ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 9th of August
Prayer to the Angels and the Saints
Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.
In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.
Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.
Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.
ST CANDIDA MARIA OF JESUS, VIRGIN
Saint Candida Maria of Jesus (May 31, 1845 – August 9, 1912), was born in the Basque region of Spain. Her family was very poor and due to their need she moved to Salamanca while still very young to find work. It was to remain her home for the rest of her life.
NEIGHBOURS IN NEED
While living there, she was affected by the dire poverty she saw around and felt drawn to be of service to her neighbours in greater need. In 1868, when she was 23, she met Jesuit Father Miguel Jose Herranz, who later helped her in her call to form a congregation.
SHE HAD A VISION OF JESUS
Her prayers for guidance in how best to follow God’s will were answered on April 2 of the following year. It was Good Friday and she was in prayer before the altar of the Holy Family at the Church of El Rosarillo.
She then had a vision of Christ in which she was told that: ‘I should found a new congregation with the title Daughters of Jesus, dedicated to the saving of souls through the education and instruction of children and youth.”
SHE WAS ELECTED FIRST SUPERIOR GENERAL
She started educating the children of the city, with a special emphasis on girls. With five companions, she founded the congregation in December 1871. She then took her name in religion of Mother Candida Maria of Jesus, being elected the first Superior General of the new congregation.
THE CONGREGATION RECEIVED FORMAL APPROVAL IN 1901
The congregation spread throughout Spain. It received formal approval from Pope Leo XIII in 1901. She died on August 9, 1912 and was canonised on October 17, 2010.
(From: Catholic Universe, paper edition)
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