St. John Vianney - Priest (August 4th)

St. John, generally known as the Cure of Ars, was born at Dardilly, France, in 1786. After over-coming many difficulties in his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood and was appointed pastor of the tiny village of Ars. With prayer, penance, sermons, catechism classes and indefatigable hours spent in hearing confessions, the holy Cure transformed his parish into a haven of holiness. His reputation spread throughout France, and Ars became a place of pilgrimage. They had to build a railroad to Ars to accommodate all the penitents who flocked to this holy priest. He died in 1859 and was canonized in 1925.

Let us humbly try to know and love God with all our hearts, and let us not be afraid to spread that love to all whom we meet.

The Blessing of God
If you love God, He will bless your study, your words and your works, your prayer and your activity. You will have His blessing always and everywhere. This blessing signifies that God "speaks well" of our activities because they are pleasing in His sight. It means that God "gives good things," so that His grace is with us always. It also means that God "will give us our reward" when we shall hear Him say: "Come, blessed of my Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you."

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Transfiguration (August 6th)

The Gospel event of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ has been celebrated in Rome from the fifth century. The Transfiguration was meant to prepare the apostles for the sad events of Holy Week.

Like the privileged apostles, let us, too, find and embrace the Lord Jesus in moments of triumph and in moments of difficulty.

Christ, Center of History
Moses gave us the law, and the prophets are represented by Elijah; they prepared the way for Jesus Christ. Then the Divine Master appeared in the splendor of His mission and glory. He is the Teacher, the Eternal Priest, the King of heaven.

He came from the Father. The Father proclaimed His divinity and invited all men to listen to Him. It is true that Jesus Christ first had to be lifted up on the cross before ascending to the right hand of the Father. But let no one think that He was weak or guilty! Through His cross He ascended to glory. The Father raised Him up and subjected to Him hell, the earth, the blessed and the angels. Let everyone follow Him, love Him, and believe in Him.

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St. Dominic - Priest (August 8th)

Saint Dominic was born in Calaruega in Spain around the year 1170. He studied theology at Palencia and was made canon of the church of Osma. He worked effectively against the Albigensian heresy through preaching and good example. To carry on this work he gathered together companions and founded the Order of Preachers. He died at Bologna on August 6th, 1221.

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Assumption (August 15th)

The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is the greatest of all her feasts. Her divine maternity may be regarded as the immediate reason for her Assumption, but the formal reason for the preservation of her body from corruption and for her privileged Assumption into heaven may be sought in her immunity from all stain of original sin.

Let us rejoice with our celestial Mother, and ask her intercession "now and at the hour of our death."

Our Faith in Mary Assumed into Heaven
We believe that the most holy Virgin, to resemble Jesus in everything, died of pure love of God; that she was not subject to the corruption of the grave but was raised up by the omnipotence of God; and she was taken up, body and soul, into heaven. We believe that in heaven she occupies a higher place than all other creatures, that she is enthroned as Queen at the right hand of her Son, that her heart resembles most closely the heart of Jesus. We believe in her maternal goodness.

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Queenship of Mary (August 22nd)

This feast was instituted in 1954. It remains a perennial commemoration of Pope Pius XII's consecration of the Church and of all mankind to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that had taken place in 1942, during the terrible Second World War. The feast of the Queenship of Mary is celebrated one week after the Assumption.

Let us meditate often on the great privileges of our Lady in order to increase our devotion to her.

Mary with God
Mary is the all-blessed one. Just as she personally possessed all the merits divided among the saints, and all the graces shared by the angels, so also she has all the corresponding glory. Mary sees God. She sees Him perfectly, though she understands only in proportion to her faith: "Blessed are you because you believed." Mary possesses God, the supreme Good who contains every good. God gives Himself to everyone, but to Mary in a degree proportioned to the obedience she gave Him while on earth. Mary's conformity to the will of God was total. Mary enjoys God. She has entered the joy of her Lord. Mary has a very special paradise: more perfect than that of the other saints because she is the Queen. As Mother of God, her union with Him is of a very different kind than ours: we are sons of God.

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St. Bartholomew - Apostle (August 24th)

It is believed that St. Bartholomew is the same person mentioned in the Gospel as Nathanael and who our Lord praised for his innocence and simplicity of heart. Bartholomew died a martyr's death; some say he was crucified, others say he was flayed alive. His remains are enshrined in the church of St. Bartholomew in Rome.

Let us please God by being simple of heart.

Interior Strength
No one can hate a child because in his transparent eyes is reflected innocence. And when one has this, he has influence over others. The person who has self-control draws others. You will have power over hearts and minds and you will be able to lead many, many hearts to God. The person who sacrifices himself and conquers himself will have a powerful effect on others. No one is more powerful than he who has gained self-mastery. "He who is master of his life is greater than the conqueror of a city."

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St. Monica (August 27th)

The beloved St. Monica, mother of the great St. Augustine, was born in 332. She obtained from God the grace to convert her husband, who as a pagan, and her son, Augustine, who was a Manichaean, to the Catholic Faith. She died in 387.

Let us pray for our dear ones, that we may all be united in heaven.

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St. Augustine - Bishop and Doctor (August 28th)

St. Augustine was born at Tagaste, Africa, in 354. His mother, St. Monica, taught him how to pray, but he was soon perverted by the Manichaeans. He went to Rome and then to Milan where he was converted by the grace of God through the incessant prayers of his mother and St. Ambrose's preaching. Augustine was thirty-three years old when he was baptized. He was ordained to the priesthood and later was Bishop of Hippo for thirty-four years. With his warm and brilliant sermons and writings, Augustine fought error and explained the Faith. He founded the Order of Augustinians and died in the year 430.

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