St. Francesca Romana (1384 to March 9, 1440)

   As a single woman who has vacationed in Rome, Italy three times, I can honestly say it's one of the safest places to travel alone. So, I was surprised to read an article by an ESPN public relations executive in "Marie Claire" magazine saying she was nearly raped by an artist named Marco on her last night in the Eternal City.
  First off, if anyone is stupid enough to go on a tour of an art studio of a man you've just met, have drinks with him, and then go to his apartment, you're asking for it. She should have brought along the friend that she mentions, if she was really eager to get to know Marco. That's called safety in numbers.
  It seems that many American woman travel to Italy looking for romance with the handsome, well-groomed men that abound. And Italian men sense that about our culture. The public relations executive probably realized she was about to get used, so then decided to leave Marco's apartment. She admits that she hadn't been in a relationship in two years and was hoping something would transpire.
  Speaking from experience, the culture in Rome is often that American women are loose. Believe me, there are enough attractive European women that an Italian guy isn't going to go chasing down an American for a one-night stand.
  I found the article to depict Rome in an unfair way. No place is perfect. Just make wise choices. There are many beautiful places to stay including monasteries and convents.  The Casa di Santa Francesca Romana, at Via dei Vascellari, is where St. Francesca Romana lived and died.
  She was born to a wealthy family in Rome in 1384. She wanted to be a nun and her parents married her off at age 13 to the commander of the papal troops of Rome.
  Although St. Francesca Romana wanted her husband to be Jesus Christ, she stayed happily married for 40 years. She had six children and, along with being a mother, helped the sick and poor. This was not common for a rich person to do. The good thing is, St. Francesca Romana's acts of  kindness rubbed off on other wealthy women who did the same.
  She had what is called the gift of miracles. St. Francesca Romana founded the Olivetan Oblates of  Mary, a hospital, and a convent. She died on March 9, 1440 and is the patron saint of automobile drivers and Benedictine oblates. Her feast day is March 9.

St. Louis IX (April 25, 1214 to Aug. 25, 1270)

   I have platinum blonde curly hair with gold highlights. That was until this afternoon. Every once in a while a hairdresser will tell me that they love my color, but perhaps I might want to add lowlights or tone it down.
  Sometimes it's almost intimidating and I feel forced into doing something I don't want to. So, today, when I didn't have a chance to go to the salon where I usually do, I let someone new touch my hair. The result? A horrible, almost grayish-tinged color at the root and scattered throughout as lowlights.
  I knew something wasn't right, when another hairdresser looked at me like something was wrong. I've been doing interesting things with my hair for 20 years. I also know that only bleach will lift the color of my dark roots.
  But, the new hairdresser insisted that she could lift it with color instead of  bleach. I made the mistake of letting her try and look what happened.
  Since I am going to Block Island tomorrow, I won't be able to visit my usual salon until Tuesday. I know that Danielle will be able to fix it. Still, I will have to walk around looking like I rinsed my hair in dishwater for the next four days. At least tomorrow I will be able to set up my appointment and that will make me feel better.
  This has happened to me several times before and I will not do it again. In the meantime, I will think about how happy my late mother would have been to have hair, no matter what color. She lost her beautiful, natural blonde hair to chemotherapy.
  St. Louis IX is a patron saint of hairdressers. He was born in Poisy, France on April 25, 1214 and was crowned the king at age 12, when his father King Louis VIII passed away.
  St. Louis IX's mother, Blanche of Castile, ruled as a regent until he was 22-years-old. He reigned for 44 years and made many contributions including spreading Christianity throughout France, establishing religious foundations, and was a patron of the arts. He married and had 11 children.
  St. Louis IX died on Aug. 25, 1270 and his feast day is Aug. 25.

St. Mary of Egypt (c.344 to c.421)

   It's okay for sex workers to use condoms, according to Pope Benedict XVI, but that doesn't mean prostitution is acceptable. This is to prevent the spread of  HIV and AIDS. It's nice to know he's doing it for the greater good.
   The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex is for married heterosexual couples and artificial contraception is against the rules. In my opinion, Pope Benedict XVI has made a big step in the progress of global health.
   I'm sure St. Mary of Egypt would agree. She is a patron saint of reformed prostitutes. She was born in Egypt c.344 and ran away from home at age 12. Legend states that she was a prostitute and dancer although she didn't always accept money for sexual favors.
  St. Mary of Egypt went to Jerusalem on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, hoping to find customers. She was unable to open the door of the church, overcome with remorse for the way she lived for 17 years. She repented, crossed the River Jordan, and lived as a hermit in the desert for 50 years surviving on berries and whatever else she could find.
  St. Mary of Egypt died in c.421 and her feast day is April 3.

St. Sergius and St. Bacchus (? to 303)

  Pope Benedict XVI says in his new book, "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Sign of the Times," that homosexuality is incompatible with the priesthood.
  Pope Benedict XVI states that it would be extremely dangerous if celibacy became a pretext for bringing men into the priesthood who don't want to get married anyway.
  Still, I have to say I agree with the Pope on this one. If you're gay, there's no place for you in the priesthood. Find something else to do. Homosexuality is truly intolerable in the Roman Catholic Church, so why would you want to be a priest in a faith that is so against it?
  There is not yet a patron saint against homosexuality, but in his book "Marriage of Likeness: Same Sex- Unions in Pre-Modern Europe," the late John Boswell said that St. Sergius and St. Bacchus, third century Roman soldiers, were lovers.
  The saints were indeed close friends and several historians have spoken out against Boswell's claims. When it was discovered that St. Sergius and St. Bacchus were closet Christians (no pun intended), St. Sergius was beheaded and St. Bacchus was tortured to death. They died in Syria in 303 and are the patron saints of Syria and soldiers.
  Their feast day is Oct. 7.

St. Victor of Marseilles (? to c.290)

   Personally, I'm not fond of Facebook because many people use it to contact exes or to make themselves look intriguing when in actuality, it's not who they are. I've found the only positive thing about it is connecting with family or friends who I haven't seen in years.
   So, this summer when I was contacted by a high school classmate, "Karen," who married my cousin, "Jeff," I became "friends" with them right away. But, when I started looking at photos of Jeff, I noticed that he looked sick. Like perhaps he had been through treatment for cancer.
  This week, I found out that Jeff is terminally ill, although he's not the one who told me. When I got home, I had a Facebook message from him asking me what I'd been up to and to say "Happy Thanksgiving." I would love to see him and rather than think about how sad it would be for me, I should think about how Jeff feels.
We are in our forties, which is very young in today's world.
  I want to tell him that miracles do happen and that's what helps canonize saints. I will when I see him.
  The feast day of today's saint is July 21, Jeff's birthday. St. Victor of Marseilles was born in France in the third century. He was thought to be a Roman army officer. Because he was against idol worship, he was eventually brought before Emperor Maximian.
  St. Victor of Marseilles was beaten, dragged through the streets, and thrown in prison. He converted three prisoners to Christianity who later became saints. When St. Victor of Marseilles refused to offer incense to the Roman god, Jupiter, (Emperor Maximian is pictured doing so in the painting above) he was crushed in a millstone and beheaded. He died c.290. Today, on the site where he died in the south of  France, is the Abbey of St. Victor
  St. Victor of Marseilles is a patron saint of torture victims, sick children, and cabinetmakers.

 (This is an update. I found out on Nov. 26, that it's not Jeff who is terminal, but his brother Jim. It's still upsetting and I will leave this blog entry as is because it will document what it's like to hear that someone is dying and it ends up being someone else.)

Martyrs of Paraguay (17th century)

  At the Native Arts Festival, at the Towers in Narragansett yesterday, I enjoyed a late afternoon lunch of blueberry jonnycakes and succotash at a communal table with several couples. Even though I was having a roast beef dinner two hours later with friends, I couldn't miss out on some good Narragansett Indian food.
  One of the woman sitting with me said she was Jewish and that someone told her Native Americans don't like Jewish people.
  "That's ridiculous," I said. "They are a peaceful people."
  The woman apparently had a problem. It was a beautiful event with interesting music, art, and quahog jewelry, and she had to bring up something negative that made no sense.
  She continued to say that there were a lot of similarities between Native Americans and Jewish people because they were both persecuted tribal people. I felt like telling her that the French and Acadians, the Armenians, and probably every group except for the English were all slaughtered at one time or another.
  In many American cities there are Holocaust monuments for people who died in Eastern Europe, but nowhere in this country are there equivalent monuments for Native American people.
  In the spirit of my blog, I thought about how there are several saints who were born Jewish (and of course later converted) and the Pope will not canonize Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks, who would be the first Native American saint.
  When the woman was leaving, she said she hoped that one day all religions and nationalities could live together in harmony. Finally, something I could agree with.
  Although there is no Native American saint, the Martyrs of Paraguay are the patron saints of native traditions.  St. Alonso Rodriguez, St. Juan de Castillo, and St. Roque Gonzalez (born in Paraguay in 1576) were Jesuit priests who helped establish about 40 settlements called reductions for Christian Indians. The missionaries were guardians/trustess of native people and their traditions.
  The trio converted numerous people to Christianity in Paraguay and Brazil. St. Alonso Rodriguez and St. Roque Gonzalez were murdered on Nov. 15, 1628 and St. Juan de Castillo was murdered two days later, all in Brazil. They were canonized in 1988 and their feast day is Nov. 17.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

               "All generations to come shall call me blessed." (Luke 1:48)

  As I organize boxes of Christmas decorations this weekend and pick through beach finds that I will make into ornaments, I'm excited about the coming holiday season. Little by little I'll ease into the merriment. I've been playing my Sheryl Crow "Home for Christmas" CD and pulling out festive winter clothing from last year that's been packed away. I also bought two dressy camisoles that will be perfect for upcoming parties.
  Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, far more important than my preparing for the company masquerade party at the Biltmore Hotel or the annual wreath making morning with friends in Perryville.
  For a time, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne could not conceive a child. Then, they received a heavenly message that they would indeed have a daughter. Tradition says that when the Blessed Virgin Mary was three-years-old, her parents took her to the Temple of Jerusalem to be consecrated to God. She was left there for some 10 years and then handed over to Joseph, her future husband, as her guardian.
  The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a time to remember the importance of the holiness bestowed upon Mary from the time of her conception throughout her life and beyond.
  In the words of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, "Always stay close to this Heavenly Mother because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of Eternal Splendour."

St. Moses the Black (330 to 405)

   Each November, I check out a local Salvation Army store to find interesting things like old Christmas bulbs, holiday cards in different languages, and items that I remember seeing in stores when I was a child. And just recently when I was there, I was happy to see that many families are able to buy enough clothing to get their children through the winter. It most certainly is not a place to be shunned. There are lots of nice things to be found there.
  Furthermore, this weekend, I watched a documentary called "T-Shirt Travels" that showed how second-hand clothing in New Jersey finds its way to Zambia, Africa. Sometimes the Salvation Army doesn't even unpack it but sells it directly to companies.
  It was funny in that it showed the exportation of America culture. Children who have no idea who Kurt Cobain or ACDC or the Detroit Pistons are can be seen playing outdoors and wearing t-shirts with such images. To me, they didn't look any different than African American kids running around on basketball courts or in playgrounds in New York City.
  I think most people who donate items to the Salvation Army would be surprised to see where they might end up.
  St. Moses the Black, the patron saint of Africa, had just as interesting a story. He was born in Egypt in 330. He was a gang leader and a slave to a government official who dismissed him from theft and a possible murder.
  St. Moses the Black was described as being a tall, powerful man who terrorized people in the Nile Valley. One day, after committing a crime, he hid out with some monks. After being there for several days, he was so touched by their peaceful and calm ways that he converted to Christianity. Although at first St. Moses the Black found it hard to live a life of serenity, being a former wild man, he soon accepted it fully and became a priest.
  Whenever St. Moses the Black was about to be attacked by robbers, he'd bring them back to the monastery and convert them. However, it finally caught up with him when he placed so much trust in a group of bandits and they ended up martyring St. Moses the Black and several other monks in 405.
  His feast day is Aug. 28.
 

St. Margaret the Barefooted (1325 to 1395)

    When you're in a relationship with someone and they tell you it's not their job to pay attention to you, that can truly hurt. And, even worse, if they give you the silent treatment to teach you a lesson, that is abuse.
  But, St. Margaret the Barefooted encountered such behavior most of her married life. She was born in San Severino, Italy in 1325. At age 15 she got married. Her husband verbally abused her for many reasons including her love for the Roman Catholic Church and because she took care of the sick and poor.
  In order to better relate to the people she helped, St. Margaret the Barefooted dressed like a beggar and went shoeless. She died a widow in 1395. Her feast day is Aug. 27 and she is the patron saint of victims of abuse and difficult marriages.

St. Bibiana (? to 361)

                    "To sleep, perchance to dream." (William Shakespeare)

   If you are reading this right now and feel depressed or suicidal, please get help. Talk to a friend, a family member, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). I write this today because many people who are seeking help online often find themselves reading my blog.
  They search for a saint that will keep them from jumping off a bridge or some such thing. Although I believe the saints will help, if a person is that far along, they need quick intervention. For the sake of happiness, please read my blog for fun, too.
  St. Bibiana is a patron saint against depression and mental illness. She was born in Rome, Italy in the 4th century. When St. Bibiana was a teenager, a local woman tried to force into prostitution. This went on for many months and the young girl continued to refuse, so she was locked away in a mental institution and beaten to death in 361. St. Bibiana's feast day is Dec. 2.
  It's not every day, you get the chance to travel to Rome. I'm fortunate to have made the trip three times. There's a small church there dedicated to St. Bibiana which includes her remains . It is located at 154 Via Giovanni Giolitti.  Although it was originally a 5th century structure, in the 17th century it was rebuilt and designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, when he was just 26 years old. He sculpted the beautiful statue of St. Bibiana pictured above.