Saints of the Month -

 

Updated for September 2010

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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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