Sunflowers

done in oil pastel by JM,  9 yrs.

Big Birds, Small Birds

done in oil pastel by JM,  9 yrs.

Father,

you have appointed your Son  Jesus Christ eternal High Priest. Guide those he has chosen to be ministers of word and sacrament to help them to be faithful in fulfilling the ministry they have received.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ , your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen

Blessed Nicholas was born in Bologna, Italy. His parents could not  afford to send him to the university to study law, so he decided to give up his ambition of becoming a lawyer. He then opted to enter the religious life by joining the Carthusian Order. In 1417, he was chosen to be bishop of his native diocese. He could not believe it was real ,but his superiors assured him it was.

The people in his diocese liked him. He lived a very simple life during his term, visited the families  in his diocese and assisted the poorest ones in all their needs. Everyone was grateful for all that he has done for them. In 1426, Blessed Nicholas became a cardinal. Very spiritual in nature, two  popes, Martin V and Eugene IV , consulted him in important church matters.

He died in 1443 while on a visit to Siena, Italy and Pope Eugene IV had his remains brought  back to Bologna. Today, May 9th, we celebrate his feast day