Blessed Solanus Casey

I was born in 1870 in Wisconsin, USA, as Bernard Francis Casey. We were 16 brothers and sisters and our parents raised us in the Catholic faith. We grew up at a farm and learned the importance of sharing and working. When I left the farm, I had seveal jobs. At the age of 21 I decided to enter the seminary, but found the studies to be really difficult and was asked to leave. Later, I joined the Capuchin Order. Despite my difficulties I managed to study theology and  was ordained a priest in 1904. I received the name Solanus. As I was not considered cut out to be a preacher, I worked mostly as the porter of the monastery. I welcomed the people, listened to them and prayed for them. I led a weekly prayer for the sick and started a soup kitchen for the poor, which still exists today. I died in 1957 at the age of 86.