In 1536, Swithun Wells was born to a wealthy Catholic family in England who lived in the country. As the Protestant Reformation swept across England, his family arranged for secret funerals of Catholics, and they made their house a refuge for priests. After attending Protestant services in public for a year he returned to the Catholic Church in secret and helped his family in the protection of priests. After being arrested and released several times, in 1591 priest hunters found a secret Mass at his house. He was arrested, tried, and convicted to death by being hung, drawn, and quartered.
CHALLENGE
It’s easy to forget that there have been times and places where being a Catholic priest—or helping them—is dangerous but important work. St. Swithun Wells and his family understood the importance of priests and did all they could to protect them and give them a place to stay. Today, invite a priest out to dinner, or better yet, invite one into your home for a meal.
In France in 1572, Jane Frances Frémyot was born to the president of the local parliament. Her mother died when Jane was only 18 months old, and her devout father ensured Jane was well-raised and educated. When she was 21 he arranged for her to be married to the Baron de Chantal, a son of one of his friends. Jane had four children before the Baron was killed in a hunting accident, and widowed at 28, she moved in with her father-in-law to secure her children’s inheritance. Under the spiritual direction of St. Francis de Sales she founded the Congregation of the Visitation, an order for women whose health or age prevented them from joining other orders. Jane was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and grew her order to 86 houses before her death at age 69.
CHALLENGE
St. Jane de Chantal faced many adversities in her life, but she found ways to turn adversity into fruits for God. Adversity comes in many forms. What matters isn’t the adversity you face, but how you face it. What adversity is a part of your life? Bring it to your spiritual director, and figure out how you can turn your adversity into fruits for God.
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