Saints of the Day & More

Michael decided at age six that he wanted to be a monk. Imposed such austerities on himself as a child that he had to be restrained. Orphaned, he became the apprentice of a merchant. Tried to join the Trinitarian monastery at Barcelona at age 12. Took his vows at age 15 at the monastery of Saint Lambert at Saragossa on 5 September 1607. Later felt drawn to the more austere Discalced Trinitarians; began his novitiate at Madrid, studied in Seville and Salamanca and took vows at Alcalá. Priest. Twice elected superior of the monastery at Valladolid. Lived a life of prayer and great mortification; especially devout towards the Holy Eucharist, and is said to have been rapt in ecstasy several times during Consecration. He was considered by his brothers to be a saint in life.

Saint Juniper called "the renowned jester of the Lord," was one of the original followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. Not much is known about Juniper before he joined the friars. In 1210, he was received into the order of the Franciscans by St. Francis of Assis himself. "Would to God, my brothers, I had a whole forest of such Junipers," Saint Francis would pun. St. Francis of Assis sent him to establish "places" for the friars in Gualdo Tadino and Viterbo. When St. Clare of Assisi was dying, Juniper consoled her.He died 1258. Juniper is buried at Ara Coeli Church at Rome. Prayer Fahter may the name of Juinper let us be your jester so we can love you more each day like Christ loved us. AMEN References: Wikipedia.Org