Saint of May
May 30
St. Joan of Arc, virgin
On January 6, 1412, Joan was born to pious parent of the peasant class, at the obscure village of Domremy, near the province of Lorraine. At a very age she heard voices: those of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret.
At first the messages were personal and general. Then at last came the crowning order. In May 1428. Her voices told Joan to go to the King of France and help him reconquering his kingdom. For at that time the English King was after the throne of France, and the Duke of Burgundy (the chief rival of the French King) was siding with him and gobbling up ever more French territory.
After overcoming opposition from churchmen and courtiers, the seventeen-year-old girl was given a small army with which she raised the siege of Orleans on May 8, 1429. She then enjoyed a series of spectacular military successes, during which the King was able to enter Rheims and be crowned with her at his side.
In May 1430, as Joan was attempting to relieve Compiegne, she was captured by Burgundians and sold to the English when Charles and the French did nothing to save her. After months of imprisonment, she was tried at Rouen by a tribunal presided over by infamous Peter Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, who hoped that the English would help him to become Archbishop.
Through her unfamiliarity with the technicalities of Theology, Joan was trapped into making a few damaging statements. When she refused to retract the assertion that it was the Saints of God who had commanded her to so what she had done, she was condemned to death as a heretic, sorceress, and adulteress, and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. She was nineteen years old. Some thirty years later she was exonerated of all guilt, and she was ultimately canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV, making official what the people had known for centuries.
May 30
St. Ferdinand, King of Castilla
Ferdinand III of Castile was the son of Alfonso IX, King of Leon, and Berengaria, daughter of Alfonso III, King of Castile (Spain). He was declared king of Castile at age eighteen. Ferdinand was born near Salamanca; proclaimed king of Palencia, Valladolid, and Burgos; his mother advised and assisted him during his young reign. He married Princess Beatrice, daughter of Philip of Suabia, King of Germany and they had seven sons and three daughters. His father (the king of Leon) turned against him and tried to take over his rule. The two reconciled later, and fought successfully against the Moors. In 1225, he held back Islamic invaders; prayed and fasted to prepare for the war; extremely devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Between 1234-36, Ferdinand conquered the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Queen Beatrice died in 1236, and he overtook Seville shortly thereafter. He founded the Cathedral of Burgos and the University of Salamanca; married Joan of Ponthieu after the death of Beatrice. He died on May 30th after a prolonged illness, and buried in the habit of his secular Franciscan Order. His remains are preserved in the Cathedral of Seville and was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. Ferdinand was a great administrator and a man of deep faith. He founded hospitals and bishoprics, monasteries, chuches, and cathedrals during his reign. Her also compiled and reformed a code of laws which were used until the modern era. Ferdinand rebuilt the Cathedral of Burgos and changed the mosque in Seville into a Cathedral. He was a just ruler, frequently pardoning former offenders to his throne. His feast day is May 30th.
May 31
Saint Felix of Nicosia
Saint Felix of Nicosia
Religious, 1715 – 1787
Felix of Nicosia was born on November 5, 1715 and given the name Philip James Amoroso. He was the son of a poor family, the cobbler Philip Amoroso and Carmela Pirro. He was not formally educated but his mother taught him the basics of Catholic faith and encouraged him to spend time with the local Capuchin friars.
After several attempts and refusals, he was finally accepted by the Capuchins when he was 28. His entire life was spent in his hometown where he exercised the office of quaestor, with heroic charity, for more than 30 years. He often instructed youth in Christian doctrine and reminded parents of their responsibility to provide their children with catechetical instruction. He taught children the Creed, confronted those who used profanity, and spoke often of the mysteries of the incarnation and redemption. He was adviser, guide and support for the simple, the learned and the clergy alike. Felix was so faithful to his vow of obedience that on his deathbed at the age of 72, he asked his superior’s permission one final time, “May I die now?” and having received permission and blessing, he died on May 31, 1787.
Felix was beatified by Leo XIII on February 12, 1888.
Courtesy: https://www.capuchin.org/saints_blessed/saint-felix-of-nicosia/