I do not desire to die soon, because in Heaven there is no suffering. I desire to live a long time because I yearn to suffer much for the love of my Spouse.
You will be consoled according to the greatness of your sorrow and affliction; the greater the suffering, the greater will be the reward. 

--St. Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi


 

  I see around me a multitude of those who, blindly persevering in error, despise the true God; but I am a Christian nevertheless, and I follow the instruction of the Apostles. If this deserves chastisement, reward it; for I am determined to suffer every torture rather then become the slave of the devil. Others may do as they please since they are [...] reckless of the future life, which is to be obtained only by sufferings. Scripture tells us that "narrow is the way that leads to life" [...] because it is one of affliction and of persecutions suffered for the sake of justice; but it is wide enough for those who walk upon it, because their faith and the hope of an eternal reward make it so for them. [...] On the contrary, the road of vice is in reality narrow, and it leads to an eternal precipice. --Saint Leo of Patara

 Saint Leo of Patara

At Patara, in Lycia, a great festival was once being celebrated in honor of a certain idol, at which a great concourse assembled; some having gone willingly, and many through fear, as an edict had been published to that effect. Saint Leo, who was a good Christian, departed from the city, and went to perform his devotions before the relics of Saint Paregorius, who had died for the faith some short time previously. Upon his return home, Saint Paregorius appeared to him in a vision, standing at the opposite side of a torrent, and inviting him to pass over.

Saint Leo hence conceived a great hope that he would be honored with martyrdom; and going, some days after, to make a second visit to the tomb of Saint Paregorius, he passed by the temple of Fortune, where many lanterns burned before the idol. Impelled by a special impulse of the Holy Ghost, he entered the temple and threw down the lights: but the idolaters, enraged at the insult offered to their idol, raised such a clamor, that the governor heard of the affair, and ordered that the saint should be brought before him.

When Leo made his appearance, the governor rebuked him for the outrage he had committed against the gods, in violation of the commands of the sovereign.

Saint Leo, animated with holy zeal, replied: “Thou speakest to me of the gods, as if there were many: there is but one God, and Jesus Christ is his only begotten Son. Since statues of stone and wood are devoid of sense and feeling, of what use can lanterns be to them? If thou hadst the knowledge of the true God, thou wouldst not worship these false deities. Oh, do abandon this vain superstition, and adore our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!”

The governor said: “Thou dost then exhort me to become a Christian? Better it were for thee to conform to the general practice, lest thy rashness be punished as it deserves.”

Saint Leo with increased ardor replied: “I see about me a multitude of those who, blindly persevering in error, despise the true God; but I am a Christian notwithstanding, and follow the instructions of the apostles. If this deserve chastisement, award it; for I am determined to suffer every torture, rather than become the slave of the devil. Others may do as they please, since they are solicitous merely for the present, and are reckless of the future life, which is to be obtained only by sufferings. The Scripture tells us that narrow is the way which leadeth to life.”

The governor observed: “Since, then, the way of the Christians is narrow; exchange it for ours, which is wide and commodious.”

Saint Leo answered: “I have said that the way is narrow, because it is one of affliction, and of persecutions suffered for justice sake; but it is wide enough for those who walk therein, because their faith, and the hope of an eternal reward, make it so to them. The love of virtue maketh that easy which to thee seemeth difficult. On the contrary, the road of vice is in reality narrow, and leads to an eternal precipice.”

This discourse was most unpalatable to the pagans, who accordingly exclaimed that the impious man, who had spoken against their religion, should be silenced.

	The governor then asked Saint Leo whether he would sacrifice; and being answered that his compliance was totally impossible, he ordered him to be scourged. Although this command was most cruelly executed, the saint suffered without a groan; whereupon the governor threatened still greater torments, but the saint answered: “I know not these gods, and will never sacrifice to them.” “At least,” said the governor, “say that our gods are great, and I will dismiss thee, for I have compassion upon thy old age.” Saint Leo replied: “They are great for the destruction of those souls that believe in them.” The governor, infuriated at this reply, said: “I will order thee to be dragged over stones till thou art torn to pieces.” The saint replied: “I shall welcome any kind of death that procures me the kingdom of heaven, and that blessed life which I shall enjoy in company with the saints, upon my departure from this world.” The tyrant continued to importune him to sacrifice, or at least to acknowledge that the gods could save him from death. The saint replied: “Thou art very weak, since thou dost nothing but threaten, without putting thy threats into execution.” The populace, being enraged at this reply, obliged the judge to condemn the saint to be tied by the feet and dragged through a torrent. Saint Leo, finding himself about to obtain the accomplishment of his desire to die for Jesus Christ, raised his eyes to heaven, and prayed after the following manner: “I thank Thee, O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for granting me the grace to follow Thy servant Paregorius. I praise Thee, because Thou hast enabled me, by martyrdom, to cancel my past sins. I commend my soul to the care of Thy holy angels, that it may be saved from the perdition prepared for the wicked. I beseech Thee, by that which it is my blessed lot to suffer, to have mercy on those who are the cause thereof; and since Thou desirest not the death of the sinner, grant them the grace to recognize Thee as the Lord of the universe. May all that which I suffer in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son redound to Thy glory forever and ever. Amen.” As soon as he pronounced the word Amen, he rendered up his soul to God, and went to enjoy the crown to which Saint Paregorius had invited him. The executioners cast the body into a deep pit, in order to break it to pieces; but it was taken thence and found entire, with only a few slight bruises, and the face appeared comely and smiling. *from Victories of the Martyrs, by St. Alphonsus de Liguori

 

 

 


When it is all over you will not regret having suffered; rather you will regret having suffered so little, and suffered that little so badly.'
--St. Sebastian Valfre

Blessed Sebastian Valfrè, C.O. (9 March 1629 – 30 January 1710) was a Catholic priest and a member of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. He is called the Apostle of Turin for his long years of service to the people of that city, where he served as the provost of the local Oratory for many years.

Valfrè was born in Verduno, then in the Duchy of Savoy, now in the Province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region of Italy. He was born to a poor family but through struggle and effort he managed to attend various universities in the region, until he graduated from the University of Turin.

Valfrè joined the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Turin on 26 May 1651, the feast day of their founder, St. Philip Neri, and was ordained a priest on the following 24 February. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Theology in 1656.

In his ministry to the people of Turin, Valfrè gained a reputation for caring for the sick and as a confessor with deep insight. He became the confessor for Duke Victor Amadeus II of the House of Savoy and many of the members of the royal court. He had a strong concern too, though, for the poor and needy of the kingdom, finding help for the widows and orphans and providing comfort to prisoners, whom he would visit. He eventually was offered the office of Archbishop of Turin, but declined the appointment.

Fr. Valfre is known for his service to the poor during the famine of 1678-80 and the 17-week siege of Turin during the war between Piemonte and Louis XIV. He is still invoked as patron of military chaplains for his ministry to soldiers during the war.

Valfrè had a great devotion to the Shroud of Turin, and he can be seen in an illustration from the period supervising some repair work done on it in 1694. He also had a concern for the religious education of the people, personally instructing many in the teachings of the Catholic faith as found in the Catechism of the Council of Trent. Additionally, out his devotion to the Blessed Mother, he inspired the duke to erect the Basilica of Superga.

Valfrè's interests and influence were not limited to the duchy. He helped to found the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in Rome in 1701, which was established to train diplomats for the Papal States. Under its current name of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, it still fulfills that function for the Vatican City State.

Valfrè died in Turin on January 30, 1710,and his remains are now preserved in a silver urn in the Oratory Church of Turin. He was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI on 15 July 1834, with his feast day celebrated by the Congregation of the Oratory on 30 January.

 


Fasting is most intimately connected with prayer. For the mind of one who is filled with food and drink is so borne down as not to be able to raise itself to the contemplation of God, or even to understand what prayer means.

Catechism of the Council of Trent

Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.

-St. Thomas Aquinas

 

Nothing, how little so ever it be, if it is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God."

-Thomas a Kempis

 

 

 

 

Prayer of St. Therese of the Child Jesus to the Holy Face

O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become "the most abject of men, a

man of sorrows", I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon there once did shine

the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead; but now it has become for me as if

it were the face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features,

I recognize Thy infinite Love and I am consumed with the desire to love

Thee and make Thee loved by all men. The tears which well up abundantly in

Thy sacred eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to

gather up, in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their

infinite value. O Jesus, whose adorable Face ravishes my heart, I implore

Thee to fix deep within me Thy divine image and to set me on fire with Thy

Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy

glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.