From All Ireland Rosary Rally page: "Today is the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The famous Byzantine icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help or Succour is around 600 years old. The icon was entrusted to the Redemptorist Order by Pope Pius IX and is in their church in Rome. In the icon, Our Lady is depicted as serene but sad. She is offering comfort to the Child Jesus who clings to her. One of his sandals is untied and seems to be slipping from his foot. The icon reminds us that the Blessed Virgin is our compassionate mother to whom we can go, like the Child Jesus in all of life’s difficulties. The rosary is important to devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Rosary, like the the icon, reminds us of Our Lady’s love for and care of us. They both invite us into a loving relationship of childlike trust in the Blessed Mother and, through her, in Jesus Christ. There is also a chaplet associated with this icon which is prayed on the normal Rosary. "Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us!”
SAINT OF THE DAY SUNDAY, 28 JUNE, 2026 SAINT IRENAEUS OF LYONS BISHOP AND MARTYR (c. 130 – c. 202) The writings of St. Irenaeus entitle him to a high place among the fathers of the Church, for they not only laid the foundations of Christian theology but, by exposing and refuting the errors of the gnostics, they delivered the Catholic Faith from the real danger of the doctrines of those heretics. He was probably born about the year 125, in one of those maritime provinces of Asia Minor where the memory of the apostles was still cherished and where Christians were numerous. He was most influenced by St. Polycarp who had known the apostles or their immediate disciples. Many Asian priests and missionaries brought the gospel to the pagan Gauls and founded a local church. To this church of Lyon, Irenaeus came to serve as a priest under its first bishop, St. Pothinus, an oriental like himself. In the year 177, Irenaeus was sent to Rome. This mission explains how it was that he was not called upon to share in the martyrdom of St Pothinus during the terrible persecution in Lyons. When he returned to Lyons it was to occupy the vacant bishopric. By this time, the persecution was over. It was the spread of gnosticism in Gaul, and the ravages it was making among the Christians of his diocese, that inspired him to undertake the task of exposing its errors. He produced a treatise in five books in which he sets forth fully the inner doctrines of the various sects, and afterwards contrasts them with the teaching of the Apostles and the text of the Holy Scripture. His work, written in Greek but quickly translated to Latin, was widely circulated and succeeded in dealing a death-blow to gnosticism. At any rate, from that time onwards, it ceased to offer a serious menace to the Catholic faith. The date of death of St. Irenaeus is not known, but it is believed to be in the year 202. The bodily remains of St. Irenaeus were buried in a crypt under the altar of what was then called the church of St. John, but was later known by the name of St. Irenaeus himself. This tomb or shrine was destroyed by the Calvinists in 1562, and all trace of his relics seems to have perished. PATRON: of apologists and catechists. PRAYER: O God, who called the Bishop Saint Irenaeus to confirm true doctrine and the peace of the Church, grant, we pray, through his intercession, that, being renewed in faith and charity, we may always be intent on fostering unity and concord. 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.
SAINTS OF THE DAY MONDAY, 29 JUNE, 2026 SAINTS PETER AND PAUL APOSTLES AND MARTYRS On June 29, the Church celebrates the feast day of Sts. Peter & Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there. Peter, who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,' because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. Peter was a bold follower of the Lord. He was the first to recognize that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and eagerly pledged his fidelity until death. In his boldness, he also made many mistakes, however, such as losing faith when walking on water with Christ and betraying the Lord on the night of His passion. Yet despite his human weaknesses, Peter was chosen to shepherd God's flock. The Acts of the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept the true faith. St. Peter spent his last years in Rome, leading the Church through persecution and eventually being martyred in the year 64. He was crucified upside-down at his own request, because he claimed he was not worthy to die as his Lord. He was buried on Vatican hill, and St. Peter's Basilica is built over his tomb. St. Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles. His letters are included in the writings of the New Testament, and through them we learn much about his life and the faith of the early Church. Before receiving the name Paul, he was Saul, a Jewish pharisee who zealously persecuted Christians in Jerusalem. Scripture records that Saul was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Saul's conversion took place as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christian community there. As he was traveling along the road, he was suddenly surrounded by a great light from heaven. He was blinded and fell off his horse. He then heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered: “Who are you, Lord?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Saul continued to Damascus, where he was baptized and his sight was restored. He took the name Paul and spent the remainder of his life preaching the Gospel tirelessly to the Gentiles of the Mediterranean world. Paul was imprisoned and taken to Rome, where he was beheaded in the year 67. He is buried in Rome in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. In a sermon in the year 395, St. Augustine of Hippo said of Sts. Peter and Paul: “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.” PRAYER: Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal 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.
God chooses the most unlikely people. It looks like He is crazy. Ivan from Medugorje asked Our Lady at Medugorje why she had chosen him and she replied that it was not because he was the best Our Lady told Bernadette in Lourdes that if she could have chosen someone more unworthy she would have chosen them. God seems to go with the bottom up.
SAINTS OF THE DAY TUESDAY, 30 JUNE, 2026 FIRST MARTYRS OF THE CHURCH OF ROME (d. 64) There were Christians in Rome within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus, though they were not the converts of the “Apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 15:20). Paul had not yet visited them at the time he wrote his great letter in 57-58 A.D. There was a large Jewish population in Rome. Probably as a result of controversy between Jews and Jewish Christians, the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome in 49-50 A.D. Suetonius the historian says that the expulsion was due to disturbances in the city “caused by the certain Chrestus” [Christ]. Perhaps many came back after Claudius's death in 54 A.D. Paul's letter was addressed to a Church with members from Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. In July of 64 A.D., more than half of Rome was destroyed by fire. Rumor blamed the tragedy on Nero, who wanted to enlarge his palace. He shifted the blame by accusing the Christians. According to the historian Tacitus, many Christians were put to death because of their “hatred of the human race.” Peter and Paul were probably among the victims. Threatened by an army revolt and condemned to death by the senate, Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D. at the age of 31. Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow him shared his suffering and death. But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world. The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians. PRAYER: O God, who consecrated that abundant first fruits of the Roman Church by the blood of the Martyrs, grant, we pray, that with firm courage we may together draw strength from so great a struggle and ever rejoice at the triumph of faithful love. 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.
From EWTN Fb page: "Today we honor the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church These “proto-martyrs” of Rome were the first Christians persecuted en masse by the Emperor Nero in the year 64, before the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. Nero was widely believed to have caused the fire that burned down much of Rome in the same year. He blamed the fire on the Christians and put them to death, many by crucifixion, being fed to the wild animals in his circus, or by being tied to posts and lit up as human torches. Today, the site of Nero's Circus, also the location of St. Peter's martyrdom, is marked by the Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani (Square of the Roman Protomartyrs) in the Vatican next to St. Peter's basilica. These martyrs were called the “Disciples of the Apostles” and their firmness in the face of their gruesome deaths were a powerful testimony that led to many conversions in the early Roman Church." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-first-holy-martyrs-of-the-holy-roman-church-502
I read a Chapter of the Bible everyday before Mass. It is not just devotional, I love the stories in there they are so interesting and entertaining. At the moment I am reading 2nd Maccabees and an account of a mother and her seven sons who were killed for their Faith you probably are familiar with this as it is read out in Church regularly. But they ripped out their tongues, pulled their scalps of hair and all. Cut of their hand s and feet and then fired them slowly in a huge frying pan. One by one. So the mother saw her seven sons die horribly right before her eyes. Yet she remained true as her sons did. One very touching thing was they accused themselves of being sinners and worthy of death . I never heard this from Christian martyrs. Perhaps it has something to do with the New Covenant.
SAINT OF THE DAY WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY, 2026 SAINT JUNIPERO SERRA PRIEST (November 24, 1713 - August 28, 1784) In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States was being born in California. That year a gray-robed Franciscan founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, now famous for its annually returning swallows. San Juan was the seventh of nine missions established under the direction of this indomitable Spaniard. Born on Spain's island of Mallorca, Serra entered the Franciscan Order taking the name of Saint Francis' childlike companion, Brother Juniper. Until he was 35, he spent most of his time in the classroom—first as a student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his preaching. Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis Solano in South America. Junipero's desire was to convert native peoples in the New World. Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked the 250 miles to Mexico City. On the way Junipero's left leg became infected by an insect bite and would remain a cross—sometimes life-threatening—for the rest of his life. For 18 years, he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja Peninsula. He became president of the missions there. Enter politics: the threat of a Russian invasion south from Alaska. Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the territory. So the last two conquistadors—one military, one spiritual—began their quest. José de Galvez persuaded Junipero to set out with him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the 900-mile journey north was San Diego in 1769. That year a shortage of food almost canceled the expedition. Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero and another friar began a novena in preparation for St. Joseph's day, March 19, the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived. Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more were founded after Serra's death. Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The outcome was substantially what Junipero sought: the famous “Regulation” protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first significant legislation in California, a “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans. Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The Native Americans were kept at the mission after baptism lest they be corrupted in their former haunts—a move that has brought cries of “injustice” from some moderns. Junipero's missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn. He baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel, and was beatified in 1988. Pope Francis canonized him in Washington, D.C., on September 23, 2015. PATRON: California and vocations. PRAYER: Saint Junipero Serra, inspire us to follow your example of physical perseverance, doctrinal commitment, and spiritual discipline for the good of the Church. You were a model priest and missionary. You were an exemplary Franciscan. May we, too, be great in all that we do. Amen.
A missionary like Saint Juniper could only have done what he did and made so many sacrifices because he believed in what he was doing. He was convinced that he was saving people from hell. That pagans who were not Catholics faced hell. That they would not be saved. The reason why we no longer have many missionaries anymore is that Catholics no longer believe this. Why would anyone sacrifice themselves to save souls when they believe these souls will be saved anyway? It is strange to think of fellow Catholics who believed in and practiced slavery and went to Church every Sunday. It reminds me of the words of Jesus, Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Saint of the Day Jul 1 - St Oliver Plunkett (1629-81) bishop, martyr Summary :St Oliver Plunkett (1629-81) born in Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co Meath, Ireland, related to several aristocratic families. The first Irish martyr to be formally canonised- the last Catholic to be martyred for the faith at Tyburn in England. The year was 1681 AD. Here Patrick Duffy traces his life and his journey to martyrdom. Oliver Plunkett was born into an aristocratic Norman family at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co Meath in 1629. The first great formative influence on him was his uncle Patrick, a Cistercian monk, who was Abbot of St Mary’s in Dublin and then became bishop of Ardagh and later still of Meath. Oliver was sent to his uncle for his education and he always spoke of him with great respect and affection. Career in Rome Ign 1646, along with John Brennan from Kilkenny (a life-long friend and later archbishop of Cashel), Oliver accompanied Father Peter Scarampi – who had been sent by the Pope as an envoy to the Confederation of Kilkenny – on his journey back to Rome. Due to delays and robbery, this proved a difficult journey that took almost a year. When he eventually arrived in Rome Oliver grew to love the city. By the time he was ordained priest in 1654, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland was well under way. As it was difficult for him to return home, he requested and was granted permission to remain in Rome. He became professor of theology at Propaganda Fide College (1657) and was also the agent representing the Irish bishops in Rome. When in 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh, his uncle Patrick Plunkett was the only active Catholic bishop remaining in Ireland. Strenuous Pastoral Efforts Oliver’s return was difficult. The people had faith, but lacked instruction and organisation. The priests of Armagh diocese resented the imposition on them of an “outsider” from Meath. In the absence of bishops, the priests had lost their discipline, and there were rivalries among religious and between them and the secular clergy. There were divisions among Catholics – between native Irish and Anglo-Irish. And his flamboyant and touchy colleague archbishop of Dublin, Peter Talbot, contested Oliver’s precedence and the primacy of the see of Armagh over Dublin. In the first three years Oliver worked diligently to restore discipline. He established a school staffed by Jesuits in Drogheda for the education of young men and clergy. He pleaded for places in Rome for others, and travelled widely – often in disguise – confirming and instructing the people and promoting peace. Choice to Stay with his Flock But in 1673 the revelation that the Duke of York, the King’s brother and heir to the throne, had been a Catholic for years caused a storm in the English parliament and forced the tightening of the penal laws against Catholics both in England and Ireland. This led to the closing down of the school at Drogheda. By law Oliver should have registered with the authorities and waited for a ship to deport him, but he took a decision not to desert his flock and went into hiding. He weathered this crisis and continued his pastoral work as best he could, continually keeping in touch with Rome through letters to the Internuncio in Brussels. So-called “Popish Plot” But in England in 1678 an ex-Jesuit student Titus Oates fabricated his infamous “plot”. According to this there was an arrangement that the King (Charles II) was to be murdered and his Catholic brother James put on the throne; in Ireland a Catholic army supported by the Pope and France was alleged to be ready to rise in rebellion. Oliver again had to go into hiding. In December 1679 he was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle – in the next cell to Archbishop Peter Talbot of Dublin who had also been implicated in the plot. Talbot was quite ill and distressed and Plunkett forced his way in to him to console him and give him absolution before he died. Gradual Realisation Only gradually did Oliver realise that he was being framed as the prime mover of a supposed Irish branch of the Popish plot and charged falsely with conspiring with foreign kingdoms to import troops through Irish ports. Brought to Dundalk for trial, the prosecution witnesses failed to attend: no jury in Ireland could have convicted him on such trumped-up charges. He was then taken to London for trial, but was not allowed time to bring his own witnesses and documents. Here, with four renegade priests testifying against him, he was convicted. His Last Week In the process of facing these false allegations and then death by being hanged, drawn and quartered, Oliver prayed and fasted. His servant and friend James McKenna and a fellow prisoner Fr Maurus Corker were the companions of his last days and he celebrated the Eucharist daily for the last week of his life. When his moment came, he was calm and at peace. A Man at Peace In his speech from the gallows at Tyburn, England, he detailed the charges brought against him and declared himself innocent of them all. He forgave those who brought him from Ireland to London for trial, his judges who did not allow him time to bring his records and witnesses from Ireland, and all who concurred directly and indirectly in taking away his life. Finally, he asked forgiveness of all whom he ever offended. He was the last person to be martyred for the Catholic faith in England in 1681. His letters, written from his prison cell show a man at peace with God and himself, proud yet humble, strong yet gentle. His body is enshrined in Downside Abbey in Somerset while his head and other relics are on display at St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, Co, Louth, Ireland. Beatification and Canonisation Oliver Plunkett was beatified in 1920 and canonised in 1975 by Pope St Paul VI, he was the first new Irish saint for almost almost seven hundred years. ____________________________ ****************************** Memorable Quote for Today Love is never defeated, And I could add, the history of Ireland proves it ~ Pope John Paul II ~ ****************************** Our Archive of Saints CatholicIreland.net © 2026. All Rights Reserved.
SAINT OF THE DAY THURSDAY, 2 JULY, 2026 SAINT BERNARDINO REALINO PRIEST (1 December 1530 - 2 July 1616) Bernardino Realino was born into a noble family of Capri, Italy, in 1530. After an excellent Christian education received at home from his mother, he went on to study medicine and law at the University of Bologna, receiving his doctorate in law in 1556. A brilliant young man, Bernardino was soon on the road to success: at the tender age of 26, he was elected mayor as well as judge of the town of Felizzano. From there he became head tax collector in Alessandria, then elected mayor of Cassine, followed by his election as mayor of Castellone. Word of his learning, dedication, and legal brilliance spread throughout Italy, and the marquis of Naples named him superintendent of all his fiefs. While in Naples, Bernardino, now 34 years old, met some priests of the relatively new Society of Jesus and made an eight-day retreat with them. During this retreat he felt a strong call to the religious life and asked the Jesuits for admittance into their Society. He was accepted and ordained a priest in 1567. From that time on Bernardino devoted his life to the care of the poor and sick, to teaching the Faith to young people, and to ministering to galley slaves. He was appointed novice master while in Naples and remained in that city for ten years until he was sent to the south of Italy to the town of Lecci where he had been requested to found a college. He spent the rest of his life in Lecci where he was hailed as a saint during his lifetime, not only because of his powerful example as a preacher, confessor, and teacher, but also because of the many miracles he performed by the power of God. One of the miracles attributed to Bernardino was in regard to a small pitcher of wine which did not give out until everyone present had had their fill. Six years before his death at the age of 86, Bernardino fell and sustained two wounds which never healed. During his final illness, blood was taken from one of the leg wounds and placed in glass vials. After his death, the blood appeared to boil and foam and retained its liquid state until well into the mid-nineteenth century. So devoted were the people of Lecci to their saint, the magistrates of the town visited Bernardino on his deathbed and formally requested that he take the city under his patronage after his death. Unable to speak, Bernardino nodded his head, dying soon afterwards with the names of Jesus and Mary on his lips. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947 PATRON: Lecci. PRAYER: Lord our God, you sent out your holy priest Bernardino Realino to bring the Gospel of peace to towns and villages. In our own day call many others to work in the harvest-fields of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
So many Jesuit saints! I am reading a life of St Francis Xavier at the moment by Louis De Wohl. One thing about Francis is the numerous miracles and supernatural gifts. It is as though the Acts of the Apostles came alive once again. Huge, huge graces of all kinds. It seemed like he worked miracles with every step and glance.
SAINT OF THE DAY FRIDAY, 3 JULY, 2026 SAINT THOMAS APOSTLE There is very little about the apostle Thomas in the Gospels; one text calls him the "twin." Rarely during Jesus' lifetime does he stand out among his colleagues. There is the instance before the raising of Lazarus, when Jesus was still in Perea and Thomas exclaimed: "Let us also go and die with Him." Best-known is his expression of unbelief after the Savior's death, giving rise to the phrase "doubting Thomas." Nevertheless, the passage describing the incident, had as today's Gospel, must be numbered among the most touching in Sacred Scripture. In the Breviary lessons Pope St. Gregory the Great makes the following reflections: "Thomas' unbelief has benefited our faith more than the belief of the other disciples; it is because he attained faith through physical touch that we are confirmed in the faith beyond all doubt. Indeed, the Lord permitted the apostle to doubt after the resurrection; but He did not abandon him in doubt. By his doubt and by his touching the sacred wounds the apostle became a witness to the truth of the resurrection. Thomas touched and cried out: My Lord and my God! And Jesus said to him: Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed. Now if Thomas saw and touched the Savior, why did Jesus say: Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed? Because he saw something other than what he believed. For no mortal man can see divinity. Thomas saw the Man Christ and acknowledged His divinity with the words: My Lord and my God. Faith therefore followed upon seeing." Concerning later events in the apostle's life very meager information exists. The Martyrology has this: "At Calamina (near Madras in India) the martyrdom of the apostle Thomas - he announced the Gospel to the Parthians, and finally came to India. After he had converted numerous tribes to Christianity, he was pierced with lances at the king's command." PATRON: Against doubt; architects; blind people; builders; construction workers; Ceylon East Indies; geometricians; India; masons; Pakistan; people in doubt; Sri Lanka; stone masons; stonecutters; surveyors; theologians. PRAYER: Saint Thomas, help all who struggle with belief in God. Through your example and intercession, assist all those overwhelmed by distractions and doubts to come to a well-informed trust in the Father and Lord of all. Amen.
Another case of God writing straight in crooked lines. We call Thomas's doubt , 'Felix culpa', happy fault because it helps the rest of us. I would say my biggest reason for belief is the indwelling Christ. That Christ lives in our hearts as He does in the Tabernacle. This is even closer than being able to put out hand in His Side. The second big reason is the Eucharist. The saddest thing in the Church today is the Death of the Supernatural. Instead of Heaven the Church has begun to cling to the World. The Death of the Supernatural springs from the Death of Faith. I have the strongest feeling that many of our Cardinals, Bishops and Priests have lost the Faith, if indeed many of them ever had it. But Jesus did indeed Rise from the dead and appear to the Apostles. He really, really physically did. It's not just a nice story.
Tradition holds that Saint Thomas travelled widely to evangelise the Parthians and Persians, eventually arriving in India where he preached the Faith and established the first Christian communities there. The following is from All Saint Stories page: "St. Thomas the Apostle, also known as “Doubting Thomas,” was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. He is most famously remembered for initially doubting the resurrection of Jesus. According to the Gospel of John, when the other disciples told him that Jesus had risen, Thomas declared that he would not believe until he saw and touched the wounds of Christ himself. When Jesus later appeared and invited him to do so, Thomas responded with the powerful confession, “My Lord and my God,” which remains one of the most profound declarations of faith in the New Testament. Although this moment of doubt defined his legacy in popular thought, it overshadowed Thomas’s immense contributions to early Christianity. After Pentecost, tradition holds that Thomas embarked on extensive missionary journeys. Historical and ecclesiastical accounts, particularly from early Christian communities in the East, claim that Thomas traveled to regions including Parthia, Persia, and most significantly, India. In India, he is believed to have arrived on the Malabar Coast (modern-day Kerala) around 52 AD, where he established several Christian communities, particularly among the Jewish diaspora and local populations. These early Christians in India are known today as the St. Thomas Christians or Nasranis, and they trace their faith heritage directly to the Apostle. His missionary work in India laid the foundation for one of the oldest Christian traditions outside the Roman Empire, surviving for nearly two millennia. St. Thomas’s evangelism faced opposition, and eventually, he was martyred for his faith. According to tradition, he was speared to death near what is now Chennai (formerly Madras) in Tamil Nadu. A shrine known as St. Thomas Mount marks the site of his martyrdom. His remains were reportedly interred in Mylapore, where the San Thome Basilica now stands, one of only three churches in the world built over the tomb of an Apostle (the others being St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and Santiago de Compostela in Spain). The legacy of St. Thomas is particularly significant in India, where he is revered not only as a saint but as the founding figure of Christianity in the subcontinent. His feast day is celebrated on July 3rd in the Roman Catholic Church, aligning with the day of his martyrdom. In Eastern Christian traditions, including the Syriac and Malankara Orthodox churches, St. Thomas is venerated with deep devotion and is often seen as a bold and faithful disciple who ventured far for the Gospel. In addition to being the patron saint of India, St. Thomas is also regarded as the patron of architects, builders, and those who struggle with doubt in their faith. His legacy lives on in churches, schools, and Christian communities named in his honor around the world. The phrase “Doubting Thomas” has become a common idiom, but in the Church, he is remembered for his ultimate belief and dedication. St. Thomas, help us to believe and trust in God's truth, just as you did. Guide us in our faith. Amen"
SAINT OF THE DAY SATURDAY, 4 JULY, 2026 SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL QUEEN (1271 - July 4, 1336) Elizabeth was the daughter of King Peter III of Aragon and of the saintly Constancia. She was born in 1271, and named after the holy landgravine of Thuringia, the sister of her grandmother. An angel of peace seemed to have come to the family with the birth of the child, because great joy over her birth reconciled her father and her grandfather, who had been living at variance with each other. Elizabeth combined great virtue with the most lovable qualities, so that her father sometimes remarked that it appeared this daughter would surpass all the women of the royal court in accomplishments. Prayer and severe penance were Elizabeth's delight as a young woman; but her austerity had nothing crude or harsh about it. Elizabeth was ever gentle toward others and filled with cordial charity especially towards the poor and the oppressed. Her accomplishments were lauded in all the courts of Europe, and many a prince's son pleaded for her hand. At a very early age her father betrothed her to Denis, King of Portugal. The first years of her married life were happy ones, her husband loved her, and God blessed the marriage with two sons. While Elizabeth fulfilled her duties as wife and mother, she contrived to find time to devote herself with holy zeal to practices of piety and charity. But ere long she was visited with a severe trial. Her husband gave himself up to a dissolute life, becoming a scandal to the court and to the country at large, and a great grief to his devout wife. Elizabeth, however, was pained more by the fact that he was offending God than by his unfaithfulness to her. She kept her grief entirely to herself, complaining to no one but to God Himself in persevering prayer. The king never heard her make an unkind remark. Through forbearance and tender love she endeavored to bring him back to the path of duty and virtue. She increased her penitential practices and her works of charity. She visited the hospitals and public asylums, where she nursed the most disgusting patients. One day she was washing the feet of a sick lady. When Saint Elizabeth of Portugal had washed one foot, the patient refused to extend the other because it was badly eaten by a cancerous sore. But the saintly queen urged her to comply. Then she carefully washed the ugly wound, and lovingly pressed her lips upon it. At that very moment the wound disappeared. The heroic virtue of his wife and the grace of God finally changed the heart of the king. He begged Elizabeth's forgiveness and returned to the path of righteousness. Thereafter she was frequently to play the role of peacemaker. Her husband quarreled seriously with his brother over certain estates. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal offered her brother-in-law an estate out of her own possessions and thus restored peace between the two brothers. Later her own son Alphonse became ambitious and rose against his father. All his mother's efforts to effect a change of mind in him were in vain. Alphonse, supported by powerful foes of the king, collected an army and was ready for war against his father and the royal army. Then Elizabeth, mounting her charger, rode between the lines of battle, and spoke so impressively to her son that he cast himself repentantly at the feet of his father, and in the sight of the two armies they were reconciled to each other. Not long after, King Denis died. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal then donned the garb of a Tertiary and withdrew to a small house near the convent of the Poor Clares at Coimbra. One other occasion, however, presented itself in which she was to be the peacemaker. Her son was quarreling with the king of Castile, her son-in-law, and war threatened. In spite of her age and the heat of the season, Elizabeth started out on the journey to effect peace between the two kings. Once again she succeeded in averting war and all its evil consequences. But she became ill as a result of the exertions of the journey, which caused her to be seized with a high fever. After a holy preparation, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal entered into eternal peace on July 4, 1336. Numerous miracles occurred at her tomb in the church of the Poor Clares at Coimbra, where the people invoked the intercession of the saintly queen with unlimited confidence. Pope Urban VIII solemnly canonized Saint Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, in the year 1625. PATRON: Peace - Invoked in Times of War, Third Order of St. Francis, widows and victims of adultery. PRAYER: Father of peace and love, you gave Saint Elizabeth the gift of reconciling enemies, by the help of her prayers give us the courage to work for peace among men, that we may be called the sons of God. 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 story that everyone remembers about St Elizabeth is the lovely story of the miracle of the roses: https://melbournecatholic.org/news/miracle-of-roses-st-elizabeth-of-hungary 'The best-known legend about Elizabeth is the miracle of roses, and is often depicted in art. It shows her meeting her husband unexpectedly while she is on a secret errand to deliver bread to the poor. According to legend, he asks her what she is carrying under her cloak, to counter claims that she was stealing from the castle. When she revealed her burden, the loaves of bread miraculously change into roses.'
