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Memorial of St. Dominic, priest. This great Spanish mystic founded the Order of Friars Preachers, (O.P.), the Dominicans, at a time when the dangerous Albigensian heresy raged, a movement which taught that the world is governed by two equal and opposing forces, good and evil. St. Dominic also received the first form of the holy rosary from the Blessed Mother.

Memorial of Sts. Sixtus II, pope and martyr, and companions, martyrs and Optional Memorial of St. Cajetan, priest. Pope Saint Sixtus II was martyred in the third century in the persecution of the Roman Emperor Valerian. St. Cajetan was a humble and pious priest of the 16th century. To improve the priesthood, he founded the Congregation of Clerks Regular, a community devoted to prayer, penance, and service to the poor. So great was his holiness, that he was privileged to enjoy a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to hold the Christ Child in his arms. During the sack of Rome in 1527, a result of a war between the Holy Roman Emperor and the pope, Cajetan was thrown in prison and tortured. He died about 20 years later amidst the grievous divisions in the Church and in Christendom. St. Cajetan is the patron saint of unemployed people.

On this day, Scripture tells us, Christ climbed Mount Tabor with his apostles Peter, James and John, and there revealed Himself in radiant glory. The vision stunned the three disciples, Peter exultantly askting that the Lord remain there in this exalted state, with patriarchs Moses and Elijah who appeared with Jesus. A cloud covered the mountaintop and the voice of God stupefied the apostles when the Almighty told them, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” After the vision, Our Lord told His three followers to keep this event to themselves until after His passion, death and resurrection.

Memorial of the Dedication of St. Mary Major This great basilica was built in the fifth century, and is one of four Roman mother churches of the universal church. It is called Major because it is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Mother. St. Mary Major stands as a monument to her title as Mother of God, affirmed by the Council of Ephesus in 431; as a Bethlehem or “church of the crib;” and as the first Marian site for pilgrims. Tradition tells the story of a miraculous snowfall on this date, before which the Blessed Mother appeared in a dream to the pope, Liberius, and asked him to build a church for her. The Holy Father traced the church’s outline in the snow, and later founded the church there. St. Mary Major is the home of many extraordinary art treasures.

Memorial of St. John Vianney, the curé of Ars (France). With only average intellectual talents, St. John Vianney, however, showed great gifts of piety, spiritual knowledge, and dedication to the conversion of souls. He was ordained a priest in spite of his difficulties in school, and became a fervent shepherd of his flock. Vianney was famous for the many hours he spent in the confessional, for his extreme humility, and his inspiring instruction in the tenets of the faith. He drew penitents and converts from far and wide. St. John Vianney is the patron saint of priests.

In August we venerate the heart of our Blessed Mother. This devotion honors Our Lady for her love and virtue: for her sufferings at the cross of Jesus, her purity of heart, the trials of her faith filled and loyal life as Mother of Our Lord, and her care for us on Earth as Queen of Heaven. We recall Scripture passages that describe how Mary “kept all these things in her heart.” This month, we also will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption, followed a week later by the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary. Our Lady also asked Fatima visionary Sister Lucia Dos Santos for special prayers of reparation for offenses to her Immaculate Heart on five consecutive first Saturdays, creating the First Five Saturdays devotion. Pope Pius XII consecrated the Church and the whole world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart in 1942. Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis have renewed that consecration. Individuals may make their own act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We venerate but do not adore Mary’s Immaculate Heart, as we adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop & Doctor of the Church. This saint was born in Italy in 1696 and lived until the mid 18th century. He practiced law as a young man, until he lost a case, and heard the Lord tell him, “Leave the world and give yourself to me.” He was ordained a priest and later founded the Redemptorists. Alphonsus Liguori was made a bishop and showed great generosity to the poor as well as building up the Church among her faithful, correcting abuses, restoring churches and leading missions. He also produced a great volume of writings.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest, founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. Ignatius was a soldier, born in Spain in the 15th century. He sustained a serious leg wound in battle and spent a long convalescence reading holy works. When he recovered, he transformed his life, hanging up his weapons, and devoting himself to penitence and the faith, including improving himself through more education. He composed the Spiritual Exercises for his new found order, and spent his life in extraordinary works of piety and charity.

St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop and Doctor of the Church. “The Man of Golden Speech” was archbishop of Ravenna, Italy in the fifth century and renowned for his eloquence. One of his famous sayings is "if you jest with the devil, you cannot rejoice with Christ."

We remember this saint for our Lord’s gentle correction when she admonished him to tell her sister to help serve the meal instead of sitting at Jesus’s feet, listening to his teaching. “Martha, Martha,” Jesus said. “Mary has chosen the better part.” Martha later showed her great faith when she goes out to meet the Lord after her brother Lazarus’s death. “I have come to believe that you are the Christ,” she told Jesus. Tradition says that Martha was banished with Lazarus, her sister Mary, and others to certain death in a ship set adrift without sails or oars. The Lord miraculously guided the ship to Marseilles, France, where Martha brought many people to the faith. Her tomb lies at her shrine in Tarascon, France.

Known as the “apostle to the apostles,” Mary Magdalene was the first person to announce Christ’s resurrection to His apostles, as they waited in fear and hope that first Sunday. She and a group of women came to tend the Lord’s body that morning; all of them except Mary left when the angel told them the Lord had risen. Mary stayed behind and amidst her grieved weeping, mistook the risen Christ for the gardener, begging Him to tell her where the Lord’s holy remains had been taken. “Mary!” said Christ. She recognized Him and fell at His feet. The Lord then urged her to go in haste to bear the joyful tidings to “my brothers.” “I have seen the Lord!” she exclaimed to the apostles, and Peter and John leaped up and ran to the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene is described in the Bible as a follower of Jesus, out of whom seven devils were driven. She also was one of the three Marys under the cross at Jesus’s crucifixion.

This James is the brother of John the apostle and evangelist, both sons of Zebedee, and fishermen along with Peter and Andrew. Our Lord named them “Sons of Thunder.” James the Greater also witnessed the transfigured Lord on Mount Tabor and with John and Peter, stayed near Jesus during His agony in the garden of Gethsemane. After the Lord’s Ascension, James the Greater went out to proclaim the Gospel, and was martyred on orders from King Herod Agrippa. Many pilgrims follow the great Way of St. James of Compostela, El Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, to the shrine where St. James’ relics lie. It’s tradition to build a small grotto to honor the saint on his feast day, with a picture or statue of St. James, his signature seashells, unique stones, as well as flowers and a candle.

Feast day of the Carmelite Order. Mount Carmel is a mountain range in Israel, famous for the contest between the prophet Elijah and pagans, each entreating his god to send fire on the prepared sacrifices. It was the God of Elijah who answered, igniting the offerings. In later times, men withdrew to this beautiful range to pray and worship. After receiving pontifical approval in the 12th century, the Carmelites continued to suffer oppression and Carmelite Superior St. Simon Stock prayed to the Blessed Mother to protect the beleaguered order. On this date in 1251, Our Lady gave her sign, bestowing the brown scapular. Lay people wear it as a sign of piety and may be enrolled by a priest. The scapular and its medal also may be blessed. St. Teresa of Avila and St. Thérèse of Lisieux both were Carmelite nuns and are doctors of the Church.

Saturday, July 11 – Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot, Founder of the Benedictine monastic order Born in Nursia, Italy in the late fifth century, Benedict was educated in Rome, but rejected city life and sought refuge in the wilderness, living as a hermit for a few years while attracting many followers. He was persuaded to found monasteries and lead them as abbot. He later established the great cliff side monastery of Monte Cassino, where he wrote his famous rule. Benedictine monks reside at the Weston Priory and Benedictine nuns live at the Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westfield, VT.

Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, is best known for his doubt of Jesus’s resurrection until he had seen and touched the risen Lord’s side and hands. The Gospel tells the story of Our Lord appearing when Thomas was present, and inviting him to touch his sacred wounds. Thomas then cried out, “My Lord and My God!” We may recite this interjection to ourselves at the Elevation of the Host during the consecration at Mass. Thomas also urged his fellow apostles to return with Jesus to Bethany, near Jerusalem where Our Lord had been threatened, saying, “Let us also go and die with Him.” At Bethany, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Thomas traveled to Asia to spread the Gospel and was martyred there.

During July, we honor the great sacrifice of Our Lord’s Precious Blood. We often are able to take His Precious Blood in the Holy Eucharist. July 1, and later, the first Sunday in July, formerly were feasts of the Precious Blood. The first celebration was established by Pope Pius IX in 1849 when he was living in exile away from Rome during the First Italian War for Independence. One of the pope’s companions was Don Giovanni Merlini, Superior General of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood. Don Merlini asked the Holy Father to declare a feast day to the Precious Blood to hasten an end to the war.

The Chrism Mass has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 30 at 2:00 pm at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Burlington. At this special Mass, celebrated by Bishop Coyne, the Oil of Chrism is consecrated, the Oils of Catechumens and the Sick are blessed, and the priests within the Diocese of Burlington recommit themselves to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Because of the Cathedral’s capacity limits due to the pandemic and the presence of the priests of the diocese, seating for the general public will be very limited, and all present are asked to wear a mask and practice the proper physical distancing and hand sanitizing protocols. Those wishing to attend must RSVP either online at https://vermontcatholic.org/event/chrism-mass-3/ Chrism Mass - Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington Limited seating. Below is the online registration (preferred) but you may also register by calling Josh Perry: (802) 448-3515. Please remember to bring your mask and practice social distancing. View All Posts by This Author vermontcatholic.org (preferred method) or by calling Josh Perry at (802) 448-3515. The Mass will also be live-streamed on the diocesan website.

Saint Peter, the Rock, the first pope, prince of the apostles, was martyred in Rome in 66 or 67 A.D., crucified upside down, as he felt himself unworthy to be executed in the same upright position as his Lord and Master, Jesus the Christ. Saint Peter was buried on the Vatican hill where his tomb and the great basilica that bears his name stand. Saint Paul, born Saul, and a ferocious persecutor of the first Christians, was executed in Rome around the same time as Saint Peter. This apostle to the Gentiles received a dramatic conversion call from Our Lord after Our Savior’s time on Earth, and traveled to many countries to spread the Gospel, writing his famous letters to the various fledgling Christian communities.

Wednesday, June 24 – St. John was related to Jesus through his mother, Mary. The angle Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin at the Annunciation that her older cousin, Elizabeth, was expecting a child. John was born a few months before Our Savior, and grew up to become “a voice of one crying out in the desert,” the forerunner of the Redeemer, preparing the way for the Christ. John also baptized Jesus in the Jordan River as Our Lord began his public ministry. John at first objected that he was unworthy of this act, but obeyed when Jesus told him to perform the ritual “to fulfill all righteousness.” The province of Quebec usually celebrates this feast day as a provincial holiday, with many businesses and offices closed amid parades, fireworks, and local and family festivities. Some events are canceled this year because of the corona virus crisis.

Friday, June 19 – Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Saturday, June 20 – Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sunday, June 21 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time We return to the Sundays in Ordinary, or ordered, time, which continues until the Solemnity of Christ the King at the end of November, when we end the liturgical year.