The Liturgical Calendar for June 2008

Transcription

1 The Liturgical Calendar for June 2008 (Calendar of Saints) I believe in the Communion of Saints. This statement is familiar to us for it is from the very profession of faith made at our baptism. From this ancient baptismal formula we derive what has come to be called the Apostle s Creed that forms the basis of the great symbol of our faith, the Nicene Creed. When we speak of the Communion of Saints we are affirming that our relationship with our brothers and sisters continues even after their death. We remain in communion with them and they with us. As it is written in the Preface of the Mass for the Dead, that in death life is changed, not ended. We invoke their prayers and they intercede for us. When we gather to celebrate the Eucharist we gather in the presence of all the angels and saints. That is why we fill our sacred spaces with images of the saints. It reminds us that we are not alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We recognize and remember the many heroes of our faith from the past throughout the Catholic Church. Originally, it was the faithful who would venerate the martyrs on the anniversary of their martyrdom. The Church only later would create a formal process of canonization. But this happened long after the people of God in a given locality had already been celebrating the lives of their Holy Ones. Remembering the lives of exceptional Christians provides us with models of Christian virtue and discipleship. The Saints were not perfect and they would be the first to tell you that. The Saints did not have perfect theology or understanding of the mysteries of our faith. They had their failings. But what makes them exceptional is that they loved God as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ and they all experienced the reality of the risen Christ s

2 life within their own life. It encourages us that God would use ordinary people to achieve extraordinary ends. What makes a saint is when one says yes to God. Be it done unto me as you will. By remembering these special followers of Jesus we say to the world, this is what Christianity is really all about for it is best seen in the lives of our greatest champions from throughout our faith history. Sadly, each communion has its own saints and ignores the saints of other ecclesial bodies. So we find Roman Catholic saints and Greek Orthodox saints and Anglican saints. And on and on it goes. We just can t seem to discard our tribal mentality and our sectarianism. There are many saints that are never recognized universally because they are Protestant or belong to some other group that we fail to recognize as being one of our own. I think this is a great disservice to the People of God and we are all the poorer because it. We are Ecumenical Catholics. We recognize that there are saints that have been among us in every part of the Church in every generation. They all have been used of God in order to further the Divine purposes. Therefore, we make a small effort to create a calendar of saints that is inclusive of the heroes of all Christians no matter what their denominational identity may be. So, in a way, this is a small step toward raising our consciousness about the many saints from other Christian traditions. In this way perhaps we may take a step closer to realizing the full unity of the Church which is called the Body of Christ. I have made every effort to identify what faith tradition each saint was identified with in their lifetime. Bear in mind that we are all a part of the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Saints from before the great Schism of 1054 are simply identified as Catholic in the original sense of that word. The only exception is the identification of the saints of the Celtic Church which was independent from Rome but would later be absorbed

3 into the Roman Catholic Church. The saints who came after the Schism of 1054 are then identified as either Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or by one of the many identifiable groups that sprung from later movements such as the Reformation or the Pentecostal revival. I hope that through this Calendar of Saints you will discover some of the wonderful ways that the Holy Spirit worked in the lives of all the followers of Jesus and that this will give you insight in how the Spirit can and is working in your own life. Who knows, generations from now we may find your name on one of these calendars of the saints? May it be so! Your brother in Christ, Bishop Peter

4 2008 June 1: NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The Readings: Deuteronomy 11: 18, 26-28, 32/ Psalm 31: 2-4, 17, and 25 (3b)/ Romans 3: 21-25, 28/ Matthew 7: Today s Saint: Justin Martyr, born 100 died 165 in Rome, early Christian apologist and martyr. His writings are among the earliest surviving Christian apologies. (Catholic) Be always ready to give a reason to anyone who asks of you to give an account for the hope that is in you with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 Saint Justin Martyr

5 2008 June 2 Monday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings: 2 Peter 1: 2-7/ Psalm 91: 1-2, 14-16/ Mark 12: 1-12 Today s Saints: Anthony de Mello, born 1931, Bombay, India, died 1987, New York, Jesuit priest, psychotherapist, writer of spirituality, founded a prayer center in India. (Roman Catholic) Anthony de Mello

6 2008 June 3 Tuesday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings: 2 Peter 3: 12-15a, 17-18/ Psalm 90: 2-4,10,14, 16/ Mark 12: Today s Saints: 1. John XXIII, born 1881 died 1963, pope, reformer, convened the Vatican II Council in 1962 (Roman Catholic) Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli/ John XXIII 2. James Hudson Taylor, born 1832 died 1905, British Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission. (Evangelical) James Hudson Taylor

7 2008 June 4 Wednesday: Ordinary Weekday, The Readings: 2 Timothy 1: 1-3, and 6-12/ Psalm 123: 1b-2/ Mark 12: Today s Saint: Francis Caracciolo, born 1563 died 1608, priest and co-founder of the Congregation of the Minor Clerks Regular with John Augustine Adorno. He decided to adopt a religious life after recovering from leprosy at the age of 22. (Roman Catholic) Francis Caracciolo

8 2008 June 5 Thursday: The Readings: 2 Timothy 2: 8-15/ Psalm 25: 4-5, 8-10, and 14/ Mark 12: Today s Saint: Boniface, bishop, martyr, born c. 672 died 754, the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid or Wynfrith at Credito in the kingdom of Wessex (now in Devon, England), a Missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the eighth century, the patron saint of Germany and the Netherlands, Martyred in Friesia in 754. Saint Boniface

9 2008 June 6 Friday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings: 2 Timothy 3: 10-17/ Psalm 119: 157, , and 168/ Mark 12: Today s Saint: Norbert, bishop, born c died 1134, founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular. Saint Norbert

10 2008 June 7 Saturday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings: 2 Timothy 4: 1-8/ Psalm 71: 8-9, 14-17, and 22/ Mark 12: The Widow s Mite

11 2008 June 8: TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The Readings: Hosea 6: 3-6/ Psalm 50: 8, 12-15, and 23b/ Romans 4: 18-25/ Matthew 9: 9-13 Today s Saints: 1. Melania the Elder, born in Spain, died in 410 in Jerusalem, became a Christian in Rome, Traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, became an ascetic, co-founded a monastery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Saint Melania the Elder 2. August Hermann Francke, born 1663 died 1727, writer, pastor, theologian (German Lutheran and Pietist). August Hermann Francke

12 2008 June 9 Monday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings: 1 Kings 17: 1-6/ Psalm 121: 1-8/ Matthew 5: 1-12 Today s Saints: 1. Ephrem the Syrian, born ca. 306 died 373, a Syrian deacon, prolific Syriac-language hymnographer (writer of hymns) and theologian. Ephrem of Syria, Theologian (Catholic) 2. Saint Columba, born 521 died 597, Columba of Iona, or, in Old Irish, as Colm Cille or Columcille (meaning "Dove of the church") Celtic missionary monk, introduced Christianity to the Kingdom of the Picts Saint Columba, abbot (Celtic)

13 3. William Carey, born 1761 died 1834, English missionary and minister, known as the "father of modern missions, a founder of the Baptist Missionary Society, a missionary in the Danish colony, Serampore, India, translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and numerous other languages and dialects. (Baptist) William Carey 4. Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon (commonly known as Madame Guyon) (April 18, June 9, 1717) a French mystic (Roman Catholic) Madame Guyon

14 2008 June 10 Tuesday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings: 1 Kings 17: 7-16/ Psalm 4: 2-5, 7b-8/ Matthew 5: 13-16

15 2008 June 11 Wednesday: The Readings: Acts 11: 21b-26; 13: 1-3/ Psalm 98: 1-6/ Matthew 5: Today s Saints: 1. Barnabas, apostle and martyr, missionary companion of Paul, uncle of John Mark, Apostle to Cyprus (New Testament) While the Church in Antioch were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:1-2 Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cypress. Acts 15: 39 Saint Barnabas 2. Dr. Frank Charles Laubach, born 1884 died 1970, Christian Evangelical missionary and mystic known as "The Apostle to the Illiterates." Doctor Frank Charles Laubach (Evangelical)

16 2008 June 12 Thursday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 1 Kings 18: 41-46/ Psalm 65: 10-13/ Matthew 5: Today s Saint: Amphion of Cilicia, Died after 325. Amphion is described in the Roman Martyrology as "an excellent confessor in the time of Galerius Maximian." He was then bishop of Epiphania, Cilicia. Amphion attended the Council of Nicaea as a member of the Catholic party. He was elected to the see of Nicomedia. Saint Athanasius commended Amphion's writings (Catholic).

17 2008 June 13 Friday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 1 Kings 19: 9a, 11-16/ Psalm 27: 7-9, 13-14/ Matthew 5: Today s Saint: Anthony of Padua, born as Fernando Martins de Bulhão to a wealthy family ca in Lisbon, Portugal, died 1231, in Padua, Italy (Catholic) Saint Anthony of Padua

18 2008 June 14 Saturday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 1 Kings 19: 19-21/ Psalm 16: 1b-2a and 5, 7-10/ Matthew 5: Today s Saints: Gilbert Keith Chesterton, born 1874 died 1936, English writer and Christian apologist (Roman Catholic) G. K. Chesterton

19 2008 June 15: ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The Readings Exodus 19: 2-6a/ Psalm 100: (3c)/ Romans 5: 6-11/ Matthew 9: 36 10: 8 The Twelve Apostles Today s Saints: 1. Evelyn Underhill, born 1875 died 1941, English author, mystic (Anglican) Evelyn Underhill

20 2. Johannes Tauler, born c in Strausbourg died 1361, Mystic, educated at the Dominican convent in that city, where Meister Eckhart, who greatly influenced him, was professor of theology ( ) in the monastery school. (Catholic)

21 2008 June 16 Monday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 1 Kings 21: 1-16/ Psalm 5: 2-7/ Matthew 5: Today s Saints: Rufus Matthew Jones, born 1863 died 1948, American writer, and professor. One of the most influential Quakers of the 20th century, historian, theologian and philosopher. Rufus Jones

22 2008 June 17 Tuesday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 1 Kings 21: 17-29/ Psalm 51: 3-6, 11, and 16/ Matthew 5: Today s Saint: Emily de Vialar, Religious, Founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph "of the Apparition"

23 2008 June 18 Wednesday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 2 Kings 2: 1, 6-14/ Psalm 31:20-21, and 24/ Matthew 6: Today s Saints: 1. Elizabeth of Schönau, born 1129 died 1165, German Benedictine visionary and mystic. (Catholic) 2. Dawson Trotman, born 1906 died 1956, American Evangelist and founder of the Navigators, an evangelistic and discipleship religious organization. (Evangelical)

24 2008 June 19 Thursday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings Sirach 48: 1-14/ Psalm 97: 1-7/ Matthew 6: 7-15 Today s Saint: Romuald, born c. 951 died c. 1025/27, Abbot and the founder of the Camaldolese order. Saint Romuald

25 2008 June 20 Friday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 2 Kings 11: 1-4, 9-18, and 20/ Psalm 132: and 17-18/ Matthew 6: Today s Saint: Saint Adalbert, died 981, the Apostle of the Slavs, was the first Archbishop of Magdeburg (from 968) and a successful missionary to the Slavic peoples to the east of Germany. Saint Adalbert

26 2008 June 21 Saturday: The Readings 2 Chronicles 24: 17-25/ Psalm 89: / Matthew 6: Today s Saint: Aloysius Gonzaga, born 1568 died 1591 an Italian Jesuit Aloysius Gonzaga

27 2008 June 22: TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The Readings Jeremiah 20: 10-13/ Psalm 69: 8-10, 14, 17, and / Romans 5: 12-15/ Matthew 10: Today s Saint: Yves Marie Joseph Cardinal Congar, born 1904 died 1995, a French Dominican priest and theologian (Roman Catholic) Yves Congar

28 2008 June 23 Monday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 2 Kings 17: a, and 18/ Psalm 60: 3-5 and 12-13/ Matthew 7: 1-5 Today s Saint: Joseph Cafasso, born 1811 in northern Italy, near the city of Turin. Four years later, in 1815, one of his most famous students was born in the same town, Saint John Bosco. He died in Known as the gentle and loving priest who ministered to prisoners who were awaiting execution. Saint Joseph Cafasso

29 2008 June 24 Tuesday: NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST Solemnity The Readings Vigil: Jeremiah 1: 4-10/ Psalm 71: 1-6ab, 15ab and 17/ 1 Peter 1: 8-12/ Luke 1: Day: Isaiah 49: 1-6/ Psalm 139: 1b-3, 13-15/ Acts 13: 22-26/ Luke 1: and 80 NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

30 2008 June 25 Wednesday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 2 Kings 22: 8-13; 23: 1-3/ Psalm 119: 33, 34, 36, 37 and 40/ Matthew 7: Today s Saint: Saint Febronia, She was born in Mesopotamia around the turn of the Third Century. When she was two years old, she was given to her aunt, an abbess in Assyria, to be raised. She became a nun and teacher of the Christian Faith. She was martyred during the persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. (Catholic)

31 2008 June 26 Thursday: Ordinary Weekday: The Readings 2 Kings 24: 8-17/ Psalm 79: 1b-2, 3-5, 8-9/ Matthew 7: 21-29

32 2008 June 27 Friday: Ordinary Weekday The Readings 2 Kings 25: 1-12/ Psalm 137: 1-6/ Matthew 8: 1-4 Today s Saint: Cyril of Alexandria, born ca. 378 died ca. 444, bishop and doctor of the Church, was the Pope of Alexandria when the city was at its height of influence and power within the Roman Empire. Saint Cyril of Alexandria

33 2008 June 29 SUNDAY: PETER AND PAUL, Apostles, Solemnity The Readings: Vigil: Acts 3: 1-10/ Psalm 19: 2-5/ Galatians 1:11-20/ John 21: Day: Acts 12: 1-11/ Psalm 34: 2-9/ 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18/ Matthew 16: 13-19

34 2008 June 30 Monday: Weekday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time The Readings Amos 2: 6-10 and 13-16/ Psalm 50: 16bc-23/ Matthew 8: Today s Saints: 1. First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, are the many other early Christian martyrs of the city of Rome who were martyred shortly after the executions of Peter and Paul by the Emperor Nero (64-67 A.D.) 2. Venerable Pierre Toussaint born 1766 died 1853 was a Catholic slave in Haïti. (Roman Catholic) After being freed from slavery he ministered to the poor of New York City.