St. Lucia Filippini, of the Roman nobility, was born in 1672 and baptized on the day of her birth. She received Holy Communion at a very early age, and when twelve years old was made a catechist of the children of the parish. She is the Foundress of the Institute of the Maestre Pie Filippini (Religious Teachers Filippini), which is devoted to the Christian education of youth. Pope Clement XI called her to Rome to open schools for Roman girls. Since then the Popes have taken her Institute under their special protection and jurisdiction. A great teacher, but also a valiant missionary among women, she reached their inner hearts, winning them back to God with such success as to elicit the admiration of St. Leonard of Port Maurice, who was her contemporary. Her love for the poor knew no bounds. Self-surrender made her a martyr of obedience, and her love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament made her a seraph of love and miraculously drew to her lips her Eucharistic Lord. Her body lies incorrupt under the altar dedicated to her in the Cathedral of Montefiascone, where she died in 1732. She was beatified in 1926 and canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI.

Reflection — To teach the young the ways of Christ is to give them not only the truths of their religion but the example of His industry and labor. "The idle mind is the devil's workshop, and the devil finds work for idle hands to do." True Christian education forms the whole man to a life of service to God and his fellowman. Pray to St. Lucy Filippini that parents and all entrusted with the education of the young will keep this in mind.

Reflection — "Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord." (Judith 4:11).

Taken from Father Alban Butler's "Lives of the Saints for Every Day in the Year — With Reflections" Copyright 1955.