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Saint Hedwig 1174 - 1243
Also known as: Jadwiga; Hedwig Queen of Poland; Eduviges; Eduvijes
Daughter of the Duke of Croatia. Aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.
Married Prince Henry I of Silesia and Poland in 1186 at age 12. Mother of
seven. Cared for the sick both personally and by founding hospitals.
Widow. Upon her husband's death, she gave away her fortune and entered the
monastery at Trebnitz.
Born: 1174 in Bavaria
Died: October 1243 at Trebnitz
Canonized: 1266 by Pope Clement IV
Patronage: Bavaria, brides, duchesses, death of children, difficult
marriages, Silesia, victims of jealousy, widows
Readings
Hedwig knew that those living stones that were to be placed in the
buildings of the heavenly Jerusalem had to be smoothed out by buffetings
and pressures in this world, and that many tribulations would be needed
before she could cross over into her heavenly homeland. Because of such
great daily fasts and abstinences she grew so thin that many wondered how
such a feeble and delicate woman could endure these torments. The more
attentively she kept watch, the more she grew in the strength of the
spirit and in grace, and the more the fire of devotion and divine love
blazed within her.
Just as her devotion made her always seek after God, so her generous piety
turned her toward her neighbor, and she bountifully bestowed alms on the
needy. She gave aid to colleges and to religious persons dwelling within
or outside monasteries, to widows and orphans, to the weak and the feeble,
to lepers and those bound in chains or imprisoned, to travelers and needy
women nursing infants. She allowed no one who came to her for help to go
away uncomforted.
And because this servant of God never neglected the practice of all good
works, God also conferred on her such grace that when she lacked human
means to do good, and her own powers failed, through divine favor of the
sufferings of Christ she had the power to relieve the bodily and spiritual
troubles of all who sought her help.
from a biography of Saint Hedwig
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainth03.htm
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque 1647
- 1690 Also known as:
Margarita Mary Alacoque; Margherita Mary Alacoque; Marguerite Mary
Alacoque
Healed from a crippling disorder by a vision of the Blessed Virgin, which
prompted her to give her life to God. After receiving a vision of Christ
fresh from the Scourging, she was moved to join the Order of the
Visitation at Paray-le-Monial in 1671.
Received a revelation from our Lord in 1675, which included 12 promises to
her and to those who practiced a true to devotion to His Sacred Heart,
whose crown of thorns represent his sacrifices. The devotion encountered
violent opposition, especially in Jansenist areas, but has become
widespread and popular.
Born: 22 July 1647 at L'Hautecourt, Burgundy, France
Died: 17 October 1690; body incorrupt
Canonized: 1920 by Pope Benedict XV
Patronage: against polio, devotees of the Sacred Heart, loss of
parents polio patients
Representation: woman wearing the habit of the Order of the
Visitation and holding a flaming heart; woman wearing the habit of the
Order of the Visitation and kneeling before Jesus who exposes His heart to
her
Readings
What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He Caresses us, and
to be cold immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Those
who love thus, love themselves too much to love God with all their heart.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
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The Twelve Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to
His Sacred Heart:
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I will give them all the graces
necessary for their state of life.
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I will establish peace in their
families.
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I will console them in all
their troubles.
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They shall find in My Heart an
assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
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I will pour abundant blessings
on all their undertakings.
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Sinners shall find in My Heart
the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
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Tepid souls shall become
fervent.
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Fervent souls shall speedily
rise to great perfection.
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I will bless the homes where an
image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
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I will give to priests the
power of touching the most hardened hearts.
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Those who propagate this
devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
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The all-powerful love of My
Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First
Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they
shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their
Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.
from Saint Margaret Mary
Alacoque's vision of Jesus
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Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to
love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love
everywhere on earth."
from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's vision of Jesus
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The sacred heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole
desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free
them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure.
From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the
stream of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of
contrition and repentance. The second is the stream of charity which helps
all in need and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find
the means of surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow
love and light for the benefit of his friends who have attained
perfection; these he wishes to unit to himself so that they may share his
knowledge and commandments and, in their individual ways, devote
themselves wholly to advancing his glory.
This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor
should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us
can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our
foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet
our every need.
Are you making no progress in prayer? The you need only offer God the
prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the
altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In
the course of every activity pray as follows: "My God, I do this or I
endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I
offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my
actions." Continue to do this in every circumstance of life.
But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any
treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than
renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine
heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to
his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely
in him.
from a letter by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm14.htm
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