Saints Simon and Jude

Saints Simon and Jude – October 28th

These two Apostles of Our Lord are honored on the same day. St. Simon was called “the Zealous One” because he had so much devotion to the Jewish law before he came to know Jesus. Once he had been called by Our Lord to be an Apostle, he gave his heart and his energy to preaching the Gospel. With the other Apostles, he received the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost. Then it is believed that he went to Egypt to preach the Faith. Afterwards he went to Persia with the Apostle St. Jude, and the two of them were martyred there.

St. Jude is sometimes called Thaddeus, which means ‘the Brave One.” It was he who asked Our Lord a famous question at the Last Supper. Jesus had said: “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” And St. Jude wanted to know: “Lord, how is it that You are about to manifest Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus gave him the answer: “If anyone love Me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him.”

St. Jude is sometimes called the Saint of “desperate cases.” People pray to him when things seem hopeless, and often God answers their prayers through the intercession of this beloved Apostle.

St. Jude wrote a beautiful letter which is in the Bible. In it he recommends compassion towards those who have gone astray. Let us, too, be merciful to those who have made mistakes, by not condemning them and by keeping quiet about their faults.

Bl. Contardo Ferrini

Bl. Contardo Ferrini – October 27th

Contardo’s father was a teacher of mathematics and physics and he early began teaching his little son his own love for study. As a young man, Contardo could speak many languages besides his own Italian. He did very well in every school and college he went to, and his great love for study and for his Catholic Faith made his friends nickname him their own ‘St. Aloysius’. It was Contardo who first started clubs for college students to help them form themselves into good Christians.

When he was twenty-one, he was offered a chance to study at the University of Berlin in Germany. It was hard for him to leave his home in Italy, but he was happy to meet many devout Catholics at the University of Berlin. He wrote down in a little book what he felt the first time he went to Confession in a foreign land: it thrilled him to realize that the Catholic Church is really the same everywhere a person goes.

By the next year, Contardo was trying to decide whether he should become a priest or a monk, or whether he should marry or just what he should do. As it turned out, he took a vow to give himself only to God, but he never became a priest or a brother. He went on teaching and writing and trying always to become a more perfect Christian. While enjoying his favorite sport of mountain-climbing, he would think of God, the Creator of all the beauty he saw. People noticed that there was something different about Professor Ferrini. Once when he had passed by with his usual warm smile, someone exclaimed “That man is a Saint!”

Today I will offer my prayers for lay apostles, so that they may be able to do much good, by their good example to the people with whom they live and work.

St. Evaristus

St. Evaristus – October 26th

St. Evaristus was the son of Guy, a Jew of Bethlehem who was living in Greece at the time of his son’s birth. Evaristus was brought up in the Jewish religion, and his father was so pleased with the boy’s virtue and knowledge that he sent him to the best teachers.

Evaristus became a Christian when he grew older. So great was his love for his new Faith that he decided to become a priest, too. At Rome, where he labored for souls, everyone grew to admire and love him. So it was that when the Pope was martyred, Evaristus was chosen to take his place. He felt he was completely unworthy to be Pope, but God knew better.

These were times of persecution for the Church. Such bad lies were spread about the Catholic Faith that the Romans thought nothing of putting Christians to death. Every man who became Pope was almost certain to be arrested. For about nine years, St. Evaristus ruled the Church, and his zeal was so great that the number of believers grew larger every day. At last, however, he was captured.

The jailors were amazed to see the joy on the holy man’s face as he was led to prison. St. Evaristus thought himself very privileged to have been found worthy to suffer and die for Jesus. No better gift could have been given him than his martyrdom.

I will live as a true Christian, even when this is hard to do.

FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING

FEAST OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST THE KING

The Last Sunday of October (Sunday between October 25 and 31 inclusive)

Pope Pius XI (whose motto was: Pax Christi in regno Christi) instituted the feast of Christ the King as a solemn affirmation of our Lord’s kingship over every human society; He is King, not only the soul and conscience, intelligence and will of all men, but also of families and cities, peoples and states and the whole universe. In his Encyclical Letter "Quas primas" the Pope showed how laicism or secularism, organizing society without any reference to God, leads to the apostasy of the masses and the ruin of society, because it is a complete denial of Christ’s Kingship. This is one of the great heresies of our time, and the Pope considered that this annual, public, social and official assertion of Christ’s divine right of Kingship over men in the liturgy would be an effective means of combating it.



That Christ if King over all creation is the theme of the whole Mass and Office of the feast. The Mass begins with the magnificent Apocalyptic vision of the Lamb of God, sacrificed but henceforth glorified for ever, acclaimed by the innumerable host of Angels and Saints (Intr.). By its position on the last Sunday of October, towards the end of the Liturgical year and just before All Saints, the feast of Christ the King comes as the climax of our celebration of all Christ’s mysteries and a kind of earthly anticipation of his everlasting reign over the elect in the glory of heaven. It sums up the Christian message that by His Death and Resurrection Christ has conquered sin and death and reigns in the glory of His victory among the elect who are its fruit. Christ is the creative Word; He is the Man-God, seated at the right hand of the Father; He is our Saviour; these are His threes title to kingship.



Prayer to Christ the King



O CHRIST Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the Universe. All that has been created has been made for You. Exercise upon me all Your rights. I renew my baptismal promises, renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps. I promise to live a good Christian life and to do all in my power to procure the triumph of the rights of God and Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You my poor actions in order to obtain that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred Royalty, and that thus the reign of Your peace may be established throughout the universe. Amen.

Blessed Richard Gwyn

Blessed Richard Gwyn – October 25th

Richard was a Welshman who lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, ruler of England and Wales, too. Because most of the people in Wales were still Catholic, the Queen and her ministers determined to crush the Faith there by cruel laws. Priests or people who were loyal to the Holy Father were put in prison, tortured and killed by a horrible method. Richard himself only became a Catholic after he had finished college and had become a teacher.

Before long, he was a hunted man. He escaped from jail once and a month later was arrested again. “You will be freed,” he was told, “if you will give up the Catholic Faith.” Bl. Richard absolutely refused. He was brought to a non-Catholic Church by force, but he upset the preacher’s whole sermon by clanking his chains loudly! Furious, the officials put him in the stocks for eight hours, and many came to abuse and insult him.

More time in prison and periods of torture followed. The Queen’s men wanted him to give them the names of other Catholics, but Richard would not. At his trial, men were paid to lie about him, as one of them admitted. The men on the jury were so dishonest that they asked the judge whom he wanted them to condemn! After Blessed Richard was sentenced to death, his wife and baby were brought into court. “Do not imitate your husband,” the poor woman was told. In disgust, she bravely snapped, “If you want more blood, you can take my life with my husband’s. If you give more money to your witnesses, they will surely find something to say against me, too!”

As Blessed Richard was being cruelly martyred, he cried out in terrible agony: “My God, what is this?” One of the officials mockingly answered: “An execution for Her Majesty, the Queen.” “Jesus, have mercy on me!” exclaimed the martyr, and then he was beheaded. The beautiful religious poems Bl. Richard wrote in prison are still in existence. In them, he begged his countrymen of Wales to be loyal to the Catholic Faith.

If today I have to suffer a little, I will not complain.

St. Raphael the Archangel

St. Raphael the Archangel - Patron of Doctors, Nurses, Lovers, and Travelers - October 24th

The Holy Bible tells us that a very kind and devout man named Tobias had become blind. But in his suffering, he remained as faithful to God as ever. One day, desiring to collect some money that a man owed him, he sent his son, young Tobias, off on a long trip to this man’s country. As the youth was about to leave, a handsome young man who called himself Azarias offered to go with him as his guide. Young Tobias soon found out what a wonderful companion he had! Azarias saved him from a monstrous fish and brought him to the home of a relative whose daughter, Sara, Tobias married on the advice of Azarias.

Sara was a holy young woman who had begged God to give her a good husband. Her prayer, too, was answered when Tobias asked her to be his wife. In the meantime, Azarias went on to collect the money owed to Tobias. When he got back, he and the young couple set off for home. Young Tobias and Azarias went on ahead toward the end of the trip. What joy there was when young Tobias’ worried parents saw him arriving! Next, Azarias told his friend to take the gall of the fish and apply it to his father’s eyes. He did do, and Tobias regained his sight! Meanwhile, Sara, the rich and beautiful bride of young Tobias, arrived with all the servants, cattle, camels, and money which was her dowry. For a whole week, everyone celebrated the wonderful happiness that had come to Tobias and his family.

The good man and his son were so grateful to the young man, Azarias, that they did not know how they would ever repay him. When they called him aside to ask him to accept half of all they owned, he revealed a tremendous secret to them: “I am the Angel Raphael,” he declared, “one of the seven who stand before the Lord!” Tobias and his son were filled with fear and fell to the ground. “Peace be to you, and fear not,” said the Archangel. “For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God.” He told them that God was pleased with Tobias because he had prayed, done penance and helped so many people. So He had sent St. Raphael to bring him many blessings. “It is time that I return to God,” Raphael concluded, and with that he was taken from their sight and they could see him not more.

To make sure that our prayers are heard by God, we should accompany them, as Tobias did, with little sacrifices and acts of charity toward our neighbor.

St. Allucio

St. Allucio – October 23rd

This Italian Saint was a simple shepherd and herdsman who took great interest in an almshouse nearby. An almshouse was a “poor house” for those who could not support themselves. Allucio’s kind heart was moved to pity for these poor people and he did everything he could to help them. This was his way of showing his love for God.

Although he was just a shepherd, the Saint was put in charge of the almshouse, because the officials knew how much good he would do there. And they were not disappointed either. St. Allucio made so many improvements that it almost seemed a new place entirely. Next, the Saint noticed how badly some shelters were needed at places where people had to cross rivers, and at mountain passes. He saw to it that many were built and he put generous young men to run them for the benefit of all travelers. Later these good men were called Brothers of St. Allucio.

It seemed as if the Saint felt he could never do enough to make the world a better place to live in. He took care of still more projects such as building a bridge over a big river. He made peace, too, between two cities about to fight each other.

St. Allucio might have tended to his sheep and let other people face their own problems. But those who love God never do that. He made other peoples’ troubles his own and in this way, he grew very dear to God.

I will be ready when I see a need. I will help, even at the cost of sacrifice.

St. Philip of Thrace

St. Philip of Thrace – October 22nd

Philip was a bishop in the time of the Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians. When the orders against Christians were first published in his city, many who loved him begged him to leave. But he would not even consider it. The door of his Church was sealed up first of all, so he held services outdoors in front of it. When the soldiers came to take the sacred vessels and the Holy Scriptures, he encouraged his Christian people to stand up bravely for the Faith, and nothing could frighten him away.

As the holy bishop was being taken to prison, some people in the watching mob pushed him down. Others admired the way he quietly picked himself up, smiling all the while. As he and his deacon Hermes entered the prison, their faces shone with joy. They even sang a hymn of thanksgiving!

To every command to offer sacrifice to the gods, Philip answered, “I am a Christian and cannot do that. You can punish our refusal, but you cannot make us do what you command.” The officer threatened to torture him, yet the Bishop said: “You may torment me, but you cannot conquer me. No power can make me sacrifice to the gods.”

And the rulers discovered he meant just what he said. No matter what they did to Saints Philip and Hermes, they would not give up the Faith. On the contrary, as they were being led out to execution, Hermes joyfully said to his Bishop: “Let us hurry to go to the Lord!”

In imitation of these heroic martyrs, I will offer up little sacrifices for love of Our Lord.

St. Hilarion

St. Hilarion – October 21st

Hilarion was a pagan lad when he left his home in Palestine to go to school in Egypt. There he learned about the Christian Faith, and soon he was baptized. Hilarion was only about fifteen at this time, but before long, he was off on a visit to the famous St. Anthony in the desert. He wanted to be alone to serve Jesus, whom he had just come to love. Hilarion stayed two months with St. Anthony, but it was not quiet enough there for him. Too many people came to St. Anthony for help, in his opinion. So he left and after giving everything he had to the poor, he went into the wilderness to live as a hermit.

Hilarion had to battle many temptations. At times it seemed to him as if none of his prayers were heard at all. Yet he did not let these temptations stop him from praying even harder.

After twenty years in the desert, the holy man worked his first miracle and soon many people began coming to his hut to beg his help. Many men asked him to let them stay with him to learn how to pray and do penance. In his great love of God and souls, the Saint did not refuse. But finally, when he was sixty-five, he began going from one country to another trying to find peace and quiet. The fame of his miracles of mercy always brought crowds of visitors, however. It was not until a few years before he died at eighty that this great lover of God could be alone with Him.

When I say my prayers I will avoid every willful distraction.

St. John Kanti

St. John Kanti – October 20th

This Polish Saint was the son of good country-folk. Seeing how intelligent their son was, they sent him to the University of Cracow. He did well in his studies and became a priest, a teacher, and a preacher. John was also well-known for his great love of the poor. Once he was eating in the University dinning hall when he happened to see a beggar passing by the window. Immediately he jumped up and brought the man his meal!

There were some people who became very jealous of St. John’s success as a teacher and preacher. They finally managed to have him sent to a parish as the pastor. Here, he put his whole heart into the new life, but at first things did not go well at all. The people did not particularly care for John, and John himself was rather afraid of the responsibility. He did not give up, however, and his efforts brought results. By the time he was called back to the University, the people of his parish loved him dearly. They went part of the way with him and were so sad to see him go that he had to tell them: “This sadness does not please God. It I have done any good for you in all these years, sing a song of joy!”

Back in Cracow, St. John taught the Holy Bible and again became a very popular teacher. He was invited to the homes of rich nobles, but still he gave everything he had to the poor and dressed very poorly himself. Once he wore such an old cassock to a banquet that the servants refused to let him in. St. John went home and changed into a new one. During the dinner, someone spilled a dish of food on the new cassock! “Never mind,” said the Saint with good humor, “my cassock deserves some food, anyway, because without it, I wouldn’t have been here at all!”

St. John lived to be eight-three, and again and again during all those years he cleaned out everything he owned to help the poor. When people burst into tears on hearing that he was dying, he said, “Don’t worry about this prison which is decaying! Think of the soul that is going to leave it.”

From this saint I want to learn to do my duties for God alone, without expecting any reward here on earth.