13th Sunday of the Year (A)

"He who will not take up his cross and come after me is not worthy of me."

Lectionary readings for the 13th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A:
2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16
Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
Rom 6:3-4, 8-11
Mt 10:37-42

What Jesus asks His followers to do is not simple work. It demands all - one's mind, heart, soul and strength for others - in truth, one's very life. What He asks of every Christian is to make Him the center of his life - number 1 in every priority list. He asks this not once, not twice, but throughout the entire life of every Christian. Every moment He calls Christians to take up the cross of their responsibilities, He asks it to be done in the same intention as He did: to give one's life for God and the building of the Kingdom. This means practicing love, sacrifice, and generosity in the very ordinary circumstances that life opens for each Christian.

Taking up the cross in the same spirit as the Lord can mean several things. It could mean responsibilities and obligations that are not to one's liking, but still has to be corrected or worked on: a rebellious son; a daughter who is in a relationship the parents knows is not good; a spouse who has a vice; a wife who is not responsible with the children; a job that does not bring the profit one needs; a mission to an unfamiliar culture that brings isolation, sorrow and loneliness; a ministry that makes one feel powerless to soothe the pain of the people; a life that is filled with poverty, suffering and pain. The cross is all this and more. But if one were to look up to Christ, He will help carry the crosses of one's life, because the faith, love and hope in God needed is always there.

The help necessary to carry the crosses of life in the same spirit as the Lord is found in prayer and the sacraments, and within a family or community that cares, is responsible and works towards the greater good. If these means are exercised, then God will surely grant the grace and strength to carry one's responsibilities well. And He will grant the strength needed to persevere in one's vocation or state of life till the end. Also, there is one truth that should be remembered: with every "cross" experience, there is always a "resurrection" experience in the journey of life. And it is the knowledge of the Lord's resurrection that gives Christians hope to continue in their following of Jesus until the end.

Feasts of Saints Celebrated in the Month of July

on July 1: Shenute, abbot; Theodoric or Thierry, abbot; Carilefus or Calais, abbot; Gall of Clermont, bishop; Eparchius or Cybard; Simeon Salus; Serf or Servanus, bishop; Oliver Plunkett, bishop and martyr

on July 2: Processus and Martinian, martyrs; Monegundis, widow; Otto of Bamberg, bishop

Thomas: (died 1st c.); his doubting gave way to faith when he saw the risen Lord; associated with founding the Church in south India; mentioned in the Roman Canon; patron of builders, India and Pakistan. (July 3)

also on July 3: Leo II, pope and confessor; Anatolius, bishop; Irenaeus and Mustiola, martyrs; Julius and Aaron, martyrs; Heliodorus, bishop; Anatolius of Constantinople, bishop; Rumold or Rombaut, martyr; Bernardino Realino.

Elizabeth of Portugal: (died 1336; named after her
great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (died 1231 A.D.); queen and mother; lover of the poor; peacemaker in the royal family; later a Franciscan tertiary; patroness of Catholic Action. (July 4)

also on July 4: Bertha, widow; Andrew of Crete, bishop; Odo of Canterbury, bishop; Ulric of Augsburg, bishop

Anthony Zaccaria (died 1539 A.D.): at Cremona at age 36; doctor turned priest; popular preacher who founded in Milan the Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Barnabites) for the reform of society (1530 A.D.); today they number some 400 members; sought collaboration between the clergy and the laity; promoted frequent communion. (July 5)

also on July 5: Athanasius the Athonite, abbot

Maria Goretti: (died 1902 A.D.) at age 12; born near Ancona; she was stabbed to death, preferring to die than be raped alive; with her mother present, she was canonized in 1950 A.D. before the largest crowd ever assembled in Rome for a canonization; patroness of teenage girls. (July 6)

also on July 6: Romulus of Fiesole, bishop and martyr; Dominica, virgin and martyr; Sisoes; Goat; Sexburga, widow; Modwenna, virgin; Godelva, martyr

on July 7: Pantaenus; Palladius, bishop; Félix of Nantes, bishop; Ethelburga, Ercongota and Sethrida, virgins; Hedda, bishop

on July 8: Aquila and Prisca; Procopius, martyr; Kilian and Companions, martyrs; Withburga, virgin; Adrian III, pope; Grimbald; Sunniva and Companions; Raymund of Toulouse

Augustine Zhao Kong: was a Chinese diocesan priest who was martyred with his 119 companions in 1815 A.D. Among their number was an eighteen year old boy, Chi Zhuzi, who cried out to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: "Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am a Christian." (July 9)

also on July 9: Everild, virgin; The Martyrs of Gorkum: Nicholas Pieck, Jerome Weerden, Leonard Vechel, Nicholas Janssen, Godfrey van Duynen, John van Oosterwyk, John van Hoornaer, Adrian van Hilvarenbeek, James Lacops, Andrew Wouters, Antony van Willehad, and Nicasius van Heeze; Veronica Giuliani, virgin

on July 10: Rufina and Secunda, virgin and martyrs; Amalburga, widow; Amalburga, virgin; Antony and Theodosius of Pechersk, abbot

Benedict: (died 547 A.D.); wrote famous monastic Rule noted for its wisdom and moderation; founded 12 monasteries including Monte Cassino; Benedictines today number some 8,500 religious; considered the "Patriarch of Western Monasticism"; patron of Europe. (July 11)

also on July 11: Drostan, abbot; John of Bergamo, bishop; Hidulf, bishop; Olga, widow

on July 12: John Gualbert, abbot; Nabor and Felix, martyrs; Veronica; Jason, martyr; Hermagoras and Fortunatus, martyrs; John the Iberian, abbot; John Jones, priest and martyr

Henry II: (died 1024 A.D.); together with his wife, St. Cunegunda, he assisted the poor; as emperor, he respected the Church’s freedom, fostering ecclesiastical and monastic reform; founded the see of Bamberg as a center for missions to the Slavs; patron of Finland and Benedictine oblates. (July 13)

also on July 13: Silas or Silvanus; Maura and Brigid; Eugenius of Carthage, bishop; Mildred, virgin; James of Voragine, bishop; Francis Solano

Camillus de Lellis (died 1614 A.D.) at Rome; born at Chieti in Abruzzi in 1550 A.D.; soldier addicted to gambling; his conversion led him to found (in 1582 A.D.) a society (Camillians), today numbering 1,000 religious, which established hospitals and cared for the sick with affection and diligence; patron of nurses, of the sick, and hospitals. (July 14)

also on July 14: Deusdedit, bishop; Marchelm; Ulric of Zell, abbot

Bonaventure (died 1274 A.D.): O.F.M. minister general for 17 years; Cardinal bishop of Albano; authored biblical commentaries and many ascetical and spiritual treatises, esp Journey of the Soul into God; known as the "seraphic Doctor." (July 15)

also on July 15: James of Nisibis, bishop; Barhadbesaba, martyr; Donald; Swithun, bishop; Athanasius of Naples, bishop; Edith of Polesworth; Valdimir of Kiev; David of Munktorp, bishop; Pompilio Pirrotti

on July 16: Athenogenes, bishop and martyr; Eustathius of Antioch, bishop; Helier, martyr; Reineldis, virgin and martyr; Fulrad, abbot

on July 17: Speratus and Companions, the Scillitan Martyrs; Marcellina, virgin; Ennodius, bishop; Kenelm; Leo IV, pope; Clement of Okhrida and Companions, the Seven Apostles of Bulgaria; Nerses Lampronazi, bishop; Mary Magdelen Postel

on July 18: Pambo; Philastrius, bishop; Arnulf or Arnoul of Metz, bishop; Frederick of Utrecht, bishop and martyr; Bruno of Segni, bishop

on July 19: Justa and Rufina, virgin and martyrs; Arsenius; Symmachus, pope; Ambrose Autpert; Macrina the Younger, virgin; William John Plessington, priest and martyr

Apollinarius: Early accounts report that Saint Apollinarius was ordained Bishop by Peter himself and sent as a missionary bishop to Ravenna during the reign of the emperor Claudius. Renowned for his powers to heal in the name of Christ, he was frequently exiled, tortured and imprisoned for the faith, and finally martyred. (July 20)

also on July 20: Wilgefortis or Liberta; Joseph Barsabas; Aurelius, bishop; Flavian and Elias, bishops; Vulmar or Wulmar, abbot; Ansegisus, abbot

Lawrence of Brindisi (died 1619 A.D.); Capuchin, linguist, military chaplain, diplomat and minister general; learned exegete, forceful preacher and controversialist; 15 volumes of his writings are extant. (July 21)

also on July 21: Praxedes, virgin; Victor or Marseilles, martyr; Arbogast, bishop

Mary Magdalene: (died 1st c.); healed of possession; disciple of Jesus and present at his crucifixion; in Mark, the first to witness to the risen Lord (hence, called the "apostle of the apostles" - Robanus Maurus, +856 A.D.); mistakenly identified as the sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50; patroness of the Order of Preachers. (July 22)

also on July 22: Joseph of Palestine; Wandregisilus or Wandrille, abbot; Philip Evans and John Lloyd, priests and martyrs

Bridget (died 1373 A.D.): in Rome; born in Sweden; mother of eight; mystic, prophet and foundress of the Order of the Most Holy Savior ("Bridgetines"); sought an end to the luxury and dissipation of the Avignon papacy and return of the pope to Rome; her Revelations record her spiritual experiences and life; patroness of Sweden. (July 23)

also on July 23: Apollinaris of Ravenna, bishop and martyr; Liborius, bishop; The Three Wise Men; John Cassian, abbot; Romula and her Companions, virgins; Anne or Susanna, virgin

Sharbel Makhlouf: was a Lebanese monk, born in a small mountain village and ordained in 1858 A.D. Devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he spent the last twenty three years of his life as a hermit. Despite temptations to wealth and comfort, Saint Sharbel taught the value of poverty, self-sacrifice and prayer by the way he lived his life. (July 24)

on July 24: Christina, virgin and martyr; Lewina, virgin and martyr; Declan, bishop; Boris and Gleb, martyrs; Christina the Astonishing, virgin; Christina of Tyre, virgin and martyr; John Boste, priest and martyr

James, brother of John, is called "the Greater" because he followed Christ before the other apostle of the same name; first of the twelve to be martyred, being decapitated by order of Herod Agrippa I, c. 44 A.D.; venerated at Campostella, Spain; named in the Roman Canon; patron of Spain, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. (July 25)

also on July 25: Christopher, martyr; Thea, Valentina and Paul, martyrs; Magnericus, bishop

Joachim and Anne: Names of the parents of Mary found in the 2nd c. Protoevangelium of James, veneration of Anne originated in 6th c. East; patroness of childless women and miners; devotion to Joachim dates from the 8th c. (July 26)

also on July 26: Simeon the Armenian; Bartholomea Capitanio, virgin

on July 27: Pantaleon, martyr; The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus; Aurelius, Natalia, Felix and Companions, martyrs; Theobald of Marly, abbot

on July 28: Nazarius and Celsus, martyrs; Samson, bishop; Botvid

Martha (died 1st c. A.D.): sister of Mary and Lazarus; model of hospitality and faithful disciple; confessed her faith in Jesus as the Son of God; patroness of housewives, waiters and waitresses. (July 29)

also on July 29: Felix II, pope; Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrice, martyrs; Lupus or Loup, bishop; Olaf, martyr; William Pinchon, bishop

Peter: (died c. 450 A.D.); called "Chrysologus" (golden-tongue) for his exceptional preaching ability; bishop of Ravenna; 170 homilies are extant. (July 30)

also on July 30: Abdon and Sennen, martyrs; Julitta, widow and martyr

Ignatius (died 1556 A.D.): soldier, founded the Compania de Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), today numbers some 22,250 members; approved by Paul III, 1540 A.D.; authored the Spiritual Exercises; founded the Roman College; at his death, the Society numbered 1,000 members in 76 houses in 12 provinces, including Brazil and India; patron saint of retreatants and soldiers. (July 31)

also on July 31: Neot; Helen of Skövde, widow; Germanus of Auxerre, bishop; Justin de Jacobis, bishop