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Saint Charles Lwanga

Saint Charles Lwanga was a member of the Baganda tribe. He was born in the Kingdom of Buganda, the central and southern part of modern Uganda, and served as chief of the royal pages and later major-domo in the court of King Mwanga II of Buganda. He was baptised by Pere Giraud on 15 November 1885.

He was a Ugandan convert to the Catholic Church who was martyred with a group of his peers and is revered as a saint by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. The persecution started after Mwanga, a ritual pedophile, ordered a massacre of Anglican missionaries, including Bishop James Hannington who was the leader of the Anglican community. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, the Catholic major-domo of the court and a lay catechist, reproached the king for the killings, against which he had counseled him.

The king called a court assembly in which he interrogated all present to see if any would renounce Christianity. Led by Lwanga, the royal pages declared their fidelity to their religion, upon which the king condemned them to death, directing that they be marched to the traditional place of execution. Three of the prisoners, Pontian Ngondwe, Athanasius Bazzekuketta, and Gonzaga Gonza, were murdered on the march there. Twelve Catholic boys and men and nine Anglicans were then burnt alive.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lwanga

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Saints Marcellinus and Peter

Daily Saints

Saints Marcellinus and Peter are venerated within the Catholic Church as martyrs who were beheaded. Little is known about the actual lives of these two men. Pope Damasus I claimed that he heard the story of these two martyrs from their executioner who went on to become a Christian. Pope Damasus states that they were killed at an out-of-the-way spot by the magistrate Severus or Serenus, so that other Christians would not have a chance to bury and venerate their bodies. The two saints happily cleared the spot chosen for their death: a thicket overgrown with thorns, brambles, and briers three miles from Rome.

Pope Damasus, who opened their catacombs, also remarks that he wrote a Latin epitaph with the details of their death with which he adorned their tomb. The martyrs were venerated by Christians in the centuries after their martyrdom. Their sepulcher is mentioned in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, which includes the information that Marcellinus was a priest and that Peter was an exorcist. From the 7th century onwards, their sepulcher became a site of pilgrimage, and their feast day is recorded in local liturgies and hagiographies. According to the Liber Pontificalis, Constantine the Great built a basilica in their honor, since a structure built by Damasus had been destroyed by the Goths.

They are generally represented as men in middle age, with tonsures and palms of martyrdom; sometimes they hold a crown each. In the catacombs named after them, a fresco dating from the 4th or 5th centuries, represents them without aureolae, with short beards, next to the Lamb of Christ. In another fresco from the 5th or 6th centuries, in the catacombs of Pontian, they are beardless and depicted alongside Saint Pollio.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcellinus_and_Peter

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1 Timothy 6:6

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” - 1 Timothy 6:6

Prayer For Joy In Life

Loving Lord, how grateful we are for the many joys in life that You in Your grace have bestowed on us in such abundance. Thank You for the simple things in life and those that we so often take for granted, for flowers and food, for mountains and streams, for our senses and the many joys that we gain from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching.

Thank You for the joy of friends and family, for the sun and rain the seasons and the many phases of the weather that bring such variety, refreshment, warmth and healing. Thank You for the joy of singing praises to You, and thank You, Father, for the Lord Jesus in Whom is the fullness of joy. In His name we pray,

Amen.

Sources:

https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-Joy#

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Saint Justin Martyr

Daily Saints

Saint Justin never ended his quest for religious truth even when he converted to Christianity after years of studying various pagan philosophies.

As a young man, he was principally attracted to the school of Plato. However, he found that the Christian religion answered the great questions about life and existence better than the philosophers.

Upon his conversion he continued to wear the philosopher’s mantle, and became the first Christian philosopher. He combined the Christian religion with the best elements in Greek philosophy. In his view, philosophy was a pedagogue of Christ, an educator that was to lead one to Christ.

Saint Justin is known as an apologist, one who defends in writing the Christian religion against the attacks and misunderstandings of the pagans. Two of his so-called apologies have come down to us; they are addressed to the Roman emperor and to the Senate.

For his staunch adherence to the Christian religion, Saint Justin was beheaded in Rome in 165.

Sources:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-justin-martyr/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Martyr

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Pentecost Sunday

Catholic Special Day, Gosples & Readings

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Response– Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures.
R–Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R–Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth

If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R–Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth

Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Sequence: Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.

Alleluia:

Alleluia, alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Jn 20:19-23

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

The Readings and Gospel were sourced from:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052823-Day.cfm

Pentecost Sunday Read More »

1 John 4:8

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” - 1 John 4:8

A Prayer For Strong Love For God

O Lord, when you said to your disciples, “One of you shall betray Me, they each asked, “Lord, is it I?” I pray, O God, for a love so strong that I will never betray Thee.

Amen.

Sources:

https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/a-prayer-for-strong-love-for-god-1223

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Saint Bernard of Menthon

Daily Saints

Saint Bernard of Menthon was born probably in the Château de Menthon, near Annecy, then in the County of Savoy, a part of the Kingdom of Burgundy. When he had reached adulthood, he decided to devote himself to the service of the Church and refused an honorable marriage proposed by his father.

Placing himself under the direction of Peter, the Archdeacon of Aosta, under whose guidance he rapidly progressed, Saint Bernard was ordained a priest and worked as a missionary in the mountain villages. Later, on account of his learning and virtue, he was appointed to succeed his mentor as archdeacon of the cathedral, giving him charge of the government of the diocese, directly under the bishop.

For 42 years, he continued to preach the Gospel to these people and even into many cantons of Lombardy, effecting numerous conversions and working many miracles.

He is the patron saint of adopted children. Following his death, he gained local acclaim and was canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256. The last act of St. Bernard’s life was the reconciliation of two noblemen whose strife threatened a fatal outcome. He died in June 1081 in the Imperial Free City of Novara and was interred in the monastery of St. Lawrence.

Saint Bernard of Menthon was a canon regular and founder of the Great St Bernard Hospice, as well as its associated Canons Regular of the Hospitaller Congregation of Great Saint Bernard. He gave his name to the Saint Bernard breed of dog, originally bred for the cold environment of the hospice.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Menthon

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Psalm 63:1

Daily Reflections, Verse

Verse:

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” - Psalm 63:1

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Saint Julius the Veteran

Daily Saints

Saint Julius the Veteran, also referred to as Julius of Durostorum, is a Roman Catholic, Anglican and Eastern Orthodox saint and martyr.

Saint Julius’ date to conversion is unknown but he served as a Roman soldier for 27 years first as a conscript, then returning as a [veteran], totaling seven military campaigns in total. Given the years and locations in which Julius served, Rev. Herbert Musurillo, S.J. writes that Julius likely served in the Legio XI Claudia. Julius was Christian his entire military career.

Saint Julius the Veteran was brought to trial before the prefect, Maximus, after being arrested by Maximus’ staff soldiers for refusing to make a public sacrifice to the Roman gods. Upon hearing of his military service, Maximus complimented Julius for being a wise and serious man.

In gratitude for his military service, Maximus proposed Saint Julius a bargain: if Saint Julius offered the public sacrifice, Maximus would accept blame for the sin of the sacrifice and would give Saint Julius freedom, a ten-year bonus payment, and immunity from future charges. Saint Julius declined the offer and was sentenced to death. Saint Julius was killed by the sword in Durostorum, the Roman camp in Moesia Inferior.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_the_Veteran#:~:text=Saint%20Julius%20the%20Veteran%20(Latin,feast%20day%20is%2027%20May.

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Saint Philip Neri

Daily Saints

Saint Philip Neri was an Italian priest noted for founding a society of secular clergy called the Congregation of the Oratory. He was also known as the “Second Apostle of Rome” after Saint Peter.

Saint Philip Neri was carefully brought up, and received his early teaching from the friars at San Marco, the famous Dominican monastery in Florence. At the age of 18, in 1533, Philip was sent to his uncle, Romolo, a wealthy merchant at San Germano, to assist him in his business, and with the hope that he might inherit his uncle’s fortune. But soon after coming to San Germano, Philip had a religious conversion. From then onward, he no longer cared for things of the world and decided in 1533 to live in Rome.

He began those labors amongst the sick and poor which, in later life, gained him the title of “Apostle of Rome”. He also ministered to the prostitutes of the city. In 1538 he entered into the home mission work for which he became famous, traveling throughout the city, seeking opportunities of entering into conversation with people, and of leading them to consider the topics he set before them. For seventeen years Philip lived as a layman in Rome, probably without thinking of becoming a priest. But in 1551, Saint Philip Neri received all the minor orders, and was ordained deacon and finally priest.

Saint Philip Neri embodied several contradictions, combining popular veneration with intensely individual piety. He became deeply involved with the Church while seeking to reform a corrupt Rome and an indifferent clergy. He is one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation and is noted for converting to personal holiness many of the influential people within the Church itself.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Neri

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Author name: sanjose

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Verse:

Prayer For Joy In Life

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Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Alleluia:

Gospel: Jn 20:19-23

The Readings and Gospel were sourced from:

Verse:

A Prayer For Strong Love For God

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Verse:

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