St. Vincent Ferrer - Priest (April 5th)

St. Vincent Ferrer entered the Dominican order at the age of 18. Gifted with extraordinary eloquence, he traveled through Europe preaching peace and concord. His studies, labors and his every act were a continuous prayer. Many miracles and conversions were performed by him. He died in 1419.
Let us, in imitation of St. Vincent, always be united to God. Many have found that a practical way to accomplish this is by reciting the "morning offering" each day with fervor.

Leaving Christ Free To Act
We can say, "Christ lives in me" when He gives us His thoughts and is master of ours; when His light enlightens our souls and rules our hearts; when His sentiments are communicated to our hearts; when it is His will, the will of the Father, which is active in us. The Second Person of the Holy Trinity takes upon Himself the human nature or, better still, He raises our humanity to divine heights. The Father sees us as His sons, brothers of Christ, heirs of the Father and co-heirs of Jesus Christ. According to St. Paul, perfection is the "fullness of Christ": "Christ is my life."

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St. Anselm - Bishop and Doctor (April 21st)

St. Anselm was born in Piedmont, north Italy, of noble parents. He became a Benedictine monk, Abbot, and then Archbishop of Canterbury. He was banished from England by the king because he resisted the latter's desire to usurp the rights of the Church. Anselm went to Rome where he was welcomed by Pope Urban II. He assisted the Pope in combating the problems of the times. He was recalled to Canterbury, where he died in 1109.

As St. Anselm, let us be willing to profess and proclaim our Faith even when among people who would profane it.

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St. George (April 23)

Little in known about St George, except that he was killed for his faith at Lydda, in Palestine, at the beginning of the fourth century. But, he has a reputation as a "dragon slayer."

Dragon slaying is a favorite allegory for the victory of Christ's grace over evil. Versions of St George's conquest are classic. One story goes that he was summoned to subdue a dragon that inhabited a lake in Silene, Libya, and fed on folks in the neighborhood. When he arrived, St George snatched away the princess Saba who was already in the dragon's clutches as his latest victim. Then he dispatched the monster with his sword.

The historical St George was martyred near Lydda in the early centuries of the Church. Stories of his victory over sin and evil in terms of dragon slaying are rooted in images from the Book of Revelation, and can be compared to similar stories in the lives of Saints Michael, Martha, Sylvester, and Margaret. Also recall God's original curse of the snake and promise of a victorious redeemer (Gn 3:15) and the New Testament fulfillment depicted in scenes of Jesus and Mary treading on a snake.

During the Middle Ages, George was a popular patron of knights, soldiers, and Crusaders, who adopted "St George's Arms," a red cross on a white background. George is also the patron of the Boy Scouts, and his feast day has always been connected with the arrival of Spring.

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St. Mark - Evangelist (April 25th)

St. Mark is one of the four Evangelists. It is said that he was the youth who left the sheet, in which he was wrapped, in the hands of the soldiers and fled naked, the night that Jesus was captured. He was one of the seventy-two disciples, and became St. Peter's beloved disciple. He was sent by Peter to Alexandria in Egypt, where he was martyred after having governed the Church of Egypt for many years.
Let us resolve to always be on the side of Christ, no matter the cost.

The Gospel of Mark
The purpose of St. Mark's Gospel is to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The divinity of Jesus Christ is the fundamental truth of Christianity. If Jesus Christ is God, every one of His teachings is a truth we must believe; every one of His examples illustrates a perfect way of working and living; every institution of His, such as the primacy of Peter, the Church, and the sacraments, should be accepted with veneration and regarded as a guarantee of eternal salvation.

When I read the Gospel of St. Mark I will stir up my faith in Jesus Christ, the God-Man. I will make acts of adoration in recognition of His omnipotence which nothing can resist. I will especially pay homage to the dominion of Jesus Christ over evil spirits and over death. I will ask Him to move the minds of all men by His grace, so that all may adore Him and follow Him as devoted sons and disciples.

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St. Catherine Of Siena - Virgin and Doctor (April 29th)

The twenty-third child of good Christian parents, Catherine received the habit of the Third Order of St. Dominic at the age of eighteen. She is best known for her work to bring the Papacy back from Avignon to Rome in 1377. With prayer and penance this simple woman plumbed the depths of mystical spirituality and dictated profound spiritual writings. Catherine died in 1380 and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
Let us "tune in" to the voice of God in us and ask Him to let us think, speak and act as He would!

The Soul of the Church
Let us live with the Church and in the Church. It is the Mystical Body of Jesus; we are its members. Jesus is the Church's Head; the Holy Spirit is its Soul. The Church is a perfect society: super-natural because of its origin, because of its end, and because of the nature of the means it uses -even though it is composed of pilgrim people. It is the ship on which and through which we must cross the sea of this world. Jesus Christ bought it with His blood, washed and sanctified it in His blood.

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