Posts by Reverend Roy

John of God, a Portuguese soldier who became a health care provider in Spain, inspired his followers to found the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, a global Catholic religious order devoted to caring for the needy, the ill, and those with mental illnesses. Nothing in John’s early years suggested that he would become holy. He was born João Duarte Cidade, and is the patron saint of bookshops, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses, the ill, and firefighters. When he was just eight years old, he ran away from his Portuguese home and lived in Spain, tending sheep and cattle before joining the military to fight the French and then the Turks.

On Saint Sebastian’s Day, Cidade had a profound religious awakening while listening to a sermon by John of vila, a well-known preacher of the time who would later become his spiritual director and support him in his mission to better the lives of the underprivileged. He experienced what was thought to be an extreme mental collapse when he was 42 years old. He was moved by the message, and he soon started beating himself in public while begging for forgiveness and wildly trying to make up for his old ways. He was locked up in the part of the Royal Hospital for people with mental illnesses. He was treated like everyone else at the time, which meant that he was chained, beaten, and starved. John of Avila came to Cidade and counseled him to be more actively involved in meeting the needs of others rather than tolerating his own suffering. After finding comfort, John soon left the hospital to work with the underprivileged.

Upon his return to Granada, he pursued his dream of establishing a hospital. By begging, he was able to rent a building, furnish it, and begin his search for the sick. He worked hard to take care of them by begging for food, getting priests to listen to their confessions, and nursing them back to health. In the years that followed, John spread his mission of mercy to the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, the unemployed, the prostitutes, and anyone else in need. Gradually, John’s efforts motivated others so much that they joined him. Twenty-two years after John’s death, the pope would approve this group of men as a new religious order. The most amazing of the supposed miracles was when John went into a hospital that was on fire to save people without getting burned.

Behind John’s actions of total care and love for Christ’s sick and poor people, there was a deep prayer life, which showed in his humble spirit. Because of these things, people who wanted to help joined together 20 years after John’s death to form the Brothers Hospitallers, which is now a worldwide religious order.

After ten years of service, John became sick but tried to hide it. He started to get the administrative work in the hospital in order and chose a leader for his helpers. Lady Ana Ossorio, a spiritual friend and follower, took care of him until he died.

I do want to mention that he shouldn’t be confused with the modern-day Brazilian healer and inventor of the John the God crystal bed, Joao Teixeira de Faria, who referred to himself as ‘John of God’.

To work with the Saint John of God, blue candles are a good choice because they symbolize healing. If you want to offer him flowers on your altar, lavender is considered to be the ‘unofficial ‘ national flower of Portugal. John of God is patron saint of booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses, the sick, and firefighters. Work with him when you want to give up the things that are holding you back from creating a better life.

Saint Homobonus is the patron saint of Cremona, Italy, as well as businesspeople, tailors, shoemakers, and clothworkers.

Upon the urgent desire of the Cremonese people, he was canonized in 1199. He passed away on November 13, 1197, while attending Mass at St. Giles Church in Cremona. November 13 is observed as his feast day.

His last name is a translation of the Latin homo plus (“good man”). He was a trader from northern Italy’s Cremona. He was a married layman named Omobono Tucenghi who felt that God had given him a job to support those living in poverty.

The secret to St. Homobonus’ success as a missionary was his ability to seamlessly combine an ordinary existence as a layman and married man with an outstanding witness of service to others. He was a cloth merchant who had a small inheritance from his father, but he always put in a lot of effort in his line of work. St. Homobonus efficiently distributed a sizeable portion of his profits to the poor.

Homobonus attended church regularly and regularly took part in the Eucharist. On November 13, 1197, Homobonus passed away while kneeling in the shape of a cross and attending mass. Homobonus was declared a saint by Pope Innocent III fourteen months later. Pope Innocent III referred to Homobonus as “father of the poor.” He is honored in the Sant’Omobono church in Rome.

Saint Homobonus could also be considered the saint of entrepreneurs. To work with him, use green or yellow candles. Green represents money, while yellow is a stand-in color for “gold.” Use any type of money drawing or better business oil to anoint your candles. Work with him when you are beginning new business ventures or want to increase your money through hard work. Be sure to give to or support charities in some way to stay on his good side so that he will continue to work with you and increase your wealth.

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs of the early church at Carthage, are honored on March 7. These two women remained firm in their religion despite pressure from the government and family members.We are lucky to have the genuine account of Perpetua and Felicity’s bravery written by Perpetua herself, her teacher Saturus, and other people who knew them because information about the lives of many early martyrs are murky and frequently dependent on legend. In the early years, this story—known as “The Passion of St. Perpetua, St. Felicitas, and their Companions”—became so well-known that liturgies included readings from it.

Who are Saints Perpetua and Felicity?

Perpetua and Felicity were third-century Christian martyrs (Latin: Perpetua et Felicitas). In the year 203, Vibia Perpetua was a newlywed, well-educated, 22-year-old noblewoman who was breastfeeding her young son at the time of her death, according to historical accounts. Felicity, an enslaved woman who was imprisoned with her and who was pregnant at the time, was sacrificed alongside her. Together with others, they were executed in Carthage in the African region of the Roman province of Africa (now known as Tunisia)

The women had been studying the Bible and preparing for baptism before their arrest. They were baptized in prison by their instructor, who was also incarcerated. Their religion so moved their prison warden that he converted. Perpetua and Felicity were sentenced to death as punishment for confessing the name of Christ. But, with God’s peace in their hearts, they faced their fate with composure.

The story of Perpetua begins with a disagreement between her and her father over his desire for her to change her mind about converting to Christianity. Although Perpetua objects, she is baptized just before being taken to prison. In the days before Perpetua’s martyrdom, she was imprisoned at Carthage. She wrote about these days and her struggles in her diary, recounting the physical and mental anguish she endured in prison. The intense heat, brutal prison guards, and the end of her regular nursing all contributed to Perpetua’s physical suffering. Perpetua also talked about how the prison conditions improved once she bribed the guards and the other martyrs transported to a different area of the prison. She was also permitted to breastfeed her child, relieving some of her physical sufferings. The most frequently mentioned bodily condition in Perpetua’s narrative—a cycle of anguish and relief—was the discomfort she experienced in her breasts. Perpetua asks for and experiences a vision in which she climbs a hazardous ladder with numerous weapons connected, encouraged by her brother. A serpent is at the bottom of the ladder, and Saturus and Perpetua face it in turn. The serpent does not hurt her, and she ascends to a garden. Perpetua’s dream ends with the realization that the martyrs will endure pain. Perpetua has a vision of herself defeating a wild Egyptian the day before she is martyred. She takes this to signify that she will have to fight not just wild animals but also the Devil.

In her diary, Perpetua describes the conversation with her father when he came to her, begging that she recant:

While we were still under arrest, my father out of love for me was trying to persuade me and shake my resolution.

“Father,” said I, “do you see this vase here, for example?”

“Yes, I do,” said he.

And I told him: “Could it be called by any other name than what it is?”

And he said: “No.”

“Well, so too I cannot be called anything other than what I am, a Christian.”

Imprisoned with St. Perpetua, St. Felicity was a pregnant slave girl. Because St. Felicity did not keep a life journal like Perpetua did, little is known about her life. Felicity was also sentenced to die at the games after being imprisoned and tortured. Felicity gave birth to a daughter just a few days before she was put to death, and the child was secretly carried away and placed in the care of some of the Faithful.

Saints Felicitas and Perpetua are two of the martyrs named by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass. An old inscription with the names Perpetua and Felicitas was found in the Basilica Maiorum in Carthage. This church was built on top of the tomb of two martyrs. Perpetua and Felicity were placed in an arena with wild beasts but were not harmed by them. Sadly, Emperor Severus then ordered that they be executed with the sword.

The day of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, March 7, was observed as a feast day across the Roman Empire and was noted in the Philocalian Calendar, a calendar of martyrs from the fourth century that was widely observed in Rome. When Saint Thomas Aquinas’ feast was added to the Roman calendar and celebrated on the same day, these two African saints became, sadly, overlooked by those who had never heard their story.

How to Work with Saints Perpetua and Felicity

In the stories of these two saints, we are shown the dedication of a mother to her child, and also their dedication to their faith.  Compared to the Five of Swords tarot card, what circumstance in your life is calling you to stand your ground, and win at all costs? You can call on the spirit of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas during those times when you must do whatever is necessary to protect your child, to stand firm in your fight for justice when you know you are correct and everyone around you is asking you to give concede.

To work with Saints Perpetua or Felicitas, use an orange candle to show your determination.  Anoint the candle with a strength or Personal Power oil.  Write out your petition, or prayer, to the Saint asking for their strength and guidance in your battle.  Place the petition under the candle while it burns.  While the candle is burning, allow their strength to enter your spirit and body.  Assist the process by showing your confidence, walk with your head up and make eye contact, allow your energy to fill the space, and stand confidently with your back straight and your chest out.