Franca Visalta

Franca Visalta was also known as Franca of Piacenza, was a Cistercian abbess.

She was born in Piacenza, Italy, in 1170.  She became a Benedictine nun in St Syrus Convent at the age of seven and became an abbess at a young age. She was removed as abbess and isolated because of the severe life she imposed. Only one nun, Carentia, agreed with Franca’s discipline and she moved to a Cistercian convent in Rapallo. Franca then persuaded her parents to build a Cistercian house in Montelana where she and Carentia both entered. Franca became abbess and maintained the strict austerities on herself, even when her health was failing.  She spent most nights praying for several hours in chapel. She later moved the Cistercian community to Pittoli, where she died in 1218. Franca was canonized by Pope Gregory X.

Mary of Clopas

According to the Gospel of John, Mary of Clopas was one of the women present at the crucifixion of Jesus.  She brought some of the supplies for his burial.  Sources suggest that she was the wife of Clopas, who may have been a brother of Saint Joseph.

Along with Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James, Mary of Clopas is known as one of the Three Marys at the tomb of Jesus. Her relics are said to be in France at the Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer.

Mary of Clopas is explicitly mentioned only in John 19:25, where she is with the women present at the crucifixion of Jesus.  The Gospels of Mark and Matthew each include similar passages. This has led some scholars to identify Mary of Clopas as the mother of James and Joseph.  She was with the women who went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus with spices.

Jerome (347-420), writing Against Helvidius in defense of the perpetual virginity of the mother of Jesus, said the brothers of Jesus were children of Mary of Clopas, the sister of the mother of Jesus, making them first cousins of Jesus. Jerome also identified James, with the Apostle James, son of Alphaeus, and thus supposed that Mary of Clopas was married to Alphaeus.

Gerard of Toul

Gerard was born around  935 in Cologne, Germany to the nobles Ingranne and Emma.  He was educated in Cologne and known for his piety.  It is believed that he entered the priesthood after his mother was struck by lightning killing her.  After he was ordained, he became the canon of the Cologne Cathedral.

Toul was independent at this time.  Gerard was a  successful and respected leader after he was appointed as the Bishop of Toul, and consecrated on March 19, 963.  Bruno the Great – on the behalf of Pope John XII – appointed him to the Toul diocese.  He established religious schools in the diocese and he invited European scholars, especially Greek scholars, to come teach and learn there.  He rebuilt churches, including the Toul Cathedral which he consecrated in 981. Gerard also founded a convent for nuns.  Gerard avoided meeting with Emperor Otto II who wanted to have the bishop close to him as an advisor.

He had the relics of both Saint Mansuetus and Saint Aprus, earlier bishops of the diocese, brought and placed in the church.  He is said to have come up with the use of goutweed, which used to be called “herb Gerald”, to treat gout in the Middle Ages.

Gerard also fought against government intervention in church matters. He died during the night on April 23, 994.
Pope Leo IX, was a pope who served in Toul, canonized him a saint on October 21, 1050.

Senhorinha of Basto

Senhorinha of Basto is thought to have been born into the noble Sousa family in 924 She was raised by her aunt, Blessed Godinha, abbess of the Benedictine convent of St. John of Vieira, Senhorinha also joined the Benedictines and succeeded her aunt as abbess at Vieira. Later, she moved the convent of Vieira to Basto near Braga, Portugal.  She died on April 22, 982.

Senhorinha of Basto was canonized by Paio Mendes, Archbishop of Braga, in 1130, at a time when bishops had the authority to canonize faithful people in their dioceses. King Sancho I of Portugal was one famous devotee who made the pilgrimage to cure his son and heir, Afonso II, who was healed and succeeded Sancho I as king of Portugal. Her feast day is April 22. 

Conrad of Parzham

Conrad of Parzham was born December 22,  1818.  He was baptized with the name of John.  He was the son of Bartholomäus Birndorfer and Gertrude Niedermayer and was born on the family farm in Parzham,  Germany.
At the age of six, he began elementary school in nearby Weng. Young John’s devotion was noticeable especially when he prayed in church.  He visited the church often even though it wasn’t close to his home, even when the weather was bad. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and each day he prayed the rosary. On feast days he frequently made a journey to some remote shrine of the Blessed Mother. He always walked on these primages and prayed.  When he returned in the evening he was usually still fasting. 

John spent his early years on the family farm. His mother died when he was 14.  His father died two years later when he was 16.  He attended a parish mission in 1838.  He then decided to enter the religious life. When he was  31, he gave away his inheritance and became a lay brother among the Capuchin Franciscan friars.
Immediately after his profession in 1842, he was sent to the Friary of St. Ann.  The friary served the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, the national shrine of Bavaria to the Blessed Mother. Conrad was given the task of assisting the porter at this shrine. In March 1851, he had to leave Altötting to care for a dying priest. The following September, he entered the novitiate at Laufen, where he was given the name Conrad in honor of Conrad of Piacenza. He then returned to Altötting as a porter.

Altötting was a large and busy city.  The friary porter was a very difficult one. Conrad was diligent in his work.  He said little, cared for the poor, and was always ready to help strangers.  Brother Conrad was porter for more than 40 years. Conrad loved silence in a special way. His free time was spent in adoration and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. During the night he would give up several hours of sleep to have extra time to pray. On April 21, 1894, Conrad died in the friary where he had served for 41 years.

During his lifetime, Conrad was known to be able to read the hearts of those he met and had the gift of prophecy. His heroic virtues and miracles allowed him to be called Blessed by Pope Pius XI in 1930. Four years later, additional miracles were approved and he was declared a saint. He is the patron saint of the Mid-America Province of Capuchin Friars.