Today is the feast of St. Boniface, bishop and martyr. It is also the feast day of twenty-three other Saints and Blesseds comprised of clergy, religious, and laity who lived from ancient times to the early 20th century. Actually, there are more than twenty-three honored. Some are honored anonymously in groups.
Included in that twenty-three is a group of four no one knows anything about except that they were imprisoned and martyred together in Caesarea on a date unknown. Then there is Sr. Malgorzata Szewezyk who died in 1905 of old age surrounded by members of her religious community. Until today I had no clue she even existed. Admit it, some of you are in the same boat.
Read about any famous canonized Saint and you will find they were likely anonymous in life and had at least one holy companion accompanying him or her on the road to heaven. Sts. Therese Lisieux, Fr. Damian of Molokai, Jane Frances de Chantal, and Elizabeth Seton are case in point.
Holy people are born in groups, some in anonymous groups even in death and even in official acknowledgment (i.e. canonization). It’s up to us to notice them in our midst and place ourselves near so we can become holy with them and help them continue to do the same. At the very least we can be inspired by them and be with them in spirit. Rest assured they are here walking among us.
St. Boniface & Anonymous Saints, pray for us that we practice focusing on things and people that are holy so that we may also be holy and join you praising God in heaven.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” –Philippians 4:8
Picture is from a previous post.
I have a fondness for anonymous and forgotten saints!
Glad to be able to comment here again!
I am off to PA, finally the move is happening!
Good to see you again!