Monthly Archives: May 2020

Upon being told by the angel Gabriel that her cousin, Elizabeth, was with child, the Blessed Virgin Mary went to visit her in the mountains, about six miles west of Jerusalem.  Mary hurried to the town of Judah where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.  At her greeting, the baby stirred in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.   Pope Urban VI instituted this feast on July 2, 1389.  It is now celebrated on the last day of May to conform more closely to the Gospel account. 

FEAST DAY:  May 31

BOOKS ABOUT MARY

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) take off his sandals

Today’s Question-

From whom do we learn how to pray in the New Testament?

St. Joan of Arc was born January 6, 1412 at Domremy in France.  As a child, her mother taught her to pray each night, “O God save France”.  She tended sheep in the fields.  While tending the sheep in the fields, she heard voices from Heaven.  St. Michael appeared to her and told her of the desperation of France.  After much opposition, the 17 year old girl was given a small army.  She led the troops on the battlefield, and the enemy was defeated. In May of 1430 she was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English.  Later, King Charles abandoned her and did nothing to save her.  When she refused to retract that it was the saints who had commanded her to do what she did, she was condemned to death and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431.  She was exonerated of all guilt 30 years later and canonized in 1920.

FEAST DAY:  May 30

PATRON OF:  Prisoners, soldiers, France

MEDAL

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

God is king of all the earth.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

The tenth commandment

Today’s Answer-

When Moses encountered God’s voice in the burning bush, what did God require him to do?

(a) remove his hat     (b) fall on his knees     (c) take off his sandals

St. Maximinus left his native Poitiers, France, for Trier early in his life.  The saintly reputation of Bishop St. Agritius drew him there.  There he received his education and upon the death of Bishop St. Agritius succeeded to the episcopacy in 325.  He was in an ideal position to carry on his life-long battle against Arianism, since Trier was the residence of the Emperors of the West.  Maximinus provided protection to St. Athanasius during his exile and later provided protection for St. Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople when he was banished by Emperor Constantius.  He and St. Athanasius together were so ardent in their opposition to Arianism that they were denounced from Philippolia.  He died at Trier and was praised by St. Athanasius for his courage and miracles.  None of his treatises have survived, though he was known to have written several.  He died May 29 about 349.

 FEAST DAY:  May 29

GIFTS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

The seventh commandment

Today’s Question-

Which commandment forbids greed?

St. Germanus was born near Autun, France, about 496.  St. Agippinus, Bishop of the diocese, ordained him, and he was subsequently chosen Abbot and administrator of St. Symphorianus, a suburb of Autun.  He was made Bishop of Paris in 566 by King Childebert I.  His preaching brought about the conversion of many sinners and careless Christians.  Even the King abandoned his total absorption in worldly affairs and became a benefactor of the poor.  He founded many religious establishments.  Germanus  was constant in his endeavors to halt civil strife, and licentiousness of  the Kings and nobles but to no avail.  He founded a monastery in Paris which became famous under the name of Saint-Germain-des-Pres after his death on May 28, 576.  King Chilperic composed his epitaph and extolled his virtues, miracles, and zeal for the salvation of souls.

 FEAST DAY:  May 28

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c)  Obeying

Today’s Question-

What commandment requires the good stewardship of the earth’s animals, plants, and other resources?

St. Augustine, along with 39 of his brother monks, was sent to England by Pope St. Gregory the Great to evangelize the English.  King Ethelbert of Kent greeted them on their arrival.  He was a pagan married to a Christian.  Shortly after their arrival, St. Augustine baptized King Ethelbert and a great number of his subjects.  He was consecrated Bishop in Gaul by the Archbishop of Arles and became Bishop of Canterbury.  He founded and directed the English hierarchy by unremitting labor.  Over the centuries this yielded rich harvests of souls for Christ.  He built a church and Benedictine monastery at Canterbury but was unsuccessful in convincing the bishops of the Celtic rite to adopt the Roman rites.  He died May 26, 604 or 605

 FEAST DAY:  May 27

PATRON OF:  England

CLERGY APPAREL

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection

Today’s Question-

How is respect for one’s parents shown by children according to the Commandments?

(a) being quiet     (b) sharing     (c) obeying

Born in Florence in 1515, he was known for his obedience toward his parents.  At age 18 after finishing his classical studies, he was sent to San Germano to pursue a business career.  He had a mystical experience which turned him to the religious life.  He went to Rome where he tutored two sons of a wealthy Florentine.  He desired to save souls and established the Confraternity of the Blessed Trinity in 1548.  In obedience to his confessor, he became a priest in June, 1551, when he was nearly 36 years old.  He established the Congregation of the Oratory which Gregory XIII approved in 1757.  He lived an exemplary life, and labored zealously for souls in the ministry of the confessional.  All of the popes of the time were friendly to him along with many great men of his time.  He died in 1595 after a life of penance and eminent usefulness.

 FEAST DAY:  May 26

PATRON OF:  Rome, U.S. Army-Special Forces

MILITARY & SPORT MEDALS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

The Lord takes delight in his people.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

(c) to have faith in the one true God and no other

Today’s Answer-

The Lord’s Day, dedicated to worship and rest, is what day of the week for Christians?

Born at Jarrow, England in 673.  At the age of three, he was sent to the monastery to be educated.  He became a monk of the Benedictines and was ordained at the age of 30.  He was considered the most learned man of his day.  He spent most of his time at the monastery, except for a few brief visits elsewhere.  His works comprise all branches of knowledge:  history, astronomy, music, philosophy, etc.  The best known of his historical works is “Ecclesiastical History of the English People”, which is a complete history up to 731.  He was called the “Venerable” because of his wisdom, which was formalized at the Council of Aachen in 853.  He was declared the only English Doctor of the Church.  He died May 25, 735.

 FEAST DAY:  May 25

PATRON OF:  Lectors

BIOGRAPHY BOOKS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

The first three commandments

Today’s Question-

Our first obligation according to the Ten Commandments is ____________

(a) to honor our parents     (b) to keep holy the Sabbath     (c) to have faith in the one true God and no other.

The brothers were born in Nantes, Brittany, to a notable Roman-Gallo family.  Donatian converted to Christianity, and his edifying life led his brother, Rogatian to desire the sacrament of Baptism.  Persecution was rampant at this time, and the Bishop was in hiding so there was no opportunity for his Baptism.  Donatian was accused of being a Christian, and by refusing to worship to the gods, he was imprisoned.  Soon after, his brother, Rogatian, was also sent to prison for following Christ.  They spent the night in prayer and declared they were ready to suffer anything for the Name of Jesus.  On May 24, about the year 287, they were stretched on the rack and then beheaded.  (St. Rogatian then received a Baptism of Blood).

FEAST DAY:  May 24

VOTIVE STANDS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

(a)  Exodus

Today’s Answer-

Which commandments pertain specifically to the love of God?

Born at Voltaggio, Italy in 1698.  He was ordained in 1721, and shortly after he was diagnosed with epilepsy.  He labored for the next 40 years which would have taxed the strength of a robust man.  He ministered to the sick and poor in the night hospice for paupers and in the hospital of the Trinity.  Early morning and late night found him seeking out cattle drivers and teamsters in the Roman market instructing them for the Sacraments.  He felt pity for the homeless women and girls begging on the streets at night.  He used his pittance received in Mass stipends to rent a house for them.    He spent many hours hearing confessions.  He succeeded to the canonry of St. Mary in Cosmedin in 1735 and turned his income over to charitable causes.  He preached as many as five or six times a day in churches and chapels.  His health broke down and he retired to the hospital of the Trinity where he died of a stroke May 23, 1764.  He died penniless but was buried at the expense of the hospital and received a funeral that was a veritable triumphal procession in his honor.  He was called the “Hunter of Souls”.

 FEAST DAY:  May 23

MUSIC

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

False

Today’s Answer-

The Ten Commandments were given to Moses following what miraculous and saving event?

(a) Exodus     (b) Exile     (c) Flood

St. Rita was born in Spoleto, Italy in 1381 the only child of elderly parents.  St. Rita wanted to enter the convent, but being an only child of elderly parents, they forced her to marry so she could take care of them.  Her husband was abusive.  After he was murdered, she joined the Augustinian order. One day she received an unusual stigmata – an open gaping bleeding wound on her forehead.  Since it was found to be repulsive, she remained out of sight.  Because she endured all these troubles, she is the patron of impossible situations.

 FEAST DAY:  May 22

PATRON OF:  Impossible cases, abused and battered women

MIRACULOUS MEDALS

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

QUIZ

Yesterday’s Answer-

(a) Differences of talent

Today’s Question-

Individuals and businesses need not use natural resources prudently.  True or false?