18th Sunday of the Year (B)

18th Sunday of the Year (B)

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24-35

(for posting and publishing soon)

Memorial of Saints (August 5)

• Dedication of St. Mary Major;
• Addai and Mari, bishops;
• Afra, martyr;
• Nonna, matron

Afra (d. 304 A.D.) was a prostitute in Augsburg who may have converted to the Christian faith during Diocletian's persecution of Christians. When she refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, she was burned to death. Her mother rescued her body and took it to a sepulcher with the help of three servants. But the authorities apprehended them and were also burned to death when they also refused to sacrifice to the gods.

Memorial of Saints (August 3)

on August 3:

• The Finding of the Body of Stephen, protomartyr;
• Waltheof or Walthen, abbot;
• Nicodemus

When Waltheof's (d. ca. 1160 A.D.) father passed away, he went with his mother to Scotland where she married King St. David I. At his foster father's court, he came under the influence of St. Aelred. He then left to become an Augustinian canon at Nostelle Monastery in Yorkshire. Then he became abbot of Kirkham, but still was in quest of a stricter rule. So he joined the Cistercians at Wardon, Bedfordshire. Waltheof became known for his austerity, his kindness to the poor, and was credited with performing miracles. When he was to be named archbishop of St. Andrews in 1154 A.D., Waltheof refused the honor.