Free Republic

Joan of Arc listening to His voice

Léon-François Bénouville (1821-1859)

Musée des Beaux-arts, Rouen

Saint of the Day for May 30

(January 6, 1412 – May 30, 1431)

---

Saint Joan of Arc’s Story

Burned at the stake as a heretic after a politically-motivated trial, Joan was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920.

Born of a fairly well-to-do peasant couple in Domremy-Greux southeast of 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. Professors at the University of Paris supported Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvis, the judge at her trial; Cardinal Henry Beaufort of Winchester, England, participated in the questioning of Joan in prison. 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, Joan was burned at the stake in Rouen, and her ashes were scattered in the Seine River. A second Church trial 25 years later nullified the earlier verdict, which was reached under political pressure.

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. Theologian George Tavard writes that her life “offers a perfect example of the conjunction of contemplation and action” because her spiritual insight is that there should be a “unity of heaven and earth.”

Joan of Arc has been the subject of many books, plays, operas and movies.

---

Reflection

“Joan of Arc is like a shooting star across the landscape of French and English history, amid the stories of the Church’s saints and into our consciousness. Women identify with her; men admire her courage. She challenges us in fundamental ways. Despite the fact that more than 500 years have passed since she lived, her issues of mysticism, calling, identity, trust and betrayal, conflict and focus are our issues still.” (Joan of Arc: God’s Warrior by Barbara Beckwith)

---

Saint Joan of Arc is the Patron Saint of:

France
Military Members

---

franciscanmedia.org

Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus

Johann Heinrich Stöver, 1861

St John's Church, Erbach, Rheingau, Hesse, Germany

Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aguinas

Catena Aurea Mark 10

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 10
46.	And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging.	Et veniunt Jericho : et proficiscente eo de Jericho, et discipulis ejus, et plurima multitudine, filius Timæ Bartimæus cæcus, sedebat juxta viam mendicans.	και ερχονται εις ιεριχω και εκπορευομενου αυτου απο ιεριχω και των μαθητων αυτου και οχλου ικανου υιος τιμαιου βαρτιμαιος ο τυφλος εκαθητο παρα την οδον προσαιτων
47.	Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.	Qui cum audisset quia Jesus Nazarenus est, cœpit clamare, et dicere : Jesu fili David, miserere mei.	και ακουσας οτι ιησους ο ναζωραιος εστιν ηρξατο κραζειν και λεγειν ο υιος δαυιδ ιησου ελεησον με
48.	And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.	Et comminabantur ei multi ut taceret. At ille multo magis clamabat : Fili David, miserere mei.	και επετιμων αυτω πολλοι ινα σιωπηση ο δε πολλω μαλλον εκραζεν υιε δαυιδ ελεησον με
49.	And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee.	Et stans Jesus præcepit illum vocari. Et vocant cæcum, dicentes ei : Animæquior esto : surge, vocat te.	και στας ο ιησους ειπεν αυτον φωνηθηναι και φωνουσιν τον τυφλον λεγοντες αυτω θαρσει εγειραι φωνει σε
50.	Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him.	Qui projecto vestimento suo exiliens, venit ad eum.	ο δε αποβαλων το ιματιον αυτου αναστας ηλθεν προς τον ιησουν
51.	And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see.	Et respondens Jesus dixit illi : Quid tibi vis faciam ? Cæcus autem dixit ei : Rabboni, ut videam.	και αποκριθεις λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τι θελεις ποιησω σοι ο δε τυφλος ειπεν αυτω ραββουνι ινα αναβλεψω
52.	And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.	Jesus autem ait illi : Vade, fides tua te salvum fecit. Et confestim vidit, et sequebatur eum in via.	ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω υπαγε η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε και ευθεως ανεβλεψεν και ηκολουθει τω ιησου εν τη οδω

My dad is back in the hospital. [JimRob update at 242]
Jim still needs our prayers. Thread 2
Prayer thread for Salvation's recovery
Pray for Ukraine
Prayer thread for Fidelis' recovery
Update on Jim Robinson's health issues

Alleluia Ping

Please FReepmail me to get on/off the Alleluia Ping List.

KEYWORDS: catholic; mk10; ordinarytime; prayer

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

Saint of the Day for September 26

(September 26, 1897 – August 6, 1978)

---

Saint Paul VI’s Story

Born near Brescia in northern Italy, Giovanni Battista Montini was the second of three sons. His father, Giorgio, was a lawyer, editor, and eventually a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. His mother, Giuditta, was very involved in Catholic Action.

After ordination in 1920, Giovanni did graduate studies in literature, philosophy, and canon law in Rome before he joined the Vatican Secretariat of State in 1924, where he worked for 30 years. He was also chaplain to the Federation of Italian Catholic University Students, where he met and became a very good friend of Aldo Moro, who eventually became prime minister. Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade in March 1978, and murdered two months later. A devastated Pope Paul VI presided at his funeral.

In 1954, Fr. Montini was named archbishop of Milan, where he sought to win disaffected workers back to the Catholic Church. He called himself the “archbishop of the workers” and visited factories regularly while overseeing the rebuilding of a local Church tremendously disrupted by World War II.

In 1958, Montini was the first of 23 cardinals named by Pope John XXIII, two months after the latter’s election as pope. Cardinal Montini helped in preparing Vatican II and participated enthusiastically in its first sessions. When he was elected pope in June 1963, he immediately decided to continue that Council, which had another three sessions before its conclusion on December 8, 1965. The day before Vatican II concluded, Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras revoked the excommunications that their predecessors had made in 1054. The pope worked very hard to ensure that bishops would approve the Council’s 16 documents by overwhelming majorities.

Paul VI had stunned the world by visiting the Holy Land in January 1964, and meeting Athenagoras, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in person. The pope made eight more international trips, including one in 1965, to visit New York City and speak on behalf of peace before the United Nations General Assembly. He also visited India (1964), Colombia (1968), Uganda (1969), and seven Asian countries during a 10-day tour in 1970.

Also in 1965, he instituted the World Synod of Bishops, and the next year decreed that bishops must offer their resignations on reaching age 75. In 1970, he decided that cardinals over 80 would no longer vote in papal conclaves or head the Holy See’s major offices. He had increased the number of cardinals significantly, giving many countries their first cardinal. Eventually establishing diplomatic relations between the Holy See and 40 countries, he also instituted a permanent observer mission at the United Nations in 1964. Paul VI wrote seven encyclicals; his last one in 1968 on human life—Humanae Vitae—prohibited artificial birth control.

Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo on August 6, 1978, and was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica. He was beatified on October 19, 2014, and canonized on October 14, 2018. Since 2019 his liturgical feast has been celebrated on May 29.

---

Reflection

Pope Saint Paul’s greatest accomplishment was the completion and implementation of Vatican II. Its decisions about liturgy were the first ones noticed by most Catholics, but its other documents—especially the ones about ecumenism, interfaith relations, divine revelation, religious liberty, the Church’s self-understanding and the Church’s work with the entire human family—have become the Catholic Church’s road map since 1965.

---

franciscanmedia.org

Christ Carrying the Cross

Sebastiano del Piombo

1535-40
Oil on slate, 157 x 118 cm
Szépmûvészeti Múzeum, Budapest

Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aguinas

10:32–34

32. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,

33. Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:

34. And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) The disciples remembered the discourse in which the Lord had foretold that He was about to suffer many things from the chief priests and scribes, and therefore in going up to Jerusalem, they were amazed. And this is what is meant, when it is said, And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them.

THEOPHYLACT. To shew that He runs to meet His Passion, and that He does not refuse death, for the sake of our salvation; and they were amazed, and as they followed, they were afraid.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) Either lest they themselves should perish with Him, or at all events lest He, whose life and ministry was their joy, should fall under the hand of His enemies. But the Lord, foreseeing that the minds of His disciples would be troubled by His Passion, foretels to them both the pain of His Passion, and the glory of His resurrection; wherefore there follows, And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him.

THEOPHYLACT. He did this to confirm the hearts of the disciples, that from hearing these things beforehand, they might the better bear them afterwards, and might not be alarmed at their suddenness, and also in order to shew them that He suffered voluntarily; for he who foreknows a danger, and flies not, though flight is in his power, evidently of his own will gives himself up to suffering. But He takes His disciples apart, because it was fitting that He should reveal the mystery of His Passion to those who were more closely connected with Him.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc. sed v. Chrys. Hom. 65) And He enumerates each thing that was to happen to Him; lest if He should pass any thing over, they should be troubled afterwards at suddenly seing it; wherefore he adds, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man.

GLOSS. (interlin.) That is, He to whom suffering belongs; for the Godhead cannot suffer. Shall be delivered, that is, by Judas, unto the Chief Priests, and unto the Scribes, and they shall condemn him to death; judging Him to be guilty of death; and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, that is, to Pilate the Gentile; and his soldiers shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and scourge him, and put him to death.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. in Matt. 65) But that when they were saddened on account of His Passion and death, they should then also look for His resurrection, He adds, And the third day he shall rise again; for since He had not hid from them the sorrows and insults which happened, it was fitting that they should believe Him on other points.

10:35–40

35. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

36. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

37. They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

38. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

39. And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

40. But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

CHRYSOSTOM. (v. Chrys. ubi sup.) The disciples hearing Christ oftentimes speaking of His kingdom, thought that this kingdom was to be before His death, and therefore now that His death was foretold to them, they came to Him, that they might immediately be made worthy of the honours of the kingdom: wherefore it is said, And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. For ashamed of the human weakness which they felt, they came to Christ, taking Him apart from the disciples; but our Saviour, not from ignorance of what they wanted to ask, but from a wish of making them answer Him, puts this question to them; And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

THEOPHYLACT. Now the abovementioned disciples thought that He was going up to Jerusalem, to reign there, and then to suffer what He had foretold. And with these thoughts, they desired to sit on the right and the left hand; wherefore there follows, They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

AUGUSTINE. (de Con. Evan. ii. 64) Matthew has expressed that this was said not by themselves, but by their mother, since she brought their wishes to the Lord; wherefore Mark briefly implies rather that they themselves, than that their mother, had used the words.

CHRYSOSTOM. (ubi sup.) Or we may fitly say that both took place; for seeing themselves honoured above the rest, they thought that they could easily obtain the foregoing petition; and that they might the more easily succeed in their request, they took their mother with them, that they might pray unto Christ together with her.

AUGUSTINE. (ubi sup.) Then the Lord both according to Mark, and to Matthew, answered them rather than their mother. For it goes on, But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask.

THEOPHYLACT. It will not be as ye think, that I am to reign as a temporal king in Jerusalem, but all these things, that is, these which belong to My kingdom, are beyond your understanding; for to sit on My right hand is so great a thing that it surpasses the Angelic orders.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) Or else, they know not what they ask, who seek from the Lord a seat of glory, which they do not yet merit.

CHRYSOSTOM. (ubi sup.) Or else He says, Ye know not what ye ask; as if He said, Ye speak of honours, but I am discoursing of wrestlings and toil; for this is not a time of rewards, but of blood, of battles, and dangers. Wherefore He adds, Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized withal? He draws them on by way of question, that by communication with Himself, their eagerness might increase.

THEOPHYLACT. But by the cup and baptism, He means the cross; the cup, that is, as being a potion by Him sweetly received, but baptism as the cause of the cleansing of our sins. And they answer Him, without understanding what He had said; wherefore it goes on: And they said unto him, We can; for they thought that He spoke of a visible cup, and of the baptism of which the Jews made use, that is, the washings before their meals.

CHRYSOSTOM. (ubi sup.) And they answered thus quickly, because they expected that what they had asked would be listened to; it goes on: And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized; t at is, ye shall be worthy of martyrdom, and suffer even as I.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) A question is raised, however, how James and John drank the cup of martyrdom, or how they were baptized with the baptism of the Lord, when the Scripture relates, that only James the Apostle was beheaded by Herod whilst John finished his life by a natural death. But if we read ecclesiastical histories, in which it is related, that he also on account of the witness which he bore was cast into a cauldron of burning oil, and was immediately sent away to the island of Patmos, we shall then see that the spirit of martyrdom was in him, and that John drank the cup of confession, which the Three Children also drank in the furnace of fire, though the persecutor did not spill their blood. It goes on: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

CHRYSOSTOM. (ubi sup.) Where two questions are raised, one is, whether a seat on His right hand is prepared for any one; the other, whether the Lord of all has it not in His power to give it to those for whom it is prepared. To the first then we say, that no one sits on His right hand or on His left, for that throne is inaccessible to a creature. How then did He say, To sit on my right hand or on my left is not mine to give you, as though it belonged to some who were to sit there? He however answers the thoughts of those who asked Him, condescending to their meaning; for they did not know that lofty throne and seat, which is on the right hand of the Father, but sought one thing alone, that is, to possess the chief place, and to be set over others. And since they had heard it said of the Apostles, that they were to sit on twelve thrones, they begged for a place higher than all the rest, not knowing what was said. To the second question we must say, that such a gift does not transcend the power of the Son of God, but what is said by Matthew (Matt. 20:23), it is prepared by My Father, is the same as if it were said, “by Me,” wherefore also Mark did not say here, by My Father. What therefore Christ says here is this, Ye shall die, He says, for Me, but this is not enough to enable you to obtain the highest place, for if another person comes possessing besides martyrdom all other virtues, he will possess much more than you; for the chief place is prepared for those, who by works are enabled to become the first. Thus then the Lord instructed them not to trouble themselves vainly and absurdly for high places; at the same time He would not have them made sad.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) Or else, it is not mine to give to you, that is, to proud persons, for such as yet they were. It is prepared for other persons, and be ye other, that is, lowly, and it is prepared for you.

10:41–45

41. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

42. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

43. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

44. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

45. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

THEOPHYLACT. The other Apostles are indignant at seeing James and John seeking for honour; wherefore it is said, And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. For being influenced by human feelings, they were moved with envy; and their first displeasure arose from their seeing that they were not taken up by the Lord; before that time they were not displeased because they saw that they themselves were honoured before other men. At this time the Apostles were thus imperfect, but afterwards they yielded the chief place one to another. Christ however cures them; first indeed by drawing them to Himself in order to comfort them; and this is meant, when it is said, But Jesus called them to him; then by shewing them that to usurp honour, and to desire the chief place, belongs to Gentiles. Wherefore there follows: And saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship; and their great ones exercise authority over them. The great ones of the Gentiles thrust themselves into the chief place tyrannically and as lords. It goes on: But so shall it not be among you.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) In which He teaches, that he is the greater, who is the less, and that he becomes the lord, who is servant of all: vain, therefore, was it both for the one party to seek for immoderate things, aud the other to be annoyed at their desiring greater things, since we are to arrive at the height of virtue not by power but by humility. Then He proposes an example, that if they lightly regarded His words, His deeds might make them ashamed, saying, For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

THEOPHYLACT. Which is a greater thing than to minister. For what can be greater or more wonderful than that a man should die for him to whom he ministers? Nevertheless, this serving and condescension of humility was His glory, and that of all; for before He was made man, He was known only to the Angels; but now that He has become man and has been crucified, He not only has glory Himself, but also has taken up others to a participation in His glory, and ruled by faith over the whole world.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) He did not say, however, that He gave His life a ransom for all, but for many, that is, for those who would believe on Him.

Catena Aurea Mark 10

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 10
32.	And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem: and Jesus went before them, and they were astonished; and following were afraid. And taking again the twelve, he began to tell them the things that should befall him.	Erant autem in via ascendentes Jerosolymam : et præcedebat illos Jesus, et stupebant : et sequentes timebant. Et assumens iterum duodecim, cœpit illis dicere quæ essent ei eventura.	ησαν δε εν τη οδω αναβαινοντες εις ιεροσολυμα και ην προαγων αυτους ο ιησους και εθαμβουντο και ακολουθουντες εφοβουντο και παραλαβων παλιν τους δωδεκα ηρξατο αυτοις λεγειν τα μελλοντα αυτω συμβαινειν
33.	Saying: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests, and to the scribes and ancients, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.	Quia ecce ascendimus Jerosolymam, et Filius hominis tradetur principibus sacerdotum, et scribis, et senioribus, et damnabunt eum morte, et tradent eum gentibus :	οτι ιδου αναβαινομεν εις ιεροσολυμα και ο υιος του ανθρωπου παραδοθησεται τοις αρχιερευσιν και γραμματευσιν και κατακρινουσιν αυτον θανατω και παραδωσουσιν αυτον τοις εθνεσιν
34.	And they shall mock him, and spit on him, and scourge him, and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.	et illudent ei, et conspuent eum, et flagellabunt eum, et interficient eum : et tertia die resurget.	και εμπαιξουσιν αυτω και μαστιγωσουσιν αυτον και εμπτυσουσιν αυτω και αποκτενουσιν αυτον και τη τριτη ημερα αναστησεται
35.	And James and John the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying: Master, we desire that whatsoever we shall ask, thou wouldst do it for us:	Et accedunt ad eum Jacobus et Joannes filii Zebedæi, dicentes : Magister, volumus ut quodcumque petierimus, facias nobis.	και προσπορευονται αυτω ιακωβος και ιωαννης οι υιοι ζεβεδαιου λεγοντες διδασκαλε θελομεν ινα ο εαν αιτησωμεν ποιησης ημιν
36.	But he said to them: What would you that I should do for you?	At ille dixit eis : Quid vultis ut faciam vobis ?	ο δε ειπεν αυτοις τι θελετε ποιησαι με υμιν
37.	And they said: Grant to us, that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.	Et dixerunt : Da nobis ut unus ad dexteram tuam, et alius ad sinistram tuam sedeamus in gloria tua.	οι δε ειπον αυτω δος ημιν ινα εις εκ δεξιων σου και εις εξ ευωνυμων σου καθισωμεν εν τη δοξη σου
38.	And Jesus said to them: You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the chalice that I drink of: or be baptized with the baptism wherewith I am baptized?	Jesus autem ait eis : Nescitis quid petatis : potestis bibere calicem, quem ego bibo, aut baptismo, quo ego baptizor, baptizari ?	ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ουκ οιδατε τι αιτεισθε δυνασθε πιειν το ποτηριον ο εγω πινω και το βαπτισμα ο εγω βαπτιζομαι βαπτισθηναι
39.	But they said to him: We can. And Jesus saith to them: You shall indeed drink of the chalice that I drink of: and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized, you shall be baptized.	At illi dixerunt ei : Possumus. Jesus autem ait eis : Calicem quidem, quem ego bibo, bibetis ; et baptismo, quo ego baptizor, baptizabimini :	οι δε ειπον αυτω δυναμεθα ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτοις το μεν ποτηριον ο εγω πινω πιεσθε και το βαπτισμα ο εγω βαπτιζομαι βαπτισθησεσθε
40.	But to sit on my right hand, or on my left, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared.	sedere autem ad dexteram meam, vel ad sinistram, non est meum dare vobis, sed quibus paratum est.	το δε καθισαι εκ δεξιων μου και εξ ευωνυμων ουκ εστιν εμον δουναι αλλ οις ητοιμασται
41.	And the ten hearing it, began to be much displeased at James and John.	Et audientes decem, cœperunt indignari de Jacobo et Joanne.	και ακουσαντες οι δεκα ηρξαντο αγανακτειν περι ιακωβου και ιωαννου
42.	But Jesus calling them, saith to them: You know that they who seem to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them: and their princes have power over them.	Jesus autem vocans eos, ait illis : Scitis quia hi, qui videntur principari gentibus, dominantur eis : et principes eorum potestatem habent ipsorum.	ο δε ιησους προσκαλεσαμενος αυτους λεγει αυτοις οιδατε οτι οι δοκουντες αρχειν των εθνων κατακυριευουσιν αυτων και οι μεγαλοι αυτων κατεξουσιαζουσιν αυτων
43.	But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater, shall be your minister.	Non ita est autem in vobis, sed quicumque voluerit fieri major, erit vester minister :	ουχ ουτως δε εσται εν υμιν αλλ ος εαν θελη γενεσθαι μεγας εν υμιν εσται υμων διακονος
44.	And whosoever will be first among you, shall be the servant of all.	et quicumque voluerit in vobis primus esse, erit omnium servus.	και ος εαν θελη υμων γενεσθαι πρωτος εσται παντων δουλος
45.	For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.	Nam et Filius hominis non venit ut ministraretur ei, sed ut ministraret, et daret animam suam redemptionem pro multis.	και γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ ηλθεν διακονηθηναι αλλα διακονησαι και δουναι την ψυχην αυτου λυτρον αντι πολλων

My dad is back in the hospital. [JimRob update at 242]
Jim still needs our prayers. Thread 2
Prayer thread for Salvation's recovery
Pray for Ukraine
Prayer thread for Fidelis' recovery
Update on Jim Robinson's health issues

Alleluia Ping

Please FReepmail me to get on/off the Alleluia Ping List.

KEYWORDS: catholic; mk10; ordinarytime; prayer

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

St. Bernard of Menthon, Statue at the Little Saint Bernard’s Pass in the Alps

SAINT BERNARD OF MONTJOUX

Feast Day May 28

Patronage Skiers, Skateboarders, Mountain Climbers, Backpackers, Alps

St. Bernard of Montjoux, also known as St. Bernard of Menthon, was the founder of the famed Hospice, which served the travelers for nearly 1,000 years. He was also the founder of the Congregation of the Canons Regular, which has served it throughout that history. It is also the Hospice that gave rise to the famous breed of dogs, St. Bernard, named for that Hospice. Bernard was born around 1020, probably in the Chateau of Menthon, a part of the Kingdom of Arles. He was the descendent of a rich and noble family, and received a good education.

When he had received his education, he decided to devote himself to the service of the Church and refused an honorable marriage proposed by his father. A popular story is that he fled from his castle the night before his arranged wedding, and threw himself from an upper window. He was captured by Angels and lowered gently to the ground, 40 feet below. He placed himself under the director of Peter, the Archdeacon of Aosta. It was under Peter’s guidance that he rapidly progressed in his faith, and Bernard was ordained a Priest. Because of his learning and heroic virtue, he was appointed to succeed his mentor as Archdeacon of the Cathedral, duties included being in charge of the government of the Diocese, and he worked directly under the Bishop. Bernard was disturbed by seeing the old pagan ways continue among the people of the Alps, and devoted himself to their conversion. For forty-two years he continued to preach the Gospel to these people and even into many other areas, effecting numerous conversions. He was said to have worked many miracles.

It is for another reason, however, that Bernard’s name will forever be famous in history. Since the most ancient times there has been a path across the Pennine Alps. This lead from the Valley of Aosta to the Swiss Canton of Valais. The traditional route of this pass is covered with perpetual snow from seven to eight feet deep, with drifts of snow sometimes accumulating to the height of forty plus feet. This pass was extremely dangerous, especially in the springtime with the threat of avalanches, and French and German pilgrims on their way to Rome often used it. His position in his office as the Archdeacon, Bernard had the duties of caring for the poor and travelers. For their convenience and protection, Bernard founded a Canonry and Hospice at the highest point of the pass, 8,000 feet above sea level, in the year 1050. This site now bears his name. Within a few years, he established another Hospice on the Little St. Bernard Pass, a mountain saddle in the Graian Alps, 7, 076 feet above sea level. Both of these were placed in the care of the communities of the Canons Regular, after Papal approval had been obtained by Bernard during a visit to Rome. The new community was placed under the patronage of St. Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of travelers.

St. Bernard died in June 1081 in the Imperial Free City of Novara and was interred in the monastery of St. Lawrence. These Hospices were renowned for the generous hospitality extended to all travelers over the Great and Little St. Bernard Passes, so called in honor of the founder of these charitable institutions. At all seasons of the year, but especially during heavy snow storms, the Canons were accompanied by their well trained dogs, the common herding dogs of Valais, St. Bernards. They would go out in search of victims who might have succumbed to the severity of the weather, or needed assistance. They offered food, clothing, and shelter to the unfortunate travelers and took care of the dead. They depended on gifts and collections for sustainability. As of 2012, the Congregation consisted of about 35 Professed Members, the majority of them live at the Hospice while providing pastoral care to neighboring parishes. St. Bernard dogs are still used on the site as pets, while helicopters are used in rescue operations. St. Bernard was venerated from the 12th century, but was not formally canonized until 1681 by Pope Innocent XI. Pope Pius XI confirmed St. Bernard as the patron saint of the Alps in 1923.

Practical Take Away

St. Bernard of Montjoux, also known as St. Bernard of Menthon, was the founder of the famed Hospice, which served the travelers for nearly 1,000 years. He was also the founder of the Congregation of the Canons Regular, which has served it throughout that history. It is also the Hospice that gave rise to the famous breed of dogs, St. Bernard, named for that Hospice. He was ordained a Priest, and was charged with ministering to the French and German pilgrims, who while traveling to Rome, had to cross the Alps. He built two Hospices to offer food, clothing and a warm shelter over two of the Passes at the peak of the Alps. Both were named in his honor, the St. Bernard Pass, and the Little St. Bernard Pass. He and his Order used St. Bernard dogs to search and rescue weary travelers, and to bring them back to the Hospices. From the 11th century onward, these dogs are still used today for “rescue” dogs – named in his honor.

---

newmanministry.com