27th August, St. Joseph Calasanctius, Confessor

St. Joseph Calasanctius, Confessor

The Church, having just celebrated the feast of the Assumption, venerates on this day a saint who had a special devotion to our Lady. St. Joseph Calasanctius was born in Aragon, of a noble family, and from his youth showed his charity towards children. While studying theology at Valencia, he had to defend himself against the enticements of a powerful and noble lady and made a vow to enter into Holy Orders. Having become a priest, he was apprised by divine revelation that he was destined to teach and to train children, especially those of the poor (Offertory). He founded, in consequence, the Order of the Poor Clerks regular of the Pious Schools of the Mother of God (Collect). Like Jesus he let little children come to him (Communion) and taught them to fear God (Introit). Wherefore the Gospel repeats the consoling words of the Master: "Whosoever shall receive one of these little ones in My name, receiveth Me."

"What is there greater," writes St. John Chrysostom, "than to discipline minds, than to form tender youths to good habits? God has shown us that their souls are worthy of such zeal and of such solicitude that for them He did not spare His Son." (Lessons of the third nocturn at Matins.)

St. Joseph Calasanctius died in 1648 at the age of 92.

Venite, filii, audite me: timorem Domini docebo vos. * Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore: semper laus ejus in ore meo.
Come, children, hearken to me : I will teach you the fear of the Lord. * I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall be ever in my mouth
(Psalm 33:12,2  from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui per sanctum Josephum Confessorem tuum, ad erudiendam spiritu intelligentiae ac pietatis juventutem, novum Ecclesiae tuae subsidium provenire dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; nos, ejus exemplo et intercessione, ita facere et docere, ut praemia consequamur aeterna.
O God, who by means of holy Joseph, Thy confessor, hast vouchsafed to provide Thy Church with fresh help, for training the minds of the youth in knowledge and piety; grant, we beseech Thee, that through his example and intercession, we may so live and so teach, as to deserve an eternal reward.

(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08518d.htm