Tagged: Alicia von Stamwitz

John Neumann, Pioneer Saint

In the Gospel story of the widow’s mite, Jesus is unim­pressed watching the rich put large offerings into the temple treasury. He praises instead the poor widow who put in only two copper coins. "I assure you," he said to his disciples, "this poor widow has put in more than all the rest."

Saint John Neumann reminds me of that poor widow. He was a short, shy, back-country immi­grant priest. In the eyes of some he was an unimpressive, awk­ward little man; but in God’s eyes John was peerless, and his mite was a priceless gift. All that he had and was he willingly offered to God.

Saint Gerard Majella, C.Ss.R., the “Mothers’ Saint”

Gerard never set foot outside Italy, left no significant writings, and died at age twenty-nine after only six years of religious life. But even in his day, this humble Brother was considered a saint. He was friendly and generous by nature, and his confidence in God’s goodness seemed to give him supernatural influence. One biographer called him "the spoiled child of God" because whatever he asked for in prayer, he got.