The General Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church honors the memory of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal on July 4. However, because July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, her commemoration has been transferred to July 5 in the United States.
Elizabeth was a 12th-century Spanish princess who was given in marriage to the king of Portugal. She was very beautiful and very lovable. She was also very devout, and went to Mass every day. Her faith, no doubt enabled her to patiently endure her husband’s cruelty and infidelity, Elizabeth patiently endured her husband’s infidelities, even going so far as to contribute to the education of his illegitimate children.
Throughout her marriage she also engaged in charitable works: building a hospital and orphanage and a monastery for the Poor Clares. She entered the Poor Clares as a Third Order Franciscan after the death of her husband. She died at the age of 65, after a life pursuing holiness as the most important goal.
July 5 is also the feast of Saint Anthony Zaccaria, who lived about 300 years after Elizabeth. Anthony was a pious young man who supported his widowed mother as a medical doctor. While working among the poor he became attracted to the religious life. During the Protestant Reformation, he worked to “regenerate and revive the love of divine worship and a properly Christian way of life” through simple-solid preaching and faithful ministering of the sacraments
By the age of 36, when he died, he had founded three religious communities, one for men, one for women, and an association for married couples.
Two saints from two very different walks of life, who, heard Jesus calling them to follow him in radically
Pope Benedict, preaching on the feast of All Saints, said, “Holiness demands a constant effort, but it is possible for everyone because, rather than a human effort, it is first and foremost a gift of God.”
On an occasion when Pope St. John Paul II was speaking to the Barnabites, one of the religious orders founded by St. Anthony Mary, he said “do not be afraid to combat mediocrity, compromise, and every kind of apathy which your holy founder described as a plague and the greatest enemy of the crucified Christ which is so wide-spread in modern times.”
Holiness, radical holiness, holiness that doesn’t settle for mediocrity, compromise, and apathy, this is the remedy for the Godlessness of our time—your holiness, my holiness. God can do amazing things, transform nations, touch hardened hearts when His Christians give them selves to Him in the pursuit of radical holiness.
God, how are you calling me to pursue holiness today? How are you calling me to die to sin and to live for you. St Anthony Zeccaria gave up a career as a medical doctor, st elizabeth of porttugal gave up the comforts of nobility, what am i called to give up today Lord, to follow Christ more closely for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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That all Christians may be deeply committed to the spread of Christ’s Gospel, and respond generously to the Lord’s call to holiness amidst the distractions of the world.
For our nation, that we may be always grateful for our freedom, and that with God’s help we will work to preserve that freedom and to use that freedom to build up the city of God.
That our young people on summer vacation, for their protection from physical and spiritual evils, that faith may be practiced in their homes, that their parents may raise them rightly in the faith, teaching them to value the things of heaven over the things of earth.
For all those who suffer from violence, war, famine, extreme poverty, addiction, discouragement, loneliness, and those who are alienated from their families.
For all those who suffer illness, and those in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care, that they may be comforted by the healing light of Christ.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
Graciously grant our petitions, we beseech thee, O Lord; may your grace sustain us always in your service, through Christ Our Lord.
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