Saint Paschal Baylon, OFM, Religious (Memorial) ~ 17 May

Paschal was born on 16 May, 1540 which was the feast of Pentecost in the town of Torre Hermosa, Aragon, Spain. He was named Paschal in honour of Pascua de Pentecosta (the Paschal or Easter Feast of Pentecost). His father Martin Baylon and mother Elizabeth Jubera were poor in worldly goods but rich in piety and Christian virtue. The child appeared to be endowed with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in an eminent degree. He was joyfully attentive and obedient to the good lessons his parents taught him, and he so excelled other children of his age in understanding of the divine truths and zeal for virtue that everybody marveled at it. His mother was a deeply religious woman, she took him to Mass in the parish church, and from then on Paschal fell in love with the Blessed Sacrament.

In his early life, Paschal laboured as a shepherd for his father, performed miracles, and was distinguished for his austerity. He also taught himself to read by asking passersby to teach him the alphabet and to read, and as he toiled in the fields as a shepherd, he would read religious books. Receiving a vision which told him to enter a nearby Franciscan community, he became a Franciscan lay brother of the Alcantrine reform in 1564. On the road, while gathering alms, Paschal of Baylon always had his rosary in his hand and God in his heart. Paschal fostered special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he called his Mother, and to the Blessed Sacrament, and it proved a constant means to rekindle his zeal. God showed how pleased He was with his devotion. One day while out-of-doors, Paschal of Baylon devoutly knelt down to adore the Blessed Sacrament when the bell announced the Consecration. At that moment the Blessed Sacrament was presented to him in a monstrance supported by angels hovering in the air. Paschal of Baylon was frequently found before the tabernacle prostrate or with his arms outstretched, or even rapt in ecstasy. Paschal of Baylon was known for his administrations to the poor and for his many miraculous cures.

Paschal died on 17 May, 1592 at a friary in Villareal, people flocked to his tomb immediately after his burial and miracles were reported promptly. Pascal was beatified in 1618 by Pope Paul V and was canonized in 16 October, 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII. In 1897 Pope Leo XIII declared Saint Paschal of Baylon patron of all eucharistic confratemities and congresses. He is also the patron of shepherds and cooks. Saint Paschal of Baylon is usually depicted in adoration before a vision of the Eucharist.

"Seek God above all things. It is right for you to seek God before and above everything else, because the majesty of God wishes you to receive what you ask for. This will also make you more ready to serve God and will enable you to love him more perfectly" 

~ * ~ Saint Paschal of Baylon ~ * ~

Saturday, 17 May, 2014
St. Paschal Baylon, OFM, Religious (Memorial)

Reading

Acts 13: 44 - 52
44	The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God.
45	But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him.
46	And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
47	For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, `I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'"
48	And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49	And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region.
50	But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
51	But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to Ico'nium.
52	And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Psalm

Psalms 98: 1 - 4
1	O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2	The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3	He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4	Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Gospel

John 14: 7 - 14
7	If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him."
8	Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied."
9	Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father'?
10	Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11	Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
12	"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.
13	Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
14	if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

St. Bernardine of Siena, OFM Priest (Memorial) ~ 20 May 2014

Bernardine was born in Massa Marittima, Carrara, Italy on 8 September 1380. At the age 20, he gave up his studies at the university in order to help the sick during the period of the great plague in the hospital S. Maria della Scala. He became a Franciscan friar in the Church of San Franceso in Siena on 18 September 1402. Bernardine lead a hermit's life. He was assigned the task of preaching to which he submitted humbly despite suffering throat affliction. God heard his prayer and petition, and the ailment was miraculously cured. He was a powerful and eloquent preacher, therefore pope Pius II called him the second Paul. In 1417, he began his journeys as the zealous apostle of Italy, inculcating love and reverence toward the holy Name of Jesus which he continued until his death.

Bernardine died on the 20 May 1444 at Aquilea in the midst of his missionary labours and on 14 May 1450, he was canonized by Pope Nikolaus V at the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome. Saint Bernardine of Siena is the patron saint for advertisers, advertising, against hoarseness, communications, compulsive or uncontrolled gambling, gambling addicts, lungs, public relations, chest, and respiratory, or lung problems. Saint Bernardine of Siena is often potrayed as a Franciscan holding a sun upon which the Name of Jesus (IHS) is inscribed.

O God, who gave the Priest Saint Bernardine of Siena a great love for the holy Name of Jesus, grant through his merits and prayers, that we may ever be set aflame with the spirit of your love. 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.

Tuesday, 20 May, 2014
St. Bernardine of Siena, OFM Priest (Memorial)

Reading

Acts 14: 19 - 28
19	But Jews came there from Antioch and Ico'nium; and having persuaded the people, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20	But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city; and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
21	When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Ico'nium and to Antioch,
22	strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
23	And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
24	Then they passed through Pisid'ia, and came to Pamphyl'ia.
25	And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attali'a;
26	and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
27	And when they arrived, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
28	And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Psalm

Psalms 145: 10 - 13, 21
10	All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee!
11	They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power,
12	to make known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of thy kingdom.
13	Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
21	My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Gospel

John 14: 27 - 31
27	Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28	You heard me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29	And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
30	I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
31	but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.

St. Leonard of Port Maurice, OFM, Priest (Memorial)

20 December 1676 ~ 26 November 1751

Beatified on 19 June 1796 by Pope Pius VI

Canonized on 29 June 1867 by Pope Pius IX

Leonard was born in Port Maurice on the north-western coast of Italy and named Paul Jerome Casanuova. In 1697, he joined the Friars Minor and on 2 October 1697, he received the habit with the name of Brother Leonard. Leonard, was devoted and widely promoted the devotion of the Stations of the Cross. St. Leonard preached the Way of the Cross at missions for forty-three years and reportedly set up stations in 571 locations throughout Italy, including the Colosseum in Rome. The Franciscan Order celebrates his feast on 26 November.

Tuesday, 26 November, 2013
St. Leonard of Port Maurice, OFM, Priest (Memorial)

Reading

Daniel 2: 31 - 45
31	"In your vision, O king, you saw a statue, very large and exceedingly bright, terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.
32	The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs bronze,
33	the legs iron, its feet partly iron and partly tile.
34	While you looked at the statue, a stone which was hewn from a mountain without a hand being put to it, struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces.
35	The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once, fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer, and the wind blew them away without leaving a trace. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36	"This was the dream; the interpretation we shall also give in the king's presence.
37	You, O king, are the king of kings; to you the God of heaven has given dominion and strength, power and glory;
38	men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell, he has handed over to you, making you ruler over them all; you are the head of gold.
39	Another kingdom shall take your place, inferior to yours, then a third kingdom, of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth.
40	There shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron; it shall break in pieces and subdue all these others, just as iron breaks in pieces and crushes everything else.
41	The feet and toes you saw, partly of potter's tile and partly of iron, mean that it shall be a divided kingdom, but yet have some of the hardness of iron. As you saw the iron mixed with clay tile,
42	and the toes partly iron and partly tile, the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
43	The iron mixed with clay tile means that they shall seal their alliances by intermarriage, but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44	In the lifetime of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever.
45	That is the meaning of the stone you saw hewn from the mountain without a hand being put to it, which broke in pieces the tile, iron, bronze, silver, and gold. The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future; this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure."

Psalm

Daniel 3: 57 - 61
57	Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
58	Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
59	You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
60	All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
61	All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Gospel

Luke 21: 5 - 11
5	And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he 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.

Saint Anthony of Padua, OFM, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Feast)

Follow Saint Anthony’s footsteps and help the poor.

Feast Day

13 June

Saint Anthony of Padua, O.F.M, was born in Lisbon as Fernando Martins de Bulhões on 15 August 1195 and is also known as Anthony of Lisbon and Saint Anthony the Wonder-Worker. He was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Saint Anthony of Padua is one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints. Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles, He was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher. He’s often portrayed holding the child Jesus or a lily in his arms, in honour of an apparition of the Infant Jesus, in which He kissed Saint Anthony and told him He loved him . Many people give alms to Saint Anthony in thanksgiving to God for blessings received through the prayers of Saint Anthony. Saint Anthony's extraordinary love for the poor is portrayed in his actions of feeding the hungry. This act is well-known as Saint Anthony’s Bread for the Poor and is a one of the popular method for people to emulate the spirit of the saint in feeding the hungry.

At 15, he joined the community of Canons Regular of St Augustine in Lisbon and at 17, he was transferred to the Augustinian Monastery of Santa Cruz at Coimbra which was renowned for its biblical scholarship. He then 25, was inspired to die for Christ by the martyrdom of the first Franciscan Friars whose bodies were brought back from Morocco to Coimbra where he was studying. He was deeply affected by their deaths where Berard, Peter and Otto who were priests while Adiuto and Accursio were brothers whom had had tried out of love to convert the Sultan of Morrocco and gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel.

Soon after, he joined the Franciscan Friars taking the name "Anthony" after the patron of the friary at Coimbra called Saint Anthony of the Olives and within a few months he was sailing for Morocco to achieve his dream of martyrdom. This did not last long as God had other plans for Anthony. He became ill with malarial fever and it was necessary for him to return home. On the voyage journey back there was a violent storm causing the ship to turn and run before the wind. They were blown all the way to Sicily where they found safety in the harbour at Messina and here Anthony found a group of Franciscan Friars. On getting to know about a great meeting of the friars at Pentecost, Anthony happily accompanied the friars north to Assisi. On the 23 May 1221, he attended the great Chapter of Mats and was one unknown, new, foreign friar among the thousands gathered at the meeting.

Saint Anthony's preaching came to the attention of Saint Francis, the founder of the Franciscans, who directed him to teach theology to the Franciscan brothers. He preached so strongly against the Cathars and Albigenses which earned him the title "Hammer of the Heretics." During his life, he performed many miracles, including rendering poisoned food innocuous by making the Sign of the Cross over it; bilocating (appearing in two places at one time) so that he could celebrate Mass and sing the Divine Office; and reattaching an amputated foot. His miracles, both during his life and after his death, has made him known as "the Wonder Worker".

Saint Anthony died in Padua on 13 June 1231, , and his feast is celebrated on that day.. St. Anthony's canonization was one of the fastest in history as it took less than 12 months. He was canonised in the town of Spoleto by Pope Gregory IX on the 30 May 1232. When his body was exhumed to be transferred it was found that although his body had disintegrated his tongue was whole, life-like and of a natural colour. St Bonaventure, seeing this miracle cried out, "O blessed tongue, you have always praised the Lord and led others to praise him! Now we can clearly see how great indeed have been your merits before God." He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 16 January 1946.

Patron saint of faith in the Blessed Sacrament, amputees, sailors, elderly people, seekers of lost articles, animals especially horses, expectant mothers and barren women.

“Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travellers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey. They must have the Passion of Christ deeply embedded in their minds and hearts, because only from it can they derive peace, grace, and truth.”

~ St. Anthony of Padua ~

The year 2013 marks the 750th anniversary of the discovery Saint Anthony's relics by Saint Bonaventure and the 782nd anniversary of Saint Anthony's death.

Thursday, June 13, 2013 

St. Anthony of Padua, OFM, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Feast)

Reading 1

Wisdom 7: 7 - 14
7	Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
8	I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
9	Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
10	I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.
11	All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.
12	I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them; but I did not know that she was their mother.
13	I learned without guile and I impart without grudging; I do not hide her wealth,
14	for it is an unfailing treasure for men; those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction.

or

Ephesians 4: 7, 11 - 15
7	But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
11	And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12	to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13	until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;
14	so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.
15	Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Psalm

Psalms 40: 3 - 4, 10 - 11, 17
3	He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
4	Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods!
10	I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.
11	Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me!
17	As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me. Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!

Gospel

Mark 16: 15 - 20
15	And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16	He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17	And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18	they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19	So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20	And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.

Order of Friars Minor,OFM

Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans: O.F.M.) was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi.  

O.F.M. stands for the Order of Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the official title of the Franciscan order. When the initials follow the name of a priest or lay religious, it indicates that the person is a Franciscan.

Order of Capuchin Friars Minor  - abbreviated as O.F.M.Cap.

Order of Conventual Friars Minor - abbreviated as O.F.M.Conv.

For example, the Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey and St. Padre Pio were both Franciscans, but Fr. Casey belonged to the Capuchin branch and Padre Pio to the Conventual branch.

The Franciscan “habit” is a full-length robe designed in the form of a cross. Originally made of rough, unbleached, homespun wool, today it can be made of other types of material as well. It is brown in colour, though gray or even white is sometimes used by friars living in warmer climes. The habit is tied at the waist by a white cord. Three knots at one end of it recall the three Gospel vows which are at the base of the Franciscan life.