Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 11-23-04,Opt St Clement,St Columbian,Blsd Miguel Augstin Pro

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"See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,' and ‘The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."

So far, everything except "mighty signs will come from the sky"....

St. Clement, Pope, Martyr A.D. 100

Blessed Miguel Pro:Heroic Mexican Martyr["VIVA CRISTO REY!"]

Father Miguel Pro: Heroic Mexican Martyr

Blessed Miguel Pro[last dying words:"Viva El Cristo Rey"("Long Live Christ The King")]

Saint Columbanus [St. Columbian]

From: Revelation 14:14-19

The Harvest and the Vintage

[14] Then I looked, and lo, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one
like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle
in his hand. [15] And another angel came out of the temple, calling
with a loud voice to him who sat upon the cloud, "Put in your sickle,
and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth
is fully ripe." [16] So he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on
the earth, and the earth was reaped.

[17] And another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had
a sharp sickle. [18] Then another angel came out from the altar, the
angel who has power over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him
who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle, and gather the clusters
of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe." [19] So the angel
swung his sickle on the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth,
and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.

Commentary:

14-20. This preliminary description of the Last Judgment is given in
two scenes--the harvest (cf. 14:14-16) and the vintage (cf. 14:17-20)
--no doubt following the prophecy of Joel about how God will judge
nations hostile to Israel: "Let the nations bestir themselves, and come
up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I shall sit to judge all the
nations round about. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in,
tread, for the wine press is full" (Joel 3:12-13).

In the first scene Christ himself appears, described as "son of man"
(cf. Dan 7:13); it is he who will deliver the judgment (symbolized by
the harvest), as in the parable of the wheat and the weeds (cf. Mt 13:
24-30). In the second it is an angel sent by God who gathers the grapes
and puts them in the press to be trodden on either by God (in keeping
with the prophecy of Isaiah 63:3, which says, "I have trodden the wine
press alone") or by Christ (as we are told later in Revelation 19:15).
In either case we are being told that Jesus Christ, true God and true
man, has been empowered to perform the General Judgment which,
according to Jewish tradition, will take place at the gates of
Jerusalem (cf., e.g. Zech 14:4) and which involves a huge bloodbath
(cf. Rev 14:20).

In both scenes, an angel has the prominent role of giving the order
(cf. vv. 15, 18). The fact that he comes out from the temple and the
altar shows that the outcome is linked to the prayers of the saints
and martyrs, which stir Christ to take action (cf. Rev 8:3-4). So it
is that the moment Christ is made present on the altar through the
consecration of the bread and wine the Church calls for him to come
again--calls for his second coming, the Parousia, which will make his
victory complete: "When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we
proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory" ("Roman
Missal", eucharistic acclamation).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Luke 21:5-11

Discourse on the Destruction of Jerusalem and the End of the World

[5] And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble
stones and offerings, He (Jesus) said, [6] "As for these things which
you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone
upon another that will not be thrown down." [7] And they asked Him,
"Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is
about to take place?" [8] And He said, "Take heed that you are not
led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and,
'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of
wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place,
but the end will not be at once."

[10] Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom; [11] there will be great earthquakes, and in various
places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great
signs from heaven."

Commentary:

5-36. The disciples are in awe of the magnificence of the temple, and
Jesus uses the occasion to give a long discourse, known as the
"eschatological discourse" because it has to do with the last days of
the world. The account given here is very similar to those in the
other Synoptic Gospels (cf. Mt 24:1-51; Mk 13:1-37). The discourse
deals with three inter-connected subjects--the destruction of Jerusalem
(which took place some forty years later), the end of the world, and
the second coming of Christ in glory and majesty. Jesus, who also
predicts here the persecution of the Church will experience, exhorts
His disciples to be patient, to pray and be watchful.

Our Lord speaks here in the style and language of prophecy, using
images taken from the Old Testament; also, in this discourse prophecies
which are going to be fulfilled very soon are mixed in with others
which have to do with the end of the world. It is not our Lord's
intention to satisfy people's curiosity about future events, but to
protect them from being discouraged and scandalized about what is going
to happen in the days immediately ahead. This explains why He exhorts
them: "Take heed that you are not led astray" (v. 8); "do not be
tempted" (v. 9); "watch at all times" (v. 34).

8. On hearing that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed, the disciples
ask what sign will be given as a warning of these events (vv. 5-7).
Jesus answers by telling them "not to be led astray," that is to say,
not to expect any warning; not to be misled by false prophets; to stay
faithful to Him. These false prophets will come along claiming to be
the Messiah ("I am He!"). Our Lord's reply in fact refers to two
events which in the Jewish mind were interrelated--the destruction of
the Holy City and the end of the world. This is why He goes on to
speak of both events and implies that there will be a long gap between
the two; the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem are a kind of
sign or symbol of the catastrophes which will mark the end of the
world.

9-11. Our Lord does not want His disciples to confuse just any
catastrophe--famine, earthquake, war--or even persecution with the
signals of the end of the world. He exhorts them quite clearly: "Do
not be tempted," because although all these has to happen, "the end
will not be at once;" in spite of the difficulties of all kinds the
Gospel will spread to the ends of the earth. Difficulties should not
paralyze the preaching of the faith.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Clement I was the third successor of St. Peter as the head of the
universal Church. He reigned during the last decade of the first
century. He was martyred in 101 during the persecution of Trajan.
During his life he was known for his writing and preaching. One of his
most renowned works is his letter to the Corinthians urging unity and
charity. The Basilica of St. Clement in Rome, one of the earliest
parishes of the city, is traditionally held to be built on the site of is
home.

St. Columban was born around the year 543 in Ireland. After a
tormented youth, he lived a hermit's life for a time and later became
a monk at Bangor. After many years in the monastery, Columban
and twelve companions were sent to France as missionaries. These
missionaries won respect for their discipline, preaching, charity and
commitment to the religious life. St. Columban was deported after a
dispute with the French royalty, and he ended up in Italy where he
founded the monastery of Bobbio where he later died. During his
lifetime, he had very many writings and founded several
monasteries.

Bl. Miguel Pro was born in Guadeloupe, Mexico in the year 1891. At
the age of twenty, Miguel decided to apply to the Jesuits, and he
entered the novitiate in the year 1911. In 1910 a civil war had broken
out in Mexico, and by 1914, the fighting was so bad that the
seminary Miguel was at began to take precautions for its protection.
Many of the seminarians were sent to Belgium to complete their
training.

Miguel was ordained in 1925 and returned to Mexico a year later.
Twenty-three days after Miguel returned to his homeland, an order
was issued suppressing public worship and ordering the arrest of all
priests. Fr. Pro was arrested and escaped several times. To help his
ministry to the people, he used many disguises and tricks to evade
the authorities.

His last capture finally came. In 1927, Fr. Miguel was arrested and
sent before the firing squad for the crime of being a Catholic priest.
Moments before his stay of execution arrived, he was killed. His
dying words were "Long live Christ the King!" Miguel was meant to
be an example to other Catholics, and his martyrdom was well
documented with pictures and by the press. The coverage did serve
as an example, but not in the way it was planned. It served to
electrify the Catholics with love of God. Fr. Miguel was beatified
September 25, 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Charity unites us to God... There is nothing mean in charity, nothing
arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in
concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect. -Pope St.
Clement I

TODAY IN HISTORY

1970 Pope Paul VI issued a decree limiting the age of cardinals
eligible to vote for a new pope to 80 and younger.

TODAY'S TIDBIT

Some feast days are restricted to a specific area or have a special
importance for a certain area. Today's feast of Bl. Miguel is one of
those feasts, it is celebrated in the United States, but not world wide.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Today we pray that we may have the courage of Bl. Miguel Pro to
stand up for our faith in times of adversity. We also pray for all those
throughout the world, who are unable to freely and openly practice
their Faith.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, Priest, Martyr (Optional Memorial)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

Revelation 14:14-19
Psalm 96:10-13
Luke 21:5-11

It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. There is then one Teacher, who spake and it was done; while even those things which He did in silence are worthy of the Father. He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very silence, that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be recognised by his silence.

-- St. Ignatius

Lk 21:5-11
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
5	And some saying of the temple that it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said:	et quibusdam dicentibus de templo quod lapidibus bonis et donis ornatum esset dixit
6	These things which you see, the days will come in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down.	haec quae videtis venient dies in quibus non relinquetur lapis super lapidem qui non destruatur
7	And they asked him, saying: Master, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when they shall begin to come to pass?	interrogaverunt autem illum dicentes praeceptor quando haec erunt et quod signum cum fieri incipient
8	Who said: Take heed you be not seduced: for many will come in my name, saying: I am he and the time is at hand. Go ye not therefore after them.	qui dixit videte ne seducamini multi enim venient in nomine meo dicentes quia ego sum et tempus adpropinquavit nolite ergo ire post illos
9	And when you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified. These things must first come to pass: but the end is not yet presently.	cum autem audieritis proelia et seditiones nolite terreri oportet primum haec fieri sed non statim finis
10	Then he said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.	tunc dicebat illis surget gens contra gentem et regnum adversus regnum
11	And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places and pestilences and famines and terrors from heaven: and there shall be great signs.	terraemotus magni erunt per loca et pestilentiae et fames terroresque de caelo et signa magna erunt

ROMAN MISSAL | DOUAY TEXTS

Take heed you be not seduced;
for many will come in my name, saying, I am he ...

.......................... †JMJ† ..........................
-- Tuesday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time --
....................... † AMDG † .......................

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault
--strike the breast—
in my thoughts and in my words
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

FIRST READING – Apoc 14:14-19
The time to reap has come because the earth's harvest is fully ripe.

And the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night, who have adored the beast, and his image, and whoever receiveth the character of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow them.

And I saw, and behold a white cloud;
and upon the cloud one sitting like to the Son of man,
having on his head a crown of gold,
and in his hand a sharp sickle.

And another angel came out from the temple
crying with a loud voice to him that sat upon the cloud:
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap,
because the hour is come to reap:
for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

And he that sat on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth,
and the earth was reaped.
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven,
he also having a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out from the altar,
who had power over fire; and he cried with a loud voice
to him that had the sharp sickle, saying:
Thrust in thy sharp sickle,
and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth;
because the grapes thereof are ripe.

And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth,
and gathered the vineyard of the earth,
and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God:

20 And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
==================================================
13 "Die in the Lord"... It is understood of the martyrs who die for the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM – Ps 95:10, 11-12, 13
Venit Dóminus iudicáre terram.
He shall judge the world with justice.

1 A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people. 4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary. 7 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour: 8 Bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: 9 Adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved at his presence.

Say ye among the Gentiles,
the Lord hath reigned.
For he hath corrected the world,
which shall not be moved:
he will judge the people with justice.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad
, let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof:

The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful.
Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice
Before the face of the Lord, because he cometh:
because he cometh to judge the earth.

He shall judge the world with justice,
and the people with his truth.
================================================
1 "When the house was built"... Alluding to that time, and then ordered to be sung: but principally relating to the building of the church of Christ, after our redemption from the captivity of Satan.

ALLELUIA – Rv 2:10c
Esto fidelis usque ad mortem, dicit Dóminus,
et dabo tibi corónam vitæ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

GOSPEL – Lk 21:5-11
There will not be left a stone upon another stone.

And some saying of the temple,
that it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts,
he said:

These things which you see, the days will come
in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone
that shall not be thrown down.

And they asked him, saying:
Master, when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign
when they shall begin to come to pass?

Who said: Take heed you be not seduced;
for many will come in my name,
saying, I am he; and the time is at hand:
go ye not therefore after them.

And when you shall hear of wars and seditions,
be not terrified: these things must first come to pass;
but the end is not yet presently.

Then he said to them:
Nation shall rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.

And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places,
and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven;
and there shall be great signs.

Thanks to you both for your faithfulness.

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	You're Making Part of Your Choice This Day!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Revelation 14:14-19; Luke 21:5-11

There are some things in every one of our lives that seem absolutely permanent and entirely indestructible. For most children, their parents have that feeling and, for many, so does their home, their school, and their church. For most of us adults, there's a similar sense of timelessness and permanence to edifices like the Washington Monument and the US capitol, even when we're angry with congress.

That same feeling of permanence was even more true of the thoughts and emotions that faithful Jews experienced when they visited the great Temple in Jerusalem. If anything would last, the Temple would, they thought. But in today's Gospel, Jesus told them otherwise. It would all disappear, and sooner than they might think. And indeed it did.

There's a tendency in us all to put our faith in things we can see and touch, and that's a great mistake, as Jesus reminds us. Eventually, everything that we can see and touch, including our very bodies, will pass away. And what will we be left with then? Nothing but the hearts that we have formed and shaped in a lifetime of thinking, choosing and acting — for good or ill. Nothing but our hearts and the good Lord who has been waiting to greet us face to face.

When that great moment comes, there will be only one question that counts: Have we grown into God's likeness and have we learned to see as He sees, to think as He thinks, and to love as He loves? If we have, we'll have a thrilling eternity ahead of us in the bosom of God and of God's big family. If we have not, our destiny is to live alone forever within sight of the wonderful family that can never be ours.

Whichever it's going to be, you're making part of your choice this very day.

Thanks in turn for the inspiration ... every time I falter ... there you are, still true.

=)

The Word Among Us

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Meditation
Luke 21:5-11

Jesus’ words to his disciples can sound like something right out of today’s newspapers. It seems that no matter where you look, you will find reports of war, famine, confusion, and unrest. And if you put all the pieces together in just the right way, you may be led to conclude that we really are living in the end times.

But Jesus was careful to tell his disciples not just to look out for signs that might predict the end. And doesn’t our own history bear this out? After all, we’ve seen ages before ours that were far worse off than we are, and still the end didn’t come. It’s just as Jesus told his disciples once: Just as the poor will always be with us, so too will “signs” of the end times. In a sense, we’ve been in the end times since the day Jesus ascended into heaven. He could come back any time, and no matter how hard we try to predict his coming, he will still catch us by surprise.

So how do we stay prepared for an event that we may not even live to see fulfilled? The answer is as simple today as it was two thousand years ago: by staying close to Jesus. Those of us who are married will remember what it was like when we first fell in love. We were so taken with our beloved that nothing could distract us from our desire to be with them. In a similar way, Jesus wants to become our beloved. He wants to so fill our imaginations that we want nothing more than to rest in his love and become pure vessels of that love to the world around us. And as this happens, we can become convinced that no matter what happens in the world, God is still in control.

As we pray every day and read Scripture, even if it’s just for five or ten minutes, our worries will diminish, and we will fall in love with Jesus. Then, whether Jesus comes back today or in ten thousand years, we will be ready to meet him with open arms.

“Lord, you know me and love me so completely that there is nothing I have to fear. Please fill me more and more with you so that my hope rests in your peace and not in the passing of world events.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, November 23, 2004 >>

Pope St. Clement
St. Columban
Bl. Miguel Pro

Revelation 14:14-19

Psalm 96

Luke 21:5-11

View Readings

END TIMING

“Now is the time to reap.” —Revelation 14:15

At the end, Jesus, the King of kings, will come riding on a white cloud with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand (Rv 14:14). He will gather the harvest of justice (Rv 14:16). Then an angel will come from the temple in heaven. He will also wield a sharp sickle to gather the grapes of wrath (Rv 14:19). We will all be harvested, either by our loving Lord or by the “grim reaper.”

“When will this be, Teacher? And what will be the sign that it is going to happen?” (Lk 21:7) The answer is: Soon and “very soon” we are going to see the King (Rv 1:1). “Happy is the man who reads this prophetic message, and happy are those who hear it and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near!” (Rv 1:3) “As regards specific times and moments, brothers, we do not need to write you; you know very well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. Just when people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ ruin will fall on them with the suddenness of pains overtaking a woman in labor, and there will be no escape. You are not in the dark, brothers, that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief. No, all of you are children of light and of the day. We belong neither to darkness nor to night; therefore let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober!” (1 Thes 5:1-6) “The One Who gives this testimony says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rv 22:20)

Prayer: Jesus, may I be ready for Your final coming at any time. I need to be ready now.

Promise: “Say among the nations: The Lord is King.” —Ps 96:10

Praise: Bl. Miguel’s priesthood lasted only two years before he was captured and martyred. Yet in those two years, he courageously defied Mexico City’s ban on worship and celebrated Mass secretly for thousands of Catholics.

Optional Memorials of St. Clement I, pope & martyr; St. Columban, abbot; Bl. Miguel Pro, priest and martyr

Old Calendar: St. Clement I; St. Felicitas, martyr

St. Clement is the third successor of St. Peter who ruled the Church from c. 92 to 102 and is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. Pope St. Clement wrote a letter to the Corinthians, which is one of the most ancient and precious documents surviving from early Christian times; it shows his profoundly religious spirit, wholly imbued with the mystery of the things of God and love of Christian unity.

The most famous of Irish monks, St. Columban was born around 525-530. Well educated and desiring to be a "pilgrim of God," Columban traveled to France and founded several well-disciplined monasteries as centers of religion and culture. Because of difficulties he decided to retrun to Ireland. A shipwreck directed him towards Rome and to the founding of his final monastery, at Bobbio in Italy. The aged Abbot died on this date in 615. His feast was moved from November 21. It is celebrated on November 24 by Benedictines and Ireland.

Fr. Miguel Pro was born in Guadalupe, Mexico, in 1891. The Mexican government began a major persecution of the Church in 1911. Fr. Pro completed his studies in Belgium and was ordained a Jesuit in 1926. He returned to Mexico and performed his ministry heroically until November 23, 1927. He was caught and condemned for being a Catholic priest. Fr. Miguel Pro ended his life facing the firing squad with his arms outstretched until he became a living cross. He called out the words, Viva Cristo Rey! as his body was wracked with a hale of bullets. He was proclaimed "blessed" by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988.

Before the reform of the Roman Calendar in 1969, this was the commemoration of St. Felicitas, a Roman martyr of uncertain date. She was buried in the cemetery of Maximus. Her name occurs in the calendar of the Roman Church in the fifth century.

St. Clement

St. Clement I of Rome (92-101) was one of the first popes; according to St. Ireneus, he was the third after Peter. Clement most probably died as a martyr. Otherwise little is known of his life. It is not certain whether he is the one Paul mentions as his companion in Phil. 4:3. St. Clement's letter to the Corinthians is authentic; in it he authoritatively intervenes in that strife-torn community, a memorable act in the early history of the papacy.

The breviary gives these legendary details. Because of his zeal for souls, Pope Clement was banished to distant Chersonese; there he found two-thousand Christians who had received a similar sentence. When he came to these exiles he comforted them. "They all cried with one voice: Pray for us, blessed Clement, that we may become worthy of the promises of Christ. He replied: Without any merit of my own, the Lord sent me to you to share in your crowns." When they complained because they had to carry the water six miles, he encouraged them, "Let us all pray to the Lord Jesus Christ that He may open to His witnesses a fountain of water." "While blessed Clement was praying, the Lamb of God appeared to him; and at His feet a bubbling fountain of fresh water was flowing". Seeing the miracle, "All the pagans of the neighborhood began to believe."

When Trajan heard of these marvels, he ordered Clement to be drowned with an iron anchor about his neck. "While he was making his way to the sea, the people cried with a loud voice: Lord Jesus Christ, save him! But Clement prayed in tears: Father, receive my spirit". At the shore the Christians asked God to give them the body. The sea receded for three miles and there they found the body of the saint in a stone coffin within a small marble chapel; alongside lay the anchor. "You have given a dwelling to Your martyr Clement in the sea, O Lord, a temple of marble built by the hands of angels". The body was taken to Rome under Nicholas 1 (858-867) by Sts. Cyril and Methodius and placed in a church dedicated to his honor (S. Clemente). This is one of the most venerable of the churches in Rome because it retains all the liturgical arrangements of ancient times. — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: boatmen; marble workers; mariners; sailors; sick children; stonecutters; watermen.

Symbols: Double or triple cross; tiara; fountain; anchor; maniple; marble temple in the sea; cross and anchor; nimbed lamb.

St. Columban, Abbot

St. Columban was born in West Leinster, Ireland, sometime between 540 and 550, and decided when he was a youth, to dedicate himself to God despite his mother's opposition. He lived for a time on Cluain Iris, an island in Lough Erne, with a monk named Sinell, and then became a monk at Bangor. With twelve other monks he was sent as a missionary to Gaul about 585. He built his first monastery at Annegray about 590, and it was so successful that he followed with two more, at Luxeuil and Fontes (Fontaines). Soon his followers spread all over Europe, building monasteries in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. He aroused much opposition, especially from the Frankish bishops, by the Celtic usages he installed in his monasteries and for refusing to acknowledge bishops' jurisdiction over them. He defended his practices in letters to the Holy See and refused to attend a Gallican synod at Chalons in 603 when summoned to explain his Celtic usages. In 610 King Theodoric II of Burgundy, angered by Columban's denunciation of his refusal to marriage and his practice of keeping concubines, ordered all Irish monks banished from his realm. Columban was shipwrecked on the way to Ireland but was offered refuge by King Theodebert II of Neustria at Metz and began to evangelize the Alemanni in the area around Bregenz on Lake Constance. Though successful, he was again banished in 612, when Burgundy warred against and conquered Neustria; Theodoric now ruled over the area in which Columban was working. Columban decided to flee his old adversary and crossed the Alps to Italy, where he was welcomed to Milan by Arian King Agilulf of the Lombards. Columban founded a monastery at Bobbio, between Milan and Genoa, which became one of the great monasteries of its time—a center of culture, learning, and spirituality. He died there on November 23. Columban wrote his Monastic Rule, sermons, poetry, and treatises against Arianism. — Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney

Patron: against floods; motorcyclists.

Symbols: Bear's den; wolves; foliated crucifix; fountain; sunbeam.

Things to Do:

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Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro

Miguel Pro was born January 13, 1891, at Guadalupe Zacatecas, Mexico. From his childhood, high spirits and happiness were the most outstanding characteristics of his personality. The loving and devoted son of a mining engineer and a pious and charitable mother, Miguel had a special affinity for the working classes which he retained all his life.
At 20, he became a Jesuit novice and shortly thereafter was exiled because of the Mexican revolution. He traveled to the United States, Spain, Nicaragua and Belgium, where he was ordained in 1925. Father Pro suffered greatly from a severe stomach problem and when, after several operations his health did not improve, in 1926 his superiors allowed him to return to Mexico in spite of the religious persecution in the country.

The churches were closed and priests were in hiding. Father Pro spent the rest of his life in a secret ministry to the sturdy Mexican Catholics. In addition to fulfilling their spiritual needs, he also carried out the works of mercy by assisting the poor of Mexico City with their temporal needs. He adopted many disguises to carry out his secret ministry. In all that he did, he remained filled with the joy of serving Christ, his King, and obedient to his superiors.

Falsely accused in a bombing attempt on the President-elect, Pro became a wanted man. He was betrayed to the police and sentenced to death without the benefit of any legal process.

On the day of his death, Father Pro forgave his executioners, prayed, bravely refused the blindfold, and died proclaiming "Long Live Christ the King!"

St. Felicitas (or Felicity of Rome)

On July 10 we had the feast of the Seven Martyred Brothers; today their saintly mother receives special honor. Her body, together with that of her youngest son Silvanus, rests in the cemetery of Maximus; later her remains were transferred to the church of St. Susanna, where they still are honored. She was beheaded in 165 A.D.

"That blessed woman Felicity, whose Birth-feast we are keeping today, had as much dread of leaving her seven sons living after her in the flesh, as have carnal minded mothers of seeing them go dead before them. When she was taken in the strong pains of persecution, she braced up the hearts of her children by bidding them cleave to the Fatherland above, and became their mother for the spiritual, as she had aforetime been for the fleshly life, bringing them forth for God by her exhortation, as she had brought them forth for the world by her body. And shall I not call this woman a Martyr? Nay, more than Martyr. The seven whom she trusted to God were seven children sent before her to death. She suffered first and triumphed last." — Sermon by St. Gregory the Pope

Patron: death of children; martyrs; sterility; to have male children; widows.

Symbols: Seven swords; cauldron of oil and sword; sword with seven heads; eight palms.

Prayers:

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» Chaplet of Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ

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Activities:

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Recipes:

» Quarter Bannock
» Wayz-Goose

Collect:
All-powerful and ever-living God, we praise your power and glory revealed to us in the lives of all your saints. Give us joy on this feast of Saint Clement, the priest and martyr who bore witness with his blood to the love he proclaimed and the Gospel he preached. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Salvation,Mass bump.