Thursday, January 14
Servant of God JOHN THE GARDENER (b Portugal 15th-cent, d Spain 1501), Priest and Confessor
Another saintly example from the Franciscan garden, John was born to a family in Portugal so poor
that he had to beg for his daily meals. He moved across the border to Spain where he found work
as a shepherd, during which he met two Franciscans who appreciated his simple spirituality. They
took him back to their monastery in Salamanca to tend the gardens, and he joined the order shortly,
where he became known for his life of prayer and helping the poor. He was called The Gardener
because of his work and the flowers he raised for the churches. He had the gift of prophecy and was
consulted by great men and princes of his day. It is said he predicted the day of his death.
NB: I cannot find any images online for today's saintly personage.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
OR today:
Illustration: Medieval painting of a meeting between Saints Francis and Dominic.
At the General Audience, Benedict's appeal for international aid to Haiti and expresses
'Spiritual closeness to the victims'
Port-au-Prince archbishop among the dead
The Pope's appeal for Haiti came at the end of his Wednesday catechesis which was devoted to the
development of the Mendicant Orders (Franciscans and Dominicans) in the 13th century. Other P. 1
stories: The International Monetary Fund says Africa on the whole will have a 4% growth in GDP this
year; and the endless civil war in Somalia caused 110,000 Somalis last year to flee to neighboring
countries. Inside, a couple of stories about St. Paul as the feast of his conversion nears, with the
publication of a Codex Pauli by the Benedictine abbey at St. Paul outside the Walls, which puts
together all the Pauline texts and apocrypha in a special edition with spiritual, historical and artistic
commentary, a story about the custodians of the saint's tombs, and wartime stories of the refugees,
Jewish and others, who were given shelter in the Abbey during the war years. Also, an essay about
the 5th century sack of Rome as the basis for St. Augustine's City of God.
THE POPE'S DAY
The Holy Father today received the officials and administrative workers of the City of Rome
and the Region of Lazio in their traditional New Year's call on the Pope. Address in Italian.
First, the Pope met privately with
- Gianni Alemanno, Mayor of Rome
- Nicola Zingaretti, President of the Province of Rome
- Esterino Montino, Vice President of the Lazio region
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 15/01/2010 09:40]