Saints for the Sick

Carroll Cruz Joan

Description

In this intriguing new book, bestselling author Joan Carroll Cruz presents 76 mini-biographies highlighting saintly Catholics who faced intense, long-term suffering and disability with sweetness, peace and love for Jesus Christ. These stories show the triumph of God s grace where the world finds only ugliness and approaching death. They describe some lives so recent that the saint s family members are still living today, with many causes for canonization being currently active in Rome. Included here are Bl. Zelie Martin, the mother of St. Therese of Liseux, who died of breast cancer; 14-year-old Bl. Isidore Bakanja, the Scapular martyr from Africa; the famous leper priest, St. Damien of Molokai; Venerable Matthew Talbot, the alcoholic; St. Germaine Cousin, rejected because of a birth defect; and little Nennolina Meo, who died from cancer of the bone, lungs and brain. Also included are persons who suffered from paralysis, amputation, deformities, breathing problems, mental illnesses, kidney ailments, intestinal disorders, and more as well as from medical treatment itself. Particularly remarkable are the children who suffered, including young people ages 15, 13, 12, 11 and even 6! For these there was no grasping at the remnants of earthly life but rather an eager anticipation of Heaven. These children showed unwavering resolve to suffer for the love of God and the conversion of sinners and they endeavored to console their parents. SAINTS FOR THE SICK is a book that reinforces our Catholic faith and gives renewed hope to those who are dealing with bodily struggles. Moreover, it puts us in touch with heavenly intercessors who will gladly help us for they know exactly what we are going through on earth. Includes an Index of Ailments and the Saints associated with them.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian theology
• Catholic Church
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: TAN Books
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780895559562
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

SAINTS
FOR THE
SICK

. . . Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me .
-2 Corinthians 12:9
SAINTS
FOR THE
SICK
By Joan Carroll Cruz
My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity.
-2 Corinthians 12:9
TAN Books Charlotte, North Carolina
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
Saintly Men of Modern Times
Secular Saints
Saintly Women of Modern Times
The Incorruptibles
Saintly Children and Teens of Modern Times
Prayers and Heavenly Promises
Mysteries, Marvels, Miracles
Eucharistic Miracles
Miraculous Images of Our Lord
Relics
Miraculous Images of Our Lady
Desires of Thy Heart
Nihil Obstat:
Rev. Terry T. Tekippe

Censor Librorum


Imprimatur:
Most Rev. Francis B. Schulte Archbishop of New Orleans October 28, 1998

The Imprimatur is the Church s declaration that a work is free from error in matters of faith and morals and in no way implies that the Church endorses the contents of the manuscript.
Copyright 2010 by Joan Carroll Cruz.
All rights reserved. Brief selections may be quoted or copied for non-profit use without permission, provided full credit is given, and brief selections may be quoted in a review. Otherwise, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher.
ISBN: 9780895559562; 0895559560
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
TAN Books Charlotte, North Carolina 2010
This book is dedicated to the memory of my son, Michael David Cruz.
C ONTENTS
Author s Note
1. Saint Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus) (c. 1206-1280)
2. Venerable Alberto Capellan Zuazo (1888-1965)
3. Saint Aldegund (c. 630-684)
4. Servant of God Aldo Blundo (1919-1934)
5. Servant of God Alexia Gonzalez-Barros (1971-1985)
6. Blessed Alpais (d. 1211)
7. Servant of God Alphonsus Lambe (1932-1959)
8. Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
9. Blessed Amadeus IX (1435-1472)
10. Servant of God Amata Cerretelli (1907-1963)
11. Servant of God Anfrosina Berardi (1920-1933)
12. Servant of God Angela Iacobellis (1948-1961)
13. Servant of God Angelina Pirini (1922-1940)
14. Servant of God Angiolino Bonetta (1948-1963)
15. Venerable Anita Cantieri (1910-1942)
16. Saint Anna Alphonsa Muttathupadathu (1910-1946)
17. Saint Anna Wang (1886-1900)
18. Venerable Anne de Guigne (1911-1922)
19. Servant of God Annie Zelikova (1924-1941)
20. Venerable Antonietta (Nennolina) Meo (1930-1937)
21. Saint Apollonia (d. 249)
22. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (d. 1783)
23. Servant of God Bernard Lehner (1930-1944)
24. Saint Bernardine of Siena (d. 1444)
25. Saint Camillus de Lellis (1550-1614)
26. Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez (1918-1963)
27. Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions (d. 1885-1887)
28. Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (1971-1990)
29. Venerable Cleonilde Guerra (1922-1949)
30. Venerable Concepta Bertoli (1908-1956)
31. Saint Damien Joseph de Veuster (1840-1889)
32. Saint Drogo (d. 1186)
33. Servant of God Elisabetta Tasca Serena (1899-1978)
34. Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)
35. Servant of God Faustino Perez-Manglano (1946-1963)
36. Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
37. Saint Germaine Cousin (1579-1601)
38. Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962)
39. Saint Gorgonia (d. c. 375)
40. Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)
41. Servant of God Guido (Guy) de Fontgalland (1913-1925)
42. Blessed Henry of Treviso (d. 1315)
43. Blessed Hermann Joseph (d. 1241)
44. Venerable Hildegard Burjan (1883-1933)
45. Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
46. Blessed Isidore Bakanja (1890-1904)
47. Servant of God Isidoro Zorzano (1902-1943)
48. Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971)
49. Saint Jane of Valois (1464-1505)
50. Saint John of God (d. 1550)
51. Saint Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975)
52. Saint Juliana Falconieri (1270-1341)
53. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680)
54. Servant of God Lorena D Alexander (1964-1981)
55. Saint Louis IX, King of France (1215-1270)
56. Blessed Louis Martin (1823-1894)
57. Venerable Louis Necchi Villa (1876-1930)
58. Servant of God Luigi Rocchi (1932-1979)
59. Saint Lydwine of Schiedam (1380-1433)
60. Venerable Maggiorino Vigolungo (1904-1918)
61. Blessed Manuel Lozano Garrido (1920-1971)
62. Blessed Marcel Callo (1921-1945)
63. Blessed Margaret of Castello (Blessed Margaret of Metola) (d. 1320)
64. Venerable Mari Carmen Gonzalez-Valerio (1930-1939)
65. Servant of God Maria a Columna Cimadevilla y Lopez-Doriga (1952-1962)
66. Blessed Maria Bartolomea Bagnesi (1514-1577)
67. Venerable Maria Carmelina Leone (1923-1940)
68. Servant of God Maria Carolina Scampone (1877-1951)
69. Servant of God Maria Cristina Ogier (1955-1974)
70. Saint Maria Mazzarello (1837-1881)
71. Venerable Matthew Talbot (1856-1925)
72. Servant of God Montserrat Grases (1941-1959)
73. Venerable Nicholas Horner (d. 1590)
74. Blessed Notker Balbulus (840-912)
75. Venerable Paula Renata Carboni (1908-1927)
76. Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot (1799-1862)
77. Saint Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345)
78. Blessed Pierina Morosini (1931-1957)
79. Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968)
80. Servant of God Rachelina Ambrosini (1925-1941)
81. Saint Rafqa (1832-1914)
82. Servant of God Ramon Montero Navarro (1931-1945)
83. Rose Prince (1915-1949)
84. Santos Franco Sanchez (1942-1954)
85. Saint Seraphina (d. 1253)
86. Blessed Servulus (d. 590)
87. Servant of God Silvio Dissegna (1967-1979)
88. Venerable Stephen Kaszap (1916-1935)
89. Saint Syncletica (d. 400)
90. Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
91. Saint Theophanes (d. 817)
92. Servant of God Toni Zweifel (1938-1989)
93. Wiera (Ida) Francia (1898-1928)
94. Blessed Zelie Guerin Martin (1831-1877)
Index of Ailments and Other Physical Problems
Bibliography
A UTHOR S N OTE
Our Lord once said, The poor you have always with you. ( Matthew 26:11). The same might also be said of the sick, who are all about us, suffering in one way or another from conditions that are annoying, serious, or life-threatening. For the suffering souls who have come to our attention, would it not be comforting and reassuring for them to find a Saint who endured the same problems-one who understands the difficulties and would willingly pray for them? Here you will find scores of Saints and a list of well over 100 physical conditions which these saintly, suffering souls accepted as the will of God. (When referring to those not canonized, we are of course using the term Saint in an unofficial sense.)
Counted among them are priests and nuns, nobles and the humble, martyrs, mothers and fathers, teenagers and even children. All bear a title, that of either Saint, Blessed, Venerable or Servant of God, whose causes for beatification have been accepted by the Vatican. Accounts of many of the heroic sufferings of those listed here have been generously provided by those who attended them and by those family members who are anxious to demonstrate the saintly qualities of their relatives. Here you will find saintly persons who suffered atrocious pains, yet they suffered patiently and without complaint, while offering their pains for the salvation of souls and for the good of the Church.
How were these Saints able to accept their sufferings so patiently and with confidence in the mercy of God? They had a secret, and it is this: time after time, it is found that when the sufferers abandoned themselves completely to God s holy will, they were given the grace to accept their sufferings willingly and without complaint.
While reading these biographies, it is to be remembered that not all medical conditions progress in the same manner. What a current patient is enduring will not necessarily worsen, or develop complications, or even be life-threatening, as was the ailment of the Saint who suffered the same sickness. It is to be considered that medical science has vastly improved, with more advanced diagnostic methods, new medications, new procedures and cures. In fact, after reading about the resignation of these holy souls and their determination to accept willingly the plan of God for them, the reader, it is hoped, will feel inclined to invoke these holy souls; as a result, his condition may very well improve. If not, then through the example of these holy souls the reader will surely be given the grace to accept his condition with more patience and confidence in the merciful love of God.
For those who cannot find a Saint whose condition is like their own, it is recommended that they read the chapter about Venerable Mari Carmen Gonzalez-Valerio, who was only nine years old at her death; Venerable Anne de Guign , who was 11; St. Lydwine of Schiedam, who endured a whole catalog of sufferings; and Bl. Margaret of Castello, who was born hunchbacked, dwarfed, blind and lame. A list at the back of the book gives various physical conditions and the Saints who endured them as recommendations or suggestions of whom to pray to for assistance in various types of ailments.
It is my hope that patients will find here a source of encouragement in their sufferings and perhaps may select one or two of these saintly souls as their advocates in Heaven. Writing this book has been an inspiration to me, as I pray reading it will be an inspiration for you.
Joan Carroll Cruz
SAINTS
FOR THE
SICK

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound .
-2 Corinthians 1:5
1. S AINT A LBERT THE G REAT (A LBERTUS M AGNUS ) (c. 1206-1280)
H E WAS called by his contemporaries The wonder and miracle of our age. Seven centuries later Pope Pius XI still recognized him as a great writer whose works, in addition to those on theology and philosophy, included writings on botany, miner