Saint of the Day

Born to a deeply religious family of high social status. At 13 he began studies at the Jesuit seminary in Belém, but anti-Jesuit sentiment in the region caused his family to move him to the Alcantarine Franciscans. Novice at the Saint Bonaventure friary in Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 15 April 1760, making his final vows in the Order of Discalced Friars Minor in 1761. Ordained on 11 June 1762. Served as preacher, porter, and confessor to the local laity, and then as confessor to the Recollects of Saint Teresa in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1769 to 1770. There he met Sister Helena Maria of the Holy Spirit who said she had visions in which Jesus was asking her to make a new foundation. Together they founded Our Lady of the Conception of Divine Providence on 2 February 1774. It was modeled after the Conceptionists, and was a home for girls who wished to live a religious life but without taking vows. When Sister Helena died in 1775, Friar Galvao served a leader for the new Recollects, supervising both spiritual development and constrution of housing for the many new sisters, and wrote their Rule. Appointed novice master in Macacu in 1781. Appointed guardian of Saint Francis Friary in Sao Paulo in 1798. Chosen definitor in 1802. Visitator general and president of the Chapter in 1808, but was forced to resign these positions due to failing health and the extensive travel requirements. Founded the Saint Clare friary in Sorocaba, Sao Paulo in 1811.

REFLECTION FOR THE DAY

In today’s Gospel Jesus makes clear that all of divine law is summed up in a love which embraces the totality of our relationship with God, self and neighbour. Serving our neighbour draws us more fully into the heart of God, and knowing ourselves loved by God propels us to love our neighbour. There are no limitations or boundaries to love: it is not a minimum expectation but a maximum commitment of ourselves to God, through imitation of his son, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for the world. Loving our neighbour, as the first reading tells us, extends to caring for the aliens in our land, the widows and orphans, the poor. Early in our marriage our faith was enlivened by hours of volunteering as we sought to be in solidarity with those on the margins. Our youthful faith was challenged as our family grew, and our available time and energy shrunk. It called us to enter more deeply into the complexity of the great commandment and to spend more time in prayer. Returning to the source of all love helps us to discern how we can be in solidarity with our neighbour in new ways. May God’s grace help us, like the Thessalonians, to receive “the word with joy,” seeking continuously to be people of justice, living our faith in a way that makes love known.