Our School Saint - St Thomas More 1478-1535
Thomas More was the Lord Chancellor of England. He was very interested in education, in particular, the education of women. He studied in Oxford and studied law, becoming a member of parliament. In 1553, he refused to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn – the Queen of England.
King Henry put Thomas More before a commission to swear his allegiance to the act of succession – to become a King/Queen. Thomas More refused and was imprisoned in the Tower of London for treason. More was sentenced to death by beheading – ordered by King Henry.
“I die the king’s faithful servant, but God’s first.”
ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
Maximilian Kolbe grew up in Poland, and by September 1st 1914, he had taken his final vows to the priesthood. On the 19th September 1939, Maximilian was arrested with other brothers from his monastery. He was returned to his monastery where he went on to house 3.000 Polish refugees. On his second arrest by the Nazi’s, he was sent to Auschwitz. In 1941 after a prisoner escaped, 10 remaining prisoners where picked to die for retribution. Francis Gajowniczek, a married man with young children was picked to die. Maximilian took his place and died in service as a Priest.“No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it.”
KR House Prayer
St. Maximilian, amidst the hate and lonely misery of Auschwitz, you brought love into the lives of fellow captives, and sowed the seeds of hope amidst despair. Help me to become more like yourself. To the hungry and oppressed, the naked and homeless, the scorned and hated, the lonely and despairing, may I proclaim the power of Christ's love, which endures forever and ever.
Amen.
MOTHER TERESA
Saint Teresa of Calcutta: 1910 - 1997
Mother Teresa, formerly Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu from Skopje Macedonia (Albania). She became a nun and travelled to Calcutta, India. In 1948, she left the convent to work with the poor, alone and became an Indian citizen. In 1950, she founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity with 12 members. Donation began to come in and by 1960 she had established a leper colony, an orphanage, a nursing home, a family clinic and a string of mobile health clinics. Mother Teresa was 87 when she died on September 5th 1997.
"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."
TB House Prayer
I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. Today we pray that we can make a difference and touch the lives of others.
Amen
BLESSED OSCAR ROMERO
Oscar Romero was ordained as a priest in 1942 and became a priest of a parish in El Salvador in 1943. He became Auxiliary (assistant) Bishop in San Salvador, before becoming the Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977.He witnessed many violations of human rights to the people of El Salvador and quickly became an outspoken opponent of injustice and defender of the poor. Campaigning for human rights, Romero gained enemies and in 1980, an assassin fired on the chapel door whilst Romero was inside celebrating mass and shot him dead.
“I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadoran people.
RY House Prayer
Spirit of hope, work within us,
just as you worked
in Blessed Oscar Romero,
so that we too may work for justice
and spread the Good News,
by living out the Gospel,
in solidarity with those living in poverty.
Amen.
ST BERNADETTE
Bernadette Soubirous was an asthmatic child from a poor family. She grew up in a small village called Lourdes, in France. At the age of fourteen, when she went with her sisters to gather firewood, she saw a figure in the opening of a grotto. Bernadette saw the lady was carrying rosary beads and so she started to prayer the rosary. At the end of the rosary, the lady disappeared. In total, Bernadette saw the vision 18 times over a number of weeks. During one apparition, the lady asked Bernadette to drink from and bathe in the spring. Bernadette dug, and found the spring. The water is extraordinary, never contaminated and can be kept for years. The lady finally told Bernadette her name – The Immaculate Conception. This is the Catholic name for Mary, the Mother of God. At this, the Bishop of Tarbes declared the visions as genuine. Today, Lourdes is a place of pilgrimage where miracles occur.
“For the greater glory of God, the important thing is not to do many things, but to do all things well.”
BW House Prayer
Oh Jesus give me:
The bread of humility
The bread of obedience
The bread of charity
The bread of strength to break my will and mould it into yours
The bread of patience to bear the sufferings my heart endures
The bread of seeing you alone in all things and at all times
Amen
BLESSED FREDERIC OZANAM
Frederic Ozanam grew up in Lyons, France. He went to study law in Paris, and through this time, he defended the Catholic faith when lecturers would mock. During a discussion group, Frederic was asked “What do you do besides talk to prove the faith you claim is in you?” This hurt Frederic and he soon decided that he must take action. He soon formed a group which helped the needy in Paris, and called them the group of St Vincent de Paul. He became a well-respected lecturer of law, bringing out the best in each pupil, and in the meantime, the SVP groups were growing throughout Europe. Frederic suffered poor health, and died in 1853. His friend Fr Lacordaire said at his funeral “Frederic was one of those privileged creatures who came direct from the hand of God in whom God joins tenderness to genius in order to enkindle the world.“
“The hunger and sweat of the poor, form a sacrifice that could redeem the people’s humanity.”
OG House Prayer
Lord, you made Blessed Frederic Ozanam a witness to the Gospel, full of wonder at the mystery of the Church.
You inspired him to alleviate poverty and injustice and endowed him with untiring generosity in the service of all who were suffering.
Lord, help us to take action where suffering is found.
Amen