Saint of the Day – 8 July – St Edgar the Peaceful (c 943-975) King of the English, faithful son and Defender of the Church, Protector and Founder of Monasteries and Churches, a fair and wise ruler., always with the support of St Dunstan and the Bishops. Born in 943 or 944 in Wessex, England and died on 8 July 975 in Winchester, Wessex, England of natural causes. Patronage – kings, widowers. Also known as – Eadgar the Peaceful, Edgar the Peaceable, Edgar I, Edgar of England.
Edgar was King of England from 959 until his death. He was the younger son of Edmund I and St Elgiva of Shaftesbury and came to the throne as a teenager, following the death of his older brother Eadwig. As King, Edgar further consolidated the political unity achieved by his predecessors, with his reign being noted for its relative stability. His most trusted advisor was St Dunstan (909-988, who he recalled from exile and made Archbishop of Canterbury. The pinnacle of Edgar’s reign was his coronation at Bath in 973, which was organised by St Dunstan and forms the pattern for the current coronation ceremony in England. After his death he was succeeded by his son Edward.
One of Edgar’s first actions was to recall St Dunstan from exile and have him made Bishop of Worcester (and subsequently Bishop of London and later, Archbishop of Canterbury). St Dunstan remained Edgar’s advisor throughout his reign, by his advice and support, becoming the virtual Prime Minister. England underwent a religious revival during Edgar’s reign, with the spiritual and secular assistance of his friend, St Dunstan, as well as Archbishop Oswald of York and Bishop Aethelwold of Wincheste. Edgar founded Abbeys, encouraged the Benedictine Monks and their Rule and enacted penalties for nonpayment of tithes and Peter’s Pence, always encouraging faithful adherenceto the Pope.
Edgar was efficient and unusually tolerant of local customs; while he spent much time in military actions, his reign was a peaceful period for civilians. By the end of his reign, England was sufficiently unified, in that it was unlikely to regress back to a state of division among rival kingships. Indeed, an early eleventh century King Cnut the Great states in a letter to his subjects that “it is my will that all the nation, Ecclesiastical and lay, shall steadfastly observe Edgar’s laws, which all men have chosen and sworn at Oxford.”
Edgar was crowned at Bath and along with his wife Ælfthryth was anointed, setting a precedent for a coronation of a Queen in England itself. Edgar’s Coronation did not happen until 973 (just two years before his death), in an imperial ceremony planned, not as the initiation but as the culmination of his reign. This service was devised, written and arranged by St Dunstan himself and celebrated with a poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, forms the basis of the present-day British Coronation ceremony.
When Peaceful Edgar ruled the land He had eight kings at his command; How did he tame this royal band? Ah, he was knowing! These kings he did not subjugate And make them draw his coach of state Like Tamburlaine; he built an eight And taught them rowing
The symbolic Coronation was an important step – other Kings of Britain came and gave their allegiance to Edgar shortly afterwards, at Chester. Six kings in Britain, including the King of Scots and the King of Strathclyde, pledged their faith that they would be the King’s liege-men on land and sea. Later chroniclers made the kings into eight, all plying the oars of Edgar’s state barge on the River Dee.
Edgar died on 8 July 975 at Winchester, Hampshire. He left behind Edward, who was probably his illegitimate son by Æthelflæd and Æthelred, the younger, the child of his wife Ælfthryth. He was succeeded by Edward. Edgar also had a possibly illegitimate daughter by Wulfthryth, who later became Abbess of Wilton. She was joined there by her daughter, Edith of Wilton, who lived there as a nun until her death. Both women were later regarded as Saints.
St Elizabeth of Portugal TOSF (1271-1336) Queen Consort, Franciscan Tertiary, Apostle of Charity and Peace, Political Negotiator and Mediator. In the year 1694 Pope Innocent XII moved her Feast to 8 July, so that it would not conflict with the celebration of the Octave of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/04/saint-of-the-day-4-july-st-elizabeth-of-portugal-t-o-s-f-1271-1336/
St Abraham the Martyr Bl Adolf IV of Schauenburg St Pope Adrian III St Ampelius of Milan St Apollonius of Benevento
St Arnold St Auspicius of Toul St Auspicius of Trier Brogan of Mothil St Colman of Thuringia St Doucelin St Edgar the Peaceful (c 943-975) King of the English
St Landrada Bl Mancius Araki Kyuzaburo St Morwenna St Pancras of Taormina Bl Peter the Hermit St Procopius of Ceasarea St Sunniva of Bergen St Thibaud de Marly St Totnan of Thuringia
Abrahamite Monks/Martyrs of Constantinople: A group of Monks in a Monastery founded by Saint Abraham of Ephesus. Martyred in the iconoclast persecutions of Emperor Theophilus. In c 835 in Constantinople.
Martyrs of Shanxi – 7 Saints: In 1898 seven sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary were sent to the Shanxi Diocese in China to serve the poor in hospitals and care for the unwanted or other destitutes in orphanages. They were: • Anne-Catherine Dierks • Anne-Francoise Moreau • Clelia Nanetti • Irma Grivot • Jeanne-Marie Kuergin • Marianna Giuliani • Pauline Jeuris There they all died in one of the periodic persecutions against foreign missionaries. They were beheaded on 9 July 1900 at Taiyuanfu, China- Canonisedon 24 November 1946 by Pope Pius XII.
Martyrs of Syrmium – 5 Saints: Five Christians Martyred together for their faith. We know nothing else about them but the names – Cecilia, Eperentius, Eraclius, Sostratus and Spirus. They were martyred in the 4th century in Syrmium, Pannonia (modern Serbia).
Quote/s of the Day – 7 July – The Memorial of St Lawrence of Brindisi OFM Cap (1559-1619) Confessor, The “Franciscan Renaissance Man,” Priest
“For Him all things were created and to Him, all things must be subject and God loves all creature, in and because of Christ.”
“My dear souls, let us recognise, I pray you, Christ’s infinite charity towards us in the institution of this Sacrament of the Eucharist. In order that our love be a spiritual love, He wills a new heart, a new love, a new spirit for us. It is not with a carnal heart but with a spiritual one, that Christ has loved us with a gratuitous love, a supreme and most ardent love, by way of pure grace and charity. Ah! One needs to love Him back with one’s whole, whole, whole, living, living, living and true, true, true heart!”
One Minute Reflection – 7 July – The Memorial of Saint Cyril (827-869) and Saint Methodius (826-885) “Apostles to the Slavs,” Sibling Brother Bishops, Confessors – Romans 8:18-23, Luke 10:1-9
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He send labourers into His harvest.” – Luke 10:2
REFLECTION – “The gospel that has just been read to us invites us to seek out what this harvest might be of which the Lord says to us that: “The harvest is indeed great, the laborers are few, so pray the lord of the harvest that He send labourers into His harvest.” So it was that,, in addition to those twelve disciples whom He called Apostles (those who have been sent), He sent out seventy-two others. All of them, as His own words reveal, were sent to work at a harvest that had already been prepared. What harvest is this? They were not going to reap a harvest from the Gentiles, where nothing had yet been sown, so we must think of a harvest among the Jews. It was in order to reap this harvest that the Lord of the harvest came. But to the other peoples He sent, not reapers but sowers. Among the Jews, then, there was a harvest but elsewhere, the sowing. And it was particularly, while reaping among the Jews, that He chose the Apostles. Harvest time had come, the harvest was ripe, for the prophets had done their sowing among them…
Did not the Lord declare to His disciples: “You say the harvest will be a long time. I tell you, look up and see, the fields ripe for harvest,” (Jn 4,35)? And again, He said: “Others have done the work and you are sharing the fruits of their work,” (ibid v.38). Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the prophets, have done the work, they worked hard to sow the seed. At His coming, the Lord found the harvest to be ripe and He sent out the reapers, with the scythe of the Gospel.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop of Hippo, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon 101).
PRAYER – Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of the blessed brothers, Cyril and Methodius, who, by the power of the Holy Ghost were moved to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Saint of the Day – 7 July – Saint Prosper of Aquitaine (c 390-c 465) Theologian, Married Layman, Writer, disciple and friend of St Augustine (354-430). St Prosper was the first continuator of St Jerome’s Universal Chronicle. Born in c 390 in Aquitaine, France and died in c 465 in Rome, Italy, of natural causes. Also known as – Tiro Prosper or Prosper Tiro.
Prosper was a native of Aquitaine, France and may have been educated at Bordeaux. By 417 he arrived in Marseilles as a refugee from Aquitaine, in the aftermath of the Gothic invasions of Gaul.
We first meet Prosper definitively around 425 as a participant in the Pelagian controversy which rocked the Church in southern France. Pelagian heretics minimised the role of grace in the first steps of becoming a Christian. Many vigorously opposed St Augustine’s strict views that special grace was required for salvation and thus, many were predestined to damnation. Prosper, a lay theologian, championed St Augustine. And in 428, a letter from Prosper prompted Augustine to write a major work on predestination.
Although a layman, Prosper threw himself with ardour into the religious controversies of his day, defending St Augustine and propagating orthodoxy. In his De vocatione omnium gentium – “The Call of all Nations,”, in which the issues of the call to the Gentiles is discussed, in the light of Augustine’s doctrine of Grace, Prosper appears as the first of the medieval Augustinians.
In 431, Prosper went to Rome and obtained a letter from Pope Celestine I that affirmed Augustine and his views and urged the French Bishops to quell the dispute peacefully. But it raged on. For several more years, Prosper wrote extensively, defending and popularising St Augustine’s teaching.
St Prosper on the right with Baby Jesus above him
In The Call to All Nations, Prosper seems to have mellowed somewhat, allowing that God mercifully made the Grace of Salvation available to all human beings. In the following excerpt Prosper describes the interplay of grace and free will:
“When the Word of God enters the ears through the ministry of preachers, the action of the Divine Power fuses with the sound of the human voice. The soul passes from one will to another will. Although the will that is driven out lingers on for a while, the newborn will claims for itself, all that is better in human beings. Thus the law of sin and the law of God do not dwell in the same way and together in the same person. Then the tempter tries to ambush the person through external things but the mind, strong with God’s help, prevails. For there are occasions for struggle and these greatly benefit the faithful. Their weakness is buffeted so that their holiness may not yield to pride. All good things, especially those conducive to eternal life, are obtained, increased and preserved through God’s favour.”
Prosper spent the last part of his life in Rome where he served as secretary to St Pope Leo the Great. During that tim, he wrote the Chronicle, a universal history from Adam’s fall to the Vandal’s conquest of Rome in 455. He died in Rome around 465.
You will remember yesterday’s Saint Palladius of Ireland, knowledge of whose history, was greatly enhanced by his contemporary’s writings, St Prosper, who speaks of St Palladius, in particular in regard to the Pelagian heresy.
Saint Cyril (827-869) Saint Methodius (826-885) “Apostles to the Slavs,” Sibling Brother Bishops, Confessors, Theologians, Missionaries, Writers, Preachers, Patrons of Europe. Creators of the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic and Cyrillac Alphabet, which was developed from it. Their Feast Day is 7 July (moved in 1969). The great Saints Cyril & Methodius: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/saints-of-the-day-14-february-sts-cyril-827-869-methodius-826-885/
St Lawrence of Brindisi OFM Cap (1559-1619) Confessor, The “Franciscan Renaissance Man,” Priest and Friar of the Friars Minor Capuchin, Theologian, Vicar General of the Franciscans, Language scholar, Humanist, Philosopher, Biblicist, Preacher, Missionary, Professor, International Administrator, Confidant of Popes, Emperors, Kings and Princes, Diplomatic envoy, Army Chaplain, Military Strategist and Morale builder, Polemicist, Prolific writer. He was Beatified on 1 June 1783 by Pope Pius VI and Canonised on 8 December 1881 by Pope Leo XIII. His Zealous Life: https://anastpaul.com/2017/07/21/saint-of-the-day-21-july-st-lawrence-of-brindisi-o-f-m-cap-doctor-of-the-church/
St Alexander St Angelelmus of Auxerre St Apollonius of Brescia
Blessed Pope Benedict XI OP (1240-1303) Cardinal-Priest of St Sabina, Bishop of Ostia then of Rome, Dominican Friar, Prior Provincial of Lombardy prior to becoming the Master of the Order in 1296, Apostolic Papal Legate to Hungary and France, Teacher, Preacher, Writer and renowned Scholar with special emphasis on Biblical commentary. His Papacy began on 22 Ocober 1303 and ended at his death on 7 July 1304. His Life: https://anastpaul.com/2020/07/07/saint-of-the-day-7-july-blessed-pope-benedict-xi-1240-1303/
Bl Bodard of Poitiers St Bonitus of Monte Cassino St Carissima of Rauzeille St Eoaldus of Vienne St Ethelburga of Faremoutier St Hedda of Wessex St Maelruan Bl Marie-Gabrielle-Françoise-Suzanne de Gaillard de Lavaldène St Medran St Merryn Bl Oddino Barrotti St Odo of Urgell St Odran St Palladius of Ireland St Pantaenus of Alexandria
St Pantænus (Died c 216) Father of the Church, Theologian, Philosopher, Teacher, Confessor and Defender of the Faith, Writer and interpreter of the Bible, the Trinity and Christology, |Missionary. Convert ofthe disciples of the Apostles. Head of the Alexandrian School of Learning – a famous pupil was St Clement of Alexandria. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/07/saint-of-the-day-7-july-st-pantaenus-father-of-the-church-died-c-216/
St Prosper of Aquitaine (c 390-c 436) Theologian, Married Layman, Writer, disciple abd friend of St Augustine. St Syrus of Genoa St They
Martyrs of Durres – 7 Saints: Also known as – Martyrs of Dyrrachium/Martyrs of Durazzo. A group of seven Italian Christians who fled Italy to escape the persecutions of Emperor Hadrian. Arrived in Dyrrachium, Macedonia to find Saint Astius tied to a cross, covered in honey, laid in the sun and left to be tortured by biting and stinging insects. When they expressed sympathy for Astius, they were accused of being Christians, arrested, chained, weighted down, taken off shore and drowned. We know little more about each of them than their names – Germaus, Hesychius, Lucian, Papius, Peregrinus, Pompeius and Saturninus. They were born in Italy and were martyred at sea c117 off the coast of Dyrrachium (Durazzo), Macedonia (modern Durres, Albania).
Saint of the Day – 6 July – Saint Palladius of Ireland (Died c 432) The First Bishop sent to Ireland preceding St Patrick and “Apostle of the Scots.” Died 9n c 432 at Fordun, Scotland of natural causes. Patronage – Scotland. Also known as – Palladius of Aberdeen, Palladius of Scotland, Pallade, Palladio, “Apostle of the Scots.”
A seventh century Irish biography of Saint Patrick identifies Palladius as Archdeacon of the Roman Church under Pope Celestine. Saint Prosper of Aquitaine, his contemporary, informs us in his historical chronicle. that when Agricola, a noted Pelagian heretic, had corrupted the Churches of Britain by introducing that pestilential heresy, Pope Celestine, in 429, at the instance of Palladius the Deacon, sent there Saint Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, as his Legate. He, after having ejected the heretics, brought back the Britons to the Catholic faith.
The same Pope sent Palladius to the Celts. Palladius was accompanied by four companions: Sylvester and Solinus, who remained in Ireland, after he left and Augustinus and Benedictus, who followed him to Britain but returned to their own country after his death.
The Irish writer of the life of Saint Patrick says that Palladius preached in Ireland some time before Saint Patrick but, that he was soon sent away by the King of Leinster and returned to North Britain, where he had opened his mission.
Saint Prosper says that he was consecrated Bishop by the same Pope Celestine and then sent with relics of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, as the first Bishop to the nation of the Scots. Several colonies of these had passed from Ireland into North Britain and taken possession of the part of the country since called Scotland. Later Saint Palladius also founded three Churches in more hospitable regions of Ireland.
He preached to the Scots with great zeal, and formed a considerable Church. The Scottish historians tell us, that the Faith was first planted in North Britain about the year 200, in the time of King Donald, when Saint Victor I was Pope but they all acknowledge, that Palladius was the first Bishop of that Country and they call him their first Apostle. Saint Palladius died at Fordun, fifteen miles from Aberdeen, about the year 432.
Scottish Church tradition holds, that he presided over a Christian community there for about 20 years. A cluster of dedications in the Mearns in Scotland, in the village of Auchenblae, are believed to mark his last resting place. As late as the reign of James V, royal funds were disbursed for the fabrication of a new Reliquary for the Church there, and an annual “Paldy Fair” was held at least until the time of the Reformation.
St Gervais St Giusto of Condat St Goar of Aquitaine St Godelieve St Monenna St Noyala of Brittany St Petrus Wang Zuolung St Palladius of Ireland (Died c 432) The First Bishop sent to Ireland preceding St Patrick and “Apostle of the Scots.”
St Saxburgh of Ely St Sisoes the Great Bl Suzanne Agathe de Loye Bl Thomas Alfield (c 1552-1585) Priest Martyr St Tranquillinus of Rome
Martyrs of Campania – 23 Saints: A group of 23 Christians arrested, tortured and then beheaded together in the later 3rd century by order Gf Governor Rictiovarus during the persecutions of Diocletian. The names that have come down to us are – Antoninus, Arnosus, Capicus, Cutonius, Diodorus, Dion, Isidore, Lucia, Lucian, Rexius, Satyrus and Severinus.
Martyrs of Fiesole – 5 Saints: Five Christians Martyred together during the persecutions of Emperor Domitian – Carissimus, Crescentius, Dulcissimus, Marchisianus and Romulus. c 90 near Fiesole, Italy.
Saint of the Day – 25 June – Saint Gallicanus of Ostia (Died c 363) Martyr, Layman, firstly as a Ranking Officer in the Imperial Army of Constantine the Great, promoted to the position of a Roman Consul, Convert to Christianity. He died in the persecutions under Julian.
The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Alexandria, St Gallicnus, ex-Consul and Martyr, who had been honoured with a triumph and was held in affection by Emperor Constantine
Gallicanus had been converted by the disciples of St John and St Paul, after which he withdrew to Ostia with St Hilarinus and devoted himself entirely to the duties of hospitality and to the service of the sick. The report of such an event spread through the whole world and from all sides, many persons came to see a man, who had been a Senator and Consul, washing the feet of the poor, preparing their table, serving them, carefuly waiting on the infirm and performing other works of mercy.
Driven from this place by Julian the Apostate, he repaired to Alexandria, where, for refusing to sacrifice to idols, at the command of the Judge Raucian, he was put to the sword and thus became a Martyr of Christ.”
According to his Acts he was a distinguished General in the war against the Persians. He was also Consul with Symmachus in 330 and perhaps also once before, with Caesonius Bassus in 317. After his conversion to Christianity he retired to Ostia, founded a hospital where he worked with Saint Hilarinus and endowed a Church built by Constantine I.
Under Julian he was banished to Egypt and lived with the hermits in the desert.
A small Church was built in his honour in the Trastevere of Rome. His relics are at Rome in the Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle.
Gallicanus’ conversion was dramatised in the tenth century by the nun Roswitha. St Gallicanus is a Saint of the Colonnade at St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome. He is the first Statue on the right (north) colonnade, St. Gallicanus faces toward the front opening of St Peter’s Square. His Statue was carved etween 1670-1673 by Lazzaro Morelli, who was the most prolific of the artists working for Bernini on the colonnade statues, with over 45 of the saints attributed to him.
Amand of Coly Bl Burchard of Mallersdorf St Cyneburga of Gloucester Bl Dorothy of Montau St Eurosia of Jaca St Febronia of Nisibis Bl Fulgentius de Lara St Gallicanus of St Gallicanus of Ostia (Died c 363) Martyr, Layman, Roman Consul St Gohard of Nantes Bl Guy Maramaldi Bl Henry Zdick Bl John the Spaniard St Luceias and Companions
Bl Christopher de Albarran St Erembert I of Kremsmünster St Faustus of Rome and Companions St Festus of Rome St Germoc St Gohardus of Nantes Bl Henry of Auxerre/the Hagiographer St Ivan of Bohemia St John of Rome
St John of Tuy St Joseph Yuan Zaide Bl Maksymilian Binkiewicz St Rumold St Simplicio of Autun Bl Theodgar of Vestervig St Theodulphus of Lobbes
Martyrs of Satala: Seven Christian brothers who were soldiers in the imperial Roman army. They were expelled from the military, exiled and eventually martyred in the persecutions of Maximian. We know little more about them than their names – Cyriacus, Firminus, Firmus, Longinus, Pharnacius, Heros and Orentius. The martyrdoms occurred in c 311 at assorted locations around the Black Sea.
Saint of the Day – 23 June – Blessed Pietro Giacomo of Persaro OSA (c 1445 -1496) Priest of the Order of the Hermits of St Augustine, Professor in Sacred Theology, Novice Master, Born in c 1445 in Pesaro, Italy and died on 23 June 1496 the Hermitage of Valmanente in the Marche, Italy. Also known as – Peter James.
Pietro was born in Pesaro most likely, around the year 1445. Little is known about his family, which some historians call Gaspari. Ar a very young age, he asked and obtained, entrance to the Convent of the Augustinians in Pesaro, who instilled in him the compelling charm which inspired devotion in others, which characterised the Augustinians – with study as a way to wisdom, virtue and apostolic ministry.
At the end of his Novitiate, the young man made his profession and was sent to complete his studies necessary for the Priestly ministry and an academic career according to the rigid and demanding program prescribed for the Augustinian Order.
After his Priestly Ordination, he entered the Convent life with the commitment to continue his studies and to guide the young students of the Order.
In 1472 he was Master of the Novices in Perugia. In 1473 he was sent to teach in the Augustinian College in Florence. In 1482 we find him, already with the title of Professor in Sacred Theology in Rimini with the task of Master of the Novices..
He participated in two General Chapters: in 1482 in Perugia and in 1486 in Siena. He died in his early fifties. His life, therefore, ended not due to the wear and tear of the years but, probably, of the hardships of his mortication and penances. At the end of his life, always in the esteem of his Superiors and confreres, he renounced any office, even a prestigious one, in order to devote himself to the ascetic life and contemplation in the Hermitage of Valmanente, made famous by the holiness of St Nicholas of Tolentino, who in that place, had its famous vision of Purgatory.
Other records which historians have sometimes reported regarding our saint – such as his appointment as General Commissioner for a dispute between the Convents of Pergola and Corinaldo, his election as Prior Provincial of the Picena Province and the office of Prior in the famous Convent and College of St James the Greater in Bologna – should be better verified, also because some may refer to a another Pietro Giacomo da Pesaro, a contemporary of his.
However, we do know for sure, that the Blessed Pietro Giacomo emerged with some unmistakable characteristics – his holiness of life, love for study, commitment to evangelisation and the spiritual and cultural formation of young Augustinians, the search for solitude, asceticism, prayer and penance. ,
He died in 1496 in Valmanente, where his relics are now venerated in the Augustinian Church. Pope Pius IX, of blessed memory, approved his cult in 1848.
St Moeliai of Nendrum Blessed Pietro Giacomo of Persaro OSA (c 1445-1496) Priest of the Order of the Hermits of St Augustine Bl Peter of Juilly Bl Thomas Corsini of Orvieto St Thomas Garnet Bl Walhere of Dinant St Zenas of Philadelphia St Zeno of Philadelphia
Martyrs of Ancyra: A family of converts who were arrested, tortured, and sent in chains to Ancyra, Galatia (modern Ankara, Turkey) where they was tortured again by order of governor Agrippinus during the persecutions of Diocletian. Martyrs. They were – Eustochius, Gaius, Lollia, Probus, Urban. Died by being roasted over a fire and finally beheaded c300 in Ancyra, Galatia (modern Ankara, Turkey).
Martyrs of Nicomedia: During the persecutions of Diocletian, many Christians fled their homes to live in caves in the area of Nicomedia. In 303 troops descended on the area, systematically hunted them down and murdered all they could find.
Quote/s of the Day – 22 June – “Month of the Sacred Heart” – The Memorial of St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) Bishop, Confessor, Father.
“To my mind, the only art, is the Faith and Christ is my Poetry.”
“It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and without being acquainted, know each other because, we are members of One Body, we have One Head, we are steeped in One Grace, we live on One Loaf, we walk on One Road and we dwell in the Same House!”
One Minute Reflection – 22 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Within the Octave of Corpus Christi and the Memorial of St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) Bishop, Confessor – 1 Corinthians 23-29, John 6:56-59.
“ … For he who eats and drinks unworthily, … eats and drinks judgement upon himself.”- 1 Corinthians 29
REFLECTION – “Christ has hidden enemies. All those who live unjust and irreligious lives are Christ’s enemies, even if they are signed with His Name and are called ‘Christians’ I mean the ones to whom he is going to say, “I do not know you” and they say to him, “Lord, in your name we ate and drank. In your name, we performed many deeds of power. What did we eat and drink in your name?”
You see that they did not value their food very highly and yet, it was with reference to It, that they said they belonged to Christ. Christ is the Food that is eaten and drunk. Even Christ’s enemies eat and drink Him! The faithful know the Lamb without spot on which they feed, if only they fed on It in such a way that they are not liable to punishment! The Apostle says, “Whoever eats and drinks unworthily is eating and drinking judgment upon himself.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 308).
PRAYER – O God, Who promised to those who forsake all things in this world for Thee, a hundred-fold reward in the world to come and life everlasting, mercifully grant that, following closely in the footsteps of the holy Bishop, Paulinus, we may look upon earthly things as nought and long only for those of Heaven. Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect). SWEET HEART of my JESUS, Make me love Thee ever more and more! – Indulgence 300 Days Everytime – Plenary Once a Month – Raccolta 162 – Pope Pius IX 26 November 1876.
Saint of the Day – 22 June – St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) Bishop, Confessor, Poet, Writer, Apostle of Charity, Preacher, distinguished lawyer who hHeld several public offices in the Empire as Orator, Senator and Governor before his retirement from public life and his dedication to the service of God.
The Roman Martyrology reads of him today: “At Nola, in Campania, the birthday of the blessed Paulinus, Bishop and Confessor, who, although a most noble and wealthy man, made himself poor and humble for Christ. And, what is still more admirable, became a slave to liberate a widow’s son, who had been carried to Africa by the Vandals, when they devastated Canpania. He was celebrated, not only for his learning and exceptional holiness of life but, also for his power over the demons. His great merit has been extolled by Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine and Gregory, in their writings. His body, at first transferred to Benevento and thence to Rome, was restored to Nola by Order of Pius X.”
St Paulinus, Bishop of Nola By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)
St Paulinus, who, on account of his great learning and eloquence but still more, on account of his virtues, is highly praised by St Ambrose, St Augustine, St Jerome and St Gregory, was a native of Bordeaux, in the Province of Gascony. His parents, who were Romans and very rich and of ancient nobility, desired that their son should be as eminent for intelligence and knowledge, as he was on account of his birth and fortune. Their desire was fulfilled, for, when Paulinus had reached the age of manhood, he was not only honoured and admired, by everyone but, was chosen Prefect and Governor of Rome and gained great fame for the wisdom of his administration. The pious Paulinus, however, soon became tired of all worldly honours and pleasures and, having resigned his Office, he went to Barcelona in Spain, to serve God without disturbance.
Having remained there for some time, he returned to Italy. At that time, St Ambrose was the Bishop of Milan and to him, Paulinus applied for advice, with regard to the change he intended to make in his life. Having received the Saint’s directions, he went to Nola, in Campania, as he entertained special reverence towards St Felix, Priest and Martyr, of that City. There, he humbled himself so deeply, that for some time he occupied the office of Sacristan. Afterwards he sold his estates and having used a part of the money in building a Church at Fundi, he gave the remainder to the poor. He then proceeded to a little village in the neighbourhood of Nola, changed his rich garments for humble clothing and commenced to lead the life of a Hermit in a poor little hut, deriving all his sustenance from alms.
But, although Paulinus kept himself secluded, it yet became known who he was and whence he came and not only Nola but all Italy, was astonished, that so great and eminent a man, had chosen for his walk through life, such an humble and, in the eyes of the world, such a despised path. The esteem in which he was then held by both clergy and laity, was so great, that, on the death of the Bishop of Nola, they determined to raise him to the Episcopal chair. It was long before the humble servant of God could be persuaded to accept the dignity but having at last consented, his love, his solicitude for his flock, the zeal he displayed for the honour of God, made him beloved by men and favoured by the Almighty.
Soon after his election to the See, Campania suffered the fate of many other countries and was laid waste by the Goths and many of its inhabitants were taken prisoners. The holy Bishop used all his income to feed the poor and ransom the captives. When all his resources were exhausted, Nola was plundered and the great servant of the Almighty, with several others, was taken prisoner. God, however, so ordained, that he was speedily released. Some years afterwards, the Vandals crossed the ocean and, again plundering the Kingdom of Naples, took away many of the inhabitants as prisoners. Among these were several persons from Nola and although St.Paulinus exerted himself to the utmost to redeem them from prison, he was unable to help all.
This extremity gave the holy Bishop an opportunity for an act of charity which had never before been witnessed in the world. St Gregory himself relates the event as follows: “A poor widow, coming to the Saint, complained with bitter tears, that her only son, who was all the support she had, was taken prisoner and begged him not to refuse her the money she needed for his ransom. The Saint, deeply affected, answered: “My dear daughter, I have not anything left but to ransom your son, I will sell myself. I will go with you and you must say that you give me instead of your son, in order that he may return to you.” The widow, unspeakably surprised at the Saint’s offer, hesitated to accept it but Paulinus knew how to overcome her remonstrances and, at last persuaded her to consent to his plan. He travelled with her to Africa, where her son had already arrived and the Saint, clad in the garment of a slave, was exchanged for the widow’s son, the latter being set at liberty. Paulinus was charged with the care of a garden, as he said that he was able to perform that work and God blessed his endeavours in such a manner, that everything grew most wonderfully under his hands.
A near relative of the King, who was a great lover of horticulture, came frequently into the garden and speaking with the new gardener, soon observed that he was more than an ordinary labourer. Paulinus one day whispered to him in a prophetic spirit: “Have a care for the future. Thy King will soon be a corpse. Act in time and take all proper measures in the affairs of the Crown.” The gentleman, greatly terrified at this speech, informed the King of it, who desired to see Paulinus.
Fear bedewed the King’s face with great drops of sweat when the Saint appeared before him. for, he had had a dream in the night, in which it appeared to him that he stood before the Divine Judgement-seat and heard the sentence: “The scourge given to him shall again be taken from his hands.” Among the judges, the king said, he had seen the man now standing before him. After this, he gave orders to inquire into the history of this gardener. At first, Paulinus would not confess who he was but, as they insisted on knowing and he thought it might promote the honour of God, he revealed his name and also how he had become a slave. The king, admiring his virtue, immediately gave him his liberty and told him he would grant him any favour he might ask. The Saint requested the liberation of all the captives from Nola, which the \King granted without any hesitation. Hence, all the prisoners from Nola were assembled at Court and being liberated, they returned with the holy Bishop, whom they justly regarded and honoured as their deliverer. How the whole City rejoiced, when the Saint arrived there accompanied by so many long lost friends! All the inhabitants went out to meet him,and having given him due thanks for his love and goodness, they led him with great honours and rejoicings to his Episcopal chair, whence he exhorted them to give thanks to the Almighty for the grace bestowed on them and to serve Him fervently and with unwearied zeal in future.”
After this he continued his pastoral functions until sickness confined him to his bed. Two Bishops from the neighbourhood, visited him at this time and having an Altar erected in his room, he for the last time said Holy Mass. When this was accomplished, he lay down again and asked where his brothers were? A servant, supposing that St Paulinus was speaking of the two above-mentioned Bishops, replied: “They are here, dear Father.” The Saint, however, said: “Not so, those, whom I mean, are the two Bishops, Januarius and Martin, who were with me and who promised to come soon again.” Januarius had formerly been Bishop at Naples, Martin at Tours – both were famous on account of their holiness. They appeared to the Saint and cheered him in his suffering and thus he expired happily in the Lord, in the year 431 . The holy Fathers Jerome, Gregory and Ambrose, in their works, bestow high praise on the great learning as well as the virtues of this Saint. St Augustine, in his record of St Paulinus, relates among other events, that when St Paulinus had been taken prisoner, he said to the Almighty: “Lord, release my heart from all anxiety for gold and silver, as Thou knowest best, where I have placed my treasures.” St Augustine remarks that the holy man had already sent all that had been his, according to the admonition of our Lord, to Heaven, through the hands of the poor. Amen! St Paulinus, Pray for us all!
St Paulinus of Nola (c 354-431) Bishop, Confessor, Poet, Writer, Apostle of Charity, Preacher, Orator, Senator and Governor. St Paulinus was an inspiration to many—including six great Saints of the Church, who referenced him in letters of encouragement to others: St Augustine, St Jerome, Melania, St Martin of Tours, St Gregory and St Ambrose. St Augustine wrote, “Go to Campania– there study Paulinus, that choice servant of God. With what generosity, with what still greater humility, he has flung from himself the burden of this world’s grandeurs to take on him the yoke of Christ and in His service how serene and unobtrusive his life!” About St Paulinus: https://anastpaul.com/2018/06/22/saint-of-the-day-22-june-st-paulinus-of-nola-c-354-431/
St Aaron of Brettany St Aaron of Pais-de-Laon St Alban of Britain Bl Altrude of Rome St Consortia St Cronan of Ferns St Eberhard of Salzburg St Eusebius of Samosata St Exuperantius of Como St Flavius Clemens St Gregory of Agrigento St Heraclius the Soldier St Hespérius of Metz
Blessed Pope Innocent V OP (c 1225-1275) Papal Ascesion 21 January 1276 unril 22 June 1276 (the date of his death. Friar of the Order of Preachers, Theologian, renowned Preacher, Scholar, Writer,, Dominican Office bearer, disciple of St Albert the Great and collaborator and friend of St Thomas Aquinas.and St Bonaventure. His Life: https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/22/saint-of-the-day-22-june-blessed-pope-innocent-v-op-c-1225-1275/
St John IV of Naples St Julius of Pais-de-Laon Bl Kristina Hamm Bl Marie Lhuilier St Nicetas of Remesiana St Precia of Epinal St Rotrudis of Saint-Omer St Rufinus of Alexandria
Martyrs of Samaria – 1480 Saints: 1480 Christians massacred in and near Samaria during the war between the Greek Emperor Heraclius and the pagan Chosroas of Persia. c 614 in the vicinity of Samaria, Palestine.
Thought for the Day – 21 June – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
St Aloysius Gonzaga
“One might say, that the life of St Aloysius Gonzaga was a miracle of purity and of heroic penance. The source of his sanctity was the ardent love of God which he cherished from his childhood days. He loved God above all things and with all his strength. Therefore, long hours of prayer were a joy to him, the service of God in the Society of Jesus was his main desire and, mortification, was a loving offering, which he made in expiation of the sins of men.
The heart of St Aloysius, was not closed to men because of its supreme love of God. His love of God, overflowed, into a vast love for his fellowmen. He finally fell a victim to his own heroic charity. When he was only twenty four years old, he devoted himself so earnestly to the care of those who had been stricken down by the Plague, that he caught the infection and died a peaceful death. In his final moments, he smiled and announced that he was happy to be leaving the world.
Do we desire to merit as peaceful and holy a death as this? Let us imitate St Aloysius by living lives of purity henceforth, even if we have not always been as faithful as he was in this regard. Let us imitate also, his love for God and for his neighbour, his spirit of penance and his fervour in prayer.”
Quote of the Day – 21 June – The Memorial of St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591) “The Angel of Purity”
“Recommend yourself to your Angel Guardian three times a day – in the morning. by the prayer “Angele Dei” in the evening, by the same prayer and during the day, when you visit the Altars in Churches. Remember that you are to be guided by your Angel, like a blind man who cannot see the dangers of the streets and trusts entirely. to the person who leads him.”
St Aloysius de Gonzaga (1568-1591)
Prayer for the Intercession of St Aloysius Gonzaga, (Can be Prayed as a Novena for Nine Consecutive Days)
O Saint Aloysius, adorned with angelical manners, although I am thy unworthy servant, I recommend to thee, in an especial manner, the chastity of my soul and body; I conjure thee, by thy angelical purity, to commend me to Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb and to His most Holy Mother, the Virgin of virgins. Preserve me from every grievous sin; never suffer me to sully my soul , with any impurity; whenever thou seest me in temptation, or danger of sin, ward off from me, every impure thought and affection and awakening in me, the remembrance of eternity and of Jesus Crucified, imprint deeply in my heart the sentiment of the fear of God. Inflame me with divine love, in order that, by imitating thee on earth, I may merit to enjoy God with thee in Heaven. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary
One Minute Reflection – 21 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Tuesday within the Octave of Corpus Christi and the Memorial of St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591) – 1 Corinthians 23-29, John 6:56-59.
“This is the Bread that has come down from Heaven; not as your fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this Bread shall live forever.” – John 6:59
REFLECTION – Christ is “the bread of life” for those who believe in Him: to believe in Christ is to eat the bread of life, to possess Christ within one, is to possess eternal life… “I am the bread of life,” He says; “your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and they are dead” (Jn 6,48f). By this is to be understood ,spiritual death. Why are they dead? Because they believed in what they saw and did not understand what they could not see… Moses ate manna, Aaron ate it and many others, too, who pleased God and are not dead. Why are they not dead? Because they understood, in a spiritual fashion, they were spiritually hungry, they tasted the manna spiritually, so that they might be spiritually satisfied. “This is the bread that came down from heaven: whoever eats it will never die” (v.50). This manna – that is to say, Christ, who Himself spoke like this…, was prefigured by the manna but was able to do more than manna could. For manna could not, of itself, prevent dying spiritually… But the righteous saw Christ in the manna, they believed in His coming and Christ, of whom manna was the symbol, grants to all who believe in Him that they should not spiritually die. Hence He says: “This is the bread come down from heaven; whoever eats it will never see death.” Here on earth, here now, before your eyes, your eyes of flesh: here is to be found the “bread from heaven” (v.51). The “bread of life” we spoke of a moment ago is now called “living bread.” Living bread because it contains, within itself, the life that abides and can deliver from spiritual death and bestow life. First He said: “Whoever eats it will never die” now he speaks clearly, concerning the life He gives: “Whoever eats this bread will live for ever” (v.58). Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury (c 1125-1190) Cistercian – The Sacrament of the Altar II
PRAYER – O God, bestower of heavenly gifts, Who in the angelic youth Aloysius joined wondrous innocence of life to an equally wondrous love of penance; grant, by his merits and prayers, that we who have not followed him in his innocence may imitate him in his penance. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect). SACRED Heart of JESUS, Thy Kingdom come! Indulgence 300 Days. Everytime Raccolta 178 St Pius X, 4 May 1906.
Saint of the Day – 21 June – St Aloysius Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591) Confessor, Seminarian of the Society of Jesus, Mystic, Marian devotee, born of a noble family as Prince Luigi. Known as “The Angel of Purity.” Patronages – Catholic youth, Jesuit scholastics, the blind, eye ailments, AIDS patients, care-givers, Jesuit students, for relief from pestilence, young people, Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy, Valmonte, Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Rome, St Aloysius de Gonzaga, of the Society of Jesus, most renowned for his contempt of his Princely dignity and the innocence of his life.”
St Aloysius de Gonzaga (Excerpt) By Fr Virgilio Cepari SJ (1564-1631)
St Aloysius, unlike so many of his illustrious family, has not left behind him, the glory of a great Captain, or of a man of letters, or of a ruler or statesman. Perhaps we may gather from this brief life, that thanks to the laws of inheritance, or to the gifts specially bestowed upon him, had longer years and occasion been given to him, he would have made his mark in the world. Talents he had and they were very notable whenever circumstances called them into play. Father Budrioli, a contemporary of our Saint, records in his Memoirs of St Aloysius ,that it was the conviction of all the Fathers in the Roman College and, there were men of European fame amongst them, that young Gonzaga had been given to the Society of Jesus, by a special Providence, to be one day its General, a post for which his prudence, sound judgement and extraordinary ability in matters of business, seemed even then, to have marked him out.
But St Aloysius had a heart too great to be contented with earthly grandeur. Nothing seemed of value to him, except what is prized by God and what, like Him, is everlasting To our Saint, the highest science was the science of Saints, to conquer oneself, the greatest victory, to serve God was to reign.! His motto was: Quid hoc ad aeternitatem? What is this to eternity? Guided by this thought, the young Prince, though living in the midst of a profligate world, with its charms and seductions on every side, took in hand the difficult task of making himself a Saint. And in the short space that he lived, he reached such a height of sanctity, that Holy Church, not content with raising him to her Altars, honoured him with the title of “The Angel of Purity”and gave him as model and Patron to the youth of the future.
What commemoration more fitting or more profitable than, by the faithful picture of his life, to reproduce him, whose whole being, whose every word and deed, whose each joy and sorrow, every aspiration and success were a constant forward march towards that ideal of perfection, which attracted him from childhood!
Fr Virgilio Cepar was a contemporary of the Saint, an ocular witness of most of the facts he narrates; he was his fellow-student and lived with him for several years, during which time, he met him everyday and was honoured with his most entire confidence. And what Cepari himself had not seen and heard, he learned from the lips of those who had witnessed all that he narrates, the mother and brother of St Aloysius, his tutors, servants, his relatives and acquaintances, his masters, superiors in religion, his Confessor. Fr Cepari visited every place, except those in Spain, where the Saint had stayed for any length of time and took down on the spot, the most exact information, as can be learnt from the statements of the sworn witnesses. No other writer of the life of St Aloysius has done the same.
To download “The Life of St Aloysius Gonzaga”, click on the link below.
St Raymond of Barbastro St Rufinus of Syracuse St Suibhne the Sage St Terence St Ursicenus of Pavia
Martyrs of Taw – 3+ Saints: Three Christians of different backgrounds who were martyred together – Moses, Paphnutius, Thomas. They were beheaded in Taw, Egypt, date unknown.
Saint of the Day – 20 June – Blessed Michelina of Pesaro TOSF (1300-1356) Widow, Religious of the Third Order of the Friars Minor, Stigmatic, Penitent, Apostle of all in need, Founder of the Confraternity of the Annunciation, to care for the poor, nurse the sick and bury the dead. Born in 1300 at Pesaro, Urbino, Italy and died on 19 June 1356 (aged 55–56) 1356 of natural causes. Patronages – Pesaro, widows, against mental illness, against death of children. Also known as – Michelina Metelli. Beatified on 13 April 1737 by Pope Clement XII.
The Town of Pesaro is situate on the shores of the Adriatic in Italy, not far from the famous Shrine of Loreto. There, in 1300, a daughter was born to the wealthy and noble Metelli family, who received the name Michelina in Baptism. The child was endowed with superior natural gifts and, in accordance with the pious tradition of the family, she was brought up in the holy fear of the Lord.
When she was twelve years old, Michelina was married to a nobleman of the powerful family of Malatesta. Although Michelina was good and pious, it is said that her heart was divided between creatures and the Creator, as is often the case. Her husband and a son, with whom the marriage was blessed, occupied her heart more than was becoming to a Christian woman.
The Lord severed one of these ties, by taking her husband to Himself, when Michelina was only twenty years old. This was a severe trial for the young wife but Michelina did not yet recognise the higher designs of God. Her maternal affections were now still more centred on her little son.
About this time, a pious Tertiary from Syria came to Pesaro and edified the entire Town by her fervour at prayer and the holiness of her life. Michelina also conceived a great veneration for this pious lady and invited her to take up her abode in her palace, promising to provide for all her needs, so that she could serve God alone. The stranger gratefully accepted this hospitality and almighty God rewarded Michelina by permitting her to learn to love God above all things and all other things only in God.
Once on the Feast of Pentecost, she conversed with her Tertiary guest on the need of surrendering one’s heart to God. The latter spoke of it in glowing terms and declared it was necessary. “That may be true” said Michelina, “but I cannot aspire to such perfection. My son, the tenderest object of my affections, occupies my heart too much and my earthly possessions do not leave me free enough to offer my heart completely to God.” “Let us then,” replied the Tertiary, “pray together that God may disengage your heart from those things which are an obstacle to your salvation and perfection.” The grace of the Holy Spirit was not wanting and Michelina answered, “Ah yes, let us. I, too, desire to serve God better than I have until now.”
The next morning both attended Holy Mass and prayed fervently for this intention. At the close of Mass, Blessed Michelina interiorly heard the voice of Our Lord: “I will set you free. I will take your son to Myself and you shall henceforth belong to Me alone.” When they arrived at home they found the child sick and soon God took him from this world, in which he would have been in great danger because of the inordinate tenderness of his mother. The two women saw how the Holy Angels carried his soul to heaven.
The mother was now like one transformed. Her heart was no longer attached to temporal goods. She distributed them lavishly among the poor in spite of the remonstrances of her relatives. After a while, she entered the Third Order of St Francis and adopted the afflicted and the indigent as her new family. She became a mother to the orphans, the support of poor widows, the nurse of the sick, the comfort of the sorrowful. Her house was the refuge of all unfortunate persons. She also practised severe acts of penance in order to atone for her former life.
She proceeded to give away all her belongings and property and founded the Confraternity of the Annunciation, to care for the poor, nurse the sick and bury the dead. Initially her family believed her to be insane and had her locked up. Upon her release from confinement, she made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land as penance for her sins. She received the Stigmata during the course of this journey. It was on Mount Calvary where she suffered so fervently that all present saw her in an ecstasy.
Upon her return to her native country, she redoubled her prayers, practices of penance and works of charity, until Our Lord called her to Himself on 19 June 1356. Her Tomb in the Franciscan Church of Pesaro, was made glorious by numerous miracles. The Apostolic See approved her public veneration in 1737, whereupon the Town of Pesaro chose her as its special Patron.
St Bagne of Thérouanne St Edburga of Caistor St Florentia of Seville
Blessed Francisco Pacheco SJ (1566-1626) Martyr, Priest of the Society of Jesus, Missionary to India, China and Japan, Provincial Superior. Fr Pacheco and his eight Jesuit companions, together with the nine lay Christians, were included among the 205 Martyrs Beatified by Blessed Pope Pius IX on 7 May1867. His Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/20/saint-of-th-day-20-june-blessed-francisco-pacheco-sj-1566-1626/
St Gemma of Saintonge St Goban of Picardie St Helen of Öehren
St Macarius of Petra St Methodius of Olympus Blessed Michelina of Pesaro TOSF (1300-1356) Widow, Religious of the Third Order of the Friars Minor. St Novatus of Rome
Martyred in London: Bl Anthony Turner Bl John Fenwick Bl John Gavan BL Thomas Whitbread Blessed William Harcourt
Irish Martyrs – 260 Beati – This is the collective title given to the 260 or more persons who are credited with dying for the Faith in Ireland between 1537 and 1714.
Martyrs of Lower Moesia: Martyred on the Black Sea at Lower Moesia (in modern Bulgaria), date unknown. St Cyriacus St Paul
Martyred in Nagasaki: 9 Beati : burned alive on 20 June 1626 in Nagasaki, Japan. Their ashes were thrown into the sea and no relics remain. They were Beatified on 7 May 1867 by Pope Pius IX. • Blessed Baltasar de Torres Arias • Blessed Francisco Pacheco • Blessed Gaspar Sadamatsu • Blessed Giovanni Battista Zola • Blessed Ioannes Kisaku • Blessed Michaël Tozo • Blessed Paulus Shinsuke • Blessed Petrus Rinsei • Blessed Vincentius Kaun
One Minute Reflection – 19 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Solemnity of Corpus Christ. Sunday within the Octave – 1 John 3:13-18. Luke 14:16-24.
“The servant went and reported this to his Master. Then the Master of the house was angry and commanded His servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here, the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame…” – Luke 14:21
REFLECTION – “He turned to the Gentiles from the careless scorn of the rich. He invites both good and evil to enter, in order to strengthen the good and change the disposition of the wicked for the better. The saying that was read today is fulfilled, “Then wolves and lambs will feed together.” He summons the poor, the maimed and the blind. By this, He shows us, either that handicaps do not exclude us from the Kingdom of Heaven that the Lord’s mercy forgives the weakness of sinners. Whoever glories in the Lord, glories as one redeemed from reproach, not by works but by faith.
He sends them into the highways because Wisdom sings aloud in passages. He sends them to the streets because He sent them to sinners, so that they should come from the broad paths, to the narrow way which leads to life. He sends them to the highways and hedges . They, who are not busied with any desires for present things, hurry to the future on the path of goodwill. Like a hedge, which separates the wild from the cultivated and wards off the attacks of wild beasts, they can distinguish between good and evil and extend a rampart of faith against the temptations of spiritual wickedness.” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church (Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 7).
PRAYER – O God, Who miraculously fortified blessed Juliana, Thy Virgin, in her last illness with the precious Body of Thy Son, grant, we beseech Thee, that with her merits pleading for us, we also, refreshed and strengthened by the same Sacrament in our dying agony, may be brought to our heavenly home. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect). MAY the Heart of JESUS in the most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the Tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen. Indulgence 100 Days, Once a day. Raccolta 161 Pope Pius IX, 29 February 1868.
Saint of the Day – 19 June – St Juliana Falconieri OSM (1270–1341) Virgin and Foundress of the Religious Sisters of the Order of Servites, Mystic, Ecstatic, Ascetic.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Florence, St Julian Falconieri, Virgin, Foundress of the Sisters of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was placed among the Holy Virgins by the Sovereign Pontiff, Clement XII.”
St Juliana Falconieri, Virgin By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)
The Roman Martyrology, enlarged by Benedict XIV announces today, the festival of St.Juliana. Florence in Italy, is the place where St Juliana was born, in 1270. Her parents were of the illustrious house of Falconieri and were long without issue, until, at last, the fruit of many prayers, this holy daughter was given to them. It was looked upon as a sign of her future holiness, that Juliana, when an innocent child, pronounced the two blessed names of Jesus and Mary, without having been taught by anyone to utter them. Even in her childhood, she endeavoured, so earnestly, to attain Christian virtues, that her uncle, St Alexius, of the Order of Servites, who was her instructor, hesitated not to say to her mother, that she had not given birth to a mortal maiden, but to an Angel.
And in truth, Juliana’s conduct was such, that she resembled an Angel, rather than a human being. Never was it seen, that she raised her eyes to look at the face of any man, much less that she ever regarded the other sex with boldness. Her horror of sin was innate, so that she trembled when she only heard the name of it, nay, she was seen to sink to the ground, as one dead, when a crime was only mentioned. Regardless of her temporal wealth and of many advantageous offers of marriage, she made a vow, in presence of St Philip Benizi, by which she Consecrated her virginity to God, when she was not yet fifteen years of age. She was the first of her sex who entered the Order of the Servites. Many of the highest nobility followed her example. Juliana prescribed certain rules for them, in the composition of which, she showed extraordinary wisdom and holiness. Hence she is justly recognised and honoured, as the Foundress of the Sisterhood of the Servants of Mary.
St Philip Benizi, (one of the Seven Holy Founders) who not only enlarged the Order of the Servites but also, guided those who belonged to it, in a most exemplary manner, was so thoroughly convinced of the virtues of Juliana, that he said, before his death, that there was no-one more fit to be entrusted with the government of the whole Order–men as well as women–than Juliana. She, however, had quite a different opinion of herself and, although, she was appointed to guide others, she performed, with the utmost willingness, the most menial services for those under her. She was so deeply devoted to prayer, that she continued whole days in this exercise, during which time, she often fell into ecstasies and was favoured with divine apparitions. The time unoccupied by work and prayer, she usually spent in reconciling hostile minds, for which kind office, she was peculiarly qualified and also, in converting sinners, many of whom her persuasions brought to the knowledge of their faults, or in nursing the sick, to whom she was devoted with a mother’s love.
Anxious to conquer herself, she more than once sucked the putrid matter from the ulcers of the sick and God, in consideration of such heroic self-abnegation, instantly restored them to health. She was as severe to herself as she was tender towards others. The rest, which she took at night on the bare floor, was very short – as she occupied the greater part of the night in prayer. She chastised her innocent body with scourges and chains of wire. She fasted every Saturday on water and bread. Two days of every week she lived almost without earthly nourishment, as she then received the Bread of Angels, the Blessed Eucharist. On other days, she partook of food but only of very little and that of the most ordinary kind, as otherwise she refused to touch it.
This continual rigour eventually impaired her health and caused her most severe pains, which at last, in the 70th year of her age, ended her life. She had suffered, in this manner, for many years, with the most cheerful and edifying patience. Only one thing pained her exceedingly in her last day,: which was, that, as she could not retain any food, the Priest could not give her the Blessed Sacrament, for which she longed so ardently. Flying for refuge to God, she prayed that He would not permit her to die without this great consolation. Soon after, as if convinced that God would bestow upon her an extraordinary grace, she requested the Priest to bring the holy Eucharist, at least to her room and hold it to her breast. The Priest consented to her request but no sooner had the Blessed Sacrament been placed near her breast, than it suddenly disappeared and at the same time, the countenance of Juliana expressed a great interior satisfaction and happiness. Whilst the Priest strove to recover from his surprise, the servant of God, miraculously fed with the Bread of Life, expired without a struggle. After her death, they found on the left side of her breast, the form of the Host, bearing the image of the Crucified Saviour, like a seal pressed into the flesh. This led to the belief, that the holy virgin had been, in an unprecedented way, comforted in her last hour with the Blessed Eucharist. The fame of this miracle and of many others with which God honoured her after her death, won for Juliana, the esteem of the whole Christian world. Her holy body was buried in the magnificent Church which her father had built in honour of the Blessed Virgin and in memory of the Annunciation.
Father’s Day + 2022 Wishing all Dads a Blessed and Happy Father’s Day!
A Parent’s Prayer to St Joseph
O holy Joseph, thou faithful Spouse of the Blessed Mother, thou who didst protect her and her Divine Child with such care and didst devote thy whole life to them; I beseech thee to be also my and my children’s protector and advocate, with Jesus, thy adopted Son. Obtain for me the grace to fulfil my duties to my children, as thou and Mary have done to Jesus.
St Joseph Pray for all our Fathers and for our spiritual Fathers of Holy Mother Church Amen.
Solemnity of Corpus Christ Sunday within the Octave
St Hildegrin of Châlons-sur-Marne Bl Humphrey Middlemore St Innocent of Le Mans St Lambert of Saragossa St Lupo of Bergamo St Modeste Andlauer St Nazario of Koper Bl Odo of Cambrai St Rémi Isoré Bl Sebastian Newdigate Bl Thomas Woodhouse Bl William Exmew St Zosimus of Umbria
Quote/s of the Day – 18 June – the Memorial of St Ephrem of Syria (306-373) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church
“Our Lord chose Matthew, the tax collector, to encourage his fellows to join him. He looked on sinners, called them and brought them to sit beside Him. What a wonderful sight! Angels stand trembling, while publicans, seated, rejoice!”
“But the bread of Moses was not perfect, it was only given to the Israelites. Because He wanted to show, that His gift is superior to that of Moses and the call to the nations still more perfect, our Lord said: “If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever,” for the bread from God “has come down from heaven” and is given to the whole world (Jn 6:51).”
O Lord and Master of My Life By Saint Ephrem (306-373) Father & Doctor of the Church
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, vain curiosity, lust for power and idle talk. But give to me, Thy servant, a spirit of soberness, humility, patience and love. O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother. For blessed art Thou to the ages of ages. Amen O God, be merciful to me a sinner. O God, cleanse me, a sinner. O God, my Creator, save me and for my many sins forgive me!
O Pure and Immaculate Blessed Virgin By St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
O Pure and Immaculate and likewise Blessed Virgin, who art the sinless Mother of thy Son, the mighty Lord of the universe, thou who art inviolate and altogether holy, the hope of the hopeless and sinful, we sing thy praises. We bless thee, as full of every grace, thou who didst bear the God-Man: we bow low before thee; we invoke thee and implore thine aid. Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin, from every necessity that presses upon us and from all the temptations of the devil. Be our intercessor and advocate at the hour of death and judgement, deliver us from the fire that is not extinguished and from the outer darkness; make us worthy of the glory of thy Son, O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother. Thou indeed art our only hope most sure and sacred in God’s sight, to Whom be honour and glory and majesty and dominion forever and ever, world without end. Amen
Saint of the Day – 18 June – St Ephrem of Syria (306-373) – “The Harp of the Holy Spirit!” Father & Doctor of the Church, Confessor, Deacon and Confessor, Apostle of the Poor and Needy, Exegesist, Writer, Poet, Hymnographer, Theologian, Teacher, Orator, Defender of the Faith – declared Doctor of the Church in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. Born in c306 at Nisibis, Mesopotamia (in modern Syria) and died on 9 June 373 at Edessa (in modern Iraq) of natural causes. Patronages – spiritual directors, spiritual leaders, Armenea. Also known as – Ephrem of Edessa, Ephrem the Syrian, Ephraem…, Ephraim…, Ephraem Syrus, Deacon of Edessa, Jefrem Sirin, “Sun of the Syrians.”
St Ephrem, Confessor By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)
His sanctity is demonstrated in the many virtues with which he was endowed, amongst which chastity, deep humility and untiring benevolence towards the poor, shine most brilliantly.
Under this day’s date is also mentioned, in the Roman Book of Martyrs, St Ephrem, a Deacon of the Church of Edessa, in Syria and great praise is bestowed on his wisdom and virtue, as well as his labour on behalf of the Christian Faith. His work consisted partly, in verbally teaching the Christians and partly, in refuting the doctrines of the heretics, whose leader and teacher he boldly opposed and publicly confuted.
Apollinarius, an arch-heretic, had written his heresy in two books and had given them into the charge of a notable woman of his party. Ephrem, having become acquainted with this woman, requested the loan of these books, as he wished to study thoroughly the doctrine of Apollinarius. The woman, who thought that Ephrem desired to adopt these doctrines, permitted him to have the books. As soon, however, as the Saint became convinced of the impiety of the work, he pasted the leaves together in such a manner, that they could not be separated. He then returned the books to the woman, who did not perceive what he had done, as the outside was unimpaired. Just at this time it happened, that Apollinarius was called to a public disputation. As he, on account of his defective memory, was unable to speak much, he had his books brought, in order that one of his followers might read his doctrines out of them. The books were brought, the heretic proceeds to open them but finds the leaves are pasted together and that, in consequence, they are of no service to him. Unable to dispute verbally, he stood for a long time immovable, deeply ashamed. At last, he ran away and, not long after this event, expired most miserably.
As far as the teachings of St Ephrem are concerned, they exist to this hour in the splendid works he has left. In former times, they were so highly esteemed that they were read aloud in the Churches, after the Gospel, for the edification of the people. In these works much is to be found that the holy man said in praise of the Blessed Virgin, as also many prayers in which he invoked her: a proof that already, in the first centuries, the Mother of our Saviour was honoured and invoked.
One day an immoral woman tried to seduce him. Ephrem seemed to lend her a willing ear and said: “ If I consent to fulfil your desire, you must consent that I select the place for our meeting.” “Where shall it be? Where shall we meet?” asked the shameless woman. “In the public market,” replied he. “Oh! not there,” said she; “we should be ashamed of the people who are there.” This was the answer that the pure servant of God wished to obtain and he said to her, full of deep earnestness: “Unhappy woman! when the eyes of men are upon you, you are ashamed and will not commit evil; why then, are you not ashamed of the Lord your God, Who is everywhere and Who not only sees and knows everything but Who also punishes with the everlasting fire of hell all vices? How much more should His Presence deter you from the commission of sin?“
It needed no more to bring the unchaste woman to the knowledge and repentance of her corruption. Ephrem placed her in a Convent, where she did most severe penance until her death, never weary of thanking him, again and again, for the benevolence he had shown to her. Just as the holy man, on this occasion, evinced his love of purity, so he manifested, on many others, his deep humility.
When it was intended to elect him Bishop, he to evade this dignity, pretended insanity and, hiding in a corner, remained until another was elected. So far from valuing the praises of men, he even regarded those who lauded him as his enemies, while he loved, as his best friends, those who despised him.
In his last will he ordered that he should not be honoured with music, or a costly shroud, or a panegyric; neither did he desire to be buried in a Church but requested to be laid among the poor, to whom he had been more attached than a father to his children. During a great famine, he himself collected from the wealthy, corn and other provisions, divided them among the starving people and assisted them wherever he could, day and night, with untiring kindness. Many other instances of his great charity, which are recorded by the holy Father Saints, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil, Chrysostom, and Jerome, I have to pass over. Only one more will I mention, which the Saint related of himself.
When a boy, his parents one day sent him somewhere out of the City. Passing through a wood, he saw a cow, belonging to a poor man. Out of mischief, he pelted her so long with stones that she fell to the ground, dead. Four weeks later, his parents sent him again out of the City. Night overtook him on the road and the shepherds, whose flock was in the wood, having compassion on him, invited him into their hut, with the understanding that he should continue his journey on the following day. Ephrem accepted the offered hospitality and remained with them through the night. But just before morning, the sheep of those men were attacked by wolves and widely dispersed. The shepherds, believing that this was the work of thieves and that Ephrem was one of them, made him prisoner and brought him before the Judge, who immediately ordered him to be thrown into prison.
At the same time, two other men were also incarcerated, of whom one was charged with homicide, the other with adultery. Ephrem wept bitter tears at suffering thus innocently. After forty days his Guardian Angel appeared to him and asked what he was doing there. Ephrem related to him the circumstances and declared his innocence. The Angel said: “ I know that you are innocent, but the cruelty with which, some time ago, you treated the cow of a poor man is also known to me. Therefore, you must atone for that wrong now, just as those two men, who are also innocent of the crimes for which they are imprisoned, suffer this present punishment for sins formerly committed. Learn from this, that God is just and that He leaves no evil deed unpunished!” Ephrem, coming thus to the knowledge of his fault, repented and received a promise, that he should be set free and, in fact, soon after, regained his liberty. This event induced him to devote himself entirely to the service of the Almighty.
Ripe in years, he ended his holy life c 373. Below is the Statue of St Ephrem on the North Colonnade at St Peter’s. It was installed in c 1662-1667. The Sculptor is unknown but it is known that he created 3 Statues at that time. The Saint looks into a book that he holds with his left hand. The right hand holds a palm.
St Ephrem of Syria (306-373)– “The Harp of the Holy Spirit!” Father & Doctor of the Church, Deacon and Confessor, Exegesist, Writer, Poet, Hymnographer, Theologian, Teacher, Orator, Defender of the Faith – declared Doctor of the Church in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. For 48 years (1920–1969), it was on 18 June, and this date is still observed in the Traditional Calendar. About St Ephrem! https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/09/saint-of-the-day-9-june-st-ephrem-of-syria-father-and-doctor-of-the-church/
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