August 25--St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest and Religious

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Jesus taught, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours” (Lk. 6:20). He also taught, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Mt. 25:34-36). So, what happens when someone tries to live Jesus’ teaching? Sometimes they are praised, sometimes persecuted, sometimes both.

Today’s saint is one who experienced both praise and persecution for serving the poor. St. Joseph Calasanz was born to a minor Spanish noble family in 1557. He received the benefits of wealth, but rather than enjoying those benefits for himself, he became a priest and in Rome started the “first popular and free school in Europe” for the poor and abandoned children. He founded a school system he called the “Pious Schools” in 1616. He founded an order to run the schools called the Piarists, Latin for pious, in 1617. His order took the three standard vows, plus a fourth vow “to dedicate their lives to the education of youth.” 

 However, his work caused opposition. “Many rich were threatened by the thought of underprivileged people learning new ideas.” He was a friend of Galileo and helped him when it was unpopular. His own order suffered internal strife due to the sins and power of some of its members to the point St. Joseph was pushed out as superior general. The order was suppressed in 1646. He died in 1648, “convinced that his Order and his dream would not die.” The Order was restored twenty years later, and he was canonized in 1767 and declared the “Heavenly Patron of all Christian popular schools” by Pope Pius XII in 1948.

* The Last Communion of St Joseph of Calasanz by Francisco Goya 1819 Oil on canvas, 250 x 180 cm Escuelas Pías de San Antón, Madrid

August 25--St. Louis IX, Holy Man

To be a holy man or holy woman; isn’t that what we all should try to be? Holiness is the attribute that Isaiah hears the angels proclaim of God: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” (Is. 6:3) The Psalmist declares: “Holy is the Lord our God”. (Ps. 99:9) And so when we hear of a king, a secular ruler, declared to be a holy man and a saint, it may take us aback. How can a king, who wages war and passes judgment on others, be considered holy?

St. Louis IX, King of France, was such a man. He dedicated his life to justice, which is especially desired in a king. As supreme judge of France he would hear appeals by anyone of his subjects. He abolished trial by ordeal and introduced the presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings. He created provosts and bailiffs to enforce application of his new legal system. Even in war he maintained the need for justice. When in war against his brother-in-law, Henry III of England, he negotiated a settlement for peace rather that fight for a total victory. He led the seventh and eighth crusades, both of which failed. His purpose in both was to bring aid to Christians suffering under the Muslim Saracens.

Justice was a hallmark of his reign, as was service to the poor. Every day he would invite thirteen guests from among the poor to eat with him. He would often serve the poor who came for a meal during Advent and Lent. He established three monasteries and sponsored the construction of great Gothic cathedrals. St. Louis died of typhoid fever at Tunis during the eighth crusade in 1270 and was canonized in 1297. We ask for his intercession on our behalf for justice and service in our day.