Category Archives: Blesseds and Saints

“And Now You Know The Rest Of The Story!” Sermon for the Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Saint Peter’s Church, Plymouth MA

“And so I say, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” Matt 16


There are some of us who probably remember radio reporter and commentator, Paul Harvey. He had a segment during which he would describe a historical event, a story of some famous person. He would always end the segment with the words; “ And now you know…the rest of the story.”


In today’s Gospel reading, we are seeing Jesus trying to learn how the crowds are describing him. And he gets various responses, various descriptions. I picture Simon, getting very antsy, he has something he has to let out. So when Jesus specifically asks the other disciples how they would would describe him, Simon blurts it out, excitedly, forcefully; “You are the Christ!” One can picture the other disciples stunned by his response, the force behind it. Then they will be stunned again when they hear Jesus’ response; he declares that from that moment on, Simon will be known as Peter, and on this “rock” Jesus will bring about a community of believers dedicated to proclaiming the Good News by word and deed.


Yet, we all know what is coming. The Gospels tell of the many times Peter seemed not to get the point of Jesus’ teachings. And when Jesus is arrested and sentenced to undergo crucifixion, Peter denies knowing Jesus, when the crowd accuses him, in order to save his own skin.
Now Jesus knew that this was coming, and he had earlier told Peter that he would be able pull himself together, and that it would be Peter’s responsibility to help the other Apostles to do likewise.


And when Christ ascended back into heaven, Peter fulfilled that role, pulling that little band of believers together. And on the day of Pentecost, empowered by the Holy Spirit; he and the others came out proclaiming the Good News about Jesus Christ. And the number of believers grew.


We are all gathered here today, as baptized believers, as believers who entered into the Body of Christ, through receiving the Eucharist. We are the spiritual descendants of the Saint Peter, of the other Apostles; of Saint Paul of Tarsus, and all of the other saints. We are all called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, by our words and our deeds.


However, we have to acknowledge that sometimes, like Peter, we may find ourselves failing to put the teachings of Jesus fully into practice, in our lives. We may find ourselves overwhelmed by the way Jesus is asking us to follow.


Again, we turn to the example that the life of Saint Peter sets before us. His recovery from his failures, is an example to all of us. His life provides us a light, which shows us the way. That we too can recover from our own failures and sins. His life, and his actions encourages us to pick ourselves up when we fall; and begin again with a renewed commitment, to follow Jesus, and by our example, to bring others along with us on that journey.


“And now you know the rest of the story!”

Feast Day of Saint Bonaventure, Franciscan

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The man who would become to be known in Franciscan history as Bonaventure, was born in central Italy, in the town of Bagnoregio. There is some disagreement over the year of his birth, though many experts and scholars have agreed on the year 1217. The son of a physician and housewife, he was baptized with the name “John.” He grew into manhood, and desired to become a scholar. In 1234, at seventeen, he entered the University of Paris. Now a new religious order of men were making news in Europe, the Franciscans. Founded by Saint Francis of Assisi, the “Poor Man of Assisi,” his followers were making a name for themselves, for their poverty, their sanctity, and their evangelical zeal. Their preaching and lifestyle drew many young men to come and join them. Among them was John, who received the name Bonaventure when he was admitted into the Order.

Upon his entry into the Order, Bonaventure took up the study of theology. In either 1253 or 1254, he became a master of theology, and head of the Franciscan school in Paris, until he was elected as the Minister General of Franciscan Order in 1257. His time in that office was spent trying to keep the Order from splintering into different factions. He strove to maintain a moderate approach to poverty, while at the same time, taking full advantage of the learning, the scholarship of his times. Always, he strove to remain faithful to the teachings and example of Saint Francis.

In 1273, Pope Gregory X named Bonaventure a cardinal bishop, and drew on his assistance in preparing for the Second Council of Lyons. It was during this Council that Bonaventure became ill and died on July 15th, 1274.

Bonaventure would be canonized on April 14th, 1482; and on March 14th, 1588, he was declared a Doctor of the Universal Church. He was given the title: “Seraphic Doctor.”

“Here Begins the Prologue To The Life Of Blessed Francis

In these last days the grace of God our Savior has appeared in his servant Francis to all who truly humble and lovers of holy poverty.

In him they can venerate God’s superabundant mercy and be taught by his example to utterly reject ungodliness and worldly passions, to live in conformity with Christ and to thirst after blessed hope with unflagging desire.

He was poor and lowly, but the Most High God looked upon him with such condescension and kindness that he not only lifted him up in his need from the dust of a worldly life, but made him a practitioner, a leader and a herald of Gospel perfection and set him up as a light for believers so that by bearing witness to the light he might prepare for the Lord a way of light and peace into the hearts of his faithful.”

From the Prologue of the Life of Saint Francis (Legenda Maior) by Saint Bonaventure

Sons & Daughters of St. Francis and St. Clare.

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Saint Catherine of Bologna

St. Catherine was born into a noble family of Bologna, Italy, in 1413. As she grew into a teenage girl, it became obvious that she wanted to live a life very different from other daughters of the nobility. She persuaded her parents to allow her to join a community of lay Franciscan women (Secular Franciscan Order).

As a member of that community, she grew in the spiritual life, both the joys and challenges. She became known as a mystic; known to have experienced intense visions of Christ and the Blessed Mother. Now Bologna had a community of Poor Clare sisters, that must have been afflicted with laxity, because Catherine was ordered to take over the community.

She lead the convent by example, gentleness, and wisdom. The community became known for it’s holiness of life, attracting many new novices.

Saint Catherine died in 1463. She was canonized a Saint in 1712. Her feast day is March 9.

“Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.”

Feast Day of All Saints

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“God of our ancestors who set their hearts on you, of those who fell asleep in peace, and of those who won the martyrs’ violent crown: we are surrounded by these witnesses as by clouds of fragrant incense. In this age we would be counted in this communion of all the saints; keep us always in their good and blessed company. In their midst we make every prayer though Christ who is our Lord forever and ever. Amen.

From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

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Once more, people of Irish descent; and those would like to be Irish, are celebrating the Feast day of St. Patrick. In this country, on this “holy” day, people would celebrate in bars and pubs, although maybe not so much during these COVID days! Individuals and families will feast corned beef and cabbage; and there will be the wearing of the green. Real, and what passes for “real” Irish music will blaring out in homes, stores and cars.

Sadly, we tend to forget what the churches are asking us to remember today, the story of a man of faith. As a young man living in ancient Britain, Patrick was kidnap by Irish raiders; taken to wild Ireland and sold as a slave. He would later escape, returning to his homeland. But he felt called to return to Ireland as a missionary. He would study and was ordained a priest; he was later consecrated a bishop, and sent to Ireland to establish the Christian faith there. He would be successful in his efforts. A Celtic style of Christianity would soon developed, which disappeared for awhile, but is experiencing a rebirth. Eventually, it would be Irish monks, coming over into Europe, that would lead to a rebirth of Christianity in Europe itself, as it recovered from the Dark Ages.

The following is part of a prayer, attributed to Saint Patrick, it speaks to his deep spirituality; Saint Patrick’s Breastplate:

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me. Christ beside me, Christ to win me. Christ to win me. Christ to comfort me and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me. Christ in quiet, Christ in danger. Christ in hearts of all that love me. Christ in mouth of friend or stranger.

“Blessed be God, in his angels and in His saints!”