Saint Eustelle, or Star.

Question: Ramon, in today´s saint on www.catholic.net is  Santa Estela or Star, do you have some image of it?, Plus I would get a better story about it, since what we have is very short.

Answer: As of this saint, the truth is that I knew almost nothing, so to get to work for colleagues of the page. Volume data from "The Lives of All Saints of France", a multi-volume work, nineteenth century, which says to take data from a seventeenth century work, which in turn would take the old documents and data froman  anonymous, source  which I see, is nothing more than "life" of St. Eutropius of Saintes.

Saint Eustelle, virgin. 11 May.
We are in the third century, when the Gaul has a governor, which the authors call the King, was not implying an independent king, but in the name of Rome (remember, I copy from the book). This king or governor had a beautiful daughter in the body and the soul called Eustelle. And we find the first problem: The original name is Eustelle, meaning "well-decorated" Latinized Stella (from where it went to Estrella in Spanish, Star in English) was a recreation of the writer Frederic Mistral in the nineteenth century, when Eustelle became patron of a literary movement interested in rescuing the Occitan language and literature.

And back to the third century: St. Eutropius coming to the region, to start preaching the Gospel, Eustelle soon became the Christian faith, although it knew that would upset his father, but I can more the grace of God that fears. He changed his habits, became more docile and obedient, more loving and leaving other non-Christian youth who had as friends, because of the danger it posed. He began to pray more often, to leave the rich dress and pomp of his court. So, your father knew that he had converted to Christianity and ordered her to leave this new faith, but Eustelle (as you imagine) responded "I rather die".

His father offered him gifts, an advantageous marriage and wealth, but she remained tight instead of abandoning Christ and, rather, he preached the truth of faith, the vanity of the world, the supremacy of Christ over all the idols and human wisdom. In short, a speech, more like a preacher of the seventeenth century, than from a young girl from the third century.

The blandishments, the father went to threats and punishments, to which, Eustelle still remained stronger. Then her father threw her out of the palace, despite the pleas of slaves and courtiers, who asked him reconsider. Eustelle accepted joyfully willing to suffer for Jesus Christ and left the house, and went where Eutropius, who received it with joy, while warning them of the persecution of Christians by the Empire. Eustelle retired to a hut, where he received Eutropius who spoke of things in heaven and the excellence of virginal consecration to God, which Eustelle determined to devote his life as a consecrated virgin. ⁽¹⁾

Knowing this Eustelle’s father, ordered the murder of Eutropius, who knew by a divine revelation (c’mon, we didn’t  had to wait, it was obvious). Thus, the first stoned assassins while on his knees, forgiving. He eventually died from a blow to the head. Eustelle and other Christians buried his body with great reverence. Eustelle father told this would fear her daughter would return home to renouncing the Christian faith, but it was not: she stood firm, though no longer tells us more about her life of St. Eutropius. If Eustelle was martyred or not, or if your own father, style Dioscorus-Barbara, will take her life. Is likely to be a saint later, devout of St. Eutropius, or a hermit in the area, a benefactor of the church and that over time has been assigned a life connected with the saint.

However, the Saintes Breviary puts a martyr to May 21, saying the blessed memory Eustelle, baptized by St. Eutropius, whose father had her killed. Adds that she was buried in one grave of Eutropius, from where they were taken to build the basilica of St. Eutropius. In other words, takes it for a martyr, though not stated. In 1845, in recognition of the relics of St. Eutropius, another skull was found in a young person between 18 and 25, it was assumed was that of Eustelle, but we must recognize that this was taken well by the legend that she would have been buried near the holy bishop.

She still holds devotion in Saintes, where a chapel and a healing fountain, called "Santa Eustelle font" The faithful still flock there, and young women seeking husbands do their ritual of throwing two pins on the air, if they fall into a cross, is a good omen, will find it soon.

This fountain is believed the site where she retired, and that the fountain would be used by her and Eutropius, but excavations have found that it might be a fountain  attached to the amphitheater of the city, which is a few meters from the site. And if it were not, however it is unlikely that someone looking for retirement do precisely with an amphitheater at one side, with all the noise and shows that there occurred. Still, the constant devotion and many miracles are documented. The book details what happened in 1645, when a deaf mute healed instantly and fifteen days later, he repeated the same with two young men that her mother took to the source, inspired by the first miracle.

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

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⁽¹⁾ Here’s a long speech moralistic tone that is not part of the life of St. Eutropius, is only a speech he wrote the book, making clear the concept of story in hagiography: the facts must be at service training, advocacy, faith. That’s why the lives of saints often suffer likelihood, because the story is subject to the teaching and preaching.

Blessed Lucy of Narni, another stigmatized

Question: well I did not know that there was another stigmatized dominica than Catherine of Siena, and those pope gloves, what that symbolize? I think I’ll bore you with all that doubt that comes from seeing these images.

Answer: Not at all, man, you’re not going to bore me, you know this whole issue of the iconography, saints, legends and so on, I love it. Well, I tell you something of Lucia of Narni:

Blessed Lucy of Narni, wife, virgin, dominic tertiary. 16 November.
As in many lives of saints, Lucia was the daughter of noble and virtuous parents and since she was a child she stand out for his piety as well as for the gift of prophecy, without an error on her predictions, in both family, and public matters. She did not play like other girls her age, but her entertainment was decorating small altar and pray prayers to Mary and the saints. At 5 years, being in a church, she asked to an image of Mary to give her baby in her arms to her, at which the image agreed, becoming the child of stone to flesh. Achieved its purpose she took him home, where he was for 3 days, which she didn’t left him not even to eat or sleep, until the child returned itself to his place. During his childhood and adolescence had several serious illnesses, of which she was healed thanks to her prayers to the saints of their devotion, among which were, of course, Saint Dominic of Guzman.

As its, liking of the saints became a sincere devotion and to a familiar feel in her prayer to God, who gave her several visions and apparitions of saints, with whom he had treated as equals. At age 7, she did not hesitate to take a vow of chastity, that God himself endorsed giving a ring as his wife (a common occurrence in the same holy order), while Saint Dominic of Guzman (8 August and 24 May) imposed on her a Dominican scapular. So she devoted his heart to God, so rejected several suitors, as long as God did not say explicitly wich state she should take, whether religious, secular virgin. But she had a vision of the Virgin Mary, who ordered her to be like herself: married and a virgin. That is, the legend says that a pact with the promise that eventually accepted, having a white marriage, meaning to maintain the purity.

The "Holy Dominican Journal" says "We must assume that God wanted this he set all meanings  to make this happen," understanding the practical difficulty of such a state of life, which is neither one thing nor another. We need to understand the mentality of the era, which lasted until recently, where virginity was considered a virtue and higher status to marriage, as if sex was something that gets away from virtue and holiness.

Anyway, they tell us that she continued her life of penance, prayer and charity. She was not swept away by   the luxury or the appearance of the comfortable life that she could have led. She was humble and she was indeed, coming to work as a maid, in the dirtiest jobs of her home. He was patient with her ​​family and her husband´s family, who did not understand her austerity and gentleness with the servants, and her horror with the ornaments, makeup and expensive clothes. And even more patient with her ​​husband, who abused and humiliated constantly, going so far as locking her in a cellar, as punishment for her "antics". And here It take matters into this the ecclesiastical authority, separating from her husband (the failure to consummate the marriage was an advantage, at the end).

Since then, being free, She continued her desire for perfection and holiness, for this she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic, and to avoid problems with her ​​husband and family, she was sent to Viterbo. In this monastery She was given the impression of the stigmata of the Passion. By their example, persuasion and authority, she reformed the convent, improving discipline and piety.

Stigmas and gloves.
She was very assiduous to meditation of the Passion of Christ and being one day while praying before a crucifix, it smote the wounds on the hands, feet and side. These stigmas were counted as false by many, including superiors and other religious. This was not to cause any wonder there have been more provoked and false stigmas than real ones. Pope Alexander VI called her to Rome and she was given an examination of her  wounds by the Master of the Sacred Palace, Fray Bernardo de Resina. He strongly washed the wounds, to see if they were painted or superficial. Then he put some gloves of Alexander VI himself, tying with chains and padlocks, sealed with the sealing and shield the pope on her wrists, so that she could not get them off. If they were provoked wounds they would heal or will become infected, causing purulent matter. She was like that for  nine days, after which, they broke the seals, removed his gloves and found the marks without corruption, fresh, although not smelling bad , blood and all  though. Alexander VI, gave the marks as true (so it’s not true that the ones of Francis and Catherine of Siena has been the only ones backed by the authority of the Church).

Pope Julius II personally moved her to Ferrara, against her will, as founder of the monastery of Santa Catalina, training the young people that asked the Dominican habit. Here she suffered slander, ridicule, insult for thirty-eight years. This, together with his penance and were consuming the diseases, to her death on November 15, 1544, at age 60, a lot given it was the sixteenth century. In 1710 her body was moved and it was  found incorrupt, visible wounds of the Passion. Taken as a saint by the Sisters, Clement IX adopted the cult, while Benedict XIII extended it to the Order, and the cities of Ferrara, Viterbo and Narni.

As a complement, we say that the wounds or stigmata of the Passion, also received the Order of Dominics, as far as I know:

1. Saint Catherine of Ricci, virgin. February 4.
2. Blessed Stephanie Quizanis, virgin. 16 January.
3. Blessed Walter of Germany. March 2.
4. Blessed Francis Monzón, novice. 29 March.
5. Blessed Dodon of Friesland, religious. 25 March.
6. Blessed Elena of Hungary, virgin. 16 March. Interesting case, because he had a sore left hand first, and a few months later on the right, in which he was born a lily.
7. Blessed Matthew Carreri. Oct. 8.
8. Blessed Catherine of Racconigi, tertiary. 4 September.

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)

Saint Constanza of Rome

Question: Hi, i refer to your excellent blog , with the confidence that you would resolve a doubt about Saint Constanza, I have read that you have a section on your page but I can´t find what I’m looking for, that is Saint Constanza , the daughter of Constantino the great, a saint as well as you might now it, the thing is that I have seen lots of images of this saint as well as corpo santos, that’s what I have learned on your page, and I would like to know if any of them is her or how it can be venerated and where, is there an image. Thanks.

Answer: First of all, I would like to thank your reading and attention to my little page , one more in a world full of websites about saints. Just by knowing you have learned something its worth all the efforts to do it , and doubles the satisfaction. and I get to the mater:

Saint Constanza of Roma, virgin, princess. February 19.
To begin it has to be said that saint Constanza its not included in the roman martir lists or whatever list its consider to be official , but she is in non official saints lists , sincerely , she not have gone down in history not for the beautiful mausoleum his father constantino dedicated to her in rome turned in to a basilica , that with time it ended up being called of “saint constanza”, because there is her grave (in the image).

Legend:
An analysis of her life what does is bring out the little historical value of the legends that narrate their way through life, hers an a couple of saints , some history is there but very mixed with pious fables So Constanza was the daughter of Constantino the Great, and suffered from scrofula (leprosy according to other versions). Constantino offered it as a wife to her general Gallicano, recently widowed, but this does not it funny and refused. Thus, Constantino sent him to Thrace, to defend the Roman frontiers against the barbarians.

Gallicano knowledgeable of the christian faith, made a vow of turning into the new faith if he came out with a victory. As one would expect in a hagiography, it happened: won and converted. Upon returning to Rome knew that Constanza had been miraculously healed by Saint ines and, with his own daughters Augusta, Attica and Artemia (also held on 19 February) had been spent as virgins consecrated by the church of santa ines. Constanza had two slaves in his service, Juan y Pablo, which he left to his death, freedom and her heritage. Upon assuming power Juliano the Apostate, Juan and Pablo, were martyred, with the intention of the emperor to restore the heritage of Constanza (celebrated on 26 June). After the martyrdom, three Christians Crispin Crispiniano and Benedict were buried. Gallicano was martyred in Alexandria, where he had been banished by Christian. The Roman martyrology picks it up to 25 July.

History:
It is true that the Emperor Constantino had a daughter, whose correct name is Flavia Julia Constantina, although usually called Constanza. However, it has historically, it was not a consecrated virgin, but was married to Annibalianus. And yet, if we believe the military historian Amiano Marcellino was a woman completely unprincipled, "a devil in human form, female fury always bloodthirsty" ⁽¹⁾. If Constantino had another daughter who was not involved in court life and public, is unknown to historians and chroniclers of the time. This is not surprising if, indeed, lived a recluse, first by the disease and then the virginal consecration. Remains in the shadows.

A couple more problems:
Even the name of Gallicano was common and was described at the time, there are two well-known, Vulcacio Gallicano, prefect of Rome in 317, and Ovinio Gallicano, consul in 330, but has none in the war against the barbarians of Thrace. On the other hand, it is incredible that a general was martyred such and such a legend. And second, the storyof the martyrdom of Saints Juan and Pablo, put under interrogation by Juliano himself in Rome, but it is known that after becoming emperor, Juliano did not set foot in Rome.

Therefore, there is every reason to have the legend as a great and senseless, bringing together characters from different times in the same situation. But calm, while the narrative of their lives and martyrdom is false there is reason to believe in its existence and very ancient cult! But that, in another article, this is very long. In addition, so will increase the interest.

 

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⁽¹⁾ Stories, Volume I, books XIV-XVI.

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

Thirteen Tuesday to Saint Anthony of Padua

I promise to never recommend devotions, and less on the blog, which is not devotional, but it said all that, because it is very effective. It will be a miracle, or fatigue, but the saint replied.

The origin of Thirteen Tuesdays is lost in tradition, the legend and the devotion of the faithful. It is said to be due to the many miracles that San Antonio de Padua on Thursday following the day of his death (June 13 1231), so that all those who helped him were invoked. Another source seems to be that, after his canonization, arose in the Christian custom of preparing for the celebration of the feast of San Antonio, dedicating the 13 preceding the Tuesday June 13. Another tradition speaks of a woman, asking for a miracle, ninth Tuesday offered to the saint, after this had not yet achieved what was achieved, thus requiring continued andalusia saint, until the thirteenth Tuesday, which achieved grace. Whatever the origin, the number 13 is magical significance here, in this case, the grace and blessing. Leon XIII granted March 1, 1898 plenary indulgence for each of the Thirteen Tuesday (or Sundays) consecutive, in which devotees receive the sacraments and practice some pious exercise in honor of the saint.


For the signal ...
My Lord Jesus Christ ...
Opening prayer. Prostrate at your feet, oh my protector amantísimo San Antonio, I offer you the pious exercise that I practice for me to reach the Lord’s forgiveness of my sins, the virtues of my own state, the final perseverance and the grace with special request this devotion. But if I do not agree, obtenme a perfect conformity to the divine will. Amen.
      
Then read the sentence on Tuesday (or Sunday) appropriate:

TUESDAY 1: CHARITY. O flame of love for God and neighbor, San Antonio! Compadécete my coolness in the service of God and my brothers and alcánzame the virtue of charity, with which all can achieve temporal and eternal goods.

TUESDAY 2: SPIRITUAL JOY. Oh, faithful observer of the divine precepts and Rule Seraphic, San Antonio! Otórgame the spiritual joy in the performance of my duties and I will be happy in this world and in the other.

TUESDAY 3: PEACE. Oh, peaceful villages and cities, San Antonio! Get for me and my family the peace that Jesus came to bring to the earth, and I give in this life and the rights of another child of God.

TUESDAY 4: PATIENCE. Oh, sacrificed servant of the Most High, San Antonio! Get your pleas for patience I need to carry the cross of my duties, which I open the gates of heaven.

TUESDAY 5: THE LONGANIMIDAD. Oh, generous advocate of the poor, San Antonio! Make me enamore longanimidad to deserve the greatest thanks to God and to obtain grants and eternal happiness

TUESDAY 6: THE KINDNESS. Oh, gifts benefactor, San Antonio! Dígnate extend the sweet virtue of kindness to me, so I’m not happy with apparent justice, but is really good before God and men, as desired.

TUESDAY 7: THE BEGINGN. Oh, sovereign San Antonio! Alcánzame a holy kind to my neighbor, so you do not want other weapons against my enemies more than pray for them and make them well.

TUESDAY 8: THE GENTLENESS. Oh, humble San Antonio! Obtenme for your gentleness that merits that captivates even the bad, and that will save her with many.

TUESDAY 9: THE FAITH. Oh, defender of the Church and the hammer of heretics, San Antonio! Strengthens my faith more and more, to enjoy their unique benefits in time and eternity.

TUESDAY 10: THE MODESTY. Oh, perfect model of honesty, San Antonio! Alcánzame modesty, restraint and modesty in deeds and words, so you can know and to oppose the bubbles and vanities that I resigned my baptism.

TUESDAY 11: THE CONTINENCE. Oh virginal lover of Jesus, San Antonio! I beg the grace of continence in all things relating to the external pleasures, honors and riches, to prepare a worthy dwelling place Christ in my heart.

TUESDAY 12: THE CHASTITY. Oh lily of purity, San Antonio! Have mercy on me, so that despite the difficulties that surround me, keep my status as chastity and attain to see God in heaven.

TUESDAY 13: Oh, tree of all virtues, San Antonio! Season in me the fruits of the Holy Spirit in these thirteen weeks I have asked, so that pleases the Lord God my works, and they give me grace and glory.

Every Tuesday to pray one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory.
End responsory of the San Buenaventura and the final pray.