Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti (1585-1640)
for January 30
When Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti's younger sister married before she did, she became so jealous that she made herself, as well as her family, miserable. Her actions became so intolerable that her family sent her off to a Franciscan convent. Once there, Hyacintha refused to accept the values of her new lifestyle. Instead, she rebelled against the Franciscans' simple ways and used her personal money to live luxuriously and extravagantly. She lived in this manner for quite some time, until she fell so ill that her confessor had to bring Communion to her room. He was appalled at the lifestyle that she was leading, and he advised her to live more humbly. Surprisingly, Hyacintha took his advice, and began to acquaint herself with more humble food, clothing, and menial work. Hyacintha soon began to thrive at the convent, developed a special devotion to the sufferings of Jesus, and became an inspiration to her sisters.
Reflection
Before she grew in her relationship with God, Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti's jealousy and rage hurt not only herself but also her family. Do your jealous feelings or bad moods affect your relationships with those around you, including your relationship with Christ? Spend some time with the Lord. Ask him to help you remember that you have all the gifts and blessings that you need to live out your vocation, and you should not be jealous of someone else's gifts and blessings.
Prayer
Jesus, I don’t want to feel jealous. Help me to understand that I have all the gifts I need to live out your calling for me. Help me to see my own blessings and not just the other person’s. (Taken from “Take Ten: Daily Bible Reflections for Teens.”)
