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SAINT OF THE MONTH
St. Vincent Strambi
St. Vincent Maria Strambi was born on January
1, 1745 in the town of Civitavecchia, north of Rome, to a rather
wealthy family. The boy studied at home. When he felt drawn
to the priesthood, his father who wanted his only son be his
heir, was very reluctant. Even before ordination, Vincent was
given the task of administering a seminary in Bagnorea. When
preparing for ordination he took a retreat in S. Angelo Passionist
monastery in Vetralla near Viterbo. There he got to know a new
congregation, approved in 1741, and its founder St. Paul of
the Cross. As a result, he turned in his priest’s robes
for a monk’s habit. That annoyed his father even more;
he accepted Vincent’s decision only after the mediation
of St. Paul.
Father Vincent taught in the Passionist seminary
in Rome and held important positions in the congregation’s
administration. Famous for his excellent speaking skills, he
was often asked by the Holy see to calm agitated people during
the frequent riots in Rome. In 1801, he was appointed bishop
and moved to Macerata on the Adriatic coast.
His work in the diocese was interrupted by
Napoleonic occupation. Father Vincent was in exile from 1808
to 1814 as he refused to pledge allegiance to the Republic,
which meant forsaking loyalty to the pope. After Napoleon’s
downfall he came back to the diocese. His return was a godsend
since without his determined intervention the town would have
been destroyed by the Austrians. From 1823 until his death he
was a personal advisor to Pope Leo XII.
Father Vincent died on January 1, 1824. He
was canonized on April 11, 1950.
Feast day: September 24th
Passionist
Reference: Ordinary People, Extraordinary
Lives
St. Vincent Maria Strambi was persistent.
He accomplished what he deeply believed in, but did not put
his faith before love for his family. While not giving up his
vocation for the priesthood, he continued to seek his father’s
consent. Even the greatest saints should take their parents’
or guardians’ opinions into account. It is very important
to be able to wisely persuade others to our plans without begging
them or ignoring their existence. Often we do not pay enough
attention to principles and traditions. St. Vincent provides
an example of reconciling faithfulness to one’s beliefs
with the ability to wisely communicate with others. So often
people who are responsible for others, for example politicians,
forget about the need to communicate. It is much easier to seek
applause and fame or personal satisfaction than to speak the
truth. Agitated crowds to whom St. Vincent spoke were expecting
a call to fight and yet accepted the arguments from the convincing
speaker.
SAINT OF THE MONTH
St. Hildegard of Bingen
Although never officially canonized, Hildegard
of Bingen has been venerated as a saint for hundreds of years.
She was a member of German nobility and at age eight, her parents
sent her to be raised in a convent run by an enlightened abbess.
It was in this setting that Hildegard matured, receiving an
education far superior to that of other girls of her time. She
not only studied the Scriptures, but she came to know Latin
and music.
Hildegard began receiving a stream of visions
so intense they made her physically ill. For many years, she
kept them secret lest she be mocked. Finally, at the age of
42, Hildegard, who was by then an abbess, began writing down
her visions. Instantly, her ailments disappeared and she became
like “a feather on the breath of God.”
The local archbishop was so impressed by
Hildgeard’s insight into the Scriptures that he passed
her writings on to Pope Eugenius III, who encouraged her to
write more. Hildegard did so, while also giving spiritual counsel
to many and preaching in public, which was unusual for a women
of her time.
Everything seemed to fascinate her. She wrote
biographies, scientific and botanical texts and composed beautiful
sacred music, which is still sung today. She even designed a
convent with running water - a rare thing in the 11th century.
Hildegard was also outspoken. Her letters
are filled with admonitions to popes and princes alike. In the
last year of her life, she defied her archbishop who insisted
that she deny sacred burial to an excommunicated man. Hildegard
convinced the archbishop that God had forgiven the man, and
the archbishop relented.Feast day: September 17th
Abbess
Reference: Ordinary People, Extraordinary
Lives
Hildegard of Bingen is probably best remembered
today as the composer of some of the most beautiful sacred music
of the medieval period.
A venerable institution dedicated to the
performance of classical sacred music is The St. Thomas Choir
School, the only church-affiliated boys choir boarding school
in the United States. Associated with the landmark St. Thomas
Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, the school occupies
a modern 15-story building in the heart of Manhattan. The intensive
middle school curriculum includes:
• Geography, mathematics, science and
theology.
• English, Latin and French.
• Literature, history and art.
• Instrumental instruction and music
theory.
• Singing at five weekly services, a
concert series, an annual tour and making recordings.
In Hildegard’s spirit, the students
learn about diverse subjects and still find time to praise God
with sacred music.
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