Trinity Sunday (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

June 15, 2014
Liturgical readings
Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9
Daniel 3
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
John 3:16-18

"God sent his Son that the world might be saved through him."

The truth about the Most Blessed Trinity is an important teaching of the Catholic faith. It is a truth emphasized by St. John Paul II when he dedicated the years 1997, 1998, and 1999, to each of the Persons of the Holy Trinity. This act of the Church before the turn of the millenium shows the importance of the doctrine of the Trinity to the lives of all Catholics and other Christian denominations who believe in the Trinity. For Catholics, the Trinity is an essential part of worship and liturgy. The name of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is always invoked at the beginning and conclusion of every prayer in the liturgy. It is also invoked in every prayer gathering of the family, and in personal prayers.

It is difficult to understand a mystery, but the Holy Trinity can be understood through hymns and poems, since these are expressions of love and devotion. As an example, a hymn by Felice de Giardini honors God as "the great One in Three". Singing the hymn, the "great One in Three", is easy to understand; the heart quickly "sees" what the head sometimes miss to see. Catholics know by heart what it means: to have faith in a Father who provides; to have faith in the Son who saves from sins; and to have faith in the Holy Spirit who breathes new Life. This is the faith and the truth all are called to live by. Each one is called to make his soul a dwelling place of the Most Holy Trinity: "If a man loves me," says the Lord, "he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him (Catechism #260).

To be a dwelling place of the Most Holy Trinity is a call to a way of praying and living. Much is required to purify in one's being: vices and sinful directions. There is one classic teacher who can instruct as in this: St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622 A.D.). He writes in his books and letters that: "from time to time, we are to examine the evil passions that dominate our hearts". Once discovered, the soul is called to strive to live in a manner opposed to these evil passions. As St. Francis de Sales counsels, (and so do the Church even in these modern times), it is necessary to bring one's soul to the Sacrament of Confession. With the Sacrament of Confession, the grace and the strength to resist these evil passions is easier. Only when purged from these evil passions, one step at a time, one day at a time, will the life of the Trinity indwell in the soul.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever." (Daniel 3)

Feast of Saints Celebrated in the Month of June

Justin, martyr (June 1)

also on June 1: Pamphilus and Companions, martyrs; Proculus, "the soldier," and Proculus of Bologna, bishop; Caprasius or Caprais; Wistan; Simeon of Syracuse; Eneco or Iñigo, abbot; Theobald of Alba

Marcellinus and Peter: (died c. 303): Marcellinus was a priest and Peter, an exorcist; beheaded under Diocletian; both mentioned in the Roman Canon. (June 2)

also on June 2: Erasmus, bishop and martyr; Pothinus and Companions, martyrs; Eugenius I, pope; Stephen of Sweden, bishop and martyr; Nicholas the Pilgrim; Blandina, martyr

Charles Lwanga: and 21 Ugandan companions, (died 15 November 1885 - 27 Jan. 1887); protomartyrs of Black Africa; over 100 killed in this period, including Anglicans; Charles is the patron saint of African Catholic Youth Action. (June 3)

also on June 3: Cecilius; Pergentinus and Laurentinus, martyrs; Lucillian and Companions, martyrs; Clotilda, widow; Liphardus and Urbicius, abbots; Kevin or Coegmen, abbot; Genesius of Clermont, bishop; Isaac of Cordova, martyr; Morand

on June 4: Francis Caracciolo, confessor; Quirinus, bishop and martyr; Metrophanes, bishop; Optatus of Milevis, bishop; Petroc, abbot; Vincentia Gerosa, virgin

Boniface (died 754): Anglo-Saxon O.S.B.; founded abbey of Fulda; bishop of Mainz; martyred along with 30 companions at Dokkum in Frisia; known as "the Apostle of Germany." (June 5)

also on June 5: Dorotheus of Tyre, martyr; Sanctius or Sancho, martyr

Norbert: (died 1134); founded the Premonstratensians; archbishop of Magdeburg; strong supporter of the Church reform and evangelization; devoted to the Holy Eucharist. (June 6)

also on June 6: Philip the Deacon; Ceratius or Ceras, bishop; Eustorgius of Milan, bishop; Jarlath, bishop; Gudwal or Gurval; Claud, bishop

on June 7: Paul of Constantinople, bishop; Meriadoc, bishop; Colman of Dromore, bishop; Vulflagius or Wulphy; Willibald, bishop; Gottschalk, martyr; Robert of Newminster, abbot; Antony Gianelli, bishop; Agostino Roscelli

also on June 8: Maximinus of Aix; Medard, bishop; Clodulf or Cloud, bishop; William of York, bishop

Ephrem: (died 373); Syrian theologian and poet who authored biblical commentaries, homilies, and composed hymns; founded a school at Nisbis; lived in Edessa (in Mesopotamia). (June 9)

also on June 9: Primus and Felician, martyrs; Columba or Columcille, abbot; Vincent of Agen, martyr; Pelagia of Antioch, virgin and martyr; Richard of Andria, bishop

on June 10: Gerulius and Companions, martyrs; Ithamar, bishop; Landericus or Landry, bishop; Bogumilus, bishop

Barnabas: (died 1st c.); preached the gospel in Antioch; companion of Paul; attended the Council of Jerusalem; martyred; patron saint of the island of his birth, Cyprus; name mentioned in the Roman Canon. (June 11)

on June 12: John of Sahagun, confessor; Antonina, martyr; Onuphrius; Ternan, bishop; Peter of Mount Athos; Leo III, pope; Odulf; Eskil, bishop and martyr

Anthony of Padua (died 1231 at the age of 36); from Lisbon; O.F.M.; devoted student of scriptures; first to teach theology to his fellow friars; gifted orator and preacher; known as the "Evangelical Doctor"; patron saint of lost articles, harvest, the poor and of Portugal. (June 13)

also on June 13: Felicula, martyr; Aquilina, martyr; Triphyllius, bishop

on June 14: Valerius and Rufinus, martyrs; Dogmael; Methodius I of Constantinople, bishop

on June 15: Vitus, martyr; Hesychius, martyr; Tatian Dulas, martyr; Orsieslus, abbot; Landelinus, abbot; Edburga of Winchester, virgin; Bardo, bishop; Aleydis or Alice, virgin; Germaine of Pibrac, virgin

on June 16: Ferreolus and Ferrutio, martyrs; Cyricus and Julitta, martyrs; Tychon, bishop; Aurelian, bishop; Benno, bishop; Lutgardis, virgin; John Francis Regis

on June 17: Nicander and Marcian, martyrs; Bessarion; Hypatius, abbot; Avitus, abbot; Nectan; Herve or Harvey, abbot; Botulf or Botolph, abbot; Adulf, bishop; Moling, bishop; Rainerius of Pisa; Teresa and Sanchia of Portugal; Emily de Vialar, virgin; Albert

on June 18: Mark and Marcellian, martyrs; Gregory Barbarigo, bishop; Amandus, bishop; Elizabeth of Schonau, virgin

Romuald (died 1027): O.S.B. from Ravenna; founded
(980) the Camaldolese hermits, today numbering about 200 members; urged contemplative prayer through solitude, silence and fasting. (June 19)

also on June 19: Juliana of Falconieri, virgin; Gervase and Protase, martyrs; Deodatus or Die, bishop; Bruno or Boniface of Querfurt, bishop and martyr

on June 20: Silverius, priest; Goban or Gobain, martyr; Bagnus or Bain, bishop; Adalbert of Magdeburg, bishop; John of Maters, abbot

Aloysius Gonzaga: (died 1591); Jesuit scholastic, died at age 23 caring for the sick; from the princely family of Castiglione; a page at the court of Medicis and of Philip II of Spain; renounced inheritance to enter Jesuits; Robert Bellarmine was his spiritual director; strongly devoted to the Eucharist, interior prayer, and charitable service; patron of youth and of students in Jesuit colleges and universities. (June 21)

also on June 21: Eusebius of Samosata, bishop; Alban or Albinus of Mainz, martyr; Meen or Mewan, abbot; Engelmund; Leutfridus or Leufroy, abbot; Ralph or Raoul, bishop; John Rigby, martyr

Paulinus of Nola: (died 431); husband and father who gave his possessions to the poor; dedicated bishop, especially during the Visigoth invations. (June 22)

John Fisher: (beheaded 22 June 1535); chancellor of Cambridge University; bishop of Rochester; dedicated pastor of souls; renowned for his preaching and educational reforms; defender of Church tradition against Luther, and of the Roman primacy against Henry VIII. (June 22)

Thomas More: (beheaded 6 July 1535); humanist and chancellor of England; close friend of Erasmus; wrote “Utopia”; refused to support Henry VIII’s divorce of Queen Catherine and his Act of Supremacy; patron of lawyers, statesmen and politicians. (June 22)

also on June 22: Alban, martyr; Nicetas of Remesiana, bishop; Eberhard, bishop

on June 23: Agrippina, virgin and martyr; Etheldreda or Audrey, widow; Lietbertus or Libert, bishop; Joseph Cafasso; Thomas Garnet, priest and martyr

The Birth of John the Baptist: This feast, dating from the 4th c. in both East and West, came to be celebrated, in accord with Lk 1:36, six months before the Lord’s birth; quoting Jn 3:30, Augustine found this date (near summer solstice) appropriate for, after the birth of John, the daylight begins to grow shorter, whereas after Jesus’ birth, it begins to increase. (June 24)

also on June 24: The martyrs under Nero; Simplicius, bishop; Bartholomew of Farne

on June 25: William of Vercelli, abbot; Febronia, virgin and martyr; Gallicanus; Prosper of Aquitaine; Prosper of Reggio, bishop; Maximus of Turin, bishop; Moloc or Luan, bishop; Adalbert of Egmond; Eurosia, virgin and martyr; Gohard, bishop, and Companions, martyrs

on June 26: John and Paul; Vigilus, bishop and martyr; Maxentius, abbot; Salvius or Sauve and Superius; John of the Goths; Pelagius or Pelayo, martyr; Anthelm, bishop; Josemaria Escriva

Cyril of Alexandria: bishop and doctor; Zoilus and Companions, martyrs; Samson of Constantinople; John of Chinon; George Mtasmindeli of the Black Mountains, abbot; Ladislaus of Hungary; Benvenuto of Gubbio (June 27)

Irenaeus: (died 202); from Smyrna; disciple of Polycarp; for 25 years the bishop of Lyons; wrote against the Gnostics, esp Adversus haereses; first to provide a coherent rationale for a Christian Bible including both Testaments, and the first to offer a comprehensive account of belief in God’s universal providential and redemptive economy. (June 28)

also on June 28: Plutarch, Potamiaena and Companions, martyrs; Paul I, pope; Heimrad; Sergius and Germanus of Valaam, abbots; John Southworth, priest and martyr

Peter (died c. 64 in Rome under Nero); Galilean fisherman; spokesman for the Twelve who became "Prince of the Apostles"; two epistles are ascribed to him; patron of those in fishing industry. (June 29)

Paul: according to tradition, was martyred in Rome c. 67; Pharisee who became the "Apostle of the Gentiles"; his letters may be dated from c. 50-65; patron of the lay apostolate, of Malta and Greece. (June 29)

also on June 29: Cassius, bishop; Salome and Judith; Emma, widow

The First Martyrs of the Church of Rome: Those many Christians who were tortured, crucified and burned alive in 64 BC in Nero’s Garden on the Vatican Hill are honored today. (June 30)

also on June 30: Martial, bishop; Bertrand of Le Mans, bishop; Erentrude, virgin; Theobald or Thibaud of Provins

St. Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France

The Story of Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France

A popular saint

Joan of Arc is one of the more popular saints in the Catholic Church. Her feast is celebrated every May 30th. She was born on January 6, 1412, at Domrémy, France, on the Feast of the Epiphany. Joan was the youngest of five children to Jacques d'Arc, a peasant farmer. The family lived in a poor village, only just within what is now politically "France". At the time, it was the last place from which one would expect help to come.

Supernatural visions at 13 years of age

As soon as she was able to work, Joan, like every other children, was set to help in the house, driving out the village cows to pasturage, and occasionally acting as shepherdess. A pious girl by nature, she experienced supernatural visions in the garden of her father's house one day. She was already an adolescent of about thirteen years of age. She describes these visions as voices coming from St. Michael, St. Catherine, St. Margaret, and others. Her heavenly visitants at first contented themselves with telling Joan to go on being a good girl and to say her prayers. It was only when Joan was about seventeen years of age that these voices revealed to Joan that her mission was to save France, by helping the Dauphin organize an army, and rightfully place him on the throne of France.

Her prophecies also proved her mission

Robert de Baudricourt, the French commander at Vaucouleurs, laughed at Joan of Arc. Joan previously prophesied that the reinforcements received by the English had won a decisive victory the previous day. When the news came in that this prophesy of Joan was true, and that the French were defeated at the Battle of Herrings, Baudricourt then believed. He could not even stand out against so evident a prophecy. Because of the truth of Joan's prophecy, she was permitted to tell her story and her message to the Dauphin.

Encounter with the Dauphin

To convince the Dauphin of her being sent by God, she went to the castle to seek audience with him. Charles, the Dauphin, had already heard stories of Joan. He was skeptical and decided to subject the peasant girl to a test: Joan was ushered into the crowded great hall where a nobody stood forth in magnificent dress while the Dauphin appeared as one more lowly in status. Nevertheless without hesitation Joan went up to the Dauphin in disguise and knelt to him in homage. Since Joan never saw nor met the Dauphin in person, it was a great amazement to all in the Dauphin's court when she was able to single him out and identify him despite the lowly disguise. As the Dauphin then consulted her confidentially, she then revealed to the Dauphin what God was asking her to do for France.

Her military success helped crown the Dauphin as king

After being cleared of all suspicions, Joan led an expedition to retake the city of Orléans, in a suit of white armor. Only seventeen years old at the time, St. Joan of Arc entered the city without opposition on the night of April 29th; nine days later the English, decisively beaten, withdrew from the ring of fortresses they had built around the city. Joan led well her forces to victory. She then also followed this victory with another one over the British on June 18, this time capturing Troyes. Finally on July 17, 1429 A.D., the Dauphin was crowned as King Charles VII at Rheims.

Captured by the British and burned at the stake


St. Joan of Arc continued in her military campaigns. She failed to take Paris and in one of the following military campaigns, she was captured on May 24 near Compiègne by the Burgundians, and sold to the British by John of Luxembourg on November 21. She was charged by the British church authorities with heresy and witchcraft (because of her stories about hearing voices). Tricked into signing a recantation, she was eventually condemned to be burned to death at the stake.

Martyr and patron saint of France

Her martyrdom occured on May 30, 1431 A.D. in Rouen, France. However, a court appointed by Pope Callistus II in 1456 A.D. found her innocent, especially with the initiative of Joan's mother working for her cause. Soon, four centuries later, she was canonized in 1920 A.D. She is the second patron saint of France and is known as the Maid of Orléans.

Related resources:

• "A History of the Church" by Franzen and Dolan


• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney


• "A Year with the Saints" by Don Bosco Press, Inc.


• "Passion of the Saints" by Discovery Channel