Blessed José de Anchieta is known as the National Apostle of Brazil, and was co-founder of the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Son of a wealthy and prominent family, and possibly related to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, José de Anchieta was born in the Canary Islands, and was educated in Portugal. He joined the Jesuits in 1551 at age 17. José dislocated his spine while he was young, and so the Jesuits sent him on Mission to Brazil for its mild climate in the hope that his back would improve. It never did, and he was in constant pain for the 44 years he worked in the Americas.

José and another Jesuit priest, names Emanuel Nóbrega, arrived in region of Brazil that was known as Piratininga on the feast of Saint Paul - and so they named the mission Sao Paulo. In 1553 he first met the Tupi Indians who lived on the outskirts of the settlement. As he was adept at languages, José soon learned theirs. For two decades José worked on a dictionary used by Portuguese settlers and missionaries.

José was later held hostage for five months by the Tamoyo tribe during which time he occupied himself by composing a Latin poem in honour of the Blessed Virgin. Since he had no writing supplies, he wrote in wet sand and memorized the verses. When he again reached Sao Vicente he committed all 4,172 lines to paper.

José converted the Maramomis tribe, and composed plays for his students to perform, writing them in Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, and Tupi. Because his dramas were the first written in Brazil, José is known as the Father of Brazilian national literature.

Let us turn to Blessed Jose, one of the first missionaries to step foot in Brazil and bring the Catholic faith to Rio de Janeiro, that we may follow in his footsteps as modern day missionaries.

Prayer:

Like your example, may we multiply and be fruitful in missionary activity throughout our country. Amen

Teresa of the Andes, or Saint Teresa of Jesus "of the Andes", was born on 13th July 1900 in Santiago, Chile. She died at the age of 19 in her Carmelite monastery.

She was a Chilean nun of the Discalced Carmelite Order but was born 'Juanita Fernández del Solar' in Santiago, Chile into an upper class family. Early in her life she read the autobiography of the French Carmelite nun Thérèse of Lisieux, who was later to be canonized herself. The experience had a profound effect on Juanita's already pious character, coming to the realization she wanted to live for God alone. She had to work to overcome a very self-centred personality toward being one which cared for others above all. Her further inspiration for this self-transformation was her upcoming First Communion, which led her to this commitment in an effort to be worthy of what she was to receive.

At an early age, she fell head over heels in love with Jesus. At fourteen she gave herself to Him completely, promising Him that He would be her only Spouse. As she grew in love for Jesus she entered more deeply into the suffering of Christ.

In 1919, at the age of 19, Juanita entered the novitiate of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in the township of Los Andes, at which time she was given the name Teresa of Jesus. Toward the end of her short life, the new Sister Teresa began an apostolate of letter-writing, sharing her thoughts on the spiritual life with many people. Within a few months of her admission to the Order, however, she contracted typhus, which was diagnosed as fatal. She was three months away from her twentieth birthday, and had yet six months to complete her canonical novitiate, to make her religious vows; nevertheless she was allowed to profess vows in articulo mortis (danger of death). She thereby died as a professed nun of the Order on April 12, 1920, which fell during Holy Week that year.

Prayer:

May I find in my soul, with your intercession, the desire to worship and glorify Jesus without pause.

Pier Giorgio was not to a priest or religious brother. He never founded a religious order or started a new ecclesial movement. He did not lead an army, or stand in public office. He died before he could even complete his university degree. He never had a chance to begin a career; in fact, he hadn't even worked out for sure what his vocation in life would be. So what was so unique and special about Pier Giorgio?

He was simply a young man who loved his family and friends, he loved nature, outdoor sports and adventure, but more importantly, he was in love with God!

Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in Turin, Italy on Holy Saturday on 6th April 1901 to a Catholic Mother, and an agnostic Father. Even as a teenager, Pier Giorgio had a deep spiritual life – and he was not afraid of being ‘too un-cool’ to share his faith with his friends.

In 1918 he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to serving the sick and the needy. And in 1919, he joined the Catholic Student Federation and the Popular Party, a political organization which promoted the Church's teachings. He used to say "Charity is not enough: we need social reform” – and so he devoted his time and energy to both charity and activism, in order to make a difference. Pier Giorgio was strongly anti-fascist and did nothing to hide his political views.

Pier Giorgio also joined the Dominican Third Order, which consists of lay men and women, both single and married, devoted to living a Christian life with a Dominican spirituality.

In June 1925 Pier Giorgio was afflicted with a sudden illness and died only a few weeks later on the 4th of July 1925, at the age of 24. Then something amazing happened – thousands of poor and needy people, who knew Pier from his time volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul, lined the streets outside his house to pay their respects.

Prayer:

Lead me to make choices in life that give preference to serve and love God and my neighbors! Amen

Blessed Laura Vicuña was born on April 5, 1891 in Santiago, Chile. She was the first daughter of the Vicuña Pino family. Her parents were José Domingo Vicuña, a soldier with aristocratic roots, and Mercedes Pino.

At the end of the nineteenth century, civil war erupted in Chile. A key figure in one of the warring factions was related to José Domingo, Claudio Vicuña. Now Claudio did not achieve his goal of becoming president; and unfortunately his enemies began pursuing the whole Vicuña family, forcing them to flee their homeland.

In 1894, after the birth of a second daughter, Julia Amanda, José Domingo died, leaving his wife and daughters with no money and in real danger. Mercedes decided to travel to Argentina with her two girls, where she ended up living with an abusive man.

Even when Laura was very young, she understood her mother's problems, which included, as she saw it, Mercedes' distance from God. This motivated her to pray every day for her mother's salvation.

One day, remembering the phrase of Jesus: “There is no one greater than the one that gives his life for his brothers," Laura made a decision to give her life in exchange for her mother's salvation. As time passed she became seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis. Before she died, Laura told her mother: “Mama, I offer my life for you, I asked our lord for this. Before I die, Mother, would I have the joy of seeing you repent?”

Blessed Laura Vicuña is the patron of abuse victims.

Prayer:

Give me the grace and help to adhere to the sweet will of the Father with a pure heart. Amen.

Blessed Irmã Dulce Pontes – more commonly known as Sister Dulce - was a Brazilian Catholic Franciscan Sister who was the founder of the Charitable Works Foundation of Sister Dulce. She lived from 1914 to 1992, so she is a truly a modern day Saint! In fact, she was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, and was recently named the most admired woman in the history of Brazil, as well as the most influential religious person of the 20th century in Brazil. She was beatified on 22 May 2011, only 9 years after her death.

Sister Dulce went to extraordinary lengths to serve the poor people of Brazil. In 1939, determined to care for the sick people who came to her for help, Sister Dulce started to shelter them in abandoned houses in what was known as the ‘rats' island’ district of Brazil – sounds charming! Then, she would go in search of food and medicine. Later, when she and her patients were evicted from the neighborhood, she started housing them in an old fish market, which is probably a step up from rat’s island, but still pretty awful. Once again they were kicked out by City Hall.

With over 70 people in her care, Sister Dulce was desperate – and so she turned to the Mother Superior of her convent and asked if she could set up an improvised hostel in the chicken yard (of all places). Her Superior reluctantly, agreed, as long as Sister Dulce could take care of the chickens - which she did, by feeding them to her patients. By 1960, this chicken yard became the Santo Antônio Hospital. Through the efforts of Sister Dulce more than 3,000 people arrive every day to this same site to receive free medical treatment.

Sister Dulce started with nothing, and helped millions! We can’t all start hospitals, but you never know what good you can do by the smallest act of charity.

Prayer:

Intercede for us, oh "good angel of Brazil", so that we are able to joyfully share the gifts we have received with those in need who have been presented to us. Amen.

Frei Galvão is one of the best-known religious figures in Brazil, renowned throughout the country for his healing powers. He was born in São Paulo in 1739, and was the fourth of ten children in a deeply religious family of high status.

At age 13, Galvão was sent to the Jesuit-run seminary in Cachoeira, Bahia by his father. He aspired to become a Jesuit priest, but the anti-Jesuit persecution made him move to a Franciscan convent in Taubaté, following the advice of his father.

At age 21, on April 15, 1760, Galvão gave up a promising future and his family's influence on society, becoming a novice at the Saint Bonaventure Friary in Macacu, Rio de Janeiro. There, he adopted the religious name of Antonio of Saint Anne Galvão, in honor to his family's devotion to Saint Anne. Galvão made his solemn profession on April 16, 1761, taking the Franciscan vow to defend the Blessed Virgin Mary's title of "Immaculate", which was still a controversial doctrine at that time.

On July 11, 1762, Galvão was ordained a priest and transferred to Saint Francis Friary the city of São Paulo, where he continued his studies in theology and philosophy. From 1769 to 1770 he served as confessor to the "Recolhimento de Santa Teresa", a house of Recollect women devout to Saint Teresa in the city of São Paulo. There, he met Sister Helena Maria of the Holy Spirit, a penitent nun who claimed to have visions of Jesus. Galvão studied these messages and consulted with others who recognized them as valid and supernatural.

Galvão was a man of great and intense prayer, and certain mystic phenomena are attributed to him, such as telepathy, premonition and levitation. Cases of bilocation are also famous in his life; he was reported to be in two different places at the same time in order to take care of sick or dying people which asked for his help.

Prayer:

Pray that, with your example, I will be a promoter of peace and love in all the moments of my life. Amen.

Blessed Adilio was a Brazilian teenager who died as a martyr! He was born on 25th October 1908, and was the third child of a big family of 8 kids! He was passionate about spreading the Catholic faith – his young age could not stop him – and so as a teenager, Adilio started to accompany the famous missionary, Blessed Manuel Gómez González, on his long and tiring pastoral visits to the native Indians in the region.

During one of these missionary trips, on 21 May 1924 when Adilio was nearly 16 years old, he and Blessed Manuel were shot and killed by revolutionaries. Blessed Adilio Daronch was beatified as a martyr, along with Blessed Manuel Gómez González, by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

Adilio reminds us that we never know when and where we might be challenged to defend our faith. Sure we are not likely to be killed for being Catholic – although that does still happen in some parts of the world – but most of us are likely to be asked to defend particular teachings of the Church at some stage in our lives, or we might need to speak out against an injustice when we see it. This can be so hard at times, especially when the majority does not agree with you. But be adventurous, be rebelious against anti-Christian sentiments that you will be faced with at university, in the work place, what you see in the media! Adilio was only 15 – what an example for us all!

Prayer:

That with the example of your virtues, we may be recieved among the friends of Christ, in this life and the life that is to come! Amen.

Isabel Flores of Olive was born in Lima to a family that was deeply rooted in Christian values and education. Her family nicknamed her ‘Rose’ as she was such a beautiful baby. Growing up, Rose participated in the spiritual life of the Dominican community through their spiritual center at St. Dominic’s Cathedral. There she regularly received the Lord in the Eucharist, and learnt to pray. At the age of 20 she felt called to contemplative religious life, but to live this call within her family life.

Rose found a way to enter the Order of Preachers of St. Dominic’s. She built a small chapel in the yard of her father’s house, where she spent countless hours in prayer. From there, she served the poor and sick of Lima, who would come to her house looking for help.

Rose lived a profoundly spiritual life with a strong foundation in prayer and discipline. She becomes an advocate for, and symbol of, the value of prayer. Despite her personal perseverance in prayer for 15 years, Rose suffered a spiritual aridity that she overcame, and consequently strengthened her relationship with God. Other pillars of her spiritual life included the Eucharist, and her deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. She was a great proponent of praying the Rosary, saying that every Christian “should preach it to the world and have it engraved on their heart.”

St. Rose of Lima was not a nun; rather she was a lay tertiary, spending most of her life at her family home as she worked hard to help support the family. She was renowned for her incredible beauty, but was so devoted to her vow of chastity that she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she would not be attractive. St. Rose was a mystic and visionary, who received many mental and physical sufferings, including invisible stigmata.

Prayer:

Help me in my search of faithfulness to God's will for my life. Amen.

Frederick Ozanam famously said "Those who mock the poor insult their Maker". Frederick was born in 1813, and lived during a turbulent time in France, when unemployment and poverty was extreme! While in college studying law, Frederick realized that he although he was a good practicing Catholic, he was not doing enough to help those suffering around him. Ironically, this change in Frederick’s life came during a debate with an atheist, who asked him what he does other than ‘just talk’ to prove he has faith.

At the age of just 20, Frederick established the St Vincent de Paul Society – one of the biggest charities in the world today!

At this time, the people of France were experiencing tremendous political and social upheaval: changes of government, the Industrial Revolution and unjust employment practices. Frederick gathered some colleagues and began to respond in practical ways to the poverty and hardship he saw in the lives of people around him. They visited people in their homes and offered friendship and support. This practice, known today as ‘home visitation’, remains a core activity of St Vincent de Paul.

Frederick married a girl called Amelie in 1841, and they had one daughter – meanwhile, the St. Vincent de Paul Society was growing throughout Europe. The French revolution of 1848 left many Parisians in desperate need of the services of the St. Vincent de Paul, and so the movement developed into a global institution, bringing volunteers from all around Europe to assist the needy in Paris. After years of failing health, Frederick died on September 8, 1853. His example showed generations that we should never demean the poor - each man, woman and child was too precious for that.

This is how a small group of young people, under the leadership of a 20-year-old law student, started St. Vincent de Paul, and changed the world!

Prayer:

With your intercession, we may truly share favor with the most needy and give relief to those who suffer. Amen

John Paul II also called John Paul the Great, was born Karol Józef Wojtyla on the 18 May 1920, in Poland. He reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the second-longest serving Pope in history.

John Paul II was acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He was instrumental in ending communism in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. JPII significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion.

Though criticised by progressives for upholding the Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, and by traditionalists for his support of the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reform, he was also widely praised for his firm, orthodox Catholic stances.

He was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,340 people and canonised 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the preceding five centuries.

A key goal of his papacy was to transform and reposition the Catholic Church. His wish was "to place his Church at the heart of a new religious alliance that would bring together Jews, Muslims and Christians in a great religious armada". On the 19 December 2009, John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor Pope Benedict XVI and was beatified on the1st of May 2011.

During his pontificate, JPII made trips to 129 countries. He consistently attracted large crowds; some amongst the largest ever assembled inhuman history, such as the Manila World Youth Day, which gathered up to 4 million people, the largest Papal gathering ever, according to the Vatican.

Prayer:

Grant me, through your intercession, the grace to win the hearts of true friends like you were to young people! Amen.