Memorial of Saints (October 2)

The Holy Guardian Angels, and the other angels (Tradition lists down nine choirs of angels) are pure spirits that were created by God with extraordinary intelligence and strength. Their mission is to serve God and to watch over humanity. Each one has a guardian angel at one's side - protecting the person from danger and interceding for him before God. The holy guardian angels can act upon a person's senses and imagination, but they cannot touch a person's will. Therefore, the final decision for every human action made rests upon the gift of free will.

St. Leodegarius was made archdeacon and in ca. 651 A.D. became abbot of Maxentius Abbey. He was named bishop of Autun in 663 A.D. Because of the politics in the court of Childeric II, he was caught up in the squabbles within the royal family. In all the confusion, St. Leodegarius was arrested and banished to Luxeuil. Leodegarius was only restored to his see by Theodoric III. When the diocese of Autun came under attack by the duke of Champagne, Leodegarius surrendered to save the diocese. Leodegarius was tortured terribly and imprisoned at Fécamp monastery in Normandy. Two years later, St. Leodegarius was executed at Sarcing, Artois (died ca. 616-679 A.D.).

St. Eleutherius is listed in the Roman Martyrology. He was a soldier in Nicomedia when Emperor Diocletian's palace was burned. Eleutherius was accused of being the leader of the group that had set fire to Diocletian's palace until it burned. Since it was also discovered that Eleutherius professed the Christian faith, he was tortured and then burned to death (died ca. 303 A.D.).

26th Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

September 28, 2014
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

"Which of the two did what the father wanted?"

There is a father and two sons in this parable. The father ordered his two sons to work in their family's vineyard. The first son replied "yes", but did not go and do as his father told him. The second son was a direct opposite to his brother: he said "no", but regretted it and went afterwards. After Jesus finished telling this parable, He turned to those who listened and asked them: "which of the two did what the father wanted?" And the people all replied, "the second son".

(note: to avoid confusion in this parable, there are other modern translations, like The Good News Bible and the Revised Standard Version, which has the story the other way around - it is the first son, or elder son, who said "no" but later repented and did his father's will).

It is easy to see how some fail to obey God's will like the first son. Look at the many "I dos" or "I will" some said, but never did, and the many "Amens" others prayed, but never acted upon. And for some who said "no" like the second son, there is always the grace of God's mercy to realize one's wrong and do what supposed to be done. Remember, the Church is not only a Church of saints, but sinners as well. If you search the book "Saints Behaving Badly", by Thomas Craughwell, you will read inspiring stories of how God's mercy turned a list of about 28 cutthroats, crooks, trollops, con men and devil worshippers into Saints. The message of Craughwell's book is like the parable in the gospel: there is hope for all who said "no" like the second son.

The Lord wants to teach that as long as anyone returns to God with a contrite heart and directs his life towards amendment, there is hope for final redemption and salvation. Jesus is the faithful's best example - the only Son who said "Yes" to the Father, and at the same time did His Father's will (even if it meant suffering and death on the Cross). Jesus is the Word that fulfills the salvific plan of the Father for all humanity. How some words of "yes" pale in comparison to His Word - a "Yes" of total trust and confidence to His Father's will. That is why the Lord instituted the Eucharist. By this, He gives Himself in the form of bread and wine, to strengthen the faithful's "Amen" as a Church, that all may do the will of God in their daily work and life.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way." (Psalm 25)

Saints with Feasts & Memorials Celebrated in October

Saints for the month of October

Therese Martin: the "Little Flower," died 30 September 1897 A.D. of tuberculosis in Carmel of Lisieux at age 24; born in Alencon; contemplative who, in her biography, "The Story of a Soul" urged all to follow "the little way"; proclaimed doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II, 19 October 2001 A.D.; patroness of the missions, of France. (October 1)

also on October 1: Remigius, bishop and confessor; Romanus the Melodist; Melorus Melar or Mylor, martyr; Bavo or Allowin

Guardian Angels: Observed since the 16th c. A.D. in Spain, Pope Clement X in 1670 A.D. assigned this memorial to the first free day following Michaelmas day. (October 2)

also on October 2: Eleutherius, martyr; Leodegarius or Leger, bishop and martyr

on October 3: Hesychius; The Two Ewalds, martyr; Gerard of Brogne, abbot; Froilan and Attilanus, bishop; Thomas of Hereford, bishop

Francis of Assisi: (died 3 Oct 1226 A.D.); noted for his charismatic personality, deep compassion for all, and love for God's creation; renounced wealth to follow "Lady Poverty"; deacon; founded the Order of Friars Minor, the Poor Clares and the Third Order; wrote Canticle of the Sun; received the stigmata 14 Sept. 1224 A.D.; canonized only two years after his death; patron of ecologists and of Italy. (October 4)

also on October 4: Ammon; Petronius, bishop

on October 5: Apollinaris of Valence, bishop; Galla, widow; Magenulf or Meinulf; Flora of Beaulieu, virgin; Aymard of Cluny, abbot

Bruno (died 1101 A.D.): at la Grande Chartreuse (or Charter House) near Grenoble; sought "to seek God assiduously, to find God promptly, and to possess God fully"; founded (1084 A.D.) the Carthusians, whose motto is "while the world changes, the cross stands firm." (October 6)

also on October 6: Faith, virgin and martyr; Nicetas of Constantinople; Mary Frances of Naples, virgin

on October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary; Mark, pope; Justina, virgin and martyr; Osyth, virgin and martyr; Artaldus or Arthaud, bishop

on October 8: Marcellus, martyr; Simeon; Pelagia the Penitent; Thaïs; Reparata, virgin and martyr; Demetrius, martyr; Keyne, virgin

Denis, or Dionysius (died 258 A.D.): first bishop of Paris; martyred with the presbyter, Eleutherius, and the deacon, Rusticus, on Montmartre (or "mount of martyrs"); patron of Paris and France. (October 9)

John Leonardi: (died 1609 A.D.) at Lucca; founded (1574 A.D.) the Congregation of Clerics Regular of the Mother of God to further education in Christian doctrine; helped found the Propaganda Fide, the Vatican Congregation in charge of missionary activity (known as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples). (October 9)

also on October 9: Demetrius of Alexandria, bishop; Publia, widow; Andronicus and Athanasia; Savin; Gislenus or Ghislain, abbot; Gunther; Louis Bertrand

on October 10: Francis Borgia, confessor; Gereon and Companions, martyrs; Eulampius and Eulampia, martyrs; Maharsapor, martyr; Cerbonius, bishop; Paulinus of York, bishop; Daniel and Companions, martyrs

on October 11: Andronicus, Tarachus and Probus, martyrs; Nectarius, bishop; Canice or Kenneth, abbot; Agilbert, bishop; Gummarus or Gommaire; Bruno the Great of Cologne, bishop; Alexander Sauli, bishop; Maria Desolata (Emmanuela Torres Acosta), virgin

on October 12: Maximilian, bishop and martyr; Felix and Cyprian and Companions; Edwin, martyr; Ethelburga of Barking, virgin; Wilfrid, bishop

on October 13: Edward the Confessor; Faustus, Januarius, and Martial, martyrs; Comgan, abbot; Gerald of Aurillac; Coloman, martyr; Maurice of Carnoë, abbot

Callixtus I (died 222 A.D.): incurred ire of Tertullian and

Hippolytus (13 Aug) over lapsi controversy; organized the first official Christian cemetery in Rome and instituted Ember day fasts. (October 14)

also on October 14: Justus of Lyons, bishop; Manechildis, virgin; Angadrisma or Angadrême, virgin; Burchard, bishop; Dominic Lauricatus

on October 15: Theresa of Avila, virgin and doctor of the Church; Leonard of Vandoeuvre, abbot; Thecla of Kitzingen, virgin; Euthymius the Younger, abbot

Hedwig (died 1243 A.D.): born in Bavaria; duchess of Silesia and mother of seven; peacemaker dedicated to the poor and prisoners; as a widow, retired to a Cistercian convent. (October 16)

Margaret Mary (died 17 Oct. 1690 A.D.) at age 43; French Visitandine mystic who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a feast which helped free the Church from the spirit of Jansenism; promoted first Friday devotion. (October 16)

also on October 16: Martinian and Companions and Maxima; Gall; Mommolinus, bishop; Bercharius, abbot; Lull, bishop; Anastasius of Cluny; Bertrand of Comminges, bishop; Gerard Majella

Ignatius: (died c. 107 A.D.) under Trajan in Rome's amphitheater; from Syria; Apostolic Father known as the second successor of St. Peter in Antioch; wrote seven letters to local communities on church unity and structure, esp. the monoepiscopacy; first to use the term "Catholic Church" as a collective designation for Christians; mentioned in the Roman Canon. (October 17)

also on October 17: John the Dwarf; Anstrudis or Anstrude, virgin; Nothelm, bishop; Seraphino, confessor; Richard Gwyn, martyr

Luke (died 1st c. A.D.): Syrian physician from Antioch and companion of Paul; authored c. 70-85 A.D. Acts of the Apostles and the gospel for the gentile Christians; it speaks of God's mercy, universal salvation, love of the poor and marginalized, absolute renunciation, prayer and the Holy Spirit; represented by a winged ox (cf. Ezekiel 1); patron of the medical profession, painters, artists, sculptors and butchers. (October 18)

also on October 18: Justus of Beauvais, martyr

John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions: French Jesuit and oblate missionaries to the Hurons and Iroquois of North America, (died 1642-1649 A.D.); Isaac was tomahawked to death by Iroquois on 18 Oct. 1646 A.D. near Albany; John was savagely mutilated and slain 16 Mar. 1649 A.D. near Georgian Bay; other martyrs were Antony Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel and oblates Rene Goupil and Jean de la Lande; secondary patrons of Canada. (October 19)

also on October 19: Paul of the Cross, priest; Peter of Alcantara, confessor; Ptolemaeus and Lucius, martyrs; Cleopatra, widow, and Varus; Ethbin; Aquilinus, bishop; Frideswide, virgin; Philip Howard, martyr

on October 20: Caprasius, martyr; Artemius, martyr; Acca, bishop; Andrew of Crete, martyr; Maria Bertilla (Ann Francis Boscardin), virgin

on October 21: Hilarion, abbot; Malchus; Fintan or Munnu of Taghmon, abbot; Condedus; John of Bridlington

on October 22: Abercius, bishop; Philip of Heraclea, bishop; and Companions, martyrs; Mallonius or Mellon, bishop; Nunilo and Alodia, virgins and martyrs; Donatus of Fiesole, bishop

John of Capistrano (died 1456 A.D.): OFM; reformer of the Franciscans and Poor Clares; preached devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus; sought an end to the Western Schism; animated resistance against the Turks at the battle of Belgrade (1456 A.D.); patron of military chaplains. (October 23)

also on October 23: Theodoret, martyr; Severinus or Seurin, martyr; Severinus Boethius, martyr; Romanus of Rouen, bishop; Ignatius of Constantinople, bishop; Allucio

Anthony Claret: (died 1870 A.D.); from Catalonia; vigorous reforming bishop of Santiago, Cuba; founded (1849 A.D.) the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians), today numbering about 2,900 members; fostered credit unions and the apostolic press. (October 24)

also on October 24: Felix of Thibiuca, bishop and martyr; Proclus, bishop; Aretas and the martyrs of Najran and Elesbaan; Senoch, abbot; Martin or Mark; Maglorius or Maelor, bishop; Martin of Vertou, abbot; Ebregislus or Evergislus, bishop

on October 25: Chrysanthus and Daria, martyrs; Crispin and Crispinian, martyrs; Fronto and George, bishops; Gaudentius, bishop

on October 26: Lucian and Marcian, martyrs; Rusticus of Narbonne, bishop; Cedd, bishop; Eata, bishop; Bean, bishop

on October 27: Frumentius, bishop; Otteran or Odhran, abbot

Simon (died 1st c. A.D.): called the "Canaanite" and also "the Zealot," an anti-Roman party; possibly preached in Egypt and Persia; mentioned in the Roman canon. (October 28)

Jude, or Thaddeus ("Courageous") (died 1st c. A.D.): may have preached in Palestine and Persia; mentioned in the Roman Canon; patron of those in despair, or in hopeless situations (perhaps because of the similarity of his name with that of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and despaired.) (October 28)

also on October 28: Anastasia and Cyril, martyrs; Fidelis of Como, martyrs; Salvius or Saire; Faro, bishop

on October 29: Narcissus of Jerusalem, bishop; Theuderius or Chef, abbot; Colman of Kilmacduagh, bishop; Abraham of Rostov, abbot

on October 30: Serapion of Antioch, bishop; Marcellus, martyr; Asterius, bishop; Germanus of Capua, bishop; Ethelnoth, bishop; Alphonsus Rodriguez

on October 31: Quentin or Quintinius, martyr; Foillan, abbot; Wolfgang, bishop