St. Margaret of Cortona

St. Margaret of Cortona, penitent, was born in Loviana in Tuscany in 1247. Her father was a small farmer. Margaret’s mother died when she was seven years old. Her stepmother had little care for her high-spirited daughter. Rejected at home, Margaret eloped with a youth from Montepulciano and bore him a son out of wedlock. After nine years, her lover was murdered without warning. Margaret left Montpulciano and returned as a penitent to her father’s house. When her father refused to accept her and her son, she went to the Friars Minor at Cortona where she received asylum. Yet Maragaret had difficulty overcoming temptations of the flesh. One Sunday she returned to Loviana with a cord around her neck. At Mass, she asked pardon for her past scandal. She attempted to mutilate her face, but was restrained by Friar Giunta. Margaret earned a living by nursing sick ladies. Later she gave this up to serve the sick poor without recompense, subsisting only on alms. Evenually, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis, and her son also joined the Franciscans a few years later. Margaret advanced rapidly in prayer and was said to be in direct contact with Jesus, as exemplified by frequent ecstacies. Friar Giunta recorded some of the messages she received from God. Not all related to herself, and she courageously presented messages to others. In 1286, Margaret was granted a charter allowing her to work for the sick poor on a permanent basis. Others joined with personal help, and some with financial assistance. Margaret formed her group into tertiaries, and later they were given special status as a congregation which was called The Poverelle (“Poor Ones”). She also founded a hospital at Cortona and the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy. Some in Cortona turned on Margaret, even accusing her of illicit relations with Friar Giunta. All the while, Margaret continued to preach against vice and many, through her, returned to the sacraments. She also showed extraordinary love for the mysteries of the Eucharist and the Passion of Jesus Christ. Divinely warned of the day and hour of her death, she died on February 22, 1297, having spent twenty-nine years performing acts of penance. She was canonized in 1728. Her feast day is February 22nd.

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St. Kiara

St. Kiara, also known as Saint Cera or Chier, is an early Irish saint from the 7th century. Here are some key points about her:

1. Historical Background: Kiara is thought to have been born in the region of present-day County Tipperary, Ireland. She is associated with the monastic traditions of early medieval Ireland, a period marked by the establishment of many religious communities.
2. Monastic Life: Kiara became a nun and founded a convent in Kilkeary, which is located near Nenagh in County Tipperary. This convent became a center for religious life and education for women during her time.
3. Legacy and Miracles: Kiara is remembered for her piety and dedication to the monastic life. Like many early saints, she is attributed with performing miracles. One notable miracle involved her prayers leading to the growth of an abundant crop to alleviate famine.
4. Feast Day: Saint Kiara’s feast day is celebrated on March 5. On this day, people remember her contributions to the Christian faith and the monastic tradition in Ireland.
5. Veneration: Although not as widely known as some other Irish saints, Kiara is venerated in specific regions of Ireland where her influence was significant. Her life and work are part of the rich tapestry of early Christian history in Ireland.

Saint Kiara’s story is an example of the important role that women played in the early Irish church, particularly in the establishment and leadership of monastic communities.

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St. Carmen

According to my resources, the name Carmen is a derivation of Carmel which is one of the titles given to Our Blessed Mother, namely, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is the patronal feast of the Carmelites. The Order of Carmelites takes its name from Mount Carmel, which was the first place dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and where a chapel was erected in her honor before her Assumption into Heaven. July 16 is also the feast of the “Scapular of Mount Carmel”. On that day in 1251, pious tradition says, the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock, General of the Carmelites at Cambridge, England, showed him the scapular and promised supernatural favors and her special protection to his Order and to all persons who would wear the scapular. To obtain the indulgences and other benefits promised to those who wear the Carmelite scapular, a person must be invested by a priest who has the requisite faculties and must lead a consistent Christian life. Her feast day is July 16th.

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St. Adele

St. Adele, also known as Adela or Adèle, was a notable figure in early medieval Christian history. She is remembered for her piety and dedication to the church. Here are some key points about her life and legacy:

Early Life and Background

• Birth and Family: Saint Adele was born in the 7th century, possibly around the year 710. She was of noble birth, the daughter of King Dagobert II of the Franks and Queen Matilda.
• Royal Lineage: Her lineage tied her to the Merovingian dynasty, which was a significant ruling family in early medieval Europe.

Religious Life

• Widowhood and Vocation: After the death of her husband, Saint Adele chose to devote her life to religious service. She became a nun, renouncing her noble status to lead a life of poverty and devotion.
• Abbess of Pfalzel: Adele founded the convent of Pfalzel near Trier, Germany. She served as the abbess of this convent, where she was known for her leadership and deep commitment to the spiritual and communal life of the nuns.

Death and Canonization

• Death: Saint Adele died around the year 730. Her exact death date is uncertain, but she is commemorated on December 24th.
• Legacy and Veneration: She was canonized as a saint, and her feast day is celebrated on December 24th. Saint Adele is venerated for her pious life and her role in the establishment and leadership of the Pfalzel convent.

Patronage

• Patron Saint: Saint Adele is often invoked as a patron saint of widows and religious women.

Significance

• Influence: Saint Adele’s life and work had a significant impact on the Christian communities in her region. Her dedication to the monastic life and the founding of the convent at Pfalzel contributed to the spread of Christian values and monastic practices in early medieval Europe.

Saint Adele’s story is one of noble sacrifice, religious dedication, and influential leadership within the early Christian church. Her legacy continues to inspire those who seek a life of spiritual commitment and community service.

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St. Isabel of France

St. Isabel of France, also known as Elizabeth of France, was born in 1225 as the daughter of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile. She was the sister of King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis). Isabel was known for her piety, charity, and dedication to serving others.

From a young age, Isabel demonstrated a strong desire to live a life of religious devotion. Despite her royal status, she chose a life of simplicity and humility. She devoted herself to prayer, fasting, and caring for the poor and sick.

Isabel founded the Abbey of Longchamp in 1255, where she established a community of nuns following the Rule of Saint Clare. The nuns of Longchamp were dedicated to a life of poverty, prayer, and service to the poor. Isabel herself took the veil as a nun in the Order of Poor Ladies, also known as the Poor Clares.

As abbess of Longchamp, Isabel lived a life of austerity and service. She cared for the sick and needy, and she used her resources to provide for the poor. She was known for her compassion and generosity, and she inspired others with her devotion to God and her commitment to serving those in need.

Isabel died on February 23, 1270, and she was canonized as a saint by Pope Leo X in 1670. She is honored as the patron saint of the Franciscan Third Order, the Order of Saint Elizabeth, and charitable societies. Her feast day is celebrated on February 26th. Saint Isabel of France is remembered for her selflessness, piety, and dedication to serving others, particularly the poor and marginalized.

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St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin (Feast day – November 18) Born in Grenoble, France, in 1769, Rose joined the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818, when she was forty-nine years old, Rose was sent to the United States. She founded a boarding school for daughters of pioneers near St. Louis and opened the first free school west of the Missouri. At the age of seventy-one, she began a school for Indians, who soon came to call her “the woman who is always praying”. Her biographers have also stressed her courage in frontier conditions, her singlemindedness in pursuing her dream of serving Native Americans, and her self-acceptance. This holy servant of God was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

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