SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 4TH

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH OF LEONESSA, PRIEST; SAINT JOAN OF VALOIS, QUEEN OF FRANCE AND SAINT ANDREW CORSINI, BISHOP OF FIESOLE: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 4TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint  Joseph of Leonessa, Priest; Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France and Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole.

SAINT JOSEPH OF LEONESSA, PRIEST St. Joseph of Leonessa, OFM Cap.; was  born Eufranio Desideri at Leonessa in Umbria, Italy on January 8, 1556. He was the third of eight children. At baptism he was given the name Eufranio. Impressed by the example of Matthew Silvestri, who had left the medical profession to embrace the Capuchin life and whose holiness was evident, Eufranio was inspired to become a Capuchin.  After overcoming family opposition, he was admitted to the novitiate and received the habit and the name Joseph and made profession on January 8, 1573. On May 21, 1581, the Capuchin general vicar issued patents for preaching, the ministry in which Joseph would be engaged for the remainder of his life. Relying solely on grace and with a mission crucifix always tucked in his cincture, Joseph negotiated the most obscure, mountainous regions of Umbria, Lazio and the Abruzzi in an intense and extensive mission of evangelization among those who were poor. Joseph enjoyed such great success in preaching because of his intimate union with God which was cultivated by incessant prayer. He would pray and meditate on the road, while holding his crucifix. Assigned to  Constantinople he was appointed as chaplain to some 4,000 Christian slaves who worked in the penal colony of Qaasim-pacha. He immediately went to work bringing the gospel and charitable relief to those who were languishing in inhumane conditions. Many times he offered himself as a substitute in order to obtain the release of a slave who was near death. His offer was never accepted.

When the plague broke out in the penal colonies, the Capuchins immediately took up the ministry of assisting those who were sick and dying. Two Capuchins, Peter and Dennis, died doing so. Although Joseph became ill, he and Brother Gregory alone survived to remain at the mission. After converting a Greek bishop who had renounced the faith, Joseph devised a plan which entailed approaching the sultan, Murad 111, to seek the recognition of the right of freedom of conscience for anyone who was converted or returned to the Christian faith. When Joseph attempted to enter the sultan’s chambers, he was arrested and bound in chains. He was condemned to an immediate death by being hung on hooks. He was hung from the gallows with one hook through the tendons of his right hand and another through his right foot.  Near death, on the evening of the third day, the guards cut him down. Joseph quickly left Turkey and arrived at Rome where he and the converted Greek bishop presented themselves to Pope Sixtus V. Following Joseph’s return to Italy, in the autumn of 1589, he took up residence at the Carcerelle in Assisi. In the aftermath of the Council of Trent, Joseph spent much time and energy catechizing. He began a ministry of evangelization among shepherds who lacked even rudimentary knowledge of the faith, prayer and the commandments. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell, reminding parents to send their children to catechism class. When he became deathly ill, Joseph asked to be taken to Leonessa in order to pay his last respects to his relatives and friends. On Saturday evening, February 4, 1612, after beginning the divine office,which proved too difficult to continue, Joseph repeated his favorite prayer: “Sancta Maria, succurre miseris.”  Joseph was beatified by Clement XII in 1737 and canonized by Benedict XIV in 1746.

PRAYER: O God, You made St. Joseph and illustrious preacher of the Gospel. Through his intercession, enkindle us with love and with his zeal for souls that we may serve You alone. Amen🙏

SAINT JOAN OF VALOIS, QUEEN OF FRANCE: St. Joan of Valois (1464-1505) also known as Jane, Jeanne, Joanna of France. The second daughter of Louis X1, King of France, and Charlotte of Savoy, she was born on April 23, 1464. Joan’s father hated her from birth, partly because of her sex and partly because she was sickly and deformed.  Joan had a hump on her back and walked with a limp, suggesting that she had curvature of the spine. At the age of five, she was sent away to be brought up by guardians in a lonely country home, deprived of common comforts and sometimes even necessities. The neglected child offered her whole heart to God, and yearned to do some special service in honor of His blessed Mother. She developed a deep devotion to Our Lady, praying the Angelus daily. At the age of two months Joan was betrothed to Louis, Duke of Orleans, the future King Louis XII, and the marriage took place when she was just nine years old. The marriage was forced upon Louis and was never consummated.

After her marriage, Joan suffered even more than before. The duke hated the fact that she was imposed on him in the marriage, and even publicly insulted and humiliated her. In spite of this, Joan loved him and remained a devoted and faithful wife for twenty-two years. Joan saved her husband’s life when her brother, King Charles VIII decided to execute him for rebellion. When the duke ascended to the throne in 1498 and wanted to marry Ann of Brittany, he had Pope Alexander VI declare his marriage to Joan null.  Joan offered no objections and accepted the situation with the patience that marked her entire life.  “If so it is to be, praised be the Lord”, was her remark on this occasion. With humility, in imitation of Our Lady, she accepted the will of God. In 1500, along with her Franciscan director, Gilbert Nicolas, Joan founded the Order of the Annunciation, a community whose chief rule was to imitate the virtues of Mary, as shown in the Gospels. Jane died in heroic sanctity at the age of 41 on February 4, 1505, and was buried in the royal crown and purple, beneath which lay the habit of her Order. She was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. Many miracles, particularly of healing, followed her death. St. Joan is the patron of those in difficult circumstances.

Quote:  “I am ugly in body but I want a beautiful soul.” ~ St. Joan of Valois

Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT ANDREW CORSINI, BISHOP OF FIESOLE: St. Andrew (1302 – 1373)
was born at the beginning of the fourteenth century in Florence Italy on November 30, 1302 to illustrious Corsini family and entered the Carmelite Order there. He was elected provincial of Tuscany at the general chapter of Metz in 1348. He was made bishop of Fiesole on October 13th, 1349, and gave the Church a wonderful example of love, apostolic zeal, prudence, and love of the poor.  A short time before the birth of Saint Andrew, his mother experienced a strange dream, in which she had given birth to a wolf which became a lamb upon entering a Carmelite church. After a dissolute youthful life Andrew repented, when one day in 1318 his desolate mother told him of her dream. He rose and went to the altar in the church where his parents had offered to God the child they hoped to obtain from His mercy; there he prayed to the Blessed Virgin with tears, then went to beg his admission to the Carmelite Order. He began a life of great mortification. Ordained a priest in 1328, he studied in Paris and Avignon, and on his return became the Apostle of Florence, and Prior of his convent there.

In 1360, despite his efforts to the contrary, he was made Bishop of Fiesole in Tuscany, near Florence, and gained a great reputation as a peacemaker between rival political factions and for his love of the poor. He was also named papal nuncio to Bologna, where he pacified dissenting factions and won the hearts of the nobility with whom he was associating. He wrought many miracles of healing and conversion during his lifetime. A man of austere penance, he fasted continuously, always wore a hair shirt, and prayed the penitential psalms daily. For humility’s sake he often washed the feet of the poor and beggars. His special gift from God was the grace to effect the conversion of hardened sinners. At the age of 71, while he was celebrating the midnight Mass of Christmas, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him he would leave this world on the feast of the Epiphany, to meet the beloved Master he had served so faithfully. In effect, he died on that day on January 6, 1373 in Fiesole, Italy, in the thirteenth year of his episcopacy. Miracles were so multiplied thereafter that Pope Eugenius IV permitted a public cult immediately. The city of Florence has always invoked him with confidence and happy results. Canonized on April 22, 1629 at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Papal States; by Pope Urban VIII. He’s Patron Saint: Against Civil disorder; Against riot; Florence; Fiesole; Diplomats;

Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole ~ Pray for us 🙏