Our Blessed Friends #4

“JESUS HAS COME”

Alberto Marvelli

He quietly fumbled with the lock. This one was harder than the others, but still, he managed it. It came off with a click and he looked both ways to make sure he hadn’t been heard. Making the Sign of the Cross, he prayed for the people on the inside of the train, begging G’D for their safety. Opening the door slowly, he reached his hands out to the frightened people. “Come on! We have to hurry!” he whispered. But who was this young man, and what was he doing?

Alberto Marvelli was born in March 1918 to Luigi Marvelli and Maria Mayr as the second of six children. His close knit Catholic family was like a mirror for their faith - they reflected the light of Christ in all that they did. The door of their house was always opened for the beggars. “JESUS HAS COME, AND HE IS HUNGRY,” his mother would always say.

In 1930, Alberto’s family moved to Rimini. There, Alberto began to attend the meetings of a Catholic Action group. He also made time for athletics, which he loved - especially bicycle riding. To foster his spiritual needs, the fifteen-year-old created a rigorous prayer schedule he followed whole-heartedly. As he grew up, Alberto continued to work with Catholic Action (often as its leader), to teach, and to help the poor and infirm. 

Alberto became a hero during the second world war through his compassion. Even though they had moved to Vergiano to escape the air raids, Alberto went to the bombed sites and offered the people comfort, prayers, and even his own belongings, right down to his shoes. He also freed Italians and Jews from trains bound for concentration camps. 

After the war, Alberto joined the Christian Democratic Party in Rimini and was a very effective leader. He even decided to run for a position in the next election. While on a bicycle going to a meeting, Alberto was hit by a big truck. He died on 5 October 1946. 

Alberto was elected posthumously and his mother agreed to take the position. Alberto’s courage, compassion, and faith give us a shining example of what it means to be a truly active Catholic. 

Our Blessed Friends #3

“PERFECT ABANDONMENT”

Zelie Martin

Her eyes came to rest on the young man crossing the bridge. Though she had always planned to become a nun like her sister, she had just been turned away. Now, a voice called from deep inside her heart, “THIS IS HE WHOM I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU.” Suddenly, she knew G’D had a plan for her that was more wonderful than anything she could come up with. But who was this young woman, and what did G’D have in store for her?

Zelie was born to Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé on 23 December 1831 and baptized the following day. She did not remember her childhood fondly, remarking that her childhood in a military family was “DISMAL”. Zelie’s education is attributed to the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Alençon. She became a skilled lacemaker while there - a trade which she would continue practicing for the rest of her life. 

Zelie met her future husband, Louis Martin, in Alençon and married him in 1858, when she was 26. Originally, she had wanted to enter the convent with her sister, Marie-Louise, but after being turned away, she quickly met Louis and was swept into the blessed life of motherhood.

Zelie bore Louis nine children, four of whom died at early ages. All four of those babies died within three years, leaving Zelie shocked and saddened. 

In 1876, Zelie began to suffer from cancer which developed in her chest. She once wrote, asking “IF NOT FOR A CURE, BUT FOR PERFECT ABANDONMENT TO THE WILL OF G’D.”

Zelie died in August 1877, but her legacy continued with her saintly children. The holiness she fostered in her daughters stayed with them, and all five became nuns. Before her death, Zelie’s youngest daughter Thérèse wrote down her Little Way, which seems to have been rooted in her mother’s constant reminders to please Jesus through sacrifice and prayer. Thérèse was later canonized and was named a Doctor of the Church, and another one of Zelie’s daughters, Leonie, is on the road to sainthood. Her other surviving daughters - Marie, Pauline, and Celine - also lived exemplary lives of virtue and may one day be canonized saints. Zelie made sure her husband also made it to heaven, and he is canonized as well. Their loving example proves how our impact on others can make the greatest saints!

Our Blessed Friends #2

 “I AM NOT AFRAID”

Anasztáz János Brenner

It was a cold December morning when the villagers came upon the murdered priest. They gasped as they recognized him as the beloved Father Anasztáz. Covered in 32 wounds, the courageous priest still clutched the Eucharist close to his heart. Who was this “Hungarian Tarcisius”, and what had happened to him?

Born János Brenner to a Hungarian couple almost 26 years earlier, Father Anasztáz was the second of three boys. He attended a Cistercian school in his homeland of Hungary until the communists closed it. His experiences with the Cistercians caused Father Anasztáz to discern religious life. At the age of eighteen, he began his studies for the priesthood, taking the name Anasztáz. Six years later he was ordained and adopted the Biblical motto of Romans 8:28 - “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE G’D.” 

Father Anasztáz used his energy to teach people about the faith, especially children. He was told by the communists to stop, but he would not bow to their demands. He trusted G’D and that helped him remain courageous in the face of threats and even attempts on his life. The bishop, however, was concerned and he offered Father Anasztáz a position elsewhere. Father remarked, “I AM NOT AFRAID; I WOULD LIKE TO STAY.”

On 14 December 1957, Father Anasztáz received word that a dying man was in need of last rites. Father rushed to him, even in the late hour, but was ambushed by communists in the forest and killed. The communists hoped his murder would discourage Catholics from practicing their faith, but Father’s example only strengthened their faith.

Now, with the communism enforced by the Soviet Union dissipated, a chapel stands on the site where Father Anasztáz fell. It stands courageously as a reminder of the holy courage that we can all take up if we put our trust completely in G’D. 

Our Blessed Friends #1

 “SHE BELIEVED”

Alexia González-Barros

At a papal audience in 1979, a young girl broke through the crowd and ran to the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. She received his blessing before returning to her family in the crowd. But who was this girl, and why is she important?

Her name was Alexia Gonzáles-Barros. She was born to Francisco and Moncha Gonzáles-Barros as the last of seven children. Both Francisco and Moncha were members of Opus Dei - a religious group founded by Saint Josemaría Escrivá that promoted “finding G’D in daily life”. 

Alexia was an extrovert who enjoyed music and dancing. She frequented the Royal Theater for concerts and enjoyed the international song competition Eurovision. Very outgoing, Alexia shared her humor and joy with everyone around her.

At thirteen, Alexia was diagnosed with Erving’s Sarcoma - a rare and aggressive form of cancer where tumors develop in and around the bone. Even though the operations and procedures were very painful, Alexia remained joyful and offered all her suffering for the Church and for the intentions of her family and friends. 

Through all her pain, Alexia never lost her smile. She died in 1985 after an excruciating ten month battle with cancer. She constantly prayed, “JESUS, MAY I ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WANT”.

A quote from her brother Francisco proves we can be like Alexia. He said of his little sister, “ALEXIA LIVED A CLEAR AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. THE STRENGTH OF ALEXIA’S CASE RESTS ON THIS: SHE BELIEVED.”  

Coming Soon - Our Blessed Friends!

Hi everybody!

After a conversation I recently had with a friend of mine, I've been encouraged to start putting these out for all of you! I will have a new one out every Monday from the tenth of January until the twenty-eighth of February! Merry Christmas!

The 2022 Reboot

Hey guys!

If you don't know me, my name is Katie Orloski. I am fifteen and I live in Virginia with my parents, two siblings, and almost-two-year-old puppy Cooper, whom we got last year around this time. I have a passion for writing and learning about the saints, the latter I wish to foster in all of you young people that stumble across my tiny little corner of the internet (and by tiny, I mean that it is practically impossible for anyone to actually find this place unless they know about it...). 

I've been learning about the saints for a long time, and I've always looked up to them as heroes. Because really, they are. Whether they were engaging fearlessly in battle like Joan of Arc, being stoned to death for believing in Jesus like Saint Stephen, ministering to the poor dying in the streets like Saint Vincent de Paul, or just plain hanging out with Jesus in a convent like Saint Therese of Lisieux, these people really were heroes, guys! And guess what else? We can also be heroes! All we have to do is follow the beautiful patterns laid out to us by these saintly humans. Just like us, they were not perfect - they were flawed creatures who struggled with doubt and temptation and yes, sometimes even the seven deadlies! But you know what? All of these people that the Church has recognized as saints - Rose, Augustine, Mary Magdalene, Dismas, etc. etc. - are in heaven with Jesus, even though they did some crazy things! 

So how did these flawed people suddenly get canonized?

They made Jesus the king of their lives. They made a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction of all their sins and chose, even though it hurt, to follow Him at all costs. Even if it meant giving up their own lives in the process. 

So my big question of 2022 for you is...do you want to be a saint? Maybe your name won't be in the table of contents in a book of saints, maybe you won't get to have your name on a calendar or said at a Mass...but do you want to be in heaven? Because that's really the question you're being asked when someone asks if you want to be a saint. 

My hand is RAISED for this question, guys! It's totally something I want...it's at the TOP of my list of accomplishments for my life. But what about you? Do you want to be a saint, a citizen of heaven? Do you want to live with Jesus forever? And ever and ever and ever? There's a pretty easy way to START getting there (actually getting there must be pretty tricky, seeing as I personally mess up every day, pretty much every hour, actually). And that easy way is...learning about how people already got there! I.e., the saints!

My goal, by "rebooting" this blog, is to help all of you get there with me by learning about the saints. I recently wrote a little book (and then a second one, for Christmas) for my family about some lesser-known saints. One of my friends who knew I had been keeping up a blog in the past encouraged me to publish my stories on here, and so I am listening to this advice and putting it out for you all to see. HOPEFULLY, they will help you on your journey to the arms of Jesus!

Remember that I'm always praying for you! Go with G'D!