ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY
Saints celebrated on the 15th of February
SAINT CLAUDE DE LA COLUMBIERE, PRIEST
Saint Claude de la Columbiere, born in 1641, entered the Novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Avignon, was professed in due course, and became the spiritual director of Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1674, which resulted in the promotion of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
HE WAS SENT TO ENGLAND
In 1676 St Claude was sent to England as priest to Mary of Modena, then Duchess of York, the wife of the future King James II of England.
In 1678, he was suddenly arrested and thrown into prison as part of a "popish conspiracy" accusation against the English throne.
HE WAS ARRESTED
Thanks to his position at the Royal Court, he escaped death, but was expelled from England in 1679. He returned to France, his health completely ruined by his detention.
He died on February 15, 1682, leaving us a large number of spiritual writings.
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Claude may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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ST CLAUDE DE LA COLUMBIERE BROUGHT MANY CELESTIAL BLESSINGS TO EARTH
From the booklet, "Month of the Sacred Heart" by Mons. Nicola Tafuri
St Claude de la Columbiere was chosen by heaven to be the apostle of the devotion to the Sacred Heart and worked with St Margaret to pass on the heritage of the Sacred Heart. Being of the Society of Jesus, he was a man of great innocence and eminent holiness; St Margaret called him a ‘lily planted in new ground’.
He led a most heavenly life, and overflowed with desire for martyrdom, for the glory of God, of the faith and for the good of Christians. He was sent to convert heretics in England and found there so much suffering that he named it the ‘country of crosses’. He even saw with his own eyes the martyrdom of four Jesuits who were disembowelled, and he too was to suffer the same fate, but a letter from the King of France recalling him saved him from execution.
O, with what fervour did this holy brother work to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart! Jesus made known to him, through St Margaret, that this was his mission and he was not to fear the difficulties that would arise. Blessed Claude gave himself generously to that loving Heart, serving it and glorifying it all his life. Indeed, he laboured much and won many battles in the fight to spread this holy apostolate!
Without fear or concern, flying in the face of derision and contrary events, he took every opportunity to make known and to love that Heart that had in it so much love for men. He spoke of it passionately from the pulpit, in the confessional, in private discourse, and he was astonished at how his work bore fruit. His work was so fruitful that many sinners were converted by his lighting of this holy flame, many good people became perfect, and many souls fell in love with the divine lover. He brought down many celestial graces and blessings to earth, and with his death he crowned his precious and apostolic life.
PRAYER: O resplendent flames, O cross, O thorns: from you everlasting grace is born.
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