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MINIATURE
STORIES

Of

SAINTS
BOOK ONE

I

BY REV DANIEL A. LORD. S. J.
(ft

NIHIL OBSTAT ARTHUR J. SCANLAN S.T.D. CENSOR LIBRORUM
IMPRIMATUR T FRANCIS J. SPELLMAN. D. D. ARCHBISHOP. NEW YORK

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oaint Aloysius

Gonzaga

Aloysius was the son of a very famous and

f noble family.

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They expected him to make a name for himaelf

in the world.

Instead, he promised God he would never marry.

He asked to love God and Our Lady alone.

When he was very young, he became a Jesuit.

From the very start, he was as holy as he could be.

He kept his soul as pure as the whitest snow.

He loved Mary with all his heart. He stayed for

hours on his knees before Christ in the Blessed

Sacrament.

But he was a brave young man. When a terrible
sickness came over the city, Aloysius went out to

care for the sick. Once he brought home a very

sick old man and nursed him in his own bed.
He wanted very much to be a priest.

But God wanted to show young people that even

the very young can be saints. So he took Aloysius

early with him to Heaven.

He is the special patron of boys and girls.

Boys and girls can all study as hard as he did.

They can love Christ and Mary with all. their hearts.

But most of all, they can be very pure.

His Feast is: June 21st.

Copyright 1943, by Rev. Daniel A. Lord, S.J., St. Louis, Mo., William J. Hirten Co.-, Inc.,

25-27 Barclay St., New York City. Printed in U. S. A.

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Saint Anthony
of Padua

When Anthony of Padua died, the children cried
in the streets.

"Our dear father, Anthony is dead," they wept.

And all the bells of the churches rang of their
own accord. Angels came to earth to ring the bells

for the death of the saint.

Anthony wanted to be a martyr. He wanted to

die for the love of Christ.

Instead, Our Lord asked him to work among the
poor and needy.

So Anthony went about Italy working wonderful

miracles for the people. He gave them miraculous

food. He healed their sicknesses.

Whenever he spoke of lesus, everyone listened

and loved the Savior, too.

One night the Divine Child came to visit Anthony.
He kissed the saint gently and told him how much
He loved him. You have often seen statutes of St.

Anthony with the Child in his arms.

Ever since his death, he has done wonderful

things for those who pray to him. He is still the
Franciscan Miracle-worker

.

His Feast is: June 13th.





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Saint Bernard

OF Clairvaux

When Bernard went to be a monk and a priest,
thirty of his young friends went with him.

Later on, his father became a priest. And all his
brothers joined him in his monastery. He had only

one sister. At first she was very gay and vain.

But soon she became a nun, too.

That all showed how people loved Bernard and

5$ followed him.

He built a great monastery in a valley called

Clairvaux. It was so strict people said, "No one will

join." Instead, hundreds of brave young men came.

The Turks, who hated Christians, were very strong
and had great armies. Bernard taught soldiers how
to be fine pure knights. They became the Knights

of the Temple.

He led the Christian armies to fight against the

Turks. He carried only a crucifix.

But most of all, he loved Christ and Our Lady.

As a boy as a great priest, even in the army, he

wrote beautiful songs to them. Some of them we
sing to this day.

His Feast is: August 20th.

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<Scnr?f Charles

Borromeo

Charles Borromeo was a rich Italian young man^
His family was noble. His uncle was Pope Pius IV. «

But more than anything, Charles wanted to be a

good priest.

At that time the Protestant churches had just begun.

They did not believe in the Mass or the Blessed

Sacrament.

Besides, because of war and disease, Italy badly

needed good priests and fine Catholics.

So Charles became a priest. The Pope made

him a Bishop very young. At once he worked hard

for the poor. He took care of the sick in their own

homes. When he preached, thousands came to
hear him.

But often he sat by the road and taught one poor

man his prayers.

He loved the Church because Christ loved it. He

brought thousands back to Mass and Holy Com-

munion. He built fine seminaries for priests, and

schools for children.

In the end, a terrible sickness came to Milan, his

city. Charles nursed the sick himself. He laid them

on his own bed.

He died of the sickness, a martyr of charity.

His Feast is: November 4th.





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Saint Francis

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of Assisi

Many people say that St. Francis was the man

who was most like Our Lord.

He saw how money makes many people bad

and proud. So he wanted to be as poor as Our

Lord was.

He used to say, "I am married to Lady Poverty."
Far in the East are men called Moslems. They

do not believe in Jesus Christ. So Francis went to

visit them. And though they hated other Christians,

they listened to Francis. They thought Jesus must

be very fine, because Francis, His friend, was

so good.

Once when Francis was praying a wonderful

thing happened. God placed in his hands and feet

the same marks that Our Lord carried after He was

crucified. These are called Stigmata.

Francis preached about Jesus and Mary every

where.

He built the first Christmas crib.

But so that everyone could hear about Our dear

Lord, he gathered men and women to work with

him. They worked among the poor people. They

taught them how happy it is to be good.

They are called the Franciscans.

His Feast is: October 3rd.

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Martyr

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George was a Roman soldier a long time ago.

Most people then did not know Our Lord or love

Him. But George's parents did.

Yet George became a soldier

brave and strong.

Now the wicked Roman Emperor began to kill
the Christians. He ordered his soldiers to arrest and

kill them too.

George refused to do this.

Instead, he told the Emperor that everyone should

believe in Jesus Christ and follow him.

The Emperor was furious. He threw the young

soldier into prison. He killed him most painfully.

And George was happy to be a Martyr for Chirst.

Soldiers always remember and love young Col-

onel George. They know he hated and fought evil.

So they have always sung songs about him and

how he slew the great dragon of sin and evil and

cowardice.

George is the patron of all brave men. He is the

favorite saint of England.

His Feast is: April 23rd.





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Saint Henry

Emperor

When Duke Henry of Bavaria was very young,
he had a dream. His patron saint appeared to him

and showed him the words, "After six."

The young man thought this meant he would
die after six years. So he prepared for death. He

lived like a saint.

Instead, after six years, he was chosen German

emperor. But because for six years he had lived

like a saint, he was a holy and great emperor.

He determined to rule for the glory of God and

the good of his people. First he helped convert to

Christ the nations near him who did not believe in
the Savior.

A wicked man had driven the Pope from Rome.
He was sitting on the Pope's own chair. Henry led
his army against this bad man, beat him, and

brought the Holy Father back to Rome.

Whenever he entered the city, his first visit was

always to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Once

Christ rewarded him wonderfully. Henry saw Jesus

Himself say Mass in a great church in Rome.

Both Henry and his wife, Cunegunda, became

great saints.

His Feast is: July 15th.





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Saint James

the Greater

James was one of the three Apostles Jesus kept

nearest to Him.

The other two were Peter and John.

Like so many of the Apostles, James was a fish-
erman.

He followed Our Lord up the mountain when His

face became bright as the Sun.

He was in the room when Jesus brought the little

dead girl back to life.

When cur dear Lord suffered the Agony in the
Garden, James was near Him.

He had a fierce temper which he conquered with

difficulty. But he had great faith and preached

powerfully. So he was called the Son of Thunder.

After Our Lord ascended into Heaven, James

bravely went around telling everyone about the

Savior.

King Herod was angry. He cried, "Do you be-

lieve in Jesus Christ?"

"Indeed I do," James answered at once.

So the soldiers cut off his head with a sword, and

he died a martyr.

His Feast is: July 25th.





Saint John
the Beloved Apostle

John was a young fisherman in the Holy Land.

One day, our dear Lord said to him, "Come and
follow Me." Quickly he left family, boat, every-

thing, and became an Apostle.

He saw Our Lord heal the sick and raise the

dead. He heard the wonderful things Our Lord

taught. He loved Jesus very much.

He sat next to Jesus the night when He gave His

Apostles their First Communion.

Then when the other Apostles ran away from
Calvary, John stayed on beside Mary. And Jesus
gave this young man Mary for his Mother.

He became a great bishop. He wrote the Fourth

Gospel and beautiful letters.

He took care of Mary after Jesus ascended into

Heaven.

The Romans tried to kill him by boiling him in

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oil. But Jesus protected him. He was not even hurt.

Because he was very pure, Jesus loved him best

! of all the Apostles.

His Feast is: December 27th.





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Saint Joseph

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Joseph was a poor carpenter of Nazareth.

Yet he came from the royal family of David. And
he was pure and good and hard working.

God knew He could trust Joseph, so He chose
him for a most important task. He became the hus-

band of Mary and the Foster Father of Our Lord.

So he protected Mary on the way to BeiY ehem.
He was present on the first Christmas. He led Mary

and Jesus safely into Egypt when Herod was try-

ing to kill the Child.

Later he worked for them. ‘ He made them a sweet
little home. He earned money to give them their

food and clothing.

When Jesus was a big boy, Joseph taught Him
the carpenter's trade.

Joseph did not live to see Jesus become great and

famous. Instead he died happily with Mary at his

bedside, and Jesus blessing him.

He worked very hard to make life safe and happy
for Jesus and Mary.

So Jesus has made him the Protector of the
Whole Church.

His Feast is: March 19th.





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Samf Lawrence
Martyr

Lawrence was a fine young Roman.

He was chosen a deacon. That meant that it was

his work to care for the sick and the poor.

But the Romans thought he was the treasurer of

the Church.

So they took him prisoner. "Show us the treas-

ures of the Church/' they cried.

Lawrence had a great sense of humor.

"Gladly/' he answered.

The Romans hurried after him, expecting to tind

gold and precious stones. Instead, he led them to

the hospital where the poor and the sick lived.

"Here are the treasures of the Church," he cried.

They were furious. But Lawrence knew how God
loves the poor and needy.

In the end, the Romans put him to death. They

laid him on a gridiron over a fire. But even there,

Lawrence could joke.

"Turn me over," he cried, as the fire burned, "for
I think I am done on this side."

Even in his pain, God gave Lawrence deep hap-

piness.

His Feast is: August 10th.

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( The father and mother of Martin did not believe

in God.

So when Martin wanted to become a Christian,

they wouldn't let him. Instead, his father put him

into the army when he was only fifteen.

Martin was a good soldier. Though most of the

soldiers were not Christians, he loved Our Lord.

One winter night, Martin met a poor beggar,
freezing in the snow. Martin had no money, so he

took his sword, cut his cloak in half and gave one

half to the beggar.

That night, Our Lord came to him wearing the

half cloak. He heard Jesus say to the angels,

"Look; though Martin is not yet baptized, he gave

Me his garment."

So Martin became a Christian and converted his

parents too.

Because he was brave and strong, the people

asked him to stop being a soldier and become

their bishop. He did. He is one of the great apostles

of France.

His Feast is: November 11th.





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Saint Michael
Archangel

of the Archangels.oneMichael is

warrior of God.

Once on a time long ago, the bad angels made
war in Heaven. They cried, "We will not serve!"
They raised the red flag. They tried to drive God
from the Heavenly City.

But Michael led the armies of the good angels.

He drove out the evil army. He knelt before God
and cried that God was his only King.

So God made him the General of His armies.
All through history, Michael has fought the battle

of God.

He is the Devil's strong enemy. He is the friend

and protector of all those who love God and follow

Jesus Christ.

He protected the Chosen People, the Jews, in

their wars against their enemies. He is always on

the side that is right and good.

In the end of the world, a bad man named Anti-
christ will come. He will make war on Christ and
the good people. But Michael and his army will

drive him from the world.

That is why we pray after Mass, "St. Michael,
the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle."

His Feast is: September 29th.





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Everyone loves Patrick, so many countries say he
was born there. But wherever he was bom, he be-

came the friend of all and the Apostle of Ireland.

The Irish in those days did not know about fesus

and Mary. Patrick felt very sorry for them.

He studied hard, and became a priest and a

bishop.

The Pope sent him to Ireland to make it Catholic.

The people of Ireland welcomed him with joy. The

kings sat and listened to him. All the soldiers and

colleens asked to be baptized.

He taught them about the Blessed Trinity by

showing them how the shamrock had three leaves
yet was one plant.

He drove all evils out of Ireland as if they were

snakes.

Soon he built churches and schools everywhere.

And St. Brigid worked for the women while St.
Patrick worked for the men.

Since St. Patrick's time, the Irish have carried the v
love of Jesus and Mary all over the world. That's

why everyone loves St. Patrick and keeps his feast
day.

His Feast is: March 17th.





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At first his name was Saul. He hated Jesus Christ
and all who believed in Him.

He helped the men who killed St. Stephen, the
first martyr.

Next he got an order from the judges to arrest

Christians everywhere and put them to death.

But as he rode away to do this, a light struck him
from his horse. The voice of Jesus called him. Saul

was deeply sorry. He believed in Jesus Christ. He

became one of His greatest Apostles.

He travelled on land and sea to tell people about

Our Lord. He taught the simple. He talked to the

learned. He was shipwrecked. He was thrown into

prison. But nothing stopped him from preaching

Christ and His Cross.

Thousands believed in Jesus because of this

great man. God changed his name to Paul. He

wrote beautiful letters called Epistles.

In the end, he was killed v/ith St. Peter in Rome.

St. Peter and Paul are both buried in the great

Church of St. Peter.

His Feast is: June 30th.





Our Lord made him His special friend. He ex-

plained everything important to him. One night,

He even let Simon walk on the water. But when

Simon grew afraid, Our Lord had to rescue him.

Then one day, Simon made a great act of faith in

Christ. Our Lord changed his name to Peter, which

means The Rock. He made him the Head of His

Church. Peter was the first pope.

Yet when Our Lord was arrested, Peter was

afraid. He told everyone he was not an Apostle.

But when he wept bitterly, Jesus forgave him. He

made him chief Shepherd of His flock.

June 29th.His Feast is:

Apostle

Simon was a fine fisherman when Jesus called

him to be an Apostle. "1 will make you a fisher

of men," said Jesus.

Later he became the Rock, for he was brave and

strong. But often he boasted and ran into temptation.

Peter ruled the Church bravely. In the end, he

died nailed to a cross, upside down.





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iSa/nf Thomas
Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican priest.

His family did not want him to be a priest. They

tried very hard to stbp him. But he longed to say

mass and preach. In the end, he won.

Thomas became a great student. He learned to

know all about Our Lord and His teachings. Young

people came from all over the world to listen to

his classes.

He wrote a wonderful book called the Summa.

Priests and wise men still study it today.

But he also wrote beautiful poetry and hymns.

The hymns you sing at Benediction were written

by Thomas.

One day Our Lord, hanging on the cross, said to

Thomas: "You have written well about Me, Thomas.

What reward do you wish?"

"Only yourself," answered the saint.

He knew that if he had Jesus, he had everything.

Millions of people still read the books and sing

the hymns of this saint.

The Church calls him the Teacher who was like

an Angel.

His Feast is: March 7th.

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Vincent de Paul was a very holy priest.

He remembered how Our Lord loved the poor
and worked for them.

So he did all he could to make life sweet and

easy for them.

He gave them whatever money he had. He

carried the poor sick home and took care of them in

his own house. When he found poor children, he
gave them food, clothing, toys, and his love.

But always he told them about Jesus Christ. He

told them that the Savior was poor too, and loved

the poor most of all.

Once he was captured by pirates and carried

away to sea.

But he made the pirate himself love Jesus Christ
and became a Catholic.

To help him work for the poor, he gathered fine

men and women about him. They continued his
work after he died.

The men are called Priests of the Mission.

The women are the Sisters of Charity who do so,
much for the poor.

His Feast is: July 19th.





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<Sa/nf William
Archbishop

William was a rich young man. He was sent to 'if

fine schools. Everyone expected him to lead an

exciting, successful life.

Instead, he wanted to follow Our Lord very close-

ly. If Jesus worked hard, he wanted to work hard

too. If Jesus was poor, he preferred to be poor.

Since Jesus was busy about His Father's business,

young William wished this for himself.

So he became a priest when he was very young.

He studied hard. He prayed well. And when he
preached, people loved to listen.

But even this was not enough. He joined the

poorest and hardest order of monks, called Cis-

tercians.

He loved the prayer, peace, and quiet there. Yet

the people wanted him back to care for them.

So the Pope made him Archbishop of Bourges. He
did not want the honor but he obeyed the Holy

Father.

William never ate meat, though he gave it to his

guests and the poor. He spent no money on him-

self, but all on the church, the school, and the

needy.

When he died, all the people followed his body
to the grave, weeping.

His Feast is: January 10th.





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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Saint Aloysius

Gonzaga

Sainf Anthony

of Padua

Saint Bernard

of Clairvaux

Saint Charles

Borrom ho

Saint Francis

oh Assisi

Saint George

Martyr

Saint Henry

Emperor

Saint James

the Greater

Saint John

BTlovhd Apostle

Saint Joseph

Foster Father

Saint Lawrence

Martyr

Saint Martin

Bishop

Saint Michael

Archangel

Saint Patrick

of Ireland

Saint Paul

Apostle

Saint Peter

Apostle

Saint Thomas

Aquinas

Saint Vincent

de Paul

Saint William

Archbishop