August Saints

  1. Saint Alphonsus Liguori
  2. Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
  3. Saint Lydia
  4. St. John Vianney
  5. Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
  6. Our Lady of the Snows
  7. Transfiguration of Our Lord
  8. Saint Dominic
  9. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
  10. Saint Lawrence
  11. Saint Clare of Assisi
  12. Saint Jane Francis de Chantel
  13. Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe
  14. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  15. Saint Hyacinth
  16. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
  17. The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  18. Saint Rose of Lima
  19. Saint Bartholomew
  20. Saint Monica
  21. Saint Augustine
  22. The Passion of Saint John the Baptist
  23. Saint Raymond Nonnatus

Featured Saint
Saint Rose of Lima

Saint Rose was born in Lima, Peru to Spanish colonist in 1586. She was nicknamed Rose because a servant had a vision of her in which her face turned into a rose. Her parents had wished her to marry, but she had other ideas about how she would devote her life to God. In order to help her family she sold flowers and needlework in the market.

In order to ward off perspective suitors she cropped her hair, and marrred her face with pepper to make it blister. She did many penances some of which were very severe, Like wearing a heavy silver crown with spikes that could pierce her flesh, and sleeping only 2 hours a night. She remained living at home and joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic.
It is said that when she died, the city of Lima smell like roses, and, at the time of her death, roses fell from the sky.

She was canonized in 1671 and is the patron of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, and people with family problems.
Her feast day is celebrated on August 23.

Featured Saint
St. Raymond Nonnatus

Saint Raymond was delivered by Caesarean section when his mother died in childbirth. He went to Algeria to ransom slaves, but was held as a hostage when his money ran out. And then because he had converted several Muslims, he was sentenced to be impaled. He escaped that sentence and was later ransomed by Peter Nolasco. He was canonized in 1657 and is the patron saint of expecting mothers and midwives.

Featured Saint
St. Clare

“ They say that we are too poor, but can a heart that possesses God be called truly poor.”

St Clare of Assisi

Saint Clare was born on July 16, 1194. She had listened to St. Francis preach and wanted to live the rule of Saint Francis.
She visited Saint Francis and while she was there she cut off her hair, and received a simple robe and a veil. When her father had finally found her, she refused to leave. Her sister also joined her and so did other women. By living the rule of Saint Francis, Clare did not wear shoes, nor eat meat, but did manual labor and remained silent most of the day.

Eventually her group of nuns became known as The Order of St. Clare. She was canonized in 1255. She is the patron saint of television because when she was too ill to attend Christmas Eve celebration, she said she could see and hear everything in her room.

Our Lady of the Snows

A childless couple wanted to leave their money to Our Lady. They wanted a sign as how to do this. She appeared to them and to Pope Liberius. And then on August 5, 352, snow fell in Rome and the way it fell, it formed the outline of the future church that Our Lady wanted to be built. This church is now called St. Mary Major.

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows is located just outside of St. Louis Missouri in Belleville, Illinois. It is one of the the largest Marian shrine in North America with 200 acres to enjoy either by foot or car. In addition to the shrine, there is the Lourdes Grotto, gift shop, guest house, and banquet center. Many places for prayer and reflection. Mass is celebrated twice a day and confessions before Mass. For more info or to plan a trip go to: snows.org

That’s NEWS to me!

September 8 is the birthday of Our Lady. In celebration and to honor Our Lady, we are planning on saying the Rosary and The Litany of Loretto. Hopefully, this will be a new CCW tradition. All are welcome. Wednesday evening, 7:00 pm, call in starting at 6:45pm. Please join in on the call line at (848) 220 3100
and then when prompted enter the passcode 6181960#

Of course, we will still be saying the Rosary on September 13 as well as on the 13th of every month.

What’s On TV.

August 4 at 5:30pm – St. John Vianney. The patron saint of parish priest. Documentary of the life of St. John Vianney.

August 13 at 5:00 pm – Father Michael McGivney Founder of the Knights of Columbus. A look at the canonization cause.

August 14 at 8:00 pm – The heroic life and death of Saint Maximilian Colbe

August 21and 28 at 8:00pm – A two-part movie portraying the heroic efforts of Pius XII to save the Jews of Rome during World War II

August 21 at 10:00pm – Our Lady of Knock

My Own Two Cents

On Sunday, July 25 the reading was from 2 Kings 4:42-44
It relates how a man brought 20 barley loaves and fresh grain,
and Elisha instructed his servant to “Give it to the people and eat”.
But the servant objected, “How can I set this before 100?”
And Elisha again said,” Give it to the people to eat for,” thus says the Lord,
“you will eat and have some left over.”
He set it before them and when they had eaten,
they had some left over according to the word of the Lord.

And then in Mark 6:42-43 the verse about the Feeding of the 5,000
“They ate and we’re satisfied.”
“And the disciples picked up 12 basketful of broken pieces of bread and fish.”

The miracle of the Loaves and Fishes was always a favorite in our family.
My mother prepared wonderful dinners whether it was an evening meal or a holiday party;
her motto was “ good and plenty”.
And, yes, there were leftovers, but she would always incorporate them into something completely different for yet another meal.

Now fast forward several years later
when I was to be the hostess for a party for family and friends.
The party would be serve yourself buffet style, but you would eat at a table.
In addition to the dining room table and kitchen table,
I set up tables in the family room and the den.
And then set them with table cloths, napkins, glassware, and dinnerware.

The idea was to get a plate from the table where you would be sitting,
then go to the kitchen and get your food from the buffet on the island,
and then go back to your table and have dinner.

It was working out great, people were coming and going to the buffet line,
laughing and talking, and in general enjoying themselves and the other guests.

A good time was had by all; or so I thought.

Then my mother related the following scenario:
My dear friend arrived late.
As I was involved in conversation, she waved me off and proceeded to the kitchen.
My mom was breezing by the kitchen when something caught her eye.
There was my friend, trying to get something to eat.
At first, she tried to scrape the bottom of the dishes and bowls on the buffet table,
hoping to get a teaspoon of this or that, when that proved unsuccessful,
she uncovered the pots and pans on the stove,
still no luck.
Finally, she opened up the refrigerator door and took out two slices of bread and maybe some cheese,
my mother wasn’t sure.

My mom quietly slipped from the doorway, embarrassed and mortified.

Needless to say, whenever there was a discussion about planning food for a party,
this story became the precedent.

In preparing this, I just learned that the miracle of The Feeding of the 5,000 was the only miracle
found in all 4 Gospels.
I can just hear my mom saying,
“Well, of course, dear. Remember, Good and Plenty.”

“I came that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10

July Saints & More

Here we are in the middle of summer, well almost. Some of us are on vacation, spending time with family and friends, others are kicking back and relaxing poolside. But wherever we are, whatever we do, Our Lord and Our Lady are with us. And, of course, our Guardian Angels are “lighting and guarding and ruling and guiding.”

July is also The Month of The Precious Blood of Jesus. There is a beautiful litany to honor Our Lord in His Most Precious Blood,(there are a couple of versions.)

Here are a few invocations from the litany on the Catholic Bishops website:

Blood of Christ, only Son of the Father, be our salvation.
Blood of Christ, that spilled to the ground, be our salvation.
Blood of Christ, that flowed at the scourging, be our salvation.
Blood of Christ, dripping from the thorns, be our salvation.
Blood of Christ, shed on the cross, be our salvation.
Blood of Christ, in which we are washed, be our salvation.
Blood of Christ, Solace of the mourner, our peace and refreshment.
Blood of Christ by which we passed to glory.
Lord, you redeemed us by your blood, you have made us a kingdom to serve our God.

July Saints & Special Days

July 1.  Father Junipero Serra

Fr. Serra founded many missions from SanDiego to San  Francisco. Several statues of Fr. Serra have been vandalized in recent years as well as a statue which was taken down in Golden Gate Park during the George Floyd protests.

Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

July 2.  The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

July 3.   Saint Thomas – First Saturday

It was in answer to Thomas’s question that Our Lord said,  “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

July 4.   Saint Elizabeth of Portugal

Saint Elizabeth was married to King Denis. She practiced her faith and devoted herself to the poor, took an active role in politics. At one point, she positioned herself between two opposing armies, and stopped a war. After the death of Denis, she joined the Third Order of St. St. Francis, and continued working for the poor.

July 5. Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria

July 6. Saint Maria Goretti

July 11. Saint Benedict
Saint Benedict was a twin to St. Scholastica.He lived like a hermit and when other monks wanted to join him, he warned them that this very strict life, might be a little too much for them. And it was, so much so, that they tried to poison him. But when St. Benedict prayed a blessing over the cup, it shattered.He then set up more monasteries, but it was in Monte Cassino, that the Rule of St. Benedict became a way of life for monastic communities. He and the monks memorized scripture, studied it, and contemplated it, until it became a part of their being.

July 14. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
She is known as Lily of the Mohawks. She contracted smallpox and as a result her face was scarred. At the age of 19, she became Catholic, took her new name in honor of St. Catherine of Sienna, and moved to the Jesuit Mission in Canada, then known as New France. She died at 24 and at her death, her face was healed. She was radiant and beautiful.

July 15. Saint Bonaventure

July 16. Our Lady of Mount Carmel
O most beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me on my necessity, O Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this necessity (say request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

Sweet mother, I place this cause in your hands. Amen

July 19. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
Our very own. He is known for compassion, humility, and generosity.

July 20. Saint Barsabbas
(Featured in the Bulletin)

July 22. Saint Mary Magdalen

July 23. Saint Bridget of Sweden

July 25. Saint James the Greater

July 26. Saints Joachim and Ann
Saint Joachim and Ann were the parents of Our Lady. And, what we believe comes from tradition, that the Saints Joachim and Ann were promised a child by the Angel.
Her name would be Mary and she would be consecrated to God.
They are role models for parents.

July 27. St. Pantaleon
St. Pantaleon was a doctor who had given up his faith, but then returned.
In order to atone for this sin, he treated the poor for free. He cured a blind man and a paralytic. He was miraculously saved from martyrdom many times. When he was put in a caldron of molten lead, an apparition of Jesus stepped in with him, and the fires went out, and the lead became cold. When he thrown into the sea with a big stone around him, the stone floated. When he was thrown to wild beasts, they fawned upon him, and would not leave him until he blessed them. He was tied to a wheel, but the ropes snapped and the wheel broke. When they tried to behead him, the sword broke, and the executioners were converted. It was not until he himself desired it, that it was possible to kill him.

July 29. Saint Martha
One of our favorites. “Martha, Martha…”

July 30. Saint Peter Chrysologus
Born in Italy in 380 and was a doctor of the church. Chrysologus means “golden worded”. His sermons were simple, clear, and practical. He ruled his flock with diligence and care.

That’s News to Me

On January 31, 2021, Pope Francis instituted the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be celebrated every fourth Sunday of July. This year it’s on July 25.
The day was chosen so that it would always be close to the feast of Saint Joachim and Anne, who were the grandparents of our Lord.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “Who does not remember their grandparents?”
“Who can forget their presence and their witness by the domestic hearth?
How many of us bear their names as a sign of continuity and gratitude!”

Pope Francis says, “Grandparents are a treasure. Often old age isn’t pretty, right?
There is sickness and all that, but the wisdom our grandparents have is something
we must welcome as an inheritance.” (Taken from the July newsletter from EWTN.)

July 3 at 2:00PM Saint Junipero Serra and his expedition from Mexico to California
July 3 at 8:00PM The story about Saint Maria Goretti
July 4 at 1:30 PM The story of Fr.Vincent Capodanno ministering to the soldiers in the Vietnam War
July 17 at 2:00PM The story of Saint Camillus and his story as a gambler turned priest, and founder of an order dedicated to nursing the sick
July 17 at 8:00PM The story of Saint Bridget of Sweden
July 24 at 8:00PM The story of the Lebanese mystic and monk St.Charbel Maklouf
July 30 at 5:30 PM The story of the life of Fr. Solanus Casey
July 31 at 8:00PM The story of the founder of the Jesuits and the “Saint of Second Chances”.

“My Two Cents” – Diana Sarma

Sometimes, like today, when I prepare the message, I use the dictation feature.
And from past experiences, I have learned that this requires careful proof reading,
as sometimes the written word comes out different from what I had intended.

So when I proofread the quote from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the word “presence” was printed out as “presents.” I smiled and thought, Oh yes, grandparents are known for giving an amazing amount of presents, as in “Oh, Grandma what did you bring me?”
(Maybe not always expressed, but the thought was there.)

Anyway, when I was small, and whenever my great grandmother came to visit us,
which was quite often, she would always give us brand new shiny coins. As always, it would be one quarter and two shiny pennies. And since she had to make a trip to the bank to get these, I knew this was something special that she did for us.

Another nice thing I remember is that whenever she took my sister and me to her house for a vacation, she didn’t let us make the beds, or dry the dishes. She said that after all we were on vacation.

But what I remember most was the love and respect she had for Our Lady. One day, when we were talking, I referred to Our Lady as “Mary”, and my great grandmother gently said to call her Blessed Mother, or Blessed Virgin, or Holy Mary, etc., but not just plain Mary. I never forgot it and to this day….

Yes, the “presents” and the “presence” of grandparents.

As always, Kathy Yost and I send love and prayers,

Diana Sarma
Spiritual Commission