FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 3rd July : St. Tomas, Apostle
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.
Friday 4th July : St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1331)
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.
Saturday 5th July : St. Anthony Zaccaria (1502-1539)
He was a medical doctor before becoming a priest in Milan. He founded the Barnabites.
Sunday 6th July : 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus is the 'Prince of Peace'. Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Christians are to share that peace with others. The earthly peace we seek is the image of that peace of Christ. We have no option but to be peace makers.
Monday 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.
Tuesday 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.
Friday 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 its wisdom and balance and those who lived by it did much to share the Europe of today. He was named patron of Europe in 1964. In our 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 than process is a real danger in reading Scripture when every word is form God and has a power all its own. Benedict knew that power because he took the time to let it wok within him. He died in 547 while standing in prayer before God.