Jun 5, 2023
O preacher of the Word of God
and model of the Gospel,
you embraced poverty and penance
in accord with the way of Christ
and His teaching
and called your brothers
to do the same,
that the Church might be renewed,
that she might be holy
even as the Father is holy –
pray all souls
might indeed find holiness of life
Jun 4, 2023
O apostle of the faith
called out from monastery walls
to travel into the world,
laboring and suffering
even to the shedding of blood
as you steered Christ’s ship
pounded by waves
but kept on course,
spreading out upon the face of the earth
by the sacrifice of shepherds
like yourself –
pray the bishops of today
Jun 2, 2023
O modern martyrs for Christ
who gave your lives even as the early Christians,
under torture by the emperor,
who remained steadfast as these
despite sword or fire
come by the power of the king…
a new age indeed you ushered in,
one of mighty suffering,
a time for the blood to mount up on this earth –
pray, brothers in...
Jun 1, 2023
O blessed martyrs for the Lord,
in your catacombs the faith flourished,
upon your tomb the Church was built…
your blood is the seed
planted in the ground
that has caused the growth
of the tree of life;
joining in the sacrifice of Christ,
His great joy you knew –
pray that such grace
will be known to us this day,
May 31, 2023
O prophet of the Lord
who spoke in His defense
even before the bench of death,
who professed the wisdom of the Cross
over the intelligence of our race
and all the ideas
it could conceive,
who chose true worship
of the One God
even over life itself
and taught us also
His way in His Church –
pray we shall merit with...