Monday 4th St. Francis of Assisi: 1181- 1226, abandoned all things for the love of Christ, founded the Friars Minor, and with St. Clare, the Poor Clares. For the last two years of his life, he suffered the stigmata. Patron saint of ecologists.
Tuesday 5th St. Faustina: was born near Lodz, Poland in 1905, died In Krakow in 1938, her short life spent as a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy. Listening to the Lord who is Love and Mercy, she understood that no human wretchedness could measure itself against the mercy which ceaselessly pours from the heart of Christ. She inspired the movement dedicated to proclaiming and imploring Divine Mercy throughout the world.
Wednesday 6th St. Bruno: Born in Cologne in 1033. He became professor of theology in Rheims University and later its head. But his desire was to found a monastery where poverty, manual work, silence and worship would be the basics. He founded the Carthusians at La Grande Chartreuse, where he died in 1101.
Thursday 7th Our Lady of the Rosary: “Today’s celebration urges all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was in a special manner associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.” (Divine Office)
Saturday 9th St. John Henry Newman; was received into the Catholic Church on 9th October, 1845. The Church in Ireland is deeply aware of his scholarship, deep human wisdom and profound love for the Lord. He was invited to establish the Catholic University of Ireland and was appointed rector in 1854. He resigned in 1858 having found that support for the university was not forthcoming. During his four year stay he began writing his reflection on the understanding of education that still remains a vital contribution to an understanding of Christian Education. St. Denis and Companions, Rusticus and Eleutherius, were beheaded and thrown into the Seine in 258 and later buried at Montmartre. The finest tribute is the abbey church of Saint-Denis where the kings of France are buried. Denis, the first bishop of Paris is one of the Patrons of France. St. John Leonardi: (1541-1609), supported the reforms of Trent, published a catechism and helped to found the Propagation of the Faith in Rome.