by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
[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
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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
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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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“… 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
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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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“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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“On June 2, the Catholic Church remembers two fourth-century Martyrs, Saints Marcellinus and Peter ….”
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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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“1. ‘Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife’ (cf. Mt 1 :24). Inspired by the Gospel, the Fathers of the Church from the earliest centuries stressed that just as St. Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing,(1) he likewise watches over and protects Christ’s Mystical Body,
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“Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants.
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