There were many saints that were influential but how many can say that they personally affected the Pope. Saint Catherine of Siena was one of the many daughters of Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa. She grew up in northern Italy and her father was a wool dyer. She was their 23rd child. (‘St. Catherine of Siena | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org.") At a young age it was obvious Catherine was spiritual and would lead a spiritual life. This is how she came to accomplish so many amazing things. Catherine “grew up as an intelligent, cheerful and intensely religious person”(‘St. Catherine of Siena | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org."). When she was only six years old when she started seeing guardian angels as clearly as the people they protected. …show more content…
Dominic gave aptitude and strength to Catherine, but her desire to join his Order was no consolation to Lapa, who took her daughter with her to the baths in Bagno Vignoni to improve her health. Catherine contracted a violent rash, fever and pain, which was convenient because it made her mother accept her wish to join the Mantellate, the local association of Dominican Tertiaries. Lapa went to the Sisters of the Order and convinced them to take in her daughter. Within days, Catherine appeared entirely better, rose from bed and dressed in the Third Order of St. Dominic’s habit. ("St. Catherine of Siena - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online.") Catherine was given the habit of a Dominican tertiary from the friars of the Order, however, only after intense challenges from the Tertiaries themselves, who up to that point had been only widows. While she was a tertiary, she lived outside the convent, usually at home with her family. Catherine learned how to read from The Mantellate, and she lived in almost complete silence and solitude in the family home. While there she continually had visions of Christ, Mary, and the saints. Catherine commonly would give away clothing and food without asking for anyone's approval and that began costing her family significantly but she did not want anything for herself. By staying with her family, she could live out her rejection from them more passionately. She refused their food, referring to the table laid for her in Heaven with her real family. Incredibly, she was only 18 then and spent the next three years in seclusion, prayer and austerity. ("St. Catherine of Siena - Saints & Angels - Catholic
From quite a young age, when many people do not know what they are doing with their lives, Mary had already decided that she wanted to be a nun and help people as much as she could, she wanted to help the poor and less fortunate than her. Mary worked with people and children and ...
In Middle Aged Europe, feudalism and the Catholic Church dominated what was left of a central government. People lived without leadership, and those who did turned only to small based feudal Lords with little power. This led to a serious lack of intellectual activity and many of the Europeans during this era were considered to be, “wallowing in their own filth.” As a result, the Black Death spread rampantly after its initiation in 1348. Several accounts of the disease portrayed it as a horrendous, deadly and disgusting disease that preyed on every man woman and child. Angelo di Tura chronicles the outbreak of the Black Death in the Italian city of Siena in May of 1348. He writes, “There are not words to describe how horrible these events have been [...] whoever can say that they have not lived in utterly horrid conditions can consider themselves lucky” remarking at how terrible life with
Frances Cabrini was born in July 15, 1850 to Agostino Cabrini and Stella Oldini in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Lombardi, Italy. She was one of eleven children born to the Cabrini family and one of the only four children that survived past adolescence. She was born two months premature and was small and weak as a child. These factors, as well as the strong faith of her parents, would have an impact on the rest of her life, mission, and works. Agostino Cabrini, her father, often read Propagation of the Faith to her and the rest of the family. The stories were all about the missions in China and from a young age, Frances desired to become a missionary. By the age of eighteen, Frances knew that she wanted to be a nun, however; her weak health stood in the way. She could not join the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So instead, in 1863, Frances enrolled as a boarding student at the Normal School in Arluno with the intentions of becoming a schoolteacher. The school was directed by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart. Frances lived at the school for five years, residing in the convent with the nuns. Frances was elated to live with the nuns and to share a faith-centered life with them. She graduated from the Normal School in 1868 with a degree in teaching.
Pope John Paul II was one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Pope John Paul II had a rough life growing up. He was the only one left alive in his family at age 20. He also lived in Poland during the Nazi occupation of Poland. These events led to him being a great and very strong leader. He was not a shy leader that very often spoke his mind about his beliefs. His motto “Totally Yours” shows that he was a very open person. While Pope he held firm orthodox stances. Pope John Paul II has done many thing to effect the Catholic Church in the 20th Century. He...
Saints come from all around the world. Each one is unique in its very own way. But for me, I’ve been focusing on one in particular. The saint I am focusing on is Saint Anthony of Padua.
St. Francis of Assisi was born in Umbria in the year 1182. He was a child every father hoped for, he was filled with life, a determined and courageous individual. He was gifted with rather good looks, qualities that attracted friends and a gift of leadership. His father was an extremely wealthy merchant in Assisi. But this son, his favourite, was the one who broke Peter Bernardone’s heart. The boy turned on his father, and in a vicious event that eventually resulted into a public scene. St. Francis of Assisi stepped away from his father, his business and left his father in a state of immense emotional suffering.
Pope John Paul II was not just a revolutionary Pope, but was also a revolutionary influence from the 20th century. His actions changed the course of history, ranging from the end of communism in Poland to improving the Catholic Church's relations with other religions. John Paul II witnessed humanity at its worst. He lived through the Nazi occupation of Poland. He also experienced the Soviet occupation of Poland. Even through these dark times, John had managed to keep on his faith and humanity.
Catherine of Siena was born in Italy in 1347 at a time when political and religious changes were affecting the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Dedicating her life to the Holy Spirit from a very young age, Catherine pursued a life of purity and simplicity that served as a background to her great literary work, The Dialogue of the Divine Providence . Her work focuses on the importance of prayer and its transcendent power in human life.
Agnes (Mother Teresa) parents were Albanian. She was one out of five siblings, but only three of them survived (“Mother Teresa Bibliography”). Unfortunately for her and the family her father died when she was between the age of seven and nine years of age. By this age Agnes felt and knew that she had a great love for god. After Agnes father died she was very involved in the church. Agnes heard the calling of god about the age of twelve for her to devote her life to him (“Mother Teresa-Facts”). Since, she was too young to join the nuns so she just continued to go to church until she was of age to do so.
Francis was born at Assisi in Umbria in the early 1180’s. His fath er was Pietro Bernadone, a very wealthy cloth merchant. His baptized name was Giovanni but it was changed to Francesco. Francis received a decent amount of schooling as a child although he did not show much interest in it. He was very spoiled and did not want to go into his father’s business. He had high status, was handsome, wore fine clothing, and was very well known with the people of Assisi.
Saint Catherine of Siena is the saint that I have chosen to be my saint. She was very interesting to me, and her story was very intriguing. She is the patron saint of fire prevention, bodily ills, sick people, miscarriages, nurses, and illness. She was canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. Her feast day is now celebrated on April 29.
"The Cask of Amontillado" is a macabre short story set during carnival, a time of supposed merriment, but takes a dark twist when the narrator decides to use it as a guise to exact revenge on an acquaintance. The narrator’s perspective on the story remains entirely subjective, giving no motive for deciding to murder his friend, only a vague allusion to "thousands of injuries" and insults (Poe 115). Edgar Allen Poe’s peculiar narrative choices of limited perspective and heavy imagery and foreshadowing give the short story his classic sensations of dread and mystery.
Francis of Assisi lived about eight hundred years ago. He was born in the city of Assisi, Italy, in 1182. He was the son of Piero of Bernadone, who was a wealthy merchant. He received a education and seemed to follow his father's footsteps as a wealthy merchant. In 1201 he took part in an attack on Perugia, was taken hostage, and remained a captive there for a year. After his release, Francis joined the army but couldn't complete his time because he got sick. This period of time would change his life forever. During his sickness, Francis would spend hours meditating on the Lord in an old church, and he felt God drawing near to him. Some people come to Jesus with a memorable experience, but others come to Christ through a process. Francis' conversion wasn't an overnight experience, but it was definitely real.
Saint Francis of Assisi was a uniquely spiritual man who gave up a life of wealth and position to lead a life of poverty in accordance and service to God. Embracing a life according to the Gospels, Francis went on to establish a Monastic Order, known as the Franciscans. In the midst of the political climate within the religious community of Italy, Francis emerged a champion for the poor and sick, with humility and no regard for himself. Francis exhibited his love for God through his love and admiration for all of God's creation including nature. The principles of Saint Francis are as relevant today as they were in thirteenth century Italy; service and love to all of God’s creation.
St Ignatius of Loyola is an inspiring person and has touched the lives of many people even now centuries after his death. Loyola has affected the lives of an uncountable number of people, either directly or indirectly. He started as an extremely brave and tough soldier and turned into the founder of a powerful religious order. He was born in 1491 in Spain and founded the Jesuits in 1540 at the age of 49.The Jesuits today are still a devoted religious order. Everything they do is in God’s name, hence their motto AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM this literally means “for the greater glory of God”. (Linten, Seven Things) Many Jesuits (and even non Jesuits like Pope John Paul II) sign their documents with amdg at the end to show that they do their work for God and not solely for themselves. (Linten, Seven Things) The Jesuits have survived multiple persecutions and yet have still remained a major influence in the church and in universities around the world. If it were not for an unfortunate cannonball shattering a soldier’s leg then none of this may have happened.