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4th August - Memorial of St. John Vianney, Priest. Born - Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, 8 May 1786, Dardilly, Lyonnais, Kingdom of France Died - 4 August 1859 (aged 73), Ars-sur-Formans, Ain, French Empire Venerated in - Catholic Church, Anglican Communion. Beatified - 8 January 1905, Vatican City by Pope Pius X Canonized - 31 May 1925, Vatican City by Pope Pius XI Major shrine - Shrine of St. John Vianney, Ars-sur-Formans, Ain, France Attributes - Cassock, surplice, preaching bands, stole, rosary, crucifix, and a Bible Patronage - Parish priests, confessors, Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Archdiocese of Kansas City The patron saint of parish priests, Jean-Baptiste Vianney, known as the Curé d’Ars, was born at Dardlly near Lyons in 1786, the son of a farmer. Aged twenty he began studies for the priesthood, which were interrupted by military service from which he deserted finally entering the seminary at Lyons in 1813. He found his studies difficult and as he was not considered an intellectual he was assigned to Ars-en-Dombes, a remote and unimportant village of about 250 people. There he would acquire a reputation as a confessor sometimes spending up to sixteen hours a day in the confessional. It is reported that towards the end of his life visitors to his parish numbered about 20,000 a year and Lyons railway station had a special booking-office exclusively for pilgrims to Ars. He died in 1859 and was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Almighty and merciful God, by your grace Saint John Mary Vianney was remarkable for his zeal as priest and pastor. Help us by his example and prayers to win our brethren for Christ by love, and to share with them in eternal glory. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08326c.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-john-mary-vianney/ https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2021-08-04 |
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5th August - Memorial at choice of the Dedication of Basilica of St. Mary Major. Pardon the faults of your servants, we pray, O Lord, that we, who cannot please you by our own deeds, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of your Son and our Lord. This feast commemorates the dedication of the restored Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore by Pope Sixtus III just after the First Council of Ephesus. This major basilica, located on the summit of the Esquiline Hill in Rome, is called the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Latin: Basilica Sancta Mariæ Majoris) because it is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Pius V inserted this feast into the General Roman Calendar in 1568 when, in response to the request of the Council of Trent, he reformed the Roman Breviary. The church is also called St. Mary ad Nives, or at the snow, from a popular tradition, that the Mother of God chose this place for a church under her invocation by a miraculous snow that fell upon this spot in summer, and by a vision in which she appeared to a patrician named John, who munificently founded and endowed this church in the pontificate of Liberius. Forgive the sins of your people, Lord, and since of ourselves we are unable to do what pleases you, lead us on the way of salvation by the prayers of Mary, the Mother of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. See also: https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sm_maggiore/index_it.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedication_of_the_Basilica_of_Saint_Mary_Major https://www.bartleby.com/210/8/051.html https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11361c.htm https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-the-snows.html |
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6th August - Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
“... he took with him Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. And it happened that, as he was praying, the aspect of his face changed and his clothing became sparkling white. And suddenly there were two men talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing that he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they woke up and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is wonderful for us to be here ...” As he was saying this, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.”” O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become coheirs with him. See also: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15019b.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfiguration_of_Jesus https://www.bartleby.com/210/8/061.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2018/08/feast-of-transfiguration-of-our-lord.html |
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7th August - Memorial at choice of St. Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr and his Companions, Martyrs. Born – Unknown, Greece, Roman Empire Died - 6 August 258, Rome, Roman Empire Papacy began 31 August 257 Papacy ended 6 August 258 Predecessor Stephen I Successor Dionysius Mentioned by name in the First Eucharistic Prayer, Sixtus was pope from 257 until his martyrdom during the persecution under the emperor Valerian, who had sent an order to the senate that all bishops, priests and deacons should die, the following year. He was reputedly arrested while celebrating Mass in the catacomb of St. Callistus along with four deacons and was killed by the sword. Almighty God, by the power of the Holy Spirit you enabled Saint Sixtus and his companions to lay down their lives for your word, and to bear witness to Jesus. Give us a ready faith and the courage to profess it. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sixtus_II https://www.bartleby.com/210/8/062.html https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14031c.htm https://catholicsaints.info/pope-saint-sixtus-ii/ https://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/sixtus.htm |
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7th August - Memorial at choice of St. Cajetan, Priest. Born - 1 October 1480, Vicenza, Veneto, Republic of Venice (now Italy) Died - 7 August 1547 (aged 66), Naples, Campania, Kingdom of Naples Venerated in - Roman Catholic Church Beatified - 8 October 1629, Rome by Pope Urban VIII Canonized - 12 April 1671, Rome by Pope Clement X Patronage - bankers; unemployed people; workers; gamblers; document controllers; job seekers; Albania; Italy; Hamrun (Malta); Argentina; Brazil; El Salvador; Guatemala; Labo, Camarines Norte, Philippines The founder of the Theatine order, Cajetan was born in 1480 at Vicenza and was educated at Padua University becoming a priest in 1516. At Rome, Vicenza and Venice he founded confraternities of clergy and laity for the service of the sick and the poor. It was in Rome in 1523 that with Pietro Caraffa (later Pope Paul IV) that he founded a congregation of clergy bound by vows. The new congregation was characterised by study of the Bible and Christian doctrine, the restoration of the dignity and spirituality of worship, care of the sick and poor and preaching and pastoral care with complete disinterestedness. Cajetan remained their Provost-General for three years. Although in some ways eclipsed by the Jesuits, the order was famous as a spearhead of reform. Cajetan died in 1547 and was canonized in 1671. Lord God, you inspired Saint Cajetan to live and work like the apostles. Help us, by his example and prayers, to trust in you at all times, and continually to seek your kingdom. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_dei_Conti_di_Thiene https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03145a.htm https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cajetan/ https://www.bartleby.com/210/8/071.html https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/2018/08/saint-cajetan.html |