Belated Saints of the day- Apr 5th- April 8th

 Apr 5- Bd Cresentia Hoss , Virgin    (A.D. 1744)

Born in 1682 to poor parents. She entered the convent of the 3rd Order Regular of St. Francis, at age 21. She was treated poorly, in the convent, at first, but eventually was recognized as a living saint. She later became the prioress of the convent in which she lived. Later on in her life, people would seek her out, at the convent, for advice and prayers. she died in 1744. even today, pilgrims still visit her tomb. She was beatified in 1900, by Pope Leo XIII.



 Apr 6- Bd Catherine of Pallanza, Virgin    (A.D. 1478)

Born in 1437 in Pallanza, Italy. Her entire family died of the plague when she was very young. She was rescued by a local lord and was placed in the care of and later adopted and educated by a noble woman in Milan. After the death of the woman who raised her, she became a hermitess in the mountains above Varese. She lived this austere life for 15 years. She was joined by other women who wished to imitate her, and she later started a community which followed the Augustinian rule. She founded a convent called Santa Maria di Monti. She died after 4 years of being prioress of the community, she died at age 40. She had the gift of prophesy. Her cultus was approved in 1769.



Apr 7- Bd Alexander Rawlins, Priest and Martyr  (A.D. 1595)

Born on the border between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. He was educated at the English College at Rheims, in preparation for receiving Holy Orders. He and Bd Henry Walpole were executed together. Alexander had been working for the English mission ever since his ordination in March 1590. He had been arrested at about the time of Henry's return from the Tower to York castle. They were taken to the place of execution on the same hurdle. In order to keep them from talking to each other, they were laid with one's head at the feet of the other. Alexander was tortured and executed first, followed by Henry.


Apr 8- St Julia Billiart, Virgin      (A.D. 1816)

Blessed Mary Rose Julia Billiart was the child of fairly well to do peasant farmers. She was born in 1751 in Cuvilly, in Picardi, France. She was an intelligent girl who had a habit of teaching the catechism to other children. Her parish priest encouraged her to continue this practice and she was allowed to receive First Communion at age 9, which was rare in those days. She took a vow of chastity at age 14. Although she had to work very hard, when her family fell on hard times, she still took time to visit the sick, teach the ignorant and pray. Quite suddenly, after a gun was fired through a window at her father, whom she was sitting next to at the time, she became completely paralyzed, unable to use her arms or legs. She had become an invalid because of the shock of this event. She remained that way for 22 years. Throughout that time she continued to instruct children in catechism. During this time, she was also the co-foundress of an order called The Institute of Notre Dame de Namur. In 1804, during a mission held by the Fathers of Faith, in Amiens, which they entrusted to the sisters of the order, of which Mother Julia was the prioress, a novena was held for an unknown intention. On the 5th day, which was the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Father Enfantin asked Julia "Mother, if you have any faith, take one step in honor of the Sacred Heart". At this, Mother Julia stood for the first time in years, she was completely cured. During the years that followed, she continued to further the order which she had co-founded and at one point she suffered persecution and calumny from a young priest who turned many of her friends against her. She ended up relocating, with some of her sisters, to Namur, which later became the permanent location of the Mother House. Mother Julia spent the last 7 years of her  life founding more houses and training her spiritual daughters. She became sick in 1816 and was failing fast. She died on April 8, while reciting the Magnificat. She was beatified in 1906. She was canonized Jun 22, 1969, by Pope Paul XI.