June 28 Saint Vincentia Gerosa

An Italian nun who tended to grape vines used to make sacramental wine. An excellent example of prayer through work.

Bonus Confirmation Names:

Saint Crummine – Spiritual student of Saint Patrick at Leccuine, Westmeath, Ireland.

Saint Egilo – Monk. Abbot of Prüm Abbey near Trier, Germany. Restored the monastery at Flavigny, France. Founded the monastery of Corbigny, France.

Saint Heron – Student of Origen at his catechetical school at Alexandria, Egypt. Martyred with Saint Plutarch, Saint Serenus, Saint Heraclides, Saint Rhais, Saint Potamioena, and Saint Marcella in the persecution of Septimus Severus.

March 17 Saint Gertrude of Nivelles

Today’s Word of the Day: suriphoics – People who are afraid of mice.

St. Gertrude had the usual start for women religious in the 600s – an early call to vowed life, turn down the arranged marriage, enter the convent, serve faithfulyl through prayers and work until death. She did have a special devotion to those souls in purgatory. In the 600s, mice represented the souls of dead. A strong following developed after her death that spread throughout Europe. People would leave likenesses of mice – made of silver, gold or clay – at church alters as prayers for intercession on their loved ones behalf. The tradition continued in Europe until the 1800s.

St. Gertrude is the Patron Saint of Those Afraid of Mice. She also Patron Saint of Gardeners as  her feast falls during the that indecisive planting time.

February 22 St. Margaret of Cortona

Patron Saint of Sexual Temptation

Born in 1247 in Italy to a farmer, St. Margaret’s mother died was she seven. Much disliked and abused by her stepmother, she ran off at a young age with a handsome younger son of nobility. Living as his mistress, she bore him a son. After nine years her husband was killed by a group of robbers. SHe took this a s sign from God to repent. After publicly confessing her affair, she attempted to return to her father’s house with her son. The two were turned away and took refuge in a monastery. She was still young and quite beautiful and soon found other opportunities to be kept by rich men. After each affair, she returned, remorseful, to the monastery. When she was actually at the monastery, she earned her keep caring for sick women. As she aged and lost her beauty and marketability as a mistress, this became her full time job. She eventually became a Franciscan tertiary, gathered other like minded women and started a hospital for women in Cortona, Italy. The hospital became known for work with prostitutes, mentally ill women and various forms of women reproductive issues. In spite of her endless work on behalf of the poor, she remained a scandalous woman in the eyes of the community.  Perhaps she could also be an intercessor on behalf of Planned Parenthood.