June 12 2023 (EF) - St. John of San Facundo, confessor - The victory of Truth

ST JOHN OF ST FACUNDO was a Spanish Augustinian friar and priest. He was known as a peacemaker and reconciler of enemies among the nobles and factions of Salamanca. He was a model religious and was entrusted with important offices in his Order — master of novices, definitor for the province, and prior of the convent of the city of Salamanca.

He is remembered especially for his preaching which produced a great reformation of morals in Salamanca. Yet, the boldness shown by Saint John in reproving vice several times endangered his life. 

On one occasion, a powerful nobleman, having been corrected by the Saint for oppressing his vassals, sent two assassins to slay him; but the remarkable holiness of the Saint struck such awe into their minds that they were repelled and humbly begged his forgiveness. The nobleman himself, falling sick, was brought to repentance, and recovered his health by the prayers of the Saint whom he had endeavored to murder.

Saint John was especially zealous in denouncing the vices of impurity, and it was in defense of holy purity that he met his death. A noblewoman poisoned St. John after her companion in sin converted and broke off the sinful relationship. After several months of terrible suffering from the poison, St. John went to his eternal reward. This painful death and the cause for which he suffered it have caused several of his historians to say that he won a martyr's crown.

Vice, particularly impurity, seems to be enshrined and enthroned in our culture right now. But here is a saint who emboldens us to stand firmly in the truth against the moral evils of our day, regardless of the hostility that will result.

In my office, over in the rectory, I have a quote from the Augustinian rule hanging on my wall, perhaps it also inspired today’s saint: “nam non vincit nisi veritas: Victoria ceritatis est caritas. For nothing conquers but truth: the victory of truth is love.” The true Church faces many pressures to compromise the truth of the Gospel, but love for God and love for souls emboldens us to remain solid in the Truth, and souls will be saved through the Church’s witness. The victory of standing in the truth is to bring souls to encounter God’s love.

And yet, recall that so many of our contemporaries are totally without faith. They were raised without faith. Their education made no reference to the faith. Great victories can be won by simply teaching the faithless how to make the sign of the cross, teaching them about God who loves them and desires holy relationship with them, sharing with them a simple Gospel parable, giving them reasons to believe by our good works.

May this wonderful Saint embolden us to confess the faith in our own day and help others do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

EF READINGS

 A reading from the book of Sirach

Happy the rich person found without fault, who does not turn aside after wealth. Who is he, that we may praise him? For he has done wonders among his people. Who has been tested by gold and been found perfect? Let it be for him his glory; Who could have sinned but did not, and could have done evil but did not? So his good fortune is secure, and the assembly will recount his praises.

A continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”