FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 5th February : St. Agatha
She died a martyr for the faith at Catania in Sicily in the third century. Patron of bell-founders.
Friday 6th February : Ss Paul Miki and Companions
Martyred at Nagasaki, Japan in 1597. The 6 Franciscans, 17 Franciscan tertiaries and 3 Jesuits died suspended on crosses..
Saturday 7th February : St. Mel
He is said to have been a Briton who came to Ireland with Patrick, with whom he worked until he was ordained in Ardagh. He is one of the earliest Irish saints and gave the religious veil to Brigid. He died in 488.
Sunday 8th February : 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking
Christians who have the Beatitudes as their rule of life become the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We should recognise the dignity that is ours as we share in the work of Christ. Like him we are to lead all people to praise the wonderful deeds of God. The Spirit-filled community can bring about a new world. Christian love will make light rise in the darkness of our world.
International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking was first observed in 2015 and on the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita. Each year, around 2.5 million people are victims of trafficking and slavery. Through the Day of Prayer we reflect on the experience of those who have suffered, but also we are called to reach out to victims and survivors.
St. Josephine Bakhita, a native of Sudan, brought as a slave to Italy where she became a Christian and later entered the Institute of Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice.
Tuesday 10th February : St. Scholastica
Sister of St. Benedict. She spent her life as a consecrated virgin. Patron of convulsive children.
Wednesday 11th February : Our Lady of Lourdes
World Day of the Sick
On this day in 1858, Our Lady first appeared to the fourteen year old Bernadette Soubirous. Later Bernadette was to learn that the mysterious lady was the Blessed Virgin and to hear form her lips, "I am the Immaculate Conception".
In 1992 Pope John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick to be held on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Wednesday 11th February : St. Gobnait
One of the best loved saints in west Cork but only traditions concerning her life survive. The main part of her life was spent in Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, where there has always been a deep devotion to her, and which is a place of pilgrimage on this day and on Pentecost. Her gifts of caring for and curing the sick have been a significant part of her cult through the centuries. Happily her memorial coincides with the World Day of the Sick.
Friday 14th February : Ss Cyril and Methodius
They were brothers from Thessalonica in Greece. They preached the Gospel in Moravia using their own translation of the Scriptures and the liturgy in the local language. These translations into Slavonic were in an alphabet, now called Cyrillic, which they devised. They are honoured as apostles of the Slavic peoples and in 1980 Pope John Paul II declared them Patrons of Europe.