April 27th - Bl. Osanna of Cattaro, OP Tert., Visionary
(also known as Hosanna)
Born in Kumano, Montenegro, in 1493; died 1565; cultus confirmed in 1928;
beatified in 1934. Catherine Kosic (Cosie) was baptized in the Greek
Orthodox Church. As a young girl, she tended her family's sheep; thus,
left
alone for long periods of time, she developed a habit of contemplative
prayer. One day while watching the flocks, she saw a pretty child lying
asleep on the grass. Attracted by its beauty, she went to pick up the
baby,
but it disappeared, leaving Catherine with a feeling of great loneliness.
She told her mother about the incident but received little understanding;
her mother told her that God didn't appear to such poor people, and that
the
Christ Child was simply a figment of her imagination. After several more
apparitions of which she wisely said nothing, Catherine developed a desire
to visit Cattaro because there were several churches there in which she
felt
that she could pray better. Her mother thought this urge was unreasonable,
but she finally arranged for Catherine to go to Cattaro as a servant of a
wealthy woman. Her mother gave little thought to the fact that the woman
was
a pious Catholic, but the girl rejoiced in her good luck. At the age of
12,
Catherine settled down as a servant to the kindly woman who made no
objection to the fact that Catherine's errands invariably led her past the
church, where she would stop for a visit.
After a few years of the pleasant life, Catherine consulted her spiritual
director about becoming a recluse. He thought her too young, but she
continued to insist. After much prayer and discussion, they decided that
she
should follow the life of a hermit.
In the Middle Ages, it was common for every church or place of pilgrimage
to
have one or more cells in which solitaries dwelt in prayer and penance.
Such
a cell was built near the Saint Bartholomew's in Cattaro. It had a window
through which the anchorite could hear Mass and another tiny window to
which
people would come occasionally to ask for prayers or to give food.
Catherine
was conducted to her cell in solemn ceremony, and, after making promises
of
stability, the door was sealed.
In response to a vision, she was later transferred to a cell at the Church
of St. Paul, where she followed the rule of the tertiaries of Saint
Dominic
for 52 years. Upon becoming a Dominican, she chose the name Osanna, in
honor
of Blessed Osanna of Mantua, a Dominican tertiary who had died in 1505.
The life of an anchorite is barren of comforts and replete with penances.
Even without the spiritual punishments that she endured, it was a rugged
life. Osanna wore the coarsest of clothes, ate almost nothing, and endured
the heat and cold and misery of enclosure in a small space for half a
century. Her tiny cell, however, was often bright with heavenly visitors.
Our Lord appeared to her many times, usually in the form of the beautiful
baby she had seen while tending her flocks. Our Lady visited, too, with
several of the saints, as well as demons who attempted to distract her
from
prayer. Once the devil appeared to her in the form of the Blessed Virgin
and
told her to modify her penances. By obedience to her confessor, she
managed
to penetrate this clever disguise and vanquish her enemy.
Although she lived alone, there was nothing selfish about Osanna's
spirituality. A group of her Dominican sisters, who considered her their
leader, consulted her frequently and sought her prayers. A convent of
sisters founded at Cattaro regarded her as their foundress, because of her
prayers, although she never saw the place. When the city was attacked by
the
Turks, the people ran to her for help, and they credited their deliverance
to her prayers. Another time, her prayers saved them from the plague
(Benedictines, Dorcy).
From:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0427.shtml
Saint Quote:
"Learn, my Sisters, to suffer something for the love of God, without
letting
everyone know it"
-St. Teresa
On a Good Friday, the venerable Father Daponte asked Our Lord the favor
of
giving him a share in His sufferings. He answered by sending him fearful
pains for the rest of his life, which he received with the greatest
possible
joy. Once being asked how he felt, he replied: "Oh, how well God chastises
this sinner! I tell you that except my head, no part of my body is without
its own particular pain." A little while after, he repented of having said
so much and made a vow never to reveal his sufferings to anyone, when he
could conceal them without displeasing God.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote
16 So let your light ****ne before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17 Do not think that I am come
to
destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfill.
(Matthew 5:16-17)
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Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead
"Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the
hand
of the Lord hath touched me" Job. 19-21.
TWENTY-FOURTH DAY
If we deliver a soul from Purgatory, what a joy it is to be able to say to
oneself: "A holy soul truly loves God for me and in my name.'' We create
protectors in all the souls for whom we pray, even though we have not yet
obtained their deliverance.
Prayers: Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.
De Profundis
Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee,
O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the
voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark my iniquities,
O Lord, who shall stand it?
For with Thee there is merciful
forgiveness: and by reason of Thy
law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word;
my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until
night; let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy;
And with Him plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from
all its iniquities.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light ****ne upon them:
May they rest in peace. Amen.
Most merciful Jesus, whose loving Heart was ever burdened with the sorrows
of others, look down with pity on the souls of our beloved ones in
Purgatory. Hear their cries, and grant that they may soon enjoy
everlasting
rest with Thee in Heaven. Amen.
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