Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary

Feast date: May 31

Assuming that the Annunciation and the Incarnation took place around the time of the vernal equinox, Mary left Nazareth at the end of March and went over the mountains to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to wait upon her cousin Elizabeth. Because Mary’s presence, and even more the presence of the Divine Child in her womb, according to the will of God, was to be the source of very great graces to the Blessed John, Christ’s Forerunner. (Lk1:39-57).

Feeling the presence of his Divine Saviour, John, upon the arrival of Mary, leaped for joy in the womb of his mother; at that moment he was cleansed from original sin and filled with the grace of God. Our Lady now, for the first time, exercised the office which belonged to the Mother of God made man: that He might, by her mediation, sanctify and glorify us. St. Joseph probably accompanied Mary, returned to Nazareth, and when, after three months, he came again to Hebron to take his wife home, the apparition of the angel, mentioned in Mt 1:19-25, may have taken place to end the tormenting doubts of Joseph regarding Mary’s maternity.

The earliest evidence of the existence of the feast is its adoption by the Franciscan Chapter in 1263, upon the advice of St. Bonaventure. The list of feasts in the “Statuta Synodalia eccl. Cenomanensis”, according to which this feast was kept July 2 at Le Mans in 1247, may not be genuine. With the Franciscan Breviary this feast spread to many churches, but was celebrated at various dates-at Prague and Ratisbon, April 28, in Paris June 27, and at Reims and Geneva, on July 8. It was extended to the entire Church by Urban VI on April 6, 1389 (Decree published by Boniface IX, 9 Nov., 1389), with the hope that Christ and His Mother would visit the Church and put an end to the Great Schism which rent the seamless garment of Christ.

The feast, with a vigil and an octave, was assigned to July 2, the day after the octave of St. John, about the time when Mary returned to Nazareth. The Office was drawn up by an Englishman, Adam Cardinal Easton, Benedictine monk and Bishop of Lincoln. Dreves has published this rhythmical office with nine other offices for the same feast, found in the Breviaries of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Since, during the Schism, many bishops of the opposing obedience would not adopt the new feast, it was confirmed by the Council of Basle, in 1441. Pius V abolished the rhythmical office, the vigil, and the octave. The present office was compiled by order of Clement VIII by the Minorite Ruiz. Pius IX, on May 13, 1850, raised the feast to the rank of a double of the second class.

Many religious orders — the Carmelites, Dominicans, Cistercians, Mercedarians, Servites, and others — as well as Siena, Pisa, Loreto, Vercelli, Cologne, and other dioceses have retained the octave. In Bohemia the feast is kept on the first Sunday of July as a double of the first class with an octave.

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What does it mean to have a culture of life today? I am an archdiocesan attorney in Washington, DC, and I’m often involved in policy and advocacy work related to pro-life issues. One critique that I hear frequently related to the Catholic Church’s teaching on life goes like this:  “There is a difference between being pro-baby and pro-mother.” In other words, a Church that professes the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, must promote love for one another at each stage of life, especially for mothers who choose life. 

Too often our culture responds to unexpected pregnancies with shaming and shunning. This is not a new concept. In the culture of her day, Mary’s pregnancy seemed scandalous. Even Saint Joseph struggled with how to respond to Mary’s pregnancy. We know from Matthew’s Gospel that since Joseph “was a righteous man,” he was “unwilling to expose her to shame, [and] decided to divorce her quietly” (Mt 1:20). Thankfully the angel changed his mind. 

In a culture of life, all life is a gift that brings joy! We hear this joy in the Visitation as Mary set out to visit Elizabeth “in haste.” There is excitement in Mary’s pace. Elizabeth reacts to Mary’s pregnancy with the famous words that we pray in the Hail Mary, “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” These are declarations of support and of welcome. Even John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb “leaped for joy.” What’s more, these women did not exchange mere fleeting greetings of support, but rather, Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. These women lived alongside each other and cared for each other. 

When someone becomes pregnant unexpectedly, it is natural to experience a range of feelings. In Mary’s life, which was free from sin and full of grace, she experienced confusion and possibly apprehension, asking the angel “How can this be?” A woman may feel happiness, but also fear, or even anger at an unexpected pregnancy. She may ask herself, “What am I going to do?” or “How am I going to be a mom?” or “What will my family think?” These are the moments when a culture that upholds life walks alongside mothers and loves them.

At the beginning of her Magnificat, Mary gives us a great example of giving thanks to God for the gift of life:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

What might happen if we collectively prayed this first stanza of Mary’s Magnificat for every mother and her baby? It could break open our hearts to love each other better. How else do you see a culture of life evident in today’s Gospel reading?

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Reading 1 Acts 18:9-18

One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision,
“Do not be afraid.
Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.
No one will attack and harm you,
for I have many people in this city.”
He settled there for a year and a half
and taught the word of God among them.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia,
the Jews rose up together against Paul
and brought him to the tribunal, saying,
“This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law.”
When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews,
“If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud,
I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews;
but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles
and your own law, see to it yourselves.
I do not wish to be a judge of such matters.”
And he drove them away from the tribunal.
They all seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official,
and beat him in full view of the tribunal.
But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

Paul remained for quite some time,
and after saying farewell to the brothers he sailed for Syria,
together with Priscilla and Aquila.
At Cenchreae he had shaved his head because he had taken a vow.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He brings people under us;
nations under our feet.
He chooses for us our inheritance,
the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Luke 24:46, 26

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,
and so enter into his glory.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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St. Joan of Arc

Feast date: May 30

Today is the feast of St. Joan of Arc, the patroness of France. Joan was born to a peasant family in Champagne, France in the early 15th century.

From a young age she heard the voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret speaking to her. Then, in 1428, when she was 13 years old, she received a vision telling her to go to the King of France and help him reconquer his kingdom from the invading forces of England and Burgundy.

Overcoming opposition and convincing members of the court and of the Church, she was given a small army. She charged into battle bearing a banner which bore the names “Jesus” and “Mary” as well as a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Due to her leadership and trust in God, she was able to raise the siege of Orleans in 1429. Joan and her army went on to win a series of battles. Because of her efforts, the king was able to enter Rheims. He was crowned with Joan at his side.

Eventually, Joan was captured by the forces of Burgundy in May of 1430. When her own king and army did nothing to save her, she was sold to the English. She was imprisoned for a time and then put on trial. Bishop Peter Cauchon of Beauvais presided over her trial. His hope was that in being harsh with Joan, the English would help him become archbishop.

Joan was condemned to death on counts of heresy, witchcraft, and adultery. On May 30, 1431, she was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. She was 19 years old.

Thirty years after her death, her case was retried and she was exonerated. In 1920, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XV. She is the patroness of France, captives, soldiers, and those ridiculed for their piety.

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“[Y]ou will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

Christ’s words here are part of the Last Supper Discourse, His final words of wisdom for His Apostles at the Last Supper, just before His death on the Cross. He is confirming that they will experience anguish like His – not only at His death, but also later in life, when all of them except John the Beloved would become martyrs. 

And surely, as Our Lord spoke these words, He was also thinking of His own Passion. In mere hours, He would be in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading with the Father on His knees to let the cup of suffering pass. And then He would accept it. In the twenty-four hours after that, He would be betrayed by one of His closest friends, sentenced to death in place of a murderous rebel, scourged and mockingly crowned, driven through the streets in shame, and crucified between two criminals, abandoned by all His Apostles except John.

Christ knew all this, and yet He accepted the cup of His Passion willingly, because He loves us desperately, and His joy in saving us outweighs His grief. He was in anguish during His hour, yet I wonder if, like a woman in labor, He too “no longer remembers the pain” due to the joy He experiences when even one soul chooses to love Him and follow Him. His is a joy that endures beyond all grief. And He promises the same for us. 

“Amen, Amen, I say to you.” The word “Amen” means “it is so” or “it shall be so.” Not “I hope so” or “I’d like that.” No, the word “Amen” carries a certainty that is almost unparallel in any other language. And Christ says it twice here, indicating the greatness of His promise: the promise of enduring joy. 

“I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” A three-fold promise: Christ will come to His faithful, they will rejoice, and their joy they experience will be unshaken. 

Following Him means taking the path He took. Loving Him means suffering as He suffered. We will experience great grief in this life, but there is more to the story, and that is the key – “your grief will become joy.” Not “it might.” It will. “Amen, amen, I say to you…”

This is the infallible hope of the Christian. Our joy does not come from worldly success or even spiritual consolation. Even if our lives are nothing but grief here on earth, that does not determine our eternity. Our joy comes from Christ’s promise. If we follow Him, we will emerge beyond grief into His joy. There will be grief, and that grief will become joy. Of those two things we can be absolutely certain – and the second part is infinitely more important. It is the promise of eternity with Him.

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Reading I Acts 18:1-8

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus,
who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla
because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.
He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade,
stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue,
attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia,
Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word,
testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
When they opposed him and reviled him,
he shook out his garments and said to them,
“Your blood be on your heads!
I am clear of responsibility.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
So he left there and went to a house
belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God;
his house was next to a synagogue.
Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord
along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians
who heard believed and were baptized.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R.        (see 2b)  The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:       
R.        Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
            for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
            his holy arm.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
            in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
            toward the house of Israel.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth have seen
            the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
            break into song; sing praise.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia See John 14:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord;
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 16:16-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,
“Are you discussing with one another what I said,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me’?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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St. Maximinus

Feast date: May 29

St. Maximinus was the Bishop of Trier, and was born at Silly near Poitiers. He died there either on May 29, 352 or Sept. 12, 349. He was educated and ordained a priest by St. Agritius, whom he succeeded as Bishop of Trier in 332 or 335. At that time Trier was the government seat of the Western Emperor and, by force of his office, Maximinus stood in close relation with the Emperors Constantine II and Constans.

He was a strenuous defender of the orthodox faith against Arianism and an intimate friend of St. Athanasius, whom he harboured as an honoured guest during his exile of two years and four months (336-8) at Trier. He likewise received with honours the banished patriarch Paul of Constantinople in 341 and effected his recall to Constantinople. When four Arian bishops came from Antioch to Trier in 342 with the purpose of winning Emperor Constans to their side, Maximinus refused to receive them and induced the emperor to reject their proposals. In conjunction with Pope Julius I and Bishop Hosius of Cordova, he persuaded the Emperor Constans to convene the Synod of Sardica in 343 and probably took part in it. That the Arians considered him as one of their chief opponents is evident from the fact that they condemned him by name, along with Pope Julius I and Hosius of Cordova at their heretical synod of Philippopolis in 343 (Mans, “Sacrorum Conc. nova et ampl. Coll.”, III, 136 sq.).

In 345 he took part in the Synod of Milan and is said to have presided over a synod held at Cologne in 346, where Bishop Euphratas of Cologne was deposed on account of his leanings toward Arianism. [Concerning the authenticity of the Acts of this synod see the new French translation of Hefele’s “Conciliengeschichte”, I, ii (Paris, 1907), pp. 830-34.] He also sent Sts. Castor and Lubentius as missionaries to the valleys of the Mosel and the Lahn. It is doubtful whether the Maximinus whom the usurper Magnentius sent as legate to Constantinople in the interests of peace is identical with the Bishop of Trier (Athanasius, “Apol. ad Const. Imp.”, 9).

His cult began right after his death. His feast is celebrated on May 29, on which day his name stands in the martyrologies of St. Jerome, St. Bede, St. Ado, and others. Trier honours him as its patron. In the autumn of 353 his body was buried in the church of St. John near Trier, where in the seventh century was founded the famous Benedictine abbey of St. Maximinus, which flourished till 1802.

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Blessed Rickard Thirkeld

Feast date: May 29

Richard Thirkeld was ordained a priest in France in April of 1579, and returned to his homeland of York, England, soon after to serve as a home missionary. There he was arrested on the eve of the Annunciation in 1538 for the crime of being a priest.

He was imprisoned for two months before being brought to court on May 27, 1583 for hearing confessions and bringing lapsed Catholics back to the Church. He was arrested while hearing a confession in jail. The next day his trial took place, at which he managed to appear in cassock and biretta. He was sentenced to death the following day, May 29, was executed in York. He used his short time in jail to minister to the other prisoners, especially those sentenced to death.

He was executed secretly because authorities feared that his public execution would have caused a public demonstration.

He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886.

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Times of change and transition can be tricky. Some changes are highly anticipated, like the first day of university or the weeks leading up to your 10th birthday (double digits!). Others are met with more hesitation, anxiety, or fear. Perhaps you’ve experienced the pain of losing a job, a difficult diagnosis, or the desire to continue turning 27 any number of years after you’ve actually turned 27. Change is one of the most certain things in life and yet we struggle with how to handle it. 

In today’s Gospel, the apostles were facing an incredible change. Jesus, who had been with them for a mere 40 days after his death and resurrection, was leaving them. They were only just grasping the enormity of the mission Jesus was equipping them for. From the Acts of the Apostles, we know they were fearful of what could possibly happen to them. But in Luke’s account of their actions immediately following the Ascension, they weren’t only fearful. In spite of the oncoming change, they were also full of “great joy.” No matter the change we are facing, we can learn from the Apostles the kind of attitude we ought to have toward the new situation. 

First, we have to trust in God’s plan for our life. Jesus told the Apostles that they were witnesses to everything He had done and were responsible for sharing the Good News with others. He also promised that He would send the blessing of the Father, the Holy Spirit, to be with them always. We receive this same commission and the same promise. Throughout life’s changes, there is always Good News to share. No matter what transition is beyond our control, the Holy Spirit is with us. 

In light of these two facts, we can rejoice and be full of joy like the Apostles. This joy isn’t something we should keep to ourselves. The Apostles went to the temple where they continually offered praise to God. When we don’t know what to do and we don’t know what’s coming next, one action we can take with certainty is praise. The first part of the Our Father is a statement of praise. 

When we praise God, we acknowledge his position in our lives. He is our Creator, our Father, Love itself. He is the Author of all things and the Maker of existence. Nothing is outside of His authority and nothing is beyond His notice. He knows what we are going through and He knows what is coming next. When we offer praise, like the Apostles, we have the opportunity to offer to God our fears and uncertainties. We open ourselves to God’s majesty and give Him the space to fill us with His joy and peace.

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St. Bernard of Menthon

Feast date: May 28

The Church remembers St. Bernard of Manthon on May 28. He was born in 923, probably in the castle Menthon near Annecy, in Savoy, and died at Novara, 1008. He was a descendant from a rich, noble family and received a thorough education. He refused to enter an honorable marriage proposed by his father, and decided to devote himself instead to the service of the Church.

Placing himself under the direction of Peter, Archdeacon of Aosta, under whose guidance he rapidly progressed, Bernard was ordained priest, and on account of his learning and virtue, was made Archdeacon of Aosta (966), having charge of the government of the diocese under the bishop. Seeing the ignorance and idolatry still prevailing among the people of the Alps, he resolved to devote himself to their conversion. For forty two years he continued to preach the Gospel to these people and carried the light of faith even into many cantons of Lombardy, effecting numerous conversions and working many miracles.

For another reason, however, Bernard’s name will forever be famous in history. Since the most ancient times there was a path across the Pennine Alps leading from the valley of Aosta to the Swiss canton of Valais, over what is now the pass of the Great St. Bernard. This pass is covered with perpetual snow from seven to eight feet deep, and drifts sometimes accumulate to the height of forty feet. Though the pass was extremely dangerous, especially in the springtime on account of avalanches, it was often used by French and German pilgrims on their way to Rome.

For the convenience and protection of travelers St. Bernard founded a monastery and hospice at the highest point of the pass, 8,000 feet above sea-level, in the year 962. A few years later he established another hospice on the Little St. Bernard, a mountain of the Graian Alps, 7,076 feet above sea-level. Both were placed in charge of Augustinian monks after pontifical approval had been obtained by him during a visit to Rome.

These hospices are renowned for the generous hospitality extended to all travelers over the Great and Little St. Bernard, so called in honor of the founder of these charitable institutions. At all seasons of the year, but especially during heavy snow-storms, the heroic monks accompanied by their well-trained dogs, go out in search of victims who may have succumbed to the severity of the weather. They offer food, clothing, and shelter to the unfortunate travelers and take care of the dead. They depend on gifts and collections for sustenance. The majority of these men live at the hospice while some have charge of neighboring parishes.

The last act of St. Bernard’s life was the reconciliation of two noblemen whose strife threatened a fatal issue. He was interred in the cloister of St. Lawrence. Venerated as a saint from the twelfth century in many places of Piedmont (Aosta, Novara, Brescia), he was canonized in 1681 by Innocent XI.

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