March 19 Blessed Clement of Dunblane

Blesssed Clement was a Scotsman by birth who met St. Dominic while they were both studying in Paris. One of the first Dominicans, Clement’s energy  and zeal led him back to Scotland at the request of  the king, Alexander II. He made friends with war leaders and farmers alike. His small band of Dominicans were granted permission to use Robert Bruce’s private mill, but also stayed with village and farm folks during his unceasing travels throughout Scotland. He raised money to build monasteries, rebuild churches and cathedrals, served on papal commissions, moved the Bishops seat from often unreachable Isle of Iona to Dunblane,  and wrote three books. He received perhaps the highest praise for a Dominican from a Protestant historian of the time – “This man was an excellent preacher, learned above many of that time, and of singular integrity of conversation”.

His relics are reported to be in the choir of the Dunblane Cathedral. They can be found along the south wall, below the Great South Windows.  One of which is called the Chaos Window, showing fire, storms, cold and snow – at the bottom of which the five members of Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1912 are named. If you are interested in church architecture, stained glass windows or art, take a minute to check out the Cathedral’s website.

February 25 Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio

Patron of Drivers and Bachelors

Another in the Dating Series:

Born in Spain, Sebastian traveled to Mexico at the age of thirty one to help build roads. He then started an early version of FedEx, delivery goods and mail along the road he built. Like Fred Smith, who founded Fed Ex, Sebastian became quite wealthy. When he felt he had worked hard and matured enough he decided it was time to get married. At age 60. I am OK with my boys putting their energy and talents to work first then to begin looking at marriage. 60 seems a little late, but I am OK with, say, 50. Sebastian out lived his first wife and his second wife. He joined the Franciscans at age 72 and work tirelessly for the next 25 years.

For all those parents of dating teens, this is a two-fer. Driving and Bachelors.

God of mercy, You called Blessed Sebastian to be a witness of your faith and discipline. Grant me peace as my child drives off on a date.  May my child’s decisions be rooted in love of Christ and not earthly pleasure. Keep my child safe, protect my child’s date from harm and fear. Grant me serenity as I wait for my child to return safely home. I pray this through Christ Our Lord. Amen