Pentecost Sunday (B)

(Edited) Reflections (from) Pentecost Sunday (B), June 4, 2006

"As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

After the 50 days of Easter, the Church celebrates her birth at Pentecost. It was at Pentecost that the apostles and disciples of Jesus - the seed of the Church - received the Holy Spirit after praying as one in the Upper Room. It was for fear of the Jews that they gathered together and prayed in that Upper Room. They stayed and prayed together with Mary after the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus. And they locked all the doors. They prayed continually as they remember the promise of Jesus to them - a promise of a Paraclete - another Advocate to encourage and strengthen them in faith. It was this promise that kept them together in prayerful anticipation of the coming of the Paraclete, who will teach them all they need to know and understand about the teachings of Jesus. So when that time arrived and the Holy Spirit descended upon them, the fear that prevented them to go out into the streets melted, and a strong faith and courage from above was born inside them. It encouraged them to preach what they themselves had received from above. Their prayer in community was then transformed into a strong driving force capable of preaching, teaching and healing in the power of Jesus' name.

Jesus was sent by the Father to preach His Kingdom, teach wisdom, and shepherd all His people into one flock and sheepfold - that all may be saved from sin and receive eternal life in Him. After His earthly ministry was completed, He sends the Holy Spirit to His apostles. And it is this Holy Spirit that everyone in the Church - clergy, religious and lay faithful - are also sent by the Church to the whole world, to preach and teach the Good News, and shepherd the people into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

The presence of the Spirit in the lives of all the faithful makes everyone strong and persevering in faith, hope and love. It is this faith, hope and love that empowers each baptized believer to overcome all difficulties in doing what is good and right. Witnessing as a community in a world that needs to know the meaning of life amidst uncertainty and darkness is a vocation given to all - clergy, religious and lay. This power to witness begins at baptism and is received in fullness during one's confirmation. The witness is much stronger if the baptized gather as a community - such as in the celebration of the Eucharist - and exemplify to the world that Christ and His gospel are meant to breathe life into all.

This Pentecost, we are called to give thanks for all the blessings God has given each one. It is a time to also thank God for the gift of missionaries the Church has sent to all nations in the world. These missionaries are in the very frontline of evangelization - risking their lives for Christ, but by the power of God's Spirit results in a fruitfulness and growth that sustains the Catholic Church. It is a time to thank God most especially for the witness of those who evangelize in places that are hostile to the gospel. God the Holy Spirit continues to give fortitude, wisdom, strength and holiness to the Church's missionaries, that they may bring the gospel of peace to all the corners of the world.

Three Good Catholic Books: Our Lady of Fatima, St. Francis of Assisi, & St. Thomas of Aquinas

The feast of Our Lady of Fatima is on May 13. This blog post will feature a book on Our Lady of Fatima together with two other books of two popular saints, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas of Aquinas. Although devotion to Mary and the saints are not based in Scriptures, these liturgical practices are authentic. They are based and deeply rooted in a tradition of prayers and authentic cults exercised by Chrisitian communities since the time of the apostles after Pentecost. They kept the flame of love of God alive in this cult of prayers - meditating on the holiness of Mary and the heroic virtues of the saints. These early Christian communities believe that seeking the intercession of Mary and the saints will have their petitions brought before God easily and answered swiftly.

Three good Catholic books

Many people have found solace, encouragement, and meaning from life's ups and downs reading many kinds of books. But the best books to read are Catholic books: like simple biographies and stories that inspire and encourage all to do the greater good. These are written often in simple terminologies. The stories of saints, who are as human as anyone of us but have become victorious over their sinful nature in life and in work can surely uplift any heart and soul who reads their biographies. Anyone can easily relate with their stories of brokenness, pain, and their struggles in life. Their preserved stories encourages the faithful to continue to seek Christ and to be inspired to ease the pain and brokenness of others as well.

Three Catholic books suggested in this post are:

• Our Lady of Fatima by William Thomas Walsh
• Saint Thomas Aquinas: "The Dumb Ox" by G. K. Chesterton
• St. Francis of Assisi by Johannes Jörgensen

The Miracle of the Sun at Fatima

The Catholic faith is popularly known for the many accounts of miracles connected with the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in different parts of the world. Not all apparitions are authentic. However, those apparitions which call the people to repent and to permanently convert from sinful ways and habits, are usually the ones which the Church studies, and makes officially known as authentic. An example of an authentic apparition is the one at Fatima, Portugal. It is here that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children with a message for the world to repent and be converted back to God. So that the world may believe that the message truly comes from God, a miracle occured in October 13, 1917. When 70,000 people were gathered at Fatima on that day, it rained first and then "the sun whirled like a gigantic "fire-wheel", causing the rain-soaked clothes of the people to become miraculously dry. Many people's lives were affected by that miracle. It began their road to conversion to a life with genuine faith in God. The miracle performed was a sign to the world that God indeed cares for all; He is a Father who holds the world and His children's lives in His hands. It also prepared the world to an incoming evil: a prediction of the Second World War. The messages of the apparition and the story of this miracle is well presented in the book "Our Lady of Fatima" by William Thomas Walsh.

Thomas the Dominican

Saint Thomas belonged to the Order of Preachers, known popularly as the Dominicans. In his student days, he was known by his fellow classmates to be slow, modest and retiring, thus gaining the title, "The Dumb Ox". Little did his classmates know that he would soon be the reference point for the philosophy of the Catholic faith. Up to now, his writings continue to be a classic reference point in the teaching magisterium of the Church. A biography written on him by G. K. Chesterton will inspire anyone who seeks the truth on the existence of God. It can create a great desire for a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and its philosophy. The experience of knowing God as Truth can transform any person to become more than what he was before - to live as God's instrument for greater good of all in the responsibilities of his or her state of life.

The "Poverello"

Of all the saints recognized in the Catholic faith, the most popular and loved by all is St. Francis of Assisi. Up to modern times, especially when there is an important concern for the preservation of wildlife, the pursuit of balance in the world's ecological environments, and for the cause of world peace, the person of St. Francis looms before all in the world as a solution. His spirituality springs forth from his love of God as Creator: a God who loves the "Poverello" and who loves all that He created. St. Francis' influence is so strong that it encourages and inspires all people to have a positive outlook in life. This positive mindset springs most of all from the perspective of God's goodness and mercy. It is this mindset that is produced when one reads the biography written by Johannes Jörgensen. All those who read the book will certainly be inspired to seek peace and to be an instrument of peace: witnessing to all creation a life that seeks the good of all.

Catholic books are spiritual treasures

There is a lot of wisdom in life to be gained by reading Catholic books like the ones reviewed above. These three books, originally published by Image Books from 1954-1956 A.D., preserves those spiritual treasures. For Catholics who wish a deeper love for God and a better understanding of the Catholic faith, you can search for these books online.

Ascension Sunday (B)

(Edited) Reflections (from) Ascension Sunday (B), May 2009

First reading: Acts 1:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47
Second reading: Ephesians 4:17-24
Gospel reading: Mark 16:15-20

"Jesus was taken up into heaven and took His seat at God's right hand."

The account of the Lord's ascension in the gospel of Mark is very brief. It begins with Jesus appearing to His Eleven apostles and commanding them to undertake a global mission of evangelization and baptism. Jesus adds, that belief in the Good News will save all those who accept the Gospel, but refusal to believe in the Gospel will condemn the unbelievers. The signs by which those who believe, will know that they are faithful to the Gospel, are these: they will have the power to expel demons; to speak new languages; to handle serpents without them being harmed; to be unharmed also from poison; to heal the sick and bring them to recovery. After saying all these to His Eleven apostles, Jesus ascended into heaven and seated at the right of His Father. The work that the Lord did in His earthly ministry is commissioned to the Eleven, and the message they are to proclaim to all people will be accomplished through the spiritual power Jesus grants them to perform in His name.

The Kingdom of God is not a political power or state. It is a spiritual Kingdom with a force to compel humanity to journey with all creation to God. Therefore the power Jesus gives to His apostles is a strong spiritual power more than a temporal one. Thus, the mission entrusted to the Eleven is a mission empowered by this spiritual power. This mission is being accomplished: first, throughout the centuries through the early Christian communities; second, as the Church is doing so through her sacraments and apostolic works to all cultures; and third, as the Church will continue to do so with all the lay faithful in her global mission to all. It was during His Ascension that Christ expressed His mission more definitely to the apostles. These Eleven apostles will soon receive the full spiritual power of the Holy Spirit, when the Spirit descends upon them at Pentecost. Pentecost will lead them to all truth - a truth they must bring to all humanity. This truth is about Jesus, & the Kingdom Christ has established during His earthly mission. As Jesus now ascends into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit, to be with all His followers not only for their time, but up to our present time and until the end of the world.

In this mystery of Christ's Ascension, we catch a glimpse of the glory of God. The Eleven witnessed this, and all the faithful now believe in this mystery by faith in the gospel and the traditions of the Church. When Jesus left His earthly ministry into the responsible hands of the Eleven apostles, these apostles in turn, share their mission and ministry to both the clergy in the hierarchical structure of the Church and to religious communities and lay people in the charismatic movements. The glory that the apostles witnessed in the ascension of Jesus, will be the glory that all the faithful will also share with Christ, if all the baptized accept each one's share of the responsibility and work on it towards completion. This responsibility is in the apostolic works and ministry of the Church - to build the Kingdom of God in the same manner that Jesus did in His earthly mission and ministry. Let us therefore thank the Father, give Him praise and honor forever, for gifting us with His Son Jesus, that we may share too in His life of glory - a life of grace that humanity had lost because of the sin of our first parents. With Jesus, there is always hope again for all of humanity. Hope in God and His Kingdom is the way.

6th Sunday of Easter (B)

(Edited) Reflections (from) 6th Sunday of Easter (B), May 11, 2009

First reading: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98
Second reading: 1 John 4:7-10
Gospel reading: John 15:9-17

"Live on in My love."

This passage from the gospel of John teaches about God's word, action and His expression of love in the life and action of Jesus. God's word of love is not only in Christ's discourse in this passage from John, but also in the many signs He had performed all throughout the gospel. In His discourse, Christ makes all aware that we are in union with God's love if we live in His love - a love He lives in His love of the Father. This love of Christ makes everyone's joy complete. The measure by which everyone is to increase the quality of this love, is in the measure Christ exemplified by His whole life and mission: a great love of the Father and the Kingdom which all His followers are to continue until the end of the age. This quality of love bore much fruit in the Resurrection of Christ and will continue to bear fruit, and will endure, if all the baptized and the faithful continue to obey the command of Jesus: to love one another under the standard of His love.

Returning to the discourse in John 5:9-17.
The gospel of John has a distinctive difference with the other gospels. Whereas the other three gospels can be seen and viewed through common themes (Matthew and Luke borrow passages from Mark), John's gospel is structured and themed differently, and the text comes from a different scriptural tradition. The discourses in the gospel of John are more lofty, while the synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), ground their writing in the humanity and person of Jesus. What however, brings all these gospel traditions together, and unites them into a common theme, is Christ's commandment of love. Mark, Matthew and Luke has Jesus saying: "Love the Lord God with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as your self". Each gospel's tradition may distinguish each one from the other, but the message of love in their passages all say the same refrain: we are to love God with our whole being, and to love our neighbor as our self.

The reality of love that every human being grows up with is still found in traditional institutions that continue today in modern living: in the family, in school, in work and professional life, with religious communities or lay organizations, with people in one's neighborhood or in the parish, and with other cultures encountered in travels around the world. The love expressed in these situations, and in the specific relationships it is immersed in, is not perfect. It can cause dissensions, conflicts, misunderstanding, envy or jealousy, abandonment or separation. But Jesus teaches now in the discourse that for love to bear fruit it must live on in God; it must be of God. It is a love, as St. Paul says in the letter to the Corinthians, that is pure, patient, not jealous or proud, not ill-mannered or selfish, not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. And the truth God teaches us about love is this: to have Christ as the source and example by which everyone is to act in love and and in the holiness required of each one's state of life.

St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Feast May 2

St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Archbishop, Greek Father of the Church, Doctor of the Church: ca. 297-373 A.D.

Birth, education and diaconate

St. Athanasius was born of Christian parents at Alexandria, Egypt. He was well educated in Scripture and in theology. Ordained a deacon, he became secretary to Bishop Alexander in Alexandria in ca. 318 A.D.

Leadership in the Church

St. Athanasius was present at the Council of Nicaea, which condemned Arianism and excommunicated Arius. He was elected bishop of Alexandria upon Bishop Alexander's death in 327 A.D. St. Athanasium combined his duties as bishop with his responsibility of taking care of the of the desert hermits, and the people of Ethiopia. It was in the exercise of this responsibility and in his visits to the desert hermits that he came to know St. Anthony of the Desert - who became St. Athanasius' ally in the fight versus Arianism. It was his knowledge on the life of St. Anthony that St. Athanasius wrote a biography of St. Anthony the Abbot in his later years.

The struggle against Arianism

Arianism continued to spread despite its ongoing condemnation since the Council of Nicaea. The Arians were also joined in Egypt by the Meletians - another dissident group. St. Athanasius provided a strong voice against all of them by his orthodox stand on the truth. The Arians persuaded Emperor Constantine to call a council. At first, Constantine sided with St. Athanasius. However, Constantine reverted and agreed with the condemnation of St. Athanasius - sending him into exile in northern Gaul (in what is now Belgian territory).

Second exile

When Constantine died in 337 A.D., St. Athanasius returned to his see. However, an Arian bishop by the name of Eusebius, persuaded Pope Julius to reopen the charges against St. Athanasius. Eusebius succeeded in deposing St. Athanasius at a synod in Antioch. When a Cappadocian by the name of Gregory was then installed as archbishop supplanting St. Athanasius, riots broke out in Alexandria. Because of all this conflict, St. Athanasius was unable to return to Alexandria and remained in Rome.

Third exile

While in Rome, St. Athanasius worked to have his case heard by the pope. Pope Julius I therefore called a synod which vindicated St. Athanasius - a verdict later endorsed by the Council of Sardica. This victory in 346 A.D., helped St. Athanasius to live in peace for four years in Alexandria. This triumph was short-lived because Constans was murdered in 350 A.D. Constans' successor, Constantine, now set himself against St. Athanasius. He condemned St. Athanasius in the council of Arles in 353 A.D., and then again in Milan in 355 A.D. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, soldiers forced their way into the church and killed some of the congregation. St. Athanasius escaped and spent the next six years moving about among the monks in the desert (who all protected him). St. Athanasius remained hidden there for many years. And it was here among the desert hermits where he completed most of his major writings.

Fourth exile

A new emperor, Julian the Apostate, revoked all of his predecessor's banishments of bishops, and St. Athanasius was able to return to Alexandria. But when Julian wanted to re-paganize the Empire, he had to get rid of St. Athanasius - who now had to experience a fourth exile.

Fifth exile

When Emperor Jovian succeeded Julian, he recalled St. Athanasius back from his fourth exile. Jovian's rule however did not last long, and the next emperor, Valens, again ordered all orthodox bishops exiled. This exile only lasted for four months. In September 365 A.D., St. Athanasius was again back in Alexandria. He stayed in Alexandria for the last seven years of his life until his death on May 2.

Greek Father of the Church and Doctor of the Church

St. Athanasius supported the ascetic movement in Egypt and was the first to introduce knowledge of monasticism to the West. He wrote treatises on Catholic doctrine which illuminated many truths on the Christian faith. Among his great works are: Contra gentes and De incarnatione verbi Dei (318-323 A.D.). The major treatises he produced in his exile were: Apologia to Constantius, Defense of Flight, Letter to the Monks, and History of the Arians. The Church recognizes St. Athanasius as both a Father of the Church and Doctor of the Church.

Sources of this blog post:

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• A Year with the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• Saints for Our Time, by Ed Ransom
• The Doctors of the Church, volume one, by John F. Fink
• The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, by editor Bernard McGinn

Feasts and Memorials of Saints Celebrated in the Month of May

Joseph the Worker May 1

also on May 1 Amator or Amatre, bishop; Brioc or Brieuc, abbot; Sigismund of Burgundy; Marculf or Marcoul, abbot; Theodard of Narbonne, bishop; Peregrine Laziosi, Riccardo Pampuri

Athanasius: (died 373 A.D.): 45 years the bishop of Alexandria; champion of Nicea (325 A.D.); prolific polemicist against Arians who exiled him five times; one of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church; wrote On the Incarnation, the Discourses Against the Arians and the Life of Anthony; known as the "Doctor of the Incarnation". (May 2)

also on May 2: Exsuperius or Hesperus and Zoë, martyrs; Waldebert, abbot; Ultan, abbot; Wiborada, virgin and martyr; Mafalda or Matilda

Philip: (died 1st c.); from Bethsaida; among the first disciples called by Jesus (Jn 1:43-44); tradition holds he preached in Phrygia, dying on a cross at Hierapolis; two apocryphal works attributed to him; with James, venerated as the patron saint of Uruguay. (May 3)

James (died 62 A.D.): son of Alphaeus and cousin or "brother of the Lord"; surnamed "the less" or "the just" for his piety; leader of the Jerusalem church; an epistle is ascribed to him; believed to have been beaten or stoned to death; patron of the dying; with Philip, both saints mentioned in the Roman Canon. (May 3)

also on May 3: Alexander, Eventius and Theodulus, martyrs; Juvenal, bishop

on May 4: Cyriacus or Judas Quiricus, bishop; Pelagia of Tarsus, virgin and martyr; John Houghton, Robert Lawrence, Augustine Webster, Richard Reynolds, priests and martyrs; Venerius, bishop; Godehard or Gothard, bishop; Florian, martyr

on May 5: Hilary of Arles, bishop; Maurantius, abbot; Mauruntius, abbot; Avertinus; Angelo, martyr; Jutta, widow

on May 6: Evodius, bishop; Edbert, bishop; Petronax, abbot

on May 7: Domitian, bishop; Liuhard, bishop; Serenicus and Serenus; John of Beverly, bishop

on May 8: Victor Maurus, martyr; Acacius or Agathus, martyr; Gibrian; Desideratus, bishop; Boniface IV, pope; Benedict II, pope; Wiro, Plechlem and Oteger; Peter of Tarentaise, bishop

on May 9: Beatus; Pachomius, abbot; Gerontius, bishop

on May 10: Antoninus of Florence, bishop and confessor; Gordian and Epimachus, martyrs; Calepodius, martyr; Alphius, Cyrinus and Philadelphus, martyrs; Catald and Conleth, bishops; Solangia, virgin and martyr; John of Avila, priest

on May 11: Mamertus, bishop; Comgall, abbot; Asaph, bishop; Gengulf or Gengoul; Majolus or Mayeule, abbot; Ansfrid, bishop; Walter of L'Esterp, abbot; Francis di Girolamo; Ignatius of Laconi

Nereus and Achilleus: (died c. 304 A.D.); Roman soldiers until their conversion to Christianity; tradition holds they were either burned or beheaded. (May 12)

Pancras: (died c. 304); martyred probably in the persecution of Diocletian at the age of 14; perhaps from Syria; buried on the Via Aurelia. (May 12)

also on May 12: Epiphanus of Salamis, bishop; Modoaldus, bishop; Rictrudis, widow; Germanus of Constantinople, bishop; Dominic of Causeway

on May 13: Glyceris, virgin and martyr; Mucius or Mocius, martyr; Servatius or Servais, bishop; John the Silent; Erconwald, bishop; Euthymius the Illuminator, abbot; Peter Regalatus

Matthias (died 1st c.): chosen to replace Judas; qualified because he witnessed Jesus' ministry and resurrection; mentioned in the Roman Canon. (May 14)

also on May 14: Pontius, martyr; Carthage, Carthach or Mochuda, abbot; Erembert, bishop; Michael Garicoits; Mary Mazzarello, virgin

Isidore was born of poor parents in Madrid. Married to a poor woman, Maria de la Cabeza, who is also a saint, he worked as a hired ploughman. Because of his diligence, his employer allowed him to worship in church daily though Isidore took care that his devotion did not interfere with his work. He remained poor, but gave generously to his neighbors in need. He died on May 15, 1130 A.D. As patron of farmers, he is an example of a laborer who values both prayer and work. (May 15)

also on May 15: Torquatus and Companions, martyrs; Isidore of Chios; Hilary of Galeata, abbot; Dympna and Gerebernus, martyrs; Bertha and Rupert; Hallvard, martyr; Isaias of Rostov, bishop; Peter of Lampsacus and Companions, martyrs

on May 16: Ubaldus, bishop and confessor; Peregrine of Auxerre, bishop and martyr; Possidius, bishop; Germerius, bishop; Brendan, abbot; Domnolus, bishop; Carantoc or Carannog, abbot; Honoratus of Amiens, bishop; Simon Stock; John Nepomucen, martyr; Andrew Hubert Fournet

on May 17: Paschal Baylon, confessor; Madron or Madern; Bruno of Wurzburg, bishop

John I: Pope (523-526 A.D.); A native of Tuscany, he was a deacon from the time of his election to succeed Pope Hormisdas. He was the first pontiff to visit Constantinople and made one of the objectives of his reign the restoration of ecclesiastical peace with the Eastern Church after the divisive Acacian Schism 482-519 A.D.). (May 18)

also on May 18: Venantius, martyr; Theodotus, Thecusa and Companions, martyrs; Potamon, bishop and martyr; Eric of Sweden, martyr; Felix of Cantalice

on May 19: Peter Morrone or Peter Celestine V, hermit and pope; Prudentiana and Pudens, martyrs; Calocerus and Parthenius, martyrs; Dunstan, bishop; Ivo of Kermartin

Bernardine of Siena (died 1444 A.D.); O.F.M.; famous reformer and eloquent preacher who traveled throughout Italy; encouraged devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus; known for his use of the monogram, IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator); patron of advertisers and advertising; invoked against hoarseness. (May 20)

also on May 20: Thalelaeus, martyr; Basilla or Basilissa, virgin and martyr; Baudelius, martyr; Austregisilus or Outril, bishop; Ethelbert, martyr

Cristobal Magallanes was joined in martyrdom by twenty-one diocesan priests and three devout laymen, all members of the Cristeros movement, who rose up in rebellion against the Anti-Catholic Mexican government during the 1920s. Having erected a seminary at Totatiche, he secretly spread the Gospel and ministered to the people. Captured by authorities, he was heard to shout from his jail cell: "I am innocent and die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico." (May 21)

also on May 21: Godric; Andrew Bobola, martyr; Theophilus of Corte, Eugene de Mazenod

Rita of Cascia: Born in 1381 A.D. in the little town of Roccaporena, in the Province of Umbria, Italy, Saint Rita was married and raised two sons. After the violent murder of her husband, Saint Rita urged forgiveness in contrast to the customary vendetta of the day. She was, however, repeatedly denied entrance to the Augustinian nuns due to the constant threat of violent revenge by her husband's relatives. Through her personal intercession a promise of forgiveness and peace was secured and she began forty years in prayer, contemplation and service to the sick and the poor. Toward the end of her life she received a wound from a thorn from the crown of thorns. (May 22)

also on May 22: Aemilius and Castus, martyrs; Quiteria, virgin and martyr; Romanus; Julia, martyr; Aigulf or Ayoul, bishop; Humility, widow

on May 23: Desiderius or Didier, bishop and martyr; Guibert; Leonitus of Rostov, bishop and martyr; Ivo of Chartres, bishop; Euphrosyne of Polotsk, virgin; William of Rochester, martyr; John Baptist Rossi; Peter Fioretti

on May 24: Donatian and Rogatian, martyrs; Vincent of Lerins; David I, King of Scotland; Nicetas of Pereaslav, martyr

Bede: (died 735 A.D.); O.S.B. born in Northumbria; called "Venerable" while still living; authored the Ecclesiastical History of the English People and wrote Scriptural expositions, commentaries and homilies; known as the "Father of English History" (May 25)

Gregory VII, (died 1085 A.D.); from Tuscany; O.S.B.; championed reform of the clergy against simony, clerical marriage and lay investiture, leading to excommunication of Henry IV; expanded the authority of the Roman See. (May 25)

Mary Magdalene of Pazzi: (died 1607 A.D.); Carmelite mystic of Florence; instrumental in the reform of the Order. (May 25)

also on May 25: Dionysius of Milan, bishop; Zenobius, bishop; Leo or Lye, abbot; Aldhelm, bishop; Gennandius, bishop; Madeleine Sophie Barat, virgin

Philip Neri (died 1595 A.D.): founded the Congregation of Priests of the Oratory to promote holiness of priestly life and foster effective preaching; noted for his joyful and simple spirit. (May 26)

also on May 26: Quadratus, bishop; Priscus or Prix and Companions, martyrs; Lambert of Vence, bishop; Marian of Quito, virgin

Augustine of Canterbury: (died May 26, ca. 604 A.D.); O.S.B. monk of Mt. Coelius in Rome; sent with 40 other monks by Pope Gregory I to England; baptized Ethelbert, king of Kent; ordained bishop 597 A.D.; established the sees of Canterbury, London and Rochester; in 601 A.D., received the pallium as primate of England. (May 27)

also on May 27: Restituta of Sora, virgin and martyr; Julius and Companions, martyrs; Eutropius of Orange, bishop; Melangell or Monacella, virgin

on May 28: Senator, bishop; Justus of Urgel, bishop; Germanus or Germain, bishop; William of Gellone; Bernard of Menthon or Montjoux; Ignatius of Rostov, bishop

on May 29: Cyril of Caesarea, martyr; Maximinus, bishop; Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander, martyrs; Theodosia, virgin and martyr; William, Stephen, Raymund and Companions, martyrs

on May 30: Isaac of Constantinople, abbot; Exsuperantius, bishop; Madelgisilus or Mauguille; Walstan; Ferdinand III, King of Castile; Joan of Arc, virgin; Eleutherius, pope; Luke Kirby, priest and martyr

Feast of the Visitation; Petronilla, virgin and martyr; Cantius, Cantianius and Cantianella, martyrs; Mechtildis of Edelstetten, virgin (May 31)