June 19, 2025

Dear Friend,

Today we remember St. Romuald, who—despite being known for his deep prayer life—also experienced spiritual dryness. That always touches me deeply. I’ve been in that space too, more than once. People often assume that strong faith means constant consolation, but even the holiest among us go through deserts. What has always helped me in those moments is being surrounded by people who pour out their grace when mine feels empty.

Franciscan Media wants to be that kind of companion—to walk with people when prayer feels hollow and offer small reminders that God is still near. St. Anthony of Padua said, “The Lord manifests himself to those who stop for some time in peace and humility of heart.” That’s what we strive to create: peaceful, humble encounters with grace. Support that ministry by becoming a monthly donor.

Blessings, 

Ela Milewska

Director, Franciscan Media

Saint of the Day for June 19:

Romuald

(c. 950 – June 19, 1027)

Listen to Saint Romuald’s Story Here

In the midst of a wasted youth, Romuald watched his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna. After three years, some of the monks found him to be uncomfortably holy and eased him out.

Romuald spent the next 30 years going about Italy, founding monasteries and hermitages. He longed to give his life to Christ in martyrdom, and got the pope’s permission to preach the gospel in Hungary. But he was struck with illness as soon as he arrived, and the illness recurred as often as he tried to proceed.

During another period of his life, Romuald suffered great spiritual dryness. One day as he was praying Psalm 31 (“I will give you understanding and I will instruct you”), he was given an extraordinary light and spirit which never left him.

At the next monastery where he stayed, Romuald was accused of a scandalous crime by a young nobleman he had rebuked for a dissolute life. Amazingly, his fellow monks believed the accusation. He was given a severe penance, forbidden from offering Mass, and excommunicated—an unjust sentence that he endured in silence for six months.

The most famous of the monasteries Romuald founded was that of the Camaldoli in Tuscany. Here began the Order of the Camaldolese Benedictines, uniting the monastic and eremitical lives. In later life Romuald’s own father became a monk, wavered, and was kept faithful by the encouragement of his son.

Reflection

Christ is a gentle leader, but he calls us to total holiness. Now and then, men and women are raised up to challenge us by the absoluteness of their dedication, the vigor of their spirit, the depth of their conversion. The fact that we cannot duplicate their lives does not change the call to us to be totally open to God in our own particular circumstances.