St. Veronica Giuliani - Capuchin Nun & Mystic

As a child, Ursula Giuliani was devout and charitable; but she was rather stuck-up about her devotions, and resented it when others would not share in them. She was also rather stuck-up about her father when he began to rise in politics.

These, however were faults that she outgrew. Following a vision of Our Lady, she vowed to become a nun. Her father strongly disapproved, but at length he relented, so in 1677 Ursula entered the Capuchin order of nuns at Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy. Here she was given the name Veronica. Trials of various sorts, including those imposed by her wary superiors to test her, made her first months in the convent very difficult.

After she had professed her vows, her devotion to the Passion of Christ became ever more profound. In a series of visions, Jesus began to share with her some of His pains on the cross. In 1694, the imprint of the crown of thorns appeared on her head, and on Good Friday, 1697, she received His five wounds on her hands, feet and side.

The local bishop eventually decided to study these phenomena himself. In the presence of several nuns, he examined the stigmata and satisfied himself that they were genuine wounds. Thereupon he established a program of further study so as to be sure that no fraud was involved. He forbade the stigmatist to receive Communion, to associate with the other nuns, and to have any communications with the outside world. She was to be under constant observation for a period by a lay sister. Her wounds were to be dressed and bandaged, and her hands clothed in gloves sealed with the bishop's seal.

It was a hard regime for Sister Veronica to bear, but she took it all with cheerful patience. The phenomena, meanwhile, continued unabated. At length the bishop was satisfied that no deceit was involved. When he reported her humble acceptance to Rome, the Holy See called a halt to the experiment. The dossier that the bishop had prepared on her stigmata and other mystical gifts would furnish a unique study of such graces, and constitute important evidence when the cause of her beatification was introduced.

One interesting prophecy by St. Veronica was verified after her death. She once told her confessor that the instruments of Jesus' passion were in her heart, but moved about, and she drew a sketch of them. An official postmortem examination of her heart showed a number of minute objects in the right ventricle resembling those in her sketch.

But Veronica Giuliani did not spend her fifty years in the convent in mystical rapture. She was active in the management of her religious house. It is interesting to note that during her 34 years as mistress of novices, she discouraged the apprentice nuns from fancying that they were mystics. She knew only too well that there could be dangerous fantasies for the untutored. When elected abbess eleven years before her death, she showed herself also a common-sense and practical administrator. Embarking on an extensive building program, she enlarged the convent quarters and piped in a better water system.

Stricken finally with apoplexy, the "Spouse of the Lord" accepted this last trial with typical resignation and joy. She was canonized in 1839 as a woman who had scaled the heights of devotion, yet always kept two feet on the ground.

Article by Father Robert F. McNamara

St. Leopold Mandic, Capuchin Priest Confessor

On 12th May, 1866, in Castelnuovo - a small port at the southern tip of Dalmatia a twelfth child was born to Peter and Caroline Mandic. He was named and baptised Bogdan, 'the God-given-one'.

Although physically frail, from his youth he showed signs of great spiritual strength and integrity. At the age of 16 years, Bogdan left home for Italy where he put himself under the tuition of the Capuchins at Udine as a student in the Seraphic School and an aspirant for the Order. Life was not easy for him there, since he was physically malformed and still delicate in health.

Nevertheless, he applied himself to his studies with great enthusiasm. And on 20th April, 1884, Bogdan entered the Capuchin Order as a novice at Bassano del Grappa and took the religious name of Brother Leopold. In spite of the austerities of Capuchin life, he persevered with courage and drank deeply of Franciscan Spirituality of which he was to become one of the finest models. After his Profession of Vows in May, 1885, he embarked on a course of clerical studies first at Padua and then at Venice. Finally, he was ordained in Venice on 20th September, 1890.

Now wishing to fulfil a childhood ambition of becoming a missionary in Eastern Europe, torn apart by much religious strife, he was denied this by his superiors and because of his frailty and general ill-health. This was assuredly a testing-time for the new Father Leopold, but God had other work for him to do.

From 1890 to 1906, Father Leopold was stationed at various Friaries in the Venetian Province, including Friaries in his homeland of Dalmatia, where the Italian friars had a mission. In 1906, he was posted to Padua, where, except for one year which he spent in a prison camp during World War I, because he would not renounce his Croat nationality, he remained for the rest of his life. It was in Padua that he took up the apostolate of Confessor and Spiritual Director... a work which proved to be the means through which God used his servant, Father Leopold, for almost forty years, and for which Leopold Mandic is best known.

On 22nd September, 1940, Father Leopold celebrated his Golden Jubilee of the Priesthood. After this, however, his health deteriorated rapidly. He died in the Friary at Padua on 30th July, 1942. And soon after his death a strong veneration of his memory began to flourish culminating in his beatification by Pope Paul VI on 2nd May, 1976, and, his canonisation by Pope John Paul II on 16th October, 1983.

The life of Saint Leopold Mandic is characterised by the contrast between his physical frailty and his spiritual strength. He was born physically weak, and spent the whole of his life in that condition. He only reached 4ft 5ins in height and his general health became worse as he grew older. He suffered from abdominal pains, and was gradually deformed by chronic arthritis in later life, making his frame stooped and his hands gnarled, giving him much pain. He also suffered from a stammer in his speech.

But spiritually, Leopold Mandic was a giant, full of Christian strength.

It was his humility and faith in God's Goodness and Providence that enabled him to recognise and accept his poor physical condition. And this in turn led him to a greater realisation of his own lowliness in relation to God's mighty power - that without God he could do nothing. This strong faith was communicated to others when they came to Father Leopold for spiritual advice. He would say: "Have faith! Everything will be alright. Faith, Faith!" A compassionate man, Father Leopold gave tremendous encouragement to many people, especially those despairing of hope because of an enslavement to sin. He was truly an apostle. For although he did not go to the mission territory, his long service in the Confessional proved to be his own distinct apostolate. For nearly forty years, twelve hours a day, he received, counselled and absolved thousands of penitents. In this work he was a herald of God's love and forgiveness. And his human weakness highlights the gift of spiritual strength which enabled him to carry out this untiring apostolate.

Early in his Capuchin life, Leopold Mandic was asked to surrender his missionary aspirations and personal preference so as to be given the work of Confessor and Spiritual Advisor. He once expressed his feelings about this when he said: "I am like a bird in a cage, but my heart is beyond the seas."

O God, source of life and love, you gave Saint Leopold a tremendous compassion for sinners and a desire for church unity. Through his prayers, grant that we may acknowledge our need of forgiveness, show love to others, and strive to bring about a living unity among Christians. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

We have in heaven the heart of a mother, The Virgin, our Mother, who at the foot of the Cross suffered as much as possible for a human creature, understands our troubles and consoles us.  -  St. Leopold Mandic Capuchin

St. Maximilian Kolbe OFM. Conv

Bl. Jolenta (Yolande) of Poland

Yolande was the daughter of Bela IV, king of Hungary. Her mother, Mary, was the daughter of the Greek emperor of Constantinople. In the year 1240, when Yolande was scarcely five years old, she arrived at the court of Poland. Her elder sister, Blessed Kinga (Cunigunda), who was married to the duke of Poland, had asked to supervise the child’s education. Under such a mistress, Yolande grew not only in age, but also in virtue and grace before God and men.

When she arrived at young womanhood, Yolande was married to Boleslaus, the duke of Greater Poland. But the young duchess was not enamored of the glory and pleasure of this world. It was a greater pleasure for her to do good in her elevated position. Like a true sovereign, she came to the assistance of the poor and sick, the widows and the orphans. She and her husband built hospitals, convents, and churches, and she was so great an inspiration to him in everything that was good and pleasing to God, that he received the surname of the Pious.

But Boleslaus was soon to receive the reward of his piety in heaven. After his death and after two of her daughters were married, Yolande and her third daughter left all the glamor and riches of the world and withdrew to the convent of the Poor Clares at Sandec, where, devoted to prayer and mortification, she led a life entirely hidden in Christ. Disturbances resulting from war compelled her after a time to move to the convent at Gniezno, which she herself, assisted by her last consort, had founded.

In spite of the reluctance to which her humility prompted her, she was advanced to the position of abbess. So successfully did she guide her sisters by word and by example in the practice of all the religious virtues that the convent flourished like a new garden of God. Even beyond the walls of the cloister she did very much good, so that the fame of the holy abbess spread far and wide.

But, notwithstanding all her fame, she remained entirely devoted to the interior life, as her vocation required. Her favorite devotion was meditation on the sufferings of Christ, during which the Divine Savior once manifested Himself to her under the appearance of the Crucified. He announced to her that He would soon lead her to glory. Attacked by a serious illness, she asked to receive the last sacraments. Then she admonished her spiritual daughters to persevere in fidelity to the holy rule, and departed blessedly in the Lord in 1298.

After her death Yolande appeared in wondrous glory, together with St. Stanislaus the bishop, to the sick abbess and restored her health. Many other miracles occurred at her grave down to our own time. Pope Leo XII, in 1827, approved the veneration given to her.

Blessed Clare of Rimini...

Blessed Clare of Rimini, born as Chiara Agolanti, was born at Rimini in 1282 and died there on February 10, 1346. She was deprived at an early age of the support and guidance of her parents and, later, of her pious husband. She soon fell a prey to the dangers to which her youth and beauty exposed her, and began to lead a life of sinful dissipation.

One day when she was attending Mass in the church of the Franciscan Friars, she seemed to hear a mysterious voice that bade her say an Our Father and a Hail Mary at least once with fervour and attention. Clare obeyed the command, not knowing from where it came, and then began to reflect upon her life.
She made the decision to enter into the Third Order of St. Francis, resolving to expiate her sins by a life of penance. She soon became a model of every virtue, but more especially of charity towards the destitute and afflicted. When the Poor Clares were compelled to leave Regno on account of the prevailing wars, it was mainly through the exertions of Clare that they were able to obtain a convent and means of sustenance at Rimini.

Later, Clare herself entered the order of Poor Clares, along with several other pious women, and became superioress of the convent of Our Lady of the Angels at Rimini. She worked numerous miracles and towards the close of her life was favored in an extraordinary manner with the gift of contemplation. Her body now reposes in the cathedral of Rimini.

In 1782 the cult of Blessed Clare was approved by Pope Pius VI, who permitted her feast to be celebrated in the city and Diocese of Rimini on February 10.

Franciscan Charity Serving the Poor in Newark, USA..

Franciscan Charities, Inc., Newark, New Jersey, USA 


Their efforts began in 2005, in response to a call for help. A handful of people were gathered in the basement of St. Ann's, a nearly abandoned church in Newark's West Ward. They were poor and they were hungry. Could they help? 

A few volunteers went with homemade soup and sincere intentions.  What they found was a need so great they could not turn away.

That first day they served 12 clients. They had little access to running water, no kitchen to speak of, fickle electricity and many doubts. Gang members stood opposite their entrance, watching their comings and goings.

The police told them they were crazy. But they stayed, and soon 12 became 20, and 20 became 200. In time, a kitchen was built, a church was re-opened, the gangs moved on, the police shook their heads, and a small piece of community was reclaimed.

Today, just five years late, St. Ann's Soup Kitchen has become the hub for Franciscan Charities, Inc. and its ministries. Last year they provided over 75,000 meals, and distributed 18,000 bags of groceries to the poor of Newark.  


They provided 500 winter coats and hundreds of hats, gloves and scarves to those in need.  Their Annual Toy Drive guaranteed that every child had a gift at Christmas. With the help of their ministries, some of their clients have completed job training and found employment. Others have received medical attention, HIV testing and addiction counseling.


They launched their Children's Literacy Program during 2010 and established the Jeremiah Fund, a capital raising effort which will be used to open a home for special needs children that are wards of the State of New Jersey.

Much has been accomplished, it is true, but much remains to be done. 

The above story from website:  http://www.franciscancharitiesinc.org/

St. Bernardine of Siena....

One day in the year 1408 the great apostle Saint Vincent Ferrer suddenly interrupted his sermon, to declare that there was among his hearers a young Franciscan who would be one day a greater preacher than himself, and who would be placed in honor by the Church before himself. This unknown friar, who would be canonized only six years after his death, was Bernardine, then 28 years old. Of noble birth, he had spent his youth in works of mercy, caring for the sick before he entered religion at the age of 24.

Owing to a speech defect, Bernardine’s success as a preacher at first seemed doubtful, but by the prayers of Our Lady, this obstacle was miraculously removed in 1417, and the Franciscan friar began an apostolate which lasted until he died. One day, preaching in praise of the Blessed Virgin, he applied to Her the verse of the Apocalypse: “A great sign appeared in heaven, a Woman clothed with the sun...” At once a brilliant star appeared over his head. He was understood, when he spoke in Italian, by listeners of the Greek language who knew only their maternal tongue. He obtained miraculous conversions and reformed the greater part of Italy by his burning words and by the power of the Holy Name of Jesus. He preached that devotion, displaying at the end of his sermons, the Holy Name written on a tablet. He was also a zealous apostle of the cult of Saint Joseph. It is said that during sixteen years, and some say eighteen, he did not pass a single day without preaching.

But his success had to be purified by the cross. The Saint was denounced as a heretic, and his devotion as idolatrous. After many trials he lived to see his innocence proved. In 1427 he refused the bishopric of Siena, and a few years later two others, in order to continue his preaching. He miraculously cured lepers and other sick persons, and raised to life several deceased persons. The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, established in 1530, was extended to the entire Church in 1721 by Pope Innocent XIII.

Saint Bernardine was appointed Vicar General of his Order in 1438, which office he held for five years, then preached again for a time until his last illness forced his retreat in 1444. He died on Ascension Eve of that year, while his brethren were chanting the antiphon, “Father, I have manifested Thy Name to men.” Already in 1450, a Jubilee year, he was canonized.

Above From Butlers Lives of the Saints..

Franciscans of the Eucharist.......

The Mission of Our Lady of the Angels establishes a Catholic presence in the Humboldt Park area on Chicago’s west side.  This area presently is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the City of Chicago.  The purpose of the Mission is to assist the poor and evangelize through an apostolate of prayer, retreats and preaching.

Mention of Our Lady of the Angels brings to mind for many people the school fire of December 1, 1958, in which 92 students and three religious sisters perished.  In 2005, Cardinal George invited Fr. Bob Lombardo, CFR, to establish the Mission at the site of the tragic fire.   Fr. Bob is one of the founding friars of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal,  along with Fr. Benedict Groeschel.

Presently, the former rectory houses a discernment community of several young adults who are desiring religious life as Franciscans. There is a chapel for prayer/adoration and eight bedrooms to accommodate people wishing to come for retreat or volunteer opportunities. It also serves as Fr. Bob's headquarters from which he helps coordinate programs at the new Kelly Hall YMCA and oversees the renovation of the Convent across the street.

The pictures you see on their web site testify to the many who have shared their time, talent and resources to help create this Mission.   Fr. Bob is grateful to everyone, and considers what has occurred at the Mission to be miraculous. Yet, there is still much work to be done...

http://www.missionola.com/

Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey

St. Joseph of Cupertino - Franciscan Priest

Joseph Desa was born in the little city of Cupertino, near the Gulf of Tarento, in 1600. It is said in the acts of the process of his canonization that at the age of five he already showed such signs of sanctity that if he had been an adult, he would have been venerated as a perfect man. Already in his youth he was ravished in ecstasies which literally tore him away from the earth; it has been calculated that perhaps half of his life for some sixty years was spent literally above the ground. But much remains to be said of Saint Joseph, apart from his visible divine favors.

He almost died at the age of seven from an interior abscess, which only his prayer to Our Lady cured. He learned to be a shoemaker to earn his living, but was often absent in spirit from his work. He treated his flesh with singular rigor. The Cardinal de Lauria, who knew him well for long years, said he wore a very rude hair shirt and never ate meat, contenting himself with fruits and bread. He seasoned his soup, if he accepted any, with a dry and very bitter powder of wormwood. At the age of seventeen he desired to become a conventual Franciscan, but was refused because he had not studied.

He entered the Capuchins as a lay brother, but the divine favors he received seemed everywhere to bring down contempt upon him. He was in continuous contemplation and dropped plates and cauldrons. He would often stop and kneel down, and his long halts in places of discomfort brought on a tumor of the knee which was very painful. It was decided that he lacked both aptitude and health, and he was sent home. He was then regarded everywhere as a vagabond and a fool, and his mother in particular was harsh, as had been her custom for long years. She did, however, obtain permission for him to take charge of the stable for the conventual Franciscans, wearing the habit of the Third Order.

Saint Joseph proved himself many times to be perfectly obedient. His humility was heroic, and his mortification most exceptional. His words bore fruit and wakened the indifferent, warned against vice and in general were seen to come from a man who was very kind and very virtuous. He was finally granted the habit. He read with difficulty and wrote with still more difficulty, but the Mother of God was watching over him. When by the intervention of the bishop he had been admitted to minor Orders, he desired to be a priest but knew well only one text of the Gospel. By a special Providence of God, that was the text he was asked to expound during the canonical examination for the diaconate. The bishop who was in charge of hearing candidates for the priesthood found that the first ones answered exceptionally well, and he decided to ordain them all without any further hearings, thus passing Joseph with the others.

He was ordained in 1628.  He retired to a hermitage where he was apparently in nearly continuous ecstasy, or at least contemplation. He kept nothing for himself save the tunic he wore. Rejoicing to be totally poor, he felt entirely free also. He obeyed his Superiors and went wherever he was sent, wearing sandals and an old tunic which often came back with pieces missing; the people had begun to venerate him as a Saint, and had cut them off. When he did not notice what was happening, he was reproached as failing in poverty. The humble Brother wanted to pass for a sinner; he asked for the lowest employments, and transported the building materials for a church on his shoulders. He begged for the community. At the church he was a priest; elsewhere, a poor Brother.

Toward the end of his life all divine consolations were denied the Saint, including his ecstasies. He fell victim to an aridity which was unceasing, and he could find no savor in any holy reading. Then the infernal spirits inspired terrible visions and dreams. He shed tears amid this darkness and prayed his Saviour to help him, but received no answer. When the General of the Order heard of this, he called him to Rome, and there he recovered from the fearful trial, and all his joy returned.

He still had combats with the enemy of God to bear just the same, when the demons took human form to attempt to injure him physically. Other afflictions were not spared him, but his soul overcame all barriers between himself and God. He died on September 18, 1663, at the age of 63, in the Franciscan convent of Osino. He had celebrated Holy Mass up to and including the day before his death, as he had foretold he would do.

Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 11.

The Capuchin Friars..