Daily Saints

Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Saint Peter: c. 1–c. 64; Patron Saint of Rome, bakers, brickmakers, masons, bridge-builders, butchers, clockmakers, cobblers, fishermen, harvesters, watchmakers, locksmiths, netmakers, the papacy, and the Universal Church Invoked against feet problems, fevers, and frenzy

Saint Paul: c. 3–c. 64 Patron Saint of Rome, evangelists, theologians, musicians, public relations personnel, writers, publishers, and reporters; rope-, saddle-, and tentmakers; Gentiles; Cursillo movement; and Catholic Action Invoked against snakes and hailstorms Pre-Congregation canonizations

According to ancient Roman mythology, in the seventh century BC, King Numitor was forcefully removed from his throne by his brother, Amulius. Amulius then forced Numitor’s daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin so that she would not have children who could later attempt to reclaim the throne. However, one myth relates that Mars, the god of war, impregnated Rhea Silvia, and she bore twin sons Romulus and Remus. Amulius threw them into the river, but they were rescued by a she-wolf. When they grew up, they killed Amulius and restored their grandfather to his throne. They then decided to found a city but disagreed on its location, so Romulus killed Remus and founded a city, calling it Rome, after his own name. After his death, or ascension, he was said to have been deified as the god Quirinus. To this day, one of the seven hills of Rome is named after him, the Quirinal Hill. This ancient myth helped make up the religious beliefs of the people of Rome at the time when today’s saints, Saints Peter and Paul, entered Rome and preached the Gospel, laying down their lives as martyrs.

Myths that explained a city’s founding were important. These myths were often central aspects to the cultural and historical festivities in ancient times. This was especially true in Rome. Therefore, as the early Church began to take root in Rome, rather than dismissing this cultural practice, the early Church Christianized the story of Romulus and Remus by introducing a new festival for the new founders of Rome, Peter and Paul, on June 29.

Simon was born in Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He was a fisherman by trade, along with his brother Andrew. Matthew’s Gospel records that Simon and Andrew were the first whom Jesus invited to follow Him. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and completed His forty days of prayer and fasting in the desert, He went to the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and Andrew fishing and called to them saying, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). At that, these two brothers dropped everything and became Jesus’ first disciples. John’s Gospel relates a slightly different timeline, stating that Andrew first followed Jesus and brought Simon to Jesus the next day. When Jesus met Simon, He said, “‘You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas (which is translated Peter)” (John 1:42). Matthew’s Gospel relates that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter when He said to him, “I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18–19).

With his new name and unique spiritual authority in which he held the “keys to the kingdom of heaven,” Peter emerged as the central leader of the Church after Pentecost. He spent about a decade in Jerusalem, preaching powerfully, performing miracles, and converting many. He eventually traveled to Rome where he established the Church there, becoming its first bishop. Around the year 64, he was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Nero. Tradition states that Peter requested to be crucified upside down because he did not consider himself to be worthy of dying the same way Jesus died. His tomb is located under the main altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Saul was born as a Roman citizen in Tarsus, modern-day Turkey. As a young man, he went to Jerusalem to study at the renowned school of the rabbi Gamaliel. After Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, Saul became one of the fiercest persecutors of the early Church, being partly responsible for the death of the proto-martyr Saint Stephen (Acts 7:58). However, within a few years, as Saul was traveling to Damascus to persecute other Christians, he was knocked to the ground and struck blind. He heard Jesus say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4). Jesus then directed him to a disciple of the Lord in Damascus named Ananias who baptized Saul. Saul spent about three years in Arabia where he went through an intense time of prayer and study, eventually returning to Damascus and then to Jerusalem where Barnabus introduced him to the other disciples, testifying to the veracity of his conversion.

In Jerusalem, Saul began to use his Roman name, Paul, and then spent approximately the next ten years as a missionary throughout the Mediterranean. Back in Jerusalem, he was imprisoned for a couple of years and then was sent to Rome for trial since he was a Roman citizen. In Rome, he met up with Saint Peter. According to tradition, Paul was beheaded just outside the city of Rome. When his head fell to the ground, it bounced three times, each time giving rise to a spring of water. The place is marked today by the Abbey of the Three Fountains.

Saints Peter and Paul are considered the foundational pillars of the Church. Peter represents the stability of the Church and the office of the Vicar of Christ. Paul represents the mission of evangelization that was entrusted to the Church by Jesus Himself. He was also the Church’s first theologian, which is seen in his numerous letters that expound on the Gospels. Though unlikely, one tradition states that they were both martyred on June 29, in Rome, making them twin martyrs. Their twin martyrdom reminds us that the Church must be both stable and mission-oriented. It must remain grounded in the ancient Truth, yet grow and flower with an ongoing understanding of the mysteries of faith.

As we honor these two pillars of the Church, recall the fact that, though they are great saints, they were also ordinary men called to extraordinary vocations. They responded and God used them in ways they could have never imagined. Ponder your own calling in light of theirs and resolve to lay your life down for the Church, joining yourself to these two men so that God can continue their holy mission through you.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-29—saints-peter-and-paul-apostles–solemnity/

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Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Daily Saints

c. 135–c. 202; Patron Saint of those who work for the unity of the Eastern and Western Churches; Invoked against Christological heresies, and by apologists and catechists; Pre-Congregation canonization; Declared a Doctor of the Church (Doctor of Unity) by Pope Francis in 2022

After Pentecost, the Apostles preached the Gospel and established the Church in numerous cities. Saint John the Apostle is believed to have preached in Ephesus, modern-day Turkey. It was there that Saint Polycarp learned from him about Christ, was ordained a bishop, and was sent to the town of Smyrna, just fifty miles north, to govern the Church for approximately sixty-five years. In Smyrna, a young man named Irenaeus, raised in a Christian family, became Polycarp’s disciple, learning more about the faith from this disciple of the Apostle John. After his ordination as a priest, Irenaeus ministered in modern-day Lyon, France, under Bishop Pothinus.

Around the year 177, the Christian community of Lyon sent Irenaeus to Rome to assist the pope with a theological dispute over a heretical teaching. The teaching, later referred to as Montanism, claimed that certain individuals possessed superior prophetic insights directly inspired by the Holy Spirit. This mission attests to the respect Irenaeus commanded among the Christians of Lyon and his grasp of vital theological concepts. Providentially, the mission to Rome likely spared Irenaeus’s life. While Irenaeus was in Rome, a severe persecution of the Church broke out in Lyon and roughly fifty Christians were martyred, among them Bishop Pothinus. Upon returning to Lyon, Irenaeus was chosen as the next bishop.

As Bishop of Lyon, Irenaeus was a faithful pastor with a profound understanding of the Gospel as communicated from Jesus through the Apostles, and he articulated the faith with great clarity. He was energetic in his evangelization efforts throughout the region, sending missionaries to convert the many citizens who adhered to pagan beliefs. As the faith began to spread, errors concerning the faith started to emerge alongside Apostolic teachings. Although many of the early heretics might have had good intentions, they were not rooted in the pure faith and required correction to ensure the Church stayed on the straight and narrow path towards salvation. Irenaeus was one of the most influential figures in the early Church to guide the newly formed Christian communities down that safe road. He is especially known for two of his surviving writings: “Against Heresies” and “Demonstration of the Apostolic Teaching.” These two works constitute what is considered the very first catechism of the Catholic faith.

The most prevalent heresy in the early Church was what is now known as Gnosticism. Gnosticism is a broad term for many smaller deviations, all sharing similar premises. Generally, Gnosticism claimed that true knowledge was beyond the grasp of the ordinary person, and that the true intellectuals were privileged to possess a secret knowledge or insight necessary for eternal salvation. This secret knowledge was related to human nature, God, and the universe.

Irenaeus begins his defense of the faith by highlighting the “absurd ideas” of the heretical group called the Valentinians: “They maintain, then, that in the invisible and ineffable heights above there exists a certain perfect, pre-existent Æon, whom they call Proarche, Propator, and Bythus, and describe as being invisible and incomprehensible. Eternal and unbegotten, he remained throughout innumerable cycles of ages in profound serenity and quiescence.” Irenaeus went on to describe the Valentinians’ fantasy-like view that an offspring of one of these Æons, named the Demiurge, foolishly created the universe. The Valentinians identified this Demiurge as the evil god of the Old Testament. Jesus and His Father, by contrast, were good and were attempting to rescue humanity from their physical natures by helping them to obtain full knowledge of this spiritual history so that the enlightened ones could then enter into a purely spiritual realm, shedding the evil of the material world. After exposing the errors of the Valentinians, Irenaeus went on to expose the errors of others who fell into similar Gnostic camps.

Irenaeus’ approach was first to explain the errors by demonstrating the absurdity of the complex and confusing views of the Gnostics, that they employed poor reasoning in their beliefs, borrowed their ideas from other popular stories, and rejected the Rule of Faith handed down through Tradition from the Apostles. He then took a more positive approach by clearly articulating that the life, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ were central to human salvation, and that, in the humanity of Christ, we are all saved and made one with Him, being reunited with the Father. This was achieved by carefully expounding on the Scriptures, both the Old and the New Testaments, and showing that the faith handed down from Jesus to the Apostles to the wider Church was comprehensible by all and easily embraced with simplicity and faith.

In a General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI explained it this way: “Irenaeus tells us, there is no secret doctrine concealed in the Church’s common Creed. There is no superior Christianity for intellectuals. The faith publicly confessed by the Church is the common faith of all. This faith alone is apostolic, it is handed down from the Apostles, that is, from Jesus and from God” (March 28, 2007). Thus, this so-called special “knowledge” that the Gnostics claimed to possess was purely fabricated by them, as it did not originate from the Apostles.

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of Irenaeus’ teachings for two main reasons. First, he aided the early Church in navigating through the initial confusion it encountered as new and erroneous ideas emerged. Second, his writings were among the first comprehensive catechetical instructions of the early Church, and those writings enabled numerous others who came after him to build upon what he had taught. Jesus promised the Apostles that the Holy Spirit would lead the Church into all truth. This happens when holy men and women listen to all that is handed down to them, remain faithful to that sacred Tradition, build upon it, and pass it on to others to develop it further. The Gospels were the first and most important foundation for this ongoing process. Irenaeus’ writings came shortly afterwards and remain an important foundation today. In fact, even in the most recent Church council, the Second Vatican Council, Irenaeus was one of the most quoted of the Church Fathers, showing an unbroken succession of faith from the early Church until today. Interestingly, it was not until 2022 that Saint Irenaeus was declared a Doctor of the Church under the title “Doctor of Unity.” This unique title particularly points Catholics of the East and West to the foundations of faith that we share with every other Apostolic Church, such as the Orthodox, with whom reunification is continuously sought.

As we honor this great Doctor of the Church, ponder the fact that your own faith has been believed and lived since the time of Christ. At times, our modern world seeks to undermine this ancient faith by labeling it as “old-fashioned” or “out-of-date.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The Truth that was revealed by Christ and His Apostles is as true today as it was at that time. Seek to immerse yourself in that unchanging yet ever-deepening deposit of faith, and you will discover that your family of faith includes all Christians of every era, making up the one Body of Christ.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-28—saint-irenaeus-bishop-and-martyr/

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Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor

Daily Saints

c. 376–444; Patron Saint of Alexandria, Egypt; Invoked against Christological heresies; Pre-Congregation canonization; Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1883

After Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, it is believed that Saint Mark, the Evangelist and Gospel writer, preached in Alexandria, Egypt, thus establishing the Christian faith in that city. Alexandria, founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, was situated on the northern edge of Africa, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic location rapidly turned it into an important trade center for Egypt, as well as a renowned hub for science, the arts, and learning. In 30 BC, Alexandria became a province of the Roman Empire, a status it would maintain for the next 700 years.

Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great in 313. After that, major centers of Christian learning, such as Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, and Alexandria became the stage for intense debates and developments in theology. Notably, these debates often revolved around Christ’s divine and human natures, His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the appropriate title for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The outcomes of these debates provided the Church with a clear and foundational understanding of faith, which continues to deepen and evolve even today.

The fourth century saw the emergence of the Arian heresy, which taught that the Son was subordinate to the Father and not co-eternal. Saint Athanasius, then Bishop of Alexandria, tirelessly fought this heresy, enduring years of exile as a result. After the defeat of Arianism, other heresies surfaced. Fifty years after Athanasius’ death, Bishop Cyril of Alexandria would battle Nestorianism.

Cyril was born in the town of Theodosius, about eighty-five miles east of Alexandria. Given its proximity to Alexandria, Theodosius shared in the rich Greco-Roman culture and learning. Its close location to the Nile Delta also meant that farming and fishing were common activities. As a youth, Cyril’s uncle, Theophilus, the Patriarch of Alexandria, ensured that Cyril received an excellent education in theology, philosophy, rhetoric, and science. However, his uncle was a controversial figure in the Church. Less of an intellectual and more of a politician, Theophilus was power-hungry, harsh, often antagonizing Jews and pagans, and was known for stirring up controversy and violence. He was even responsible for deposing Saint John Chrysostom as Patriarch of Constantinople.

Around the year 412, Cyril succeeded his uncle as Patriarch, quickly discovering the challenge of following in his controversial footsteps. After a group of violent monks murdered a prominent pagan philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician, Cyril was blamed, despite his lack of involvement. Being the nephew of Patriarch Theophilus had its drawbacks, and Cyril proceeded in his ministry with caution. He eventually moved out of the shadow of his uncle, establishing himself to be an intelligent and faithful servant of God and His Church. He began to write Scripture commentaries with theological precision, especially when it came to the nature of Christ, addressing the various heresies of the time. Within a decade of being a bishop, Cyril had established the reputation of being a trustworthy and articulate teacher of the faith.

In 428, the emperor appointed Nestorius as Patriarch of Constantinople. Shortly afterward, Patriarch Nestorius assigned a priest from Antioch to preach throughout Constantinople. The priest began challenging the widely accepted notion that Mary was rightly called the Mother of God (Theotokos), suggesting instead she should only be referred to as the Mother of Christ (Christotokos). This proclamation stirred controversy among the faithful in Constantinople, and news quickly spread across the empire, eventually reaching Patriarch Cyril, over 1,000 miles away in Alexandria.

Cyril vehemently disagreed with this new heresy, which later became known as Nestorianism. He began to preach and teach against it among his own people, clarifying that Mary was rightfully termed the Mother of God. He explained that this title was not solely about the Blessed Mother, but also about the essence of Christ. If Mary wasn’t the Mother of God, then Christ’s essence was divided. Nestorianism proposed that Jesus was a divine person somehow united with a distinct human person, and Mary was only the mother of His humanity. Cyril corrected this misinterpretation, emphasizing that there was only one Person in Christ, both human and divine. This made Mary not only the mother of her human Son but also the mother of His personhood, thereby justifying her title as the Mother of God. After teaching his people, Cyril wrote private letters to Nestorius to correct him. Nestorius rejected the correction. Consequently, Cyril broadened his correspondence, involving other bishops, members of the emperor’s court, and the pope in Rome. This pleased the faithful in Constantinople but enraged Nestorius. The pope investigated and authorized Cyril to deal with Nestorius with the pope’s authority.

In 431, the Roman emperor felt the need to intervene and called a Church Council in Ephesus to settle the dispute. Ephesian Christians were known for their devotion to the Mother of God, partly due to the deeply held tradition that Mary had settled in Ephesus later in life with Saint John. Thus, the council’s location signaled the emperor’s opposition to Nestorius. Once many of the bishops from across the empire had gathered, but before Nestorius and his supporters arrived, Cyril opened the council. He took the lead and eloquently articulated his position, which was consistent with the teachings of earlier Church Fathers. The bishops present at the council accepted his explanation and voted to condemn Nestorius. On arrival, Nestorius and his supporters were outraged that the council had proceeded without them. In retaliation, they held their own meeting, voted in opposition, and attempted to depose Cyril. When the emperor heard of this, his representative attempted to resolve the dispute by jailing both Nestorius and Cyril to force an agreement. Eventually, however, the emperor sided with Cyril, due to his popular support among the people. When Nestorius refused to accept this position, he was exiled to the Egyptian desert.

Upon returning to Alexandria, Cyril continued to write and teach. Later generations conferred upon him the titles “Guardian of Exactitude” and “Seal of the Fathers,” for he successfully synthesized the teachings of the Church Fathers who preceded him, applying those teachings to the present disputes. As we honor him today, ponder the significance of precision in your faith. Without precision that is consistent with all that has been taught before us, we risk failing to fully understand Christ. Reflect on your commitment to a deep and clear understanding of God and our faith, and reaffirm your fidelity to the truth.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-27—saint-cyril-of-alexandria-bishop-and-doctor/

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Saint Josemaria Escriva, Priest

Daily Saints

1902–1975; Patron Saint of diabetics; "The earth is our altar, and work is our sacrifice"

When today’s saint was a young priest, he was a rather well-known speaker in Madrid, Spain. Besides being an excellent homilist, he also preached retreats, gave parish missions, and taught classes. A young woman heard that Father Josemaria was scheduled to give some lectures nearby and, in light of his reputation, was eager to hear him. But first she went to one of his Masses. After that, the woman had no interest in hearing him lecture; instead she wanted to discover God’s will for her life. Saint Josemaria’s example of intense devotion and prayerfulness in saying Mass made her rethink her entire vocation. A good priest disappears into his vocation, submerges himself in Christ, and communicates a divine, not a personal, message. He makes people think of God, not him. At Mass the priest is not himself, yet is fully himself. He performs a sacrament because he is a sacrament. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is hidden behind the aspects of a man, the Holy Eucharist under the aspects of bread and wine.

It is the theology of the Church that every sacrament validly performed is efficacious, that it transmits sanctifying grace to the soul. But the fruitfulness of a sacrament for its recipient, either psychologically or spiritually, fluctuates. It can hinge on any number of factors, from the beauty of a Church, the quality of a homily, the sacredness of the music, or the intellectual preparation and ardor of the one receiving the sacrament. A holy, charitable, and educated priest infuses every sacrament he celebrates with a theological meaning that yields spiritual fruit that goes beyond efficaciousness. Saint Josemaria’s writings, preaching, lectures, and talks were so rich, so chock-full of practical purpose and high meaning, that a great international family gathered around him, harvesting from his sustained example and insights an abundant banquet for their spiritual table.

Josemaria Escriva was born in a small town in rural Spain. He attended diocesan seminaries in the nearby city of Zaragoza and was ordained a priest in 1925. In 1928, he experienced a vision which spurred him to found Opus Dei, an institution that quickly spread to all the major Christian countries. Opus Dei consists primarily of married lay men and women, while some members are unmarried and consecrated celibates. A few members are priests. After two thousand years of Catholic spirituality, it might be asked what new insight warranted the foundation of a new Church institution? It is a sign of the Church’s theological and spiritual fecundity that Saint Josemaria did offer a new, innovative approach to living as a disciple of Christ nineteen hundred years after Christ returned to the Father.

In a homily from 1967, Josemaria states his spirituality in clear terms: “…God is calling you to serve Him ‘in and from’ the ordinary, material, and secular activities of human life. He waits for us every day in the laboratory, in the operating room, in the army barracks, in the university, in the factory, in the workshop, in the fields, in the home and in the immense panorama of work. Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.”

In other words, there is no need for a serious lay Catholic to abandon his work and routine, his family life, or his everyday relationships to fulfill God’s will. God is found in and through ordinary life. Cardinal Albino Luciani, later Pope John Paul I, perceptively noted that Saint Josemaria was not teaching a ‘spirituality for lay people,’ as Francis de Sales taught, but a ‘lay spirituality.’ It is not a question of praying the rosary while sweeping the floor, or contemplating scripture while driving. It is about “materializing” holiness by converting ordinary, well-done work into a sacrifice and prayer to God. Ordinary work, then, is not just the context, but the raw material, for lay holiness. All jobs are important. Daily life is not a distraction from God’s will for us. Daily life is God’s will for us. When we get to work, we get to God.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-26—josemara-escriv-priest—optional-memorial/

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Saint Tigre of Maurienne

Daily Saints

Profile

Tigre was a lay woman in the late 6th or early 7th century from Maurienne, Gaul (in modern France) swore that she would obtain a relic of the body of Saint John the Baptist, to whom she had a great devotion, and bring it back to her city. Having travelled to a shrine that was supposed to contain such relics (possibly in Sebaste or Alexandria, Egypt or somewhere in the Holy Lands; records vary), she was told that she could not have any of them. Rather then give up, she took up a life of fasting and prayer in front of the shrine, asking that Saint John provide her with a relic. After three years of this, a shining thumb suddenly appeared over the altar. Tigre put it in a small, golden reliquary, and went home. She gave the relic to the keeping of the cathedral (today Saint-Jean-de-Mauirenne), gave away her remaining possessions, and lived the rest of her life as a hermit, seeing other people only when she went to Mass. Saint Gregory the Great recounts her story as an example of perseverance, as described in Luke 11:8 – “I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.”

Born

Valloires, Mauirenne, Gaul (in modern France)

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-tigre-of-maurienne/

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Birth of Saint John the Baptist

Daily Saints

First Century Patron Saint of baptism, bird dealers, converts, monastic life, motorways, printers, tailors, lambs, and prisoners; Invoked against epilepsy, convulsions, hailstorms, and spasms; Pre-Congregation canonization

At the time of Saint John the Baptist’s birth, it was commonly thought that a woman’s inability to conceive was a sign of God’s disfavor and a punishment for sin. Although we know that’s not the case, it’s important to understand that God often brought forth great leaders from those who had long begged God for a child. Sarah was barren before conceiving Isaac. Rebekah was barren before giving birth to Esau and Jacob. Rachel was barren before giving birth to Joseph. Manoah’s wife was barren until she gave birth to Samson. And Hannah was barren until she gave birth to Samuel. Today’s solemnity celebrates one of the greatest births in history. Recall that Jesus himself would later say, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

When Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, she and her husband, Zechariah, “were advanced in years” (Luke 1:7). The announcement of the child’s birth came to Zechariah when he was chosen by lot from his priestly clan to enter the Temple sanctuary to burn incense to the Lord. This was among the highest honors of the Old Testament priests. While in the sanctuary, the Archangel Gabriel, who stands before God, appeared to him to announce the good news. Zechariah was told that his wife would not only conceive and bear a son, but that his son “will be great in the sight of the Lord…be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb…turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord…will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah…turn the hearts of fathers toward children…to prepare a people fit for the Lord” (Luke 1:15–17). This announcement of the birth of Saint John the Baptist was not only a joyous announcement, it was almost beyond belief. Zechariah certainly would have been sorrowful throughout his marriage that he had no children, and now an Archangel was telling him that his soon-to-be-conceived child would be great beyond belief. Of course, we know that Zechariah did, at first, disbelieve and was struck mute until John was born.

The next glorious chapter in the story of Saint John the Baptist came when that same Archangel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary, the Immaculate Conception, and announced that she would conceive the Savior of the World by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. After that announcement, Gabriel said to her, “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:36–37). This reveals the fact that, in the Father’s plan of salvation, John’s mission was intimately connected to that of Jesus. This is further confirmed when Mary travels in haste to her cousin Elizabeth to help her in the final months of her pregnancy. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, the unborn infant, John, leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Of this event, Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches that John was sanctified in the womb at that moment, meaning he was freed from sin and prepared for his sacred mission of preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. Saint Thomas even goes so far as to speculate about that moment of sanctification as follows: “Perhaps also in this child the use of reason and will was so far accelerated that while in his mother’s womb he was able to acknowledge, believe, and consent, whereas in other children we have to wait for these things till they grow older: this again I count as a miraculous result of the divine power” (Summa Theologica 3.27.6).

John’s birth, which we celebrate today, was surrounded by mystery, amazement, awe, and intrigue. The reaction to John’s birth is recorded this way by Saint Luke: “Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, ‘What, then, will this child be?’ For surely the hand of the Lord was with him” (Luke 1:65–66).

Other than the Solemnity of the Birth of Christ (Christmas), Saint John the Baptist is the only person whom the Church honors with a solemnity to celebrate his birth. Our Blessed Mother’s birth is celebrated with a feast, although her Immaculate Conception is commemorated with the greater honor of a solemnity. It is a great honor, indeed, to honor this unique man’s birth with the highest rank of celebration within our Church.

As we mark the birth of Saint John the Baptist, ponder this birthday from two perspectives. First, look at it from a Heavenly and eternal perspective. The angels and saints will forever glorify God for this great event and for the significant role that John played in the history of salvation. Second, look at it from a purely human perspective. Try to ponder the wonder and awe that would have enfolded Elizabeth and Zechariah. Consider their humanity. They were real people who became real parents and were told great things about their child. Despite that, John was still their child, just as Jesus was Mary’s Child. The proper perspective of every event we celebrate in salvation history is to unite the human and divine perspectives, the transcendent and the imminent, the personal and the supernatural, to more fully understand, participate in, and believe these glorious and historical events that have opened the gates of Heaven to all who have faith.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-24—birth-of-saint-john-the-baptist/

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Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop

Daily Saints

c. 354–431; Patron Saint of bellmakers; Invoked by the people of Nola, Italy; Pre-Congregation canonization

Pontius Meropius Anicius Paulinus, more simply known as Paulinus, was born in Bordeaux, modern-day France, into a noble senatorial family. Bordeaux, then part of the Roman Empire, was a major center for learning, culture, and trade. As a member of the nobility, Paulinus would have received an excellent education in preparation for a career in civil service. Among his teachers was the famous poet Ausonius, under whom he studied literature and rhetoric. Around the age of twenty-three, his career entered full swing when the Roman Emperor, Gratian, appointed him as a suffect consul at Rome, a position held in high esteem among the ruling class. A few years later, the emperor appointed him as governor of Campania, a region that included Naples and many surrounding cities, including Nola.

Though less important than many other cities when he was governor, Nola caught Paulinus’ attention because the townspeople had a great reverence for the third-century martyr Saint Felix who was buried there. Saint Felix was a priest likely martyred during the persecution of either Decius or Valerian between 251–260. Inspired by the locals’ devotion to Saint Felix, Paulinus built a road to make it easier for pilgrims to travel to his tomb, as well as a hospice where they could stay. Although Paulinus held an important position of power as governor, the faith and devotion that the people had for Saint Felix stirred in him a desire for something greater, leading him to inquire into the Catholic faith.

After the assassination of Roman Emperor Gratian in 383, Paulinus moved to Milan to study the Catholic faith, most likely under Saint Ambrose. He then returned home to Bordeaux where he continued his studies, was baptized by the bishop, and married Therasia, a noblewoman from Barcelona. Therasia’s strong faith greatly influenced Paulinus, helping him to grow closer to Christ and embrace a more radical life of prayer and asceticism. Not long after their marriage, Therasia gave birth to a son, but the child died within a week. This profound event, instead of leading them to anger or despair, prompted Paulinus and Therasia to deepen their devotion and trust in God. They felt God calling them to a more intense life of prayer and asceticism. Consequently, they sold most of their possessions, donated the money to the poor, and mutually agreed to live in abstinence as husband and wife.

While in Barcelona, Paulinus’ faith and good works became so well known that he was asked to become a priest. His ordination either took place in Barcelona or back in Campania, where Paulinus had been governor and where he first discovered the Catholic faith. In Campania, Paulinus and Therasia settled in Nola, Saint Felix’s burial site, since Paulinus attributed his conversion to Saint Felix.

In Nola, Paulinus and his wife began to spread the faith by embracing a new form of monastic life that they shared and invited others to join. They spread devotion to Saint Felix by constructing a monastic center for pilgrims, places of worship, and infrastructure to help with basic needs. They were very generous to the poor, even though they themselves chose to live in poverty. After Therasia died, Paulinus was chosen as bishop of Nola around 409, when he was about fifty-six years old. He would carry out this responsibility until his death, twenty-two years later.

As bishop of Nola, Paulinus continued to spread the Gospel and serve the poor with great generosity. He also used his education in poetry to write many faith-based poems and hymns. Though he was praised by many, some questioned the wisdom of his Christian vocation. His former teacher, the great poet Ausonius, saw his poverty and generosity toward the poor as irrational, and his abandonment of pagan poetry as an abandonment of poetry itself. However, Bishop Paulinus’ love for the poor was a much deeper realization of the value of material possessions and their purpose. As for his training in poetry, Bishop Paulinus used those natural talents for a much higher calling, putting them at the service of the Gospel.

Bishop Paulinus wrote many letters, some of which still exist. Most notably, he was in written communication with the great Saint Augustine of Hippo, who even mentioned Paulinus in his Christian classic, The City of God. Additionally, Paulinus corresponded with Saint Martin of Tours, Saint Jerome, and many others. Regarding Paulinus’s writings, Pope Benedict XVI said, “Saint Paulinus did not write theological treatises, but his poems and ample correspondence are rich in a lived theology, woven from God’s Word, constantly examined as a light for life. The sense of the Church as a mystery of unity emerges in particular from them. Paulinus lived communion above all through a pronounced practice of spiritual friendship. He was truly a master in this, making his life a crossroads of elect spirits…”

Saint Paulinus began his life with wealth, noble status, and civil power. When he saw the devotion that the faithful had toward Saint Felix, he realized there was more to life than the pursuits that had occupied him. When his wife and he tragically experienced the loss of their child, they didn’t turn to self-pity or anger. The couple used their loss as an opportunity to more fully abandon themselves to the will of God. When Paulinus’ wife died, he devoted himself even more fully to the service of God and His Church through his episcopal ministry and generosity to the poor and the pilgrims. He used his natural talents for the glory of God through his hymns, poetry, and extensive correspondence with others, and inspired others to join him in a life of prayer and asceticism.

As we honor Saint Paulinus today, ponder your own journey of faith. Looking back at life, especially at any challenges you have faced, have you allowed God’s grace to strengthen you through those challenges, or have you turned away as a result? Allow Saint Paulinus to inspire you on your journey, using every challenge and every natural gift for the sole purpose of glorifying God and fulfilling His perfect will.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-22—saint-paulinus-of-nola-bishop/

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Saint John Fisher, Bishop and Marty; Saint Thomas More, Martyr

Daily Saints

Saint John Fisher: 1469–1535; Invoked for courage and by those who are persecuted

Saint Thomas More: 1478–1535; Patron Saint of statesmen, politicians, lawyers, civil servants, court clerks, adopted children, large families, stepparents, and difficult marriages; Canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 19, 1935

Throughout the 1400s, the Catholic Church played a central role in the religious, cultural, and political fabric of England. Magnificent churches were built, monasteries thrived, clergy wielded influence, religious holidays were nationalized, and the Catholic Church collaborated with the state, in union with Rome. However, the tide began to shift during the rule of King Henry VIII (1509–1547) when King Henry severed ties between the Church of England and Rome to secure his divorce and remarriage. One year later, in 1535, the king martyred two of England’s greatest Catholic saints who opposed him, both of whom we honor today.

John Fisher was born in Beverley, Yorkshire, England, in 1469. At the age of fifteen, Fisher enrolled in the University of Cambridge, where he pursued studies in theology. He was ordained a priest around the age of twenty-two. His academic excellence led to an invitation to remain at Cambridge, where he fulfilled roles as a chaplain, professor, and eventually Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor.

In 1504, when he was approximately thirty-five years old, Father Fisher was ordained a bishop and appointed to the Diocese of Rochester. Despite serving in one of the smallest and poorest dioceses in England, Bishop Fisher became renowned for his preaching, pastoral care, and adherence to orthodox faith.

Thomas More was born in London, England, in 1478. His father, a well-respected lawyer and judge, ensured that Thomas received an education at one of London’s finest schools. At the age of twelve, Thomas served in the household of Archbishop John Morton of Canterbury, who was also the Lord Chancellor of England. Thomas’ intelligence quickly became evident, leading to his enrollment at the University of Oxford to prepare for future legal studies. During this time, he developed a strong faith, influenced by the witness of the Carthusians monks, and he contemplated a monastic vocation himself. Although he eventually chose a career in law, his life of prayer and penitential practices blossomed.

In 1505, Thomas married Jane Colt, with whom he had four children. He began working in Parliament and gained a favorable reputation. In 1510, he was appointed as an undersheriff of London, one of the city’s highest law enforcement positions. Unfortunately, Jane passed away in 1511, leaving Thomas with four young children. He soon married Alice Middleton, who lovingly cared for his children as a mother.

Over the next twenty-one years, Thomas’ faith, family, and career thrived. He became a member of the King’s Council, was knighted by King Henry VIII, and was elected as Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1529, he became the first layman to hold the post of Lord Chancellor, the highest-ranking legal position in England. After serving for approximately three years, he resigned, citing reasons of health. His primary motivation, however, was his opposition to Henry VIII’s actions regarding the Catholic Church.

The seeds of trouble were sewn in 1501 when Arthur, Prince of Wales, the firstborn son of King Henry VII, married Catherine of Aragon. The couple expected to ascend to the throne as king and queen after Arthur’s father’s death. However, Prince Arthur died five months later, passing the right of succession to the throne to his younger brother, Henry. An arrangement was made for Henry to marry Catherine, his late brother’s wife, once Henry came of age. Although such a marriage was typically prohibited, the pope granted a dispensation, based on Catherine’s testimony that she and Arthur had never consummated their marriage.

In 1509, King Henry VII passed away, and his son, Henry VIII, assumed the throne and married Catherine. Over the next twenty years, they had six children, all of whom died as infants except for one daughter, Mary, who would later become queen. In 1527, King Henry VIII sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine, contending that it was invalid because she had, indeed, consummated her marriage to Arthur, which she denied. Henry further asserted that his lack of a male heir was a consequence of this unlawful union, signaling divine displeasure. The pope rejected Henry’s request for an annulment, provoking Henry’s anger and intensifying conflicts between him and the pope, along with those who opposed Henry among the clergy and civil servants.

In 1532, King Henry appointed Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Sympathetic to those who sought reform of the English Church and separation from Rome, Cranmer supported Henry’s desire for a divorce from Catherine. He declared Henry’s first marriage null and void and validated his subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn in 1533. In 1534, with the backing of Parliament, King Henry VIII proclaimed himself the head of the Church in England, effectively severing ties with the pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

Today’s saints, Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, were among the few who refused to accept the king’s decisions. Bishop John Fisher firmly defended the bond of marriage, stating that he was willing to die, just as Saint John the Baptist did, for the defense of marriage. This outraged the king. Eventually, the king had Bishop Fisher arrested before he could publicly oppose the new queen’s coronation. Though he was initially released, he was arrested again on April 26, 1534, and remained in prison under extremely harsh conditions, deprived even of a priest to minister to him, until his death about fourteen months later. Before Fisher’s death, the pope declared him a cardinal as a way of adding pressure on the king to release him, but this only angered the king more. Cardinal Fisher’s defense was to remain silent and say nothing from prison. Eventually, he was tricked into speaking, confessing his opposition to the king, which led to his beheading. Every other bishop, except for two, gave their support to the king, bringing a painful end to the Catholic Church in England.

Like Cardinal Fisher, Thomas More refused to support the king’s claim that he was the head of the Church of England, and he refused to publicly support the coronation of the new queen. After More refused to attend the coronation, he was arrested and put on trial for treason. His defense was also to remain silent, but he was found guilty and executed about two weeks after Cardinal Fisher. Cardinal Fisher’s head had been mounted on London Bridge for two weeks after his death, but it was taken down and replaced by More’s upon More’s execution.

The fall of the Catholic Church in England is perhaps one of the saddest moments of Church history. However, because of the courage of these two martyrs, it is also one of the brightest. Though they were abandoned by most, they are now honored as saints and martyrs and will forever wear those glorious crowns in Heaven.

As we honor these two great martyrs, ponder their eternal perspective and willingness to endure suffering and death rather than compromise their faith. As you do, pray that you, too, will always live for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, even if it means hardship, suffering, or even death, preferring the glorious crown of righteousness in Heaven.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-22—saints-john-fisher-bishop-and-martyr-and-thomas-more-martyr/

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Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

Daily Saints

1568–1591; Patron Saint of students, Christian youth, Jesuit novices, AIDS patients and caregivers; Invoked against eye troubles and epidemics; Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 31, 1726

Luigi Gonzaga was the firstborn son of eight children, and the scion to a wealthy and noble inheritance. He was born into the Duchy of Mantua, modern-day northern Italy, which was ruled by his family, the princely House of Gonzaga. Luigi was the Italian version of his name; Aloysius was the Latin version. His father, Ferrante Gonzaga, was Governor of Milan, Viceroy of Sicily, and a general in the army of the Holy Roman Emperors Charles V and Philip II. As the oldest son, Luigi was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps through a military career. Ferrante began training Luigi as a soldier when Luigi was just four years old. Luigi’s mother, a devout Catholic, had different hopes for her son.

At the age of five, Luigi was sent to a military camp housing 3,000 soldiers to learn warfare and weaponry. He earned respect from the soldiers and often led them in marching, but he also picked up their rough language. When Luigi brought this language home, his mother promptly corrected him. Although the incident was somewhat innocent since he didn’t know what the words he repeated meant, his mother’s rebuke had a lasting influence on him and marked a turning point in his life. From that young age, he started to cultivate piety and a greater consciousness of moral living.

Luigi’s piety continued to flourish at the age of seven. He began to pray daily, reciting the Office of Our Lady, the penitential psalms, and many other devotions, often on his knees on a cold, hard floor. Around this time, he also endured an illness lasting about eighteen months, marked by fever and necessitating prolonged bed rest. Nevertheless, he never missed his daily prayers. Many who knew him in his childhood believed he never committed a mortal sin, given the depth of his devotion.

At the age of eight, Luigi and his younger brother were sent to Florence under the guardianship of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco I de’ Medici, a member of the influential Medici family. Florence was a thriving city, rich in culture and knowledge, exposing the boys to music, art, and science. Luigi and his brother served as pages in Francesco’s court, a role that involved household service, etiquette instruction, and establishment of important relationships for future benefits. Luigi studied Latin, literature, philosophy, and history, and was exposed to physical disciplines, such as fencing and horseback riding.

By the age of nine, however, Luigi—now using his Latin name, Aloysius—was demonstrating more interest in piety and the lives of the saints than in the worldly pursuits that made up his life at court. Most of his free time was spent learning about the faith and praying.

Ferrante brought his sons back home when Aloysius was eleven years old. After joining the court of Duke William Gonzaga of Mantua, Aloysius read a book of letters from Jesuit missionaries and was deeply moved by a letter from a Jesuit missionary from the Indies. Around this time, he made a private vow to live a celibate life devoted to God and resolved to renounce his firstborn rights. He began to embrace every virtue, especially purity, and he became so engrossed in catechetical studies and the lives of the saints that he began teaching catechism to other children.

At the age of twelve, Aloysius met then-cardinal and future saint, Charles Borromeo. After expressing his desire to be a Jesuit missionary and undergoing examination by the cardinal, Aloysius so impressed Cardinal Borromeo that he personally prepared the boy for and administered his First Holy Communion, encouraging him to receive the Eucharist frequently.

When Aloysius was thirteen, his father was required to accompany the empress of Austria to Spain and brought his children with him. The children became pages in the infant prince’s court. Aloysius continued his studies and prayer life in Spain and started to seriously consider becoming a Jesuit. His mother was thrilled when he shared this desire, but his father was enraged, even threatening physical violence. The issue was that Aloysius would need to renounce his inheritance and noble status to become a Jesuit. When some family members suggested he become a secular priest, noting that they could arrange for him to be a bishop, Aloysius refused. He felt called to the Jesuits and had no interest in the nobility’s courtly advancement, wealth, or worldly honors. When the Spanish infant prince died a year later, the family moved back to Italy.

Over the next few years, Aloysius’s piety grew, and his devotion to become a Jesuit solidified. His father and many others tried to dissuade him, even confining him for nine months. Eventually, through divine grace, hearts were softened, minds opened, and Aloysius’ father gave his reluctant consent. As a high-ranking noble, Aloysius could only renounce his inheritance and position with the emperor’s approval. Once granted, Aloysius passed his rank and inheritance to his brother and joined the Jesuit novitiate in Rome on November 25, 1585, at the age of eighteen.

Despite his noble background, Aloysius lived humbly in Rome. He advanced in prayer, often entering deep contemplation. He prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, grew in devotion to Our Lady, and always meditated on Christ’s Passion. He was obedient, manifested a pure and holy chastity, lived in poverty, and was charitable, especially towards the poor. He was also blessed to have the future Saint Robert Bellarmine as his spiritual director and teacher.

After briefly returning home to resolve a family dispute over land, Aloysius returned to Rome in 1591 when the bubonic plague was ravaging the city. Despite the widespread fear, Aloysius dedicated himself to caring for the sick, dismissing concerns for his own health. He undertook all necessary tasks to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the sick, fulfilling his duties with profound joy. Eventually, he contracted the disease himself and endured much suffering. He embraced his suffering with much rejoicing and even prophesied the day of his death, which was revealed to him in a vision and occurred on the Octave day of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi when he was just twenty-three years old.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was wealthy in the things of this world and was promised everything this life could offer. However, he discovered something far more valuable—God—through a life of profound prayer and devotion. The wealth he obtained through his obedience to God’s will vastly exceeded anything he could inherit in this life. As we reflect on this youthful and holy Jesuit, consider your own dreams and desires. Like Saint Aloysius, are you prepared to relinquish everything to serve God’s will? Do you pursue genuine riches? Or are you preoccupied with the fleeting wealth of this world? Imitate this young saint’s example, and you will discover the same treasures he obtained through his fidelity to God’s will.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/june-21–st-aloysius-gonzaga/

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Saint John of Pulsano

Daily Saints

Profile

John was a Benedictine monk. He lived with such austerity that it brought on the enmity of his brothers who felt he was setting a standard that they could not meet, making them look bad, and drawing attention to himself. He was became a monk at Montevergine Abbey under the spiritual direction of his friend Saint William of Vercelli, its founder. He was a poopular preacher in Bari, Italy. He also founded the Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey at Pulsano, Italy where he served as abbot, and from which grew a new congregation.

Born

c.1070 at Matera, Basilicata region, Italy

Died

1139 at Pulsano, Italy of natural causes
buried in a niche in a cave in the church at Saint Mary of Pulsano Abbey
relics translated to Matera Cathedral in 1830
relics enshrined in a new sarcophagus in 1939

Canonized
1177 by Pope Alexander III

Representation

abbot driving away the devil with a rod

Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-of-pulsano/

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Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Saint Peter: c. 1–c. 64; Patron Saint of Rome, bakers, brickmakers, masons, bridge-builders, butchers, clockmakers, cobblers, fishermen, harvesters, watchmakers, locksmiths, netmakers, the papacy, and the Universal Church Invoked against feet problems, fevers, and frenzy

Saint Paul: c. 3–c. 64 Patron Saint of Rome, evangelists, theologians, musicians, public relations personnel, writers, publishers, and reporters; rope-, saddle-, and tentmakers; Gentiles; Cursillo movement; and Catholic Action Invoked against snakes and hailstorms Pre-Congregation canonizations

Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

c. 135–c. 202; Patron Saint of those who work for the unity of the Eastern and Western Churches; Invoked against Christological heresies, and by apologists and catechists; Pre-Congregation canonization; Declared a Doctor of the Church (Doctor of Unity) by Pope Francis in 2022

Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor

c. 376–444; Patron Saint of Alexandria, Egypt; Invoked against Christological heresies; Pre-Congregation canonization; Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1883

Saint Josemaria Escriva, Priest

1902–1975; Patron Saint of diabetics; "The earth is our altar, and work is our sacrifice"

Saint Tigre of Maurienne

Birth of Saint John the Baptist

First Century Patron Saint of baptism, bird dealers, converts, monastic life, motorways, printers, tailors, lambs, and prisoners; Invoked against epilepsy, convulsions, hailstorms, and spasms; Pre-Congregation canonization

Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop

c. 354–431; Patron Saint of bellmakers; Invoked by the people of Nola, Italy; Pre-Congregation canonization

Saint John Fisher, Bishop and Marty; Saint Thomas More, Martyr

Saint John Fisher: 1469–1535; Invoked for courage and by those who are persecuted

Saint Thomas More: 1478–1535; Patron Saint of statesmen, politicians, lawyers, civil servants, court clerks, adopted children, large families, stepparents, and difficult marriages; Canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 19, 1935

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

1568–1591; Patron Saint of students, Christian youth, Jesuit novices, AIDS patients and caregivers; Invoked against eye troubles and epidemics; Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 31, 1726

Saint John of Pulsano

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