Born: 1st Century BC Died: 1st Century BC Feast Day: November 5th What he said He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” What the world was like People at this time ate a fairly straightforward diet. Most days people would have eaten lots of bread from wheat or barley, cereals or gruels. Olives, dates and figs were also eaten. Meat was eaten every now and again, usually after a big festival and the slaughtering of a lamb or goat. A lot of wine was drunk too. Politically would have been quite a difficult time. She would have seen the end of the reign of Herod the Great and all the revolts that accompanied the end of his reign. She would have seen the Roman Legions coming in to Galilee to put down these revolts and all the atrocities associated with the legions. We know from Jewish writings of the time that the Romans burnt cities and took people away into slavery. Galilee was politically fairly stable throughout most of Jesus' lifetime but there would have been isolated pockets of resistance and certainly no one would have liked the idea that Judea to the south was a Roman province, or that the Romans were present in the Holy City of Jerusalem and in the temple itself. Galilee in the 20s was occupied by Romans and would have been an oppressing place for the Jews. If a Roman soldier said "you've got to carry my backpack one mile", they'd have to do it; they had no option. The Romans forced the Jews to pay taxes to Caesar. At night they might have heard the soldiers march by with their swords clanging, and they would have been afraid. One can imagine there was talk about trusting in God and that maybe in their lifetime he would send a Messiah. The Jews, as they became more and more oppressed, may have became more and more obsessed with God. They may have thought that this could be the time for the Saviour to come. Link Who he was Not much information is known about Elizabeth, but she has the distinction of being one of the first to know about Mary's great blessing as the Mother of God. Zachariah was a priest in Jerusalem whose wife, Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, was beyond child-bearing age. He was told by an angel in a vision that they would have a son and should name him John. When he doubted this, he was struck dumb. After John's birth, Zachariah's speech was restored. This is all that is known of Elizabeth and Zachariah, and is found in the New Testament in Luke. An unverifiable tradition has Zachariah murdered in the Temple when he refused to tell Herod where his son John was to be found. What this saint means to us today God can work in our life in spite of any circumstance. Things may look hopeless, but God is always in control. "All things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27, NIV) Faith is a quality God values highly. If we want our prayers to be answered, faith makes the difference. God does reward those who depend on him.
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Saint Valentine was a Catholic priest who had also worked as a doctor. He lived in Italy during the third century AD and served as a priest in Rome. Historians don’t know much about Valentine’s early life. They pick up Valentine’s story after he began working as a priest. Valentine became famous for marrying couples who were in love but couldn’t get legally married in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, who outlawed weddings. Claudius wanted to recruit lots of men to be soldiers in his army and thought that marriage would be an obstacle to recruiting new soldiers; he also wanted to prevent his existing soldiers from getting married because he thought that marriage would distract them from their work. When Emperor Claudius discovered that Valentine was performing weddings, he sent Valentine to jail. Valentine used his time in jail to continue to reach out to people with the love that he said Jesus Christ gave him for others. He befriended his jailer, a man named Asterious, and Asterious became so impressed with Valentine’s wisdom that he asked Valentine to help his daughter Julia with her lessons because Julia was blind and needed someone to read material for her to learn it. Valentine then became friends with Julia through his work with her when she came to visit him in jail. Emperor Claudius came to like Valentine, too, so he offered to pardon Valentine and set him free if Valentine would renounce his Christian faith and agree to worship the Roman gods. Not only did Valentine refuse to leave his faith, he also encouraged Emperor Claudius to place his trust in Christ. Valentine’s faithful choices cost him his life. Emperor Claudius was so enraged at Valentine’s response that he sentenced Valentine to die. Born: January 10th, 1607 Died: October 18th, 1646 Feast Day: October 19th What he said For little gain, some men traverse the seas, enduring at least as much as we; and shall we not for the love of God do what these men do for earthly interests? What the world was like The powerful countries of Europe were vying for control of North America. The French, the English, and the Dutch all sent explorers and colonists. The English settlement of Jamestown was founded in 1603 in what is now Virginia. A year later, the French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in Canada as a trading post along the St. Lawrence River. In 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts. The native people of North America had mixed reactions to these settlers. The Huron, or Wyandot, made treaties with the French. This alliance increased tension between the Huron and the Iroquois. In the harsh climate of North America, there was intense competition for resources and control of the waterways. The French had also come to North America in pursuit of these same resources, which heightened hostility. The missionaries were often put in the position of peacemakers. Who he was When Isaac Jogues joined the Society of Jesus at age 17, he told his superior he wanted to be sent to the Jesuit missions in Africa. His superior replied that missionaries were needed in North America, specifically the French colonies in Canada. Isaac asked to be sent there instead. Fr. Jogues was full of enthusiasm for working with the native people of Canada. The missionaries set out from the large settlement at Quebec. Most travel was done by canoe, but it was a long and difficult journey. Fr. Jogues joined missionaries who had been working in Canada many years. The Huron were suspicious of the priests, whom they called Blackrobes. The missionaries tried to show their care for the people by living as they did, learning their language, and abiding by their customs. They ministered to the sick and helped with the work of the community. Fr. Jogues was well liked from the beginning. He had a lot of energy and was very practical. He bravely faced the slow process of winning the trust of the Huron people. One summer, Fr. Jogues was asked to travel to the other settlements and distribute supplies. The Iroquois, the enemies of the Huron, were known to be in the area. The journey was very risky. Fr. Jogues accepted without hesitation. The group was attacked by the Iroquois and taken prisoner. The captives were subjected to incredible tortures. Fr. Jogues was the target of much animosity since he was a Blackrobe and also a Frenchman. He witnessed the heroic deaths of many of his Huron friends. One Jesuit brother who had accompanied him was killed for making the sign of the cross over a child. Fr. Jogues amazed the Iroquois by the calmness with which he faced incredible suffering. Despite his terrible treatment, he prayed for his captors and refused to be angry with them. He found great consolation in the scriptures, which he recalled from memory. He used the quotations he could remember to keep his spirits up and to encourage his remaining companions. He was made a slave in the house of an elderly Iroquois couple. They came to respect Fr. Jogues because of his cheerful spirit. Fr. Jogues was grateful for the opportunity to live so closely with the Iroquois and have an opportunity to spread God’s word to them. It was dangerous for him to talk openly about his faith, but he spread the message of God’s love through his example. After many months of this difficult life, he had the opportunity to escape. Dutch settlers who traded with the Iroquois convinced Fr. Jogues that if he remained with the Iroquois he would soon be killed. Fr. Jogues realized that his work had come to an end for now. Sadly, he embarked on the long voyage back to France. In France, people were eager to meet this living martyr. Even the queen invited him to court so she could hear the account of his work among the Iroquois. Everyone who heard his story and saw his mangled and scarred hands were inspired by the simple priest’s heroism. But Fr. Jogues was uncomfortable with the fame he was acquiring. He wanted to return to his Iroquois brothers. He took the first opportunity to sail again for North America. The French settlers were in the process of making a treaty with the Iroquois. They needed someone familiar with their customs and language to bring the treaty to the tribal council. Fr. Jogues was the best person for the job, and he gladly accepted it. He knew the dangers involved, but he wanted to bring the hope of God’s love and forgiveness to the Iroquois. Iroquois suspicions were high because of recent disasters that had struck the community. He was blamed for the bad crops that year, and a plague that afflicted the people. He and his companion, Jean de Lalande, were attacked and beaten when they arrived. The next day, he was killed by tomahawk. Jean de Lalande was killed soon after. He and Jean are honored by the Church as part of the North American Martyrs, a group of eight Jesuit priests and laymen who gave their lives in the service of God. What this saint means to us Saint Isaac Jogues lived the Gospel by being a witness of God’s love for all people. He and his companions appreciated the culture of the native peoples of North America. The only wealth he sought in coming to the Canada was to spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Born: 387 Died: March 17th, 461 Feast Day: March 17th What he said: "Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me." What the world was like: When Patrick was young, the people of Ireland did not know about Jesus. Ireland was not ruled by one single king, but by several Celtic chieftains. Each chieftain ruled a small piece of land but was always trying to get more land through force. Because of this unrest, not many people came to Ireland from England. The Roman Empire ruled much of Europe. During Patrick's life, Saint Jerome, a monk, translated the Bible into Latin so that more people were able to read it. People traveled by foot, boat, or on horses. Metal horseshoes were invented and used. The stirrup, a foothold for a horseman, was also invented during Patrick's lifetime. Who he was: Patrick was born in Scotland. When he was about fourteen years old, he was captured and brought to Ireland. As a slave, he was forced to take care of sheep. Patrick prayed often during his captivity. The people of Ireland at this time were not Christian. Patrick learned about their beliefs and practices. When Patrick was twenty years old, he escaped from slavery and returned home. He never forgot the people of Ireland and wanted to return to teach them about Christianity. Patrick began studying for the priesthood and was eventually ordained a bishop. He was then sent by the Pope to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick became friends with several community leaders in Ireland. Because the people trusted him, many converted to Christianity. Patrick built over three hundred churches throughout Ireland and baptized thousands of people. Patrick invited other priests and church leaders to join him in Ireland. He remained in Ireland for forty years, preaching, writing, and ministering to the people of Ireland. What this saint means to us today: Patrick is a very popular saint. On March 17, people all over the world celebrate his feast day with parades, parties, and the wearing of green. There are many legends about Saint Patrick. One such legend has it that he used a shamrock, a plant growing in Ireland, to explain the Blessed Trinity. Just as there are three separate leaves on one plant, there are three distinct Persons in one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because of this, the shamrock is the traditional symbol of Ireland. |
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