Blessed Franz Jagerstatter was born in upper Austria on May 20, 1907. Franz lost his father to World War 1 and got adopted. When he was a young man, he was the leader of a gang and enjoyed riding motorcycles. After some time, he returned to upper Austria and became a farmer where he married a woman named Franziska. In 1939, Franz was drafted into the Austrian army and trained for 7 months, then got postponed. In 1940, he was called to the army but he was allowed to come back home at the request of the town’s mayor. His pastor, other priests, and bishop, told Franz to not refuse to serve for his own good. In February 1943, he was called, but refused to take the oath of Hitler. So, they imprisoned him in Linz. He was later transferred to another prison in May. On August 8, 1943, he wrote to Franziska and thanked her for everything and asked for forgiveness if he ever hurt or offended her. The following day, Blessed Franz Jagerstatter was beheaded and cremated. In 1946, his ashes were reburied in his hometown next to other military men who also perished.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Blessed Franz, you prayed deeply and discerned the will of God for your life.. Pray that we will surrender ourselves completely to God and thus experience the same consolation of our burden shared by Christ Himself. Pray that we may have the strength of our convictions as Catholics to defy the world and its promises of immediate gratification and glorification of self. Blessed Franz, you were beatified as a martyr to the faith and an example to us all of Christ-like sacrifice. Pray that we will follow Him wherever He may lead us. Amen.
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Saint Norbert was born circa 1075 in Xanten, Germany, and was educated in the Electorate of Cologne in Xanten. He came from a family of high nobility and obtained financial subsidy due to his family's influence. He avoided ordination to priesthood and even declined an appointment as a Bishop of Cambrai in 1113. One day in the spring of 1115, as he rode his horse to Vreden, he was caught in a sudden storm and a thunderbolt struck at the horse's feet. He got thrown off and was unconscious for nearly an hour. The incident had deepened his faith, and soon after, he renounced his appointment at the Court and returned to Xanten to lead a life of penance. In gratitude, Norbert founded the Abbey of Furstenberg and handed it over to Cono. Eventually, he was appointed the archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany by Pope Honorius II and continued to work for the church until his death on June 6, 1134. Norbert was canonized by Pope Gregory XIII in the year 1582, and his statue appears above the Piazza colonnade of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He is the patron saint of Magdeberg and Kingdom of Bohemia.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER God, through the intercession of Saint Norbert, please help us lead a life of goodness and fidelity. Amen. St. Boniface was born as "Wynfrid" in Wessex, England during 672 AD. He was well educated and became a Benedictine monk, being ordained priest at age 30. His first attempt at a missionary career had failed, but for his second attempt, in 718, he succeeded. Gregory II changed Wynfrid's name to Boniface. In 719, Boniface returned to Frisia to assist Bishop Willibrod in his missionary activities. He built a monastery in Hesse in 722. His success was so great that he was called to Rome and consecrated as a missionary Bishop. For 10 years Boniface converted Pagans and renewed the faith of Christians who had been converted by Irish missionaries. He met opposition several times but would not get angered. He was great at handling missionaries whose methods he deplored, showing his calm temperament. St. Boniface was martyred when a group of Frisians attacked him while he was reading scriptures to the newly converted Christians on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th, 754 AD.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER St. Boniface, you taught the people about God and his grace. You were resilient to adversary. Through your intercession, help me to know and be strong in my faith, Guide me on the path that leads to God, and help me to stay strong even when scorned, Amen. Blessed Angeline was born to the Duke of Marsciano near Orvieto. When she was 12, her mother died. Three years later, the Blessed Angeline made a vow of perpetual chastity. However, that same year, she was forced to marry the Duke of Civitella. When her husband died two years later, Angeline joined the Secular Franciscans and dedicated herself to caring for the sick, the poor, widows and orphans. She gave away all her possessions to the poor and led a life of poverty. She eventually founded the first community of Franciscan women. Angeline died on July 14, 1435, and was beatified in 1825.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Help us follow the example of Blessed Angeline and live a life of giving. Help us dedicate our lives to others, especially the poor, sick and neglected. Today’s commemorated Saint is St. Charles Lwanga. He was born on January 1st 1860 to the kingdom of Buganda and served as chief of the royal pages and later the major-domo in the Court of the King Mwanga ll. The King was unjust and ordered the beheading of many people such as bishop James Hannington after he has reproached the king for his killings. Lwanga and others sought baptism as Catholics by a missionary priest of the White Fathers. Lwanga often protected boys from the king’s sexual advances. One day Mwanga condemned two pages to death, the following mourning, Lwanga secretly baptized them. Later that the king then called a court assembly where he made them renounce Christianity. Led by Lwanga, he and the royal pages declared their faith towards Christianity. He and all the others were condemned to death. On June 3rd 1886, Charles Lwanga was burnt alive, while he was being prepped to be burnt alive, he told the executioner “It is as if you are pouring water on me. Please repent and become a Christian like me. Lwanga and the other Christians who accompanied him in death were canonized on October 1964 by Pope Paul the 6th. He a perfect patron of those striving for purity and resisting the myriad temptations and downright celebrations and sexual confusion.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Dear Lord, we thank you for the virtue and example of your martyr St Charles Lwanga and his companions. Help us to imitate the deep love for your church that inspired them to spread the Catholic faith to others. Pray for me that I may have courage and devotion like yours. Amen. Saint Marcellinus was a Pope in Rome during years 291-304. He was beheaded during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Saint Marcellinus was known for the encouragement he gave to the people to join the Church. He took the last ultimate step for God which is martyrdom. Many people after him followed in his footsteps and continued to evangelize people. Many people did not appreciate Marcellinus’ efforts in bringing people to God but that didn’t stop him because he had faith that God will bring people to him.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Dear Father in heaven, the worst event in the world was the crucifixion of Jesus yet You brought redemption to mankind through this horrible deed. Saint Marcellinus also suffered a similar fate at the hands of his enemies, but through Your promise of eternal life, we know that he now lives in glory with You forever. Thank you, Father, for your love and mercy. Amen Saint Justin Martyr is today's commemorated saint. Saint Justin was born in 100 AD at Flavia Neapolis, Judea. Justin never ended his quest for religious truth even when he converted to Christianity after years of studying various pagan philosophies. He was principally attracted to the school of Plato. He found that the Christian religion answered the great questions about life and existence better than the philosophers. Upon his conversion he continued to wear the philosopher’s mantle, and became the first Christian philosopher. He combined the Christian religion with the best elements in Greek philosophy. In his view, philosophy was a pedagogue of Christ, an educator that was to lead one to Christ.Justin is known as an apologist, one who defends in writing the Christian religion against the attacks and misunderstandings of the pagans. Two of his so-called apologies have come down to us; they are addressed to the Roman emperor and to the Senate. For his staunch adherence to the Christian religion, Justin was beheaded in Rome in 165.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER O God who revealed to Saint Justin in the sufferings of the Cross, the great wisdom of Jesus Christ, grant that through the pleadings of Your Martyr and our Patron we may overcome the many errors that surround us and that our faith may grow ever stronger. In deep humility we pray to the Lord for the strength to imitate Saint Justin in his constant efforts to make known the riches of the Faith to his fellowmen. Grant us the grace to be ever mindful of the many blessings we have received from You. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Today is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Immediately after the Annunciation, Mary left Nazareth and went to the city of Judah to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, at the sound of her voice, John leapt for joy. Even though he was still in his mother’s womb, John became aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and received the gifts of the Spirit. Elizabeth declares to Mary “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” In response to Elizabeth’s remark, Mary proclaimed the Magnificat. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months until returning back to Nazareth. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Help us to follow the intercession of Virgin Mary to put other people's needs before our own and to trust the will of God. Amen. Saint Joan of Arc was born in 1412 to a peasant couple in Paris. Joan was only 12 when she experienced a vision and heard voices that she later identified as Saints Michael the Archangel, Catherine of Alexandria, and Margaret of Antioch.During the Hundred Years War, Joan led French troops against the English and recaptured the cities of Orléans and Troyes.This enabled Charles VII to be crowned as king in Reims in 1429. Captured near Compiegne the following year, Joan was sold to the English and placed on trial for heresy and witchcraft. In the end, she was condemned for wearing men’s clothes. The English resented France’s military success–to which Joan contributed. On this day in 1431, she was burned at the stake in Rouen and her ashes were scattered in the Seine River. Remembered by most people for her military exploits, Joan had a great love for the sacraments, which strengthened her compassion toward the poor. Popular devotion to her increased greatly in 19th-century France and later among French soldiers during World War I.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER In the face of your enemies, in the face of harassment, ridicule, and doubt, you held firm in your faith. Even in your abandonment, alone and without friends, you held firm in your faith. Even as you faced your own mortality, you held firm in your faith. I pray that I may be as bold in my beliefs as you, St. Joan. I ask that you ride alongside me in my own battles. Help me be mindful that what is worthwhile can be won when I persist. Help me hold firm in my faith. Help me believe in my ability to act well and wisely. Amen. St Madeline is most known for her founding of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in France, in the early 1800s. St Madeline was born in December 12, and was educated by her older brother, who kept strict discipline with her. He later became a priest, and on recommendations, Madeline also entered the religious life as a sister.
She helped coordinate the founding of the first convent and school in Amiens in 1802. The sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart if Jesus, collectively decided to appoint Madeline as their superior in the society, which she was for the next 63 years. During her life, she founded over a 100 convents and schools through 12 countries, helping to spread the society through France and surrounding countries. INTERCESSORY PRAYER Sacred Heart of Jesus, Give me a heart that is one with your own; A humble heart that knows and loves its nothingness; A gentle heart that holds and calms its own anxiety; A loving heart that has compassion for the suffering of others; A pure heart that recoils even at the appearance of evil; A detached heart that longs for nothing other than the goodness of heaven; A heart detached from self-love and embraced by the love of God, Its attention focused on God, Its goodness its only treasure in time and in eternity. |