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Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint Boniface. Engraving | H. Kipp after K. Clasen Saint Boniface Saint of the Day for June 5 (c. 675 – June 5, 754)  Saint Boniface’s Story Boniface, known as the apostle of the Germans, was an English Benedictine monk who gave up being elected abbot to devote his life to the conversion of the Germanic tribes. Two characteristics stand out: his Christian orthodoxy and his fidelity to the pope of Rome.How absolutely necessary this orthodoxy and fidelity were is borne out by the conditions Boniface found on his first missionary journey in 719...

Our Christmas tree is derived, not from the pagan yule tree, but from the paradise tree adorned with apples on December 24 in honor of Adam and Eve. The Christmas tree is completely biblical in origin. The use of evergreens at Christmas may date from St. Boniface of the eighth century, who dedicated the fir tree to the Holy Child in order to replace the sacred oak tree of Odin; but the Christmas tree as we know it today does not appear to be so ancient a custom. It appears first in the Christian Mystery play commemorating the biblical story...

On St. Boniface "His Ardent Zeal for the Gospel Always Impresses Me" VATICAN CITY, MARCH 11, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today at the general audience in St. Peter's Square. * * * Dear brothers and sisters: Today we pause to consider a great missionary of the 8th century, who spread Christianity in Central Europe, precisely in my homeland as well: St. Boniface, who has been recorded in history as the "apostle of the Germans." We have not a little information about his life, thanks to the diligence of his biographers: He was...

June 5, 2006 Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr Psalm: Monday 24 Reading 12 Pt 1:2-7 Beloved:May grace and peace be yours in abundancethrough knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has bestowed on useverything that makes for life and devotion,through the knowledge of himwho called us by his own glory and power.Through these, he has bestowed on usthe precious and very great promises,so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature,after escaping from the corruption that is in the worldbecause of evil desire.For this very reason,make every effort to supplement...

June 5, 2004 Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr Psalm: Saturday 25 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I2 Tm 4:1-8 Beloved: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the...

June 5, 2003Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr Psalm: Thursday Week 25 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IActs 22:30; 23:6-11 Wishing to determine the truthabout why Paul was being accused by the Jews,the commander freed himand ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,so he called out before the Sanhedrin,"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead."When he said this,a dispute broke out...