St. Barnabas - Apostle (June 11th)

St. Barnabas was a Hebrew born in Cyprus. His name was Joseph. At an early age he was converted to Christianity. At that time Joseph received the name Barnabas which means "son of consolation" because of his kind and optimistic nature. Barnabas sold his land and brought the price to the apostles. He accompanied St. Paul to the cities of Asia Minor. Tradition says that he was martyred in Cyprus during the persecution of the 60's.

Let us be cheerful and optimistic too. What a wonderful way to draw people to Christ!


The Proper Time

Having perfected and affirmed his conversion and established his life and existence in Jesus Christ, Saul retired to Tarsus, where he remained humbly silent, although a great fire was burning in his soul. He waited until Barnabas invited him to Antioch. For him, Barnabas, coming from Antioch, was a representative of the Church. Saul obeyed and went there immediately. He found doctors and prophets: among them, Saul is mentioned last. To make him start his apostolate among the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit had to speak to the elders: "Set apart for me Saul and Barnabas unto the work to which I have called them." So, having fasted and prayed, the elders laid their hands upon them. Only then did Saul begin his permanent apostolate. Thus, Ananias, Barnabas and the elders of Antioch were the guides, or, we could say, the spiritual directors of St. Paul. They performed their task well and St. Paul fulfilled his duty well. And the Church acquired that apostle who worked more than all the others, whose soul and whose heart always throb in the Church.

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St. Anthony of Padua (June 13th)

Although Anthony came from Portugal, the city of Padua in Italy claims him as its own. Born in 1195 of the nobility, he was baptized Ferdinand and at 15 joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine. For eight years he applied himself to intense study and became an accomplished biblical scholar. His contact with some Franciscans who were later martyred inspired him to move to the Franciscans. Illness prevented mission work and he was sent to Italy where, having led a hidden life, he was ordered to fill in for an absent preacher. The immediate result was the discovery of his great oratorical gifts and he was sent by Francis to preach and teach throughout northern Italy. He taught first in Bologna, then in Padua. His reputation drew enormous crowds and the power of his words converted them. Exhausted and ill, he died at the age 36, so beloved and revered that he was canonized within the year. No one knows for certain why Anthony is called upon to find lost things!


Prayer to St. Anthony, the Finder of the Lost
Dear St. Anthony,
Hear us and intercede for us. We look for the amazing grace of restoration of all that is lost.

Help our world to find peace:
Help those who are enemies to find reconciliation...
Help the hungry to find food...
Help the homeless to find shelter...
Help the poor to find compassion...
Help the endangered to find safety...
Help those who hate to find love...
Help prisoners to find freedom...
Help the jobless to find work...
Help those who mourn to find joy.

Help our Church to find peace:
Help those who doubt to find fatih...
Help those who despair to find hope...
Help those who are in darkness to find light...
Help those who are sinners to find forgiveness...
Help those who are weak to find courage...

Help all my loved ones find peace:
Help those who are lost to find a way back...
Help those who are sick to find health...
Help those who have made mistakes to find wholeness in God's grace...
Help those who are sad and despressed to find joy...
Help those who wander to find the way...
Help those who are angry to find a way to let go...
Help those who have died to find their rest in God.
(Mention other personal needs)

We join with you, beloved Saint,
in praying to our loving God.

Heavenly Father, we beg you through our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you have made the sacrifice that takes away our sins, to receive our prayers and offerings:and through him, to give us the grace to be reconciled to you and to one another.
Then, being at peace with you and each others, we may be able to offer sacrifices of praise with the holy angels before your altar in heaven above.
This we ask you who are blessed forever and ever.
Amen.

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Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (June 21)

Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-91) is the patron saint of young men. Born in Lombardy, he was an imperial prince, connected with all the royal houses. The history of his powerful ancestors shows that while they were capable of good works and practised their faith, their moral conduct was often outrageous. While he was still young, Aloysius began to practice prayer and penance, and to reject the values of his position and family. Against great resistance, in 1585 he gave up his rights as eldest son and joined the Jesuits, hoping to go to the missions. Instead, in 1591, the plague broke out in Rome, and Aloysius offered himself to serve the sick and dying in the hospital. He caught the plague, recovered but weakened, and died three months later. He was just 23 years old but his zeal for God, both as a young man and as a prince, remained an inspiration and example for all. He was canonized in 1726.

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Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 23)

The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is closely lined with that to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Although popular devotion began in the 17th century, it was in 1805 that permission was given for a feast of the Pure Heart of Mary and in 1944 the feast was instituted in the Western Church. Mary's sanctity and her love as the Mother of God are signified by her immaculate heart. In the act of consecration to the Heart of Mary, all that one is and has is entrusted to her.

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Birth of St. John the Baptist (June 24th)

The Church commemorates the birth rather than the death of St. John, as is the custom with the other saints, because he was sanctified while yet in his mother's womb. August 29th is the feast of the saint's martyrdom.

In imitation of St. John the Baptist, or Baptizer, let us, too, spend some time every day in prayer and meditation, so as to "make way for the Lord" in our own soul.


The Prophet

John is the prophet of the Most High, foretold by Isaiah and Jeremiah, purified and consecrated in his mother's womb, to herald Jesus and prepare men for His coming. Those who had been faithful disciples of John and had also been baptized by him, received Jesus well. It had been foretold of him that many would rejoice at his birth. In fact, not only his neighbors and relatives did, but the whole of Christianity. Every year the Church rejoices in it and celebrates it with special manifestations in every century.

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St. Peter and St. Paul - Apostles (June 29th)

They are the founding saints of the Christian Church. Germanic lore holds them as patrons of good weather. And, because of their Christ-like healing capacity, they have also traditionally been invoked for protection against the bite of poisonous snakes. There was an old belief that if on this day you prayed to Peter and Paul, no snake would bite you throughout the year.

St. Peter gained the palm of martyrdom at Rome where he had established for himself and his successors the See of the Vicar of Christ. St. Paul, who had traveled the entire world known at that time in order to preach the Gospel, was also martyred at Rome. The two apostles are united in this feast to signify their union in apostolate and martyrdom.

Let us ask Sts. Peter and Paul for the grace of being true to our Faith.


Peter and the Church

Jesus Christ founded the Church for the salvation of men. The Church is a sheepfold which has only one door, Jesus Christ. It is a flock, of which Jesus Christ is the Shepherd. It is a vineyard, and Jesus Christ is the true vine. At the head of the Church is Peter, then come the bishops and priests: all ministers of the word and of grace. The Church is the people of God. May all be faithful! May all believe in what the Church preaches! May all follow moral teachings and the Christian virtues! May all know and participate in the sacred liturgy! May all meditate on the teachings of the Church-in particular, those of the Second Vatican Council.

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