musicians, printers, and torture victims. His feast day is August 25th.
Saint Genesius of Rome, Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏