be trained in the famous rabbinical school headed by Gamaliel. Here, in addition to studying the Law and the Prophets, he learned a trade, as was the custom: tentmaking. Feast day: June 29. l Saint Francis of Assisi: One day, as he prayed in the humble little church of St. Damian outside the walls of Assisi, Francis felt the eyes of the Christ on the crucifix gazing at him and heard a voice saying three times, “Francis, go and repair My house, which you see is falling down.” Feast day: Oct. 4. l Saint Thomas Aquinas: Towards the end of his life, when laboring over his great treatise, Against the Pagans (Summa Contra Gentiles), a sacristan saw Thomas kneeling before the altar and heard a voice, coming, it seemed, from the crucifix, which said, “Thou hast written well of Me, Thomas; what reward wouldst thou have?” To which Thomas replied, “Nothing but Thyself, Lord.” Feast day: Jan. 28. l Saint Joan de Valois of France: Unloved and despised by her husband, she bore all torments with heroic patience and humility. Being physically impaired from childhood, Joan suffered rejection, humiliation, unjust opinions, and physical, moral, and spiritual sufferings. Her faith and trust in God — together with her special devotion to Our Lady — protected her. Feast day: Feb. 4. l Saint Ignatius Loyola: While praying in a little chapel on the road to Rome, Ignatius had a vision. God appeared, commending him to His Son, who shone radiantly beside Him, though burdened with a heavy cross, and a voice said, “I will be helpful to you at Rome.” On this second visit, the Pope received the first Jesuit priests cordially and accepted their services. Feast day: July 31. l Saint Vincent de Paul: With grace, the anger-prone Vincent became tenderhearted to the point of looking on the troubles of all mankind as his own. Selfdenial, humility, and an earnest spirit of prayer were the means by which he attained to this degree of perfection. Feast day: Sept. 27. l Saint Faustina: She had only three years of simple education, but received extraordinary revelations — or messages — from our Lord Jesus. Her notebooks are known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the words contained within are God’s loving message of Divine Mercy. Feast day: Oct. 5 l Saint John Paul II: It was Pope St. John Paul II who told the Marian Fathers: “Be apostles of Divine Mercy under the maternal and loving guidance of Mary.” We’ve been faithfully following his instructions ever since. Both in his teaching and personal life, St. John Paul II strove to live and teach the message of Divine Mercy. Feast day: Oct. 22. You can find their feast days marked in our Marians of the Immaculate Conception 2025 Wall Calendar. You can also find prayers to the patrons and a little information about them on our new prayer cards! Patrons of the Marian Fathers and the whole Marian Family, pray for us! To order the 2025 Calendar (B64CAL25) and the new Patron Saint prayer cards, visit ShopMercy.org/b64. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 17
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==