May 1
- Saints Philip and James, Apostles St. Philip came from Bethsaida in Galilee. He became
a disciple early on, having most likely been a follower of John
the Baptist. He then persuaded Nathanael (probably Bartholomew)
to be a disciple of our Lord as well. At the feeding of the five
thousand, Philip questioned whether 200 pennyworth of bread would
be sufficient to feed all those gathered.
Many Gentiles came to Our Lord through Philip, and he is known
also for asking Our Lord to show him God the Father, at which
Our Lord responded, "Have I been so long time with you,
and yet hast thou not known me Philip? He that hath seen me hath
seen my Father also".. ( The Day's gospel reading, page
E 54, The People's Anglican Missal) Pious tradition has it that
he was martyred for the Faith in Hierapolis after preaching the
Gospel in Phrygia. Catholic Encyclopedia article + Prayer
book propers
St. James the Less was
the son of Alphaeus. (Mk. 3:18). Little is know with certainty
about his life. He is sometimes held to be the same person as
James, 'the Lord's brother', but such a position is highly doubtful.
The same tradition would have it that James the less wrote the
Catholic epistle which bears his name and is used for the epistle
reading for the day.
Whether or not he wrote the epistle and is, in fact, the Lord's
brother, the epistle speaks to all Christians - - "Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he
shall receive the crown of life: which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him." (St. James 1:12), (Page E 55,
The People's Anglican Missal). Catholic Encyclopedia article. + Prayer
book propers
May
2 - Saint Athanasius,Bishop of Alexandria (c. 296-373)
Raised by Christian parents, Athanasius was educated at schools
in Alexandria. He is best known for defending the Faith against
the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Our Lord. The
Council of Nicaea in 325 condemned this heresy, and Athanasius
was present as deacon and secretary to his bishop, Alexander.
Athanasius was a staunch defender of Nicaea against the Arians
and, as a consequence, underwent continual persecutions throughout
his life. As chief defender of the Council of Nicaea, he endured
lawsuits, quarrels and numerous exiles at the hands of his enemies.He is a powerful example of stedfastness to moderns, whose
temptations are as strong, even though much more subtle oftentimes.
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed:
we are perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted, but not forsaken:
cast down, but not destroyed: always bearing about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus." (The day's epistle, page
E 57, The People's Anglican Missal). Catholic Encyclopedia article. + The
day's propers.
May 3 - The
Invention (Finding) of the Holy Cross
According to legend Constantine's mother, Saint Helena, traveled
to Jerusalem to find the true cross. Nails and three crosses
were subsequently discovered. Pious tradition has it that one
of these was the true cross being authenticated by the miraculous
healing of a woman.
Whatever the case may be, today we do well to remember the
gift given through the Holy Cross - - "... by the Tree
of the Cross thou hast wrought the salvation of the race of man;
that whence death arose, thence also Life might rise again; and
that he who by a tree was once the vanquisher, might also by
a Tree be vanquished; through Jesus Christ our Lord." (The
day's proper preface, page B 46, The People's Anglican Missal).Catholic Encyclopedia article on the true Cross. + The
day's propers.
May 4 - St. Monica, Widow and mother of Augustine
of Hippo (c. 331-87)
Monica was the mother of Saint
Augustine. Born in Africa, she married a pagan who had a
violent temper. Her mother-in-law, who lived with them, also
gave her difficulties. Monica immersed herself in her personal
struggle with excessive drinking. However this was overcome and,
through her persistent and devout faith, she was also able to
convert both her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity.
She had great difficulty in raising one of her three sons, Augustine.
Even though she had enrolled him in catechumen class at a young
age, he created a lot of anxiety for her. As a youth, Augustine
was given to riotous and drunken living. (see "Confessions")
Despite this, she was persistent in her prayers, fasts and vigils
for him, and after many years, her prayers were answered with
his conversion.
Monica is a wonderful role model for mothers in our day.
May God accept our prayers on behalf of our young in Christ as
he accepted the tears of blessed Monica for the conversion
of her son. (The day's collect, page E 60, The People's Anglican
Missal). Catholic Encyclopedia article. + The
day's propers
May 6 - St.
John Before the Latin Gate, Apostle & Evangelist
The apostles John and James, the sons of Zebedee, had said to
Jesus that they were willing to drink the cup of His passion
so that they might share through him the joy of His resurrection.
Our Lord responded to them, saying that they would indeed
drink of my cup (St. Matt. 20:23). Subsequently James and
John did share in Our Lord's passion by being martyred for their
faith.
Pious tradition has it that Saint John, under Emperor Domitian,
was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil "before the Latin
Gate." Hence, this particular feast day. Through a miracle,
this torture had no effect on him, and a church in honour of
St. John was built near the Latin Gate, at the spot of the miracle's
occurrence.
In thanking God this day for John, Apostle and Evangelist, pray
for all Apostles. Especially pray that the Lord, the everlasting
Shepherd, will not leave his flock untended, but by His blessed
Apostles will keep it in His continual protection. (The day's
proper preface, page B 47, The People's Anglican Missal).Catholic Encyclopedia article on John. + The
day's propers.May 7 - St. Stanislas, Bishop, Martyr Saint Stanislas was born in Poland and consecrated
bishop of Cracow in 1072. He is the patron of Poland, and was
known for his fervent preaching of the Gospel, for his almsgiving
to the poor, and for his refusal to compromise the Faith on issues
concerning morals.
The king of Poland, Boleslas II, murdered Stanislas in response
to Stanislas reprimanding him for his abduction to the palace
of a nobleman's wife and for the harsh rule he meted out on his
subjects. Tradition says that the king killed Stanislas with
his own hand, while the saint was celebrating mass.
May 9 - St.
Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor (C. 329 - c.
389) Gregory was the bishop of Nazianzus and is numbered
amongst the Cappadocian Fathers. He was the son of a bishop suffragan
and was born at Nazianzus (in Cappadocia). He was educated at
the highly esteemed University of Athens which would later aid
him in defending the Nicean proclamation of Christ's divinity
against Arianism. He gave up his solitary life as a monk and
was ordained priest and later bishop.
Gregory is best known for the role he played in shaping the
conclusions of the Nicean creed during the Council of Constantinople
in 381. His deep knowledge and love of scripture allowed him
to convey through poetic language the ineffable love that exists
between the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Called "the Theologian", Gregory was given to the Church
to teach the faith and guide God's people in the way of everlasting
salvation. (the day's collect page F 26, People's Anglican Missal).
Pray that God continues to give us learned and holy teachers,
that we lose not our way in this generation.Catholic Encyclopedia article. + The
day's propers
May 19 - St.
Dunstan, Monk and Archbishop of Canterbury (c. 909 - 988) Saint Dunstan was born of a noble family in 909 near
Glastonbury, England. He is best known for his religious reforms
in the Church of England, which he enacted while abbott of Glastonbury
monastery, and later as archbishop of Canterbury. He advocated
the Rule of St. Benedict as the standard for many of the monasteries
of England. With order and religious zeal restored, the monasteries
flourished, purifying and giving new life to the rest of the
Church.
Dunstan's life shows the truth of the words of the feast's Tract,
"Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he hath great
delight in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth;
the generation of the faithful shall be blessed. Riches and plenteousness
shall be in his house; and his righteousness endureth for ever." (Page F 24, People's Anglican Missal). Catholic Encyclopedia article. + The
day's propers
May 20
- St. Bernardin of Siena, Confessor (1380-1444)
Saint Bernardin was born in Siena, Italy, of a noble and wealthy
family. He renounced his life of luxury, choosing instead a life
of poverty in the sacred Order of St. Francis. He is remembered
for his powerful and consistent preaching of the Gospel to others
throughout the villages and towns near his monastery.
Tradition has it that many miracles occurred during his preaching
of the Gospel. Pray that God gives us the same fervent love of
His Name as Bernardin did, so that we too may be called faithful
stewards by Our Lord when he appears. (The day's collect and
epistle, page C 34 and F 25, People's Anglican Missal) Catholic Encyclopedia article. + The
day's propers.
May 26 - St.
Augustine of Canterbury (d. 604 or 605) Benedictine monk, who at the command of St.
Gregory the Great went to Great Britain in 596 to Christianize
the heathen. Along with St. Gregory, Augustine is often considered
an "apostle" of England, for the the two of them were
largely responsible for its conversion. Augustine, on one Christmas
day, converted Ethelbert, King of Kent, along with several thousand
persons. After founding Canterbury, he would later rule there
as Great Britain's archbishop.
Pray that God raises up men in our time so as to bring all men
unto Our Lord. The harvest truly is great, but the labourers
are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would
send forth labourers into his harvest. (The day's gospel,
page E 62, The People's Anglican Missal) Catholic Encyclopedia article. + The
day's propers
May 27 - Saint
Bede, the Venerable (c. 673-735)
Bede was born in 673 in England. He is known as "the Venerable,"
a Biblical scholar, and "Father of English History."
As a Benedictine monk of Jarrow, he had a love and passion for
learning. He was an erudite biblical scholar and became England's
first historian. After being ordained priest in 703, he took
up his love of writing, teaching and learning Scripture. He also
had a fondness for singing while he engaged himself in these
labours of love. He created numerous biblical commentaries, and
his work Ecclesiastical
History of the English Peopleis regarded by scholars
as his most brilliant work.
