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Saints of the Liturgical Year
Who are saints/ blessed? Saints and blessed are some of the many Christians who have lived their life in total openness to the action of God and in an attitude of love and compassion towards their neighbour. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his first Encyclical Letter “God is love” (40) says the saints “are the true bearers of light within history, for they are men and women of faith, hope and love.” They are the ones who have embodied in their life the call to holiness and have lived it in the ordinary, everyday situations of life. Paul VI used to say that nowadays people “listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they do listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” Holiness is to be seen in the light of sharing in the compassion of God, a compassion which is offered to everyone, unconditionally in preaching and education.
PRAYER Through the intercession of:
St Scholastica Lord, as we recall the memory of Saint Scholastica, we ask that by her example we may serve you with love and obtain perfect joy. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Our Lady of Lourdes God of mercy, we celebrate the feast of Mary, the sinless Mother of God. May her prayers help us to rise above our human weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
St Cyril Father, you brought the light of the gospel to the Slavic nations through Saint Cyril and his brother Saint Methodius. Open our hearts to understand your teaching and help us to become one in faith and praise. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
The seven Holy founders of the Servite order Lord, fill us with the love which inspired the seven holy brothers to honour the Mother of God with special devotion and to lead your people to you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
St Peter Damian All-powerful God, help us to follow the teachings and example of Peter Damian. By making Christ and the service of his Church the first love of our lives, may we come to the joys of eternal light, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
The see of St Peter the Apostle All-powerful Father, you have built your Church on the rock of Saint Peter’s confession of faith. May nothing divide or weaken our unity in faith and love. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
From the Office of the Readings, THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS |
February 10
ST SCHOLASTICA, virgin
Memorial
Scholastica was the twin sister of St Benedict, whose feast is celebrated on 11 July. She consecrated herself to God and lived the monastic life with great zeal and faith, thus becoming a beacon of holiness, peace and strength to the Christians of central Italy. She died in the year 547, at the age of 67.
February 11
OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Optional Memorial
Today’s celebration recalls the first apparition of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, a small village in France, in 1858. Since then, thousands of Christians flock to Lourdes every year in order to experience a deep call to prayer and conversion and also to witness to Mary’s concern for us, as it finds expression in the healing of the sick. This is the day to remember all our brothers and sisters who suffer and to place them in the hands of Mary, health of the sick.
February 14
ST CYRIL, monk
and ST METHODIUS, bishop
Memorial
These two brothers, who lived in the middle of the 9th century, spent the whole of their life preaching the Gospel among the Slavs. They even translated the Liturgical books into the Slavonic language using an alphabet which they invented. They are outstanding examples of missionary activity and successful inculturation of the Christian message, despite the many hardships and difficulties they had to endure mainly because of jealousy.
February 17
THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS
OF THE SERVITE ORDER
Optional Memorial
Today’s memorial recalls how seven businessmen of Florence (Italy) decided to leave their families and possessions in order to embrace a life of prayer and penance, especially venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their choice was a clear condemnation of the internal feuding, the love of money and the immoral behaviour that plagued society at the beginning of the 14th century. By devoting themselves to spiritual renewal, prayer and penance, they not only attracted new members but also helped the Church to be a beacon of hope and renewal.
February 21
ST PETER DAMIAN, bishop and doctor
Optional Memorial
Peter Damian was born in Ravenna (Italy) in 1007. He became a monk and a theologian. Later he was called to Rome to work closely with several Popes thanks to his marvelous skills in writing. He was named cardinal and bishop of Ostia, just outside Rome. He died in the year 1072.
February 22
THE SEE OF ST PETER THE APOSTLE
Feast
The feast of the See of St Peter has been celebrated since the fourth century in Rome to recall how Christ named the Galilean fisherman the shepherd of his flock. The chair symbolizes the seat of authority and its universal celebration underlines the service of authority and the leadership in charity of Peter and his successors down through the ages.
Prayers are taken from the new edition of the Liturgy of the Hours.
By Paulines Publications Africa, 2009
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