Meredith Hinds - A Saint a Day: A 365-Day Devotional for New Years Featuring Christian Saints

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CONTENTS

T he word saint refers to all Christians, but this book focuses on Saints with a capital Sthose who have been officially recognized by the Catholic Church. To be recognized as a Saint, a few things must happen. First, when a righteous person dies, witnesses provide evidence to the Catholic Church of the persons love for Jesus. The persons letters, diaries, and books are studied. If the Church believes there is evidence to prove he or she lived a holy life, the person is declared a Servant of God. Then, as more evidence is presented, he or she becomes known as Venerable, then Blessed, and finally as Saint. For clarity, anyone in this book who is in this process is noted as being on track to become a Saint.

Saints may have multiple names, dates, and locations associated with their life. These devotions use only one name to refer to each Saint, include each Saints approximate lifespan, and mention only the locations relevant to the devotion. Locations are presented as they were known during the Saints lifetime. A modern name of their location is included if applicable. Many, but not all, devotions are ordered by the Saints feast days. The devotion dates that do not match the feast days are marked with an asterisk by the devotion date (e.g., *).

The life of each Saint inspires us to love Jesus the way that each Saint loved Him. All Saints loved Jesus with everything they had. As you read their stories, remember this: all people (including you!) are called to give Jesus everything.

FIRST CENTURY GALILEE (MODERN-DAY ISRAEL)

HERE AM I

Mary said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her.

LUKE 1:38

M ary was amazed at what she was seeing and hearing. First, an angel named Gabriel appeared right in front of her. Next, Gabriel told her that she would have a baby. Then Gabriel said that her baby would be the Savior of the world. Marys jaw dropped. How could any of this be true? She wasnt even married! Gabriel finished his greeting by telling Mary that her cousin, who was old enough to be her grandmother, was pregnant with a baby too, even though she was too old to have children. Well, Mary thought, if anyone can do the impossible, its God! Mary said to Gabriel, Here am I, the servant of the Lord. She was saying to God, Yes! Yes to all of the impossible things You want to do through me!

Jesus, help me say yes to You, just like Your mother, Mary.

329379 CAPPADOCIA (MODERN-DAY TURKEY)

NOTHING WOULD CHANGE HIS MIND

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8:3839

B asil worked in the Church, teaching about Jesus. During Basils life, some leaders and teachers began to teach a terrible lie: they taught that Jesus was not fully God. Maybe Jesus was like God, these false teachers argued, but He certainly wasnt God. Basil knew the truth: Jesus was and is fully God. Basil stood up to these teachers and proudly said Jesus is God, but they were angry and threatened to kill him. Calmly, Basil told these false teachers that they could take his possessions, his home, and his life. All he wanted was God. False teachers could do nothing to change his mind.

Jesus, help me to be like Saint Basil the Great, defending the truth about You.

UNKNOWN136 ROMAN EMPIRE (MODERN-DAY ITALY)

GLORY TO GOD

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!

LUKE 2:14

D uring Christmas services, people gather in churches to sing about the miracle of Jesus birth. On Easter Sunday, churches all over the world are full of people celebrating Jesus resurrection. How long have Christians been singing about His birth and celebrating His resurrection? For almost two thousand years! Telesphorus, who served as a pope, established traditions less than a hundred years after Jesus died, rose, and returned to heaven. Telesphorus told people to sing the same beautiful words that the angels had sung to the shepherds that Christmas night: Gloria in excelsis Deo, which means Glory to God in the highest! He offered Sunday as the day to celebrate Jesus resurrection. With these celebrations, Telesphorus reminded Christians of the beautiful truths of Jesus birth, death, and resurrection.

Jesus, I will remember Your birth and resurrection with song and celebration, just as Saint Telesphorus did.

17741821 THE UNITED STATES

LOVE IS STRONGER

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:5657

W hile she was still a young wife and mother, Elizabeth Ann Seton lost her husband to a terrible disease called tuberculosis. Her children were fatherless, and she was without a husband. Her sorrow was overwhelming, but it did not consume her. She turned to Jesus. With His strength, Elizabeth Ann Seton started helping people who were hurting in the same way her family was hurting. She created a community for women who did not have husbands or families. This community of women helped build and run orphanages, which are homes for children who have no parents. In Elizabeths life, the love and hope of Jesus was stronger than the sting of death.

Jesus, help me turn to You when life is hard, just as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton did. Show me how to keep helping others, even when I am sad.

1811 1860 BOHEMIA (MODERN-DAY CZECHIA) AND THE UNITED STATES

GO FROM YOUR COUNTRY

Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your fathers house to the land that I will show you.

GENESIS 12:1

J ohn Neumann was born in Eastern Europe. As John grew up, he heard the stories of people who had left his country to go to America. In America, they were called immigrants. These immigrants were often poor and homesick. They needed the care and support of someone who understood their country and their history. After he became a priest, John left everything he knew to go to America to help the immigrants. He built schools, orphanages, churches, and hospitals. John had left his own home to go to a strange place and help other people feel at home there.