"Enter into your own hearts, and resolve to imitate St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a saint and a queen, who would go with all royal pomp to Holy Mass, but on entering Church, would take the crown from her head, the jewels from her fingers, and, despoiled of all ornament, would remain covered with a veil, so modest in deportment, that she never was seen to direct a glance in any direction but the altar.This so please Almighty God that He chose to make His satisfaction apparent to all, for once, during Mass, the Saint was so glorified with Divine splendor, that the eyes which looked on her were dazzled, and she seemed to all as it were an angel of Paradise.  Make use of this noble example, and be assured you will thus become pleasing to God and to man, and your share in the  Divine Sacrifice will be of the highest profit to you in this life and in the next." The hidden treasure: or, The value and excellence of holy mass. by Blessed Leonard of Port-Maurice 1855 p111

St. Odo of Cluny

" On Christmas-eve, A.D. 877, a noble of Aquitaine implored Our Lady to grant him a son. His prayer was heard; Odo was born, and his grateful father offered him to St. Martin. Odo grew in wisdom and in virtue, and his father longed to see him shine at court. But the attraction of grace was too strong. Odo's heart was sad and his health failed, until he forsook the world and sought refuge under the shadow of St. Martin at Tours. Later on he took the habit of St. Benedict at Baume, and was compelled to become abbot of the great abbey of Cluny, which was then building. He ruled it with the hand of a master and the winningness of a Saint. The Pope sent for him often to aot as peacemaker between contending princes, and it was on one of those missions of mercy that he was taken ill at Rome. At his urgent entreaty he was borne back to Tours, where he died at the feet of "his own St. Martin," A.D. 942.

"The Mass" says St. Odo, Abbot of Cluny, "is the act on which is based the salvation of the World." The Holy Mass: The Sacrifice for the Living and the Dead, by Rev. Fr Michael Müller 1875 p 288.

"When and how was this yearly commemoration of the departed introduced? The time of the introduction of this commemoration cannot be determined; for as easily as the time of Tertullian he mentions that the Christians of his day held a yearly commemoration of the dead. Towards the end of the tenth century St. Odo, abbot of the Benedictines, at Cluny, directed this feast to be celebrated yearly, on the 2nd of November in all the convents of his Order, which usage was afterwards enjoined upon the whole Christian world by Pope John XVI. The feast of this day was probably established in order that, after having on day before rejoiced over the glory of the saints in heaven, we should this day remember in love those who are sighing in purgatory for deliverance.

Prayer: O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that, by our pious supplications, they may obtain the pardon which they have always desires. Who livest and reignest,etc. All Souls' Day. p456  Devout Instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and Holydays Front Cover Leonhard Goffiné Benziger, 1896

Saint Rose-Philippine Duchesne, sister of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, founderess of the congregation first house in America (1818)

"Mother Rose  Philippine Duchesne, Virgin, foundress, in America, of the first houses of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Born at Grenoble, France, August 29, 1769, she was educated by the Visitation Nuns, entered that Order, saw its dispersion during the Reign of Terror and vainly attempted the reestablishment of the convent of Sainte-Marie d'en-Haut, near Grenoble. Finally, in 1804, she accepted the offer of Mother Barat, to incorporate her community into the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818 Mother Duchesne set out with four companions for the missions of America. Bishop Dubourg welcomed her to New Orleans, whence she sailed up the Mississippi to St. Louis, finally settling her little community at St. Charles. Cold, hunger and illness, opposition, ingratitude and calumny served only to fire her lofty and indomitable spirit with new zeal. Having founded the new houses at Florissant, Grand Coteau, New Orleans, St. Louis and St. Michel, La., she yearned to teach the poor Indians. Old and broken as she was, she went to labor amongst the Pottowatomies at Sugar Creek, Kansas. But one year later she returned to St. Charles and died October 18, 1852. Preliminary steps for her beatification have been taken. "  BAUNARD, Histoire de Mme. Duchesne, Paris, 1878.

"The hard soil about them was but a type of the harder soil in the population of the new land which they came to serve. Souls neglected, hardened, arrogant, ignorant, filled with self-conceit, devoted to ease and pleasure and self-indulgence, gave little encouragement for the future. Yet the good nuns struggled on. But in one year they had to leave the placeanother instance of the constant disappointment that was to be Mother Duchesne's earthly portion. "One day the Sacred Heart was to return to that place, and to gather in the harvest she had prepared. This was always her part of the work in our Lord's vineyard. Others reaped where she had conquered the soil inch by inch. She opened the way amidst brambles and briers. She was in the desert the pioneer of Christ." Catholic World, Volume 65  Mother Duchesne BY S. L. EMERY. p 687

"He was bishop of Neocæsarea in Pontus; eminent for his great learning and virtues, but much more for his miracles, which he wrought in such numbers that he was called Thaumaturgus, which signifies, Worker of Miracles. In this respect, as St. Basil says, he might be compared with Moses and the apostles. When he built a church at Neocæsarea, he commanded a mountain which obstructed the work, to remove and yield place, which it did. He fixed his staff near the bank of a river, which sometimes overflowed and swept away inhabitants, houses, cattle and crops; and no such floods happened again. His staff also grew, and became a tree. A lake, which was a subject of contention between two brothers, was dried up at the prayers of the saint, and became solid land, whereby the cause of dispute was removed. He was a man of a prophetic and apostolic spirit; and in his devotions, he shewed the greatest reverence and recollection. He abhorred lies and falsehood, and particularly all detraction. No anger or bitterness ever appeared in his words or behavior. A little before his death, he inquired how many infidels yet remained in the city; and being told that there were seventeen, he sighed, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, expressed his grief that any continued strangers to the true religion, but thankfully acknowledged as a great mercy, that having found but seventeen Christians at his first coming thither, he left but seventeen idolators. He died in the year 270, or 271

Pray for all the pastors of the church; that by their vigilance and good example, they may bring forth a plentiful harvest. All who are engaged in error, or in a sinful state, stand in need of their help, and ought to be the subject of their labors and prayers, that none may perish through their neglect. In whatever degree you are, let your words and example be to edification. Endeavor to do good to all, and let the great charity of this saint teach you not to conceal any thing that may be beneficial to the public." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"St. GREGORY was born in Pontus, of heathen parents. In Palestine, about the year 231, he studied philosophy under the great Origen, who led him from the pursuit of human wisdom to Christ, Who is the Wisdom of God. Not long after, he was made Bishop of Neo-Cæsarea in his own country. As he lay awake one night an old man entered his room, and pointed to a lady of superhuman beauty, and radiant with heavenly light. This old man was St. John the Evangelist, and the lady told him to give Gregory the instruction he desired. Thereupon he gave St. Gregory a creed which contained in all its fulness the doctrine of the Trinity. St. Gregory set it in writing, directed all his preaching by it, and handed it down to his successors. Strong in this faith, he subdued demons; he foretold the future. At his word a rock moved from its place, a river changed its course, a lake was dried up. He converted his diocese, and strengthened those under persecution. He struck down a rising heresy; and, when he was gone, this creed preserved his flock from the Arian pest. St. Gregory died in the year 270.

" St. Gertrude, Spouse of Christ, Pray for us.

If you want to find me, look for me near the Altar or in the heart of Gertrude."

"The sweetness of Divine goodness urged her to a participation in the Holy Mysteries, by these words: "Consider in how small a space I give you My entire Divinity and My Humanity. Compare the size of this with the size of the human body, and judge then of the greatness of My love. For as the human body surpasses My Body in size—that is to say, the quantity of the species of bread under which My Body is contained-so My mercy and charity in this Sacrament reduce Me to this state, that the soul which loves Me is in some sort above Me, as the human body is greater than My Body."

On another day, as she received the saving Host, our Lord addressed her thus: "Consider that the priest who gives you the Host touches it directly with his hands, and that the vestments with which he is clothed, out of respect, do not reach beyond his arms; this is to teach you, that although I regard with pleasure all that is done for My glory, as prayers, fasts, vigils, and other like works of piety, still (those who have little understanding will not comprehend it), the confidence with which the elect have recourse to Me in their weakness touches Me far more sensibly; even as you see My Flesh is nearer to the hands of the priest than his vestments.” The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude

Prayer before Mass (Prayers of St. Gertrude):

O Almighty, everlasting God, seeing that it is the true faith of Thy Church that the holy Sacrifice of the Mass instituted by Thy Son is infinitely pleasing to Thy divine Majesty, and renders Thee an infinite worship and praise, and since by it alone Thou canst be worthily and adequately worshiped and praised; impelled by an ardent desire of Thy honor and glory, I purpose to assist at this present sacrifice with the utmost devotion of which I am capable, and to offer this most Holy Oblation to Thee in union with Thy priest.

I offer Thee not only this sacrifice, but all those which shall be this day offered from every part of the world; and I protest before Thee that if it depended on me whether they should be offered or omitted, I would put forth all my powers to procure and further their being offered. And were I able now to raise up to Thee, of the stone which are scattered over the earth, most devoted priests, who should day by day and with glowing fervor offer to Thee this sacrifice of praise, I would most gladly do it. But, being what I am, I implore Thee, O most holy Father, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, to pour into the hearts of all Thy priests, and especially those who might perchance otherwise offer Thee this acceptable sacrifice coldly and without due recollectedness, the spirit of grace and of fervor, that they may be enabled to celebrate Thy tremendous Mystery with becoming awe and devotion.

Grant to me, and to all those who are here present with me, that we may join in this most sacred action with reverence and devotion, so that we may have our portion in its fruit and effect. I confess to Thee, O almighty God, and to the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and to all the Saints, my own sins and those of all the world; and I lay them on Thy sacred Altar, that they may be entirely blotted out by the virtue of this sacrifice. Do thou deign to grant us this grace, by that love which held back Thy hand from smiting when Thy most beloved Son, Thy only Son, was immolated by the hands of ungodly men. amen"

Preces Gertrudianae; Prayers of St. Gertrude and St. Mechtilde.

" Dread the torments suffered by the souls in Purgatory, and have compassion on them. Succor them by your prayers and deliver them by your good works" St. Albert the Great.

Miniatures Lives of the Saints, for Every Day in the Year, Volume 1; Volumes 28-146 1883

Martyrdom of Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych by Józef Simmler  (1823–1868)

• The Relics of St Josaphat in the Vatican

"The life of St. Josaphat is a lesson for all time. The two truths which he was charged by our Divine Lord to proclaim, and which he was to seal with his blood: the supremacy of the Roman Pontiff and the unity of the Church, are denied in our own day by the same sectaries, and all who maintain them assailed by the same fiendish cruelty." The Dublin Review, Part 1 page 46. 1877

"Stir up, O Lord, we beseech thee, in thy Church the Spirit wherewith the blessed Josephat thy Martyr and Pontiff was filled."  Thus prays our Mother, today, and the Gospel likewise points to the desire of obtaining pastors like to thee, O holy Bishop! The sacred text speaks of the false shepherd, who flees at first sight of the wolf; but the Homily, which explains it in the Night Office, brands equally with the title of hireling the keeper who, though he does not flee, suffers the enemy un-resisted to work havoc in the fold. May the divine Shepherd, whom thou didst imitate unto the end, even unto laying down thy life for the sheep, live again in all those whom he calls, like Peter, to exercise a greater love." The Liturgical Year: Passiontide and holy week, 3d edition. 1901 Abbot Prosper Gueranger OSB

"ST. JOSAPHAT was born in Volhynia, a province of Poland, of noble and virtuous parents who brought him up in lively sentiments of piety. During his childhood he was much affected at the thought of the sufferings which Jesus Christ had endured for the love of men, and one day when his mother was discoursing about our Lord's Passion, a dart issuing from the side of Jesus, as represented in a neighboring crucifix, transfixed his heart.

From that moment he felt himself powerfully inflamed with the fire of Divine Love, and gave himself up with such fervor to prayer and works of charity as to excite the wonder and admiration of all who beheld him. When he had reached the age of twenty, Josaphat received the religious habit in a convent of Basilian monks, where he practiced the most severe austerities and made rapid progress in virtue. His great reputation for sanctity and learning caused him to be raised to the office of Superior, and afterwards to the higher dignity of Archimandrite or Abbot. Finally, in spite of his earnest opposition, he was elected and consecrated Archbishop of Poloczk.

Invested with this new dignity, Josaphat continued the same humble and penitential way of life which he had followed within the walls of his monastery. Perfectly detached from earthly things, he devoted the whole of the revenue of his See to works of charity and the service of the Church. At the same time he gave himself up with unremitting assiduity to the care of his flock, whom he earnestly strove to preserve from the inroads of schism and heresy. Never was there to be found a more devoted champion of the rights and privileges of the Holy See, which he strenuously defended against the heretics both by his sermons and writings. Almighty God blessed his efforts with great success, and he was the means of bringing back innumerable souls to the unity of the Faith. His success in this respect drew upon him the hatred of certain fiery zealots, who conspired to effect his death; nor was their design hidden from our Saint, who in a public sermon forewarned the people of his approaching departure. Meanwhile he hastened to complete the visitation of his flock, that death might find him faithfully employed in the service of his Master and with his accounts made ready.

Having completed their preparation, the conspirators took occasion of the Archbishop's visit to Vitepsk in the course of his ministration, to carry their plot into execution. Rushing tumultuously to the Archiepiscopal residence, they entered with drawn swords, striking and slaying whomsoever they met. Josaphat immediately went forth to meet them. "My children," said he, "why do you slay my friends? Behold if you have anything against me, here I am." At these words, they rushed upon him, loaded him with blows, pierced him with their daggers, and finally struck off his head with an axe. His blessed body was cast into the neighboring river, but being discovered by a miraculous light, was taken out and interred with great solemnity and veneration. St. Josaphat accomplished his glorious martyrdom on November 12, A.D. 1623, being then in the forty-third year of his age."  Short lives of the saints, for every day in the year, Volume 3 By Rev. Henry Gibson 1897

Mother Cabrini and Pope leo XIII

"I will have no peace until I have wrested every last child from Protestant hands."

"We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries but on Jesus alone." Mother Cabrini

Prayer: Almighty and Eternal Father, Giver of all Gifts, show us Thy mercy, and grant, we beseech Thee, through the merits of Thy faithful Servant, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, that all who invoke her intercession may obtain what they desire according to the good pleasure of Thy Holy Will...(here name your request).

O Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, mindful of Thy bountiful goodness and love, deign, we implore Thee, through the tender devotion of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini for Thy Sacred Heart, to hear our prayers and grant our petitions.

O God, the Holy Ghost, Comforter of the afflicted, Fountain of Light and Truth, through the ardent zeal of Thy humble handmaid, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, grant us Thy all powerful aid in our necessities, sanctify our souls and fill our minds with Divine Light that we may see the Holy Will of God in all things.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, beloved spouse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, intercede for us that the favor we now ask may be granted.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory, etc. (Three times)

Imprimatur: Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, 1943

• Sanctuary of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

• These Splendid Sisters: Mother Cabrini An Apostle of the Italians by JAMES J. WALSH, 1926
  

" Frances Xavier Cabrini was born at St. Angelo on July 15, 1850. A few hours after her birth, a flock of white doves alighted in the courtyard, in which her father had spread the grain to dry. Fearing that the doves might damage the grain, he drove them away, but vainly so. They returned again and again-it was a happy omen!
When seven, she was confirmed, and at ten she received first holy Communion. As a child, she was so modest and amiable that she was named "the little Saint." She liked to play with dolls dressed as Nuns, whom she ruled as a little abbess, and making small paper boats, she would fill them with violets, and placing them on the water, she imagined she was sending Missionaries to pagan lands.

She received her early education from her Sister Rose, a licensed teacher. When thirteen, she entered the school of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart in Arluno, and at eighteen, having succeeded brilliantly in her studies, was granted a normal school certificate. Then she went home, losing her parents through death in the following years.

At that time Don Bassano Dede, parish priest of St. Angelo, needed aid in his pastoral work. Frances gladly helped him, teaching Christian doctrine to the children, visiting the sick and helping the poor. Later she taught school in a nearby town. All this time she felt strongly drawn to the Religious life and performed many acts of self-denial. Thus she slept on two boards in place of a mattress. Several times she applied for admission to different Religious Communities, but in vain.

Some time later when asked to supervise an orphanage in Cadogno, she at first refused, because she still hoped to become a Religious. Finally, she consented to try it for fifteen days. Those fifteen days became six years, and in 1880, she was still directing this work, surrounded by a group of young women, who also were desirous of dedicating themselves to the Missions.

That same year, the Bishop of Lodi commissioned her to found a Missionary Institute. Frances and her companions took over an ancient Franciscan Convent, and a few days later, Holy Mass was celebrated and Holy Communion was distributed to the new community. Then an Academy was opened, which was soon filled to capacity. Then Frances was elected Mother General of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The Community grew and new houses sprang up quickly, among them two in the Papal City, Rome. On March 12, 1888 the Holy See approved the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

One day, Bishop Scalabrini, the founder of the Missionaries of Emigration, told her of the difficulties and misery of Italian emigrants in America, and suggested that Frances establish her Community in New York. Blessed Cabrini did not immediately act on this suggestion. But when in an audience, Pope Leo XIII said to her, "Not to the East, but to the West. Go to the United States," Blessed Cabrini no longer hesitated.

She landed in America on March 31, 1889, and immediately set to work, a work that lasted until her death. For the Italian children she erected schools, kindergartens, orphanages, hospitals and free dispensaries. She became active in all kinds of social welfare work.

In 37 years she erected 67 houses in Europe and America. At her death, her Community numbered five hundred Sisters, there were five thousand children in her schools, orphanages, etc. Her hospitals took care of almost one hundred thousand sick.

Blessed Cabrini died in Chicago on December 22, 1917, at the age of 67. On November 13, 1938, she was declared "Blessed" by Pope Pius XI. Her relics are preserved in the Chapel of the Cabrini High School, Chicago."  Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints: edited by Rev. Fr.  John Gilmary Shea 1925