St. Germaine Cousin was born in Pibrac, France, into harsh circumstances and physical frailty. She lost her mother as a baby and her father remarried. She was abused by her stepmother and neglected by her father, forced to sleep in a stable and survive on scraps. Despite harsh treatment, she lived a life of deep faith, attending daily Mass and tending sheep, which miraculously remained safe and obedient. Villagers witnessed many wonders, including the parting of a flooding stream and flowers falling from her apron when accused of stealing bread. She died alone and unnoticed, but her incorrupt body was discovered 43 years later. St. Germain Cousin Time Period: 1579-1601 Feast Day: June 15 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Incorrupt Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Germaine Cousin was born into poor circumstances in Pibrac, near Toulouse, France. Shortly after her birth, she unfortunately lost her devoted mother. Her weak constitution, her withered right hand, and her scrofulous neck with its discharging sores made her an object of revulsion to her stepmother, who constantly persecuted her. It is recorded that her father also had little affection for her and he permitted her to be ejected from the house when the other children were born. Germaine was forced to sleep in the stable upon a heap of twigs beneath a stair, was begrudgingly fed on scraps, was denied the companionship of other children, and was required to shepherd the flocks at a young age. The little shepherdess’s virtues and sanctity did not go unnoticed by the villagers, for many of them witnessed unusual occurrences, which they considered to be miraculous. We are told that it was necessary for her to cross a stream that was often swollen by rain to reach the village church for her daily attendance at Mass. On one occasion, when the current was particularly strong, the villagers were astonished to see the rushing water separate to provide a dry passageway for her. The sheep, which she often took with her to church, never strayed from her staff that she stuck in the ground, and it is known that not once were they threatened by the wolves that inhabited the neighboring forest. The most celebrated incident involving Germaine, occurred one winter day when her stepmother was pursuing her with a stick, loudly accusing her of stealing bread to give to the poor. Upon being told to open her folded apron, there fell out only fragrant flowers of a variety unknown to the region. The witnesses of this even, Pierre Pailles and Jeanne Salaires, gave sworn testimony concerning this miracle, which is reminiscent of a similar marvel recorded of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. One night, Germaine died unattended on her pallet of straw, where her father found her sickly body the next morning. We are told that during the night two monks traveling from Toulouse were sleeping in the ruins of a nearby castle when they were awakened by angelic melodies. They saw a great beam of light rising from a distant building and extending into the sky. Heavenly figures were seen descending into the building and later ascending with another figure. Upon reaching Pibrac the next morning, they inquired if anyone had died during the night and were told of the death of the little shepherdess. 43 years after her death, Germaine’s body was discovered to be perfectly conserved and incorruptible. She is among the few saints who can be declared “incorruptible.” This little saint, so abused, neglected, and mistreated during her lifetime, has been greatly loved and venerated throughout the world, but especially in Pibrac where on her feast day, June 15, huge pilgrimages wend their way to the basilica where special ceremonies are observed in her honor. Next Item Previous Item

St. Catherine Labouré, born in France in 1806, was deeply devout from a young age. After her mother’s death, she felt a special connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom she regarded as her spiritual mother. She entered the Daughters of Charity in 1830 and experienced visions of the Virgin Mary. In one vision, Mary gave her a mission to create the Miraculous Medal, promising great graces to those who wear it. The medals spread quickly. Catherine spent 40 years caring for the sick and elderly. She died in 1876, and her body was found incorrupt. Her feast day is November 28. St. Catherine Labouré Time Period: 1806-1876 Feast Day: November 28 Title/Attributes: Daughter of Charity of SVDP, Marian Saint Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Catherine Labouré was born in France on May 2, 1806 as the ninth of 11 children to Pierre and Madeleine Labouré. In 1815, Catherine's mother passed away, leaving her 9-year-old daughter with the responsibility of caring for the household. After her mother's funeral, Catherine returned home and picked up a statue of the Blessed Virgin. Holding it close, she said, "Now you will be my mother." Growing up, Catherine was known for being a quiet and practical child, though she was extremely devout. A couple of years after her mother's death, Catherine experienced a dream of an old priest motioning her to a room of sick people. "It is a good deed to look after the sick. God has designs on you. Do not forget it." Years later, during a visit to the Daughters of Charity hospital, Catherine saw a picture of the old priest on the wall. She discovered it was of their founder, St. Vincent de Paul. Catherine immediately knew she would become a member of St. Vincent's order. In January 1830, Catherine Labouré entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity. Months later, on July 19, 1830, Catherine woke from her sleep after hearing a child's voice calling her to the chapel as the Blessed Virgin Mary was waiting for her. As Catherine approached the chapel, the door swung open revealing a brilliant light. The Blessed Virgin told Catherine she would be given a mission with all the graces necessary to complete it. Our Lady said, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world." In November 1830, the Blessed Mother visited Catherine a second time during evening meditations. She showed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe with rays of light coming from her hands toward the globe. Around the frame were the words, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." Mary asked Catherine to take these images to her father confessor, Father Jean Marie Aladel, telling him they should be placed on medallions. "All who wear them will receive great graces." At first, the priest did not believe Catherine, but after two years, he brought her story to the Archbishop. The Archbishop ordered 2,000 medals struck. The medals were dispersed so rapidly and effectively it was said to be miraculous. Catherine Labouré spent the next 40 years of her life caring for the elderly, sick and disabled. On December 31, 1876, Catherine passed away at 70-years-old. Her body was encased in glass beneath the side altar in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris. Her body was discovered to be incorrupt after being exhumed in 1933. She was beatified by Pope Pius XI on May 28, 1933 and canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 27, 1947. St. Catherine Labouré is often shown with the Daughters of Charity habit and the Miraculous Medal. St. Catherine Labouré is the patron saint of the elderly, infirmed people and the Miraculous Medal. Her feast day is celebrated on November 28. Next Item Previous Item

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, born in 1922 in Magenta, Italy, was a devoted physician, wife, and mother known for her deep faith and sacrificial love. A pediatrician who served the poor and vulnerable, she married Pietro Molla in 1955 and had three children. During her fourth pregnancy, doctors discovered a tumor on her uterus. Refusing treatments that would end her pregnancy, she chose to preserve her baby's life at the cost of her own. She gave birth on April 21, 1962, and died a week later. Canonized in 2004, St. Gianna is remembered as a model of heroic love and motherhood. St. Gianna Beretta Molla Time Period: 1922-1962 Feast Day: April 28 Title/Attributes: Wife, Mother, Physician Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Clothing “This time it will be a difficult delivery, and they may have to save one or the other – I want them to save my baby.” St. Gianna Berretta Molla spoke these words to her family during her fourth pregnancy. After discovering a fibroma on her uterus, Gianna decided to forgo the necessary treatment which would have secured her own health in order to give her unborn child a chance to live. Born the tenth of thirteen children in Magenta, Italy in 1922, Gianna grew up as an active member of St. Vincent de Paul Society. She also loved mountain climbing and skiing. After earning two degrees in medicine and surgery, she opened a medical clinic near her hometown in 1950. She specialized in pediatrics at the University of Milan and loved serving mothers, babies, the elderly, and the poor. She met her husband Pietro during this time, and they married in 1955. Gianna and Pietro had a beautiful marriage and family. Both Gianna and Pietro were deeply rooted in their love of Christ and that love overflowed into their marriage, their family, their jobs, and their community. Gianna and Pietro often exchanged letters while they were separated because of work trips. Their holy marriage was a model of Christ’s love for the Church. In the second month of her fourth pregnancy, the doctors found a tumor on Gianna’s uterus. They gave her the legal option to abort her baby in order to perform a hysterectomy to save her life, but she refused. On April 21, 1962, Gianna gave birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, via cesarean section. Although the doctors were unable to remove her tumor, she had complications after birth and suffered severe pain. Despite all efforts to save Gianna and her baby, on the morning on April 28, 1962, just seven days after giving birth, Gianna died of at age thirty-nine. In the last moments of tremendous agony, she kept repeating, “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you.” A brief thirty-two years later, Pope John Paul II beatified Gianna in 1994 and officially canonized her a Saint in 2004. Both Gianna’s husband, Pietro and daughter, Gianna Emanuela, attended her canonization ceremony, marking the first time a husband witnessed his wife’s canonization. “We cannot love without suffering and we cannot suffer without love.” Pingel, Jana Zuniga. Humans of Heaven . January Jane Shop, 2023. Hardback , 167 pp. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Katharine Drexel, a beacon of social justice and religious devotion, was born in Philadelphia, PA, into a wealthy family in 1858. Despite her privileged upbringing, she was deeply moved by the plight of Native Americans and African Americans. Katharine dedicated her life to uplifting the marginalized, using her fortune to establish schools and missions across the United States. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious order committed to promoting racial harmony and educational opportunities for minority communities. Her tireless advocacy and commitment to equality earned her recognition as a saint, leaving an indelible legacy of compassion and inclusivity for future generations. Her feast day is March 3rd. St. Katharine Drexel Time Period: 1858-1955 Feast Day: March 3 Title/Attributes: Foundress Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Piece of Clothing Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on November 26, 1858, Katharine Drexel was the second daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel and Hannah Langstroth Drexel. Her father was a famous banker and philanthropist. Both parents instilled in their daughters the idea that wealth was lent to them and should therefore be shared with others. During a family trip to the western United States, Katharine, as a young woman, noticed the abject and degrading state of the Native Americans. It was this experience that awakened a desire to do something specific to alleviate their plight. This marked the beginning of a lifelong personal and financial commitment to supporting numerous missions and missionaries in the United States. The first school she founded was St. Catherine's, in Santa Fe, New Mexico (1887) for the Indians. Later, during an audience in Rome with Pope Leo XIII, when Katharine was asking for missionaries for some Indian missions she was funding, to her surprise the Pope suggested that she become a missionary herself. After consulting with her spiritual director, Bishop James O'Connor, she made the decision to give herself and her inheritance totally to God through a commitment to service to Indians and African Americans. Her wealth now became the poverty of spirit that was for her a reality lived constantly in a life in which there was the bare minimum for her sustenance. On February 12, 1891, she made her first religious profession, founding the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, whose purpose was to spread the evangelical message and the Eucharistic life among the Indians and African-Americans. A woman of intense prayer, Katharine always found in the Eucharist the source of her love for the poor and oppressed and her anxiety to combat the effects of racism. Aware that many African-Americans were far from free, still living in substandard conditions, either as sharecroppers or as insufficiently paid domestic servants; aware also that they were denied both the education and the constitutional rights that others enjoyed; moved by a deep compassion, she felt the urgency and the need to do her utmost to change the mentality and racial attitudes in the United States. Plantations were a dead-end social institution at the time, and African Americans continued to be oppressed. This was a deep pain to Katharine's sense of justice. The need to provide black people with a quality education was becoming increasingly important to her, and she discussed this pressing need with others who shared her concern about the inequality that existed for African Americans: in the cities, they were unable to receive a good education, while in the rural South, there were even legal restrictions that prevented them from obtaining a basic education. Establishing schools and creating good teaching staff for all, Indians and African-Americans, throughout the United States thus became a top priority for Katharine and her congregation. During her lifetime she opened, staffed, and directly financed about 60 schools and missions, mostly in the western and southwestern United States. The pinnacle of her educational efforts was the establishment in 1925 of Xavier University in Louisiana, the only institution of higher learning in the United States primarily for black Catholics. Religious education, social service, and visits to families, hospitals, and prisons were part of the ministry of Katharine and her sisters. In a very calm and serene manner, Katharine harmonized prayer and total dependence on Divine Providence with a very marked activity. Her joyful incisiveness in tune with the Holy Spirit, overcame barriers and facilitated her progress on the paths of social justice. Through the prophetic witness of Katharine Drexel, the Church in the United States gradually became aware of the grave need for a direct apostolate in favor of the Indians and African-Americans. She never hesitated to raise her voice against injustice and took a clear public position whenever there was evidence of racial discrimination. During the last 18 years of her life, Katharine Drexel was reduced by a serious illness to a state of almost complete immobility. During this time she gave herself entirely to a life of adoration and contemplation as she had desired from her early years. She died on March 3, 1955. https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/katharine-drexel.html Next Item Previous Item

St. Lucianus of Beauvais was a Bishop and a martyr in the early church. He was arrested by Roman Authorities along with his companions, Julian and Messianus. Under the order of Emperor Maximian, they were martyred in Gaul (modern Beauvais, France). During his reign, Emperor Maximian (r. 286-305) was a key figure in the Diocletian Persecution, the last and most severe persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire. Along with Emperor Diocletian, Emperor Maximian issued edicts that targeted Christians and resulted in thousands of martyrs in the early church. St. Lucianus of Beauvais Time Period: d.c. 290 Feast Day: January 8 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Martyr Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Lucianus of Beauvais was a Bishop and a martyr in the early church. He was arrested by Roman Authorities along with his companions, Julian and Messianus. Under the order of Emperor Maximian, they were martyred in Gaul (modern Beauvais, France). During his reign, Emperor Maximian (r. 286-305) was a key figure in the Diocletian Persecution, the last and most severe persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire. Along with Emperor Diocletian, Emperor Maximian issued edicts that targeted Christians and resulted in thousands of martyrs in the early church. Next Item Previous Item

St. Agnes of Rome, a 13-year-old Christian martyr, was renowned for her beauty and wealth. Many noblemen sought her hand, but she vowed herself to Christ. Enraged suitors reported her faith to the governor, who tried threats and torture to make her renounce Christianity. She remained steadfast, even when sent to a brothel, where divine intervention protected her purity. Ultimately, she was sentenced to beheading. Agnes joyfully accepted her fate, seeing it as a union with Christ. She was executed, and her body was buried near Rome. Her bravery and faith have been honored by the Church ever since. St. Agnes Time Period: 291-304 Feast Day: January 21 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Martyr Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Agnes is also referred to as Agnes of Rome. She is a virgin and martyr and held in esteem by the Church since her death. She was only 13 years old when she was martyred for being a Christian and upholding her purity. Agnes' riches and beauty excited the young noblemen of the first families of Rome, to view with one another in their addresses, who should gain her in marriage. Agnes answered them all, that she had consecrated her virginity to a heavenly spouse, who could not be beheld by mortal eyes. Her suitors finding her resolution impregnable to all their arts and importunities, accused her to the governor as a Christian; not doubting but threats and torments would overcome her tender mind, on which allurements could make no impression. The judge at first employed the mildest expressions and most inviting promises; to which Agnes paid no regard, repeating always, that she could have no other spouse than Jesus Christ. He then made use of threats, but found her soul endowed with a masculine courage, and even desirous of racks and death. At last, terrible fires were made, and iron hooks, racks, and other instruments of torture displayed before her, which threats of immediate execution. The young virgin surveyed them all with an undaunted eye; and with a cheerful countenance beheld the fierce and cruel executioners surrounding her, and ready to dispatch her at the word of command. She was so far from betraying the least symptom of fear, that she even expressed her joy at the sight, and offered herself to the rack. She was then dragged before the idols, and commanded to offer incense: but could by no means be compelled to move her hand, except to make the sign of the cross, says St. Ambrose. The governor seeing his measures ineffectual, said he would sender her to a house of prostitution, where what she prized so highly should be exposed to the insults of the debauchees. Agnes answered that Jesus Christ was too jealous of the purity of his spouses, to suffer it to be violated in such a manner, for he was their defender and protector. "You may," said she, "stain your sword with my blood, but will never be able to profane my body, consecrated to Christ." The governor was so incensed at this, that he ordered her to be immediately led to the public brothel, with liberty to all persons to abuse her person at pleasure. Many young profligates ran thither, full of the wicked desire of gratifying their lust; but were seized with such awe at the sight of the saint, that they durst not approach her; one only expected, who, attempting to be rude to her, was that very instant, by a flash, as it were, of lightening from heaven, struck blind, and fell trembling to the ground. His companions, terrified, took him up, and carried him to Agnes, who was at a distance, signing hymns of praise to Christ, her protector. The virgin by prayer restored him to his sight and health. The chief prosecutor of the saint, who at first sought to gratify his lust and avarice, now labored to satiate his revenge, by incensing the judge against her; his passionate fondness being changed into anger and rage. The governor wanted not others to spur him on; for he was highly exasperated to see himself baffled and set at defiance by one of her tender age and sex. Therefore, resolved upon her death, he condemned her to be beheaded. Agnes, transported with joy on hearing this sentence, and still more at the sight of the executioner, "went to the place of the execution more cheerfully," says St. Ambrose, "than others go to their wedding." The executioner had secret instructions to use all means to induce her to a compliance: but Agnes always answered she could never offer so great an injury to her heavenly spouse; and having made a short prayer, bowed down her neck to adore God, and receive the stroke of death. The spectators wept to see so beautiful and tender a virgin loaded with fetters, and to behold her fearless under the very sword of the executioner, who with a trembling hand cut off her had at one stroke. Her body was buried at a small distance from Rome, near the Nomentan road. Saint names in Eucharistic Prayer I. The first list begins with Mary and Joseph and then the blessed Apostles and Martyrs, including Peter, Paul, Andrew (Peter's brother), James (James the Greater: the brother of John), John, Thomas, James (James the Lesser: the son of Alpheus), Matthew, Bartholomew, Simon (Simon the Zealot), and Jude (also called Thaddeus). The First List of Saint Names Continuing this first list of saints in Eucharistic Prayer I, as Charles Belmonte notes, Five popes head the list: St. Peter's first three successors, Linus, Cletus, Clement; then two popes of the third century, Sixtus II and Cornelius; Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, the intrepid defender of Catholic unity; the deacon Lawrence, who when his persecutor demanded from him the treasures of the Church, showed him hundreds of poor people; Chrysogonus, a Roman priest who carried out the holy work of comforting the Christians who were in prison; two brothers, John and Paul, both officers of the [Roman] imperial palace, who were put to death under [the emperor] Julian the Apostate; and lastly, Cosmas and Damian, two Oriental physicians who gave their aid freely, and at whose graves there occurred yet more cures than they had effected in their lives (Understanding the Mass, p. 158). The Second List of Saint Names As for the second list of saints in Eucharistic Prayer I, we ask for some share in the fellowship of several saints who were martyrs. Belmonte continues, It mentions, in the first place, John (here obviously St. John the Baptist), and then seven men, followed by seven women, all martyrs. Stephen is the first deacon, whose glorious martyrdom is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles (6:8-7:60). Two apostles come next: Matthias, elected to take the place of Judas (Acts 1:15-16) and probably left out of the first list so as not to exceed the number of twelve, and Barnabas, St. Paul's companion in his first missionary journey. Ignatius is the famous bishop of Antioch, sentenced to be fed to the wild beasts in Rome under [emperor] Trajano. Besides their names and the place of their martyrdom, little else is known of Alexander, the priest Marcellinus, and the exorcist Peter, who were all put to death in the great persecution of [emperor] Diocletian. The list continues with the names of the two young girls, Felicity and Perpetua (their names form the expression everlasting happiness), who confessed their faith at Carthage [in North Africa]; and of Agatha and Lucy in Sicily. It concludes with the names of two young martyrs beloved by the Romans, Agnes and Cecelia ; and of Anastasia, martyred at Sirmium and later honored in Rome (Understanding the Mass, pp. 159-160). All these saints are important because they were among the many early witnesses to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. These are our spiritual fathers, our older brothers and sisters in Christ, who showed us that our faith was worth living and dying for. They showed us that, strengthened by the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, they could overcome any persecutions and sufferings, even to the point of being killed. These saints give us great hope, and their prayers for us give us confidence that we, too, can live out the faith as they did, that we can live our life in Christ every day and look forward to the glory of heaven! https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/post/do-this-in-remembrance-of-me-part-55-saint-names-epi Next Item Previous Item

“My Lord and my God.” Those five words together form one of the clearest declarations in scripture of the divinity of Jesus Christ, resurrected and standing in front of Saint Thomas. Thomas was one of the closest followers of Jesus and is most famous for being “doubting Thomas” – the result of an untimely absence on the first Easter Sunday that caused him to be skeptical upon hearing of the resurrection of Jesus. But while he may have a rough reputation for requesting physical proof of Jesus returning, he should be equally known for his courage as a follower of Christ. St. Thomas the Apostle Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: July 3 Title/Attributes: Apostle, Martyr Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones “My Lord and my God.” Those five words together form one of the clearest declarations in scripture of the divinity of Jesus Christ, resurrected and standing in front of one incredulous apostle – Saint Thomas. Thomas was one of the closest followers of Jesus during His time on Earth and is most famous for being “doubting Thomas” – the result of an untimely absence on the first Easter Sunday that caused him to be skeptical upon hearing of the supposed resurrection of Jesus. But while he may have a rough reputation for requesting physical proof of Jesus returning, he should be equally known for his courage as a follower of Christ. Little is known about Saint Thomas. He is mentioned in every gospel, as well as Acts of the Apostles, but he only speaks in the Gospel of John. His exact birthday and date of death are unknown, but most historians agree he was most likely born to a Jewish family in Galilee. There’s no indication he was a fisherman, although he is among the apostles fishing in John 21 when Jesus appears on the shore prior to a miraculous catch. We don’t know how Thomas became a follower of Jesus, but from the very first time in the Gospel of John that he speaks, it’s clear that he is a dedicated, passionate follower of Chr In John 11, Jesus announces His intention of returning to the town of Judea to visit his friend Lazarus, who He and the apostles had recently been told was sick. The majority of the apostles were less then enthused at the prospect of this trip (“…the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”) but Jesus was undeterred. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up,” Jesus said. Displaying their trademark lack of understanding that the apostles often had when Jesus spoke with a deeper meaning, they replied, ““Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” These moments occur frequently throughout the gospels and while Jesus was fully divine, he was also fully man, and quite capable of growing frustrated at their moments of dragging their feet. “Lazarus is dead,” Jesus spoke plainly in John 11:14, “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Placing yourself in the shoes of the apostles, it is not hard to understand their hesitancy. Jesus had ruffled feathers in Jerusalem when he had been pressed to tell plainly of His divinity, but instead chose to respond, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.” Narrowly escaping a stoning, the apostles were likely still trying to grasp the words of Jesus about The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (John 10) and “the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38). But ringing clear through any grumbling or dissent was Thomas, showing a rare glimpse of courage not often displayed by the apostles prior to Pentecost. “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” The second instance of Thomas speaking in the Bible shows him to be an inquisitive follower of Christ, sharing his desire to know the way to following Him more ardently. Through his question, we ultimately hear one of the most profound truths of the ministry of Jesus in response. As Jesus is seated with His disciples around the table of the Last Supper, he speaks to them in hopes of comforting them. He had just predicted His betrayal, as well as Peter’s denial of Him, and tensions were likely running high. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas, taking the concept of the travel and direction of Jesus to remain earthbound, replied, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” The answer by Jesus is one we have heard countless times and likely was imprinted onto Thomas’ heart: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Lastly, we reach the upper room, where behind locked doors, the disciples, unsure of what to do next, remained in fear of the Jewish leaders. Mary Magdalene had recently told them the heart-stopping news that she had seen Jesus, raised from the dead, but they were still in awe when he suddenly appeared among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to the overjoyed apostles – but Thomas was not with them. The cause of Thomas’ absence is unknown, but when he returned and heard that the Lord had just been standing in that very room, back from death itself, he insisted on physical proof. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” It can be argued that the actions of Thomas in this moment weren’t even those of true “doubt.” Jesus – the man whom he fervently wished to follow, even unto the point of death – had died on the cross. Thomas had given Jesus his heart and his hope, so when Jesus entered the grave, Thomas didn’t doubt in the sense of simply wavering or hesitating: he did not believe at all. He refused to acknowledge the possibility of the risen Lord, refused to offer his heart to be crushed again, until he was close enough to put his fingers in Jesus’ wounds. What did Jesus do? He didn’t reappear with a thunderous rumble to rebuke Thomas for his disbelief. He didn’t leave him hanging and return back to His heavenly kingdom. Instead, one week later, he returned again to the apostles with the same greeting – “Peace be with you!” Then, speaking directly to Thomas, Jesus said, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Incredulously, Thomas felt the fatal wounds that had taken the Lord away from him, only to see Him now mere inches away. Falling at the feet of Jesus he exclaimed, “My Lord, and my God!” This profound realization of truth ultimately led Thomas to be the first person to explicitly acknowledge the divinity of Jesus. Following his encounter with the resurrected Lord, we lose track of a clear path of Thomas. We know he embarked on a missionary journey somewhere in the world, but most accounts are unreliable. According to many Christian traditions, Thomas traveled over to India, where he established numerous churches and preached the gospel all along the Malabar coast. Thomas is recognized as the founder of the Church of the Syrian Malabar Christians (also known as Christians of St. Thomas), of which there are more than 3,000 parishes around the world. According to Syrian Christian tradition, Thomas was martyred at Madras, a city in India now known as Chennai. Exact details are scarce, but most historians tell of Thomas coming into conflict with the king of Mylapore or the Hindu priests of Kali and Thomas eventually being killed by a spear. The spear wounds of Jesus were the evidence Thomas needed to truly believe, but it was his own spear wounds that would become the ultimate evidence of his own faith. Today, Saint Thomas is known as the patron of architects, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and theologians. The name “Thomas” remains popular among the Syrian Christians of India, and there are roughly 5 million Catholics belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church. Saint Thomas stands out among the apostles for his prominent questioning of what we all were taught to believe without question – that Jesus Christ died and rose again. But amidst what must have truly been a terrifying time for the apostles, having just seen their leader brutally murdered upon a cross, it’s perfectly understandable for Thomas to desire proof. Ultimately, he represents what we all desire; to have our love and faith of Jesus surpass all doubts and skepticism that can be heaped upon our Catholic beliefs. Jesus did not pick worthless men to be His disciples. Their hesitancy to follow Him to Judea, their lack of understanding in His deeper meanings and their abandonment upon Golgotha doesn’t point towards foolish followers – it proves that their human weakness did not disqualify them from holiness or sainthood, and neither does ours. Next Item Previous Item

Explore food, counseling, grief, marriage, and community support programs at St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, TX. Help and resources for all ages. I Need Help “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is proud to be a beacon of light in our community. Below are the various Assistance Ministries, Support Groups, Community Resources and other ministries to help you. Contact Us I Want to Volunteer Food Pantry St. Anthony’s Bread is the food pantry that serves thousands of families every month, we are proud to help support our community by providing nutritious meals to those in need. At your first visit our volunteers will ask you provide a valid identification or a utility/service bill containing your name and address. If the address falls in one of our zip codes , you will fill out a short registration form. More Information St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent De Paul helps tackle poverty and disadvantage by providing short-term assistance to those in crisis in the form of rent assistance, utility bills, or other emergency funding. For those needing assistance: Please call 281-466-1920 and leave a detailed message with your name and return phone number, and one of our members will contact you. More Information Community Resources If you’re in need of financial aid, legal assistance, employment help or another tough time, there are a wide variety of community resources available to help. We’ve compiled a PDF of some of the most useful resources and contacts in the area that can help in a time of need, available in both English and Spanish. More Information Al-Anon All family members or friends who have been, or are being affected by someone else’s alcoholism or addiction are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions about this meeting, or problems that you or your family may be experiencing due to alcoholism or addiction, you can contact us. All inquiries and attendance are strictly confidential. Contact Us Annulments The ending of a marriage is a difficult experience, and divorce is one of life’s tragedies. Many marriages end in divorce in spite of good intentions and the establishment of a family. We are sensitive to the pain and stress that a failed marital relationship brings to those involved. We are here to assist those who want to know more and those who want to file a petition for an annulment. Request Form Beside Prayers for the Dying Do you have a loved one who is dying and in need of prayer? Our prayer team is available to visit and pray at the bedside. A Mass will be offered and the individual will be included in parish prayer intentions. To request a visit, please call 832-482-4116. This is NOT Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites. Call the Parish at 281-419-8700 for EMERGENCY need of anointing and leave a message on our Priest Emergency line. Contact Us Beyond the Shadows A 16-week structured group program integrating Catholic/Christian anthropology with psychology. Through community support, educational resources, and guided materials, participants move from secrecy to clarity and integration while pursuing healing, accountability, and spiritual growth in sexual integrity. More Information Caregiver Support As a caregiver, you likely have many responsibilities. It is important to take care of your own well-being and to connect with others that understand. Our caregivers group does this, plus offers the support of other caregivers sharing their experiences to help each other on this journey with a loved one. More Information Catholic Charities For 80 years, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has provided food, clothing, shelter and a network of support services to people of all ages and religious backgrounds. We also promote social justice, serving as a voice for the poor and vulnerable. We provide services to more than 85,000 people annually in the Greater Houston region as they create better lives. More Information Couple Check-Up An online assessment designed to identify the unique relationship strengths and growth areas of dating, engaged, or married couples. Couples receive a report with Discussion Guide, designed to help them learn proven relationship skills. Research shows this process improves relationships by stimulating dialogue, increasing understanding, and empowering couples. More Information Funerals Funeral Planning assists with the planning of the Funeral Mass following the death of a loved one. Funeral planning can be done at any time. Please contact us for an appointment if you are interested in pre-planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one. More Information Gratia Plena Counseling Gratia Plena (“full of grace” in latin) is a non- profit organization, which offers mental health, couples/marriage, and addiction counseling in service to the Catholic Community. Our mission is to provide counseling services and spiritual direction that is faithful to the teachings, values, and traditions of the Catholic Church. More Information Grief Support HOPE (Helping Our Pain Ease) is a 7-week adult informative grief support group offered four times a year. It is a program to assist you with the healing process after the death of a loved one. Contact Us Help Our Marriage Retrouvaille is a volunteer, peer ministry endorsed by the Archdiocese that has helped thousands of couples rebuild the loving relationships they once had. Whether your marriage needs a refresh or a rescue, Retrouvaille can help you. More Information Nar-Anon en Español Los Grupos de Familia Nar-Anon son una confraternidad mundial para aquellos afectados por la adicción de otra persona. Este grupo es para aquellos que saben o han conocido un sentimiento de desesperación por el problema de adicción de alguien muy cercano a ti. No tiene costo unirse. No hay registro, cualquiera puede presentarse. Contact Us Red Bird Ministries Red Bird Ministries is a Catholic, pro-life/pro-family grief support ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced child loss of any age and circumstance, including pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, adolescent, or adult. More Information Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction is an ancient tradition of mentorship and discipleship in the Christian faith. Spiritual Directors will help you recognize how the Holy Spirit is working in your life and help you deepen your relationship with God. They will help you develop an active prayer life, guiding you in a deeper spirituality. Contact Us Walking With Moms in Need Walking with Moms in Need is a nationwide, parish-based initiative to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need. More Information

St. Brigid of Sweden was a princess, foundress, wife, and mother of eight, including St. Catherine of Sweden. Widowed in 1344, she devoted her life to prayer, service, and visions that inspired her to found the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Brigittines) in Wadstena. She became known across Europe for her mystical revelations, especially on Christ’s Passion. Despite political tensions, she worked tirelessly for Church reform. She died in 1373 in Rome. Her "Revelationes coelestes" reflect her deep spirituality. Named co-patroness of Europe, she remains a powerful model of holiness and courage in faith. St. Bridget of Sweden Time Period: 1303-1373 Feast Day: July 23 Title/Attributes: Widow, Mother, Princess, Foundress Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Brigid of Sweden was a wife, foundress, and princess! She was also called Bridget, Birgitta, or Brigitta. She was born in 1303, the daughter of Birger Persson, the governor of Uppland, Sweden, and his second wife, Ingelbard Bengsdotter. Her mother died when Brigid was twelve, and the child was raised by an aunt at Aspenas. She was married at the age of fourteen to Ulf Gudmarsson, a Swedish Prince. They had eight children, one of whom was St. Catherine of Sweden, and they lived happily together for twenty-eight years. In 1335, Brigid became a lady-in-waiting to Blanche of Namur, queen of France, the bride of King Magnus II (r. Norway 1319-1355 and Sweden 1319-1365). In 1340, after the death of her youngest son, Brigid made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Olaf in Norway and then went to Compostela in Spain with her husband. He became ill on the journey but recovered, as St. Denis had assured her in a vision. Ulf died in 1344 at the Cistercian monastery at Alvostra, and Brigid remained there for four years and devoted her life to prayer and caring for the sick. During this time she received many spiritual graces in visions and revelations and developed the idea of establishing a religious community. In founding the monastery of Wadstena, Sweden, and the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, the Brigittines, Brigid established the intellectual center of the nation in that era. In 1349, Brigid left Sweden, having refused to support King Magnus’ crusade against Latvia and Estonia. She went to Rome, where she became well-known for her prophecies and revelations. Blessed Pope Urban V approved the constitutions of the Brigittines in 1370. Brigid was unsuccessful, however, in persuading Urban or his successor, Gregory XI, to leave Avignon, France. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, her son Charles became ill with a fever and died. Brigid continued the pilgrimage and returned to Rome in 1372, where she died on July 23. Her remains were later brought back to Wadstena by her daughter, St. Catherine of Sweden. Brigid was a mystic who received vivid revelations, particularly about the Passion of Christ and the Nativity. These visions were compiled in the Revelationes coelestes ("Celestial Revelations"), translated into Latin by Matthias, canon of Linköping, and her confessor. St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Spes Aedificandi, affirmed Brigid’s spiritual legacy: “Yet there is no doubt that the Church, which recognized Brigid’s holiness without ever pronouncing on her individual revelations, has accepted the overall authenticity of her interior experience.” St. Brigid of Sweden is honored as one of the six patron saints of Europe, along with St. Benedict of Nursia, St. Cyril, St. Methodius, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Edith Stein. Next Item Previous Item

St. Louis de Montfort (1673–1716) was a French priest, missionary, and founder of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom. Known as one of the Church’s greatest Mariologists, he promoted deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ordained in 1700, he later became an Apostolic Missionary by appointment of Pope Clement XI. His most influential work, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, teaches total consecration to Jesus through Mary. He famously wrote, “Mary is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus.” His Marian spirituality influenced generations, including Pope John Paul II, whose motto was “Totus Tuus Maria.” St. Louis de Montefort Time Period: 1673-1716 Feast Day: April 28 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Marian Saint Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Body St. Louis de Montfort was a confessor, founder of the Sisters of Divine Mercy, and one of the Church’s most prominent Mariologists (The study of the Blessed Virgin Mary). He was born in Montfort, France in 1673. Educated at Rennes, he was ordained a priest in 1700, becoming a chaplain in a hospital in Poitiers. His congregation, the Daughters of Divine Wisdom, started there. Louis went to Rome and Pope Clement XI appointed him as an Apostolic Missionary. At the young age of forty-three, Louis de Montfort fell ill and passed away. But his teachings and legacy changed the Church forever. Louis de Montfort is most famously remembered for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary. He wrote The True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin and encouraged people to consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary. According to Louis de Montfort, “Mary is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus.” The devotion to Mary spread throughout the church and for years to come. Over 300 years later, Pope John Paul II’s personal motto was “Totus Tuus Maria” which means “I’m totally yours, Mary”. Next Item Previous Item