Memorial of Saints (June 26)

St. Vigilius was educated at Athens. He returned to his birthplace in Trent, Italy, were he was named bishop in 385 A.D. As leader of his diocese, he stopped usury, helped the poor, and converted many to the faith. His work received great success that almost everyone in his diocese was Christian before his death. St. Vigilius died a martyr for the faith because he ordered a statue of a pagan god thrown into the Sarka River - which angered those who believed in it (died ca. 405 A.D.).

St. Josemaria Escriva was ordained in 1925 A.D. He worked in a rural parish at first until he felt the call to found the Opus Dei on October 2, 1928 A.D. When religious persecutions were prevalent in Spain, Josemaria left, and returned only after the Civil War ended. Back in Madrid, he worked for the growth of Opus Dei in Spain. Opus Dei emerged as a strong force in many parts of the world. This prelature followed the spirit of service to the Church exemplified by their founder, St. Josemaria Escriva (died October 6, 2002 A.D.).

Sts. John and Paul were Roman martyrs of the 4th century A.D. Tradition preserves the popularity of their story. John and Paul were brothers and both soldiers of the Emperor Constantine. They continued their military service until the death of the Emperor. Emperor Constantine's successor was not sympathetic to the Christian faith of the two brothers. He had both brothers executed when they refused to renounce their faith in Christ. Their bodies were buried in the Celian Hill (died ca. 410 A.D.).

St. Maxentius became a monk, and soon left the abbey he worked and lived, to escape the praise of his companion monks. Despite his resistance to this temptation, he was acclaimed a miracle worker when his return coincided with the end of a long drought. He then decided to join another monastic community where he became known for his austerities and holiness. Elected abbot of this community in ca. 500 A.D., St. Maxentius worked well for the good of his community. After resigning from his post as abbot, he lived as a hermit near his community's monastery (died ca. 515 A.D.).

St. Salvius was a bishop who went to Valenciennes, France, in ca. 768 A.D. Salvius received success from his work of evangelization in that area of France. Together with a companion called Superius, they both were killed by a son of an official of Valenciennes (died ca. 768 A.D.).

St. John of the Goths was elected bishop of the Goths in 761 A.D. John upheld the Church practice of veneration of relics and sacred images. He also attended the General Council of Nicaea in 787 A.D. This Council defined Catholic doctrine on the veneration of saints and relics. On his return from the Council, he was captured by Khazar invaders. However, he was able to escape and find refuge in Amastria in Asia Minor, where he spent the last years of his life (died ca. 800 A.D.).

St. Pelagius was a hostage of the Moors when he was 10 years old at Cordova, Spain. After three years, Abd-ar-Rahman III offered Pelagius his freedom, if he would renounce his Christian faith, and become an adherent of Islam. When St. Pelagius refused to accept the offer, he was tortured to death (died ca. 925 A.D.).

St. Anthelm at first was a secular priest but then decided to be a Carthusian in ca. 1137 A.D. He became the 7th abbot of the Carthusian Order in 1139 A.D. and worked to rebuild the Order's physical facilities. He also delegated the drawing up of a Carthusian Rule for women to Blessed John the Spaniard. Resigning his abbacy in 1152 A.D., he lived as a hermit. He wanted to continue in his solitude, but despite objections to his being named bishop of Belley, he reluctantly acceded to this need in 1163 A.D. After actively involving himself in the politics of his time, he spent his last years working with lepers and the poor (died ca. 1178 A.D.).

12th Sunday of the Year (A)

12th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A:


"Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destory the soul."

Jesus spoke these words to His apostles because He knows that like Himself, they too will suffer the fate of a prophet - martyrdom (save for the beloved disciple, John). But the Lord assures them that there is nothing to fear. They only need to fear the One who can kill both body and soul - and throw both to Gehenna. His apostles now become aware that their following of Jesus will also bring them before the courts - before kings and princes. Their will witness to the love of God and risk their lives for the faith they preach and profess. But despite this stark reality, Jesus assures them and gives them confidence and courage, because the Father loves them as much as He does. They are assured of a martyr's crown in heaven if they do not disown Jesus before these courts.

To follow Jesus and His teachings does not lead all to the opportunity to preach in the manner of the apostles and disciples. The ministry of the word in the Eucharist and the Sacraments is the responsibility of the clergy. However, post-Vatican II theology calls all the lay faithful to preach the Word of God in deeds of service. The lay faithful are called to preach the Word in action - in the very circumstances they find themselves in life and work. As the lay faithful participate in the celebration of the Sacraments, they will be granted the faith and courage to resist whatever temptation they will need to face and do what is according to God's will in their respective states of life. Fear should not weaken any soul to resist evil and do good. The Holy Spirit, the personification of love between the Father and the Son, will permeate every action with the Spirit of God's Word. If every Christian were to let himself be driven by the Spirit into the world, to enkindle every heart with God's love, then Christ's Word will truly bear fruit in good soil and the Church and her Sacraments will stand the test of time.

The Crusades: Six Military Campaigns to Reconquer the Holy Land

The Crusades: Campaigns To Reconquer the Holy Land

The Crusades had a deeply Christian and missionary purpose: the reconquest of the Holy Land and a war against Islam. Though it produced much knightly energy, the war at times expressed itself in a bloody and un-Christian frenzy. This period of the Crusades to recover Jerusalem can be divided into six military campaigns.

Jerusalem under the Turks

In 1071 A.D., the Turks conquered Jerusalem. Pilgrims to the Holy Land soon complained about the restrictions placed on them by the Turks. This then created an appeal to the general Christian conscience and awakened the desire to help the eastern Christians and recapture the Holy Land. Pope Urban II placed himself at the head of this movement and carried the masses with him under the cry "God wills it".

First Crusade: 1096-1099 A.D.

Before the actual crusade, under the preaching and leadership of the hermit Peter of Amiens, bands of peasants and excited mobs moved through the Rhineland and committed excesses against the native populations. However, they were decimated by the Seljuk Turks when they reached Asia Minor.

The actual crusade came from a main army of knights who were recruited from the Romance countries. These included the princes Raymond of Toulousse, Godfrey of Bouillon, and the Norman Bohemond of Tarentum. After much hardship and bitter bloody battles, they were able to capture Jerusalem in 1099 A.D.

After this First Crusade, the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem was founded. Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen as the first "protector of the Holy Sepulchre". His brother Baldwin I (1100-1118 A.D.) succeeded him. And under Fulco of Anjou (1131-1143 A.D.), the kingdom achieved its greatest extension.

Second Crusade: 1147-1149 A.D.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was active in this crusade. He was able to obtain the participation of the kings of France and Germany. However, this campaign ended with a great loss for the French and German armies. Jerusalem was lost again in 1187 A.D.

Third Crusade: 1189-1192 A.D.

This Crusade was led by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. At Ikonium, he defeated the Turks, but drowned in the Saleph in 1190 A.D. His leaderless army did not achieve any other successes. The leadership of the English king Richard Lionheart and the French king Philipp II, did not also achieve a reconquest of Jerusalem. However, in 1192 A.D., a truce with Sultan Saladin was achieved. This truce permitted the peaceful visit of Jerusalem by the Christian pilgrims.

Fourth Crusade: 1202-1204 A.D.

This Crusade was led by Pope Innocent III. All of western Christianity was united with this campaign. However, due to the interference of Venetian merchants, the crusading army was diverted to Constantinople. That resulted in its conquest and a Latin Kingdom was established. However, no religious unity between the Greek and Latin churches was effected. Rather, events only led to the further division between eastern and western Churches.

Fifth Crusade: 1228-1229 A.D.

This Crusade was a private project of Emperor Frederick II. Through his negotiations with the Egyptian sultan, he obtained the return of Jerusalem to the Christians. However, in 1244 A.D., the Holy City was lost for good.

Sixth Crusade: 1248-1254 A.D.

St. Louis IX, king of France, desired to conquer Egypt and recover the Holy Land. However, in April 1250 A.D., his army was defeated at Cairo and Louis himself was captured together with his troops.

Significance of the Crusades

As a whole, the Crusading movement is still contested. This was due in part to the military excesses committed in the battles. However, the positive outcome of these military enterprises were as follows:

• it strengthened a consciousness of community in the West
• it expanded the European horizon
• it promoted learning through encounters with Byzantine and Islamic culture
• it promoted commerce between eastern and western civilizations
• and the brilliant growth of western philosophy and theology in scholasticism was due to the eastern influences brought about by these Crusades

Spiritually, the Crusades had a profound and lasting mark on Western piety. The crusaders committed themselves to endless dangers and hardships for the sake of Christ. They also took upon themselves the poor life of the cross-bearing Savior and went head-on to share in His suffering and Cross.

A saint who was involved also in this movement was St. Francis of Assisi. He adopted the healthy core of the crusading spirit and attempted the peaceful conversion of the Holy Land instead of the means of crushing conquest. He tried to bring the gospel of peace to the sultan near Damietta. Although this did not effect peace, that mission of St. Francis in the Holy Land continues up to this time through his followers.

Related resources:

• "A History of the Church", by August Franzen and John P. Dolan
• Books on the Crusades, from Ignatius Press