Commemoration of Saints (February 9)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Apollonia, virgin and martyr
• Nicephorus, martyr
• Sabinus of Canosa, bishop
• Teilo, bishop
• Alto, abbot

St. Alto (d. ca. 760 A.D.) was probably an Irishman who became a hermit at Augsburg, Germany, in ca. 743 A.D. He so impressed King Pepin by his way of holiness and missionary work that the King gave him a parcel of land near Bavaria, Germany, to build a monastery. He is the founder of Altomünster Abbey, around which a market town grew up, also called Altomünster. Learn more Wikipedia.org

As with the date of commemoration of St. John of Matha, the dates of commemoration of St. Alto are two: one of February 9, today, and the other one on February 7. February 9th seems the more widely recognized feast day for St. Alto for the universal Catholic Church. The February 7th date might be a local commemoration observed particularly in Bavaria, Germany, where he was active as abbot of a monastery. This still needs more verification. What's important to remember is that both dates are valid ways to commemorate St. Alto. To commemorate his life and spiritual legacy, regardless of the specific day, whether locally connected or universally recognized, is essential.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 9]

• St. Nicephorus, Martyr

5th Sunday of the Year (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

5th Sunday of the Year (C), February 10, 2013
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 6:1-2, 3-8
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

"They caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point."

The three men whom Jesus first called to be His followers were fishermen. He needed laborers for His vineyard. He saw three fishermen (Simon Peter, James and John) working all night with their fish nets thrown alongside their boats, but were unable to catch fish. When Jesus witnessed this, He directed them to put out into the deep and lower their nets again. They did as they were told, and it did not take long for them to catch a great number of fish. It was such a big catch that their nets were almost at breaking point. Amazed at such a miraculous catch, all of them were seized with fear, especially Simon Peter. But the Lord reassured them, and told them not to be afraid. He had a vocation and a mission prepared for each of them.

What the Lord wanted Simon Peter, James, and John to do, is to be part of His mission - a mission to build God's kingdom. This kingdom seeks to teach all to place more importance to what is above; to raise minds and hearts to Heaven. It includes all states of life in the Church: not just clergy and religious, but all the lay faithful. It is the lay faithful who bring the gospel to marriage and family life, and to political, business and professional organizations. And in all these, like the clergy and the religious, they too work with perseverance and endurance in the demands of the Christian vocation - "to raise their minds and hearts to heaven". In this spiritual direction, everyone knows by faith that God does not abandon. For the Church in her Word and Sacrament always provide the encouragement needed in that mission: "...that they [all] may be fully mature and lacking in nothing" (James 1:3-4).

The universal call to holiness and mission is a call to all. It begins at baptism. God reassures each one (as He did with Simon Peter, James and John), that there is no need to fear. As long as each of the faithful continue each day to be faithful to his baptismal vows, then he obtains a better knowledge of God and becomes more faithful to Him. He contributes daily to the building of God's kingdom. That contribution is like a clear, life-giving stream that flows and adds to the river of life. Just as three fishermen turned back from their former way of life, and followed Christ, each of the faithful are also called to follow Christ. All are to adjust their sights from just secular concerns and to raise their "hearts and minds to heaven". For in this new spiritual direction do they discover and obtain the fullness they seek: in God's Word and Sacrament as the Source of all life and plenty.

Commemoration of Saints (February 8)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

• Jerome Emiliani
• John of Matha, confessor
• Nicetius or Nizier of Besancon, bishop
• Elfleda, virgin
• Meingold, martyr
• Cuthman
• Stephen of Muret, abbot

St. Jerome Emiliani (1483-1537 A.D.) was the founder of the Somoscan Fathers. This is a religious order that runs schools and orphanages in Italy.

Born in Venice, Italy, he became an officer of the Venetian army. In 1518 A.D., while a captive of enemy forces, he had a conversion experience. This led him to decide to be a priest and devote his life to the care of suffering people in a time of widespread famine and plague. In 1531 A.D., after he himself got sick from the plague, he recovered and accomplished many things:

• he founded orphanages,
• hospitals,
• houses for former prostitutes,
• and a small congregation of priests

The congregation was named after their place of origin, Somasca, which was between Bergamo and Milan. He died from an illness he contracted while caring for the sick.

St. Jerome Emiliani was canonized in 1768 A.D. and declared patron saint of orphans and abandoned children in 1928 A.D.

St. John of Matha was co-founder with Felix of Valois of the Trinitarians - the Order of the Most Holy Trinity. His feast is commemorated on December 17, his day of death or "dies natalis" (day of birth into eternal life). But he is also commemorated today, February 8.

In reading about the Lives of the Saints, one is bound to encounter this discrepancy in some of the Saints' feasts. One reason is with the most recent Vatican Council II teaching which emphasize the "dies natalis" as the primary day for commemorating saints. This was in line with the ancient tradition and highlighted the saint's entrance into heavenly life.

But as one studies the lives of the Saints, there are many existing sources that are pre-Vatican II, where they record the saints' feasts on other significant dates, such as the anniversary of the dedication of a church in their honor or the translation of their relics. These feast days had historical or local significance. So, even if the universal calendar of Saints' feasts days was revised by Vatican II, there was still room for local calendars and traditions to honor saints who were particularly venerated in specific regions or communities.

The feast commemorating St. John of Matha is an instance of this liturgical reality. His feast today on February 8 is most likely based on traditions or commemorations within the Trinitarian Order.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [February 8]

• St. Theodore, the great Martyr
• St. Zacharias, the Prophet

St. Theodore Heraclea or Theodore Stratelates, was mentioned yesterday, February 7, as the traditional date to commemorate him in the Catholic calendar. In the Byzantine calendar, he is commemorated today, February 8. In the Byzantine tradition, he is known a great Martyr or megalomartyr. Learn more at Wikipedia.org