Category: Saints & Blesseds

CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “Saint Dominic Guzmán – Audience of Pope Benedict XVI, 3 February 2010” – vatican.va

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“… [A] Saint … who made a fundamental contribution to the renewal of the Church of his time: St Dominic, the Founder of the Order of Preachers, also known as Dominican Friars. … [born in Spain, ca. 1170], distinguished himself … for his interest in the study of Sacred Scripture and … love of the poor …. * * * [T]he Pope … asked Dominic to devote himself to preaching to the Albigensians, a heretical group which upheld a dualistic conception of reality …. Dominic … devoted the rest of his life to [the] mission of preaching the Good News. … This great Saint reminds us that in the heart of the Church a missionary fire must always burn. … a constant incentive to make the first proclamation of the Gospel and, wherever necessary, a new evangelization. Christ, in fact, is the most precious good that the men and women of every time and every place have the right to know and love! …  [With] the Order of Preachers …. Dominic … used the ancient Rule of St Augustine, adapting it to the needs of apostolic life that led him and his companions to preach as they traveled from one place to another but then returning to their own convents and places of study, to prayer and community life. Dominic wanted to give special importance to two values he deemed indispensable for the success of the evangelizing mission: community life in poverty and study. First of all Dominic and the Friars Preachers presented themselves as mendicants … without vast estates …. Secondly … Dominic wanted his followers to acquire a sound theological training [including academic study] …. Dominic, who wished to found a religious Order of theologian-preachers, reminds us that theology has a spiritual and pastoral dimension that enriches the soul and life. … find[ing] profound ‘inner joy’ in contemplating the beauty of the truth that comes from God, a truth … ever timely and ever alive. … a pastoral yearning in the contemplative study of this truth because of the need to communicate to others the fruit of one’s own contemplation. * * * Marian devotion … he fostered tenderly …. his spiritual sons … in the history of the Church, have had the great merit of disseminating the prayer of the Holy Rosary … rich in Gospel values: a true school of faith and piety. … Dominic … believed unquestioningly in the value of prayers of intercession for the success of the apostolic work. …. Dear brothers and sisters, may the life of Dominic de Guzmán spur us all to be fervent in prayer, courageous in living out our faith and deeply in love with Jesus Christ. Through his intercession, let us ask God always to enrich the Church with authentic preachers of the Gospel. …”

Click here for: “Saint Dominic Guzmán – Audience of Pope Benedict XVI, 3 February 2010” – vatican.va

[featured images are file photos]

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CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “Saint Benedict of Norcia” – Pope Benedict XVI General Audience of 9 April 2008/VaticanVa

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“… St Benedict’s life was steeped in an atmosphere of prayer, the foundation of his existence. Without prayer there is no experience of God. Yet Benedict’s spirituality was not an interiority removed from reality. In the anxiety and confusion of his day, he lived under God’s gaze and in this very way never lost sight of the duties of daily life and of man with his practical needs. Seeing God, he understood the reality of man and his mission. In his Rule he describes monastic life as “a school for the service of the Lord” (Prol. 45) and advises his monks, “let nothing be preferred to the Work of God” [that is, the Cross Atop Rocky CliffDivine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours] (43, 3). However, Benedict states that in the first place prayer is an act of listening (Prol. 9-11), which must then be expressed in action. “The Lord is waiting every day for us to respond to his holy admonitions by our deeds” (Prol. 35). Thus, the monk’s life becomes a fruitful symbiosis between action and contemplation, “so that God may be glorified in all things” (57, 9). In contrast with a facile and egocentric self-fulfilment, today often exalted, the first and indispensable commitment of a disciple of St Benedict is the sincere search for God (58, 7) on the path mapped out by the humble and obedient Christ (5, 13), whose love he must put before all else (4, 21; 72, 11), and in this way, in the service of the other, he becomes a man of service and peace. In the exercise of obedience practised by faith inspired by love (5, 2), the monk achieves humility (5, 1), to which the Rule dedicates an entire chapter (7). In this way, man conforms ever more to Christ and attains true self-fulfilment as a creature in the image and likeness of God. …”

Click here for: “Saint Benedict of Norcia” – Pope Benedict XVI General Audience of 9 April 2008/VaticanVa

 

 

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Saint Anthony of Padua: Example to preachers and one of our most popular Saints ― Pope Benedict XVI

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Stained Glass Window of Dove with Golden Rays and Dark Edging, Bernini's Gloria from Saint Peter's Basilica, adapted from image at cia.gov

[first posted by Faith Central on March 5, 2010]

The Holy Father used his Feb. 10, 2010, general audience as an opportunity to teach about Saint Anthony of Padua. The Franciscan lived 35 years, from 1195-1231.

Building upon a central Franciscan theme of Divine Love, Saint Anthony defined prayer “as a relationship of love, which leads man to a dialogue with the Lord,” and described four “attitudes” which must characterize prayer: “trustingly opening our hearts to God, affectionately conversing with Him, presenting Him our needs, and giving Him praise and thanks.

In times of economic challenges, Saint Anthony preached on Christian Charity and the need to comprehend true wealth. Pope Benedict pointed out how this theme also is important amidst the economic downturn of today.

Saint Anthony also preached a series of Sermons on the lives of the Saints as an itinerary for Christian Life. Another set of his Sermons became known as Sunday Sermons.

At first, Saint Anthony apparently felt called to enter Mission work to help convert the Muslims; yet his health required him to undertake apostolic labors closer to home.

The full text of the Vatican news release follows.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, AN EXAMPLE TO PREACHERS

VATICAN CITY, 10 FEB 2010 (VIS) – Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis during this morning’s general audience to St. Anthony of Padua, “one of the most popular saints of the Catholic Church.”

St. Anthony was born to a noble family in Lisbon around the year 1195. Following a period spent with the Augustinian Canons, he entered the Friars Minor in the hope of travelling to Morocco to work as a missionary. However he fell sick and returned to Italy where he dedicated himself to intense and effective apostolic labours. He died in Padua in 1231 and was canonised by Pope Gregory IX in 1232.

“Anthony,” the Pope explained, “made a significant contribution to the development of Franciscan spirituality with his outstanding gifts of intelligence, balance, apostolic zeal and, especially, mystic fervour. … He was also one of the first, if not the first, master of theology among the Friars Minor.”

The saint wrote two cycles of sermons, one entitled “Sunday Sermons” the other “Sermons on the Saints,” in which he presented “a true itinerary of Christian life. Such is the wealth of spiritual teachings contained in the ‘Sermons’ that in 1946 Venerable Pope Pius XII proclaimed Anthony a Doctor of the Church, giving him the title of ‘Doctor Evangelicus’ because all the freshness and beauty of the Gospel emerges in his writings,” said the Holy Father.

Anthony of Padua, or of Lisbon as he is also known, defined prayer “as a relationship of love, which leads man to a dialogue with the Lord,” and he described four “attitudes” which must characterise it: “trustingly opening our hearts to God, affectionately conversing with Him, presenting Him our needs, and giving Him praise and thanks. In this teaching of St. Anthony,” the Pope explained, “we see one of the specific traits of Franciscan theology; … that is, the central role of divine love which enters the sphere of the affections, of the will, of the heart, and which is the source of a spiritual knowledge that surpasses all other knowledge.”

But the “Doctor Evangelicus” also knew the defects of human nature, such as “the tendency to fall into sin, and so he continually exhorted people to combat the inclination to avarice, pride and impurity. … At the beginning of the thirteenth century, in a context of expanding cities and flourishing trade, a growing number of people were insensitive to the needs of the poor. For this reason, Anthony frequently invited the faithful to turn their thoughts to true wealth, that of the heart” and to seek the friendship of those most in need.

“Is this not”, the Pope asked, “also an important lesson for us today, as the financial crisis and serious economic imbalances impoverish many people, and create situations of distresss?” He then went on to comment on one another aspect of Franciscan theology, Christocentrism, which “invites us to contemplate the mysteries of the Lord’s humanity,” especially His Nativity and Crucifixion.

“The vision of the crucified Lord,” said the Holy Father, inspired in Anthony “feelings of recognition towards God and of respect for the dignity of the human person.” In that vision “everyone, believers and non-believers, may find a meaning that enriches life”. This, he explained, “is the importance of the crucifixion in our culture and our humanity, which are born of the Christian faith, … because God considers us so important as to be worthy of His suffering.”

The Pope concluded his catechesis by calling on St. Anthony to intercede for the whole Church, and in particular for “those who dedicate their lives to preaching. Drawing inspiration from his example, may they unite sound and healthy doctrine, sincere and fervent piety, and incisive communication. In this Year for Priests, let us pray that priests and deacons eagerly carry out their ministry of announcing and contextualising the Word of God for the faithful, especially in liturgical homilies.”

AG/ANTHONY OF PADUA/… VIS 100210 (660)
The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source: V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service. Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

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CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “Saint Anthony of Padua” – Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2.10.10

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“… With his outstanding gifts of intelligence, balance, apostolic zeal and … mystic fervour, [St.] Anthony contributed significantly to the development of Franciscan spirituality. …  He dedicated himself … to the study of the Bible and of the Church Fathers, acquiring … theological knowledge … Anthony laid the foundations of Franciscan theology * * * he commented on … texts of Scripture presented by the Liturgy, using the patristic and medieval interpretation of the four senses: the literal or historical, the allegorical or Christological, the tropological or moral, and the anagogical, which orients a person to eternal life. … Anthony proposes a true and proper itinerary of Christian life. * * * St. Anthony speaks of prayer as of a loving relationship that impels man to speak gently with the Lord, creating an ineffable joy that sweetly enfolds the soul in prayer. … prayer requires an atmosphere of silence … an interior experience that aims to remove the distractions caused by a soul’s anxieties, thereby creating silence in the soul itself. * * * … prayer is structured in four indispensable attitudes … obsecratio, oratio, postulatio, gratiarum actio. We might translate them in the following manner. The first step in prayer is confidently opening one’s heart to God; this is not merely accepting a word but opening one’s heart to God’s presence. Next, is speaking with him affectionately, seeing him present with oneself; then a very natural thing presenting our needs to him; and lastly, praising and thanking him. … we perceive … the role assigned to Divine Love which enters into the sphere of the affections, of the will and of the heart, and which is also the source from which flows a spiritual knowledge that surpasses all other knowledge. In fact, it is in loving that we come to know. … ‘Charity is the Ssoul of Faith, it gives it Life; without love, Faith dies’ … It is only the prayerful soul that can progress in spiritual life ….”

Click here for: “Saint Anthony of Padua” – Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 2.10.10

 

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Saint Barnabas – Saint of the Day for June 11” – Franciscan Media

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“Barnabas is spoken of simply as one who dedicated his life to the Lord. He was a man ‘filled with the Holy Spirit and Faith. Thereby, large numbers were added to the Lord.’ Even when he and Paul were expelled from Antioch in Pisidia — modern-day Turkey — they were ‘filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.'”

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Letter of Saint Pope John Paul II for the 1,250th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of St. Boniface, The Apostle of Germany'” – VaticanVa

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Saint Pope John Paul II file photo, adapted from image at archives.gov

“… St. Boniface, who grew up in the monastic culture that was highly developed in his Homeland, remained throughout his life either a teacher or a disciple of it. He recognized as an important presupposition for preaching and receiving the Gospel the spiritual and moral development of the person through concern for and transmission of the ancient patrimony of Christian formation. St Boniface, therefore, is a model for families, schools and institutes of formation also in an age when this patrimony is at risk. … he is also a model of fidelity to the papacy as the centre of ecclesial unity. Only the branch that abides in the vine can bear fruit (cf. Jn 15: 4). Historically St Boniface and his testimony are credited with having brought about and safeguarded unity between the Church in his mission land and the Church united round the Successor of Peter. Yet, it is not only the great missionary’s work that speaks to us today but also his whole personality. He left his own safe Country to proclaim the Gospel among the Germanic peoples and Franks as a ‘foreigner by God’s will.’ Unafraid and undaunted, not only did he fight against the pagan cults of his time, but he did not even fear hostility when it was a matter of reforming the Christian life that already existed. St. Boniface was discouraged neither by the difficulties caused by the obstacles he encountered nor by failure and defeats. He bequeathed to others for their guidance his own experience of life: “Let us stand firm in the fight on the day of the Lord, for days of affliction and misery are here…. We are not dogs that cannot speak, nor silent observers, nor mercenaries fleeing from wolves! Instead, we are hard-working Pastors who watch over Christ’s flock, who proclaim God’s will to people whether important or ordinary, rich or poor… in season and out of season” (Boniface to Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the year 747). …”

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Saint Boniface, the Apostle of the Germans – Pope Benedict XVI General Audience 3.11.09” – VaticanVa

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“… Today, we shall reflect on a great eighth-century missionary who spread Christianity in Central Europe … St. Boniface … embarked on the preaching of the Gospel … fighting against pagan worship and reinforcing the foundations of human and Christian morality. …”

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs” – EWTN/Butler’s Lives of the Saints

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“Marcellinus was a Priest, and Peter an Exorcist, both of the Clergy of Rome, and eminent for their zeal and piety. In the persecution of Dioclesian, about the year 304, they were condemned to die for their Faith ….”

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CATHOLIC NEWSLINK: “What the Story of St. Mark Teaches Us About Reconciliation”- Archdiocese of Washintgon/Msgr. Charles Pope

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“… Mark was at the center of the tension between Paul and Barnabas; their differences were so severe that it led to a parting of ways. Yet St. Mark, despite his less-than-stellar beginning in Church leadership came to prove his worth and was reconciled to St. Paul. …”

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