SAINTS OF THE DAY WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE, 2026 SAINT CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS MARTYRS (Martyred between November 15, 1885 – January 27, 1887) Charles was one of twenty-two Ugandan martyrs who converted from paganism. He was baptized November 1885, a year before his death, and became a moral leader. He was the chief of the royal pages and was considered the strongest athlete of the court. He was also known as "the most handsome man of the Kingdom of the Uganda." He instructed his friends in the Catholic Faith and he personally baptized boy pages. He inspired and encouraged his companions to remain chaste and faithful. He protected his companions, ages 13-30, from the immoral acts and homosexual demands of the Babandan ruler, Mwanga. Mwanga was a superstitious pagan king who originally was tolerant of Catholicism. However, his chief assistant, Katikiro, slowly convinced him that Christians were a threat to his rule. The premise was if these Christians would not bow to him, nor make sacrifices to their pagan god, nor pillage, massacre, nor make war, what would happen if his whole kingdom converted to Catholicism? When Charles was sentenced to death, he seemed very peaceful, one might even say, cheerful. He was to be executed by being burned to death. While the pyre was being prepared, he asked to be untied so that he could arrange the sticks. He then lay down upon them. When the executioner said that Charles would be burned slowly to death, Charles replied by saying that he was very glad to be dying for the True Faith. He made no cry of pain but just twisted and moaned, "Kotanda! (O my God!)." He was burned to death by Mwanga's order on June 3, 1886. Pope Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions on June 22,1964. We celebrate his memorial on June 3rd on the Roman Calendar. Charles is the Patron of the African Youth of Catholic Action. COLLECT PRAYER: O God, who have made the blood of Martyrs the seed of Christians, mercifully grant that the field which is your Church, watered by the blood shed by Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions, may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The reason why these poor young men were put to death was that the king was an out of control homosexual and wanted to molest them. Because the young men were Christians both Catholic and Anglican they refused to let the old pervert have his wicked way with them. So he had them butchered. I mention this because modern accounts of what went down either gloss this all over or entirely leave it out. Why is this? Well because it embarasses them, because it clearly underlines that homosexuality might be a great evil.
Blessed Pope Pius X is beatified on June 3, with his miracle verified by the Consulta Medica. Name: Pope Pius X Dates: 1835 to 1914 Connection: His beatification took place on this exact day in 1914 Patronage: First Communicants, pilgrims, the Diocese of Atlanta, and Esperantists ◾Miracle: The healing of Marie-Francoise Deperras. She was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. Following prayer and the placement of a relic of Pope Pius X on her chest, her tumor vanished rapidly and permanently, verified by the Vatican medical board as medically unexplainable.
Saint of the Day Jun 3 - St Kevin of Glendalough (498?-618) Summary: St Kevin, abbot, Kevin grew up in Kilnamanagh in Leinster, where Bishop Lugaid ordained him to the priesthood. He settled as a hermit in remote Glendalough but disciples gathered around him and eventually a monastic settlement grew up. Kevin died in 618 (The image left shows some of the ruins of the monastic city of Glendalough which grew up there after St Kevin (Irish Caoimhghin). The themes of Kevin’s life include harmony with nature, a desire for solitude and asceticism, as well as the struggle around celibacy. Patrick Duffy tells his story. Dates of his Life The year of Kevin’s birth is generally given as 498 and the Annals of Ulster record the date of his death as 618. This would give him 120 years! More likely he was born in the middle of the sixth century. Sources The sources for his story are the Codex Kilkenniensis in Marsh’s Library in Dublin which has three Latin Lives written probably in the 11th century and three Irish Lives transcribed by Michael O’Clery in 1629 from the old books that relied on oral traditions and pilgrims’ tales. Pádraig Ó Riain (Dictionary, 149) notes that no critical edition and evaluation of the saint’s Lives has been attempted, so what we have about him are traditions. Baptised by Cronan His father was named Caomhlugh and his mother Caoimheall or Coemella. According to legend, when the boy was being brought to the priest Cronan for baptism, a person appeared and breathed on the child, blessing him and calling him Coemgen. Cronan believed this was an angel and said, “So shall he always be called Coemgenus (‘beautiful born’) for he will be most beautiful”. Close to Nature and Love of Animals Like many Celtic saints, Kevin was close to nature and had a great love of animals. When he was a boy, every morning and evening a white cow would come to his parents’ house with milk for him, perhaps symbolic of the wisdom, poetry and brightness associated with the boy. Early Formation at Kilnamanagh His parents brought him to the monastery of Kilnamanagh in Tallaght near Dublin and here he underwent instruction and spiritual formation by three holy men, Eoghan, perhaps of Ardstraw, Lóchán and Éanna of Kilnamanagh. A Place of Solitude But at an early age he wandered off into the Wicklow Mountains and spent time in solitude at first at Hollywood near Blessington and finally in Glendalough. Legend says his place of solitude was revealed when the owner of a cow that strayed into the area discovered that she began to produce great quantities of milk. His three teachers came and took him back to the monastery where he continued his studies. More Miracles A story from his training time at Kilnamanagh marks him out as extraordinary. One day Kevin was supposed to bring a source of fire to light the candles for Mass, but forgot. ‘Run quickly for the fire and bring it,‘ an older monk shouted. ‘How will I carry it?‘ Kevin asked. ‘In your bosom,‘ came the reply. Kevin went instantly and collected the fire in a cloth he had around him, but neither his clothes nor his flesh were harmed in any way. The older monk, full of remorse, said, ‘O holy youth, I see that you are full of the Holy Spirit.’ Celibacy Another story about his choice of celibacy relates to his time of training at Kilnamanagh. A young woman saw him with his companions in the fields and fell passionately in love with him and pursued him in many ways but he resisted her advances. One day she came on him alone and embraced him and asked him tenderly to lie with her. Kevin rushed away and finding a bed of nettles, stripped off his clothes and rolled himself in them naked. When she further pursued him, he quickly dressed, took up a bunch of nettles and beat her off. She, realising the hopelessness of her quest, quickly repented and went off herself to become a nun. (Probably this story shows that at the heart of Kevin’s quest for holiness there was a real struggle.) Ordained Priest Kevin was ordained priest by Bishop Lugidius and founded a monastery at Cluainduaich, though the location of this is unknown. Search for Solitude and the Ascetical Life He soon was back again at Glendalough in search of solitude and the ascetical life. He first settled near the upper lake, and lived in a narrow cave in a rock above the lake still to be seen today and called ‘St Kevin’s Bed’. The cave is accessible by boat, but involves a steep upward climb. Miracles of Nature Kevin wore only wild animal skins and ate what food he could gather from the surrounding trees and plants. He slept on a stone slab with another stone as a pillow. Sometimes he would stand in the cold waters of the lake reciting the psalms – a common penitential practice for Irish monks – and keeping vigil. Many miracles of nature are told of him such as the one of his dropping his psalm book in the lake and it being brought back to him undamaged by an otter. Another is that during Lent, as he was praying with his arm outstretched, a blackbird settled in his palm, built herself a nest and laid an egg in it. Ever patient, kind and gentle to all living creatures, Kevin waited until the tiny bird had hatched and fledged before he moved, showing the harmony between him and nature. Community and Hermitage A community of monks gathered round him, so he set up and ran a monastic settlement in the lower valley. After his death this became a monastic city. He also established a hermitage near his cave at the upper lake at Templenaskellig, dividing his time between his hermitage and the community. As an abbot who founded a monastic city, Kevin chose to remain as a priest rather than become a bishop. He spent most of his life at Glendalough, unlike some of his fellow saints who travelled widely on missionary journeys. Despite this remaining in one place, his influence and fame spread far and wide. Death in Harmony with Nature Before his death Kevin decided to remain permanently at his hermitage, asking his monks not to visit, bring food or disturb him in any way. The wild animals kept him company. A final story demonstrates the harmony with creation that seems to have surrounded him. A wild boar, which was being hunted, found its way into his oratory, closely pursued by dogs and men. The huntsmen, however, on seeing the saint kneeling under a tree praying, with birds perched on his shoulders and hands, were dumbfounded. The hounds lay down and would not go after the boar. For the sake of the hermit they all went quietly away and allowed the boar to go free. And so Kevin died. His Spirit Lives On Kevin’s spirit still lives on in Glendalough. Fr Michael Rodgers, who spent many years as a missionary in Africa, has made his own tearmann or retreat house in the valley and welcomes those who want to follow in the footsteps of the saint. See www.tearmann.ie . There is also a hermitage there run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin. ____________________________ ****************************** Memorable Saying for Today ‘I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.’ ~ George Washington Carver ~ also “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ****************************** Our Archive of Saints CatholicIreland.net © 2026. All Rights Reserved.
SAINT OF THE DAY THURSDAY, 4 JUNE, 2026 SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO FOUNDER (October 13, 1563 – June 4, 1608) Francis founded the Order of Minor Clerks Regular with St. John Augustine Adorno. The congregation's apostolate was preaching missions and performing diverse works of charity. In the course of time he became known as "Venerable Father, the Preacher of the Love of God," a title merited for promoting devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and introducing nocturnal adoration in his community. He had a childlike love for the Blessed Virgin; his greatest joy was to be of service to his neighbor. God endowed him with the gift of prophecy and the discernment of spirits. At the age of forty-four, while praying one day in the church at Loretto, he recognized that his end was near. Immediately he went to the monastery of Agnona in the Abruzzi, and exclaimed as he entered, "This is my final resting place." Shortly after, he was stricken with fever, received the last sacraments with deepest fervor, and quietly fell asleep in the Lord. The Church selects our saint's zeal for prayer and his spirit of penance for emphasis in today's Collect, and proposes these two virtues for imitation. "In imitating him grant that we may make such progress that we may pray without ceasing and constantly have our bodies under subjection." This is not an easy task; the liturgy, therefore, provides the needed assistance, the example of St. Francis, and the holy Eucharist. PATRON: Naples, Italy; Italian cooks. St. Francis Caracciolo: Pray for us!
I only got to visit Glendalough once a few years ago. The thing that struck me about the place was the great feeling of holiness even after all those centuries. It must have been incredible when St Kevin was alive. We read all kind of incredible stories of way back then. I have no difficulty believing in them.
SAINT OF THE DAY FRIDAY, 5 JUNE, 2026 SAINT BONIFACE BISHOP AND MARTYR (675 – 754) A Benedictine monk was chosen by divine Providence to become Germany's great apostle and patron. Boniface's first missionary endeavor proved unsuccessful (716). Before attempting a second he went to Rome and received papal authorization (718). Under the holy bishop Willibrord he converted Frisia within a period of three years. On November 30, 722, Boniface was consecrated bishop by Pope Gregory II. In 724 he turned his attention to the Hessian people, among whom he continued his missionary activity with renewed zeal. On an eminence near the village of Geismar on the Eder, he felled a giant oak that the people honored as the national sanctuary of the god Thor. Boniface used the wood to build a chapel in honor of St. Peter. This courageous act assured the eventual triumph of the Gospel in Germany. The resident clergy and the priests dwelling at the court, whose unworthy lives needed censure, were constantly creating difficulties. Nevertheless Boniface continued to labor quietly, discreetly. He prayed unceasingly, put his trust in God alone, recommended his work to the prayers of his spiritual brothers and sisters in England. And God did not abandon him. Conversions were amazingly numerous. In 732 Gregory III sent him the pallium, the insignia of the archiepiscopal dignity. Boniface now devoted his time and talent to the ecclesiastical organization of the Church in Germany. He installed worthy bishops, set diocesan boundaries, promoted the spiritual life of the clergy and laity, held national synods (between 742 and 747), and in 744 founded the monastery of Fulda, which became a center of religious life in central Germany. In 745 he chose Mayence for his archiepiscopal see, and affiliated to it thirteen suffragan dioceses. This completed the ecclesiastical organization of Germany. The final years of his busy life were spent, as were his earlier ones, in missionary activity. Word came to him in 754 that a part of Frisia had lapsed from the faith. He took leave of his priests and, sensing the approach of death, carried along a shroud. He was 74 years of age when with youthful enthusiasm he began the work of restoration, a mission he was not to complete. A band of semi-barbarous pagans overpowered and put him to death when he was about to administer confirmation to a group of neophytes at Dockum. PATRON: Brewers; Tailors; Germany; Prussia. PRAYER: May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord, that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Another Saint for today Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotti is better known in the Catholic tradition as Saint Ignatius of Santhià (Ignazio da Santhià). He was an 18th-century Italian Capuchin friar renowned for his profound humility, his ministry to the sick and wounded during war, and the incredible events associated with his life. One of his most famous and touching miracles involves a radical act of self-sacrifice for a fellow friar: The Miracle of Sacrificial Healing While serving as a novice master in Mondovì, Italy, Ignatius received word about one of his former novices, Father Bernardino da Vezza. Bernardino had gone to the Congo as a missionary but had been struck down by a severe and agonizing eye disease (severe ophthalmia) that left him nearly blind and completely unable to continue his missionary work. Distressed by his spiritual son's suffering and the loss to the mission, Ignatius went into the friary's chapel and prostrated himself before the Tabernacle. He offered a bold and literal trade to God, praying: "Jesus, if you desire that the evil from which this good worker suffers fall upon me, who am a good-for-nothing, do it. I accept it willingly for your greater glory." The response to his prayer was immediate and dramatic: The Healing: A month later, Ignatius received a letter from Africa. Father Bernardino reported that he had been instantly and completely cured of his blindness without any human intervention. The Burden Taken: At the exact same time Bernardino recovered, Ignatius was suddenly struck with a mysterious, violent eye ailment and terrible vertigo. He became nearly blind, forcing him to step down from his cherished role as novice master. Ignatius never regretted the trade, famously viewing the blindness as a cross he was privileged to carry for another. (He was later partially cured of the blindness, allowing him to serve as a military head chaplain during the war in Piedmont). Other Miraculous Signs Beyond this specific sacrifice, Ignatius’s daily life in Turin was filled with what the locals called the "prodigious effects of his blessings." Instantaneous Healings: Thousands of the poor and sick would flock to the Monte dei Cappuccini in Turin. Countless accounts note that when the midday Angelus bell rang, the sick whom he had blessed—either in person or through prayers sent by letters—experienced sudden, unexplainable recoveries. Levitation: In August 1770, just a month before his death, fellow friars entered the infirmary chapel and found Ignatius completely immobile, lost in prayer before the crucifix, with his body visibly levitated off the floor. Because of a lifetime of these occurrences and a rigorous verification process of later miracles attributed to his intercession, he was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1966 and officially canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II on May 19, 2002.
SAINT OF THE DAY SATURDAY, 6 JUNE, 2026 SAINT NORBERT BISHOP (1080 - 1134) Saint Norbert was born at Santen, in the duchy of Cleves, in 1080. His father Heribert, count of Gennep, was related to the emperor, and his mother derived her pedigree from the house of Lorraine. The rank which his birth gave him was rendered more illustrious by the excellent qualifications of his mind and body. His application to his studies was equal to the quickness of his parts, and he went through his academical exercises with extraordinary applause. But being at first blinded by the flattery of the world, he suffered himself to be carried away by its pleasures and pastimes, and had no higher thoughts than how he might live in honour and at his ease. He even received the ecclesiastical tonsure with a worldly spirit; and though he was instituted to a canonry at Santen, and ordained subdeacon, he neither changed his spirit nor his conduct. Being naturally inclined to mirth and gaiety, he was the soul of all parties of pleasure, and by living in a circle of diversions, he drowned his soul in a round of vanities and trifling amusements, and was a stranger to serious reflection on himself, which would have opened his eyes. He would not be prevailed on to receive any higher orders for fear of a greater restraint on his conduct; and he led the same manner of life in the court of his cousin, the Emperor Henry IV. who appointed him his almoner. God beheld with compassion the heart of this young nobleman enslaved to the world, in which he in vain sought that contentment and quiet of mind which no earthly advantages can afford, and which it is in the power of virtue alone to give. But to break his secret chains an extraordinary grace was necessary; and God awakened him from his spiritual lethargy by an alarming accident. Norbert was riding to a village in Westphalia called Freten, in pursuit of his pleasures, mounted on a horse richly caparisoned, and attended by only one servant, when, in the midst of a pleasant meadow, he was overtaken by a violent storm, accompanied with dreadful thunder and lightning. Finding himself at a great distance from any shelter, he was overwhelmed with perplexity and fear; and whilst he was going on briskly, having set spurs to his horse, a ball of fire or lightning, with a loud clap of thunder, fell just before his horse's feet, burned the grass, and cleft the earth. The poor beast, thus affrighted, threw his rider, who lay like one dead for near an hour. At last coming to himself, like another Saul, he cried out to God, in the bitter compunction of his heart: “Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?” To which the divine grace interiorly suggested this reply: “Turn away from evil, and do good: seek after peace, and pursue it.” Being thus humbled in the full career of his passions, he became upon the spot a sincere penitent. Returning no more to the court, he withdrew to his canonry at Santen, there led a life of silence and retirement, wore a hair shirt next his skin, and spent his time in tears, holy prayer, and meditation. Now taking a serious review of himself and the world, he detested his past ingratitude to God, and his folly in serving a deceitful world which mingles in all its delights much gall and bitterness, far outweighing the false and momentary pleasure. The remembrance of the divine mercy which had spared him, whilst many others had been cut off in their sins, and in a moment been buried in hell, pierced his heart to the quick, and drew daily from his eyes streams of tears, by which he endeavoured to wash away the stains of his soul. The fire of divine love thus kindled in his heart, gained strength every day by his fidelity, and by fresh supplies of grace. But his conversion was completed by a retreat which he made in Saint Sigebert's monastery near Cologne, and by the pious exhortations of Conon, the holy abbot of that house, who was made soon after bishop of Ratisbon. Norbert was at this time in the thirtieth year of his age.The combustion, however, continued still to rage with no less fury than ever, and to fill the whole country with desolation. The reputation of the sanctity and erudition of Norbert attracted the eyes of all Europe; and the canons of Antwerp, in this distress of their church, being joined by Burchard their bishop, who resided at Cambray, implored his charitable assistance. The saint lost no time, and arrived at Antwerp with a select number of his canons who laboured under his direction. Such was the success of this mission, that in a short time the people were undeceived, the heretics converted, abuses reformed, and the city restored to its former tranquillity and lustre. The clergy of Antwerp settled Saint Michael's church on the saint and his Order; and removed the ancient college of secular canons to our Lady's, which in 1559 was erected by Pope Paul IV. into a cathedral, when Antwerp was made a bishop's see. The bishop of Cambray confirmed the donation of Saint Michael's to the saint in 1124. Saint Norbert revived the devotion of the people to the holy sacrament of the altar, and its frequent use, which heresy had interrupted, and had the comfort to see this church flourish in piety before he returned to his first settlement. His Order was then much increased, and contained ten abbeys and eight hundred religious men. Amongst others who embraced his rule, Count Godfrey, a nobleman of high renown in the empire, put on the habit at Floreff near Namur, and led an exemplary life in that convent, serving God in the humble quality of a lay-brother. Several other persons of distinction fled from the corruption of the world to the sanctuaries established by this great director in the paths of salvation. His institute had been approved by the legates of Calixtus II, but a more solemn confirmation being judged necessary, Saint Norbert undertook a journey to Rome in 1125. Pope Honorius II. who had succeeded Calixtus II. in the close of the foregoing year, and was a great encourager of learning and of good men, received him with all possible marks of respect and affection, and granted all he desired, as appears by his bull, dated in the February following. The saint at his return to Premontré, put the abbey of Saint Martin's at Laon under his rule, which the canons then demanded, though they had rejected it six or seven years before. The abbey of Viviers in the diocess of Soissons made the same step. Theobald, a prime nobleman of France, desired to embrace his Order; but the saint diverted him from that design, showing him that God, by the situation in which he had placed him in the world, pointed out what he required at his hands; he made him sensible that his obligations to his family and bleeding country were ties in conscience, and that by faithfully acquitting himself of them, he would most effectually labour to advance the honour, and accomplish the will of God.Pope Calixtus II, having succeeded Gelasius II in 1119, Norbert went to Rheims, where his Holiness held a council soon after his exaltation. The prelates of that assembly were no less charmed with the eloquence, wisdom, and piety, of this great servant of God, than amazed at the austerity of his penance, which some advised him in vain to moderate. He was introduced to the pope, who was one of the greatest men that had filled the apostolic chair, by Bartholomew bishop of Laon, and obtained a fresh grant of the privileges and faculties he had received from his predecessor. That prelate earnestly requested, that his holiness would allow him to fix the holy man in his diocess, that he might employ him in reforming the regular canons of Saint Martin's church at Laon. The pope readily consented, but these canons could not be induced to submit to his severe regulations. Wherefore, the zealous bishop gave the holy man the choice of several places to build a house. The saint pitched upon a lonesome valley called Premontré, in the forest of Coucy, where he found the remains of a small chapel which bore the name of Saint John, but stood in so barren a soil, that the monks of Saint Vincent at Laon, the proprietors of it, had abandoned it. The bishop bought of them this desert piece of land, and there built a monastery for the saint, who assembled out of Brabant thirteen brethren, desirous to serve God under his direction. Their number soon increased to forty, who made their profession on Christmas Day, 1121. The saint gave them the rule of Saint Austin, with a white habit, destining them, in imitation of the angels in heaven, to sing the divine praises on earth. Their manner of living was very austere; but their Order is no other than a reformation of Regular Canons. It was soon spread over several parts of Europe.
Among the foundations made by our saint, that of Saint Michael's at Antwerp was attended with circumstances which were illustrious proofs of his zeal. That town was then in the diocess of Cambray, and consisted at that time but of one parish, which fell into the hands of an unworthy pastor, by whose sloth and irregular conduct the flock was sunk into great disorders. Tankelin, a bold and eloquent heretic, took his advantage of this unhappy state of the church at Antwerp, and openly asserted that the institution of the priesthood is a fiction, and that the eucharist and other sacraments are of no service to salvation. He drew after him three thousand persons, who believed him a great prophet, and were ready to commit any outrages to support his impious extravagances. After he had spread his errors in the diocesses of Utrecht, Cambray, and the adjacent churches, luring the people with magnificent banquets, and practising the most filthy abominations of the Gnostics, he was slain in 1115, in those tumults which himself had raised, meeting with the usual fate of the authors of seditions and disturbers of the public peace.After his conversion, he employed two years in preparing himself for the priesthood, which he received from the hands of the archbishop of Cologne, together with the order of deacon, his fervour seeming a sufficient cause for such a dispensation. At the time of his ordination, he appeared in a lambskin cassock tied with a cord, and thus published to the world, that from that moment he renounced all its vanities. After his ordination he returned to Conon, and made, under his direction, a severe retreat of forty days to dispose himself by tears, prayer, and fasting to say his first mass, which he came back to Santen to celebrate with his chapter. After the gospel was sung at high mass, he mounted the pulpit, and made a most pathetic sermon on the vanity of the world, the shortness of human life, and the insufficiency of all created beings to satisfy the heart of man; and he indirectly inveighed against the disorders of his colleagues. In a chapter which was held the next day, he pointed them out more distinctly, and pressed a reformation so vigorously, that several of them became perfect converts, and loudly condemned their past irregularities. But others, who could not bear that their sores should be touched to the quick, burst out into intemperate rage against him, and not content with ill usage, they accused him to the pope's legate as an innovator, a hypocrite, and one who covered pernicious designs under the specious pretence of zeal for a reformation of manners. The saint, having before his eyes the sins of his past life, confessed that he deserved all manner of contempt and ill treatment, and rejoiced under injuries and afflictions. Nevertheless, reflecting on what he owed to God's honour, he purged himself before the legate, in a council held at Fritzlar, in 1118. Soon after, inflamed with an ardent zeal to live to God alone, he resigned all his ecclesiastical preferments into the hands of the archbishop of Cologne, and sold his own estate, giving the money to the poor, reserving only to himself ten marks of silver, a mule, and sacred vestments and ornaments for the altar. Thus divested of all that could engage his stay in his own country, he travelled barefoot to Saint Giles's in Languedoc, where Pope Gelasius II. was at that time. He threw himself at his holiness's feet, and with extraordinary compunction, made to him a general confession of his whole life, begging absolution of all his past disorders, especially of the irregularity committed in his receiving the holy orders of deacon and priest at the same time, without observing the interstices prescribed by the canons, though it had been done by the dispensation of his diocesan; and cheerfully offered himself to make any satisfaction. He obtained of the pope faculties to preach the gospel where he judged proper. It was then the depth of winter; yet he walked barefoot through the snow, and, inflamed with an ardent love of God, and desire of promoting his glory, seemed insensible to the rigours of the season. His whole life was a perpetual lent, and he never took his meal till evening, except on Sundays. He preached penance with incredible fruit over the provinces of Languedoc, Guienne, Poitou, and Orleanois. Till he came to Orleans, he had been accompanied only by two laymen; but, passing through that city, was joined by a subdeacon, who desired to assist him in his mission. His three disciples all fell sick, and died at Valenciennes, in Haynault, in 1119. In that city Burchard, bishop of Cambray, who had been acquainted with the saint in the emperor's court, meeting him was extremely edified with his humility, penance, and zeal; and Hugh, his chaplain, quitting his hopes and prospects in the world, resolved to accompany Norbert in his apostolical labours: this great man afterwards succeeded him in the government of his Order. With this companion, the saint preached penance through all Haynault, Brabant, and the territory of Liege. The people crowded to hear him wherever he came, and his sermons, enforced and illustrated by an evangelical life, procured the conversion of great numbers, reconciled those who were at variance, and engaged usurers and others to make restitution of their ill-gotten goods.Norbert having completed the great work of the establishment of his Order, was obliged to quit his monastery, to be placed in a more exalted station for the benefit of many. The Count of Champagne, who did nothing of importance without the advice and direction of our saint, took him into Germany, whither he was going to conclude a treaty of marriage between himself and Maud, a niece to the bishop of Ratisbon. After the death of the unhappy Emperor Henry V, Lothaire IIm Duke of Saxony, was chosen king of the Romans in 1125, though he was only crowned emperor at Rome in 1132, by Pope Innocent II. This excellent prince, whose reign was equally glorious and religious, was holding a diet at Spire when the count and Saint Norbert arrived at that city. Deputies from the city of Magdeburg were come to the same place to solicit Lothaire for an archbishop in the room of Roger, who died the year before. Two persons were proposed for that dignity; but Lothaire preferred Norbert to them both. At his name the deputies rejoiced exceedingly; and indeed the saint was the only person not pleased with the nomination. The pope's legate, Cardinal Gerard, who afterwards sat in Saint Peter's chair under the name of Lucius II., made use of his authority to oblige him to comply. The deputies of Magdeburg took him with them to that city, where he was met at a distance by the principal persons and by his clergy. He followed the procession barefoot, and was conducted to the church, and thence to his palace. But his dress was so mean and poor, that the porter shut the door against him, saying: “Why will you go in to disturb my lords?” Those that followed cried out: “He is our bishop.” The saint said to the porter: “Brother, you know me better than they do who have raised such a one to this dignity.” In this high station the austerity of his life was the same he had practised in a cloister, only his humility was more conspicuous. By the joint weight of his authority, eloquence, and example, he made a great reformation both in the clergy and laity of his diocess; and by his strenuous and undaunted resolution, he recovered a considerable part of the lands of his church which had fallen into the hands of certain powerful secular princes. But his zeal made those his enemies whom his charity could not gain to their duty. They loaded him with injuries, decried him among themselves, and encouraged one another in their disobedience and contempt of his person, calling him a stranger, whose manners were opposite to theirs. To such an excess did their rage carry them, that some even made attempts upon his life. One who saw himself obliged by the saint to renounce his licentious manner of life, hired a villain to assassinate him under pretence of going to confession on Maunday Thursday. The saint was apprized of his design, as some authors affirm, by revelation, and he caused him to be searched as he came in, and a dagger was found upon him. Another shot an arrow at the saint, which only missed him to wound another that was near him. Of these villanies Norbert only said, without the least emotion: “Can you be surprised that the devil, after having offered violence to our divine head, should assault his members?” He always pardoned the assassins, and showed himself ever ready to lay down his life in the defence of truth and justice. By his patience and unshaken courage he in three years broke through the chief difficulties which obstructed the reformation of manners he laboured to introduce, and from that time he carried on the work, and performed the visitation of his diocess with ease and incredible success. He continued still to superintend the observance of discipline in his Order, though upon his episcopal consecration he had left the government thereof to his first disciple Hugh. The fourth general chapter consisted of eighteen abbots. When two rival popes were elected after the death of Honorius II, Norbert helped try to heal the Church by getting his admirer the emperor to support the first elected, Innocent II. At the end of his life he was made an archbishop but he died soon after on June 6, 1134 at the age of 53. PATRON: Bohemia, peace. PRAYER: O God, who made the Bishop Saint Norbert a servant of your Church outstanding in his prayer and pastoral zeal, grant, we ask, that by the help of his intercession, the flock of the faithful may always find shepherds after your own heart and be fed in the pastures of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Another saint I never heard of! How wonderful to discover him. When I was young and used to read the lives of the saints I envied them. I thought they were people who reached a place were they were bullet proof. So much better than the rest of us that they have somehow got it made. Were everyone admired them and they said and did all kinds of wonderful things and became the kind of Hollywood stars of the Spiritual Life. It was only much, much later that I understood that the saint is someone who lies more and more perfectly on the Cross with Christ. This can seem humanly as an awful off putting thing. I mean who wants to suffer, especially when young? But the other side of this is that as they die with Christ so too they rise with Christ. They themselves are transformed into the image of Christ. As a sign of this inner transformation is that they are the happiest most joyful people on the planet. I can't say, even all these years later I am a great fan of suffering. I still fear it. But at least when I hear about saints I can at least make some kind of spiritual sense of it. This is such a blessing.
Another Saint for today Saint Marcellin Champagnat, 1789–1840 Connection to the date: Death anniversary and feast day, June 6, 1840. Canonized April 18, 1999, by Pope John Paul II. Patronage: Education; teachers; simplicity; youth; Marist Brothers. Life: Born May 20, 1789, in Marlhes, Loire region, France. Ordained priest July 22, 1816, for the Archdiocese of Lyon. Founded the Marist Brothers (Fratrum Maristarium) in 1817 to provide education to neglected and poor young people. By his death, the congregation numbered about 280 brothers operating 48 schools across France. His spirituality centered on devotion to Mary, the Gospel, and evangelical simplicity. Contracted cancer from arduous pastoral work and frequent travels. Died June 6, 1840, at age 51 in Saint-Chamond, France. Beatified May 29, 1955, by Pope Pius XII. ◾Canonization Miracle: Brother Heriberto Weber suffered from serious bilateral pulmonary affection characterized by nodular dissemination, causing marked insufficiency in breathing with grave consequences for his general health. Medical prognosis was grave. On June 13, 1976, a novena prayer campaign began, asking for his healing through Marcellin Champagnat's intercession. On July 26, 1976, at the novena's conclusion, Weber experienced sudden, unforeseen improvement. X-ray examination on that date showed all signs of illness had disappeared. Vatican Medical Consultation (June 26, 1997) determined the cure was "very rapid, complete, lasting, and scientifically inexplicable." Theological Consultors recognized it as preternatural (February 20, 1998). Cardinals and Bishops declared it an authentic miracle (June 2, 1998). Pope John Paul II decreed the miracle (July 3, 1998). Prayer: Saint Marcellin Champagnat, educator of the young, intercede for teachers and all who labor for the poor.
Heilige sind Menschen, die transparent sind für den Seinsgrund, der durch sie offenbart wird, und die fähig sind, als Medien in die Offenbarungskonstellation einzutreten. P. TILLICH Heilige - "personale Symbole" der vielen Gaben des einen Geistes Gottes. J. SUDBRACK Heiligenverehrung - Lobpreis der Ankunft Gottes beim Menschen. K. RAHNER The greatest historical figures are not the conquerors but the saints. H. BERGSON Haec est enim voluntas Dei, sanctificatio vestra. AD THESSALONICENSES EPISTULA I S. PAULI 4, 3 Carissimi, nunc filii Dei sumus, et nondum manifestatum est quid erimus; scimus quoniam, cum ipse apparuerit, similes ei erimus. EPISTULA I IOANNIS
FEAST OF THE DAY SUNDAY, 7 JUNE, 2026 SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI) Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) is a Eucharistic solemnity, or better, the solemn commemoration of the institution of that sacrament. It is, moreover, the Church's official act of homage and gratitude to Christ, who by instituting the Holy Eucharist gave to the Church her greatest treasure. Holy Thursday, assuredly, marks the anniversary of the institution, but the commemoration of the Lord's passion that very night suppresses the rejoicing proper to the occasion. Today's observance, therefore, accents the joyous aspect of Holy Thursday. The Mass and the Office for the feast was edited or composed by St. Thomas Aquinas upon the request of Pope Urban IV in the year 1264. It is unquestionably a classic piece of liturgical work, wholly in accord with the best liturgical traditions. . . It is a perfect work of art. IN THE WORDS OF ST. THOMAS: "How inestimable a dignity, beloved brethren, divine bounty has bestowed upon us Christians from the treasury of its infinite goodness! For there neither is nor ever has been a people to whom the gods were so nigh as our Lord and God is nigh unto us. "Desirous that we be made partakers of His divinity, the only-begotten Son of God has taken to Himself our nature so that having become man, He would be enabled to make men gods. Whatever He assumed of our nature He wrought unto our salvation. For on the altar of the Cross He immolated to the Father His own Body as victim for our reconciliation and shed His blood both for our ransom and for our regeneration. Moreover, in order that a remembrance of so great benefits may always be with us, He has left us His Body as food and His Blood as drink under appearances of bread and wine. "O banquet most precious! O banquet most admirable! O banquet overflowing with every spiritual delicacy! Can anything be more excellent than this repast, in which not the flesh of goats and heifers, as of old, but Christ the true God is given us for nourishment? What more wondrous than this holy sacrament! In it bread and wine are changed substantially, and under the appearance of a little bread and wine is had Christ Jesus, God and perfect Man. In this sacrament sins are purged away, virtues are increased, the soul is satiated with an abundance of every spiritual gift. No other sacrament is so beneficial. Since it was instituted unto the salvation of all, it is offered by Holy Church for the living and for the dead, that all may share in its treasures. "My dearly beloved, is it not beyond human power to express the ineffable delicacy of this sacrament in which spiritual sweetness is tasted in its very source, in which is brought to mind the remembrance of that all-excelling charity which Christ showed in His sacred passion? Surely it was to impress more profoundly upon the hearts of the faithful the immensity of this charity that our loving Savior instituted this sacrament at the last supper when, having celebrated the Pasch with His disciples. He was about to leave the world and return to the Father. It was to serve as an unending remembrance of His passion, as the fulfillment of ancient types — this the greatest of His miracles. To those who sorrow over His departure He has given a unique solace." PRAYER: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
John 6:51-58 Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." I was reading today's Gospel and the sudden thought came to me how difficult it must be for Protestants and Modernist Heretics to read this and to deny that Christ meant what actually said.
