Posted on 05/26/2015 9:00:31 PM PDT by Salvation
Saint Vincent of Lérins
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop
Optional Memorial
May 27th
Statue at Mission of Saint Augustine to the English
History:
First Archbishop of Canterbury, Apostle of the English. Early in life he become a monk in the famous monastery of St. Andrew erected by St. Gregory out of his own patrimony on the Cælian Hill. It was thus amid the religious intimacies of the Benedictine Rule and in the bracing atmosphere of a recent foundation that the character of the future missionary was formed. Chance is said to have furnished the opportunity for the enterprise which was destined to link his name for all time with that of his friend and patron, St. Gregory, as the "true beginner" of one of the most important Churches in Christendom and the medium by which the authority of the Roman See was established over men of the English-speaking race.
Some five years after his elevation to the Roman See (590) Gregory began to look about him for ways and means to carry out the dream of his earlier days. He naturally turned to the community he had ruled more than a decade of years before in the monastery on the Cælian Hill. Out of these he selected a company of about forty and designated Augustine, at that time Prior of St. Andrew's, to be their representative and spokesman. The appointment, as will appear later on, seems to have been of a somewhat indeterminate character; but from this time forward until his death in 604 it is to Augustine as "strengthened by the confirmation of the blessed Father Gregory (roboratus confirmatione beati patris Gregorii, Bede, H. E., I, xxv) that English, as distinguished from British, Christianity owes its primary inspiration.
He died May 26, 604.
(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition)
Collect:
O God, who by the preaching
of the Bishop Saint Augustine of Canterbury
led the English peoples to the Gospel,
grant, we pray, that the fruits of his labors
may remain ever abundant in your Church.
Though 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.
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:2-8
Though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness; nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:35-38
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
Mark | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Mark 10 |
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32. | And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem: and Jesus went before them, and they were astonished; and following were afraid. And taking again the twelve, he began to tell them the things that should befall him. | Erant autem in via ascendentes Jerosolymam : et præcedebat illos Jesus, et stupebant : et sequentes timebant. Et assumens iterum duodecim, cpit illis dicere quæ essent ei eventura. | ησαν δε εν τη οδω αναβαινοντες εις ιεροσολυμα και ην προαγων αυτους ο ιησους και εθαμβουντο και ακολουθουντες εφοβουντο και παραλαβων παλιν τους δωδεκα ηρξατο αυτοις λεγειν τα μελλοντα αυτω συμβαινειν |
33. | Saying: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests, and to the scribes and ancients, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles. | Quia ecce ascendimus Jerosolymam, et Filius hominis tradetur principibus sacerdotum, et scribis, et senioribus, et damnabunt eum morte, et tradent eum gentibus : | οτι ιδου αναβαινομεν εις ιεροσολυμα και ο υιος του ανθρωπου παραδοθησεται τοις αρχιερευσιν και γραμματευσιν και κατακρινουσιν αυτον θανατω και παραδωσουσιν αυτον τοις εθνεσιν |
34. | And they shall mock him, and spit on him, and scourge him, and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. | et illudent ei, et conspuent eum, et flagellabunt eum, et interficient eum : et tertia die resurget. | και εμπαιξουσιν αυτω και μαστιγωσουσιν αυτον και εμπτυσουσιν αυτω και αποκτενουσιν αυτον και τη τριτη ημερα αναστησεται |
35. | And James and John the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying: Master, we desire that whatsoever we shall ask, thou wouldst do it for us: | Et accedunt ad eum Jacobus et Joannes filii Zebedæi, dicentes : Magister, volumus ut quodcumque petierimus, facias nobis. | και προσπορευονται αυτω ιακωβος και ιωαννης οι υιοι ζεβεδαιου λεγοντες διδασκαλε θελομεν ινα ο εαν αιτησωμεν ποιησης ημιν |
36. | But he said to them: What would you that I should do for you? | At ille dixit eis : Quid vultis ut faciam vobis ? | ο δε ειπεν αυτοις τι θελετε ποιησαι με υμιν |
37. | And they said: Grant to us, that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. | Et dixerunt : Da nobis ut unus ad dexteram tuam, et alius ad sinistram tuam sedeamus in gloria tua. | οι δε ειπον αυτω δος ημιν ινα εις εκ δεξιων σου και εις εξ ευωνυμων σου καθισωμεν εν τη δοξη σου |
38. | And Jesus said to them: You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the chalice that I drink of: or be baptized with the baptism wherewith I am baptized? | Jesus autem ait eis : Nescitis quid petatis : potestis bibere calicem, quem ego bibo, aut baptismo, quo ego baptizor, baptizari ? | ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ουκ οιδατε τι αιτεισθε δυνασθε πιειν το ποτηριον ο εγω πινω και το βαπτισμα ο εγω βαπτιζομαι βαπτισθηναι |
39. | But they said to him: We can. And Jesus saith to them: You shall indeed drink of the chalice that I drink of: and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized, you shall be baptized. | At illi dixerunt ei : Possumus. Jesus autem ait eis : Calicem quidem, quem ego bibo, bibetis ; et baptismo, quo ego baptizor, baptizabimini : | οι δε ειπον αυτω δυναμεθα ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτοις το μεν ποτηριον ο εγω πινω πιεσθε και το βαπτισμα ο εγω βαπτιζομαι βαπτισθησεσθε |
40. | But to sit on my right hand, or on my left, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared. | sedere autem ad dexteram meam, vel ad sinistram, non est meum dare vobis, sed quibus paratum est. | το δε καθισαι εκ δεξιων μου και εξ ευωνυμων ουκ εστιν εμον δουναι αλλ οις ητοιμασται |
41. | And the ten hearing it, began to be much displeased at James and John. | Et audientes decem, cperunt indignari de Jacobo et Joanne. | και ακουσαντες οι δεκα ηρξαντο αγανακτειν περι ιακωβου και ιωαννου |
42. | But Jesus calling them, saith to them: You know that they who seem to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them: and their princes have power over them. | Jesus autem vocans eos, ait illis : Scitis quia hi, qui videntur principari gentibus, dominantur eis : et principes eorum potestatem habent ipsorum. | ο δε ιησους προσκαλεσαμενος αυτους λεγει αυτοις οιδατε οτι οι δοκουντες αρχειν των εθνων κατακυριευουσιν αυτων και οι μεγαλοι αυτων κατεξουσιαζουσιν αυτων |
43. | But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater, shall be your minister. | Non ita est autem in vobis, sed quicumque voluerit fieri major, erit vester minister : | ουχ ουτως δε εσται εν υμιν αλλ ος εαν θελη γενεσθαι μεγας εν υμιν εσται υμων διακονος |
44. | And whosoever will be first among you, shall be the servant of all. | et quicumque voluerit in vobis primus esse, erit omnium servus. | και ος εαν θελη υμων γενεσθαι πρωτος εσται παντων δουλος |
45. | For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many. | Nam et Filius hominis non venit ut ministraretur ei, sed ut ministraret, et daret animam suam redemptionem pro multis. | και γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ ηλθεν διακονηθηναι αλλα διακονησαι και δουναι την ψυχην αυτου λυτρον αντι πολλων |
Feast Day: May 27
Born: early 6th century, Rome, Italy
Died: 26 May 604, Canterbury, Kent, England
Patron of: England
St. Augustine of Canterbury
Feast Day: May 27
Died: 605
St. Augustine was born in Rome, Italy. When he grew up, he became a monk. Years later he was made the abbot of St. Andrew's monastery in Rome. Pope St. Gregory the Great chose him and forty other monks for a mission dear to his heart. They were to preach the Gospel or the Good News of Jesus to the people of England.
Abbot Augustine and the monks started on their journey for the British Isles. When they reached southern France, people warned them that the Celts in England were fierce. The monks felt discouraged and frightened.
They asked Augustine to go and ask the pope's permission to give up the whole idea. He did, but the pope would not change his mind. He said that the people in England wanted to accept the Christian faith. The monks went to England. They arrived in 596.
The missionaries were well received by King Ethelbert, whose wife was a Christian princess from France. When they landed, the monks formed a procession and walked along singing psalms. They carried a cross and a picture of our Lord. Many people received the monks' message. King Ethelbert himself was baptized on Pentecost, 597. Abbot Augustine became a bishop that same year.
St. Augustine often wrote asking the pope for advice. And Pope St. Gregory gave him much holy advice, too. Speaking about the many miracles St. Augustine worked, the pope said: "You must rejoice with fear and fear with joy for that gift." He meant that Augustine should be happy that through the miracles the English were being converted. But he should be careful not to become proud because the miracles were worked by God through him.
He worked to make peace between the Celtic churches and the Church of Rome. It was there that he was buried. At Canterbury, St. Augustine built a church and a monastery, which became the most important in England. St. Augustine died seven years after his arrival in England, on May 26, 605.
Wednesday, May 27
Liturgical Color: Green
Today is the optional memorial of St.
Augustine of Canterbury, bishop. He was
known as the Apostle to the English. In
597 A.D., he led 40 missionaries to
England. St. Augustine converted the
king and then most of the country.
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39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be e a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."
56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
mother of my Lord: This title reveals the twin mysteries of Jesus' divinity and Mary's divine maternity (CCC 449, 495). Note that every occurrence of the word Lord in the immediate (1:45) and surrounding context refers to God(1:28, 32, 38, 46, 58, 68).
Mary's divine motherhood was the first Marian dogma expounded by the Church. The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431) defined her unique relationship to Christ and honored her with the title "Mother of God" (Gk. Theotokos). This was reaffirmed in 1964 at Vatican II (Lumen Gentium, 53).
The Magnificat (Latin for "magnifies") is a hymn of praise and a recital of God's covenant faithfulness. Mary extols humility (1:48) and rejoices in God's blessings on the lowly (1:47, 52-53). The song also introduces the theme of God's "mercy" (1:50, 54), which flows into the following episode (1:58, 72, 78) (CCC 2097, 2619).
The Magnificat is imbued with themes and imagery from the OT. It closely resembles the Song of Hannah in 1 Sam 2:1-10, while other passages illumine the background (Ps 89:10, 13; 98:3; 111:9; Sir 33:12; Hab 3:18).
Daily Readings for:May 27, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: O God, who by the preaching of the Bishop Saint Augustine of Canterbury led the English peoples to the Gospel, grant, we pray, that the fruits of his labors may remain ever abundant in your Church. 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
ACTIVITIES
o Elementary Parent Pedagogy: Regularity in Prayer
o Marian Hymn: Bring Flowers of the Fairest
PRAYERS
o Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loretto)
o Litany of Saint Augustine of Kent
· Ordinary Time: May 27th
· Optional Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, bishop
Old Calendar: Wednesday after Pentecost; St. Bede the Venerable, confessor and doctor; St. John I, pope and martyr
St. Augustine was born in Rome and died in Canterbury, England, in 604. When Pope Gregory I heard that the pagans of Britain were disposed to accept the Catholic Faith, he sent the prior of St. Andrew, Augustine, and forty of his Benedictine brethren to England. Despite the great difficulties involved in the task assigned to him, Augustine and his monks obeyed. The success of their preaching was immediate. King Ethelbert was baptized on Pentecost Sunday, 596, and the greater part of the nobles and people soon followed his example. St. Augustine died as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. His feast is celebrated in the Extraordinary Form on May 28.
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Bede. He was a Benedictine monk in the 8th century, who had great learning and is famous in Christian literature. He died in 735. His feast in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite is May 25. Today is also the commemoration of St. John I, Pope and Martyr, who died in a dungeon from the hardships he had to endure, in 526. His feast in the Ordinary Form is now celebrated on May 18.
St. Augustine of Canterbury
St. Augustine was the agent of a greater man than himself, Pope St. Gregory the Great. In Gregory's time, except for the Irish monks, missionary activity was unknown in the western Church, and it is Gregory's glory to have revived it. He decided to begin with a mission to the pagan English, for they had cut off the Christian Celts from the rest of Christendom. The time was favorable for a mission since the ruler of the whole of southern England, Ethelbert of Kent, had married a Christian wife and had received a Gaulish bishop at his court. Gregory himself wished to come to Britain, but his election as pope put an end to any such idea, and in 596 he decided to send an Italian monk following the comparatively new Rule of St Benedict. Augustine set out with some companions, but when they reached southern Gaul a crisis occurred and Augustine was sent back to the pope for help. In reply the pope made Augustine their abbot and subjected the rest of the party to him in all things, and with this authority Augustine successfully reached England in 597, landing in Kent on the Isle of Thanet. Ethelbert and the men of Kent refused to accept Christianity at first, although an ancient British church dedicated to St Martin was restored for Augustine's use; but very shortly afterwards Ethelbert was baptized and, the pope having been consulted, a plan was prepared for the removal of the chief see from Canterbury to London and the establishment of another province at York. Events prevented either of these projects from being fulfilled, but the progress of the mission was continuous until Augustine's death, somewhere between 604 and 609.
The only defeat Augustine met with after he came to England was in his attempt to reconcile the Welsh Christians, to persuade them to adopt the Roman custom of reckoning the date of Easter, to correct certain minor irregularities of rite and to submit to his authority. Augustine met the leaders of the Welsh church in conference but he unfavorably impressed them by remaining seated when they came into his presence — it is likely that in this he unfavorably impressed St Bede too. Augustine was neither the most heroic of missionaries, nor the most tactful, but he did a great work, and he was one of the very few men in Gaul or Italy who, at that time, was prepared to give up everything to preach the gospel in a far country.
— Excerpted from The Saints edited by John Coulson
Patron: England.
Symbols: Banner of the crucifixion; King Ethelbert rising out of a font (Bishop baptizing a king); fountain; cross fitchée pastoral staff and book; cope, mitre and pallium.
Things to Do:
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop
You do not know what you are asking. (Mark 10:38)
The old woman was gravely ill. The family had gathered round the bedside where, ashen and comatose, she breathed shallowly and irregularly. Off to the side, a mother explained gently to her four-year-old daughter that grandma would probably die very soon. After a brief pause, the little girl raised a sober-looking face and asked, “Mom?” Taking a deep breath, the mother steeled herself to answer the difficult question that was sure to follow. “May I have the last popsicle?”
Today’s Gospel reading describes a similarly off-topic response to a grave situation. Jesus had just outlined what awaited him in Jerusalem: arrest, beating, humiliation, torture, and an excruciating death—followed by a resurrection three days later. Alarming, unnerving, and puzzling as his words should have seemed, James and John were focused on one thing: sitting beside Jesus one day in heaven. Everything else Jesus had said was just background noise to them. Or perhaps they simply could not comprehend Jesus’ words just yet.
Sometimes we just don’t get it. Or we are so focused on what we are thinking about that we fail to grasp what Jesus is saying to us. But see how Jesus responds to these two disciples. He shifts his attention to what they are focused on and begins teaching, encouraging, and moving forward from there. He gives no criticism, no condemnation, no sharp words. Because he loves them so much, he is patient as he seeks to propel them toward the truth and life that he has for them.
This is how he deals with you as well. Don’t worry about whether you understand everything. Don’t worry if there are days when you aren’t thinking along the same lines as the Lord. Trust that he will meet you wherever you are. He will lead, guide, and steer you in the direction he wants you to go. He loves you always and wants only that you embrace more of the life he has for you.
“Jesus, forgive me for the times you’ve offered me life, and all I want is a popsicle. Open my ears today to hear you and my heart to extend your grace to the people around me.”
Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17; Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13
Daily Marriage Tip for May 27, 2015:
Often the simple act of rebooting can remedy a computer problem. Sometimes marriages need a reboot. If a problem is not resolving readily, try this: Stop. Let both of you cool off. Forgive. Ask for a do over.
Thank you so much, dearest Salvation.
Lots of reading today.
God bless.
Many thanks to you.
On Sitting and Serving | ||
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May 27, 2015. Wednesday of the Eighth Week of Ordinary Time
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By Father John Doyle, LCMark 10:32-45 The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the Twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again." James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many. Introductory Prayer: Once again, Lord, I come to you to pray. Even though I cannot see you, I trust that you are present and very much want to instruct me in your teachings. In the same way that you demonstrate your love for me by spending this time with me, I want to express my love for you by dedicating this time to you with a spirit of faith, confidence and attention. Here I am, Lord, to listen to you and respond with love. Petition: Lord, help me imitate your example of loving service.
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, help me to be zealous for the things of above. Do not allow my heart to be ambitious but rather be meek and gentle like yours. Resolution: I will seek to serve others no matter who they are. |
May 27, 2015
The Gospel reveals to us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. The apostles James and John, seeing that Jesus was a great leader of men, ask to be allotted positions of importance once he establishes his messianic kingdom. They did not understand the nature of Jesus’ future kingship. So Jesus tells them clearly that to be his disciple, one has to be ready to suffer and not just to become someone important. Jesus does not scold the two of them nor the other ten apostles who complain about the two. Instead he tells them that the path to greatness is by being a servant, in being a small one. Eventually they will understand what he is saying because they will give glory to God by dying for Him as martyrs in the future.
Do we really accept Jesus’ concept of greatness? Or do we inwardly think him to be foolish? Yet how many times have we been edified by the saints who in their poverty, humility and simple kindness have converted many men to the faith? Let us learn from Jesus who, through his humility and self-sacrifice, has shown us his true greatness.
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