Cristy Li

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria (1502-1539)

(CNA) Born into an Italian family of nobility in Cremona, Anthony’s father died shortly after his birth, his mother Antonietta though only 18 yrs old, chose not to remarry, preferring instead to devote herself to works of charity and Anothny’s education.

Antonietta’s son, took after her in devotion to God and generosity towards the poor. As a youth, Anthony studied Latin and Greek and later was sent to Pavia to study Philosophy subsequently studying Medicine and earning his degree by the age of 22 and then returned to Cremona.

Despite Anthony’s noble background and secular education, the young Physician had no interest in marrying or accumulating wealth. While caring for the physical infirmities of his patients, Anthony would also encourage that they find spiritual healing through repentance and the sacraments.

Anthony began teaching Catechism to children and went on to participate in the religious formation of young adults subsequently he decided to withdraw from medicine altogether and with the encouragement of his spiritual director, he went on to study for the Priesthood.

Ordained by the age of 26 now Fr. Anthony Zaccaria, is said to have experienced a miraculous occurrence during the Celebration of his first Mass as a young Priest–Being surrounded by a supernatural light and a multitude of Angels during the consecration of the Eucharist. — Contemporary witnesses marveled at the event and testified to it after Fr. Anthony’s death.

Church life in Cremona suffered a decline in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, Fr, Anthony encountered a widespread ignorance and religious indifference among the Laity, while many of the clergy were either weak or corrupt. — In these dire circumstances, Fr. Anthony devoted his life to proclaiming the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ both clearly and charitably. Within the span of just two years, his eloquent preaching and tireless pastoral care is said to have changed the moral character of the city dramatically.

In 1530 Fr. Anthony moved to Milan, where a similar spirit of corruption and religious neglect prevailed, there he decided to form a priestly society, the ‘Clerics Regular of St. Paul’ — Inspired by the Apostle’s life and writings, the new Order was founded on a vision of humility, asceticism, poverty and the ministry of preaching. Subsequently Fr. Anthony also founded a Women’s religious Order, ‘The Angelic Sisters of St. Paul” an organization the Laity of St. Paul, geared toward the sanctification of those outside the priesthood and religious life; Later Fr. Anthony pioneered the ’40 Hours’ of devotion, involving continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Less than 10 years after moving to Milan, Fr. Anthony became seriously ill, returning to his mother’s home in Cremona — The founder of the ‘Clerics Regular of St Paul’ subsequently died on this date in 1539 during the liturgical octave of the Feast of Saint’s Peter & Paul (Feast Day: 29th June) at the age of just 36 Fr. Anthony the young Physician later Ordained a Priest, was buried at St. Paul’s Convent of the Angelics in Milan.

In 2001 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger the future Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote the preface for a book on St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria ‘Igniting the Flame of Faith: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria’ praising him as “one of the great figures of Catholic reform in the 1500s” who was involved “in the renewal of Christian life in an era of profound crisis.”

Fr. Anthony Zaccaria was Beatified in 1849 by Pope Pius IX and Canonized in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII

More here from Franciscan Media

Related: The Reformer: St. Anthony Zaccaria by Andrea Erba –Amazon

For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Visit: -USCCB

Saint Thomas the Apostle

(Franciscan Media) Poor Thomas, he made one poor remark and was branded as ‘Doubting Thomas’ ever since but if he doubted, he also believed. Thomas made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord and My God.” —John 20:28 and in so expressing his faith, gave Christians a prayer that will be said until the end of time. — Thomas also occasioned a compliment from Jesus to all later Christians:

“Have you believed because you have seen Me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
John 20:29

Saint Thomas should be equally well known for his courage. Perhaps what he said was impetuous–since he ran, like the rest at the showdown but he can scarcely have been insincere when he expressed his willingness to die for Jesus.

The occasion when Jesus proposed to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died. Since Bethany was near Jerusalem, this meant walking into the very midst of his enemies and to almost certain death. Realizing this, Thomas said to the other Apostles: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” —John 11:16

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminds us that the “Apostle Thomas’ life is important to us for at least three reasons:

• First, it comforts us in our own insecurity;

• Second it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty;

• Lastly, because the words that Jesus addressed to him, reminds us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourages us to persevere, despite the difficulty along our journey of adhesion to him.

Saint Thomas’ example will never fail to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Our God.”

Full text here of Pope Benedict XVI on St. Thomas

More here from EWTN

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

St. Irenaeus “The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive” –Image: Patheos

(CNA) Born in Smyrna (Asia Minor — Modern Day Turkey Izmir) Irenaeus was a Bishop and Writer in what is present day France, he is best remembered for defending Christian orthodoxy, especially the reality of Jesus Christ’s human Incarnation against the set of heresies known as Gnosticism an ancient cult that believed in salvation by knowledge; Gnostics were people that believed that the faith taught in the Church was merely symbolism for the simple-minded that were unable to grasp difficult concepts.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke admiringly of Saint Irenaeus in March, 2007, recalling how this early Church Father, “refuted the Gnostic dualism and pessimism which debased corporeal realities. He (St. Irenaeus) decisively  claimed the original holiness of matter, of the body, of the flesh no less than of the spirit but his works went far beyond the confutation of heresy: in fact one can say that he emerges as the first great Theologian who created systematic theology; he himself speaks of the system of theology, that is, of the internal coherence of all faith. At the heart of his doctrine is the question of the ‘Rule of Faith’ and its transmission. For Irenaeus the ‘Rule of Faith’ coincided in the practice with the ‘Apostles Creed’ which gives us the key for interpreting the Gospel, for interpreting the Creed in light of the Gospel. The Creed, which is a sort of Gospel synthesis , helps us understand what it means and how we should read the Gospel itself.”

While some of Saint Irenaeus most important writings have survived, the details of his life are not well preserved.

We do know that Saint Irenaeus  became a Priest in served in the Church of Lyons during a difficult time in the late 170s During this time of state persecution and doctrinal controversy, Fr. Irenaeus was sent to Rome to provide Pope Saint Eleutherius with a letter about the heretical movement known as ‘Montanism’ — After returning to Lyons, Fr. Irenaeus, became the city’s second Bishop, following the Martyrdom of Saint Pothinus (Feast Day: 02 June)

Bishop Irenaeus refuted the ‘Gnostic’ errors in his concise book “Against Heresies’ which is still studied to this day for its historical value and theological insights.

Saint Irenaeus earthly life ended around 220, some have speculated that he was Martyred however as with his birth and youth, the details of his death are not definitively known.

More here from Franciscan Media

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Irenaeus, Visit: -USCCB

St. Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Image: Company of Voices

(CNA) Born in Egypt Alexandria, there doesn’t seem to be much known of his youth except that he was likely the nephew of Pope Theophilis of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark and should he be the Cyril addressed by Isidore of Pelusium, Cyril was for a time a Monk before becoming a Bishop.

From Cyril’s writing one knows that he received a solid literary and theological education and together with his Uncle Pope Theophilus, played a role in an early 5th century dispute between the Egyptian and Greek Churches.

When Pope Theophilus papacy ended in 412, Cyril was evidently chosen to succeed him as the head of the Egyptian Church — Bishop Cyril of Alexandria continued the policy of his Uncle (Pope Theophilus) on insisting on Alexandria’s preeminence within the Church over Constantinople, despite the political prominence of the imperial capitol. — The two Eastern Churches eventually reestablished communion in approximately 418

Ten years later however, a theological dispute resulted in a new break between Alexandria and Constantinople, Cyril’s reputation as a Theologian and later a ‘Doctor of the Church’ arose from his defense of Catholic orthodoxy during this time.

In 428 a Monk named Nestorius became the new Patriarch of Constantinople, it became clear that Nestorius was not willing to use the term ‘Mother of God’ to describe the Blessed Virgin Mary but instead instead insisted on using the phrase ‘Mother of Christ’ — During the 4th century, the Greek Church had already held two Ecumenical Councils to confirm Jesus Christ’s eternal preexistence as God prior to His Incarnation as man. From this perennial belief, it followed logically that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mother of God. Veneration of Mary as the ‘Blessed Virgin Mother of God’ confirmed the doctrine of the Incarnation and Jesus Christ’s status as equal to God the Father.

Nestorius insisted that he to held these these doctrines but Cyril and many others argued that Nestorius refusal to acknowledge Mary the ‘Blessed Virgin Mother of God’ appeared to reveal a heretical view and which would split him into two united but distinct persons: One fully human and born of the Blessed Virgin Mary; The other fully divine and not subject to birth and death.

Cyril responded to this heretical tendency first through a series of letters to Nestorius (which are still in existence today) then through an appeal to Pope Celestine I (422-432) and finally through summoning of a Ecumenical Council in 431 — Cyril presided over this Council stating that, “he was filling the place of the most Holy and Blessed Archbishop (Pope Celestine I) of the Roman Catholic Church.” Pope Celestine I had authorized it.

The Ecumenical Council was tumultuous, ‘John of Antioch’ a friend of Nestorius came to the city and convened a rival council which sought to condemn and depose Bishop Cyril — Tensions between the advocates of Cyril and Nestorius erupted into physical violence at times and both parties sought to convince the Emperor in Constantinople to back their position.

During the authorized Ecumenical Council which ran from 22 June to 31 July, 431 Bishop Cyril brilliantly defended the Orthodox belief in Jesus Christ as a single, Eternally Divine Person who had also became Incarnate as a man. The Council condemned Nestorius who was deposed as Patriarch and subsequently suffered exile. Bishop Cyril however reconciled with John and many of the other Theologians of Antioch that once had supported Nestorius.

Bishop Cyril after 32 years in his position,  passed away in 444 in Egypt Alexandria — Long celebrated as a Saint particularly in the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches he was declared ‘Doctor of the Church’ in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII

More here from Pope Benedict XVI and here Franciscan Media

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings on the Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Visit: -USCCB