A saint's parents' feast

"Happy feast day to Blessed Zelie Martin and Blessed Louis Martin, parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. When they married, they promised to 'serve God first' together. When we live with love, we grow in holiness."

Picture & source here

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Solemnity of St. John the Baptist

Happy Birthday St. John the Baptist! Wait I thought that we usually celebrate feast days on their anniversary of death, not their birthday. Well Mary and St. John the Baptist are the exceptions. Mary is the Mother of God so that’s not too surprising, but why John the Baptist? St. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. It was his job to announce, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”. He is the bridge between the Old and the New Testaments. His birth precedes Christ’s and so his birthday is celebrated since it is so tied up with the Incarnation. He is celebrated today since from this time on there begins to be less and less sunlight until Christmas. The light decreases just like St. John decreased for Christ.

 

 

It is good to remember that all the saints point to Jesus. St. John the Baptist told the crowd’s “He must increase, I must decrease”(Mk.1:3 ). Today on this Solemnity we should try to remember to point to Christ and prepare a way for him in our hearts. I often find myself thinking about what is best for me, and what is most comfortable, instead of what does God want and what will help build the Kingdom of God. St. John is such a great example as he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). Let’s pray to St. John the Baptist that we may decrease and that Christ may increase in us.

St. Thomas More

Picture source

June 22. Just an ordinary date in June and, at a glance, nothing particularly spectacular about it. In all honesty, I'd forgotten about it until last week. That is, until someone pointed out that June 22 was a special feast day, the feast of St. Thomas More, one of my patrons.

Studied at London and Oxford, England. Page for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lawyer. Twice married, and a widower he was the father of one son and three daughters, and a devoted family man. Writer, most famously of the novel which coined the word Utopia. Translated with works of Lucian. Known during his own day for his scholarship and the depth of his knowledge. Friend of King Henry VIII. Lord Chancellor of England from 1529 to 1532, a position of political power second only to the king. Fought any form of heresy, especially the incursion of Protestantism into England. Opposed the king on the matter of royal divorce, and refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy which declared the king the head of the Church in England. Resigned the Chancellorship, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Martyred for his refusal to bend his religious beliefs to the king‘s political needs. - From Saints.sqpn.com

I've never really given much thought about Thomas More. Having an entirely different field apart from a lawyer's, I thought his randomly being my patron was nice, but I didn't understand the relevancy.

Then I realized during the course of the day that he was married. Alright, I'd known that all along, but here was a man who had a family, a job and, from what I've read elsewhere, a witty sense of humor! He was a very real person; when it comes down to it, same as you or me or your next door neighbor. Now imagine your next door neighbor standing up to someone who would most likely execute you for it. Imagine your father or father-in-law doing so. While it is not uncommon to hear of priests' and religious' martyrdoms, it is not often that you hear of a common man winning that glorious crown.

Thomas More was an extraordinary ordinary man. Yes, he had some influence in court, but he was merely living out his life - the difference is that he lived it well to the very end. Let us pray that we might do likewise in our own lives, as ordinary as they might be.

"You say you see no reason why we should pray to the Saints since God can hear us and help us just as well, and will do so gladly, as any Saint in Heaven. Well, then, what need, I ask, do you have to ask any physician to help your fever, or to ask and pay any surgeon to heal your sore leg? For God can both hear you and help you as well as the best of doctors. He loves you more than they do, and He can help you sooner. Besides——-His poultices are cheaper and He will give you more for your words alone than they will for your money!"

"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."

"I die the king's faithful servant, but God's first."

- St. Thomas More

Saint of the Week: St. Aloysius

The Feast of St. Aloysius is celebrated today on June 21st. This is my first attempt making a video, so please forgive any mistakes. St. Thomas More is celebrated tomorrow, but more on him later. I hope you have blessed day and week.