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Aug. 3 Bl. Frederic Janssoone |
Frederic Janssoone was born in Ghyvelde, France, on the 19th of November, 1838. Father Frederic's first trip to Canada was in 1881. He came to Canada to raise funds for the Holy Land. During his eight month stay, much of his time was devoted to preaching and writing while he prepared for his mission to the Holy Land. After a time in the Holy Land, where he founded the Commissariate of the Holy Land, he returned to Canada to stay in 1881. Father Frederic, the first Franciscan to arrive in Canada for the third return of the Franciscans to this country, dedicated himself in a remarkable way for the Secular Franciscan Order, then known as the Third Order of Saint Francis. He was Spiritual Assistant of the Third Order and it was due to his dedication that the Fraternity of Warwick, Quebec, grew with 184 novices and 150 professed members and in 1897 it had attained the record number of 400. In 1890, the year of the return of the Franciscan Friars, there were 34 Parish Fraternities, 17 of which had been founded by Father Frederic, with a total of some 12,000 members. He published a "Manual of the Third Order which sold 5,000 copies. In 1889 he wrote a booklet under the title "The Third Order, Its Rule and Its Excellence". 10,000 copies sold quickly ay $3.00 per hundred, that is, three cents a copy. Blessed Father Frederic is well known for his work for the sanctuary at Cap de la Madeleine, near Trois Rivieres, Quebec, which he did much to establish and where miraculous events took place. When in Montreal, he lived in a small, humble room at St. Joseph's Friary. He died in Montreal on the 4th of August, 1916, and is buried in a tomb at the Church of Saint-Antoine. He was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II on the 25th of September, 1988. (Source: OFS National Fraternity, Canada) |
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Aug. 9 Bl. John of La Verna |
Blessed John of Fermo, more
often called John of La Verna, from his time spent on that mountain (1259 -
10 August 1322) was an Italian Roman Catholic clerical ascetic and
preacher.He was born at Fermo in the Marche. After a youth of precocious
piety, he was received at the age of ten among the Canons of St. Peter's at
Fermo. Three years later, desirous of leading a more austere life, he
entered the Order of Friars Minor, and under the direction of the celebrated
brother James of Fallerone soon made rapid progress in perfection. Shortly after his profession, John was sent by the minister general to Mount La Verna in Tuscany, where St. Francis of Assisi had received the stigmata, and there he spent many years in solitude, penance and contemplation, receiving ecstasies and celestial visions. His late years, however, were devoted to the Apostolic ministry, and he preached at Florence, Pisa, Siena, Arezzo, Perugia and many other towns of northern and central Italy, working wonders everywhere. He was a close friend of the poet Jacopone of Todi and administered the last sacraments to him in 1306. John is said to have composed the preface which is said in the Mass of St. Francis. Feeling the approach of death at Cortona while on his way to Assisi, John returned to La Verna and died there at the age of sixty-three in 1322. He was buried on
the holy mountain, where many miracles were wrought through his
intercession, and where his cell is still shown. The cultus of Blessed John
was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1880. |
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Aug. 18 Capuchin martyrs of Rochefort |
Part of 64 Martyrs of the French
Revolution, Blesseds John Louis Loir (John Baptist Jacob Aloysius Xavier
(Jean-Baptiste Jacques Louis Xavier) Loir, priest OFMCap. Born 11 March 1720
in Besançon, Doubs (France), died 19 May,1794); Protase Bourdon (JEAN
Bourdon (Protais FROM SÉEZ), professed priest, Franciscan Capuchins, born:
03 April 1747 in Séez, Orne (France)), and Sebastian françois (François
François (Sébastien FROM NANCY) professed priest, Franciscan Capuchins,
born: 17 January 1749 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle (France) - all lived or
died (as indicated) aboard
one of the prison ships in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime (France)
Note: the information is, in part, contradictory as it comes
from different (unproven) sources. There just isn't much information
available on these three Capuchin martyrs. |
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Aug. 23 Bl. Bernard of Offida |
Blessed Bernard
entered the Capuchin Order at Corinaldo in 1626, when he was twenty two. For
seven years, he worked in the kitchen under Br Maximus who was himself a
better spiritual director than he was a cook. Bernard became a lay brother
in the way that was to lead him to sanctity.Bernard's faith in his calling
and in religious life deepened over the years. He knew from experience that
"the just man lives by faith". It was this same faith that taught Bernard to
prize Catholicity and to respond to the demands of each day in true Capuchin
style. Bernard loved to immerse himself in the Sacred Scriptures and other
spiritual readings. Our Lord in the Blessed Eucharist was the source of his
spiritual devotion, indeed, he often found it impossible to stifle the cries
of joy he sang out when in the presence of Jesus. He spent many hours in
adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and on numerous occasions, friars
witnessed Bernard raised from the ground with his face shining like the sun.
Bernard's faith was rewarded with spiritual favours not only for himself but
for many others as well. Many Capuchin theologians came to Bernard seeking
solutions to difficult questions. Bernard is also credited with the raising
of four children from the dead and once, when all the roads were snow bound,
food was sent to the friary due to his fervent prayers. The Cross also was a
reality in the daily life of Blessed Bernard. His fasting was almost
continual. He also scourged himself frequently and at the age of seventy
two, Bernard received the Stigmata. For the remaining twenty years of his
earthly life, he stood like a giant before the world with the Holy Seals of
Christ's sufferings, witnessing to the indescribable love of God for erring
humanity. Blessed Bernard died in 1694, a model of Faith, Hope and Love. He
was beatified by Pope Pius VI and his feast is celebrated on the 1st
September. (Source: Capuchin Friars, Australia) |