“Lord, give me chastity and continence, but not yet!” This infamous prayer of the young Augustine of Hippo (354-430) reflects the inner conflict of any soul who recognises the virtuous thing to do, yet fears the demanding struggle against human urges and passions. In his Confessions, St Augustine was not afraid to admit his utter powerlessness in the face of sexual temptation.
Monica’s persistence and her perseverance in not giving up praying for Augustine brought one of the greatest minds in human history into the Church. Her restless patience bore fruit in his conversion, and every page Augustine wrote, every sermon he preached, were written on the prayers of St Monica.
Bartholomew was possibly Nathanael’s surname – it means the Son of Tolmai. He is likely to be the acquaintance of Philip in the gospel of John. In John, Philip introduces Nathanael from Cana in Galilee to our Lord. Can we imagine Nathanael, with a huge grin on his face, asking Jesus “How do you know me?” “I saw you under the fig tree”. In mock obeisance, perhaps, Nathanael replies: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God…” “Ah!” says Jesus “You will see greater things than that!” (Jn 1:43-51).
Clare is a medieval saint and often overlooked, being in the shadow of Francis of Assisi who was her mentor. Nevertheless, she founded the world’s very first religious order for women: The Poor Clares.
St Lawrence was martyred in 258, one of seven deacons martyred during the persecution of Valerian.
St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was the professed name of Edith Stein, who was martyred, alongside her sister Rosa, at Auschwitz-Birkenau Extermination Camp in 1942. Edith Stein was a Jewish philosopher who converted to Christianity at the age of thirty-one and became a Carmelite nun twelve years later. As a young professional woman she was involved in the struggle for women’s rights. Pope St John Paul II declared her one of the patron saints of Europe in 1999.
