Saint Joseph, Mirror of patience, Lover of poverty, Model of workmen, Glory of domestic life, Guardian of virgins and Pillar of families, pray for us.
The Jesuit, Saint Robert Bellarmine was the spiritual father of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga and helped Saint Francis de Sales obtain formal approval of the Visitation Order, which gave us Saint Margaret Mary, who received her great visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
He used logic and correct theology to refute the many different heresies of the Protestants. He also expounded on the Catholic idea of democracy in the area of Church relations with the world. He taught that the power to rule originates with Almighty God, but is vested with the people, who entrust it to fit rulers. This is an important, but not the only governance that is approved by Holy Mother Church, monarchy being another, as is evidenced by Holy Writ.
He was an outstanding teacher and devoted servant of the Triune God. Also, in an interesting aside, he opposed severe action in the case of Galileo Galilei.
Saint Robert Bellarmine, pray for us.
