July
1 - Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
This feast day, celebrated by the Church since 1849, reminds
us that the Body and Blood of Christ received at the Mass cleanses
us from our sins, renews us, and makes real His abiding presence
within us. May we grow in God's grace, as we grow in both understanding
of and participation in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
For if the blood of bulls and of
goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth
to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the Blood
of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without
spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve
the living God? (Heb. 9:13-14)
(The day's epistle, page E 85, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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day's propers
July 2 -
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that her cousin Elizabeth
would bear a son - John the Baptist. On hearing this good news,
Mary went to Hebron where Elizabeth resided. At their meeting,
the babe leaped within Elizabeth's womb and, filled with the
Holy Ghost, Elizabeth said to Mary, Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Following this, Mary herself rejoices
by proclaiming a beautiful canticle, the Magnificat. My soul doth magnify the Lord: And my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (The day's gospel, page
E 86, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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day's propers
July 7 -
Saints Cyril (826-69) and Methodius (c. 815-85) Bishops, Confessors
Called the Apostles to the Slavs, Saints Cyril (called Constantine
until he became a monk in 868) and Methodius were brothers, born
to a senatorial family in Thessalonica. They became priests and
later bishops. In 863, they were commissioned by the Emperor
of Constantinople as missionaries in Moravia and while there
translated the Scriptures and the Liturgy into the Slavonic language.
Their labour bore fruit, bringing many Bulgarians, Moravians
and Bohemians to Christ.
They are esteemed as the creators of Slavonic literature for
having created the Glagolithic alphabet in which to write the
Scriptures and sacred liturgies. Cyril died in a monastery in
Rome and was buried in the church of San Clemente. Methodius
was then consecrated Bishop, returned to Moravia, and endured
opposition by the German bishops, even being imprisoned by them
for some two years.
May more faithful men be called to articulate the gospel in such
a way so as to bring people to Christ. What I tell you in
darkness that speak ye in light, saith the Lord: and what ye
hear in the ear,that preach ye upon the housetops. (The day's
Communion sentences, page E 89, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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July 14
- Saint Bonaventure, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor (c. 1217 - 1274)
Saint Bonaventure was born in Tuscany, Italy, of a noble family.
He became a Franciscan friar, a bishop and later a cardinal.
His call to the monastic life was initiated by a miraculous cure
received through the intercession of Saint Francis. As a Franciscan,
his intellectual talents were soon discovered and led him to
teach and later to assume the job of Master of the Franciscan
School at Paris. Bonaventure was a contemporary of Thomas Aquinas;
however, his theological writings offer a different perspective.
His thought contributed greatly to the Church Council at Lyons,
during which he died. His most systematic and extensive work
is his "Commentary on the Sentences" of Peter
Lombard.
Bonaventure denied the doctrine of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and championed
the knowledge given by God to Christians, as being far superior
to all forms of mere human wisdom. The mouth of the righteous
is exercised in wisdom: and his tongue will be talking of judgment.
(The day's Gradual, page F 27, People's Anglican Missal)
Catholic
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July 19
- Saint Vincent De Paul, Confessor (c. 1580 - 1660)
Regarded as the patron of charitable foundations, Saint Vincent
was born in France. He became a priest at the age of 19, and
though he mingled with the wealthy he was an ardent helper of
the poor, invalid, insane and other oppressed individuals, including
prisoners in the galleys. Vincent also founded the Priests of
the Mission of Lazarists, a religious order involved in establishing
seminaries and in preaching to the poor in rural communities.
He is best known for the establishment of the Congregation of
the Daughters of Charity, which today is known as the Sisters
of Saint Vincent. Jesus said unto his disciples, "sell
that ye have, and give alms... For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also" (St. Luke 12: 33-34). (The
day's gospel, page F 31, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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day's propers
July 20
- Saint Margaret of Antioch, Virgin and Martyr
Although Margaret - also known as Saint Marina - is a person
who is more legendary than historical, she is thought of as a
courageous Christian woman who was martyred for preaching the
Gospel during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
The story of her pious life was popular in England and elsewhere
in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, and provided inspiration
to those engaged in rolling back the tide of the Muslim invasion
of Europe. She is invoked by women in travail, and in art is
oftentimes represented with a dragon, representing her conflict
with the devil.
Margaret is truly a testimony to steadfastness in the face of
danger. The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me: but I
will consider my testimonies, O Lord: I see that all things come
to an end, but thy commandment is exceeding broad. (the day's
Introit, page F 36, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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July 22
- Saint Mary Magdalene, Penitent
Although the Gospels give no specific support for the association,
Saint Mary Magdalene is known in the gospel account of Luke as
the sinner who washed the feet of Our Lord with her tears and
anointed them; hence the gospel lesson for the day from Luke.
She is also believed to have been the sister of Lazarus, as well
as the same Mary who sought the body of Jesus following His Crucifixion.
Mary Magdalene is hope to us sinners of God's unfailing love
in forgiving sins. All that He asks of us is that we truly repent
through sorrow and contrition for our frequent wanderings of
the heart.
May we take comfort in Our Lord's words regarding Mary, Her
sins, which are many, are forgiven: for she loved much. (The
day's gospel, page E 91, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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day's propers
July 25
- Saint James the Apostle (d. 44) (Davies
Jewelry has Medals of this Saint)
St. James is one of the sons of Zebedee - the other being Saint
John. He was one of the three apostles who witnessed the Transfiguration
of Our Lord, as well as His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He was the first of the disciples to suffer martyrdom, being
beheaded by the order of King Herod Agrippa.
In our labours for the Faith, may we draw strength from the example
of James, who heeded the command of our Lord... whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your servant; even as the
Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many. (The day's gospel reading,
page E 93, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic
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for the vigil + Prayer
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July 26
- Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Davies
Jewelry has Medals of this Saint)
Saint Anne is the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and therefore
grandmother of Our Lord. Not only is she significant in her relationship
to Our Saviour, but is commended as a saint in her own right
for having raised her daughter Mary as a devout and holy Jew.
May we likewise raise our children in the Faith, so that they
may desire to say Yes to God's will, as Mary said did in bearing
the Christ child. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated
iniquity. Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with
the oil of Gladness. (The day's gradual, page E 94, People's
Anglican Missal) Catholic
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day's propers
July 29
- Saint Martha, Virgin (Davies
Jewelry has Medals of this Saint)
Martha is the sister of Mary and of Lazarus, and the hostess
of Our Lord when he visited their home in Bethany. Martha was
also a witness to the raising of her brother Lazarus from the
dead. She had faith that Our Lord could perform such a miracle.
Martha's life reminds us that while we need to be diligent in
our several callings, we should take time each day to meditate,
pray and give glory to God so that our hearts might stay fixed
on the love of God revealed in His Son.
For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present
you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (The day's epistle, page
F 39, People's Anglican Missal). Catholic
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day's propers
July 31
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Confessor
Saint Ignatius was born in 1491 at Loyola, Spain. Before his
conversion, he was a soldier and was wounded in a battle against
the French at the battle of Pamplona in 1521. During his convalescence,
he desired to read knightly romances. But these not being available,
and instead he was given a Life of Christ and some Legends of
the Saints, which led to his conversion.
After his conversion, he renounced his
military life and devoted a year to prayer and penance. His faith
was deepened profoundly, which allowed him to write a draft of
his famous Spiritual Exercises. He founded the Society
of Jesus (Jesuits), and at the outset, they became deeply involved
in charitable works, in educating the young and in missionary
endeavours which caused a renewal and a spread of the catholic
Christian faith throughout Europe and abroad.
