Cristy Li

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Image: Archbishop Jose Gomez

(Franciscan Media) All the Synoptic Gospels tell the story of the Transfiguration: Matthew 17:1-8  Mark 9:2-9  Luke 9:28-36 with remarkable agreement. All three place the event shortly after Peter’s confession of faith, that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus’ first prediction of His passion and death. Peter’s eagerness to erect tents or booths on the spot suggests it occurred  during the Jewish week long Fall celebration of Sukkot, celebrated the 15th day of Tishrei (varies in either September or October) just before the arrival of Diaspora.

In spite of the texts agreement, its difficult to reconstruct the Disciples’ experience, according to Scriptural Scholars because the Gospels drew heavily on Old Testament descriptions of the Sinai encounter with God and prophetic visions of the Son of Man. — Certainly Peter, James and John had a glimpse of Jesus’  divinity strong enough to strike fear into their hearts. Such an experience defies description, so they drew on familiar religious language to describe it and certainly Jesus warned them that His glory and His suffering were to be inextricably connected–a theme John highlights throughout his Gospel.

Tradition names Mt. Tabor as the site of the revelation. A Church first raised there in the 4th century was dedicated on the 06 August — A Feast in honor of the Transfiguration was celebrated in the Eastern Church from about that time–Western observances began in some localities about the 8th century.

On 22 July, 1456 Crusaders defeated the Turks at Belgrade, news of this victory reached Rome on the 06 August and Pope Callistus III placed the Feast on the Roman calendar the following year.

More here from EWTN

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

Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome
Image Courtesy: Catholic Online

(EWTN) There are in Rome three patriarchal Churches in which the Pope officiates on different festivals–These are the Basilica’s of St. John Lateran (09 November) St. Peter’s on the Vatican Hill (25 April) and St. Mary Major — This last one is so called because it is both in antiquity and dignity, the First Church in Rome among those that are dedicated to God in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

First raised by the Order of Pope Liberius in the mid 4th century according to Franciscan Media the Liberian Basilica was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III, shortly after the ‘Council of Ephesus’ affirmed Mary’s title as ‘Mother of God’ in 431 — Rededicated at that time to the ‘Mother of God’ St. Mary Major is the largest Church in the world honoring God through Mary.

Standing atop on of Rome’s seven hills, the Esquiline has survived many restorations without losing its character as an early Roman Basilica. Its interior retains three naves divided by colonnades in the style of Constantine’s era – 5th century mosaics on its walls testify to its antiquity.

One legend, unreported before the year 1000 gives another name to today’s Feast: ‘Our Lady of the Snows’ — According to that story, a wealthy Roman couple pledged their fortune to the ‘Mother of God’ in affirmation, she produced a miraculous Summer snowfall and told them to build a Church on that site. This legend was long celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the Basilica’s Dome every 05 August.

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on the ‘Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major’ in Rome, Visit: -USCCB

St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) Image: Pinterest

(Franciscan Media) Born in Southeaster France La Mure, Peter grew up in a poor working family according to SQPN during the anti-Catholic aftermath of the French Revolution.

Peter wanted to begin study for the Priesthood as a youth but his father forbid it, wanting him to takeover the family business instead but by the age of 18, Peter was finally permitted to join the ‘Oblate Novitiate’ however he became very ill, so ill that they sent Peter back home to die. — Peter however didn’t die but made a remarkable recovery, entering the Seminary once more, following his father’s death.

In 1834 Peter was Ordained to the Diocesan Priesthood, later joining the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) — Fr. Peter Julian’s years as a Marist, included service as a provincial leader, together with his deepening of his Eucharist devotion especially through his preaching of ‘Forty Hours’ in many Parishes.

Inspired at first by the idea of reparation for indifference to the Eucharist, Fr. Peter Julian was eventually attracted to a more positive spirituality of Christ centered-love.

In 1851 Fr. Peter Julian answered a call to establish a community of men according to Catholic News Agency called the ‘Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament’ its mission was to promote the importance and significance of the Eucharist, together with working with the poor and helping then to prepare for their first Communion.

Fr. Perter Julian passed away this month in 1868 following a stroke. In 1925 he was Beatified by Pope Pius XI and Canonized in 1962 one day after Vatican II first session ended by Pope John XXIII

St. Eusebius of Vercelli (300-371)
Image: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Born in Italy Sardinia, Eusebius became a member of the Roman Clergy and is the first recorded Bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont, Northwestern Italy and likewise is the first to link the Monastic life with that of the Clergy, establishing a community of his Diocesan Clergy on the principle that the best way to sanctify his people, was to have them see a Clergy formed in solid virtue and living in a community.

Bishop Eusebius was sent by Pope Liberius to persuade the Emperor to call a council to settle Catholic-Arianism troubles. When it was called in Milan, Bishop Eusebius went reluctantly, sensing that the Arianism (heresy) block would have its way–although, the Catholic were more numerous. Eusebius, refused to go along with the condemnation of Bishop St. Athanasius (Feast Day: 02 May) instead, he laid the Nicene Creed on the table and insisted that all execute it before taking up any other matters.

The Emperor put pressure on him but Bishop Eusebius insisted on Athanasius’ innocence and reminded the Emperor that secular force should not be used to influence Church decisions. At first, the Emperor threatened to kill Eusebius but sent him into exile in Israel. There the Arians dragged him through the streets and shut him up into a little room, releasing him only after his four day hunger strike–they resumed their harassment of Eusebius shortly thereafter.

Bishop Eusebius’ exile continued in Cappadocia according to SQPN and in Egypt until a new Emperor permitted him to be welcomed back to his See in Italy Vercelli — Bishop Eusebius would attend the Council of Alexandria with Bishop Athanasius and approved the leniency shown to Bishop’s who had wavered. Subsequently Eusebius would work with St. Hiliary of Poitiers (Feast Day: 13 January) against Arianism.

In August 371, Bishop Eusebius passed away in his own Diocese in Italy Vercelli.

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Image: Fr. Julian’s Blog

Born in Italy Naples, Alphonsus father was a Naval Officer –A child prodigy according to SQPN Alphonsus was extremely well educated receiving his Juris Doctorate from the University of Naples by the age of 16 and had his own legal practice when he was but 21 soon becoming one of the leading lawyers in Naples — A little unknown fact about Alphonsus, he would never go to Court without first Celebrating Mass.

Alphonsus loved music and could play the harpsichord, likewise often attend the Opera which he loved and would go on to compose numerous Classical works — As Alphonsus matured in years and learned even more of the world he began to like it less-and-less.

The turning point in Alphonsus’ legal career came in 1723 when he was representing a litigant in a civil case which involved a substantial amount of money. Alphonsus misunderstood a critical piece of documentary evidence, suffering a humiliating defeat, Alphonsus would leave the Court House that day, never again to return, he likewise became so anguished that he didn’t eat for three days.

Later that year in August, while Alphonsus was visiting the sick at a local hospital, he had a ‘life changing experience’ — seeing a mysterious light as the building shook and hearing the voice of God telling him to “leave the world” and place himself totally in His service.

Alphonsus father already dismayed that his son abandoned a brilliant legal career opposed his plan to become a Priest but his stubborn son Alphonsus would not be dissuaded and following completion of his Theological studies, Alphonsus Liguori was Ordained a Priest in 1726

Fr. Liguori worked as a missionary around Naples becoming known for his simple, clear and direct style of preaching, with a gentle and understanding spirit in the Confessional, according to SQPN — Fr. Liguori would find him often at odds with Church officials for his perceived laxity of parishioners and government officials who opposed anything religious.

In 1729 Fr. Liguori met an older Priest, Fr. Thomas Falcoia who envisioned the founding of a new religious order, with the aim of imitating Jesus Christ’s virtues more perfectly — In 1731 a local Nun had a vision in which Jesus Christ Himself indicated that he had chosen Fr. Alphonsus Liguori to lead a new religious order.

Within a year, the ‘Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer’ better known as the The Redemptorists had its formal beginning. During its early years, Fr. Alphonsus Liguori struggled to keep the new Order from fragmenting, while continuing to travel, write, preach and above all pray. In 1749 The Redemptorists statutes and rule of life received formal approval from Pope Benedict XIV

Despite the approval The Redemptorists met with hostility from the Prime Minister of Naples Bernardo Tanucci, who sought to eliminate the privileges of the Church and secularize the kingdom. Tanucci refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of The Redemptorists which was consequently in danger of state suppression for decades.

Against his own will, Fr. Alphonsus Liguori reluctantly became the Bishop of Naples’ small Diocese of St. Agatha in 1762 and for the next 13 years, he would serve the poor and effectively would reform Church institutions that had fallen into serious disorder — Though he felt disappointed with his own work and would ask a series of Pope’s to accept his resignation.

Bishop Alphonsus Liguori also struggled with declining health and was partially paralyzed  during the final two decades of his life,  he would receive ‘The Anointing of the Sick’ eight times prior to his final reception at death.

In 1775, Pope Pius VI finally permitted Bishop Alphonsus Liguori to resign from his Diocese–the good Bishop Liguori was expecting death to come soon and began preparing accordingly, he would however recover and would survive more than a decade following his resignation.

On this date in 1787 Bishop Alphonsus Liguori passed away during the middle of the day, his death coincided with the bells that were calling the faithful to pray the Angelus. During his life, Bishop Liguori gave the Church more than 100 books, including The Glories of Mary the Preparation for Death and The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ together with leading a religious Order that survives to this day in service to God  throughout the world.

Bishop Alphonsus Liguori was Beatified in 1816 by Pope Pius VII and Canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI

More here from Franciscan Media and here from EWTN

Saint Peter Chrysologus
Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

(CNA) Born in Italy Imola in 406 Peter Chrysologus was an adult convert to Christianity — Following his study of Theology, Peter was Ordained a Deacon by Imola’s local Bishop Cornelius, whom he greatly admired and regarded as his spiritual father.

Bishop Cornelius, Peter’s mentor is credited with teaching Peter the values of humiliated and self-denial which benefited him as he lived as a Monk for many years, embracing a lifestyle of self-discipline, simplicity and prayer. Peter’s simple monastic lifestyle however would come to an end in 430 subsequent to the death of Archbishop John of Ravenna — Following this, the Clergy and the people of Ravenna chose a successor asking Cornelius (still the Bishop of Imola) to journey to Rome and obtain Papal approval of their candidate. Bishop Cornelius would take Peter with him, then still a Deacon to see Pope Sixtus III

Tradition relates that Pope Sixtus III had experienced a vision from God on the night before the meeting with Bishop Cornelius and Peter, commanding him to overrule Ravenna’s choice of a new Archbishop — Pope Sixtus  subsequently declared that Peter was to be Ordained as the new Archbishop to replace the late Archbishop John of Ravenna.

In Ravenna the new Archbishop Peter was received warmly by the Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III and his mother Galla Placidia, she is said to have given him the title ‘Chrysologus’ (signifying ‘Golden Speech’) because of his preaching skills.

Throughout the Archdiocese, Bishop Peter Chrysologus encountered the surviving remnants of paganism along with the various abuses and distortions of Catholicism — Bishop Peter Chrysologus would exercise zeal and pastoral care in curbing these abuses while evangelizing non-Christians during his leadership of the Church in Ravenna.

One of the major heresies of his day was ‘Monophysitism’ which held that Christ did not possess a distinct human nature in union with his eternal divine nature. Bishop Peter Chrysologus labored to prevent the westward spread of this error promoted from Constantinople by Eutyches.

Archbishop Peter Chrysologus also would make improvements to Ravenna’s Cathedral, together with overseeing the construction of several new Churches. Near the end of his life he addressed a significant letter to Eutyches in 448 stressing the Pope’s authority in the monophysite controversy.

Sometime before his death in 450 Bishop Peter Chrysologus returned to Imola his birthplace — In 451 the Church would officially condemn monophysitism.

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

Saint Martha — Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

(EWTN) Mary, Martha and Lazarus were close friends and are represented by St. John (Feast Day: 27 December) as living at Bethania but St. Luke (Feast Day: 18 October) would seem to imply that they were at least at one time, living in Galilee, without mentioning the town but it may have been Magdala and we should therefore suppose that ‘Mary of Bethania’ and St. Mary Magdalene (Feast Day: 22 July) are the same person.

There isn’t any doubt that Martha was an active sort of person– On one occasion Luke 10:38-42 Martha is seen preparing the meal for Jesus and served the dinner.

Yet as Biblical scholar Fr. John McKenzie (1910-1991) pointed out, Martha need not be rated as a “unrecollected activist.” The Evangelist is emphasizing what Our Lord said on several occasions about the primacy of the spiritual:

• “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on…seek first His kingdom and his righteousness…” Matthew 6: 25-33

• “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.” —Luke 4:4

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” —Matthew 5:6

St. Martha’s great glory is her simple and strong statement of faith in Jesus after her brother’s death: “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.” —John 11:25-27

Scripture commentators point out that in writing his account of the raising of Lazarus, St. John intends that we should see Martha’s words to Mary before Lazarus was raised as a summons that every Christian must obey. In Martha saying: “The Teacher is here and is calling for you,” John 11:28

Jesus is calling every one of us to resurrection–now in Baptismal faith, forever in sharing His victory over death and all of us, as well as these three friends, are in our own unique way, called to special friendship with Him.

Related: For Today’s Bible Readings on the ‘Memorial of St. Martha’ Visit: -USCCB

Saint Leopold Mandic (1887-1942)
Image: Pinterest

Born in Croatia, Leopold Mandic was the 11th of 12 children of a devout Christian and industrious family according to Catholic Heroes his parents Peter and Carlotta Mandic owned a fishing fleet.

Leopold joined the ‘Capuchin Franciscans’ and was Ordained several years later in spite of his health issues–Physically challenged, delicate and having a height of only 1.35 Meters (4.4 feet) with a clumsy walk, he could not speak loudly enough to preach publicly and for many years suffered from severe arthritis together with poor eyesight but despite his disabilities, Fr. Leopold Mandic developed tremendous spiritual strength and used to repeat to himself:

“Remember that you have been sent for the salvation of people, not because of your own merits, since it is the Lord Jesus and not you who died for the salvation of souls.”

A teacher of Patrology (the study of the Church Fathers) Fr. Leopold Mandic taught the Clerics of his province for several years but he is best remembered for his work in the Confessional where he sometimes spent 13 to 15 hours daily. — Several Bishops would seek him out for his spiritual advice.

Fr. Leopold Mandic’s dream was to go to the Orthodox Christians and work for the reunion of Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy but unfortunately his health never permitted it — Often he would renew his vow to go to the Eastern Christians, this cause of unity was constantly in his prayers.

At a time when Pope Pius XII said that the greatest sin of our time is “to have lost all sense of sin,” (a plague that seems prevalent in our day too, I digress) — Fr. Leopold Mandic had a profound sense of sin and an even firmer sense of God’s grace awaiting human cooperation.

Suffering from esophagus cancer, in July 1942 while preparing for the liturgy Fr. Leopold Mandic collapsed, he would subsequently be given last rites — Franciscan Friars that had gathered at his bedside reportedly began singing the ‘Salve Regina’ and when they saw that Fr. Leopold Mandic had passed away they sang “O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary.”

Fr. Leopold Mandic often had said, “A Priest must die from apostolic hard work, there is no other death worthy of a Priest.” — Fr. Leopold Mandic did what he said.

In 1976 Pope Paul VI Beatified Fr. Leopold Mandic — On the 16 October, 1983 he was Canonized at St. Peter’s Square by Pope Saint John Paul II

More here from Natl Catholic Register

Related: Alternative Feast Day of Blessed Stanley Rother, First American Martyr – Franciscan Media

St. Samson — EWTN

Pope St. Victor I — EWTN