Bl Alphonsus Maria of the Holy Spirit – June 12 – Carmelite Saints

Summary: Simon, an Englishman, died at Bordeaux in the mid-thirteenth century. He has been venerated in the Carmelite Order for his personal holiness and his devotion to Our Lady. A liturgical celebration in his honor was observed locally in the fifteenth century, and later extended to the whole Order. History: St. Simon Stock, also known as Simon Anglus or Simon the Englishman, was born in Kent, England, in 1165 to noble parents. Growing up during a period of intense religious fervor, he showed deep devotion to God from a young age. When he was 12, he left home and became a hermit, living in the hollow trunk of an oak tree. Like the earliest monks, he survived on fruit and water while dedicating his days to prayer and meditation. Alone in his tree, he prayed without ceasing, which inspired the belief that his surname, Stock, comes from the Old English word for a tree trunk. After two decades of solitude in the wilderness, he returned to society to pursue an education in theology and become a priest. Later, he served as an itinerant preacher and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. However, his pilgrimage ended abruptly when invading Muslims expelled Christians, forcing his return to England. Upon returning to his hermitage, Simon remained there until 1212. In that year, his calling to join the Carmelite Order, which had only recently entered England, was revealed to him. Tradition says the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Simon Stock and told him to leave his hermitage and join the order. Impressed by the Carmelites’ form of monasticism, Simon joined them in 1212. Seeking a deeper commitment, he studied sacred scripture at Oxford and then in Rome. After his studies, he spent several years at Mt. Carmel. Soon after his arrival, he became vicar general in 1215. In this new role, he defended the Carmelites' legitimacy, a dispute later settled by the Popes. In 1237, Simon attended a general chapter in the Holy Land. Facing Muslim persecution, most monks relocated to Europe, including England. After Simon returned to England from Mount Carmel with a group of Carmelites, they were sent to found a house at Aylesford, Kent. In 1247, Alan, the General of the Order, died. Simon was elected to succeed him as the sixth general of the Carmelites. This election happened at the first general chapter of the Carmelite Order held outside the Holy Land, in Aylesford. At that time, he was about 82 years old. Despite his advanced age, Simon displayed remarkable energy as general and achieved much for the order's benefit. Due to his accomplishments, he is justly regarded as the most celebrated of its generals. After his appointment, Simon led the Order with extraordinary prudence and won widespread admiration. Many described him as a man sent from Heaven to spread throughout Europe the zeal of Elijah. Under Simon's leadership, the Carmelite Order expanded its influence in England and across Europe. He oversaw the establishment of new Carmelite houses in Cambridge (1248), Oxford (1253), Paris (1260), and Bologna (1260), greatly advancing the Order's growth and providing training for its younger members in those university towns. Additionally, Simon revised the Rule of the Order, changing it from a hermitic Order to one of mendicant friars. He loved and respected the Order’s traditions but saw the need to adapt to European society. He sought to make the Carmelite way of life practicable in a new European society without altering the essence of the Rule or detracting from the prophetic vocation. Simon secured temporary approval from Pope Innocent IV for the altered rule. Despite its growth, the Carmelite Order faced many challenges, including opposition from clergy and other religious groups. During these difficulties, the monks prayed to the Blessed Virgin. Tradition holds that she told Simon they should petition Pope Innocent IV. He obeyed, and on January 13, 1252, the Order received a letter of protection. Throughout his life, St. Simon Stock was deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tradition credits him as the author of "Flos Carmeli" and "Ave Stella Matutina." He continually pleaded with the Mother of God to grant some privilege to the Order of Carmelites. Tradition says the Blessed Virgin appeared to Simon on July 16, 1251, accompanied by a host of angels. She held in her hands the scapular of the Order and said to Simon, "This shall be a sign unto thee, and the privilege of all Carmelites, that he who shall die piously, wearing this scapular, shall not fall into the eternal flames." Saint Simon Stock is often depicted as a Carmelite friar holding a scapular or receiving one from the Blessed Virgin. Later, in 1265, St. Simon Stock passed through Toulouse and met Bl. Jane of Toulouse. She was a devout woman who, after the founding of a Carmelite monastery in the city in 1240, chose to live as a recluse near the monastery, leading a life of great austerity. In meeting Simon, she requested affiliation with the Carmelites. Simon agreed, and Jane became the first member of the Carmelite tertiary order, receiving the habit from him. In Carmelite tradition, she is considered the first woman Carmelite and the founder of the Carmelite Third Order. Soon after, Simon died on May 16, 1265, at the age of 100 while visiting the Carmelite monastery in Bordeaux, France. His remains were kept in the room where he died, which became a chapel. Eventually, his remains were moved to the Carmelite friary in Aylesford, England. Saint Simon Stock's life embodied unwavering commitment to the Carmelite Order and devotion to the Virgin Mary. His spiritual leadership and drive for reform left a profound legacy on the Church, especially among the Carmelites, who continue to honor his memory and seek his intercession. Following his death, reports of numerous miracles began to occur at his resting place. In 1435, Pope Eugene IV permitted the Carmelites of Bordeaux to celebrate a Mass in his honor; this permission was extended to the entire Order in 1564. After the Carmelite calendar reform in 1584, the feast was dropped. In the 17th century, the celebration of St. Simon was reinstated, delisted again in 1972, and finally restored in 1978 with the Pope’s approval. Prayer: Father, You called St. Simon Stock to serve you in the brotherhood of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Through his prayers help us like him to live in your presence and to work for man’s salvation. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Summary: Giuseppina Catanea was born in Naples on February 18, 1894. She entered the Carmelite community of Santa Maria Ponti Rossi and made her solemn profession on August 6, 1933. In 1945, she was elected prioress, an office she held until her death. She endured the painful trials of illness and persecution by abandoning herself to the will of God. All who sought her help were inspired by her deep spirituality, humility, and simplicity, as she inspired hope and faith in God and in the Blessed Virgin Mary. She died in Naples on March 14, 1948. History: Giuseppina Catanea, born in Naples on February 18, 1896, was a member of the noble Marquises Grimaldi family. She was the third child of Francesco Catanea, a railway employee in Benevento, and Concetta dei Marchesi Grimaldi. Baptized four days after her birth, she grew up with a frail build. Despite her physical weakness, "Pinella," as her family called her, enjoyed a typical childhood. Her sister, Maria, became her first playmate; soon, she had many friends in elementary school. The testimony of faith Giuseppina received from her family, especially from her maternal grandmother, Antonietta, and her mother, profoundly shaped her. As a young child, she demonstrated great affection for the poor and most needy, offering them money and care. She also assisted two elderly women who lived alone. Devoted to Mary and the Eucharist, Giuseppina eagerly sought chances to pray the rosary. Even at an early age, she was convinced that Jesus was calling her to Carmel. On May 30, 1904, she received the Sacrament of Confirmation, having celebrated her First Communion a few years earlier. In 1906, Giuseppina attended the Regina Margherita commercial school. Although recurring health issues often kept her from classes, she excelled academically. She also took time to assist classmates struggling with their studies. On September 5, 1908, Antonietta, her other sister, entered the Carmelite monastery of Saints John and Teresa. As Giuseppina accompanied her, she felt drawn to the cloistered life in Carmel. Yet, her great affection for her mother led her to set that idea aside. Soon after, she began to contemplate marriage and starting a family, only to realize she was called to something else. Meanwhile, Antonietta returned home for health reasons. Her spiritual director, the Discalced Carmelite Fr. Romualdo, then chose Antonietta to found a new Carmel in Naples. Beginning August 15, 1910, she started her new life in two small rooms rented from the Bethlehem Sisters in Santa Maria dei Monti, on the Ponti Rossi hill. On October 22, she received the Carmelite habit and the new name of Sr. Maria Teresa. Giuseppina, who went to the service, felt her desire for consecration return, but she still worried about leaving her mother. Her health was also a concern. In 1912, she was diagnosed with angina, a heart condition, which was later followed by spinal tuberculosis. As her illnesses continued, Giuseppina stayed firm in her faith and prayed for strength. Gradually, her condition worsened, confining her to a wheelchair. After finishing her studies, Giuseppina sought employment but found no opportunities. Instead, she tutored girls preparing for remedial exams. In helping them academically, she also guided them back to God. Meanwhile, the Carmelite community continued to grow as it awaited the completion of a new monastery, which was finished on April 2, 1913. After much prayer and discussion with the nuns, Giuseppina realized she must join them. "I can no longer keep Him who calls me waiting," she told her mother, sister, and aunts, who were opposed to it. For the time being, she joined the Third Order of Carmelites and received the scapular. On March 10, 1918, Giuseppina entered the Carmelite Community at St. Maria ai Ponti Rossi. As a young religious, she learned to love Christ through suffering, offering herself as a victim for the good of all priests. She accepted great physical pain as God's will for her. On Christmas Day 1918, Giuseppina, after spending a long time in the chapel, emerged staggering and shivering. On December 28, the community doctor diagnosed her with double pneumonia. The Sacraments of the dying were then brought to her. Her condition worsened, but she tried to endure it, thinking of the imminent foundation of the new Carmel. In June, she was struck by tuberculosis of the spine, which completely paralyzed her. Even in that condition, Giuseppina tried to do God's will, but her fellow nuns constantly hoped for her recovery. During this time, she experienced two visions of Saint Francis Xavier. When she saw before her a saintly figure, a voice revealed: "St. Francis has cured you of your illness." At first, she did not know who the saint was. A week later, Fr. Romualdo brought her a holy card of St. Francis Xavier, along with the "Novena of Grace," a special prayer for his intercession. Giuseppina immediately recognized him from her dream and began the novena. She later learned that the relic of Saint Francis Xavier's arm would pass through Naples. When the relic was brought to the monastery on June 26, 1922, and placed next to Giuseppina, a strange wind, felt by those present, pushed her, who was completely paralyzed, to her feet. Gradually, she sat up in bed, opened her mouth again, and finally stood up, while her fellow nuns cried out that it was a miracle. Although she would have been glad to live in solitude, news of her miraculous recovery spread quickly. Priests, seminarians, and people of every social class began coming to Ponti Rossi to seek counsel and consolation from her. This made her realize she wanted to be a victim of humanity's suffering. Filled with a new sensitivity, she was filled with a new sensitivity, a gift of the Holy Spirit. In 1932, Pope Pius XI officially recognized the house at Ponti Rossi as a convent of the Discalced Carmelites, named "the Carmel of Sts Teresa and Joseph at Ponti Rossi,” placing it under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Naples. Giuseppina received the Carmelite habit and took the name Sr. Maria Giuseppina of Jesus Crucified. On August 6, 1932, she made her Solemn Profession. On the day she took the habit, she said that she wished to offer herself to the Crucified Jesus so that she could be crucified with Him. She suffered silently but joyfully and abandoned herself to the will of God, who favored her with mystical experiences. In 1934, Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi, the Archbishop of Naples, appointed Sr. Maria Giuseppina the Sub-prioress of the Carmel. In obedience and at the advice of her spiritual director, Fr. Romualdo, she wrote her "Autobiography" (1894-1932) and her "Diary" (1925-45). She also left exhortations for the nuns and letters to priests and other faithful. Her spirituality, loving docility, humility, and simplicity shone especially during World War II. Amidst the turmoil, she prayed constantly, driven by a deep trust in God. Those who came to Ponti Rossi found encouragement and hope in her words, enabling them to overcome life's trials. From 1943, Sister Maria Giuseppina endured ear trouble, numbness, pain from multiple sclerosis, and loss of vision, among other health issues. She considered her illnesses to be "a magnificent gift" that allowed her to better conform to the Crucified Christ. Maintaining a cheerful spirit, she offered her body as a sacrifice for souls. By 1944, at the age of 50, she was forced to use a wheelchair. In 1945, she became the Vicar. That same year, on September 29, the Ponti Rossi Carmel held its first General Chapter, electing Sr. Maria Giuseppina as Prioress, a position she held until her death. She accepted the role only out of obedience to the archbishop. Toward her fellow nuns, she expressed a truly maternal attitude, offering encouragement both in her words and by example. Between the end of January and the beginning of February 1948, Mother Maria Giuseppina suffered a physical collapse. The doctors gave her little hope, so much so that she wondered, "What is this disease called?" She immediately found the answer: "It is the infirmity of God's will." Fr. Romualdo then administered the Sacraments of the Dying. Despite these health challenges, Giuseppina remained steadfast in her commitment to her religious life and to serving others. Her spiritual journey and unwavering perseverance inspired those around her. Bl. Maria Giuseppina of Jesus Crucified passed away on March 14, 1948, in Naples, Italy. In recognition of her saintly virtues, Giuseppina was venerated on January 3, 1987, by Pope St. John Paul II, who declared that she had lived a life of heroic virtue. An investigation into a miracle was conducted in Naples from November 5, 2004, to May 9, 2005, in the case of Francesco Natale, born on April 21, 1999, to Rosario Natale and Anna Di Francesco. On June 19 of that year, he was rushed to Santobono Hospital in Naples, where he was diagnosed with a severe form of encephalitis, caused by a virus, which had caused convulsions and shock. As Francesco got worse, his parents, friends, and the Carmelite nuns prayed for Mother Maria Giuseppina's intercession. On June 30, Francesco was moved to the Neonatal Unit and left the hospital on July 5, with no trace of the illness. Pope Benedict XVI approved the healing as a legitimate miracle on December 17, 2007, a move that would allow her beatification. The beatification ceremony took place on June 1, 2008, in the Cathedral of Naples, Italy, at which the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, presided. Her feast day is celebrated on March 14. Her memorial for the Diocese of Naples and the Discalced Carmelites is celebrated on June 26, the anniversary of the day Bl. Maria Giuseppina was healed of paralysis and began her new life. Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, who willed to conform to Christ crucified the virgin Blessed Maria Giuseppina, as a victim for sinners, grant that we, through her intercession and example, may always embrace our own cross and humbly fulfil your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.