by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
“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.'”
“… 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). …”
“… 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. …”
“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 ….”
“On June 2, the Catholic Church remembers two fourth-century Martyrs, Saints Marcellinus and Peter ….”
“… 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. …”
“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, that is, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model. …”
“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. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. …”
“Scholastica, first Benedictine nun, lived between 480 and 543. A native of Nursia, she was a very docile disciple of her brother, St. Benedict, with whom she vied for perfection of holiness, in learning the wisdom of the heart: so much so that she is said to have bested even her brother in charity. In his Dialogues, the only reference text with a few references to the life of Saint Scholastica, St. Gregory the Great tells of one episode in particular, which reveals her strong human personality and spiritual depth. …”
“… Such generosity of spirit could not go unrewarded by God, for whom this priest slaved the 72 years of his life. Besides providing for his work, God gave him the gift of miracles. With his blessing, Don Bosco cured people disease. After his prayers on their behalf, the deaf heard, the lame walked, and once, a dead boy was raised to life. He had the gift of prophecy. He could read consciences, and used this gift to assist penitents in confession. He could foretell one’s vocation, as well as one’s future. …”