An entry from Journal of a Soul - Second Sunday of Easter, 1903

Diary entries are windows into someone's personhood. I wondered what Pope John XXIII might have been doing on the Second Sunday of Easter in past years. Rifling through Journal of a Soul, I found an entry written on April 26, 1903 on the Second Sunday of Easter. Young Angelo Roncalli was in seminary studies. 

Here is the text in its entirety on this day, April 27, 2014, the Second Sunday of Easter and the day of Pope John XXIII's canonization into the communion of saints. The last line of the entry is worth noting, especially today. 

"Today, the second Sunday after Easter, the seminary has been honouring its three young patron saints whose mortal remains are piously preserved beneath the altar in the chapel. It was one of the dear family feasts which are so good for the soul. The memory of martyrs, of their faith and love for God,is an everyday thing her in this Rome of blessed memories, where the earth is still stained with Christian blood, but the memory is dearer when there are stronger links to bind us to those holy souls.

These were three poor young men, as fresh and pure as three white lilies. The sword of the persecutor cut them down in the springtime of their lives, and they were indeed blessed. 'In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died but they are at peace.' (Wisdom 3: 2-3) Of them we only know that they lived, and that they died for Christ, nothing more. But they are well known to God; their names and virtues are written in the book of life. Their brows are crowned with glory, their joy is supreme, their memory immortal.

O beloved saints, Florentinus, Socius and Victorinus, pray for me too, that my life may be spent in obscrurity and lowliness and that, unknown to the world, I may shed my blood for the love of Jesus, provided that one day, robed in glory, I may join in your bliss and with you 'follow the Lamb wherever he goes.' (Rev.14:4) 

Pray for us, Saint John XXIII.