Feast of St. John Francis Regis

St. John Francis Regis (1597-1640)
as seen in the Round House located on the grounds of the 
Academy of the Sacred Heart - Saint Charles, MO

June 16, 2013 ~ Today is the Feast of St. John Francis Regis.  The significance of this feast day is the affection St. Rose Philippine Duchesne had for him.  Regis was considered to be Philippine's favorite Saint. Additionally, Regis School of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas is one of twenty-two Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States that bears his name.

Jean Francis Regis was born in the southern region of France, he began his study of theology at Toulouse in 1628 and entered the Society of Jesus at age thirty-one.  In 1640 Regis became ill and died of pneumonia at the age of forty-three on December 30, 1640.  He was beatified in 1719 and canonized on April 5, 1737.  He is known as the patron saint of lace makers as he helped many young girls living in the country establish themselves in the lacemaking and embroidery trade which kept them away from the cities and a life on the streets living as prostitutes.

Prayer to St. John Francis Regis:

Zealous worker for souls, you wrought many miracles and labored for all classes of people, but especially to convert the Huguenots. To you St. John Vianney of Ars attributed both his vocation and his spiritual successes. Make social workers go about doing good not as mere humanitarians but as messengers of Christ who have a supernatural love for their clients. Amen.