May 25 2021 - St. Bede the Venerable - Gifts in God's service

 The Church honors three of her Saints today: St. Bede the Venerable, St. Gregory VII, and St. Magdalene de Pazzi.  Two of them, the Venerable Bede, and Pope Saint Gregory were Benedictine Monks.

St. Bede was born in 672 and at the early age of seven began monastic training at the Benedictine monastery in Wearmouth, England.  Talk about someone who gave up mother, father, house, and lands, for the sake of the Gospel!

After completing his schooling complete, he moved to the monastery at Jarrow, England, where he spend the remainder of his life. He spent his whole life in that monastery dedicating himself to the study of Sacred Scripture and the Early Church Fathers.  He was a philosopher, writer, poet and theologian and was considered one of the most learned men of his time.

He was the author of 45 volumes of books on history, rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, poetry, grammar, homiletics, philosophy, and Scripture. He is called "the father of English historiography" for authoring the book "The Ecclesiastical History of the English People," and is the creator of the B.C. / A.D. calendar. So it’s no surprise that St. Bede is Patron Saint of scholars and historians and he is the only English Doctor of the Church. 

Though Saint Bede lived in a monastery from the age of 7, his impact on the Church cannot be measured, as his writing, and his thought, and approach to the interpretation of scripture and history is so woven into the life of the church. He is known as Bede the Venerable. Venerable Bede. 

He, too, is a reminder, that a saint is someone who puts their God-given talents and abilities in service to the Gospel. For Bede, his gift was scholarship, writing, and facility with scripture. Yet, each of us have a similar call, to “go out and make disciples” using whatever means we’ve been given. 

For Bede, it was his writing, for the other two saints honored by the Church today, St. Gregory and Magdalene de Pazzi, they poured out the gifts they had been given. Pope St. Gregory, of course, his administrative genius and his labors for the reform of the Clergy, and St. Magdalene de Pazzi, her gift of mystical prayer. But each of us have been given gifts for God’s service. May we imitate the saints great and heroic efforts in putting those gifts in service of the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of St. Bede, there may be a flourishing of intellectual gifts in the Church, and that we may learn the lessons of history, as to not repeat its mistakes.

For an increase in vocations to the religious life, especially among the Benedictine Order, and that consecrate men and women may, through their poverty, chastity, and obedience, draw souls to the love of Christ.

That during this season of Ordinary Time, Christians may imitate the virtues of the saints in the ordinary duties of our lives.

For our young people coming to an end of another school year, that over summer vacation they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

July 13 2020 - St. Henry - Holy Roman Emperor and Husband

When most people hear the name King Henry, they probably think of King Henry VIII, who ruled in England in the 1500s and brought about a break with the Roman Catholic Church. 

The King Henry who we honor today wasn’t King of England at all. Rather, he was crowned King of Germany on July 9, 1002 and 12 years later was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII. 

One of the great goals of Henry’s reign was to establish a stable peace in Europe.  He knew that the Gospel of Christ was indispensable for society, and he devoted himself to the spread of Christianity by rebuilding churches. He promoted monastic reform where needed, believing monasteries to be indispensable centers of prayer and focal points for the civilization of people.  He himself was a Benedictine Oblate.

Though wealthy, he had a great concern for the poor of his lands.  He saw material possessions as blessings from God meant to help others.  And it was his custom to undertake nothing without prayer and often saw angels and martyrs guiding him—protecting him and his army who guarded his lands from the encroaching barbarian hoards. 

When Saint Henry was not ruling over his empire and leading his army to stabilize Europe, he was cultivating a holy marriage with his wife.  He and his wife St. Cunegunda are among the dozen or so pairs of married canonized saints.

Here is a man who balanced his earthly responsibilities with this Christian vocation, and his vocation as husband. If a Holy Roman Emperor can do it, so can we.  St. Henry shows us that holiness is possible when we strive to give glory to God whether as a king or farmer, priest or monk or husband or wife.

He used the time he had and his social position to spread the kingdom of God; he put his time, talent, and treasure to build up and preserve what was good, to guard his realm against those powers which tear down what is holy.  May St. Henry’s prayers help us to do the same for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Through the intercession of Saint Henry, we pray for all rulers of nations and those in governance, may they use their temporal power to build up, promote, and protect what is good and holy.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.