『聖人たちの生涯』池田敏雄神父著、中央出版社
四月二十四日 聖フィデリス
一六一二年、南ドイツのカプチン会修道院で着衣式が行なわれていた。そのとき、これを司式した司祭は「死ぬまであなたは忠実であれば、わたしはあなたに命の冠を与えよ」(黙示2の10)という聖書の一節をとなえて、新たに修道服をつけたひとりの青年を激励した。この青年は修道名をフィデリス(忠実という意味)といい、職務に忠実で後年上長の命ずるままに獅子奮迅の勢いをもって自ら迷える人びとの中におどりこみ、彼らを聖会に帰一させて、ついに暴徒の手に倒れるまで修道名にふさわしい生涯を送った。
彼は一五七七年、南ドイツのシグマリソゲンに町長の子として生まれ、のちフライブルク大学で哲学と法律学を修めて抜群の成績を示し、早くも一六〇一年、二十四歳の若さで哲学博士の学位を獲得した。その後、三年のあいだ大学の講師をつとめていたが、一六〇四年から六年闘、三人の青年寳族を連れてフランス、スペイン、イタリアの一流大学に遊学し、大いに見聞を広めて、一六二年教会法および法学の博士となった。
帰国したのち弁護士を開業し、正義の闘士として道理にかなうことはあくまでこれを弁護し、わけても貧者をかばい、その弱みにつけこんで不正を行なう人びとをぴしぴしととがめた。ある日、彼がある訴訟事件を解決して法廷から出てくると、なかまの弁護士が近寄って「あなたの弁護なさった事件はなかなかこみいっていましたね。これをわずか一日で解決したのは惜しかったですな。なぜ数回に延ばさなかったのです。訴訟を延ばせばどの弁護士もみんなもうかるのに・・・。わたくしどもは弁護士の資格を得るまでにたくさんの金を使っており、また訴訟事件の資料を集めたり、それを調べたりするのにたいへんな労力と時間がかかったのですから、弁護料をたんともらわなければ引き合いませんよ」と、不平を鳴らした。
フィデリスはこれを聞いて「わたくしはそうは思わない。まず第一にいくら弁護士だろうと道理にそむいて、法律違反者までも弁護できない。第二に待つ人の身になって、できるだけ早く訴訟事件を解決してやらなければならない。第三に弁護料は正当に貰うこと。金めあてにわざと訴訟をだらだらのばしたり、厳密な調査を怠ったりして、人に損害をかけた場合は必ずこれを賠償しなげればならない」と答えたそうである。こうして彼の名声は日一日と高くなり、訴訟を依頼する者が多くなったが、その反面多くの商売がたきも現われ、陰に陽に妨害したので、彼は世間のみにくさにあいそをつかして、ついに弁護士を廃業し、一六二一年、三十五才のとき司祭となってカプチン会の修道院に入った。
フィデリスは、在俗当時の高い地位をはなにかけることなく、修練中はことにアシジの聖フランシスコの徳行にならうため、さら洗いや修院内のそうじやまきわりなどの仕事をすすんで引ぎ受けた。修道誓願を立ててから数年神学の研究を続けたあと、上長の命令で巡回説教師となり、とくいの弁舌や文筆をもって、おもにドイツや、スイスの新教徒の帰一のために活躍した。まもなくそのきょうじんな指導力にひかれて聖会に帰一する新教徒が続出し、ためにこの分野でも敵の反対にあった。
一六二二年、管区長はフィデリスの指導力を買って、彼をスイスのグラウビュンデン州へ派遣し、帰一促進の布教を命じた。この地方はカルヴィン派の狂信者が多く、まえにも数名の司祭が惨殺されたところとして恐れられていた。しかし「虎穴に入らざれば虎子を得ず」で大胆なフィデリスは殉教を覚悟しながら勇躍その地に乗りこんだ。
はたしてその布教活動は予期以上の成績をあげたが、それだげ敵の憎しみを増した。そこで波らはフィデリスの暗殺を計画し、その年の復活祭にセヴィスの町の教会に彼を招待して説教を依頼した。フィデリスはその願いに応じて説教していたところ、とつぜん暴漢にうたれた。幸いねらいがはずれてあやうく一命を取りとめたものの、説教をおえて帰宅の途中、不意に教敵に取り巻かれ、こんぼうや刀剣などでなぶり殺しにされた。
そのとき、フィデリスは地にひざまずいて両手で十字架をにぎりしめ、「彼らをお許しください。彼らは何をしているかを知らないからです」と祈っていたという。これを目撃したひとりの牧師は、このりっぱな態度に感激してまもなくカトリックに改宗したと伝えられる。
Saint Of The Day (April 22)
Saints Soter and Caius
Soter was born at Fundi in Campania. He ordered that consecrated virgins should not touch the sacred vessels and palls, nor act as thurifers in the church. He also decreed that all Christians should receive the Body of Christ on Holy Thursday, except those forbidden to do so by grave sin. He was crowned with martyrdom under the emperor Marcus Aurelius and buried in the cemetery later called that of Callistus.
Caius was a Dalmatian, of the kindred of the emperor Diocletian. He decreed that these several orders and grades of honor in the Church should lead up to the episcopate, namely: doorkeeper, lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon, deacon and priest. Fleeing from the cruelty of Diocletian towards the Christians, he hid himself for some time in a cave; then after eight years, received the crown of martyrdom together with his brother Gabinus and was buried in the cemetery of Callistus.
Taken from The Hours of the Divine Office in English and Latin, Vol. II: Passion Sunday to August (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1963), p. 1746.
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『ミサの前に読む聖人伝』C・バリョヌェボ著、サンパウロ
四月二十二日 イエズス会の母聖マリア
イエズス会は今日、聖母マリアを会の母として祝います。それは、一五四一年のこの日に、聖イグナチオと最初のイエズス会士が、修道会における荘厳な誓願を、ローマの聖パウロ大聖堂の中にあるモザイクの聖母マリア像の前で立てたことに起因します。また、イエズス会の誕生に、聖母マリアが特別な役割を果たされたことも理由の一つにあげられます。イエズス会は今日、それらのことを想い出し、聖母マリアを通して神に感謝をささげ、その取り次ぎを願うのです。
聖イグナチオはロヨラの城で、軍人として手柄を立てる望みを捨て、聖人たちに倣い、キリストに従おうと決心しましたが、その時、彼は「ある夜目覚めた峙に、幼子イエズスを抱いた聖母マリアの姿をはっきりと見て、あまりにも大きな喜びに、自分が過去に行った不潔に対してはなはだしい嫌悪を抱いた」と言っているのをみても、聖母マリアを通して彼の決意が固められたと思われます。その時から、イグナチオの生活の中に、しばしば聖母マリアの恵みがあらわれるようになりました。イグナチオはロヨラを出発する時、まずアランザスにある聖母マリアの聖堂で、新しい道を歩み続けるカをいただくために、一夜を祈りのうちに過ごしました。彼は騎士の服装と剣を捨て、キリストの弟子の霊的な服を着る場所として、モンセラートという有名な聖母マリアの聖堂を選びました。モンセラートから下りて、マンレサの洞穴で一年ほど祈りと苦行の生活を行ない、その結果として『霊操』という有名な本を書きはじめました。
彼は、霊操を行なう方には、三つの「対話」をするように度々導きます。その第一は、聖母マリアの取り次ぎを願うためのものです。キリストに近づくためには、どうしても聖母マリアの取り次ぎが必要だと考えたからでした。
ところで、イエズス会が最初に建てた教会は、聖母マリアにささげられた「ラ・ストゥラーダ(道ごというローマの教会でした。イエズス会は、キリストへの愛と信仰を広めるとともに、その母マリアに対しても、子どものような、熱意溢れる信心を広めていきました。
会員の一人ザビエルは、日本に聖母マリアの聖堂を建てる夢を抱いていましたし、カニジオは、聖母マリアの真の子どもとして、マリアを否定する人びとに対し、聖母の終生の処女性を深い学問によって熱心に守り続けました。
イエズス会の三人の若い聖人たちは、その特徴として、子どもが真にその母を慕うような深い愛をマリアに対して持っていましたし、聖母マリアの無原罪の御宿りを、信仰箇条として認める運動に対しても、非常に熱心でした。
またイエズス会員は、熱心な信者が自らの生活を聖化するための会を作り、その会を聖母マリアの保護のもとに置きました。それが有名な「コングレガシオ・マリアーナ」、または「聖母会」、(現在 C.L.C:Christian Life Communities)と呼ばれているものです。そこで育てられた目本の殉教者は、火あぶりの最中にあっても「イエズス」と叫ぶとともに「マリア」とも叫びました。聖人たちは、神秘的な幻で、イエズス会に対する聖母マリアのこ保護を見たこともありました。また、マルチン・グティエレス神父が見たという、ご自分のマントの中にイエズス会を包み込むように守っておられた聖母マリアの話は有名です。
今日の祝日は、イエズス会四百周年の記念として、当時の総会長が教会に願い出たもので、私たちも聖母マリアの取り次ぎによって、イエズス会がいつまでもキリストに忠実であることができるよう祈りましょう。
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Saint Conrad of Parzham
Saint Of The Day (April 20 )
(December 22, 1818 – April 21, 1894)
Conrad spent most of his life as porter in Altoetting, Bavaria, letting people into the friary and indirectly encouraging them to let God into their lives.
His parents, Bartholomew and Gertrude Birndorfer, lived near Parzham, Bavaria. In those days, this region was recovering from the Napoleonic wars. A lover of solitary prayer and a peacemaker as a young man, Conrad joined the Capuchins as a brother. He made his profession in 1852 and was assigned to the friary in Altoetting. That city’s shrine to Mary was very popular; at the nearby Capuchin friary there was a lot of work for the porter, a job Conrad held for 41 years.
At first, some of the other friars were jealous that such a young friar held this important job. Conrad’s patience and holy life overcame their doubts. As porter, he dealt with many people, obtaining many of the friary supplies and generously providing for the poor who came to the door. He treated them all with the courtesy Francis expected of his followers.
Conrad’s helpfulness was sometimes unnerving. Once Father Vincent, seeking quiet to prepare a sermon, went up the belltower of the church. Conrad tracked him down when someone wanting to go to confession specifically requested Father Vincent.
Conrad also developed a special rapport with the children of the area. He enthusiastically promoted the Seraphic Work of Charity, which aided neglected children.
Conrad spent hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He regularly asked the Blessed Mother to intercede for him and for the many people he included in his prayers. The ever-patient Conrad was canonized in 1934.
Saint Of The Day (April 15 )
St. Peter Gonzalez –
Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
Peter Gonzalez was born in 1190 in the city of Astorga, Spain, of an illustrious family. After studies in which he excelled, he was named canon of the Cathedral. His uncle, the Bishop of Astorga, obtained for him from Rome the position of dean of the chapter of canons.
It was planned for Peter to take possession of the dignity at Christmas. A vain youth filled with the spirit of the world, Peter desired that the ceremony should take place with great pomp before the whole city. Astride a magnificent horse in full harness, he rode through the streets of the city. When he reached a place crowded with onlookers, he spurred his horse to make it prance more elegantly and raise the applause of the people. But the horse tripped and threw the rider into a puddle of mud. The applause immediately changed into derision and laughter.
The misfortune, however, proved beneficial for him. Raising himself up, he exclaimed, “How can this be? This same world that applauds me one moment, laughs at me the next? Well, I will laugh at it in my turn. From this day onward, I will turn my back to it and seek out a better life.”
In fact, he abandoned the world and entered the austere Order of St. Dominic. He became an excellent religious and no less excellent preacher. His fame spread and reached the court of King St. Ferdinand of Castile, who asked his advice regarding the war against the Saracens. In fact, the saint accompanied the King in his expeditions against the Moors, particularly in the siege and taking of Cordova in 1236, which, from the year 718, had been the chief seat of the Moorish dominions in Spain.
Later he became apostle and preacher to the poor, and especially to sailors. He received the gift of miracles. He preached without stop until his last days and foretold his own death, which took place on April 15, 1246. The sailors of Spain and Portugal still invoke him in every storm under the name of St. Elmo (Elm or Telm).
Saint Of The Day (April 8)
Saint Julie Billiart
Born in Cuvilly, France, into a family of well-to-do farmers, young Marie Rose Julie Billiart showed an early interest in religion and in helping the sick and poor. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful and uncomplicated, Julie had to take up manual work as a young teen when her family lost its money. However, she spent her spare time teaching catechism to young people and to the farm laborers.
A mysterious illness overtook her when she was about 30. Witnessing an attempt to wound or even kill her father, Julie was paralyzed and became a complete invalid. For the next two decades, she continued to teach catechism lessons from her bed, offered spiritual advice, and attracted visitors who had heard of her holiness.
When the French Revolution broke out in 1789, revolutionary forces became aware of her allegiance to fugitive priests. With the help of friends, she was smuggled out of Cuvilly in a haycart. She then spent several years hiding in Compiegne, being moved from house to house despite her growing physical pain. She even lost the power of speech for a time.
But this period also proved to be a fruitful spiritual time for Julie. It was at this time she had a vision in which she saw Calvary surrounded by women in religious habits and heard a voice saying, “Behold these spiritual daughters whom I give you in an institute marked by the cross.”
As time passed and Julie continued her mobile life, she made the acquaintance of an aristocratic woman, Françoise Blin de Bourdon, who shared Julie’s interest in teaching the faith. In 1803, the two women began the Institute of Notre Dame, which was dedicated to the education of the poor, young Christian girls, and the training of catechists. The following year, the first Sisters of Notre Dame made their vows. That was the same year that Julie recovered from the illness: She was able to walk for the first time in 22 years.
Though Julie had always been attentive to the special needs of the poor and that always remained her priority, she also became aware that other classes in society needed Christian instruction. From the founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame until her death, Julie was on the road, opening a variety of schools in France and Belgium that served the poor and the wealthy, vocational groups, teachers. Ultimately, Julie and Françoise moved the motherhouse to Namur, Belgium.
Julie died there in 1816. She was canonized in 1969.
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Saint Of The Day (April 4)
St Isidore of Seville
The 76 years of Isidore’s life were a time of conflict and growth for the Church in Spain. The Visigoths had invaded the land a century and a half earlier, and shortly before Isidore’s birth they set up their own capital. They were Arians—Christians who said Christ was not God. Thus, Spain was split in two: One people (Catholic Romans) struggled with another (Arian Goths).
Isidore reunited Spain, making it a center of culture and learning. The country served as a teacher and guide for other European countries whose culture was also threatened by barbarian invaders.
Born in Cartagena of a family that included three other sibling saints—Leander, Fulgentius and Florentina—he was educated by his elder brother, whom he succeeded as bishop of Seville.
An amazingly learned man, he was sometimes called “The Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages” because the encyclopedia he wrote was used as a textbook for nine centuries. He required seminaries to be built in every diocese, wrote a Rule for religious orders, and founded schools that taught every branch of learning. Isidore wrote numerous books, including a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths, and a history of the world—beginning with creation! He completed the Mozarabic liturgy, which is still in use in Toledo, Spain. For all these reasons, Isidore has been suggested as patron of the Internet. Several others—including Anthony of Padua—also have been suggested.
He continued his austerities even as he approached age 80. During the last six months of his life, he increased his charities so much that his house was crowded from morning till night with the poor of the countryside.
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Saint Of The Day (April 5)
St. Vincent Ferrer –
Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
St. Vincent Ferrer was born at Valencia, Spain, on January 23, 1357. Before his birth his vocation was announced to his parents in a miraculous way. The whole city of Valencia celebrated his birth and went to his baptism.
He entered the Dominican Order at age 18, soon revealing great gifts for preaching. He was sent to Cataluña to study, and then Lerida, where he studied under Cardinal Peter de Luna. Later, this Cardinal was elected pope and became Benedict XIII at the time when the Great Western Schism divided the Church. This pope invited Vincent to be his auxiliary, but he refused.
Vincent started a great work of evangelization as a preacher. He preached all over France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and England, the latter by special request of King Henry IV. The most hardened sinners could not resist his words. He converted countless Catholics from their bad lives and customs, as well as brought numerous Jews, Muslims and Schismatics to the Catholic Faith.
The corruption of customs, during the Hundred Years’ War and the Schism, made the apostolate of St. Vincent indispensable. What was needed was an apostle with a terrible message who could shake the conscience of sinners delivered to their excesses. His sermons were about the most frightening themes of Catholic doctrine: the terrible responsibility of sinners, the Judgment of God, Hell, eternity, etc. He had the gift to speak with a great energy, always using a language accessible to his audience. He also became noted for the great miracles he worked wherever he went.
The fame of his sanctity reached the Moorish King of Granada, who invited him to his kingdom to preach. However, he converted so many that some of the ministers of the King, fearful for the future of the Muslim religion, asked the sovereign to send the great missionary away.
During the sorrowful exile of the Popes in Avignon, St. Vincent condemned Benedict XIII, who was one of the three ecclesiastics simultaneously claiming the Papacy at that time, and gave his complete support to Pope Martin V, who had been elected in the Council of Constance.
In 1419, he died in Bretagne, France at 62 years of age.
St. Herman Joseph
Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
St. Herman was a great devotee of Our Lady and one of the most popular of medieval contemplatives. He was born in Cologne, Germany in 1150 into a family of good name that had lost its wealth. From his early childhood he sought out the altar of the Holy Virgin to converse with her. His simplicity was charming.
On one occasion he brought an apple to the Mother of God and asked her to accept it. The statue of the Virgin moved, and she extended her hand to take the gift.
Another time he arrived at the church and saw the Queen of Heaven in great splendor in the choir. At her side were two children, St. John the Baptist and the Christ Child playing together. As Herman stood contemplating the scene, the Virgin called to him. He swiftly climbed the steps of presbytery, but the grilled gate to the choir was closed and locked.
“I cannot reach you,” he said to Mary, “the grill is locked and there is no ladder for me to climb over it.”
The Holy Virgin then directed him where to put his hands and feet in order to climb over the grill. Doing this, he entered the choir and she told him to join the Christ Child and St. John in play.
One cold winter day he came barefoot to the church to pray. As he approached the statue of Our Lady, she asked him: “Why are you barefoot on this cold day?”
He answered: “Because I don’t have shoes.” She told him to look under a certain stone in the church where he would find enough money for a pair of shoes.
The whole life of St. Herman was filled with visions and ecstasies. Until his last day he enjoyed a continuous familiarity with the supernatural.
At age 12 Herman joined the Premonstratensians (Norbertines) of Steinfeld, where he was assigned many different jobs. Later, he was ordained a priest, and became the director of several convents of sisters, for whom he wrote various treatises on piety and a commentary on the Canticle of Canticles. He also composed hymns, one being the first hymn in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
His life was one of continuous penance, and he suffered strong temptations and physical illnesses. He was afflicted by incessant headaches that only ceased when he approached the altar to celebrate Mass. Their violence used to increase with the approach of Feast Days. In a play on words, he used to say: Festa sunt mihi infesta [the Feast Days are devastating for me].
He had great sympathy for afflicted persons who always found in him a warm welcome and secure refuge.
He died in 1241, after having added the name Joseph to his first name under the personal guidance of Our Lady. Later his body was found incorrupt.
Saint Of The Day (April 3)
St. Cunegundes
Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
St. Cunegundes, virgin, was Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She and her husband, St. Henry II guarded perpetual virginity in their marriage.
Together the couple carried out many pious works and practiced prayer and mortification. After his death in 1024, she went to the Convent of Kaufungen (Hesse), which she had founded. She died there in 1040 and was canonized by Pope Innocent III in 1200.