| Prologue 1 | St. Conrad of Piacenza | 1290-1350 | feast day: February 19 |
| Conrad married Euphrosyne, daughter of a
nobleman. They agreed to separate. She went to a Poor Clare
monastery and he to a group of hermits following the Third Order
Rule. He had a reputation for holiness. He moved to a remote spot
in Sicily for solitude. His answer to temptations was prayer and
penance. He died kneeling before a crucifix, and was canonized in
1625. |
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| Prologue 1 | Blessed Veridiana of Castel Fiorentino | 1182-1242 | feast day: July 10 |
| At age 26 she decided to spend the rest of her
life in prayer and penance. She lived in a cell attached to the
chapel of St. Anthony. The cell had no doors, only a window for
Holy Communion and for food. In 1222 St. Francis gave her the
habit of the Secular Franciscan Order and encouraged her life of
contemplation. She was given the title Blessed in 1533. |
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| Prologue: 2 | St. Hyacinth of Mariscotti | 1585-1640 | feast day: January 30 |
| Born of a noble family, Hyacinth entered a local
convent supplying herself with food, clothing and other goods
living a comfortable life. She became seriously ill and her
confessor brought Holy Communion to her in her room. Scandalized
at her soft life the confessor advised her to live more humbly.
She disposed of her special foods and fine clothes, became
penitential in food and clothing, afflicted her body with severe
penance, involved herself with works of charity, and developed a
special devotion to the sufferings of Christ. She was canonized
in 1807. |
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| Article 1 | Blessed Angeline of Marsciano | 1377-1435 | feast day: July 13 |
| At 15 years of age Angeline made a vow of
perpetual chastity. Her father told Angeline to marry the Duke of
Civitella. Her husband agreed to respect her vow. After two years
of marriage her husband died. She joined the Secular Franciscans
dedicating herself to caring for the sick, poor, widows and
orphans. Angeline was accused of condemning the married vocation.
Legend says she came before the king of Naples with burning coals
hidden in her cloak. She proclaimed her innocence since the
burning coals did not hurt her. The king dropped the case.
Angeline died July 14, 1434, was beatified in 1825. |
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| Article 2 | St. Margaret of Cortona | 1247-1297 | feast day: May 16 |
| For nine years Margaret lived with Arsenio. They
did not marry and had a son. One day she found Arsenio murdered
which shocked her into a life of penance. Three years later in
1277 Margaret became a Franciscan tertiary. She established a
hospital and founded a congregation of tertiary sisters. She was
devoted to the Eucharist and passion of Jesus. Many came to her
for spiritual advice and inspiration. She was canonized in
1728. |
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| Article 3 | Blessed Elisabetta Vendramini | 1790-1860 | feast day: April 2 |
| At age 27 Elisabetta broke an engagement in favor
of serving the poor. She worked at a girls' orphanage and in 1821
joined the Secular Franciscan Order. In 1830 she founded the
Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who
care for the elderly, orphans and the sick. Elisabetta was
beatified in 1990. |
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| Article 3 | Blessed Raymond Lull | 1235-1315 | feast day: June 30 |
| Born in Palma in the Balearic Islands, he sold
his possessions and joined the Third Order. He was instrumental
in finding a college to train missionaries. He wrote on many
branches of human learning and was called "Enlightened Doctor".
He went to Africa, was imprisoned, and almost stoned to death. He
was taken to Majorca where he died. |
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| Article 4 | St. Peter Baptist and Companions | 1542-1597 | feast day: February 6 |
| Peter Baptist Blasquez was born in 1542. He
joined the Secular Franciscans. In 1592 was delegated by Philip
II of Spain to negotiate peace with Hideyoshi, ruler of Japan.
Peter and companions accomplished their mission and remained in
Japan spreading the gospel, making converts and establishing
churches and hospitals. Peter, two other priests, two brother, a
cleric, three Jesuits and 15 Secular Franciscans were crucified
on February 5, 1597. They were canonized in 1862. |
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| Article 5 | St. Elizabeth of Hungary | 1207-1231 | feast day: November 17 |
| Elizabeth married Louis. They had four children.
As a princess she removed her crown on entering a church. As a
member of the Secular Franciscan Order she shared Francis'
compassion for people with leprosy. She built a large hospital
and was involved in serving food and dressing wounds as acts of
corporal works of mercy. Louis sometimes criticized her for her
generosity to the poor. One December day Elizabeth was taking
bread to the poor and met Louis who demanded to see what she was
carrying. As she opened her cloak fresh roses were revealed. He
no longer objected. Elizabeth is the patroness of the Secular
Franciscan Order. |
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| Article 6 | St. Rose of Viterbo | 1233-1251 | feast day: September 4 |
| At 10 years of age Rose became a Secular
Franciscan and preached in the streets about sin and the
sufferings of Jesus. She lived a life of prayer and penance. Her
native city was in revolt against the Pope. Rose took the pope's
side against the emperor. Rose and her family were exiled from
the city. They returned when the war ended. At 15 she tried to
establish a religious community, but failed. She was canonized in
1457. |
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| Article 7 | Venerable Matt Talbot | 1856-1925 | feast day: June 19 |
| Matt worked for some liquor merchants; he began
drinking excessively. He became an active alcoholic for 15 years,
until he was 30 years old. He took "the pledge", made a general
confession, attended Mass daily. He joined the Secular
Franciscans and began a life of strict penance. He abstained from
meat nine months a year, read Scripture and the lives of the
saints, prayed the rosary, and contributed to the missions. He
was given the title Venerable in 1973. |
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| Article 8 | St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds | 1734-1791 | feast day: October 6 |
| At 16 years of age Anna Maria was to marry a rich
young man. She wanted to remain a virgin and become a Franciscan
tertiary. Her father whipped her, locked her in her room, but
later relented and allowed her to become a tertiary and a
consecrated virgin at home. She took the name Mary Frances. Misunderstood by her family and confessor, Mary Frances gave herself to prayer, penance and works of charity. She is known for praying for the souls in purgatory. She received the stigmata on her hands, feet and side. She was canonized in 1867 |
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| Article 9 | Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla | 1861-1936 | feast day: May 4 |
| Ceferino is the first Gypsy to be beatified. He
was married but had no children. He attended Mass frequently,
joined the Secular Franciscan Order, was always generous to the
poor, and was known as a reconciler among Gypsies. During the
Spanish Civil War he was arrested for defending a priest and
having a rosary. He was beatified in 1997. |
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| Article 10 | St. Joseph Cafasso | 1811-1860 | feast day: June 23 |
| As a tertiary priest Joseph recommended
membership in the Secular Franciscan Order to priests. He urged
devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and daily Communion. Joseph was
a teacher, preacher, confessor and retreat master noted for his
work with condemned prisoners. He was canonized in 1947 |
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| Article 11 | Blessed Angela of Foligno | 1248-1309 | feast day: January 7 |
| Immersed in a life of wealth and social position,
Angela, wife and mother, at age 40 recognized the emptiness of
her life. In the sacrament of Penance her Franciscan confessor
helped her to seek God's pardon and dedicate herself to prayer
and works of charity. Shortly after her conversion her husband
and children died. She sold her possessions and entered the
Secular Franciscan Order. She served the poor as a nurse and a
beggar for their needs. She is known for her humility, patience
and poverty. She wrote on spiritual topics and has gained the
title "Teacher of Theologians". |
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| Article: 12 | Pope St. Pius X | 1835-1914 | feast day: August 21 |
| Joseph Sarto joined the Secular Franciscan while
he was a pastor. He devoted himself to the poor and helped
promote the Catholic press. He was elected Pope in 1903. He
lowered the age of First Communion, encouraged daily Communion,
and established the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He died August
20, 1914 and was canonized in 1954. |
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| Article 13 | St. Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes | 1614-1645 | feast day: May 28 |
| Mary Ann was the youngest of eight children. She
is known for her innocence and devotion to prayer, fasting and
other acts of piety. She joined the Secular Franciscans and led a
life of prayer and penance at home. She did works of charity
establishing a clinic and a school for Africans and native
Indians. During the plague she nursed the sick and died shortly
after. She was canonized in 1950 |
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| Article 14 | St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo | 1786-1842 | feast day: April 30 |
| Joseph joined the Secular Franciscans as a young
man and was ordained in 1811. In 1832 he founded the House of
Providence serving the sick, elderly, students, mentally ill, and
blind. Joseph organized two religious communities: Brothers of
Saint Vincent de Paul and Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Joseph was canonized in 1934. |
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| Article 15 | St. Thomas More | 1477-1535 | feast day: June 22 |
| Around 1498 Thomas considered entering the First
Order of St. Francis; he became a Secular Franciscan. For four
years he lived with the Carthusian monks in London. In 1518 he
entered the king's service; he became Chancellor in 1529. Because
he would not support King Henry VIII's marriage case, he was
imprisoned for 15 months and beheaded on July 6, 1535. |
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| Article 16 | St. Zita of Lucca | 1218-1278 | feast day: April 27 |
| Zita is the patroness of domestic workers. She
was a pious, dedicated, patient and generous worker. She became
known for helping the sick, poor and imprisoned. She was
canonized in 1696. |
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| Article 16 | Blessed Angela Salawa | 1881-1922 | feast day: March 12 |
| Angela was the eleventh child. In 1897 she
gathered together and instructed young women domestic workers.
During World War I she helped prisoners of war. She was beatified
in 1991. |
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| Article 17 | St. Elzear and Blessed Delphina | 1286-1323, 1283-1358 |
feast day: September 26 |
| This is the only Franciscan couple canonized or
beatified. After the couple married Delphina told Elzear that she
made a vow of perpetual virginity; that night he did the
same. They joined the Secular Franciscans and dedicated themselves to the corporal works of mercy. Twelve poor people dined with them every day. Elzear cured several people from leprosy. Delphina is remembered for raising the moral level of the king of Sicily's court. Elzear was canonized in 1369 and Delphina was beatified in 1694. |
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| Article 17 | Blessed Luchesio and Buonadonna | d. 1260 | feast day: April 28 |
| This couple after meeting St. Francis (probably
1213) began performing works of charity and set into motion the
Secular Franciscan Order. By tradition Luchesio is said to be the
first to receive the habit of the Third Order. Buonadonna was not
as enthusiastic as Luchesio about giving everything to the poor.
One day she went to the cupboard for bread for a poor man. On the
shelf was more bread than the last time she looked. She became
zealous for the poor and simple life. They sold their business
and farmed to provide for their own needs and for the poor that
came to them. One day Luchesio was carrying a crippled man when a
young man asked whom Luchesio was carrying. Luchesio answered, "I
am carrying my Lord Jesus Christ." Both Luchesio and Buonadonna
died on April 28, 1260. He was beatified in 1273. She was not
given an official title. |
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| Article 18 | Blessed Contardo Ferrini | 1859-1902 | feast day: October 20 |
| He joined the Third Order as a youth. He
successfully combined the Science of the saints with the science
of man. He is famous for his many writings and teachings in
addition to his virtuous life, spirit of humility and poverty,
and his great love for his fellow man. |
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| Article 19 | St. Elizabeth of Portugal | 1271-1336 | feast day: July 4 |
| Elizabeth married Denis, the King of Portugal.
After the birth of their second child, Denis was unfaithful
living scandalously. Elizabeth did penance, visited the sick,
made clothes for the poor and vestments for the Church,
established orphanages and arranged dowries for poor girls. One
day while washing the foot of a sick woman Elizabeth kissed a
cancerous sore which was immediately healed. Elizabeth prayed for
the conversion of her husband. Elizabeth is known as a
peacemaker. Through her efforts peace was restored in her
marriage, between Denis and his brother, between Denis and their
son Alphonse ending a civil war, and between her son and
grandson. After Denis' death in 1235 instead of joining the poor
Clares Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscans to continue her
works of charity personally. Elizabeth was canonized in 1625. |
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| Article 20 | Blanche of Castile | 1188-1252 | feast day: August 23 |
| Blanche joined the Secular Franciscans early in
life. She married Louis VIII of France in 1200. They had 12
children; one of whom is Saint Louis IX also a Secular
Franciscan. |
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| Article 21 | Blessed Pedro de San José Betancur | 1626-1667 | feast day: April 25 |
| Pedro wanted to be a priest, but had to withdraw.
In 1655 he joined the Secular Franciscans and three years later
opened a hospital. A shelter for the homeless and a school for
the poor soon followed. He also walked the streets of Guatemala
City ringing a bell and inviting the rich to repent. Others
joined Pedro in his work. Pedro was beatified in 1980. |
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| Article 22 | Blessed Mary Frances Schervier | 1819-1876 | feast day: December 15 |
| Frances was known for her generosity to the poor.
In 1844 she became a Secular Franciscan. The following year she
and four other women established a religious community to care
for the sick and aged in the United States and throughout the
world. |
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| Article 23 | St. Louis IX of France | 1214-1270 | feast day: August 25 |
| Crowned King at the age of 12, he had Franciscan
friars among his instructors. Eventually he became a Secular
Franciscan. He had eleven children. Louis fasted, founded
hospitals, built churches and promoted learning. Bonaventure and
Aquinas were honored guests at his table. Louis' greatest
achievement was to rule his kingdom in the light of the gospel.
He was called upon to mediate peace between opposing European
rulers. Captured during his first crusade (1248-1254), Louis'
ransom was conditioned with him denying his faith. He refused and
the captors gave in. On his second crusade (1267-1270) he died.
He was canonized in 1297. He is known as the Patron of the
Secular Franciscan Order. |
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| Article 24 | St. Ivo of Brittany | 1253-1303 | feast day: May 10 |
| Ivo joined the Secular Franciscans after his
ordination. As a judge in the Church courts he had a reputation
for being fair and a helper to the poor, widows, and orphans. His
sermons were simple and clear. Ivo was canonized in 1347. |
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| Article 25 | St. Catherine of Genoa | 1447-1510 | feast day: March 23 |
| At sixteen years of age Catherine married Julian
a selfish, unfaithful nobleman. One day in confession Catherine
experienced a turning point in her life. She reformed her life,
gave good example and Julian reformed his life. Financially
ruined they lived in a large hospital in Genoa and dedicated
themselves to works of charity. Julian died in 1497. Catherine
died September 15, 1510 and was canonized in 1737. |
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| Article 25 | St. Charles Borromeo | 1538-1584 | feast day: November 4 |
| At age 25 he was appointed archbishop of Milan.
He survived an assassination attempt, addressed social problems,
personally ministered to victims of an epidemic. He sold some of
his possessions to help raise money for these victims. He was
canonized in 1610. |
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| Article 26 | St. John Vianney | 1786-1859 | feast day: August 4 |
| John Vianney became a diocesan priest and Secular
Franciscan. John Vianney, known as the Curé of Ars spent
16-18 hours a day hearing confessions. He was canonized in 1925
and was named the patron of all diocesan priests. |
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| References: McCloskey, O.F.M., Pat, Day by Day
with followers of Francis & Clare, St. Anthony Messenger
Press, Cincinnati, 1999. Proper Offices of Franciscan Saints and Blessed in the Liturgy of the Hours, published by the English Speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor, 1977. |
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