Although this saint never traveled far from the Lebanese village of Beka-Kafra where he was born, his influence has spread widely. Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was raised by his uncle because his father, a mule driver, died when Joseph was only three. At the age of 23, Joseph joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon, and took the name Sharbel or Charbel in honor of a second-century martyr. He professed his final vows in 1853, and was ordained six years later.
He died in the late afternoon on Christmas Eve. Christians and non-Christians soon made his tomb a place of pilgrimage and of cures. Pope Paul VI beatified Sharbel in 1965, and canonized him 12 years later.
This year’s celebration will fall on Sunday, 24th of July, the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Grandparents of Jesus. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s celebration is: “In old age they will still bear fruit” (Psalm 92:15). The Catholic Grandparents Association has been at the forefront in campaigning for a greater recognition of Grandparents for their role and vocation in passing on their faith to the next generation. The announcement of a new Church-wide celebration for Grandparents and the elderly came in answer to our prayerful request to the Holy Father Pope Francis. This new worldwide celebration in the Universal Church calendar is a momentous achievement for Grandparents and the Elderly and will hopefully reassure them that they are loved and that they are needed.
Throughout the life of Brigitta or Bridget she saw visions concerning the reform of the Church, messages to kings and popes and many other persons in high places, directing them to work for the Church. It may be noted that Birgitta never wrote in the first person. She always said the she carried a message from a very High Lord. Although she had longed to become a nun, she never even saw the monastery in Vadstena. In fact, nothing she set out to do was ever realized.
She never had the pope return to Rome permanently, she never managed to make peace between France and England, she never saw any nun in the habit that Christ had shown her, and she never returned to Sweden but died, worn out old lady far from home in July 1373. She can be called the Patroness of Failures. In this she was like the Lord, who was also classed as a failure, as He was hung on the Cross.
Birgitta was a successful failure as she was canonized in 1391. Birgitta was the only women ever to found a religious Order, Ordo Sanctissimi Salvatoris. She is the patroness of Sweden.
“Kinabayo” is an annual observance of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte’s Fiesta in honor of Saint James “the Greater and the Moor Slayer”. Held every July, “Sinug and Kinabayo” have become a festivity. “Sinug” is purely veneration using San Francisco Leaves raised high, dancing through the rhythm of the gong or beating of drums as the throng of devotees brings the saint’s image to his chapel. On the other hand, “Kinabayo” is a unique dramatization of the triumph of the Catholic faith over Mohammedanism believed to have happened through the intercession of the saint in view of his apparition during the battles of Clavijo and Covadonga and the appearance of the Lady of the Pilar. Modernity has added more color to the festival with the allegorical dance drama presentation of the two events.
St. Mary Magdalene is one of the greatest saints of the Bible and a legendary example of God’s mercy and grace. The precise dates of her birth and death are unknown, but we do know she was present with Christ during his public ministry, death and resurrection.
She was the one to whom that privilege was given. She is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Although, there has been many speculations and disputes of her background, what she did in her subsequent life, after meeting Jesus, is much more significant. She was certainly a sinner whom Jesus saved, giving us an example of how no person is beyond the saving grace of God.
Lawrence was born on July 22, 1559, and died 60 years later on his birthday in 1619. His parents William and Elizabeth Russo gave him the name of Julius Caesar, Caesare in Italian. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by his uncle at the College of St. Mark in Venice. Lawrence’s sensitivity to the needs of people, a character trait, perhaps unexpected in such a talented scholar began to surface. Lawrence was appointed papal emissary and peacemaker, a job which took him to a number of foreign countries.
An effort to achieve peace in his native kingdom of Naples took him on a journey to Lisbon to visit the king of Spain. Serious illness in Lisbon took his life in 1619. In 1956, the Capuchins completed a 15-volume edition of Lawrence’s writings. Eleven of these 15 contain his sermons, each of which relies chiefly on scriptural quotations to illustrate his teaching.
According to tradition, Saint Peter sent Apollinaris to Ravenna, Italy, as its first bishop. His preaching of the Good News was so successful that the pagans there beat him and drove him from the city. He returned, however, and was exiled a second time.
After preaching in the area surrounding Ravenna, he entered the city again. After being cruelly tortured, he was put on a ship heading to Greece. Pagans there caused him to be expelled to Italy, where he went to Ravenna for a fourth time.
He died from wounds received during a savage beating at Classis, a suburb of Ravenna. A beautiful basilica honoring him was built there in the sixth century.
These sister-martyrs were two Christian women from Seville in Spain who maintained themselves by selling earthenware or clay pots. Not to concur in idolatrous superstitions, they refused to sell vessels for the use of heathen ceremonies and when the worshipers broke up their stock-in-trade, Justa and Rufina retorted by overthrowing the image of a false goddess.
Whereupon the people impeached them for their faith before the governor. The prefect, after they had boldly confessed Christ, commanded them to be stretched on the rack and their sides to be torn with hooks. An idol was placed near the rack with incense, that if they would offer sacrifice they should be released; but their fidelity was not to be shaken.
Justa died on the rack; the judge ordered Rufina to be strangled, and their bodies to be burned. They are greatly venerated in Spain, and no doubt their names represent historical martyrs in that place.
Born to the Italian nobility. He studied theology at the Benedictine Monastery of Saint Perpetuus at Asti, Italy, and at Bologna, Italy. He was ordained in 1079, and assigned to a parish at Siena, Italy. Noted for defending orthodox Church wisdom, for his knowledge of Scripture, and for his teachings on the Blessed Sacrament. He has been a counselor to four popes. Ordained bishop of Segni, Italy in 1080 by Pope Gregory VII.
Fought simony and lay investiture. In 1095 he retired to a monastic life at Monte Cassino. Elected abbot in 1107. Following a chastisement of the pope for shirking his duty to others, he was soon ordered back to his diocese, a vocation he fulfilled until his death. He also became a Vatican librarian. Cardinal legate, though he declined the cardinalate. And a notable author of several works on theology.
St. Alexius was the only son of a wealthy senator of Rome, Euphemian, and his wife, Aglaë. He was born and educated in that capitol in the fifth century. From the charitable example of his parents he developed a compassionate attitude at an early age. And joining a church dedicated to the Mother of God at Edessa, there he lived for seventeen years until an image of our Lady spoke and revealed his holiness to the people, calling him “the Man of God”.
Thereupon he fled back to his home; his father did not recognize him, but received him as a beggar and gave him employment, allotting a corner under the staircase as his quarters. For another seventeen years he thus lived unknown in his father’s house, bearing the ill treatment of other servants in patience and silence. After his death a writing was found upon him, giving his name and family and an account of his life.