June Saints

June 3. St. Charles Lwanga and Companion Martyrs.

The White Fathers arrived in Uganda at the beginning of 1880 and in six years they were able to build a large community of faithful. Many of them were young and lived in the court of King Mwanga, a violent and abusive man. The leader of the Christian community, Joseph Mkasa was the chief steward of the Mwanga’s court and the king liked him. But when Joseph dared to criticize the king’s actions, he was killed. Carlos Lwanga took over the leadership and instruction of the young boys and men, and tried to protect them from the abuses of Mwanga, who had become more lenient for a few months.

Some time later, the king called one of the pages and asked him what he was doing. When the young boy said he was receiving religious instruction, Mwanga became angry and killed his religious instructor, Denis. He ordered that the royal compound be sealed so no one could leave and killed the young people who confessed to being Christian. Thirteen Catholics and 11 Protestants were martyred. They died calling on the name of Jesus and proclaiming, "You can burn our bodies, but you cannot harm our souls."

When the White Fathers were expelled from the country, the new Christians carried on their work. When the missionaries returned after King Mwanga's death, they found 500 Christians and 1,000 catechumens waiting for them.

Your turn
Do you think youth is an obstacle to leadership in the Christian community? Would you dare to take on such a responsibility should it be necessary?

June 13. St. Anthony of Padua.

St. Anthony is one of the most beloved and venerated saints, probably because it is believed that he helps finds things that are lost or a companion. The reality is that the life of St. Anthony is much more than just these miracles. The Portuguese saint, who lived in Italy, first join the Augustinian Order, but in 1220 when he witnessed five Franciscans being martyred in Morocco, on the North of Africa, he decided to become a Franciscan to follow in the footsteps of those saints. He dedicated his life to preaching, and was so powerful a preacher that the Church has recognized him as a doctor of the Church. He died at the age of 36.

Your turn
Have you ever been moved by the examples of other people that you have wanted to follow in their footsteps?

June 21. St. Aloysius Gonzaga.

Aloysius lived in a castle and had everything he wanted. But even as a child he had been more attracted to prayer than the diversions found in the court. He wanted to be a Jesuit and when he discovered his vocation, he felt happy, but his father was furious when her heard the news and would not allow his son to leave for the novitiate. His father wanted Aloysius to marry and continue the noble lineage of the Gonzaga family. Aloysius spent many years trying to convince his father, who in the end accepted that becoming a Jesuit was the only thing that would make his son happy, although it meant giving up all rights to his inheritance, wealth and nobility titles.

When he was in the novitiate, the plague broke out in Rome and although Aloysius had never enjoyed good health, he decided to go care for the victims. He was infected and died when he was just 23 years old. He is the patron saint of young people.

Your turn
What limits do you put on serving others? Have you ever used the difficulties in your family or your health as an excuse not to serve others?

June 22. St. John Fisher and Thomas More

They were two friends who had no need to put themselves in danger. They had the trust of King Henry VIII. John Fisher was a cardinal and Thomas a chancellor of the court. They were arrested and condemned as traitors to the king for refusing to take an oath the king had required. The oath had three clauses: That any offspring from Henry and Anne Boleyn would be the legitimate heir to the throne; that the marriage between Henry and Catherine of Aragon was annul and that the Pope had no more authority or power in England than any other bishop. These last two clauses were unacceptable and John Fisher and Thomas refused to take the oath. They were taken to the London Tower and executed after enduring starvation and much suffering. The two men were writers and intellectuals and it is said that Thomas More had a great sense of humor. More was married with children. John Paul II named him the patron saint of politicians for proclaiming the truth before the powers of this world.

Your turn
Would you risk expressing your opinion and convictions if you knew that someone would not accept it or would make fun of you?

June 24. St. John the Baptist.

John was the son of Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary. It was Elizabeth that Mary visited when she found out she was pregnant. The story of the meeting between the two women tells us how the child that Elizabeth was carrying (John) leap with joy at the arrival of Mary, who was carrying Jesus in her womb.

Throughout every moment in the life of John, the arrival of Jesus implied recognition and joy. (This is the Lamb of God…) John the Baptist is the patron saint of Puerto Rico.

Your turn
How do you recognize the presence of God near you? Are you happy? How do you announce it to others?

June 28. St. Irenaeus.

St Iranaeus was a saint from the 2nd Century and it is said that during the persecution of Marcus Aurelius he was a priest in Lyons, France. The clergy in the city, which had been captured, sent him to Rome with a letter for Pope Eleuterus. Upon his return, Irenaeus succeeded the martyr Saint Pothinus and became the Bishop of Lyon. During the peace time that followed the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, he divided his duties between being a pastor and missionary and his writings, which were targeted against the heresies of his time. He wrote a lot and left a grand testimony of his living and profound faith.

Your turn
How can you use your talents and put them in the service of God and the Church?

June 29. Saints Peter and Paul.

They are called the pillars of the Church and were two very different people, with different tempers, personalities and academic backgrounds. Peter was a somewhat crude fisherman, according to the gospels and Paul was an educated man, spoke several languages and was a great writer and theologian. Peter was entrusted with caring for the Church. He was martyred in the persecution of Nero in the year 64 after Christ. St. Paul experienced his conversion when he was persecuting the Christians of the time. He is the greatest missionary of his time. Next year we will celebrate the year of St. Paul.

Your turn
Do you believe that because of your defects and limitations you cannot be called to do great things? What do the lives of Peter and Paul tell you?