Cristy Li

St. Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)
Image Courtesy: Catholic Fire

(Franciscan Media) Thomas was born at Spain Fuentellana in the Kingdom of Castile and was reared on the practices of Christianity and charity according to EWTN — Every Friday, Thomas’ father (Alazo Tomas Garcia) would give to charity all that he had earned at the mill besides his daily ration of bread however on ‘Great Feast Day’s’ he would add wood, wine and money while to poor farmers, he’d loan them money and seed.

Upon Alazo’s death, Thomas’s mother (Lucia) continued the practice that her late husband had started, together with supplying indigent Maidens in the neighborhood with clothing and money.

When 16 year old Thomas entered the Univ of Alcala, after completing his studies and earning a Masters of Arts and Theology degrees, he became a popular teacher there.

In 1516 Thomas joined the Augustinian Friars, taking his vows a year later and was Ordained a Priest the following year–his first Mass Celebrated as a Priest was on Christmas Day 1518

Fr. Thomas would resume his teaching of Theology at Salamanca Convent, preaching at Churches in Spain was soon added to his duties. Fr. Thomas was later nominated by the Emperor to be Archbishop of  Granada but refused. When the See became vacant again he was pressured to accept.

The money the Cathedral Chapter offered to Bishop Thomas to furnish his house was instead donated to a hospital with his explanation:

“Our Lord will be better served by your money being spent on the poor in the hospital. What does a poor Friar like myself want with furniture?”

Bishop Thomas wore the same Habit he had received in the Novitate, mending it himself, his Servants and Domestic help were ashamed of him but couldn’t convince him to change. — Each day, several hundred poor people would come to Archbishop Thomas’s door, receiving a free meal, wine and money. — When Archbishop Thomas was criticized that people were taking advantage of him he replied:

“If there are people that refuse to work, that is for the Governor and the Police to deal with. My duty is to assist and relieve those who come to my door.”

Bishop Thomas would take-in Orphans and paid his Servants for every deserted child they brought to him. — Bishop Thomas encouraged the wealthy to mirror his example, in order to be richer in mercy in charity, than they were in earthly possessions.

Criticized for not being more strict with transgressors, Bishop Thomas said:

“Let him (the Complainer) inquire whether Saint Augustine or Saint John Chrysostom used anathemas (censure) or excommunication to stop the drunkenness and blasphemy which was so common among the people under their care?”

During Bishop Thomas’ final days, he commanded that all of the money he possessed be distributed to the poor, his material goods were to be given to the rector of his Alma mater. — As Mass was being celebrated in Bishop Thomas’s honor, he breathed his last, reciting the words of Jesus:

“Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.” —Psalm 31:5

Bishop Thomas in his lifetime was called the ‘Almsgiver’ and the ‘Father of the Poor’ — He was Beatified in 1618 by Pope Paul V and Canonized in 1658 by Pope Alexander VII

Virgin Mary the Mother of God –Image Courtesy: Mary Mother of God.blogspot.com

(Franciscan Media) Mary’s divine Motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight–Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Mary consents to God’s invitation conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38) Elizabeth proclaims:

“Most blessed are you among Women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!“

How does this happen to me that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:42-43) Mary’s role as Mother of God, places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive plan.

Without naming Mary, Paul asserts that “God sent forth His Son, born of Woman, under the Law.” (Galatians 4:4) Paul’s further statement that “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying out ‘Abba Father!‘(Galatians 4:6) Helps us to realize that Mary is the Mother of all Brothers and Sisters of Jesus.

Some theologians also insist that Mary’s Motherhood of Jesus is an important element in God’s creative plan. God ‘first’ thought in creating was Jesus–Jesus the incarnate of the word is the one who could give God’s perfect love and worship on behalf of all creation. As Jesus was ‘first’ in God’s mind, Mary was ‘second’ insofar as she was chosen from ‘all eternity’ to be His Mother.

The precise title ‘Mother of God’ goes back at least to the 3rd or 4th century. In the Greek form ‘Theotokos’ (God’s bearer) it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching of the Incarnation.

The ‘Council of Ephesus’ in 431 insisted that the Holy Fathers, were correct in calling the  Holy Virgin ‘Theotokos’ at the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos.”

The tradition reaches to our own day, in its chapter of Mary’s role in the Church. Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls Mary ‘Mother of God’ 12 times.

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings and More Visit – USCCB

‘Holy Innocents’ –Image Courtesy: The Balanced Center 

(Franciscan Media) King of Judea ‘Herod the Great’ was unpopular with people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference, hence he was insecure and fearful of any threat to his throne–a master politician and a tyrant, capable of extreme brutality, he killed his wife, his brother and his sister’s two husbands to name only a few.

Matthew 2:1-18 tells the story: Herod was (greatly) troubled when astrologers from the East came asking the whereabouts of the newborn King of the Jews, whose Star they had seen–they were told that the Jewish scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he too could go and pay homage. They found Jesus, offered Him their gifts and warned by an angel, they avoided Herod on their way back home–Joseph and Mary subsequently escaped with Jesus to Egypt.

King Herod became furious and ordered the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity 2 yrs of age and younger–The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the Mother’s and Fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children–refused to be consoled because they were no more.” —Matthew 2:18

Rachel was the wife of Jacob/Israel, is pictured as weeping at the place where Jews (descendants of Jacob) were herded together by a conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity.

More here on the ‘Holy Innocents’ from EWTN

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings and More Visit – USCCB

Saint Stephen the Martyr –Image: Saint a Day@Twitter

(Franciscan Media) In the last three days, the Church through its sacred Liturgy, has seen three different Liturgical colors: Violent at the end of Advent–White or even Gold in some places, as on Christmas Day, we entered into the mystery of the birth of our Savior and today Red, as we celebrate St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, known to give his life after Jesus Christ ascended to the Father.

The birth of our Lord that we celebrated at Christmas, ultimately points to His passion and death on the Cross. The reason the Son assumed human nature was to identify with us, to live among us and to sacrifice His life for our salvation. The Son of God did not need to be born like us to have life, He had life from all eternity, thus He did not come into the world to live but to die.

It is appropriate that Saint Stephen’s martyrdom is celebrated immediately after the birth of our Lord–Saint Stephen confessed that God came among us in the flesh, lived among us, suffered, died, rose from the dead and ascended to the Father.

Celebrating martyrdom the day after Christmas, reminds us that God the Son, born of the Virgin Mary, that Little Boy in the crib of Bethlehem was born to die.

On the Feast of Saint Stephen in 2003, Blessed (now) Saint John Paul II said, “It is so meaningful the First Martyr the day after Christmas. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, gave His life for us so that we too reborn ‘from on high’ through faith and baptism, might be willing to give up our own lives for love of our brothers and sisters.”

Saint Stephen died as Jesus did, falsely accused, brought to unjust condemnation  because he spoke the truth fearlessly dying with his eyes truthfully fixed on God with a prayer of forgiveness on his lips.

A ‘happy’ death is one that finds us in the same spirit, whether our dying is as quiet as Joseph’s as as violent as Stephen’s–dying with courage, total trust and forgiving love.

More here on Saint Stephen the Martyr -EWTN

Related: Feast of Saint Stephen the First Martyr –USCCB

Solemnity of the Nativity
Image: St Athanasius Church Norwich, UK

(Franciscan Media) On Christmas Day, the Church focuses especially on the new born Child Jesus, God became human, who embodies for us all the hope and peace we seek. We need no other Special Saint to lead us to Christ in the manger, although His Mother Mary and Joseph caring for his foster Son, help round out the scene.

If we were to select a Patron Saint, perhaps it might be appropriate for us to imagine an anonymous shepherd, summoned to the birthplace by a wondrous and even disturbing a vision in the night–a summons from an angelic choir, promising peace and goodwill. A shepherd willing to seek out something that might be just too unbelievable to chase after and yet compelling enough to leave behind their flocks in the field and search for the mystery.

On the day of our Lord’s birth, let an ‘uncelebrity’ at the edge of the crowd, model for us the way to discover Christ in our own hearts–somewhere between skepticism, wonder, between mystery and faith. Like Mary and the Shepherds, let us treasure that discovery in our hearts.

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the ‘Nativity of the Lord’ at Dawn, Visit: -USCCB