SAINT OF THE DAY -- March 26 - Blessed Didacus of Cadiz
March 26
Blessed Didacus of Cadiz
His lineage dated from the Visigoth kings.
(1743 - 1801)
Once when his superior chided him because of the austerity of his life,
Didacus Joseph replied:
"Ah, Father, my sins and the sins of the people
compel me to do it. Those who have been charged with the conversion of
sinners must remember that the Lord has imposed upon them the sins of
all their clients. By means of our penances we should atone for the
sins of our fellowmen and thus preserve ourselves and them from eternal
death. It would hardly be too much if we shed the last drop of our
blood for their conversion."
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Born in Cadiz, Spain, and christened Joseph Francis, the youth spent
much of his free time around the Capuchin friars and their church. But
his desire to enter the Franciscan Order was delayed because of the
difficulty he had with his studies. Finally he was admitted to the
novitiate of the Capuchins in Seville as Brother Didacus. He later was
ordained a priest and sent out to preach.
His
gift of preaching was soon evident. He journeyed tirelessly through the
territory of Andalusia of Spain, speaking in small towns and crowded
cities. His words were able to touch the minds and hearts of young and
old, rich and poor, students and professors. His work in the
confessional completed the conversions his words began.
This
unlearned man was called "the apostle of the Holy Trinity" because of
his devotion to the Trinity and the ease with which he preached about
this sublime mystery. One day a child gave away his secret, crying out:
"Mother, mother, see the dove resting on the shoulder of Father
Didacus! I could preach like that too if a dove told me all that I
should say."
Didacus was that close to God, spending nights in
prayer and preparing for his sermons by severe penances. His reply to
those who criticized him: "My sins and the sins of the people compel me
to do it. Those who have been charged with the conversions of sinners
must remember that the Lord has imposed on them the sins of all their
clients."
It is said that sometimes when he preached on the love
of God he would be elevated above the pulpit. Crowds in village and
town squares were entranced by his words and would attempt to tear off
pieces of his habit as he passed by.
He died in 1801 at age 58, a holy and revered man. He was beatified in 1894.
Comment:
Didacus
was such a poor student that the Franciscans wouldn’t have him. When
Capuchins finally took him into their order and eventually ordained
him, he proved to be a powerful preacher—to everyone’s surprise. As we
often do, Didacus’s contemporaries expected little from someone with a
slow mind. Didacus proved to them that intelligence is not the only
measure. The person who has a loving heart, a listening ear and a
wealth of compassion is, in the long run, much wiser.
Prayer:
God our Father,
you endowed blessed Didacus with the knowledge of the saints
and wonderfully guided him in his labours for the salvation of his people.
Through his intercession grant us to relish what is right and good,
and to preach to all nations the unfathomable riches of Christ.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
Source: American Catholic Organization
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?