St. Ann Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order

05/30/2026

JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

June, the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is fast approaching. Let us seek refuge in His boundless love and mercy, knowing that His Heart is always open to all who come to Him.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

05/15/2026

MAY 15 + Today is the Feast Day of Spiritual Warrior Saint Dymphna — the Patron Saint of mental disorders, neurological disorders, runaways, victims of in**st, depression and anxiety + Pray for us

Dymphna was born in Ireland in the 7th century. Her father Damon, a petty king of Oriel, was a pagan, but her mother was a devout Christian.

When Dymphna was 14 years old, she consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity. Shortly thereafter, her mother died. Damon had loved his wife deeply, and in the aftermath of her death his mental health sharply deteriorated. Eventually the king's counsellors pressed him to remarry. Damon agreed, but only on the condition that his bride would be as beautiful as his deceased wife. After searching fruitlessly, Damon began to desire his daughter because of her strong resemblance to her mother.

When Dymphna learned of her father's intentions she swore to uphold her vows, and fled his court along with her confessor Father Gerebernus and two trusted servants. Together they sailed eventually landing in what is present-day Belgium, where they took refuge in the town of Geel.

Once settled in Geel, Dymphna built a hospice for the poor and sick of the region. However, it was through the use of her wealth that her father would eventually ascertain her whereabouts, as some of the coins used enabled her father to trace them to Belgium.

Damon sent his agents to pursue his daughter and her companions. When their hiding place was discovered, Damon travelled to Geel to recover his daughter. Damon ordered his soldiers to kill Father Gerebernus and tried to force Dymphna to return with him to Ireland, but she resisted. Furious, Damon drew his sword and struck off his daughter's head. She was 15 years old when she died.

After Dymphna and Father Gerebernus were martyred, the residents of Geel buried them in a nearby cave. Years later, their remains were moved to a more suitable location. Some of her remains are at the National Shrine of Saint Dymphna in the United States.

God, as always, uses circumstances surrounding the death of his saints to bring about good. After Dymphna’s tragic murder, those suffering from mental or emotional illness would come to the site of her death and receive miraculous healing. Later an infirmary was built over the site where she died and many miracles were reported there as well.

05/12/2026

Saint Leopold Mandic
1866-1942
Feast Day: May 12
Saint Leopold Mandic was born with many physical and health problems, into a large family, in Croatia. In 1884, he joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was appointed to a parish in Padua from 1906 until his death. He was so committed to mercy and compassion, that he spent 13-16 hours a day in the confessional. People from all walks of life sought him out for this sacrament of reconciliation, including Albino Luciani who would become John Paul I. He also prayed and worked for the unity of the Roman and Orthodox Christians. He died of esophageal cancer after he collapsed as he was preparing for Mass.
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https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-leopold-mandic

05/03/2026

St. Phillip & St. James the Less, pray for us! Two of the original Apostles were followers of Jesus. Both died a martyr's death.
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04/28/2026

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
1922-1962
Feast Day: April 28
Patronage: mothers, physicians, preborn children
St. Gianna was an Italian pediatrician, wife and mother who is best known for refusing both an abortion and a hysterectomy when she was pregnant with her fourth child, despite knowing that continuing with the pregnancy could result in her death. Gianna died a week after giving birth to her child, who was present at her mother’s canonization in 2004.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-gianna-molla

04/23/2026

Saint George
Died: 303
Feast Day: April 23
Patronage: England, crusaders, soldiers
Saint George was a Roman soldier of Greek Christian origin. He was a Praetorian guard for Diocletian who valued his service. When the Emperor ordered the soldiers to sacrifice to the gods, St. George refused, even after Diocletian offered him land, money, and slaves. George was then tortured and decapitated. He is one of the 14 Holy Helpers and a prominent military patron often depicted fighting a dragon used to represent the devil. Today he’s known and revered by both Christians and Muslims.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-george

04/21/2026

Saint Conrad of Parzham
December 22,1818 - April 21,1894
Feast Day: April 21
Patronage: Mid-American Province of Capuchins Friars, Diocese of Passau, Catholic youth of Wuzbra, Capuchian Providence of Barvaria, Opera Serafica di Carita
Saint Conrad was born in Germany. In his youth, he loved solitary prayer and became a Third-Order Franciscan. In 1852 he professed as a Capuchin lay brother and was assigned as the porter at the National Marian Shrine of Bavaria in Altötting. As the doorkeeper, he encouraged pilgrims to follow Christ and helped the children and the poor who were in great need. He had the gift of prophecy, and of reading people’s hearts. His devotion to Our Lady and the Blessed Sacrament were unsurpassed. His fellow Brothers believed he rarely slept spending his time in the Chapel.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-conrad-of-parzham

04/13/2026

Saint Margaret of Castello
1287 - 1320
Feast day: April 13
Patronage: Pro-life movement; the poor, crippled and the unwanted
Saint Margaret of Castello was born in Metola, Italy to noble parents who wanted a son. Because their daughter was born blind and a hunchbacked dwarf she was kept hidden and locked in a room onto the side of the parish church for 16 years, where she was fed through a small window and able to hear Mass and receive Holy Communion through another window. When she was 20 her parents took her to a shrine in Castello, where miracles were reportedly being wrought, to pray for a cure for her birth defects. When no miracle happened they abandoned her. The poor of the city took her in as their own. Margaret had to beg for her food and eventually sought shelter with some Dominican nuns. She died at the age of 33 and a crippled girl was miraculously cured at her funeral. Her body has remained incorrupt.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-st-margaret-of-castello

04/11/2026

A New Birth to a Living Hope

On Divine Mercy Sunday, in a reading from the First Letter of St. Peter (1 Peter 1:3-9), we read that Jesus “in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope.” Peter challenges us not to be swayed by societal norms or hostility, but to trust in God's living hope to empower us to stand for justice. The ‘great mercy’ calls us to act on behalf of the vulnerable in our society and urges us to embody God's compassion through advocacy.

Reflecting on the passage from the Gospel According to John (Ch 20), I was struck by the words “the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear.” How often do I, out of fear, hesitate to speak out against what the author Margaret Wheatley defines as “evil”—those speaking and taking pleasure in harming other human beings or God's creation? Faith in the resurrected Jesus helps me to unlock those doors of fear. Faith inspires me to bring hope to those harmed by lies and disinformation. Faith also compels me to speak out against the pervasive racism in our country.

Jesus states in this gospel passage, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When Jesus walked our earth, he did what he was called to do by the Father. We are called to do the same today. The Father has sent us to make a difference in our neighborhood and world. Together, our actions can challenge evil and bring about healing and justice in our community.

When I read the passage from the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47), “All who believed had all things in common and divided possessions according to each one's needs,” I could not help but think of all those who have died since being denied food and medicine once provided by USAID, as well as those in the United States no longer able to afford healthcare. It challenges all of us to consider how our own communities can be structured to provide for the vulnerable and marginalized in our world today, with our resources fairly distributed so that all might flourish.

It took St. Francis time to realize that the message he heard from the San Damiano crucifix, "Repair my house," referred not to a physical church, but to the society in which he lived. Franciscan-hearted people are still called to speak out for the dignity of difference in our society. We are compelled to unlock the doors of fear and act in support of those othered today because of the color of their skin, nation of birth, or economic circumstances. Together, we can build a culture of inclusion and justice for all.

Maryann Mueller, CSSF
Felician Sisters of North America

Prayer

Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out your holy and true command.

Amen.

(St. Francis's Prayer before the Crucifix)

Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

04/11/2026

Saint Gemma Galgani
1878-1903
Feast day: April 11
Patronage: students, pharmacists, tuberculosis patients, love, hope, spinal injury
Throughout her life, St. Gemma was to be favored with many mystical experiences and special graces. She wished to become a nun, but her poor health prevented her from being accepted. On June 8, 1899, Gemma received the stigmata. Gemma often saw her guardian angel, with whom she was on familiar terms and sent on errands. In January of 1903, Gemma was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. She died quietly in the company of the parish priest, on April 11 at age twenty-five.
Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. Link in our bio.
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gemma-galgani