Story of the Real Presence

Boniville denied the real presence of Jesus Christ and consecrated Host, while
the saint steadfastly affirmed it.
As a test, one or the other suggested that a choice be made by Boniville's mule
Both men agreed.
The mule was kept in it's stall for three days and deprived of food during all that time.
At the end of the fast, a great crowd of unbelievers assembled to witness the proceedings.
When the mule was brought before St. Anthony, he held a consecrated Host before the animal,
while Boniville attempted to feed it oats and hay.
The mule took no notice of the food, but fell to his knees before the blessed Sacrament.

The Catholics who witnessed the miracle expressed unbounded joy, while the
unbelievers were thoroughly confused.
Boniville is said to have been subsequently converted, together with a great
number of the heretics.

There are many Eucharistic Miracles that have happened in the past and continue
to happen daily in our present time.
We Will be visiting many Eucharistic Miracles on our Pilgrimages this year
Please Join Us!

Blessed Osanna Andreasi

was born in 1449 in a noble Italian family. As a child, Osanna was taught holiness by her parents and at the age of five is said to have had her first mystical experience, a vision of paradise. Her parents expected her to marry but she felt called to religious life. Her parents bowed to her wishes and Osanna became a Dominican tertiary at the age of seventeen. Osanna waited to take her full profession for thirty-seven years so she could help care for her brothers and sisters after the death of her parents. During her time as a tertiary, Osanna cared for her family, gave generously to the poor, and deepened her prayer life. Osanna was rewarded by the Lord with mystical experiences and was also graced with the pain of the stigmata. Though Osanna had a deep spiritual life she did not turn her back on the world. Osanna gave to the poor, visited the sick, comforted the afflicted and served as a spiritual director for many people. In addition to her personal work she did, Osanna was also a visible presence in Italian society. She continually spoke out against decadence and criticized the aristocracy for its lack of morality. Osanna died in 1505 and was recognized for her holiness by both Pope Leo X and Innocent XIV. Blessed Osanna Andreasi was born in 1449 in a noble Italian family. As a child, Osanna was taught holiness by her parents and at the age of five is said to have had her first mystical experience, a vision of paradise. Her parents expected her to marry but she felt called to religious life. Her parents bowed to her wishes and Osanna became a Dominican tertiary at the age of seventeen. Osanna waited to take her full profession for thirty-seven years so she could help care for her brothers and sisters after the death of her parents. During her time as a tertiary, Osanna cared for her family, gave generously to the poor, and deepened her prayer life. Osanna was rewarded by the Lord with mystical experiences and was also graced with the pain of the stigmata. Though Osanna had a deep spiritual life she did not turn her back on the world. Osanna gave to the poor, visited the sick, comforted the afflicted and served as a spiritual director for many people. In addition to her personal work she did, Osanna was also a visible presence in Italian society. She continually spoke out against decadence and criticized the aristocracy for its lack of morality. Osanna died in 1505 and was recognized for her holiness by both Pope Leo X and Innocent XIV.

St. Romuald

was born at Ravenna around the year 956. Romuald lived much of his early life in a worldly way but realized his errors and the danger of this type of living when he was asked to serve as witness to a duel. At the duel one of the men fighting was slain and this struck Romuald to the heart. To pay for his sins and to pray for the soul of the slain man, Romuald took a forty-day retreat at the monastery of St. Apollinare. While in the monastery serving his self imposed penance, Romuald felt called to the monastic life. After finishing his retreat, Romuald entered the monastery. Romuald grew in holiness and provided an excellent example of piety to the community. In the year 996, Romuald was asked to serve the community as abbot. He held this position for three years and used his influence to begin other monasteries throughout the area. After finishing three years as abbot, Romuald resigned, founded the Order of Camaldoli and dedicated himself to living a more austere life in this order. St. Romuald died in the year 1027, after many years living the austere Rule of the order He founded. Romuald was canonized in the year 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

was the eldest son born of a noble family in the year 1568 near Mantua in Lombardy. When he was old enough, Aloysius was sent to the Medicis in Florence to learn about court life. Alienated by the intrigue, poisonings, and debauchery of the court, he isolated himself and took a firm vow of chastity. Having been instructed in piety from an early age by his mother, at the age of 12 Aloysius read the synopsis of Christian doctrine by St. Peter Canisius and made his First Communion from St. Charles Borromeo of Milan. When Aloysius made the decision to enter the Jesuit order, his father was at first enraged, but he finally agreed after a year of Aloysius's stubborn refusal to budge from his conviction. Aloysius legally delivered his share of the ancestral dominion to his brother and entered the Jesuit order. Gonzaga entered the Jesuit novitiate in Rome when he was 17, where his spiritual directors quickly forbade the excesses of his personal piety. Early in 1591 he aided plague victims in Rome, washing and feeding the dying in hospitals. He contracted the plague in March 1591 while caring for a victim in hospital and died several months later. He was canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726. He is the patron of youth, as well as the patron of AIDS victims and those assisting AIDS victims

St. Paulinus of Nola

was well known during the early centuries of the Church. Born around the year 354 near the city of Bordeaux, St. Paulinus was friends with St. Augustine and is mentioned for his holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints. As a youth, Paulinus studied law and became a distinguished lawyer. After holding several public offices in the Empire, Paulinus retired from public ministry with his wife, Therasia. The two first retired to Bordeaux, where they were baptized into the Christian faith, and later to Therasia's estate in Spain. After the death of their only son, only a few weeks after birth, the two decided to spend the rest of their lives devoted to God through austerities and chastity. They gave away most of their estates and dedicated themselves to increasing their holiness. Due to his excellent example, Paulinus was unexpectedly ordained to the priesthood. After this Paulinus and Therasia moved to Nola, gave away the rest of their property, and dedicated themselves to the assistance of the underprivileged. After the bishop of Nola died, Paulinus was chosen by popular demand to take the position. Paulinus governed the diocese for more than 21 years while living in his own house like a monk and continuing his aid of the poor. Paulinus died around the year 431 and his writings contain one of the earliest examples of a Christian wedding song.

St. John Fisher

was born in 1469. He completed his theological studies at Cambridge in England and was ordained to the priesthood. St. John was a man of learning and used his knowledge to teach and correct errors of his time. St. John earned a reputation for his teaching and served for a while as chancellor of Cambridge University. At 35, he was appointed bishop of Rochester. As bishop, one of St. John Fisher's main goals was to raise the standard of preaching. As an excellent speaker and writer, St. John used his gifts to combat errors that he encountered. In 1527 John was asked to study the problem of Henry VIII"s marriage. He brought upon himself the anger of Henry by defending the validity of the marriage and by later rejecting Henry's claim to be head of the Church of England. He spent 14 months in prison, without trial, before being executed on the charge of high treason. St. John died on June 22, 1535.

St. Thomas More

was born in 1477 and was educated in law at Oxford. He married and was the father of one son and three daughters. King Henry VIII respected him for his accomplishments in literature, law, scholarship, and manners, eventually appointing him Chancellor. While he was Chancellor in the court, he wrote works on the governance of the realm and the defense of the Faith. Thomas was well known among his peers for his honesty and goodness, he was renowned for his never accepting bribes and for dispensing his office with justice. When Henry began his conflict with the Catholic Church Thomas did not support his divorce from Catherine, nor did he support Henry's claim to be head of the Church of England. St. Thomas was able to maintain neutrality in the situation for a while but eventually he was executed for treason for not supporting Henry's claims. St. Thomas More was canonized in 1935 and is admired for never compromising his moral values, he is the patron of lawyers.

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