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Father Ed introduces us to an extraordinary Saint who lived in one of the most turbulent times in the history of the Church, and who is very important for what is going on in the world and in the Church today! His name is Pope Saint Pius V. Father Ed begins by reminding us that one of the ways to get out of desolation, to use a very Ignatian term, is to remember the Saints. The last few days  we celebrated a number of Saints. Saint Peter Chanel, Saint Louis de Montfort, and Saint Gianna Beretta Molla who gave her life so her little baby in her womb could live. Saint Catherine of Siena, obviously the most influential person in the 1400’s and possibly one of the greatest women who walked in this world after the Blessed Virgin Mary. And tomorrow would be the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. So if you are ever in desolation, remember that you are surrounded by a great Cloud of Witnesses!
 
Father Ed then enters into the heart of his talk. Saint Pope Pius V (1504-1572) was born Antonio Ghislieri of a very poor family. Antonio was a shepherd boy. This shepherd of sheep would become Shepherd of the Universal Church! When he was elected Pope, Ghislieri broke down and wept, but he accepted it. Listen as Father Ed gives us the highlights of Saint Pius V’s extraordinary life and times, ending with the details of his most crucial undertaking – collaboration with the Blessed Virgin Mary in saving the Catholic Church and all Christendom in Europe!

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May is the month of Mary – the month we honor and deepen our love for Mary the Mother of Jesus. May 1 is the Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker. Father Ed says if you don’t have a love for Saint Joseph, your love for Mary is going to be limited. If you don’t love Saint Joseph, you are hopping around on one leg. Very few people have a devotion to Saint Joseph. We want to get to know Saint Joseph better. Father Ed gives 10 ways to honor and imitate Saint Joseph so we can die as Saint Joseph did, in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Father Ed shares one of his favorite prayers:
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, make my heart like unto thine.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I breathe forth my soul unto thee.

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John 15: 12-17  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.'”
 
Today the Church celebrates one of the greatest women who ever lived on the face of the earth. Pray that you will get to know her. Hopefully she will become your friend starting today. You might even get a biography of her life and read it, and she will set your heart on fire with the love of God! This woman put today’s Gospel into practice almost perfectly. There are three basic ideas in this Gospel: obedience, friendship and love. Catherine of Siena had a deep friendship with Jesus Christ. Her heart was on fire with love for Christ. She was obedient to Christ and His Church at a time when many people were not, like our own times today. Shouldn’t we pray for these qualities? To obey Christ and His Church? To have a deep friendship with Christ? To love Christ? Let us ask Saint Catherine of Siena for this.  Father Ed goes on to say that there is so much to be said about this woman! But he will give some ideas of the life and the greatness of this saint.