Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-16-14, OM, St. Stephen of Hungary

Information: St. Stephen of Hungary

Feast Day: August 16

Born: 975, Hungary

Died: August 15, 1038, Esztergom or Székesfehérvár, Kingdom of Hungary

Canonized: August 20, 1083, Esztergom, Hungary by Pope Gregory VII

Major Shrine: Saint Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, Hungary

Patron of: Hungary

**Major Shrine: Saint Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, Hungary**

One of the places I visited on the pilgrimage I took while in Hungary.

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Stephen of Hungary

Feast Day: August 16
Born: 969 :: Died: 1038

St. Stephen was born in Hungary and was named Vaik. His father was the Duke of Hungary. Then at the age of ten when his family and many other rich people became Christians, he was given the name of Stephen.

But, when Stephen himself became king, the people were still quite pagan and did not believe in God. Some people were cruel and fierce. So he decided to make the Christian faith stronger in Hungary and helped build many Churches.

God blessed St. Stephen because of his hard work and people began believing in God. The secret of St. Stephen's amazing success in leading his people to the Christian faith was his devotion to Mary. He placed his whole kingdom under her protection and built a wonderful church in her honor.

Pope Sylvester II sent a beautiful crown to King Stephen. This treasure became known as the crown of St. Stephen. During the Second World War, American soldiers captured the crown but it was later returned to Hungary in 1978.

Stephen was a strong, fearless and just, ruler. But he was also gentle and kind to the poor. He tried to avoid war as much as he could. He loved to give gifts of money to beggars without letting them know who he was.

Once he was giving these gifts in disguise when a crowd of rough beggars knocked him down and hit him. They pulled his hair and beard, and stole his money pouch.

They did not know that they were bullying their king. And they never found out from him. He took the insult quietly and humbly.

Instead he prayed to Mother Mary: "Queen of heaven, see how your people have treated me whom you made king. If they were your enemies, I would have punished them. But since they are your Son's people, I will suffer this joyfully and say thank you for it."

In fact, King Stephen made a promise then and there to give more than ever to beggars.

Stephen was king of Hungary for forty-two years and his people loved him. He died on August 15, 1038. He is the patron saint of Hungary.

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 19
13.	Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.	Tunc oblati sunt ei parvuli, ut manus eis imponeret, et oraret. Discipuli autem increpabant eos.	τοτε προσηνεχθη αυτω παιδια ινα τας χειρας επιθη αυτοις και προσευξηται οι δε μαθηται επετιμησαν αυτοις
14.	But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.	Jesus vero ait eis : Sinite parvulos, et nolite eos prohibere ad me venire : talium est enim regnum cælorum.	ο δε ιησους ειπεν αφετε τα παιδια και μη κωλυετε αυτα ελθειν προς με των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων
15.	And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.	Et cum imposuisset eis manus, abiit inde.	και επιθεις αυτοις τας χειρας επορευθη εκειθεν

13. Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

PSEUDO-CHRYS; The Lord had been holding discourse of chastity; and some of His hearers now brought to Him infants, who in respect of chastity are the purest; for they supposed that it was the pure in body only whom He had approved; and this is that which is said, Then were brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray.

ORIGEN; For they now understood from His previous mighty works, that by laying on of His hands and by prayer evils were obviated. They bring therefore children to Him, judging that it were impossible that after the Lord had by His touch conveyed divine virtue into them, harm or any demon should come nigh them.

REMIG; For it was a custom among the ancients that little children should be brought to aged persons, to receive benediction by their hand or tongue; and according to this custom little children are now brought to the Lord.

PSEUDO-CHRYS; The flesh as it delights not in good, if it hear any good readily forgets it; but the evil that it has it retains ever. But a little while before Christ took a little child and said, Except you become as this child, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, yet His disciples, presently forgetting this innocence of children, now forbid children, as unworthy to come to Christ.

JEROME; Not because they liked not that they should have benediction of the Savior's hand and mouth; but forasmuch as their faith was not yet perfect, they thought that He like other men would be wearied by the applications of those that brought them.

CHRYS; Or the disciples would have thrust them away, from respect to Christ's dignity. But the Lord teaching them holy thoughts, and to subdue the pride of this world, took the children into His arms, and promised to such the kingdom of heaven; But Jesus said to them, Suffer little children and forbid them not to come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

PSEUDO-CHRYS; For who were worthy to come to Christ, if simple infancy were thrust away? Therefore he said, Forbid them not. For if they shall turn out saints, why hinder you the sons from coming to their Father? And if sinners, why do you pronounce a sentence of condemnation, before you see any fault in them?

JEROME; And He said distinctly, Of such is the kingdom of heaven, not of these, to show that it was not years, but disposition that determined His judgment, and that the reward was promised to such as had like innocence and simplicity.

PSEUDO-CHRYS; The present passage instructs all parents to bring their children to the priests, for it is not the priest who lays his hands on them, but Christ, in whose name hands are laid. For if he that offers his food in prayer to God eats it sanctified, for it is sanctified by the word of God, and by prayer, as the Apostle speaks, how much rather ought children to be offered to God, and sanctified? And this is the reason of blessing of food, Because the whole world lie in wickedness; so that all things that have body, which are a great part of the world, die in wickedness. Consequently infants when born, are as respects their flesh lying in wickedness.

ORIGEN; Mystically; We call them children who are yet carnal in Christ, having need of milk. They who bring the babes to the Savior, are they who profess to have knowledge of the word, but are still simple, and have for their food children's lessons, being yet novices. They who seem more perfect, and are therefore the disciples of Jesus, before they have learnt the way of righteousness which is for children, rebuke those who by simple doctrine bring to Christ children and babes, that is, such as are less learned. But the Lord exhorting His disciples now become men to condescend to the needs of babes, to be babes to babes, that they may gain babes, says, For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

For He Himself also, when He was in the form of God, was made a babe. These things we should attend to, lest in esteeming that more excellent wisdom, and spiritual advancement, as though we were become great we should despise the little ones of the Church, forbidding children to be brought to Jesus. But since children cannot follow all things that are commanded them, Jesus laid His hands upon them, and leaving virtue in them by His touch, went away from them, seeing they were not able to follow Him, like the other more perfect disciples.

REMIG; Also laying His hands upon them, He blessed them, to signify that the lowly in spirit are worthy His grace and blessing.

GLOSS; He laid His hands upon them while men held them, to signify that the grace of His aid was necessary.

HILARY; The infants are a type of the Gentiles, to whom salvation is rendered by faith and hearing. But the disciples, in their first zeal for the salvation of Israel, forbid them to approach, but the Lord declares that they are not to be forbidden. For the gift of the Holy Ghost was to be conferred upon the Gentiles by laying on of hands, as soon as the Law had ceased.

Catena Aurea Matthew 19

Christ Blessing the Children

Lucas Cranach the Elder

1535-40
Oil and tempera on beechwood, 84 x 122 cm
Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt

St. Stephen, King of Hungary

17th Century
from the ancestors' gallery of the Batthyány family Hungarian National Museum, Budapest

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Saturday, August 16

Liturgical Color: Green

Today is the optional memorial of St.
Stephen of Hungary. He converted as a
child with his father. After becoming king,
Stephen toiled to convert his whole
country. During his reign, he established
hospices and a monastery, before dying
in 1038.

Day 247 - How is sexuality related to love? // What is chaste love? Why should a Christian live a chaste life?

How is sexuality related to love?

Sexuality must not be separated from love; they must go together. The sexual encounter requires the framework of a true, dependable love. When sexuality is separated from love and is sought only for the sake of satisfaction, one destroys the meaning of the sexual union of man and woman. Sexual union is the most beautiful bodily, sensual expression of love. People who look for sex without love are lying, because the closeness of their bodies does not correspond to the closeness of their hearts. Someone who does not take his own body language at its word does lasting damage to body and soul. Sex then becomes inhuman; it is degraded to a means of obtaining pleasure and degenerates into a commodity. Only committed, enduring love in marriage creates a space for sexuality that is experienced in a human way and brings lasting happiness.

What is chaste love? Why should a Christian live a chaste life?

A chaste love is a love that defends itself against all the internal and external forces that might destroy it. That person is chaste who has consciously accepted his sexuality and integrated it well into his personality. Chastity and continence are not the same thing. Someone who has an active sex life in marriage must be chaste, too. A person acts chastely when his bodily activity is the expression of dependable, faithful love. Chastity must not be confused with prudishness. A person who lives chastely is not the plaything of his lusts but, rather, lives his sexuality deliberately, motivated by love, and as an expression of that love. Unchaste behavior weakens love and obscures its meaning. The Catholic Church advocates a holisticecological approach to sexuality. This includes sexual pleasure, which is something good and beautiful; personal love; and fruitfulness, which means openness to having children. It is the understanding of the Catholic Church that these three aspects of sexuality belong together. Now if a man has one woman for sexual pleasure, a second to whom he writes love poetry, and a third with whom to have children, then he is exploiting all three and really loves none of them. (YOUCAT questions 403-404)

Dig Deeper: CCC section (2337-2338) and other references here.

Part 3: Life in Christ (1691 - 2557)

Section 2: The Ten Commandments (2052 - 2557)

Chapter 2: You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself (2196 - 2557)

Article 6: The Sixth Commandment (2331 - 2400)

Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you."¹ ⇡

You shall not commit adultery.¹¹³

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.¹¹⁴ ⇡

II. THE VOCATION TO CHASTITY ⇡

2349
2520
(all)

2337

Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman.

The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift.

1.

Jn 13:34.

113.

Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18.

114.

Mt 5:27-28.

The integrity of the person ⇡

2338

The chaste person maintains the integrity of the powers of life and love placed in him. This integrity ensures the unity of the person; it is opposed to any behavior that would impair it. It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech.¹²⁵

125.

Cf. Mt 5:37.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:August 16, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Grant your Church, we pray, almighty God, that she may have Saint Stephen of Hungary, who fostered her growth while a king on earth, as her glorious defender in heaven. 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.

RECIPES

o Dobosh Torta (Easy)

o Gesztenye Krém

o Paprikas Csirke

o Saint Roch's Fingers

ACTIVITIES

o We Are Kings

o What is a Nameday?

PRAYERS

o The Immaculate Heart

LIBRARY

o Cardinal Peter Erdo on the Church in Hungary | Archbishop Peter Erdo

o Catholic Church a Point of Reference in Hungary | Pope Benedict XVI

o Constanti Hungarorum (On The Church In Hungary) | Pope Leo XIII

· Ordinary Time: August 16th

· Optional Memorial of St. Stephen of Hungary

Old Calendar: St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, confessor; St. Roch

Vaik, son of Geza, Duke of Hungary, was baptized about 985 by St. Adalbert of Prague who gave him the name of Stephen. He was chosen by God to bring his people to the Christian faith. With the assistance of monks from Burgundy he established bishoprics, founded several monasteries and re-organized the whole life of the country. Pope Silvester II offered him the privilege of being crowned king and the ceremony took place on December 25, 1000. His great zeal for the spread of the Catholic faith earned him the title of apostolic king and apostle of Hungary. He died on August 15, 1038, the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, to whom he had consecrated his kingdom.

Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was the feast of St. Joachim, now celebrated July 26. St. Stephen's feast was September 2. St. Roch, who is in the Roman Martyrology, was from France, near Montpellier. By the sign of the cross he delivered many cities of Italy from an epidemic. His body was afterwards transferred to Venice, deposited with great honors in the church dedicated under his invocation.

St. Stephen
St. Stephen was the first Christian king of Hungary. He was born in 975 at Gran, the son of Prince Geisa, and was baptized in 985 by St. Adalbert. While courting Gisela, the sister of Emperor St. Henry II, he was promised her hand in marriage provided that he remain firm in the Christian faith and lead the pagan Hungarians to Christianity. He kept his word though it cost him dearly. From the hands of Pope Sylvester II (999-1003) he received the royal crown and was solemnly enthroned at Gran on the feast of Mary's Assumption, 1001. (The alleged bull of Pope Sylvester granting to Stephen and his successors the privilege of having the cross carried before them, like metropolitans, is now regarded as a seventeenth-century forgery.)

Stephen was one of the wisest princes of his time. His royal generosity is shown in the establishment of the archbishopric of Gran and ten Hungarian bishoprics, and in his love toward the poor. Because he visited them in their houses and washed their feet, his right hand has remained incorrupt. Great was his zeal in prayer and meditation. From his marriage came a saintly son, the devout Emeric, an angel of purity, who died seven years before his father. By prayer and fasting Stephen sought the conversion of all Hungary; rightfully is he called the apostle of his nation. He chose the Mother of God as the patroness of Hungary.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Bricklayers; death of children; Hungary; kings; masons; stone masons; stonecutters.

Symbols: Cross and sword; model of a church.

Things to Do:

A saint upon the throne, who besides being king was the apostle and father of his people! Reflect his spirit in your own family and toward your associates.
Read more the history of Hungary. This site contains a wealth of information about the Hungarian Holy Crown, the Hand of St. Stephen and other information (Scroll down the page since the links don't work). You can also visit this site for a virtual tour of Hungary.

St. Roch or Rocco
Untrustworthy sources say he was probably born at Montpellier, France, son of the governor there. He was orphaned when he was twenty. He went on pilgrimage to Rome and devoted himself to caring for the victims of a plague that was ravaging Italy. He became a victim himself at Piacenza but recovered and was reputed to have performed many miracles of healing. On his return to Montpellier, he was imprisoned for five years as a spy in pilgrim's disguise when his uncle, who was governor, ordered him imprisoned. (His uncle failed to recognize him, and Roch failed to identify himself.) Roch died in prison and was only then identified as the former governor's son by a birthmark in the form of a cross on his chest. Another biographer says that he was arrested as a spy at Angers, Lombardy, and died in prison there. When miracles were reported at his intercession after his death, a popular cult developed, and he is invoked against pestilence and plague. He is known as Rocco in Italy and Roque in Spain.

Excerpted from the Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney

Patron: bachelors; cholera; diseased cattle; dogs; epidemics; falsely accused people; invalids; knee problems; plague; relief from pestilence; skin diseases; skin rashes; surgeons; tile makers; Barano, Italy; Castropignano, Italy; Constantinople; Istanbul; Orsogna, Italy; Patricia, Italy.

Symbols: Pilgrim's hat and staff; angel; dog with loaf in mouth; hat with crossed keys of with escallop; plague spot on his thigh.

Things to Do:

Read more about San Rocco and the Italian traditions surrounding this saint.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 30-32

Saint Stephen of Hungary

I will judge you … each one according to his ways. (Ezekiel 18:30)

One of Jill’s favorite family photos is one that obviously wasn’t staged. One of her teenagers is glowering, another child is clowning, her husband looks exasperated, and she looks exhausted. The photo reminds her that her family is made up of flawed human beings who don’t always love each other the way they should—but they’re still her family, and she loves every one of them dearly.

No human being has had a trouble-free upbringing in the home of perfect parents. Every one of our parents has had irritable days, makes unwise decisions, and misperceives things his or her children do. Some parents have more serious unresolved issues that lead them to neglect or abuse their children, with devastating effects.

It’s also true that no parent has perfect children. No matter how diligently we pray for them and try to teach them to know God and do what is right and just, each of our children is equipped with free will. Each of them is different from us, and they may choose to move in directions that are hard for us to understand.

That’s the bad news. But the good news is that God doesn’t just deposit us in families and leave us there. He also cares for each of us and provides us with the grace we need to embrace him and his will. It’s this point that the prophet Ezekiel explains in today’s first reading. God doesn’t hold us responsible for our parents’ mistakes. No, he makes it possible for us to move beyond them and develop loving relationships with him and with the people around us. Neither does he blame us for all of our children’s poor choices. Rather, he invites us to continue loving them, encouraging them, and praying for them.

So don’t get stuck in the past. Instead of blaming your parents or your children, look steadily at them—and at yourself—with tender love. Accept responsibility for your own past choices, and pray for the grace to make future choices that please the Lord. Then leave the rest in his capable hands.

“Lord, you know that my complaining about my family can sound like sour grapes. Help me to commend them to your care and to move forward with my eyes fixed on you.”

Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19; Matthew 19:13-15

Marriage=One Man and One Woman 'Til Death Do Us Part

When all else fails, WAIT. When things aren’t going well in your marriage – and there are bound to be those days – give it time. Sometimes we need to just have some time alone, cool off, sleep on it and then come back with more positive feelings.

Regnum Christi

The Parental Vocation

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

August 16, 2014. Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 19: 13-15

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Introductory Prayer: Lord God, I believe in your presence here with me as I begin this moment of prayer. I hope in you. I know that you will always take care of me. I want this time with you to be a sign of my love for you. I seek only to please you, without desiring any spiritual consolation for myself.

Petition: Lord, help me to be faithful in carrying out the commitments of my state of life.

1. Bringing the Children to Jesus: Being a parent is a lofty vocation. To be entrusted with the integral formation and eternal salvation of another human being is a task that is enough to make one dissolve into fear and trembling. Above all, parents have to show the good spiritual instincts of the people in today’s Gospel: They have to bring their children to Jesus. They need to teach them to pray, to go to Mass and above all, to learn that Jesus truly is their best friend with whom they can share everything. What a gift to give to children!

2. “Do Not Prevent Them”: There are many ways to hinder a child’s path to Christ. Our bad example is one of the main ones. Children pick up on the incoherence between our admonitions and our actual behavior. It’s particularly unnerving when a parent begins to see his own defects mirrored in his children. That can serve as a warning call that we need to be living the Christian life with more authenticity. Our example needs to be a catalyst towards the good.

3. The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These: A good Catholic parent has only one true bottom-line aspiration for his kids: that they get to heaven! This is worth all the prayers, sacrifices and late nights. Precisely because the Kingdom is where they belong, parents should have immense confidence that the Lord will send them the graces they need to persevere and carry out their mission effectively. Christ is the parent’s biggest cheerleader! He wants nothing more than that happy reunion in heaven, where the parent will hear those wonderful words from his child, “Thanks for helping me to get here.”

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for my parents, and all they did to help me grow in the faith. I am sorry for the times I judged them harshly. Grant them your abundant blessing.

Resolution: I will say a special prayer for my parents (especially if deceased) and give them a call to thank them.

By Father Steven Reilly, L.C.

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 5

<< Saturday, August 16, 2014 >>

St. Stephen of Hungary

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 30-32
View Readings

Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19

Matthew 19:13-15
Similar Reflections

YOUNG-STIR

"Jesus said, 'Let the children come to Me. Do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' " —Matthew 19:14

Do we hinder children from coming to Jesus? When we "celebrate" Mass in a listless way, our youth turn to rock concerts rather than to the Lord for excitement. When we compromise the Gospel with fund-raising, drinking, and gambling, our young people see the contradiction and our hypocrisy. They become turned off to Christianity. When we're ashamed of the Gospel and keep our Christianity to ourselves, our youth are deceived by cults which are not as reluctant as we are to promote their beliefs.

The Lord calls us to reach out to our young people. We should not abandon our children to the secularistic educational system, the sadistic teen culture, or the lying television set. Jesus wants to free our children. He will pray for them and lay His nail-scarred hands on them (Mt 19:13, 15). He is the One they are seeking. He is the Meaning of life. Together with our young people, let's repent and make for ourselves "a new heart and a new spirit" (Ez 18:31). Let the children come to Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, may I expect millions of young people to turn to You.

Promise: "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God. Return and live!" —Ez 18:32

Praise: Though in the high position of king, St. Stephen made certain he was accessible to the poor and oppressed and strove for justice in their treatment.

This is what we all looked like at 12 weeks in the womb. Legal to kill in all 50 states. Anyone think its not a person? Pass this along. It literally might save a life.