NilatS

St. Dismas

St. Dismas is the Good Thief crucified with Christ on Calvary. We know that he asked for forgiveness and entered into eternal life with Jesus. He is also called as The Penitent thief. There is no other information about this saint. Even though he was a criminal, he believed Jesus as the Christ and prayed Jesus to remember him, on His return with Kingly powers. The belief of St. Dismas was great because he knew that he would die soon and not going to enjoy any worldly pleasures. Likewise this saint also knew that Jesus would also die soon on the cross. But still he believed Jesus as the Son of God and prayed Him for salvation. Moreover he realized that what he committed was a crime and the punishment of crucifixion was just for him and the other criminal. He rebuked the other criminal, when he talked ill of Jesus. He also told the other criminal that Jesus had not committed any crime to suffer this punishment. This incident is an indication that even sincere penance even just before death can bring absolution from sins and bring eternal life. This saint accepted his crime, accepted the punishment given for that crime as just. \n\nThe only valid information about Dismas is in the Saint Luke's Gospels. (Luke 23:32-43):\n\nTwo others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. And when they came to the place, which is called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over Him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who was hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingly power." And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise".

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St. Matilda

Matilda, also known as Mechtildis and Maud, was the daughter of Count Dietrich of Westphalia and Reinhild of Denmark. Raised by her grandmother, the Abbess of Eufurt convent, she married Henry the Fowler, son of Duke Otto of Saxony, in 909. Henry succeeded his father as Duke in 912 and became the German king in 919. Matilda was known for her piety and charitable works. After being widowed in 936, she supported her son Henry\Õs claim to the throne and convinced her other son, Otto (the Great), to name Henry Duke of Bavaria following an unsuccessful revolt. \n\nDespite her charitable acts, Matilda was criticized by Otto and Henry for being extravagant. She eventually retired to her country home and resigned her inheritance to her sons. However, she was called back to court through the intercession of Otto\Õs wife, Edith. Matilda censured Henry for his revolt against Otto in 953 and for his cruelty in suppressing a revolt by his subjects. She prophesized his death, which occurred in 955. \n\nAfter Henry\Õs death, Matilda devoted herself to building three convents and a monastery. She was left in charge of the kingdom when Otto went to Rome in 962 to be crowned Emperor, marking the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Matilda spent most of her later years at the convent at Nordhausen, which she had built, and died at the monastery at Quedlinburg on March 14. She was buried there with Henry, and her feast day is celebrated on March 14th.

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Blessed Angela Salawa

She was born on September 9, 1881 in Krakow, Poland in a very religious family. She was the youngest child of six brothers. At her young age she was often undernourished and so she was weak and sick. She went to school for a brief period and learned to read a little. She worked as a nurse in a hospital in Kracow during World War-II and she spared her money and begged others for good food for the injured soldiers. She became a Secular Order Franciscan on March 15, 1912 and professed vow on August 6, 1913. She also entered the Association of Saint Zita on April 27, 1900 to care for sick people. She was having mystical experiences. She had spent her last five years in a small room in prayer and surviving only on the charity of the Saint Zita Association. She died on March 12, 1922.\n\nShe was venerated by John Paul-II on October 23, 1987 and beatified also by the same pope on August 13, 1991.

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