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Weekly Bulletin September 22, 2024
by Terrie Evans
On this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time our San Antonio Church Community is getting ready for our 88th Annual Spaghetti Dinner. The Men’s and Ladies Sodality is asking for 2 Liter Sodas and homemade desserts if possible. We always need volunteers, so please see Connie Dalessandro after Mass to sign up for donations or to work the dinner.
On this Sunday, we send our condolences and prayers to the Ebertz, Adams, and Lecture Families on the passing of Paul Lecture on September 1st, 2024, at the age of 80. He was the beloved husband of Jolene (Adams) Lecture who along with her late mother Marjorie (Ebertz) Adams played the organ for our Sunday Mass and at other church events. We also send our condolences on the passing of Mary Eileen (Crawley) McGeever on September 12, 2024, at the age of 95. She was a Native of Doocastle, County Mayo, Ireland and the beloved mother of Brian and Patricia McGeever, who produced the special “Cincinnati Saint” about the life and good works of our much-revered Sister of Charity, Sr. Blandina Segale, Servant of God. Please keep all of these extended San Antonio Family members in your thought and prayers.
On Monday, September 23rd, many Italian Catholics honor and celebrate the feast day of St. Padre Pio. Born Francesco Forgione (1887-1968), known as St. Pius of Pietrelcina, was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin Friar, Priest, Stigmatist, and Mystic. He became famous for exhibiting stigmata during most of his life which brough him much interest and controversy as he bore the wounds of Christ in his hands, feet, and side. Francesco joined the Capuchin Order at the age of 15, taking the name Pio, ordained in 1910, and served in World War I in 1915 when he was drafted into the Italian Army, serving in Naples with the 10th Medical Corps. In 1918, he started to display permanent wounds on his hands and feet after having a vison of Jesus. After he received the stigmata, he rarely left the Friary; nevertheless, busloads would arrive waiting to see him. Pio was thought to have mystical gifts such as reading souls and the ability to make healings before they were requested. Many of those who would visit with him said that Padre Pio knew details of their lives that they had never mentioned to anyone. He saw Jesus in all the sick and suffering; and at his urging, a hospital was built on Mount Gargano. The 350-bed hospital became a place that saw cures that were received through the intercession of Padre Pio. He became a Spiritual Director and developed 5 rules for Spiritual growth: weekly confessions, daily communion, spiritual readings, meditation, and examination of conscience. He was a strong proponent of weekly confession, calling it the Soul’s Bath. He taught that suffering is a special sign of God’s love, and it makes you resemble “His Divine Son in His anguish in the desert and on the Hill of Calvary.”
Pio had strict rules concerning modesty while going to Confession or attending Mass. He stated: “The Church is the house of God.” It is forbidden for men to enter with bare arms or in shorts. It is forbidden for women to enter in trousers, without a veil on their head, in short clothing, low necklines or in sleeveless or immoral dresses. He expressed great concern over the spread of Communism and throughout his life, prayed to combat it. He supported the Christian Democratic Party with Italian Communists hating him for his outspoken support. The Communists grumbled that his presence at the polls “took votes away from us.” He was consulted by Italian Political leaders such as Aldo Morro, Antonio Segni, Mariano Rumor, Giovanni Leone and received letters requesting prayers throughout his life. He sometimes had his habit torn by souvenir hunters while suffering much anguish by the actions of those who circulated prophecies that they claimed came directly from him. He never made prophecies about any world events or gave opinions that he deemed were Church matters. When Fr. Karol Wojtyla visited Padre Pio in 1947, he was told he would rise to the highest post in the Catholic Church. In 1978, Fr. Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II.
Following the assignation of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Padre Pio broke down in tears when asked by another priest if he would pray for Kennedy’s salvation. He replied, “It’s not necessary, he is already in Paradise.” Padre Pio died at 2:30AM on September 23,1968 after making his last confession and renewing his Franciscan vows. On his death bed he kept repeating Gesu Maria (Jesus Maria). His funeral ceremony was held on September 26th with 100,000 in attendance with his body interred in the Church of Our Lady of Grace. In 1999, Padre Pio was declared Blessed at the Mass for his Beatification on May 2, 1999, and his Canonization Mass taking place on February 28, 2002, both at St. Peters Square officiated by Pope John Paul II. There were 300,000 at his canonization Mass when St. John Paul said: “The Gospel image of ‘yoke’ evokes the many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo endured. Today we contemplate in him how sweet the ‘yoke’ of Christ and indeed how light the burden is whenever someone carries these with faithful love. The life and mission of Padre Pio testify that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted with love, transform themselves into a privileged journey of holiness, which opens the person toward a greater good, known only to the Lord.” The main pilgrimage site for St. Pio is in the town of San Giovanni Rolando where the saint spent most of his life. On July 1, 2004, Pope John Paul II dedicated the Sanctuary of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, also called the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church where his relics are placed in the crypt of the new sanctuary. They are on display for veneration for all the pilgrims who come to honor him.
On Thursday, September 26th, we celebrate the feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, 3rd Century twin brothers and Arab Physicians who became early Christian Martyrs. They practiced their profession in the Aegean Seaport in the Roman Province of Cilicia and were known as very skilled doctors and surgeons who never took a fee for their services. They believed that as Christians this was the best form of charity that they could practice and they are still known throughout Eastern Christendom as Saints Cosmas and Damian, “The Moneyless.” They were even credited with developing a rare medication, Opopira, to treat paralysis and other maladies. Through their work, they attracted many to the Christian faith during the time it was popular to worship the Olympian gods. It was at the time that Emperor Diocletian began to issue edicts that condemned Christians and the persecutions soon began. He had no hesitation in arresting such distinguished Christians, in spite of their good works. Cosmas and Damian held steadfast in their faith even though the Emperor was working to eliminate Christians from the Roman Empire. They were arrested, even though tortured, they stayed true to their faith. They had healed the bodies of others but now their bodies were broken as they were hung on crosses with stones thrown and arrows fired into their bodies. After being cut down and while still alive, they were beheaded. Their corpses were taken to Syria and buried in Cyprus around the year 303. By the 4th Century, Churches were established and dedicated to Cosmas and Damian in Jerusalem, Egypt and Mesopotamia becoming revered as patron saints of physicians. Throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, India, Mexico, and Africa there are 57 Churches, Monasteries, and Municipalities named in their honor and 10 Chapels, Churches and Societies named for them. In the Eastern Christian Church, Orthodox icons of the saints show them as laymen holding medicine boxes with each one holding a spoon while dispensing medicine. The handle of the spoon is shaped like a Cross to show the importance of spiritual as well as physical healing telling us that all cures come from God. Their Major Shrines are the Convent of the Poor Clares in Madrid, Basilica of Saints Cosmas, and Damian in Rome and in Bari, Italy.
On Friday, September 27th, we honor the life’s work of St. Vincent De Paul who devoted his life to helping the poor. He became the patron of charitable causes and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of charity. St. Vincent De Paul was born in 1581 in the small village of Pouy in Gascony, France and received his education from a local parish priest before attending the University of Toulouse at the age of 19. He earned a Doctorate in Theology before being Ordained in 1605, developing a deep commitment to helping the poor and disadvantaged. He then started serving poor families in Paris around 1617 by bringing them food and comfort and enlisted wealthy women to assist him in his efforts. The Confraternities of Charity gave him much needed help while collecting funds for missionary projects and founding hospitals. His organization also gathered relief funds for victims of war and the ransom of 1,200 galley slaves from North Africa. In 1622, he was appointed Chaplain of the galleys of Languedoc after working among imprisoned slaves in Paris. In 1625, he founded the Congregation of the Mission, also called the Vincentians whose priests took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience and were devoted to those in need in small towns and villages. In 1633, Vincent De Paul founded the religious order of nuns, the Daughters of Charity to provide physical, spiritual, and educational aid to the poor and disadvantaged that is still in existence. He rose to become an intimate advisor to the French Royal Family, especially the Spiritual Advisor to Queen Anne and used his position to garner much needed relief among the suffering poor. He died at the age of 80 in 1660 and was Canonized by Pope Clement XII on June 16, 1737, in Rome. St. Vincent De Paul was known for his headstrong nature, humility, and unknown to many an avid gardener. He often tended gardens at many charitable institutions when he said: “It is not enough to love the poor, one must also love the soil that feeds them.” He is the patron saint of charitable societies, hospitals, prisoners, and volunteers. In 1833, the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, the charitable organization dedicated to serving the poor was established by French University students and is still present in 153 countries. There are 17 Parishes, 3 Universities, and many high schools within the United States named after him. His Major Shrine is the St. Vincent De Paul Chapel in Paris, France. Prayer to St. Vincent De Paul: “O God, You gave St. Vincent De Paul apostolic virtues for the salvation of the poor and the formation of the clergy. Grant that, endowed with the same spirit, we may love that he loved and act according to his teachings. AMEN.”
On Saturday, September 28th, we celebrate the feast of St. Wenceslaus, the oldest son of Duke Ratislav. He was educated by his grandmother St. Ludmilla becoming a good student and a pious young man who loved his faith. He became the ruler of Bohemia at age 15 after the death of his father. When he took control of the government, he used Christianity to strengthen his state. His closest advisor, St. Ludmilla, his grandmother was murdered by assassins of a pagan political faction that opposed her Christian influence on the throne. He brought German priests to Bohemia and favored the Latin Rite for Mass instead of the Old Slavic Rite which went into disuse in many places for lack of priests. He founded a rotunda consecrated to St. Vitus at the Prague Castle, now St. Vitus Cathedral. Wenceslaus’ brother, no longer heir to the throne after the prince was born, joined the opposition party, and eventually murdered Wenceslaus on his way to Mass. Many miracles have been attributed to the saintly king, especially at his tomb, at the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. September 28th is also the feast day of his grandmother St. Ludmilla who died in 927. There is an equestrian statue of St. Wenceslaus, and other patrons of Bohemia, St. Adalbert, St. Ludmilla, St. Prokop, and St. Agnes, located on Wenceslaus Square, a popular meeting place in Prague.
