BLESSED NICHOLAS STENO

(IN DANISH, NIELS STEENSEN)

1638-1686

The Scientist and

After a youth spent in

studying and then in scientific

research, Nicolas Steno at age

28 converted to the Catholic

Church while watching the

Corpus Christi procession,

thus realizing the greatness

and magnificence of the

Eucharist; the Real Presence

of Jesus in the Host. He then

decided to become a priest

and missionary in his own

country.

icholas Steno was born in Copenhagen,

Denmark, on January 10, 1638. Since his

youth, he was greatly involved in natural

science studies - to the point of being considered

among the founding fathers of geology, paleontology

and crystallography. His prolific scientific activity

caused him to travel all over Europe. On June 24,

1666, in Livorno, Italy, Nicholas Steno received the

grace of conversion to the Catholic faith. His

biographers wrote, “He observed with curiosity and

perplexity the procession for the Feast of Corpus

Christi and the fervor around it. The large Piazza

d’Armi was bursting with colors and sounds. A loud,

prolonged ringing of bells could be heard. The young

man was recalling another procession he watched

three years before in Lovanio, Belgium, where many

students were lined up and dozens of black-robed

professors were walking. He could perceive some-

thing different here. Maybe it was a sense of joy, a

new warm feeling… or maybe his eyes had changed?

Long lines of men in white tunics were processing

and singing. Gonfalons and banners were swinging

in the gentle breeze coming from the sea. Friars and

priests were processing too, dressed in their white

surplices adorned with laces and fringes. Even more

priests were part of the procession, wearing their copes

shining in the sun, and children holding incense

burners. Finally, a big golden canopy passed by, and

under it a minister of the Church, solemnly dressed,

absorbed in his thoughts, carrying close to his chest

the precious monstrance with the Sacred Host….

“People knelt as the Blessed Sacrament passed

by and eyes were sparkling with love as they gazed

upon the Host, all heads bowed down in adoration.

Petals and flowers were showering from all corners.

The young Nicholas Steno spent the whole day with

a deep uneasiness in his heart. He remembered the

Jesuit priest in Paris with whom he had discussed the

Real Presence of Jesus in the consecrated Bread. The

Jesuit priest had emphasized the value of Jesus’ words

at the Last Supper, ‘This is my Body’, and then St. Paul’s

first letter to the Corinthians. That day Nicholas

Steno decided to convert to Catholicism. He imme-

diately entered the seminary, and after nine years of

study he was ordained a priest. He described his

conversion: ‘As soon as I attentively pondered God’s

favors to me, these appeared to be so many that I

couldn’t help but offer to Him the best of myself and

in the best way, from the bottom of my heart…

Therefore, having come to know the great dignity of

priesthood… I asked and obtained that I may offer

the Immaculate Host to the Eternal Father for my

good and the good of others.’”

Portrait of Blessed

Nicholas Steno

St. Nicholas of Flue, better known as “Brother Klaus,” was declared

patron saint of Switzerland by Pope Pius XII in 1947. He was born

of a farmer's family in 1417 in Flueli, in the Alpine foothills above

Sachseln, in the region of Obwald. He married, had ten children,

and conducted a normal life until he was 50. Then he felt a very

strong call from God to leave everything and follow Him.

He therefore asked for three graces: to obtain the consent of his wife

Dorothy and their older children; to never feel the temptation to turn

back, and finally, God willing, to be able to live without drinking or

eating. All his requests were granted. He lived for twenty years in the

forest as a hermit with no food except for the Eucharist, as many

witnesses testified.

In Belgium, at Bois-d’Haine, the Servant of God Anne-Louise Lateau

lived for twelve years without eating or drinking, and without

sleeping, starting on March 26, 1871. On January 11, 1868, she

received stigmata at her feet, hands, head, the left side of her chest

and at her right shoulder. She lived thus conformed to Our Lord

until the end of her life. On April 23, 1873, Pope Leo XIII made the

following declarations regarding Anne-Louise’s case, “The Bois-d’Haine

event is an extraordinary one. You can affirm on my behalf that

medical science will never be able to explain such a fact.”

Anne-Louise died on August 25, 1883 at age 33. In 1991 the

cause for her beatification was officially opened.