Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

Hi saint Gang…. Today is a biggie. It is the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. After sacramental confession and Holy Communion and a prayer for the intentions of the Pope, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the 29th of June every year if you pray using an item of devotion blessed by a bishop. Check out information on the importance of indulgences at this classic rant of mine here.

Peter and Paul did not always see eye to eye on everything. Even with this, the early church fathers and the Bible acknowledge that Paul (and James) recognized Peter as the Supreme head of “The Way.” In fact the supremacy of Saint Peter and his successors did not become a real problem until the flatulent Martin Luther pushed his bushwah on a bunch of illiterate German Princes.

Peter and Paul both probably died in the first wave of persecutions called the First Martyrs of Rome whose feast is, collectively, celebrated tomorrow.

Peter the Apostle
Also known as
Cephas; Kepha; Prince of the Apostles; Simeon; Simon bar Jonah; Simon ben Jonah; Simon Peter

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Our first saint today was a fisherman and brother of Saint Andrew the Apostle. He was probably an impulsive hothead and stubborn guy as some stories in the scripture relate. His human weaknesses and imperfections should serve as a lesson to us all, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect; he loves us anyway…..

Pious legend says he felt he did not deserve to meet his martyrdom in the same way as Jesus so he requested to be crucified upside down.

His tomb is right below the altar at Saint Peter’s Basilica, His skeleton is in the catacombs below and is missing the feet below the ankles. How would a Roman Soldier cut a peasant down who just died on the cross hung upside down?

Discovered in 1941 during excavations of Vatican Hill, there is an ancient graffito on a wall near the bones that says Petrus roga Christus Iesus pro sanctis hominibus Chrestianis ad corpus tuum sepultis ("Peter, pray Jesus Christ for the holy men buried near your body"). For the first time evidence pointed to the presence of Peter's remains in the vicinity. In 2019, I made a pilgrimage to Rome with the Whip and my lovely daughter Karen. The Whip and I went on a “Scavi” tour of the archeological finds below St Peter’s Basilica. The guide was one of the archeologists, it was fascinating. Anyhoo when the guide found out I was a Deacon, he asked me to lead a prayer in front of St Peter’s bones….

Born
as Simon
Died
martyred c.64 crucified head downward.
Name Meaning
rock

Patronage
against frenzy; bakers; bridge builders; butchers; clock makers; cobblers; feet problems; fever; fishermen; harvesters; diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; locksmiths; longevity; masons; net makers; papacy; Popes; Rome; Saint Petersburg, Russia; ship builders; shipwrights; shoemakers; stone masons; watch makers;

Paul the Apostle
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Paul was a Pharisee and a Tent-maker by trade. He was born Saul and hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of Saint Stephen the First Deacon and Martyr

His conversion story is well documented in Acts of the Apostles. He was entrusted to be the Apostle to the Gentiles…he was NOT one of the 12 original Apostles though. Paul was so distrusted by the Apostles it took Barnabas to speak to them for Paul to convince the 12 that Paul was now truly one of them. His letter to the Thessalonians is probably the earliest New Testament writing in the Bible, written less than 20 years after the Resurrection; in perspective the TV Show Friends started their run more than 20 years ago.

As a citizen of Rome he was martyred by beheading rather than crucifixion. This is why he is depicted, in art, holding a sword. Pious legend tells us that when he was beheaded his head bounced three times and wherever it struck the ground a spring of water issued forth. The Abby of three fountains can be seen to this day in Rome.

Born
c.3 as Saul at Tarsus modern Turkey

Died
Beheaded c.65 at Rome, Italy

Patronage
against snakes; authors; Catholic Action; evangelists; hailstorms; hospital public relations; journalists; diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; lay people; Malta; missionary bishops; musicians; Newspaper editorial staff; poisonous snakes; public relations personnel; public relations work; publishers; reporters; Rome; rope braiders; rope makers; saddlemakers; saddlers; snake bites; tent makers; writers

Representation

thin-faced elderly man with a high forehead, receding hairline and long pointed beard; man holding a sword and a book; man with 3 springs of water nearby; sword; book

Irenaeus of Lyons

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

Memorial
• 28 June (Western Church)
• 23 August (Eastern Church) like I care……

Profile

The biggest heresy in the early Church was called Gnosticism. Actually this belief predated Jesus Christ but when Christ made it big, the Gnostics tried to dovetail what they believed into Christian theology. The Gnostics believe in a different philosophy of creation and the nature of man…which is fine, for you…until you try to mess with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, for Jesus sake!

Irenaeus wrote against Gnosticism, basing his arguments on the works of Saint John the Apostle, you see the Gnostic rhetoric involves duality…light and dark, the spirit is good and the body is evil all that bushwah. In Genesis, God declares all his creation is “good.” Take a look for yourself. The only thing that is not good in creation, God says “It is not good the Man should be alone…”

Anyhoo, our Saint logically emphasized that the college of bishops can be traced all the way back to the Apostles and none of them held this heretical belief. He placed great importance in this succession and placed a great emphasis on the Bishop of Rome; the successor of Saint Peter.

Irenaeus wrote a series of commentaries called Against Heresies (Aversus Heresus) which speak directly to a lot of these heretical beliefs, not just Gnosticism. The work is available online if you are interested. Our Saint is considered the first great Western ecclesiastical writer and theologian; he suggested the beginnings of cannon of Christian Scripture and emphasized the unity of the Hebrew Scripture and New Testaments. This means that there was the beginning of discussion of a “Bible” only in the year 200 or so with our Saint of today. The Biblical canon was really not rudimentarily formed until the late 4th century. If the flatulent Martin Luther was correct and we should base our religion only on scripture (Sola Scriptura) I rhetorically ask what did these early Christians do since there was no defined scripture yet?

Well, Irenaeus also emphasized the importance and the value of Sacred Tradition (with a Capital “T”) as an integral part of the Deposit of Faith left by the Apostles. Knowing scripture came from the Church the brilliant Saint Augustine of Hippo said, “I Would Not Believe the Gospel without the Authority of Rome.” Come home folk…..come home……

Irenaeus also began to expound on the understanding of Christ’s simultaneous human and divine nature.

He is considered a Father of the Church. In 2023 Pope Francis declared him the 37th Doctor of the Church. It is debatable but Church historians say he was martyred in the year 202. Either way he was buried in Lyons France. Much of the thought that shaped Christian belief came from this man, but the site of this brilliant early Christian thinker’s burial and his relics were destroyed by Calvinists in 1562, one wonders why? Allegedly his head survived and is in Saint John’s church in Lyons.

Born
• c.130 in Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey)

Died
• maybe martyred in 202 in Gaul

Josemaria Escriva

The Saint

Saint Josemaria Escriva

Also known as
Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer

memorial
26 June

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Our Saint today is the priest that founded the Opus Dei movement. A religious organization that helps ordinary folk find their own path to holiness in their every day lives. I always thought he looked a little like my father.

While a youngster in Spain, our saint today found his calling when he discovered the bare footprints left in the snow by a monk; this sight made him ask the question, “how does one treat frostbite?” But it further spurred him on to seek the
religious life, albeit while wearing shoes.

After ordination he got a degree in Law from the University of Madrid. He went into hiding and ministered to his flock secretly during the persecutions of Catholics in the Spanish Civil war.

Opus Dei was given final Catholic Church approval in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In 1982, by decision of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church made it into a personal prelature—that is, the jurisdiction of its own bishop covers the persons in Opus Dei wherever they are, rather than geographical dioceses. By the time of his death, it had spread to five continents with over 60,000 members of 80 nationalities, and today has over 80,000 members, mostly laymen. It is controversial because some feel it is a secret society, like the Elks or the Order of the Arrow….but it has approval and has called many to holiness, my bishop is a member of Opus Dei in fact.

Josemarie died in his office in Rome of natural causes in 1975. He was declared venerable, beatified and canonized all by John Paul II.

Dad

Lazarus

Saint Lazarus

Also known as

Lazaro, Babalu, Babalu Aye

memorial

21 June

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Leper mentioned by Christ in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in the Gospel of Luke (see below). He was probably not a real person at all but a composite or example created by Christ to demonstrate a concept.   Interestingly, Lazarus is the only person who has a name in any parable of Jesus Christ.   The name Lazarus means “God has helped.”    Today’s saint is different than the Lazarus who Christ raised from the dead in the Gospel of John.   That guy is called Saint Lazarus of Bethany; he was the brother to Martha and Mary, his feast is 17 December.   

In the Santaria Religion of the Carrebean Saint Lazarus is called Babalu Aye, like the song Dezi Arnaz (Ricky Ricardo) sings.   The song is about having San Lazaro (Babalu) make the singer’s object of desire, Mayegenue, fall in love with him but giving Babalu Aye money and lighting candles in front of his statue.    

 

In or around the 12^th century an order of Chivalry was formed with Lazarus as their patron.   The Order of Saint Lazarus provided nursing for lepers.   The knights of the order were lepers.   This order of Chivalry was merged with the Italian order of Saint Maurice and linked to the crown of Saxony back in the year 1572.    It is not considered a papal order of Knighthood.   There are Knighthoods that the Vatican still recognizes:

 

• The highest honor is the Supreme Order of Christ.  There are no living members left in this order.  
• Next is the Order of the Golden Spur.  There are no living members left in this order.  
• The third-highest papal order is the Order of Pius IX.
• The fourth papal order is the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great.
• The fifth papal order is the Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr.
• Next, under the protection of the Holy See is The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.  The Whip along with her unworthy spouse, yours truly, were inducted into this august and ancient order of Knighthood,
• Finally we have the Knights of Malta, an independent order of Chivalry with diplomatic ties to the Vatican.

Patronage

 

lepers, leprosy, Order of Saint Lazarus

Adalbert

Saint Adalbert

memorial
•20 June

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Our Saint was a Benedictine monk who was sent by the Emperor Otto I, to Russia in 961 at the specific request of Saint Olga, who was at the time princess of Kiev. Olga was being persecuted by an army of pagans led by her son she wanted missionaries to help convert the place….I might have thought to bring an army too….apparently I must be missing something. Maybe not, because many of the missionaries were killed, and the remainder, still under the leadership of Adalbert, returned to Germany post haste.

You really can’t blame Olga, her motives were pious; Emperor Otto could care less. He was a real creepy politician who required prospective bishops and Church Leaders to swear an oath of fealty to him before being installed to their position by the Church. That and sending monks against an Army…Jerk.

Anyhoo….Adalbert was bishop and abbot of a monastery in the Alsace who became famous for his support of education in general at a time when education, including the education of clerics was not viewed as important. He was eventually made an archbishop.

Born
•c.910 at Lorraine region

Died
•20 June 981 in Germany of natural causes

Juliana Falconieri

Saint Juliana Falconieri

Also known as
Giuliana Falconieri

memorial
19 June

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Our saint today was a nervous, only child, who suffered from chronic gastric problems born to a wealthy couple. It was said Juliana was such a shy retiring type that she never gazed into a mirror, never looked at a man's face, trembled at the mention of sin, and fainted in a scream and gasp upon hearing scandalous gossip.

The mind reels at who thought getting this shrinking violet to get married was a good idea…in spite of this a marriage was arranged for her when she was but 14 years old…she refused. She became a nun and was one of the founders of the Servite Order of Mary.

On her deathbed she was unable to receive communion due to the constant vomiting. She asked the priest to spread a corporal upon her breast and lay the Host on it. Soon after, probably when no one was looking, the Host disappeared, Juliana died, and the image of the cross that had been on the Host was found on her breast; Communion by diffusion…unique to say the least…..

Born
1270 at Florence, Italy

Died
12 June 1341

Patronage
bodily ills
sick people
sickness
Nausea (not caused by over indulgence of alcohol…that’s Saint Vivian)
Vomiting

Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony of Padua

Also known as 
Antonio da Padova
Evangelical Doctor
Tony

Memorial · 13 June

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Anthony is one of my personal protectors; he is a very good friend to have. Our Saint was also a particular patron of my mother. My mother once told me that St. Anthony has never failed to intercede for her when she prayed “to him”. My mother was often wrong about stuff, but about this I have found her to be 100% correct.

Truthfully, Tony (his close friends can call him Tony) has never failed me in my times of need. NEVER! Sometimes what I wanted and what I needed were two completely different things…don’t you find out that to be the case?

Anyhoo….Tony is mostly noted for his patronage of lost things. The story goes that once, while in the seminary, some less than honorable classmate took Tony’s Psalter and was divinely inspired to return it, thus beginning Anthony’s patronage. I used to ask my mother who we would pray to if she ever lost her St Anthony statue…I got hit with the spoon…. He is a powerful intercessor for a lot of stuff; he is very in tune with our earthly situation. He can be relied on to be a friend for all of life’s hurdles, not only to help find car keys and the like.

Many incorrectly believe him to be Italian. He is Portuguese, born to wealthy nobility. He became a Franciscan Priest and intended to go to Morocco to evangelize. As is the way with many of our plans the Holy Spirit had his own, Tony became shipwrecked at Sicily, he joined some other brothers who were going up north. Near the monastery, he lived in a cave tending the pigs and domestic animals leaving only to attend Mass and sweep the nearby monastery. One day when a scheduled speaker failed to appear, the brothers pressed him into speaking. His impassioned homily impressed the other friars so much they shared the experience among the whole community. As his fame as a preacher spread, he was thereafter constantly in demand, traveling, evangelizing, preaching, and teaching theology through Italy and France.

A gifted speaker, he attracted crowds everywhere he went, speaking in multiple tongues; legend says that even the fish and animals he once tended loved to listen. The fish would pop their heads out of the water to better hear our saint. He was indeed a wonder worker while living. He is one of the now 37 Doctors of the Church.

Anthony became ill with dropsy and, in 1231, went to seclusion at a woodland retreat with two other friars for a respite. There Anthony lived in a cell built for him under the branches of a walnut tree. Saint Anthony died on the way back to Padua on 13 June 1231, he was only 36. When he died, it is said that the children cried in the streets and that all the bells of the churches rang of their own accord, rung by angels come to earth to honor the death of the saint. He is buried in a chapel, and to this day his tongue is in a separate reliquary, and is incorrupt although his bodine has corrupted away over the years. The tongue glistens and looks as if it is still alive and moist.

Mom said that when she visited his shrine in Italy, the guide told them that if you run your hand along The Saints tomb you could feel “his energy”. Maybe it is the power of suggestion but mom said she felt a very strong “electric” tingling when she did this.

St. Anthony is known to have become the "quickest" saint in the history of the Catholic Church because he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX less than one year after his death.

If you go into most Italian Deli’s you will find a picture of St. Anthony and Padre Pio somewhere behind the counter. He is beloved by Deli Men….

Saint Anthony’s American shrine is in midtown Manhattan, 135 W. 31st Street New York City. The priests also hear confessions there all day every day. It is the only place I go for the sacrament of reconciliation, done right. These Franciscans have heard it all. If you go there stop upstairs to the 9/11 memorial to Father Judge, and pay particular attention to the beautiful mosaic above the altar. There is a mock up of Tony’s tomb next to the confessionals downstairs. http://www.stfrancisnyc.org/

Born
at Lisbon, Portugal

Died
· 13 June 1231 of natural causes

Patronage
· against barrenness
· against shipwrecks
· against starvation
· against starving
· Amrican Indians
· amputees
· animals
· asses
· boatmen
· elderly people
· expectant mothers
· faith in the Blessed Sacrament
· fishermen
· harvests
· horses
· lost articles
· lower animals
· mail
· mariners
· oppressed people
· Padua, Italy
· paupers
· poor people
· Portugal
· pregnant women
· sailors
· seekers of lost articles
· shipwrecks
· starvation
· sterility
· swineherds
· Tommy and his family
· travel hostesses
· travelers
· watermen

Prayers to Saint Anthony of Padua

Dear Saint Anthony, you are the patron of the poor and the helper of all who seek lost articles. Help me to find the object I have lost so that I will be able to make better use of the time I will gain for God's greater honor and glory. Grant your gracious aid to all people who seek what they have lost - especially those who seek to regain God's grace. Amen.

Tony, Tony stick around
For something’s lost and must be found.

Bonus Venerable!!!

Venerable Augustus Tolton

Also Known as

Augustine Tolton

 12 June 2019, the Pope issued a decree of heroic Virtue for the Servant of God, Augustine Tolton, and eight other Servants of God,  Augustine Tolton was a Diocesan Priest; born in Brush Creek (United States of America) on April 1, 1854 and died in Chicago (United States of America) on July 9, 1897

With the promulgation of the decrees of heroic virtue, the Servants of God are granted the title “Venerable”. The next stage in the “causes” would be beatification, followed ultimately by canonization.

So what?   Who cares?   I’ll tell you so what then….Augustus Tolton was once a slave here in the Pre Civil War South.  He was baptized and reared Catholic.  He felt the calling to the priesthood early on, but no seminary here in this country would accept him.  Not even the liberal, felt banner hanging ones.   So, Tolton studied formally in Rome.

He was ordained on Easter Sunday of 1886 at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. He was assigned to the diocese of Alton (now the Diocese of Springfield), Tolton first ministered to his home parish in Quincy, Illinois. Later assigned to Chicago, Tolton led the development and construction of St. Monica's Catholic Church as a black "national parish church", completed in 1893 at 36th and Dearborn Streets on Chicago's South Side, where Bad Bad Leroy Brown would later hang out (until he learned a lesson about messin’ with the wife of a jealous man). 

Anyhoo, Augustus Tolton, if Beatified and later Cannonized, would become the first native born priest from the USA.  It’s a race between him and Blessed Stanley Rother at least….(Stanley is an American  martyr, we’ll cover him some day).

Pope Leo III

 

Pope Saint Leo III 

 Also known as

•Charlemagne‘s Pope

memorial •12 June

 Profile

Our saint today was the Papal treasurer.    After the death and burial of Adrian I at age 95 (up until that time the longest reigning Pope) Leo was elected pope.   In fact it was done very quickly the day after his predecessor was firmly planted, the 26 December 795; probably so there would not be any outside interference with the decision of the cardinals.  

 The succession of Popes has certainly gotten much tamer since the 8^th century.   The Blessed Charlemagne had protected Leo’s predecessor against local despotic incursion and influence from the various European petty monarchs.   As soon as Leo was elected, he sent Charlemagne the keys of Saint Peter and the standard of the city of Rome, Italy this officially made Charlemagne the protector of Rome and the new Pope.    As a reply, Charlemagne, with his letters of congratulations to the newly elected pope, sent a fortune which Leo used to build churches and found charitable institutions.

 Interestingly, on 25 April 799, members of Pope Adrian I‘s family hired thugs to attack Leo in a procession.    These family thugs really did a job on Leo….they even tried to tear out his tongue and eyes in order to make him repulsive and render him unfit to be the Pope.    He survived the attack, scarred.     It is said that his tongue and eyes were miraculously healed.    

 After this violent attack, Our Saint fled to Charlemagne‘s protection in Germany.    When Leo recovered, Charlemagne escorted him back to Rome with much pomp and fanfare.    Along with this hooplah  In 800 Charlemagne conducted a trial of Leo and of his accusers.    There was no evidence of Leo’s guilt, but there was of his accusers, and they were imprisoned.    On Christmas day in 800, Leo crowned Charlemagne emperor, marking the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.

 Died •12 June 816

Ephraim of Syria

Hi Saint Gang....I know it's been a while....sorry!   Retirement has been good to me, more or less....anyhoo, here goes!  

Saint Ephraim of Syria

Memorial 9 June

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Our Saint for this week was born c.306 in modern Syria he was baptized at the age of 18.  His dad was probably a pagan priest in Mesopotamia.  Ephraim was well educated and became a deacon for the Church. 

 After his conversion he had a great devotion to our Lady.   He was a learned and well written man, and, like many other deacons, was a super preacher.  Since all the Delaney books have gone missing, it is not clear if he did or did not attend the Council of Nicaea in 325.   He might have and most folks say he did.  

When his part of Mesopotamia was ceded to Persia a great Christian persecution began.    Ephraim led a large group of Christians from there to safety.  

 Our Saint founded schools to pass on his learning to the next generation of Christians.   He was a prolific writer of theology, poetry and songs.   It was Ephraim who began to introduce songs into public worship, you now know who to thank the next time you hear the lilting first notes of “Lord of the Dance” at Church.   Pope Benedict the XV proclaimed Ephraim one of the, now 37, Doctors of the Church in 1920.  Yes folk now we have 37 Doctors of the Church

He is the Patron Saint of Spiritual Directors…..Thanks to my spiritual director, Monsignor Yoda, for all you have done to help me over the years. 

 Ephraim died 9 June 373 at Edessa which is in modern Iraq of natural causes.  He is buried in the Armenian Monastery west of Edessa.

He is the Patron Saint of spiritual directors and spiritual leaders

 

Readings:

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. “But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant.

“Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sin and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed from all ages to all ages. Amen”  -Saint Ephraim