This saint played with the Christ Child, St. John the Baptist and the Holy Children

                       April 7 -- St. Herman Joseph

St. Herman Joseph was born in Cologne, Germany in 1150 of a good family which lost its wealth. From the time he was a young child, he visited the chapels of Our Lady to "speak" with her. 

One day he brought her an apple which she accept readily by extending her hand to take it. On another occasion, St. Herman saw Our Lady with the Christ Child and St. John the Baptist playing at her feet. 

The Holy Virgin then opened the choir grill and helped him to climb to the place where the Holy Children played.  Another time Our Lady showed St. Herman where to find some money so that he could buy a pair of shoes.

These beautiful accounts help us to imagine and to long for our Heavenly home.  If we compare the beauty and simplicity of them with the chaotic atmosphere of our lives, we easily have a nostalgia for Heaven and for peace and serenity.

Let us ask St. Herman Joseph to give us the innocence of a child to approach Our Heavenly Mother in all our needs, knowing that she , as the best of all Mothers, will certainly come to our aid.