Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Saint of the Day (Wednesday, February 13, 2013) - St. Giles Mary of St. Joseph

Saint of the   Day More Saints Saint FAQs iPhone App AmericanCatholic.org Image Map

Wednesday, February 13, 2013
St. Giles Mary of St. Joseph
(1729-1812)
Listen to Saint of the Day
In the same year that a power-hungry Napoleon Bonaparte led his army into Russia, Giles Mary of St. Joseph ended a life of humble service to his Franciscan community and to the citizens of Naples.

Francesco was born in Taranto to very poor parents. His father’s death left the 18-year-old Francesco to care for the family. Having secured their future, he entered the Friars Minor at Galatone in 1754. For 53 years he served at St. Paschal’s Hospice in Naples in various roles, such as cook, porter or most often as official beggar for that community.

“Love God, love God” was his characteristic phrase as he gathered food for the friars and shared some of his bounty with the poor—all the while consoling the troubled and urging everyone to repent. The charity which he reflected on the streets of Naples was born in prayer and nurtured in the common life of the friars. The people whom Giles met on his begging rounds nicknamed him the “Consoler of Naples.” He was canonized in 1996.


Comment:
People often become arrogant and power hungry when they try to live a lie, for example, when they forget their own sinfulness and ignore the gifts God has given to other people. Giles had a healthy sense of his own sinfulness—not paralyzing but not superficial either. He invited men and women to recognize their own gifts and to live out their dignity as people made in God’s divine image. Knowing someone like Giles can help us on our own spiritual journey.

Quote:
In his homily at the canonization of Giles, Pope John Paul II said that the spiritual journey of Giles reflected “the humility of the Incarnation and the gratuitousness of the Eucharist” (L'Osservatore Romano 1996, volume 23, number 1).

[Alt-Text]

(This entry appears in the print edition of Saint of the Day.)

CLICK HERE FOR PRINT VERSION
If you are having difficulty listening to Saint of the Day audio, or need help setting up an audio player, go to our Audio Help page for more information.
SHARE THIS EMAIL:
FacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterLinkedInLinkedInGoogle+Google+

Check out all our fine free e-newsletters from Franciscan Media:

28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Copyright© 1996-2012 Franciscan Media. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe


Saint Books Saint Audio iPhone App Saint of the Day   Book Image Map
[Alt-Text]

[Alt-Text]

[Alt-Text]

[Alt-Text]
Friar Jack's   E-spirations Saint of the   Day Minute Meditations Catholic   Greeting Premiere Faith Formation   Update Catholic   SAMPler Franciscan   Media American   Catholic Connections E-Newsletters Image Map

No comments:

Post a Comment