Saints of Religious Orders

Vallumbrosan's Saints (OSBVal)

The Order of Vallombrosa, of Benedictine spirituality was founded in 1039, at the site of the same name (valley of the shadow) by Saint John Gualbert (pictured), the prominent noble family of Florence Visdomini, which he did until impossible to make them quit their idea. John, become regret after killing an enemy of the family, was first a Benedictine monk at Saint Miniato, then was Camaldolensian, but disappointed by the mediocrity of his monastic environment, he wanted to return the austere ideal of Saint Benedict, finding in seclusion solitude and the ideal of seeking God through penance, contemplation and the cultivation of virtues. Order divided the religious and secular, being the first to adapt the rules to the laity ⁽¹⁾.

The Order was approved by Pope Alexander II in 1070 and came to have many monasteries, drastically reduced by the wars of religion and monastic relaxation. Pius II completed the reform of the Order had begun Eugene IV, which merged with the Order Silvestrina in 1662, but 18 years later became independent. Thrown from his home until 1963, not reoccupied the monks. Today it has 10 monasteries, all in Italy. Saint John Gualbert was canonized by Pope Celestine III in 1193 and is patron of workers and forest guards (at the valley of the shadow).

January:
7: Saints Timothy and Luciano, african martyrs. ⁽²⁾
20: Blessed Benedict Ricasoli of Coltibuono, hermit.

February:
1: Santa Veridiana of Castel Fiorentino, pilgrim and recluse. (It is unclear whether it was recluse lay of the Order).
8: San Pedro Ígneo, monk and bishop.
9: San Erico of Vallombrosa, the third General of the Order.

March:
10: Blessed John of Vallombrosa, monk.
24: Belssed Berta of Cavriglia, abbess.

May:
20: Blesseds Jerome and Orlando of Vallombrosa, hermits. (And 1 August)
22: San Aton of Pistoia, abbot and bishop.
       Saint Humility (Rosana) of Faenza, wife, prisoners and abbess, founder of the nuns.

July:
12: Saint John Gualbert , father and founder.

August:
1: San Rodolfo of Vallombrosa, the second General of the Order.

November:
9: Blessed Joan of Signa, virgin recluse. (some say was a Franciscan tertiary, but it is doubtful).

December:
4: Saint Bernard of Parma, fourth-General of the Order, bishop and cardinal.

---

⁽¹⁾ therefore were not the mendicant Francisco and Sunday the first to "create" tertiary, as we read there.
⁽²⁾ do not know why, but the Acta Sanctorum said to appear on the calendar vallumbrosano on this day, although the Roman Martyrology brings to 13 January. For similar cases, is likely to have had their relics and party at the Mother House, the monastery of Valleumbroso and, over time, have passed the Order. Anyway, they are martyrs of old, with nothing to do with the Order.

By Ramon Rabre (text) and Marco Antonio Martinez Ruvalcaba (translation)

Ursuline Saints

The monastic order of the Ursulines was founded by St. Angela Merici (pictured) in 1535 in Brescia, for the education of girls. His idea was to return to the simplicity of consecrated virgins from apostolic times, and therefore the first members had no monastic vows, but they lived in his own family and social environment, which should evangelize to their testimony, especially for other women, starting with girls. That´s why It is modeled on Saint Ursula, the legendary saint who had taken up to heaven to 11,000 virgins.

It was a pioneer on its time, because the religious nuns were confined,there was not like today, the congregations of consecrated and secular. the education from the nuns was a punctual and had not a specific charism. In 1536 and 1544, the order was recognized by the Bishop of Brescia and Paul III, respectively. It  Spread outside Germany, especially France, which was their main center of expansion. In 1618 Paul V made ​​them confined nuns, under the rule of St. Augustine, but continue educating girls. Currently they no longer live in confinment and they are very present in the missions.

January:
24: Blessed Ana of the Holy Spirit, Ursuline Saint Omer, virgin. Since the nineteenth century figures as blessed, apparently it is a confirmation of worship.
27: Saint Angela Merici, Mother and Foundress.

April:
28: Blessed Ana de la Vesvres, virgin. Has not been officially beatified.
30: Blessed Marie of the Incarnation, mother, religious foundress in America.

May:
5: Blessed Catherine Cittadini, virgin, foundress of the Ursulines of Somasca.
18: Blessed Blandina Merten, virgin.
29: Saint Ursula Ledóchowska, virgin and foundress of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus.

July:
9: Blessed Maria Ana Dupeyre, Guilhermier Mary Anne, Mary Anne Lambert, Mary Anne de Rocher and Clara Rosalie Berry, virgins and martyrs of Orange.
27: Blessed Mary Klemenz Stazsewska, virgin and martyr.  

September:
3: Blessed Brigida of Jesus Morillo, virgin, foundress of the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate.

October:
17: Blessed Maria Natalia de San Luis Vanot, Mary Laurentina of San Estanislao, Maria Ursula de San Bernardino, San Francisco María Luisa, and María Agustina of the Sacred Heart, virgins and martyrs of Valenciennes.
21: Saint Ursula of Colonia, virgin and martyr, and inspiring model of the Order.

 

By Ramon Rabre (text) and Marco Antonio Martinez Ruvalcaba (translation)