FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Friday 3rd July : St. Thomas
He is said to have preached the gospel in India where he was martyred. The faith that led him to know Christ in his wounds also sent him to the farthest places to preach Christ.
Saturday 4th July : St. Elizabeth of Portugal
Of the House of Aragon, she had an unhappy marriage with the King of Portugal. She persevered in prayer and good works, and as a widow lived in poverty as a Franciscan tertiary.
Sunday 5th July : 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
To know the Father and the Son we must become pupils in the school of Christ. The way of Christ is one of humility and gentleness. Intellectual pride and arrogance are not to be seen in the Christian. The teachings of Christ are to be learnt with humility and in prayer.
Monday 6th July : St. Maria Goretti
Born in Ancone, Italy on 16th October 1890. At the age of 12 her neighbour Alessandro attacked her; when she said that she would rather die than submit to him he stabbed her. She died in hospital having forgiven him. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. On release he went to her mother to beg her forgiveness to which she replied "if my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" Maria Goretti was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950; both her mother and Alessandro were at the ceremony. Patron of youth, young women, purity and victims of rape.
Monday 6th July : St. Moninne of Killeavy
One of Ireland's early women saints. After instruction of the religious life, she founded a community that initially consisted of eight virgins and a widow with a baby at Sliabh Gullion, Co. Armagh. They lived an eremitical life, based on that of Elijah and St. John the Baptist.
Tuesday 7th July : St. Maelruain
Bishop and abbot, he founded the monastery of Tallaght, Co. Dublin in 774 which introduced a reform. Important liturgical and spiritual writings emerged from this movement known as the Célí Dé reform. He died in 792.
Wednesday 8th July : St. Kilian
He was born in the parish of Mullagh in the diocese of Kilmore. With eleven companions he left Ireland and became known as the apostle of Thuringia and Eastern Franconia (regions in Germany). With Kolonat and Totnan he was put to death in 689. There is a very strong devotion to him in Würzburg, where his remains lie, and also throughout the Bavarian countryside.
Saturday 11th July : St. Benedict
After living as a hermit at Subiaco, he founded the monastery of Monte Cassino. His Rule, observed by Benedictines and Cistercians, is distinguished by it wisdom and balance and those who live by it did much to shape the Europe of today. He was named patron of Europe in 1964. In out modern world, we talk fast, we travel fast, and we even pray fast. Our impatience to get to the end, our focus on completion rather that process is a real danger in reading Scripture when every word is from God and has a power all its own. Benedict new that power because he took the time to let it work within him. He died in 547 while standing in prayer before God.