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When I was a little girl and still Catholic, the masses were held in Latin. I would sit in the incense-filled church, surrounded by the comfortable blur of faith sounds, and read my St Joseph's Daily Missal, a book that had the mass, translations of the Latin, prayers, information, theology and my favorite part -- a whole big section at the back called "Lives of the Saints". I would read that over and over, looking for stories about holy girls and women. This was one place in the church that women (other than Mary) were revered on an equal footing with men.
They had wonderful names. St. Sexburga, St. Erfyl, St. Paschasia, St. Erentrude, St. Aleydis, St. Lydia Purpuraria and St Cocha. They came from exotic places -- places I had never seen. They seemed to be so brave and steadfast, yet so gentle. Some had been martyrs, and some had established whole monasteries and schools for women all by themselves. Many had stood up to their families, just as I had dreamt of doing. They were smart yet odd, misfits in a way. I liked that about them, too.
In the formal theological world of Roman Catholicism, there are strict guidelines now about what does qualify a deceased person for sainthood. After having been named an official saint, there is a specific day attached to each saint on which they are to be especially remembered.
Just out of curiosity this week, even now, years from my Catholicism, it was interesting to see which women had feast days coming up. Here are a few:
Friday, Jan 30th St. Hyacintha of Mariscotti (1585-1640)
Hyacintha was from a noble family. She entered a local convent that took vows of poverty. But, because she was rich, she kept herself in luxury items. At one point she became ill, and the priest sent to her to hear her confession was shocked at how she lived. He apparently chewed her out rather thoroughly. She gave up her luxury items and over time she did the most humble work in the convent, and became an inspiration to the other sisters
I liked that story of the rich woman who thought she was better than the others being brought low, and then straightening out. It was like a fairy tale to me.
Saturday, Jan 31st St. Tryphaena
The Roman Governor Caesarius had convicted Tryphaena, because she refused to believe in the pagan Roman religion, and instead chose Christianity. Caesarius ordered her execution. Roman officers threw Tryphaena into a hot oven, then tied her from a high tree and threw her into sharp spears. Then, they took her away to be devoured by wild animals. When the Roman soldiers realised that she was unharmed after all that, they finally threw her to a mad bull. She was torn apart and died.
Again, like a fairy tale - the heroine could not be destroyed for a long time. She held onto her faith and almost survived. Almost. I remember wondering, as a child, what I might be willing to die for. Was there a cause so great, a faith so deep that I would die for it? I wasn't sure.
Sunday, Feb 1st St. Veridiana died in mid 1200's
She was from a noble family in Tuscany. There came a time of famine. Her family reportedly had a huge chest of beans that they sold at a large profit to the starving. When everyone else was away, Veridiana gave the beans to the poor. When she was chastised for doing so later, she reportedly prayed and God re-filled the chest of beans the next day. After a religious experience while on a pilgrimage, she had herself walled up in a hermitage near the Elba River. For the remaining years of her life she was under the spiritual care of the local Benedictine monastery community. St. Francis of Assisi is said to have visited her in 1211.
She was like the woman who wove straw into gold. I liked that God helped her out for helping the poor and stood up for her to her parents. It seemed wonderfully calm to me that after all that she just stayed in the monastery and prayed. I came from a loud house.
Mon. Feb 2nd St Adeloga died approx. 745
Adeloga was a princess who founded the Benedictine convent of Kitzingen in Franconia. She is reported to have been beautiful, but did not want to marry any of the men
