Tag Archives: Saint

St. Aloysius Gonzaga (21 JUNE)

21 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by in Inspirational Christians, Saints and Feast Days

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St. Aloysius Gonzaga was a Jesuit priest who served the infirmed during the Plague of 1591 in Rome. He was born into a wealthy family. His father was a military hero and desired the same for his son. As a child, Gonzaga would teach the equivalent to catechism classes to poor youth. He would fast and pray multiple times a day as a child. Initially, due to his father’s expectations, he trained to become a soldier in the Spanish Army until he contracted a kidney disease. While recuperating, he decided to enter into the priesthood. He learned about the servant nature of the Jesuits and decided to join their order. While a priest and serving the infirmed, he fell victim to the plague and died at the age of 23. He was canonized into sainthood by Pope Benedict XIII in 1723. St. Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of youth and teenagers.

REFLECTION

Truth be told, my knowledge of St. Aloysius Gonzaga was quite limited. The first time I heard of Gonzaga was the University named after him in Washington State. It was in 2006 when Adam Morrison and the men’s basketball team made a historic run in the NCAA tournament. Morrison was on the cover of EA Sport’s NCAA March Madness 07. Unfortunately, Morrison’s career seemed to fizzle into obscurity, at least in the United States.

It’s interesting reading about the legacy of St. Aloysius Gonzaga and his dedication to teaching youth. His upbringing would suggest that he could care less about the poor. Instead, the light and call of God pulled him into a different path, different than what his father wanted. He gave up a potentially lucrative military career to teach, preach and care for the sick. Although he died four months after his start at the infirmary, he still served. He knew that there was a strong possibility of dying, but he did it anyway.

Every day I run into people who decided to go against what society wants for them, and serve something bigger than them, God. They leave very profitable jobs to become missionaries. They sacrifice time away from their families in order to train military service members. They risk their lives with the hope of inspiring someone to greatness. This is the spirit of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. It’s the spirit of a saint.

– Fr. JMH

St. Matthias (25 FEB)

25 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by in Saints and Feast Days, The Church

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O Almighty God, who into the place of Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the Twelve: Grant that thy Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 – From Holy Women, Holy Men, 2009

Little is known of St. Matthias. He was an earlier follower of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles. After the crucifixion and resurrection, the Apostles had to re-evaluate their team and mission. They were one Apostle short.

According to the author of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter asked the Apostles to consider either Barabbas (aka Joseph, Justus) or Matthias. After some deliberation, the Apostles chose Matthias.

REFLECTION

My comments and reflection are a little limited. There is little to no information on St. Matthias except he being the replacement of Judas Iscariot. Either way, St. Matthias, like the other eleven, served the church and the “Way” of Jesus Christ during a time in which mass hysteria, confusion, sorrow, and joy was occurring all at the same time. Not everyone could have been faithful enough to step up and serve in that capacity.

In the end, the lesson I learned from St. Matthias is that faithfulness and service goes beyond the state of affairs of everyone around you. The relationship between you and God is a constant.

 – JMH+

St. Polycarp (23 FEB)

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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O God, the maker of heaven and earth, who didst give to thy venerable servant, the holy and gentle Polycarp, boldness to confess Jesus Christ as King and Savior, and steadfastness to die for his faith: Give us grace, after his example, to share the cup of Christ and rise to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

– Collect from Holy Women, Holy Men

St. Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey) in the 2nd century. It is believed that he was consecrated to the episcopate by St. John the Apostle. This account is recounted by Church Historian and Theologian St. Jerome. As bishop, St. Polycarp served churches in Philippi. St. Polycarp is also known as one of the three Apostolic Fathers; alongside Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch. He served during a time in which Christianity was at its infancy, and subjected to much persecution. St. Polycarp was captured and martyred. The first attempt was being burned at the stake, however, miraculously, the flames did not touch the Bishop. The final, and fatal attempt was a stab with a dagger.

REFLECTION

St. Polycarp is revered in the Roman, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches. His example as a Bishop during the 2nd century is nothing short of inspirational. He served his people faithfully, until death. It is quite evident that God showed favor unto him via the miracle of the flames at his execution.

St. Polycarp is interesting because of his being so close to the New Testament writers, but not having any text included in the Biblical New Testament Canon. He, St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Clement of Rome are given the honorific title of the Apostolic Fathers for that reason.

It causes food for thought for me to see the amount of things St. Polycarp has done, and how relatively unknown he is outside of theological circles. Perhaps that is a lesson to all of us. It’s not about the fame, but the work. It’s not about the position, but the work, and the faith it takes to serve in the position.

 – JMH+

Chair of St. Peter (22 FEB)

22 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in The Church, The Liturgical Year

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Cathedra Petri - USE THIS

O God, Who by delivering to Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, didst confer upon him the pontifical power of binding and of loosing, grant that, by the help of his intercession, we may be delivered from the bonds of our sins. Who livest and reignest with Thee, One God, world without end. Amen.

– Roman Catholic Prayer

The Chair of Saint Peter, or the cathedra (latin) or kathedra (greek) is believed to be the seat or throne of the First Bishop of Christianity. The day is to celebrate the day St. Peter first held a service, as Bishop in Rome. However, there is much speculation over which “seat was first.” Prior to Pope John XXIII, the Roman Church would celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Rome (18 JANUARY), and the Feast of St. Peter in Antioch (22 FEBRUARY). Some early church documents point to the chair in Antioch older than the one in Rome. Other documents state the inverse. However, the late Pope decided that the chair in Rome was first, thus the January date is celebrated. However, old habits die hard. Older Roman Catholics, Anglo-Catholics, Lutherans celebrate one, or both days as a commemoration to the office of the Episcopate.

REFLECTION

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Despite where the chair was first, the office of the Episcopate is one that is highly revered for several reasons. Being the pastor to pastors, the “Prince of the Church” and in the line of St. Peter the Apostle is very appealing to those who are called to this vocation. It is  to the point where denominations that are NOT liturgical, NOT connected to Apostolic Succession nor believe in the episcopal structure of church governance, have “Bishops.”

At the beginning of my “official” transition to Anglicanism, I struggled with the episcopal structure. Coming from a Baptist lens, a “bishop” was nothing more than a Pentecostal minister who has a mega-church and spend a lot of time in ministry. I would called them “Bishop” because that is what they wanted to be called. If I did not call them “Bishop so and so”, they would hold some sort of grudge against me and label me disrespectful.

When I first spoke to my current Bishop over the phone, I called him “Bishop” and he corrected me by instructing me to call him by his first name. I was stunned! Here was a man, who is a Bishop with valid Apostolic Succession, and he is not hung up on the title! That one time, I complied, however, I was so impressed with his emphasis on the role of the Bishop, and not the title, vestments, or prestige, I have NO problem calling him or any other Bishop “Your Grace.”

The Pope, or, the Bishop of Rome, is to be respected due to his position as a successor and occupier of St. Peter’s Chair. Although I disagree with some of the Holy Father‘s actions and decrees, especially the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, I do commend his service to God and society. May God bless him, as he moves on to the next stage of his life next week.

 – JMH+

St. Conrad of Piacenza (19 FEB)

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Ascetic Theology, Saints and Feast Days

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St Conrad

Almighty God, You attracted Saint Conrad through his zeal for justice to serve You faithfully in the desert. Through his prayers may we live justly and piously, and happily succeed in coming to You. Amen.

 – Roman Catholic Prayer

St. Conrad was a relatively “well-to-do” man whose carelessness and repentant heart turned his life around. The story begins with St. Conrad hunting with his servant or entourage equivalent. He tells them to light a fire in woods. The fire then spreads and destroys everything in its path. A random peasant is blamed for the fire and is sentenced to execution. Right as the man is being lead to his death, Conrad comes clean about the fire being his fault. He pays for the damages, which wipes out all his possessions. He is reduced to poverty.

He takes this experience as a time for he and his wife to grow closer to God. As a result, they decided to split up. He became a Franciscan hermit, and she became a nun in the Order of Poor Clares. He earned the reputation of being devout and holy. Soon after, we went into the desert in order to escape the crowds and grow closer to God. He died on 19 FEBRUARY 1351 while praying in front of a crucifix.

REFLECTION

St. Conrad’s story is one of redemption. It’s the story of a guy who messes up, attempts to fix the mistake, and realized that the opportunity to make the attempt is granted by God. The act of selling all his material possessions and splitting up with his wife, all to serve God is remarkable. Many in today’s society one would never sell all their possession, and would divorce their spouse at the drop of a dime.

He, in effect, went from riches to rags, and then to riches. Its a story we can learn from. Rather than chasing financial wealth, we can chase the spiritual wealth, that is a right relationship with God.

 – JMH+

Saints Cyril and Methodius (14 FEB)

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Saints and Feast Days

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“O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

 – Roman Catholic Church Collect

Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers and monks who educated Christians in the Slavic region of the world by translating the Bible in their native language in the 8th century. Both, who were educated philosophers, took the monastic life. Although they received pressure from the German clergy elite of the day to cease teaching in the Slavic language, they persisted. St. Cyril died approximately 15 years after taking monastic vows. St. Methodius rose to the ecclesiastical office of the episcopate (bishop).

REFLECTION

In reflecting on the contribution of these two men, I walk away with a feeling of admiration. Considering that at the time of their instruction and subsequent opposition, they did not have the protection of a bishop to lean on. They depended on the guidance of God, and the support of each other.

As an Anglican Cleric, I have seen many clergy, including Roman Catholic and Orthodox, who will not do anything without the express consent of their bishop. Although it is always wise to yield to authority, there are times in which one may need to veer off the straight and narrow path in order to achieve a greater good that ecclesiastical authority may not necessarily see. These times may be very few and far in between, but denying the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to you is also a danger. If our saints for the day have taught is, if God is directing it, HE will provide.

 – JMH+