Before I start, I have to write a couple things first, there needs to be some start point. In three words I would like to say that, Saints are awesome!

They are incredible people with beautiful stories, each unique and special. There are a lot of them, so many stories that I had a hard time choosing which ones to write about. The Saint and servant of God I will write about are both incredible women that have shown me such wonderful examples in life. I also acknowledge my patron Saint and namesake Kateri Tekakwitha, another woman that I love.

I have had a decent amount of struggle in my life, as I had been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that brought me on some trips for testing at the hospital. I have always felt a connection to those who have suffered like me (well in different ways of course) martyrs, those who struggled with sickness, persecution, disabilities, all those people who have given of themselves, given up their pain to the Lord and stayed faithful no matter what. There are so many people I would love to acknowledge, but the list of names would be endless.
Both of these women I will write about suffered but they all brought their troubles before God. They are women that I have become very much attached to, more so recently.

Saint Margaret of Castello is the Saint that I chose for my Confirmation. When I first read about her in a Saint book (‘Saints Around the World’, by Meg Hunter-Kilmer) and then later on a web page, I knew that she was meant to be my spiritual Godmother because she definitely feels like it. Margaret was born into a well-to-do family near Florence, Italy in 1287. She suffered rejection due to her severe physical disabilities as a dwarf, having a curved back leaving her hunched over, she was lame to the point that she could barely walk and she was blind. That is a lot to suffer from. Margaret was kept hidden away for many of her first years, at the age of six she was walled up in a room attached to a chapel. A family chaplain taught her about God, and there by the chapel she could attend Mass and receive the eucharist.
Her parents were looking for a miracle to heal their daughter but when it didn’t happen, they abandoned her. Margaret later became a member of the Dominican Third Order of Castello and developed a deep prayer life, devoting the reminder of her life (33 years) to acts of penance and charity.

Margaret suffered so much but through it all she was serene, calm, cheerful and courageous. Even though her outer appearance might not have been the most appealing, her joy and kindness overpowered that and gave her a unique beauty through that. She had patience, forgiveness and understanding.

St. Margaret of Castello teaches me about the importance of remaining joy filled, kind and loving. She is just such a role model for my life and that is what I aim to follow, living with joy, kindness and love.

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I deeply have come to love this incredible woman, Catherine Doherty. She is a “servant of God” at this point, on the path to being recognized as a saint. I really got close to her when I began reading about her life in books(such as, ‘Victorious Exile’ by Echo Lewis and ‘They Called her the Baroness’ by Lorene Hanley Duquin). Her life was literally like an epic adventure story! It was a very inspiring story too.
Her Russian name was Ekaterina Fyodorovna Kolyschkina and she was born in the year 1897 in Nizhny-Novgorod, Russia. She was baptised and received an upbringing in the Russian Orthodox Church as well as an openness to other religions. Catherine spent much of her childhood in different countries, places where her father’s work brought them. She even travelled to Egypt. At the age of just fifteen, Catherine married her first cousin the Baron Boris de Hueck who was many years older than she.

Catherine’s road of life she travelled was filled with physical, mental and emotional pain. She had learned from her father how to pray during times of suffering and she saw so much of it in her lifetime. The marriage between her and Boris was quite full of verbal and emotional abuse which submerged Catherine in misery. Boris was unfaithful to her and along with that came the emotional control of her and her feeling of unworthiness. World War I came and in Catherine’s words she said “I dipped into a sea of pain.” She was a hero during that time and so very brave and courageous. Catherine became Catholic in London, England, 1919. She had a son and so often she had to leave him at home so that she could earn money to care for her family and unfaithful Boris.
She opened a friendship house in 1932 in Toronto after moving to the slums. She was a radical gospel witness and she took care of the poor with a loving motherly heart.

Catherine knew so much suffering and she pushed through the pain and found beauty. She founded Madonna House (a place I would like to go someday) a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. I love how Catherine Doherty brought the eastern and western church together. Here is the prayer “The Little Mandate” which is a prayer I love. She has shown me what real motherly love is and how to be a disciple of Christ.

Arise — go! Sell all you possess. Give it directly, personally to the poor. Take up My cross
(their cross) and follow Me, going to the poor, being poor, being one with them, one with
Me.
Little — be always little! Be simple, poor, childlike.
Preach the Gospel with your life — without compromise! Listen to the Spirit. He will lead
you…
Do little things exceedingly well for love of Me.
Love… love… love, never counting the cost
Go into the marketplace and stay with Me. Pray, fast. Pray always, fast.
Be hidden. Be a light to your neighbour’s feet. Go without fear into the depth of men’s
hearts. I shall be with you. Pray always.
I will be your rest.

I just love the Saints; they can be your greatest friends when you have or feel like you have none. These two women really teach me how to love authentically, have kindness and courage.

All in Christ Jesus.

AMEN.