June 5 2026 - St. Boniface, martyr - Courage to pick up your axe

 

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Boniface, who is known as the apostle to the Germans. Boniface was born in what is now England in the 7th century, at a time when Western Europe was still rebuilding itself after the fall of Roman Empire.

 

By the time he was about forty years old, Boniface was known as a gifted scholar and preacher, and was abbot of a Benedictine monastery. At the request of the Pope, Boniface traveled from England to mainland Europe to spread the Gospel in places unevangelized or only partially converted, in what are now the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. His initial efforts were unsuccessful.

 

One of the obstacles Boniface faced was the people’s attachment to their false gods like Odin and Thor. There’s a famous story that Boniface learned of a giant oak tree where the germans gathered to offer false worship to the God Thor.  So Boniface, took an axe, and he begins chopping down this Thor’s Tree.

 

The pagans cursed Boniface and waited for him to be struck dead by their gods for his sacrilege. But when Boniface had chopped just a small notch into the tree, God finished the job: the tree was blast apart from above.  And the germans who had before cursed Boniface now began to believe in the One True God.  This is why you’ll often see stained glass windows and statues with St. Boniface in his bishops attire, holding an axe, standing on a tree trunk.

 

In his 80^th year, Boniface was preparing candidates for confirmation when they were attacked by barbarians and massacred, martyred for the faith.

 

In a letter written to a Benedictine abbess, Saint Boniface wrote: “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial…let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf” referencing the Gospel used for today’s feast.

 

Like Boniface, each of us are called to do what we can for the spread of the Gospel, and to do so with faith and courage.

 

Working for the spread of the Gospel in our modern world seems like daunting work, but remember that Boniface only needed to take those first courageous swings with the axe before God did the rest of the work. Boniface saw through the errors of the pagan culture, how those errors were keeping souls from Faith in Christ. And he took a stand.

 

He left his homeland, he went to a people who spoke differently, had different customs, had confused beliefs, and met them where they were with the Truth of the Gospel. He could have stayed in the comfort of the monastery, but was filled with missionary zeal.

 

What would your life look like if you allowed yourself to be filled with missionary zeal? Consider how the faith might spread, if each of us, in our own way, was little more courageous in witnessing to Christ, just in this neighborhood.

A parish church is much more than a place where the faithful gather for worship, it is our barracks, for training in the outward mission of the Gospel. May St. Boniface help us and intercede for us in our share in the Gospel mission for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and for an increase in Courage for all Christians in the task of evangelization.

 

That St. Boniface, patron saint of Germany, may enliven the faith of the German people and those of Germanic descent who have made their home in this land.

 

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.

 

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland and all those who labored for the faith we now profess, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

 

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Reading 1ACTS 26:19-23

Paul said:
"King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
On the contrary, first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem
and throughout the whole country of Judea,
and then to the Gentiles,
I preached the need to repent and turn to God,
and to do works giving evidence of repentance.
That is why the Jews seized me when I was in the temple
and tried to kill me.
But I have enjoyed God's help to this very day,
and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike,
saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses foretold,
that the Messiah must suffer and that,
as the first to rise from the dead,
he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

Responsorial PsalmPS 117:1BC, 2

L  (Mark 16:15)  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News..
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R.    Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R.    Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

AlleluiaJN 10:14

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord,
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 10:11-16

Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd."

 

June 5 2023 - St. Boniface - Axes and idols

 

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Boniface, who is known as the apostle to the Germans. Boniface was born in what is now England in the 7th century, at a time when Western Europe was still rebuilding itself after the fall of Roman Empire.

By the time he was about forty years old, the Benedictine Boniface was known as a gifted scholar and preacher, and was abbot of a Benedictine monastery. But at the request of the Pope, Boniface traveled to mainland Europe to spread the Gospel in places yet unevangelized. He travelled into the wild frontier lands of what are now the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. Even though the Pope had made him Bishop prior to his mission, his initial efforts were unsuccessful.

One of the obstacles Boniface faced was that the German tribes clung to their pagan worship. They believed in Christ to some extent, but they refused to reject the old gods like Odin and Thor. They also refused to give up witchcraft.  

The story goes that Boniface made way to a giant oak tree where the germans gathered to offer false worship to the Thor.  So Boniface, took an axe and he begins chopping down this tree. The pagans cursed Boniface and waited for him to be struck dead by the old gods for his sacrilege.  But, just after chopping a small notch in the tree, God finished the job: the tree was blast apart from above from a bolt from heaven.  And the germans who had before cursed Boniface now began to believe in the one True God.  Moreover, Boniface took the wood of the tree and built an oratory in honor of Saint Peter whose successor had sent him on this mission.  

This is why you’ll often see stained glass windows and statues with St. Boniface in his bishop’s attire, holding an axe, standing on a tree trunk. 

Pagan oaks of error, superstition, and false teaching seem to be sprouting up like weeds all over the place these days. There are gatherings of professed witches in every major city. There are witchcraft stores in Lakewood. The old idols of fame, power, pleasure and wealth take on various forms, and yet, even within the Church, we have prelates and clerics who have made public opinion into idols—allowing public opinion guide church life rather than divine revelation.

Working for the spread of the Gospel in our modern world seems like daunting work, but remember that Boniface only needed to take those first courageous swings with the axe before God did the rest of the work. Boniface’s actions challenged the false beliefs of the society around him, and brought others to Christ.

Perhaps there is a pagan idol that you are called to take a few swings at. Perhaps God might be challenging you to pick up the axe with your fellow Christians. Likely, we all have axes to swing. The least we can do is  pick up the axe of persistent prayer, that our contemporaries may be delivered from their modern idols to belief in Christ.

In a letter written to a Benedictine abbess, Saint Boniface wrote: “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial…let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf.” Christians cannot be silent onlookers as souls are swayed to worship the false idols of the day. 

May we hold firmly to the faith Boniface taught with his lips and sealed with his blood, and confidently profess that faith by our deeds, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

June 2020 - First Friday - Eucharistic Lessons from an axe-wielding Bishop

At morning Mass I told one of my favorite stories from the saints, about the bishop and martyr St. Boniface, known as the apostle to the Germans. Boniface was an English Benedictine monk who devoted his life to evangelizing the Germanic Tribes, who at the time worshiped the false Norse gods and goddesses like Thor, Freya, Loki, and Odin. The Pagans were proving quite resistant to conversion, abandoning their false gods and accepting the Christian Gospel. So the holy missionary went to the giant oak tree where the Pagans gathered to offer false worship to Thor.  And Boniface took an axe, and he begins chopping down this pagan idol. The pagans cursed Boniface and waited for him to be struck dead by their gods for his sacrilege.  The story says that when Boniface had chopped just a small notch into the tree, God finished the job, the tree was blast apart from above.  And the pagans who had before cursed Boniface now began to believe.  And moreover, Boniface took the wood of the tree and built an oratory in honor of Saint Peter. 

Boniface’s actions certainly would not be considered politically correct in our modern age, but neither is the Gospel really, not when it is preached in its entirety.

What does this holy missionary, who went on to become bishop and a martyr for the faith teach us about eucharistic adoration? Well, we come here for the same reason, don’t we, that Boniface went to the pagan germans: that the Christian Gospel, that the kingdom may be spread, in our nation, in our neighborhoods, in our families, and in our hearts. We come here to pray that the Gospel may be spread—more devoutly preached and lived.

We also come here, not to a pagan idol, but to the One True God, truly present, here and now, under the appearance of bread and wine. He has the power to save us, he has the power to bring about true peace. He has the power to strike down the pagan oak trees that seem to be springing up like weeds in our modern culture. We come here to be equipped by him with the grace we need to be his instruments in the world--to be his axes in the world--his scythes for harvest and his swords of truth. We come here also to pray that our bishops, especially our future bishop of Cleveland, may be well-equipped and have the competency and courage to utilize the spiritual weapons at their disposal. That their faith may be sturdier than any pagan oak, that they may wield the blade of the spirit, to convict us of the Gospel.

And we come here before our Eucharistic Lord, that any worldliness, any vice, any coldness toward God or neighbor, may be struck down within us. May the Lord help us to identify anything within us that is resistant to the Gospel, any pagan oaks or weeds of worldliness, anything that keeps us from experiencing the peace that comes from God, and anything that keeps us from the courage exhibited by saints and martyrs like Boniface, any fear or timidity that keeps us from witnessing to the transforming power of the Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

June 05 2020 - St. Boniface - The first few swings

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Boniface, who is known as the apostle to the Germans.  This English Benedictine monk devoted his life to the evangelization of the Germanic tribes.  He made his first missionary journey to Germany in 719 at the request of Pope Gregory II.

His is one of my favorite stories from the lives of the saints. As he engaged on his preaching mission, Boniface found the land full of Pagans; the Germanic tribes worshipped gods of Norse Mythology: Odin and Thor and the like.  They were proving resistant to conversion, resistant to giving up the old gods.

Boniface learned of a giant oak tree where the Pagans gathered to offer false worship to the God Thor.  So Boniface, took an axe, and he begins chopping down this pagan idol. The pagans cursed Boniface and waited for him to be struck dead by their gods for his sacrilege.  The story says that when Boniface had chopped just a small notch into the tree, God finished the job, the tree was blast apart from above.  And the pagans who had before cursed Boniface now began to believe.  And moreover, Boniface took the wood of the tree and built an oratory in honor of Saint Peter. 

This is why you’ll often see stained glass windows and statues with St. Boniface in his bishops attire, holding an axe, standing on a tree trunk.

Pagan oaks of error, superstition, and false teaching seem to be sprouting up like weeds these days. Even within the Church, we have prelates and clerics who have made public opinion into idols, who fail to confront the moral errors of our day.

Working for the spread of the Gospel in our nation or even among our families seems like daunting work, but remember that Boniface only needed to take those first courageous swings with the axe before God did the rest of the work. In a letter written to a Benedictine abbess, Saint Boniface wrote: “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial…let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf.”

In his 80th year, Boniface was preparing candidates for confirmation when they were attacked by barbarians and massacred, martyred for the faith.

As we prayed in the opening prayer: “may the Martyr Saint Boniface, be our advocate that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -

That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.

That St. Boniface, patron saint of Germany, may enliven the faith of the German people and those of Germanic descent who have made their home in this land.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.


Reading 1
ACTS 26:19-23

Paul said:
"King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
On the contrary, first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem
and throughout the whole country of Judea,
and then to the Gentiles,
I preached the need to repent and turn to God,
and to do works giving evidence of repentance.
That is why the Jews seized me when I was in the temple
and tried to kill me.
But I have enjoyed God's help to this very day,
and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike,
saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses foretold,
that the Messiah must suffer and that,
as the first to rise from the dead,
he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

Responsorial Psalm
PS 117:1BC, 2
L  (Mark 16:15)  Go out to all the world and tell the Good News..
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R.    Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R.    Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

AlleluiaJN 10:14
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord,
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 10:11-16
Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd."

June 5, 2017 - St. Boniface - Martyr's Blood and Holy Spirit's Fire

Today is the fifth day in a row wearing red. We had three feasts of martyrs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: the memorials of St. Justin Martyr, Saints Marcellinus and Peter, St. Charles Lwanga and the his Companion Martyrs. On Sunday, we wore red for the great feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost. And today, Ordinary Time begins with another martyr’s memorial, the bishop St. Boniface, who, at the age of 80 was preparing candidates for confirmation when they were attacked by barbarians and massacred, martyred for the faith.

The Red of the martyrs’ blood and the red of the Holy Spirit’s fire are certainly linked. The courage to lay down one’s life for Christ comes from the Holy Spirit. This is why Cardinals of the Church also wear red as part of their daily garb: from their desire to associate themselves with the Passion of Christ and a willingness to be martyred.

Red is the color of witness. The word ‘martyr’ doesn’t just mean someone who died for the faith. Martyr means witness. The martyrs witness to the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins that we may be reconciled to God, and that mankind is meant to profess their faith in Him. For it’s not through political activism that we receive eternal life, nor even charitable works, but through His blood; as St. Paul says “through his blood we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

St. Boniface labored to spread this saving faith through northern Europe, to the Germanic parts of the Frankish Empire. He spread the true faith among Pagans, Barbarians, Germanic Tribes who worshiped the gods of Norse Mythology.

In a letter written to a Benedictine abbess, Saint Boniface wrote: “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial…let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf.”

He was a bishop filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, the zeal of the Apostles, and the truth of Christ.

Though we exchange easter white for ordinary time green, we recall that martyrdom red runs through the whole Church year. Fire, zeal, courage, and witness are needed now: in our bishops and priests and religious and in the lives of ordinary Christians.

As we prayed in the opening prayer: “may the Martyr Saint Boniface, be our advocate that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - - -
 
That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.
That St. Boniface, patron saint of Germany, may enliven the faith of the German people and those of Germanic descent who have made their home in this land.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.

In thanksgiving for good weather, for our parish festival, and the hard labor of so many good parishioners and volunteers.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.