St. Vigilius
Bishop of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. He aided local monasteries and worked to establish a solid foundation for the diocese.
Bishop of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. He aided local monasteries and worked to establish a solid foundation for the diocese.
Foundress of the Religious of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle. She was born in Le Mas. France, in 1805 and entered a community of dedicated women that evolved into the Sisters of St. Regis in 1829. Theresa founded the Cenacle. She resigned as superior in 1838 and spent the rest of her life, except for a brief period, as a simple sister. She died at Fourviere on September 26. She was beatified in 1951 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970.
Thérèse Couderc (1 February 1805 – 26 September 1885) - born Marie-Victoire Couderc - was a French Roman Catholicprofessed religious and the co-founder of the Sisters of the Cenacle.[1] Couderc underwent humiliations during her time as a nun for she was forced to resign from positions and was ridiculed and mocked due to false accusations made against her though this softened towards the end of her life. She was a spiritual writer having written on sacrifice and service to God. After her death, she left a series of spiritual writings.
Pope Pius XII beatified the late religious in Saint Peter's Basilica on 4 November 1951 and in 1970 was canonized as a saint under Pope Paul VI.
Marie-Victoire Couderc was born in 1805 in Le Mas[2] as the fourth of twelve children to farmers Claude Michel Corderc (1780-???) and Anne Méry; her parents married in 1801. One sibling was Jean and two others died in their childhood. The surviving children were eight males and two females that included herself (she was the eldest of the girls). In her childhood she attended Mass twice a week.[1] She made her First Communion at Pentecost on 15 May 1815.
In 1822 her parents sent her to a boarding school at Vans and she remained there until 1825 in Lent when her father wanted her to attend a school in their local area. She entered the novitiate after she had met Father Jean-Pierre Etienne Terme in late March 1825 and confided in him her desire to become a religious.[1] Couderc underwent her period of the novitiate in 1825 with the Sisters of Saint Regis, a teaching order in Lalouvesc; she made her perpetual vows on 6 January 1837 with one other. Couderc assumed a religious name when she became a novice.
Couderc and two other sisters were sent to manage a mountain hostel for women pilgrims at the shrine of St. John Francis Regis in Lalouvesc. It became a successful retreat house under her guidance. Couderc co-founded the Sisters of the Cenacle with Father Terme in 1826 and became its superior in 1828. Desirous to provide women a place for recollection in solitude, prayer, and meditation, they resolved to open houses where women might follow the exercises of a retreat.[3]
When the motherhouse was established, Couderc became Superior General. In 1828 Terme began to hold Ignatian retreats for the sisters. He continued to do so until his death in December 1834. After Terme's death the order to split into the Sisters of Saint Regis who retained their teaching ministry, and the Congregation of Our Lady of the Cenacle, which continued its retreat ministry. The Jesuits then led the retreats.[1]
The regular school teaching of the hostel was separated from the retreats, and this resulted in financial hardship for the sisters. Although she was not at fault, Couderc accepted responsibility. This led, in October 1838, to the Bishop of Viviers Abbon-Pierre-François Bonnel de la Brageresse to remove her from her office and replacing her with a new novice as the "Foundress Superior"; Couderc resigned in full on 27 October 1838.[1] The novice led for a few months but did so bad a job the bishop removed her. The Jesuit advisers began replacing her with a succession of wealthy women.[4]
In 1842 she was sent for almost eighteen months alone with one other sister to a small house in Lyon; in 1852 saw her go to Paris. In November 1856 she was appointed as the superior of the Tournonhouse until it was to be sold off and so she returned to Lyon.[1] On 20 October 1859 a Jesuit gave a retreat on the topic of Christian sacrifice that had a profound impact on her. At the end of August 1860 she was sent to the house at Montpellierbut its closure in 1867 saw her return to Lyon once more.
In the beginning of 1885 she fainted and was unconscious for several hours in an occurrence that left her bedridden until her death.[1] Couderc died on 26 September 1885 and was buried in Lalouvesc.
The beatification cause commenced in an informative process that opened in France in 1920 and concluded its work in 1921 which then led to the approval of all of her spiritual writings from theologians on 23 July 1924; the informative process was validated by the Congregation of Rites on 13 July 1927. The formal introduction to the cause came on 18 July 1927 in which she was titled as a Servant of God - the first official stage in the process.
Pope Pius XI proclaimed Couderc to be Venerable on 12 May 1935 after he confirmed that the late nun lived a life of heroic virtue. Pope Pius XII beatified her on 4 November 1951 after approving two miracles attributed to her intercession while the cause was resumed in a decree issued on 26 July 1953. Pope Paul VIcanonized Couderc as a saint on 10 May 1970[4][5] after approving two more miracles attributed to her intercession.
In 1864 Couderc wrote:
The surrendered soul has found paradise on earth.[4]
In 1866, Couderc reported having a vision of goodness which was a defining moment for her life and spirituality, and which she describes in a letter to Mother de Larochenégly:
Abbot Born in Calabria, southern Italy, to Greek parents, he spent a dissolute youth until deciding to enter the Basilian order after his mistress and their child died when he was about thirty years old. After living as a hermit for a time, he took up residence in several communities and finally was elected abbot over San Demetrio Corone. In 981, marauding Saracens threatened southern Italy, and Nilus fled with his monks to Monte Cassino. After spending fifteen years in the monastery of Vallelucio which had been given to the monks for their use, he founded a new community at Serpero. Later he received a grant of land from Count Gregory of Tusculum and so established the community which became the Monastery of Grottaferrata under Nilus' disciple St Bartholomew. Nilus died at Frascati on December 27.
Nilus the Younger, also called Neilos of Rossano (Italian: Nilo di Rossano, Greek: Όσιος Νείλος, ο εκ Καλαβρίας[2]; 910 – 27 December 1005)[3] was a monk, abbot, and founder of Italo-Greek monasticism in southern Italy. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox[note 1] and Roman Catholicchurches, and his feast day is celebrated on September 26 in both the Byzantine Calendar and the Roman Martyrology.
Born to a Greek family of Rossano, in the Byzantine theme of Calabria, for a time he was married and had a daughter.[4]Sickness brought about his conversion, however, and from that time he became a monk and a propagator of the rule of Saint Basil in Italy.[5]
He was known for his ascetic life, his virtues, and theological learning. For a time he lived as a hermit, but his reputation drew followers to Rossano, whom he began to instruct. However, after a while, he realized that he was viewed as a local authority, and hearing that there was talk of making him bishop, Nilus fled to Capua, where he stayed for fifteen years. Later he spent certain periods of his life at various monasteries which he either founded or restored. Although Nilus instructed his monks according to the Rule of St. Basil, he maintained cordial relations with the Benedictines at Monte Cassino, where he spent some time, as well as at the Alexius monastery in Rome.[5] The Rule of St. Basil was one of the resources Benedict had recourse to when drafting his own rule.
When Pope Gregory V (996–999) was driven out of Rome, Nilus opposed the usurpation of Philogatos of Piacenza as antipope. According to his disciple and biographer, Bartholomew, in 998 Nilus hastened to Rome to intercede on behalf of a fellow native of Rossano, John Philogathos, who had, against the advice of Nilus, cooperated in an ill-advised scheme of the Roman noble Crescentiusto depose the Emperor Otto III's kinsman, Pope Gregory V. Later when Philogathos was tortured and mutilated, Nilus reproached Gregory and the Emperor for this crime,[5] prophesying that "the curse of heaven sooner or later would affect their cruel hearts".[4]
Nilus' chief work was the foundation in 1004 of the famous Greek monastery of Grottaferrata,[note 2] near Frascati, on lands granted him by Gregory, count of Tusculum; he is counted the first abbot. At the time Calabria was under the Byzantine rule and was Greek in language, culture, and spiritual and liturgical tradition.[6] The abbey continues in the Byzantine rite. He spent the end of his life partly in the Sant'Agata monastery in Tusculum and partly in a hermitage at Valleluce near Gaeta. He died in the Sant'Agata monastery in 1005.
Saint Nilus is revered as the patron saint of scribes and calligraphers.
Foundress of the Society of Our lady of the Cenacle at La Louvesc, France. She was born on February 1, at Masle, France. Joining Father J. Terme in his parishwork in Aps, she founded the Daughters of St. Regis, the original group that became the Society. She served as superior until 1838 and then resumed the role of a simple member of the community until her death on September 26. By the time of her death, her congregation spread rapidly. Pope Paul VI canonized her in 1970.
Thérèse Couderc (1 February 1805 – 26 September 1885) - born Marie-Victoire Couderc - was a French Roman Catholicprofessed religious and the co-founder of the Sisters of the Cenacle.[1] Couderc underwent humiliations during her time as a nun for she was forced to resign from positions and was ridiculed and mocked due to false accusations made against her though this softened towards the end of her life. She was a spiritual writer having written on sacrifice and service to God. After her death, she left a series of spiritual writings.
Pope Pius XII beatified the late religious in Saint Peter's Basilica on 4 November 1951 and in 1970 was canonized as a saint under Pope Paul VI.
Marie-Victoire Couderc was born in 1805 in Le Mas[2] as the fourth of twelve children to farmers Claude Michel Corderc (1780-???) and Anne Méry; her parents married in 1801. One sibling was Jean and two others died in their childhood. The surviving children were eight males and two females that included herself (she was the eldest of the girls). In her childhood she attended Mass twice a week.[1] She made her First Communion at Pentecost on 15 May 1815.
In 1822 her parents sent her to a boarding school at Vans and she remained there until 1825 in Lent when her father wanted her to attend a school in their local area. She entered the novitiate after she had met Father Jean-Pierre Etienne Terme in late March 1825 and confided in him her desire to become a religious.[1] Couderc underwent her period of the novitiate in 1825 with the Sisters of Saint Regis, a teaching order in Lalouvesc; she made her perpetual vows on 6 January 1837 with one other. Couderc assumed a religious name when she became a novice.
Couderc and two other sisters were sent to manage a mountain hostel for women pilgrims at the shrine of St. John Francis Regis in Lalouvesc. It became a successful retreat house under her guidance. Couderc co-founded the Sisters of the Cenacle with Father Terme in 1826 and became its superior in 1828. Desirous to provide women a place for recollection in solitude, prayer, and meditation, they resolved to open houses where women might follow the exercises of a retreat.[3]
When the motherhouse was established, Couderc became Superior General. In 1828 Terme began to hold Ignatian retreats for the sisters. He continued to do so until his death in December 1834. After Terme's death the order to split into the Sisters of Saint Regis who retained their teaching ministry, and the Congregation of Our Lady of the Cenacle, which continued its retreat ministry. The Jesuits then led the retreats.[1]
The regular school teaching of the hostel was separated from the retreats, and this resulted in financial hardship for the sisters. Although she was not at fault, Couderc accepted responsibility. This led, in October 1838, to the Bishop of Viviers Abbon-Pierre-François Bonnel de la Brageresse to remove her from her office and replacing her with a new novice as the "Foundress Superior"; Couderc resigned in full on 27 October 1838.[1] The novice led for a few months but did so bad a job the bishop removed her. The Jesuit advisers began replacing her with a succession of wealthy women.[4]
In 1842 she was sent for almost eighteen months alone with one other sister to a small house in Lyon; in 1852 saw her go to Paris. In November 1856 she was appointed as the superior of the Tournonhouse until it was to be sold off and so she returned to Lyon.[1] On 20 October 1859 a Jesuit gave a retreat on the topic of Christian sacrifice that had a profound impact on her. At the end of August 1860 she was sent to the house at Montpellierbut its closure in 1867 saw her return to Lyon once more.
In the beginning of 1885 she fainted and was unconscious for several hours in an occurrence that left her bedridden until her death.[1] Couderc died on 26 September 1885 and was buried in Lalouvesc.
The beatification cause commenced in an informative process that opened in France in 1920 and concluded its work in 1921 which then led to the approval of all of her spiritual writings from theologians on 23 July 1924; the informative process was validated by the Congregation of Rites on 13 July 1927. The formal introduction to the cause came on 18 July 1927 in which she was titled as a Servant of God - the first official stage in the process.
Pope Pius XI proclaimed Couderc to be Venerable on 12 May 1935 after he confirmed that the late nun lived a life of heroic virtue. Pope Pius XII beatified her on 4 November 1951 after approving two miracles attributed to her intercession while the cause was resumed in a decree issued on 26 July 1953. Pope Paul VIcanonized Couderc as a saint on 10 May 1970[4][5] after approving two more miracles attributed to her intercession.
In 1864 Couderc wrote:
The surrendered soul has found paradise on earth.[4]
In 1866, Couderc reported having a vision of goodness which was a defining moment for her life and spirituality, and which she describes in a letter to Mother de Larochenégly:
Fr. Louis Tezza was born in Conegliano (TV) on 1st November 1841, the only son of Augustine Tezza and Cathetine Nedwiedt. His father, who was a medical doctor, died when Louis was nine and his mother decided to move to Padova, where Louis continued his studies.
At the age of fifteen he entered the Camillian Order (Ministers of the Sick of St. Camillus de Lellis). Having entrusted her son to the Camillian noviciate, and being certain of the authenticity of his vocation, she herself entered the convent of the Visitation where she was renowned as an exceptional woman and religious sister.
After his ordination Louis was entrusted with the formation of the young religious. Four years later he was presented with an opportunity of fulfilling a long standing desire by becoming a missionary to Africa, but obedience decreed that he obey his legitimate superiors who were not in favour of the venture. Instead of Africa, he was transferred to Rome as novice master.
In 1871 Fr. Louis was sent to the new foundation in France as novice master, where he would later become the first provincial. Through his dedication and zeal he succeeded in establishing the common life within the community, while at the same time setting up specific Camillian social facilities in the local areas for the spiritual and corporal benefit of the sick. With the suppression of the religious institutes in 1880 he was expelled from France, as he was seen as a foreigner. However, he secretly returned and managed to unite the religious who were scattered here and there throughout the country. Thus he not alone resisted the suppression, but he was responsible for laying the foundations for the development that would later follow.
He was elected Procurator and Vicar General of the Camillians in 1891, and on his return to Rome he providentially met Josephine Vannini (beatified on 16th Oct. 1994). He had for some time cherished in his heart the desire to establish a group of consecrated women who would serve the sick in accordance with the spirit and charism of St. Camillus de Lellis. Thus on the 2nd of February 1892 the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Camillus was born, enriching the Camillian charism with the feminine characteristics of tenderness, hospitality, intuition and attentive listening. These were the very gifts which Camillus sought in his religious when they assisted the sick. The Institute was approved by the Holy See in 1931, and has experienced a rapid growth and expansion.
The Apostle of Lima
Just when it appeared that Fr. Louis' activity was drawing to a close, another very important chapter was about to be written. At the age of 59 he was sent to Peru as Official Visitor, with the brief of reforming the Camillian community of Lima, which for over a century had been separated from the Order, and now risked being suppressed. This task was seen as involving a short stay in Lima, but when the time to return to Rome came both the Archbishop and the Apostolic Nuncio considered his presence indispensable, defining him as "as a man inspired by God and providential for Lima". He accepted their request, sanctioned by his superiors, as the will of God and entrusted all to Providence. Thus he remained in Lima for 23 years, until his death.
During this time he was to enrich his surroundings with his great charity and love of God, expressed through the exercise of an intense apostolic activity. Besides his work in re-establishing the regular life in the religious communities, he dedicated himself to the needs of the sick, especially those who were poor, in their homes, in the hospitals and in the prisons. He was confessor and spiritual director to the archdiocesan seminary and various religious Congregations. He was sought as a counsellor both in the Nunciature and in Archbishop's House. He successfully helped another founder, the servant of God Teresa Candamo, overcome her initial difficulties with her new Institute.
His discreet work, and intelligent and deep love, coupled with his loving and authoritative character led to his being regarded as the "saint of Lima". Here Fr. Louis died on 23rd September 1923. Un unknown visitor carved the words "apostle of Lima" on his tomb.
He was described by the Card. Lauri as "the holiest priest in the diocese of Lima" , and on his death the faithful distributed a remembrance card which highlights the main traits of his sanctity: "he was sough after as a father and venerated as a saint: he is no longer with us but he continues to teach us from the tomb; his presence and comportment was angelic; his word was that that of a minister of the gospel; his heart a repository of noble affection; his mission was always salvific. He passed among us as a heavenly vision, ever good and humble, always charitable. Faith was the basis of all his work while goodness enveloped him like a mantle and tiara"
His mortal remains are to be found in the Generalate of the Daughters of St. Camillus on the Via Anagnina in Grottaferrata (Rome).
Message
Fr. Louis Tezza's message can be readily understood in the light of the gospel. Jesus had a special concern for the sick, and furthermore he identified personally with his suffering brothers: "I was sick and you visited me. In so far as you this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me" (Mt.25.40)
Fr. Louis was chosen by God not only to live this charism of mercy for the sick, but to spread it through the founding of the Institute of the Daughters of St. Camillus, an institute dedicated to care for human life from the moment of conception to natural death. He showed every Christian how to act in the face of suffering; to care and alleviate, and especially to value it for one's own sanctification and the redemption of others.
Fr. Louis encourages us to believe in and operate in accordance with God's plan for each one of us. The cornerstone of his existence was obedience to God. He was constantly seeking the will of God, and striving to carry it out in his life. He could see God's plan in the signs of the times, the ordinary events of life, in the decisions of his superiors, and he was convinced that these had to be followed no matter what the cost in personal sacrifice.
He leaves each one of us today with this personal challenge, in the hope that we will make it our own:
"God's invitation to become saints is for all, not just a few.
Sanctity therefore must be accessible to all.
In what does it consist? In a lot of activity? No.
In doing extraordinary things? No, this could not be for everybody and at all times.
Therefore, sanctity consists in doing good, and in doing this "good" in whatever condition and place God has placed us.
Nothing more, nothing outside of this".
Benedictine abbot who brought the Rule of St. Benedict to the Humiliati in Milan, Italy. A secular priest from Como, Italy, John joined the Hurniliati, a penitential institute of laymen. He introduced the Little Office of Our Lady and the rule of St. Benedict. Pope Alexander IIIcanonized him.
John of Meda, Ord.Hum., (1100 - 26 September 1159) also known as John of Como, was an Italian monk of the Humiliati Order and abbot at their monasteries at Milan and Como. He has been declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
He was born Giovanni Oldrati (or Oldradi) in the town of Meda, Lombardy. Receiving a vision of the Virgin Mary, in 1134 he felt called to join the Humiliati at their Abbey of Viboldone. This was a religious movement widely viewed with suspicion for heresy, due to their communities being composed of families as well as men and women following the monastic form of life, with the former being the leaders of the community.
John came to work for their adoption of the Benedictine Rule, adapted to their needs. Later John went on to found other monasteries of the Order in the regions of Milan and Lombardy. He spent his later life serving as an abbot, and is known for introducing the Little Office of Our Lady.[1]
Giovanni Mazzucconi was a parish priest and a Member of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions
Bishop of Bologna, Italy, from circa 370 and a close friend of St. Ambrose of Milan. An opponent of Arianism, he is credited with the discovery of the relicsof Sts. Agricola and Vitalis.
Abbot and bishop, also called Colman Lann Elo. He was born circa 555 at Glenelly, Tyrone, Ireland, the nephew of St. Columba, In 590, he built a monastery at Offaly. He also founded Muckamore Abbey and became bishop of Connor. Colman was the author of the Alphabet of Devotion. He died at Lynally on December 26.
Saint Colmán Elo (555 – 26 September 611) was born in Glenelly, Ireland in what is now County Tyrone. He is famed in Irish hagiography.[1]
Colmán was founder and first Abbot of Muckamore, and from the fact of being titled as the successor (coarb) of Mac Nisse, is regarded as Bishop of Connor.[1]
Colmán studied under his maternal uncle, St. Columba, who procured for him the site of a monastery now known as Lynally (Lann Elo). Hence his designation of Colmán Elo or in Latinised form, Colmanellus. Subsequently, he founded the Abbey of Muckamore, and was appointed Bishop of Connor. He is also known as St. Colmán Macusailni.
Adomnan of Iona in his book 'The Life of St Columba' wrote this about him:
Of the peril of the holy bishop Cólman moccu Sailni in the sea near Rathlin island: Likewise, another day, while St Columba was in his mother church, he suddenly smiled and called out: "Cólman mac Beognai has set sail to come here, and is now in great danger in the surging tides of the whirlpool of Corryvreckan. Sitting in the prow, he lifts up his hands to heaven and blesses the turbulent, terrible seas. Yet the Lord terrifies him in this way, not so that the ship in which he sits should be overwhelmed and wrecked by the waves, but rather to rouse him to pray more fervently that he may sail through the peril and reach us here"
[2]
He was the author of Airgitir Crábaid, the earliest surviving example of Old Irishprose
Colmán is believed to be the real author of a work ascribed to Secundinus, The Hymn of St. Secundinus in praise of Saint Patrick.[3]
He died at Lynally on 26 September 611, the day his feast is celebrated.
African martyr with forty-nine other soldiers. They were put to death at Constantinople in the persecutionconducted in the reign of Emperor Diocletian The martyrs were sewn into sacks and hurled into the sea