St. John Berchmans (March 13, 1599 to Aug. 12, 1621)

My mom, who was an elementary school teacher, said that a lot of students that misbehaved in her class were altar boys. Were they given this duty by the priest to keep them out of trouble or was it a voluntary position.
One altar boy that was obedient and truly loved his work was St. John Berchmans. He was born on March 13, 1599 in Brabant, Belgium. He was a Jesuit seminarian who died on Aug. 12, 1621 in Rome, Italy, before he was ordained a priest.
St. John Berchmans was known as a kind person who lived an ordinary life. He is the patron saint of altar boys and girls. Canonized: 1888. His feast day is Nov. 25.

St. Catherine of Siena (March 25, 1347 to April 29, 1380)

When I visited Siena, Italy I was young and wild, so I paid no attention to the locals and tourists who told me hotel rooms were scarce and filled up quickly in the walled city. I was content to spend the afternoon wandering around Tuscany, so took the last bus of the day to get there.
When I arrived just before midnight, panic struck in.
"Please, I'll sleep on the floor in the lobby," I begged the concierge at the only hotel that was opened, after he told me there were no vacancies. The tears were real and they worked. A room was available on the first floor.
The following morning my mission was to buy a rosary and get a history lesson about St. Catherine of Siena at her basilica.
She was born in Siena on March 25 (The Annunciation), 1347. At age 6, she experienced what today we would call mystical experiences communicating through visions with the saints, the Blessed Mother, and Jesus.
St. Catherine of Siena's treatise, called "A Dialogue," is well respected in the Roman Catholic Church. She died in Rome, Italy on April 29, 1380. Canonized: 1461. She is the patroness of fire protection and her feast day is April 29.

St. Justina of Padua (? to 304)

On my visit to Padua, Italy I devoted my time to exploring the Basilica of St. Anthony and learning more about his life and work. So, it was unfortunate that I missed the chance to go to the Basilica of St. Justina, a young woman who was martyred for refusing to pray to the Roman goddess Minerva.
St. Justina shares the title of patron saint of Padua with St. Anthony. She took a vow of chastity and was stabbed to death in 304. The remains of many saints are at her basilica including those of the Apostles St. Matthew and St. Luke. Her feast day is Oct. 7.

St. Peregrine Laziosi (1260 to May 1, 1345)

When I was in elementary school, I helped my neighbor, Kim, collect money for the American Cancer Society. I did this for years, so when we found out my grandfather was going to die from colon cancer in 1979, I remember my mother being upset for me because of my devotion to raising money for cancer research.
Nineteen years went by and my mother was dying from cancer. My cousin and I spent most of our time trying to find alternatives to chemotherapy and radiation for my mom. My cousin found out about a type of mud that she wanted my mom to spread on her stomach and I discovered an herb that would cleanse the colon and liver.
Still, my mother continued to do what the doctors told her as much as we begged her to try a natural alternative. I think she was afraid because time was moving quickly and eventually the doctors told her if she didn't do chemotherapy and radiation she would die a painful death. That was so cruel to tell her and so sad.
If only I had known about St. Peregrine Laziosi, the patron saint of cancer patients, I wouldn't be writing this today. And, my mother would have been spared the suffering.
St. Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1260 in Forli, Italy. He was a member of the Servite Order. He took it upon himself to do a penance in which he stood on his feet for 30 years, only sitting down when absolutely necessary.
It is said this caused varicose veins and cancer in his leg and foot. The night before his leg was to be amputated, St. Peregrine Laziosi prayed to Jesus who then appeared in a vision and touched his leg. When the saint awoke the cancer was gone and his leg and foot were healed.
St. Peregrine Laziosi died on May 1, 1345. His is generally depicted with cancer on his leg and his feast day is May 2.
Please spread the word to pray to St. Peregrine Laziosi.

St. Maximilian Kolbe (Jan. 8, 1894 to Aug. 14, 1941)

  Several months before digital cameras became the standard in newsrooms, I was told that although I was a journalist and took many of my own photos, I would still have to learn how to develop film should one of the photographers be on vacation, out sick, or on another assignment.
  I was 36-years-old at the time and my "teacher" would be the 23-year-old photographer for the daily newspaper that every woman who worked for the company wanted to have a relationship with. I could care less since I had an on-again, off-again boyfriend and didn't want anything serious with anyone.
 But, when I went into the darkroom for my first "session," I did the unthinkable. I had sex with him. After that day, we'd do it any chance we got and in any place we could find including state parks, cars, hotels, and at night in people's backyards.
  I wasn't the seducer, so I didn't feel I was doing anything wrong. Plus, I wrote five or six cover page articles each day and had a reputation for being the best journalist at the company.
  The thing is, no one knew what was going on except for a young co-worker who was my friend that worked downstairs in the main office.
  "I think that is so cool," she would say me. "I want to be like you, when I'm your age."
  I didn't even want to be involved with the photographer, but my boyfriend barely noticed me (he was a self-centered graphic designer and musician) and the young guy was giving me all the attention in the world and wanted to have sex two or three times a day.
  So, on days that we'd be at it in the darkroom, I'd immediately go back to my desk and conduct interviews over the phone like nothing had happened. The photographer said that it drove him wild.
  At the same time, the married, overweight assistant editor was madly in love with him and she would often tell me she would leave her husband if he expressed any interest in her.
  Finally, I met another guy, and decided to call it quits with the photographer after five months. He continued to pursue me, even after I left that job. Funny thing is, I ran into him on the street a few years later, when I was writing for another newspaper.  He was newly married and still trying to get me to hook up with him. No such deal.
  St. Maximilian Kolbe is a patron saint of journalists. He was born Rajmund Kolbe in what is now Poland on Jan. 8, 1894. As a young boy, he saw a vision of the Virgin Mary which helped influence his career path. He joined the Conventual Franciscan Friars in 1907.
  St. Maximilian Kolbe promoted the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. At the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland, he volunteered to die in place of a man he didn't even know.
  St. Maximilian Kolbe endured starvation, thirst, and abuse for two weeks before he was injected with carbolic acid. He died on Aug. 14, 1941. Canonized: 1982. His feast day is Aug. 14.

St. Luke the Apostle (? to c.84)

"To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:79)

My favorite gospel was written by St. Luke because it contains some of my favorite quotes. He stresses the importance of the Holy Ghost and his gospel is the only one that tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.
St. Luke was an apostle and follower of Jesus. He was born in Syria and worked as a physician and artist. He was martyred c. 84 in Greece.
The relic of St. Luke, his rib, is at his tomb in Greece and the rest of his remains are at the Basilica of St. Justina in Padua, Italy. It is often overlooked because the majority of people make pilgrimages to Padua to the Basilica of St. Anthony. If you are there, both our worthy of a visit.
St. Luke's feast day is Oct. 18. He is a patron saint of physicians and artists.

St. Agatha (c. 231 to c.251)

When I was doing genealogical research this week, I was surprised to find the tiny village of Castelpizzuto, Isernia, Italy has a patron saint. With just 140 residents, they honor St. Agatha with a celebration every February 5 on her feast day.
She was born in Sicily c.231. When she refused the advances of Quintianus, a judge, he had her thrown in prison and tortured. She was whipped and burnt, and had her breasts cut off. St. Agatha died c.251. She is shown in artwork carrying her breasts on a platter.
St. Agatha is the patron saint of breast cancer.

St. George (c.280 to April 23, 303)

Today is the feast day of St. George who is almost always shown killing a dragon in order to save a beautiful lady. He was born c.280 in Turkey. St. George became a Roman soldier and was furious that Christians were being put to death. He fought for his faith and was beheaded on April 23, 303.
The legend of St. George and the dragon began in the 13th century.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8)

In the Roman Catholic Church, it is a Holy Day of Obligation celebrating Mary's moment of conception being free from all stain of original sin. (It has nothing to do with Mary conceiving Jesus by the Holy Spirit). Mary's birthday is September 8.

St. Raphael Kalinowski (Sept. 1, 1835 to Nov. 15, 1907)

Prefettura Della Casa Pontificia
Permesso personale per partecipare all'Udienza del Santo Padre che avra luogo in
Vaticano nell'Aula Paola VI, mercoledi 6 novembre 1991, all ore 11.
Ingresso: A No: 494

In an old travel album that I've had for nearly two decades is a folded up piece of green paper with the above words. It's in Italian but you need not speak the language to understand that it's a ticket for an audience with the Pope.
I'm probably one of only a handful of people in the world with an unused ticket since they are hard to come by.
In 1991, Pope John Paul II met with an audience just once a week, on a Wednesday. So, I was told I might not get a ticket. But, I did after going through the proper channels and obtaining letters of permission from my parish priest and the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.
I missed my audience with the Pope because the night before I was walking down the Via Condotti in Rome and a handsome guy in a Lamborghini pulled up alongside me.
"You're not from around here," he said with a killer smile, thick, dark hair, or should I say the stereotypical, extremely masculine Italian look.
I wondered how he knew I was a tourist since I was dressed to blend in with the locals: white pants, a colorful, sleeveless shirt, sunglasses, and sandals.
When I got in the car he told me it was because I was staring at a building that only an American would notice. He said his name was Sandro and that I was crazy for getting in the car with a stranger in a foreign country.
"If my sister did that, I'd kill her," he said.
I explained that he looked like my family back home. I knew I was safe because he seemed like any guy I would meet in North Providence. It's funny that I was a world away and yet in a place so familiar.
So, Sandro gave me an insider's look at Rome, where parties often begin after midnight.
One of our stops was Monte Mario, the highest hill in the Eternal City, where we had sex in his car.
“Have you ever made love with an Italian before?” he whispered to me as he removed my shirt.
“I am Italian,” I replied, barely able to get the words out as he kissed me so hard with passion that my lips were black and blue the following morning.
Although I was divorced, I was still so naïve. When we finally got to Sandro's place in Frascati, where women’s clothing was strewn throughout, I was ever hopeful that he might be a cross dresser, not the married womanizer who had me sneak into the house behind him.
Still, I let go that night. We did to each other, whatever our hearts desired.

St. Raphael Kalinowski
It would have pretty amazing to have had an audience with the Pope, because that very week, he canonized St. Raphael Kalinowksi (also known as St. Joseph Kalinowski) on Nov. 17, 1991.
St. Raphael Kalinowski was born on Sept. 1, 1835 in modern day Vilnius, Lithuania. He was a Polish Discalced Carmelite Friar. He died on Nov. 15, 1907 in Wadowice, Poland which was the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. St. Raphael Kalinowski's feast day is Nov. 19.