Memorial of Saints (February 5)

St. Agatha dedicated herself to God and a life of chastity early in life. A Roman consul desired her and used the persecutions to possess her. When Agatha refused his advances, the consul subjected her to all kinds of tortures including the cutting off of her breasts. The final torture which led to her death was her being rolled over red-hot coals (date of death unknown).

St. Avitus of Vienne succeeded his father as bishop in 490 A.D. Avitus became known for his wisdom, learning and charity. He converted King Sigismund of Burgundy to Christianity in 516 A.D. Avitus wrote an allegorical epic on the creation of man, a poem on chastity, and many homilies and letters still existing to this day (died ca. 525 A.D.).

St. Bertoul came from Germany and was converted to Christianity when he went to Flanders. He became the steward of Count Wambert. Bertoul accompanied the Count and his wife on a pilgrimage to Rome. Upon the death of the Count and his wife, Bertoul was granted their estate, but he decided to retire instead to a monastery he had founded at Renty. It was here that St. Bertoul spent his last years (died ca. 705 A.D.).

Sts. Indractus and Dominica were siblings from Ireland. They were children of an Irish chieftain and were Christians. The two siblings went on a pilgrimage to Rome with several of their companions but they were killed by Saxons near Glastonbury, England (died ca. 710 A.D.).

St. Vodalus was from the north of the British Isles. He went to Gaul to preach the Christian faith and then became a recluse beside St. Mary's Convent as Soissons. He was known for his holiness and dedication to a life of poverty. Noted also to have performed miracles, he died ca. 720 A.D.

St. Adelaide of Bellich was the daughter of the Count of Guelder. She became abbess of Bellich convent, near Bonn, and also at St. Mary's in Cologne. These two abbeys were built by her father. Known for her charity to the poor, this is where she spent her last years (died ca. 1015 A.D.).

The Martyrs of Japan were seventeenth-century martyrs which included: one layman, 10 Dominican priests, and 13 Dominican laypeople. Some of their names were: Peter Baptist, Martin de Aguirre, Francis Blanco, Philip de las Casas, Paul Miki, John Goto, James Kisai, Francis Miako, Gonsalo Garcia, Louis Ibarko, Thomas Kasaki and Francis-of-St-Michael (died ca. 1637 A.D.).

5th Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections: (From) 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), February 5, 2012

Liturgical readings

Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 147
1 Corinthians 9:1-19, 22-23
Mark 1:29-39

"He went off to a lonely place in the desert to pray."

Jesus teaches all who hear the gospel that prayer is the key to make lives, relationships and work contribute to healing in all its forms. Though Jesus was busy healing many people (including Simon Peter's mother-in-law), He showed a good example to those who follow Him, how He makes prayer the first priority in His ministry: "He rose up early in the morning to pray." Like Jesus, in prayer, all the faithful can receive from the Father that life-giving spirit that brings healing and help to many, with its primary source in the Eucharist.

For many who live in the city or semi-urban areas, discipline and planning is necessary to manage time and set some for prayer, reading of Scripture, and reflection. Following the example of Jesus, anyone can rise early in the morning and make prayer the first priority of his work day. What Jesus exemplifies in the gospel has become a well-founded tradition in the Church: from the monastic spirituality of ancient Christianity up to present daily Mass-goers of many parishes. The Sacraments invite all to be healed of many bad habits that need to be replaced by life-giving ones that the faithful may be a strong witness to others.

There are many practical helps to lead the faithful to prayer. Meditation tapes are very popular. There are also many books that give ideas how each one can pray more effectively. If one's intuitive and feeling faculties are strong, then these are a big help (especially in reading Scripture passages). Intuition and feeling accompanied with God's grace lifts up minds and hearts to God. St. Augustine, a known authority in the faith, is noted to have used his intuitive and feeling faculties in prayer. The prayer and spiritual tradition of other saints can also help (St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Thomas of Aquinas, and St. Francis of Assisi). Following the Saints' tradition of prayer helps well to obtain that depth of rootedness needed to make Christian life an instrument of peace and hope for many.

Short Hagiography of Saints (February 6)

St. Peter Baptist joined the Franciscans in 1567 A.D. In 1593 A.D., he was sent to Japan where he served as commissary for the Franciscans. He was martyred for his faith in Christ - crucified with twenty-five other Christians during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's persecution of Christians. Canonized in 1862 A.D., St. Peter is one of the Martyrs of Japan (died ca. 1597 A.D.).

St. Paul Miki was educated at a Jesuit college. He joined the Jesuits in 1580 A.D. Paul is also one of the twenty-five who were martyred for his faith in Christ during the persecution of Christians in Japan. Together with St. Peter Baptist and companion Japanese lay men, they were to be the seeds of the Christian faith in the Far East - the Martyrs of Japan (died ca. 1597 A.D.).

Sts. Mel and Melchu were brothers, the sons of St. Patrick's sister, Darerca. They accompanied their uncle St. Patrick to Ireland where they became missionaries and bishops. Mel became bishop of Armagh, while Melchu became bishop of Ardagh (died ca. 488 A.D.).

St. Vedast was ordained in Toul, and worked with St. Remigius in the mission among the Franks. Vedast became bishop of Rheims in 499 A.D. He established well the Christian faith in his diocese (died ca. 539 A.D.).

St. Amand became a monk on the island of Yeu, was ordained at Tours, in France, and then lived as a hermit for fifteen years at Bourges. He was then consecrated as bishop in 629 A.D. and became a missionary. He evangelized the people at Ghent, founded monasteries, and continued to be an active missionary until he became abbot of Elnon (died ca. 679 A.D.).

St. Guarinus became a monk at Molesmes and then was appointed abbot of St. John of the Alps near Geneva. He affiliated his monastic community to the Cistercians at Clairvaux, France. He then left his post as abbot of St. John when he became bishop of Sion in present-day Switzerland (died ca. 1150 A.D.).

St. Hildegund came from a noble German family. When her mother and sister entered the convent, she followed them and became a religious like them. After making a pilgrimage to Rome, she returned home and made her castle near Cologne into a convent. She became prioress of that convent when it attracted many followers (died ca. 1183 A.D.).

St. Dorothy (died ca. 1917 A.D.) was a resident of Caesarea, Cappadocia. When she refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, she was ordered to be executed. On the way to her execution, she met a lawyer named Theophilus, who mocked and taunted her for being a Christian. St. Dorothy prayed, and an angel appeared miraculously to Theophilus. Theophilus was converted by the experience and eventually also died as a Christian martyr.