While you are waiting for the next proper episode of The Flowered Path, please enjoy this interview with Brother Richard Hendrick (originally presented on Strange Familiars in 2020). The origins of Christmas, the Three Magi, Mary Magdalene, the Holy Grail, the teachings of Saint Francis, Christmas legends and rituals, and much more.

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Among the various icons and images of saints there exist curious depictions of decapitated figures holding their own heads. These saints, known as cephalophores, were said to walk, speak, pray, and even preach for a period of time after they had been beheaded. Hear stories of Saint Denis, Saint Aphrodisius, Saint Lucian, Saint Valerie, Saint Minas, Saint Justus, Saint Felix, Saint Regula, Saint Nicasius, Saint Osyth, and Saint Edmund the Martyr.

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Saint Gemma Galgani’s life was filled with apparitions, locutions, levitations, stigmata, and other miracles. Saint Gemma endured physical attacks from demonic entities– often leaving her bruised and bloody–but she was also blessed with visitations from her Guardian Angel, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and even Jesus.

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Though he felt drawn to religious life, Francesco Possenti ignored the call for years, preferring fine clothes, dancing, and the company of women. After hearing the voice of the Blessed Virgin Mary, however, Francesco made his way to the Passionist order, where he received his religious habit and his new name, Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Though he died young, Gabriel was held as an example of piety to all those in his order. Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows' intercession is credited with many miraculous healings.

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An early Christian virgin martyr, Saint Agatha was tortured and tormented – but she answered these abuses with clever and righteous words which, it was said, tortured her captors hearts and minds more than the iron hooks, burning coals, and sharp blades from which Saint Agatha suffered.

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Welcome to The Flowered Path.

In the first episode, we will tell the story of Saint Leonard of Noblac. Saint Leonard lived in the 6th century AD and is responsible for many miracles, most notably freeing many prisoners who invoked his name and intercession. We’ll also hear the tale of Saint Leonard’s Forest in England where, legends say, the saint slayed a dragon.

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sources for this episode:

Brittanica.com

Butler's Lives of the Saints, Complete Edition

Catholic Online (Catholic.org)

Catholic Encyclopedia

Dragons and Serpents in Sussex (sussexarch.org.uk)

The Golden Legend

Theme music is Mariam Matrem Virginem, played by a forest beggar.

The closing song is Red Footsteps by Stone Breath. https://stonebreath.bandcamp.com