We would like to thank everyone who has continued to contribute to the ongoing expenses of San Antonio Church by mailing in their weekly envelopes or by contributing electronically utilizing WeShare . The buttons at the bottom of this post allow you to make online donations directly to the listed account for San Antonio Church.
Weekly Bulletin July 14, 2024
by Terrie Evans
On this Sunday, we welcome the members of the La Femminile Fuscaldese Society to honor their Saint, San Francesco do Paola for a Mass and Breakfast provided by Pompillios and prepared by the Men of San Antonio Church. Their Saint, Francesco Martolilla, was born in the town of Paola in the province of Cosenza, in the region of Calabria, located in southern Italy. Born on March 22, 1416, to parents who desperately wanted children, they prayed and invoked the help of St. Francis of Assisi for a family. After Francesco’s birth, he endured much sickness as a child with his parents praying to St. Francis for help with a cure. As he entered his teen years, Francesco’s eyesight was restored by his parents praying to St. Francis of Assisi. When he was well enough, Francesco entered the Franciscan order at the age of 13 and desired to pattern his life after his namesake, St. Francis. He entered the convent of the Franciscan Friars at San Marco Argentano, 26 miles from his home. He became a contemplative Monk, who were known for praying and sacrificing for oneself and for the world, with many followers who saw him as a leader within their Order. After he entered the Franciscans, he founded a new Order of Monks with the news reaching the Archbishop of Cosenza who then permitted Francesco, who was 38 years old to erect a large Monastery and Church in 1454. In 1492, the Order became known as the “Minims” as those in it were known to be the least in the household of God. While doing the good works within the Franciscan Order, he served King Louis XI of France as his respected advisor helping to restore peace between France and Great Britain. Also known as Francis the Fire Handler, Francesco died on April 2, 1507, at the age of 91 and was Canonized 12 years later in 1519. He was never ordained a priest and in 1963, Pope John XXIII designated him the patron of Saint of Calabria, Paola, and Italian Sailors.
There is a humble stone house located in Fuscaldo, Italy where Francesco’s parents resided when he was born and is still the homestead of the late Joseph “Pepe” Ramundo (1927-2021) Family, with a plaque on the front of the residence with information about San Francesco di Paola. We are appreciative of Frank Perotta for being the caretaker of the beautiful likeness of St. Francesco on loan to us from the La Societa Femminile Fuscaldese to adorn our church. Frank has volunteered every year to coat the wood carved statue with his special formula polish and also designed, produced, and donated the gold crown, Charitas (Charity) that rests on the head of the statue.
On Monday, July 15th we honor St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) well known in the Catholic Church as an Italian Catholic Franciscan Bishop, Cardinal, Scholastic, Theologian, and Philosopher. Born Giovanni di Fidanza and entered the Franciscan Order in 1243 and by the age of 22 was studying at the University of Paris where he became close friends with Thomas Aquinas and received his Doctor of Theology Degree with him. When he was 27, Bonaventure wrote the “Commentary of Sentences”, considered his major work and in 1253 was chosen the Franciscan Chair of Paris, the seat of authority to teach. He was later elected Minister General of the Franciscan Order at the age of 35 and was instrumental in procuring the election of Pope Gregory X. Bonaventure was rewarded with the title: “Cardinal Bishop of Albano” and he was present at the great Second Council of Lyon in 1274 where he worked successfully for the union of Greek and Latin Churches. He worked to integrate faith, reason, and thought of Christ as the “One true Master,” who offers human knowledge which begins in faith and is developed through rational understanding, protected by the mystical union with God. St Bonaventure is known as the Seraphic Doctor from the warmth of divine love that is found in his writings. He believed that the created world gave us a sign of God. Faith was needed by reason to lead us to the contemplative of the divine. When his friend St. Thomas Aquinas asked him where he gained his own great knowledge, Bonaventure pointed to a Crucifix, and replied, “I study only the Crucified One, Jesus Christ.” He died on July 15, 1274, is venerated in the Catholic and Church of England and was Canonized on April 14, 1482, in Rome by Pope Sixtus IV. There are 20 places, churches and schools named in his honor in the United States,10 in Canada, 7 in the Philippines, 3 in the United Kingdom, 2 in Latin America, 2 in Southeast Asia and one Catholic High School in the Netherlands. A Saint Bonaventure Prayer: “Almighty God, today we celebrate the heavenly birthday of St. Bonaventure, Your Bishop. Let us benefit by his wonderful teaching and always be inspired by his burning charity.”
Our church is honored to have the statue of St. Bonaventure wearing the robe of a Cardinal on the ramp side of San Antonio. Many of our parishioners attended and graduated from their neighborhood school St. Bonnies and to have the statue still in the neighborhood brings back many good memories.
On Tuesday, June 16th we honor the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, also referred to as “Virgin of Carmel”, the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her role as Patroness of the Carmelite Order. The solemn liturgical feast was established as a thanksgiving to Mary for the benefits she had accorded to the Carmelite Order. Those first Carmelites were living as Christian Hermits on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land around the 12th and 13th Century. The Carmelite Order consider the Blessed Virgin Mary as the perfect role model of virtue as she was the closest person in the life of Jesus Christ and look to the Virgin Mary as a Spiritual Mother. The popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the “Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,” known as the Brown Scapular, since Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named Simon Stock (1165-1265), an early English Prior General of the Carmelite Order. A Brother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Simon had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she gave him the Brown Scapular and promised him that those who wore it would be saved. Wearing it signifies the person’s consecration to Mary and the special protection she bestows. The Brothers of the “Most Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel,” were given the Carmelite Rule of Life by St. Albert, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem between 1206-1214, later approved by Pope Honorus III in 1226. In 1562, Spanish Carmelite nun, St. Teresa of Avila along with St. Joan of the Cross, another Carmelite nun established a new branch of the Order. They chose the name, the “Discalced Carmelites,” taken from the Latin word “unshod” for wearing the rope sandals of the poor instead of shoes made of leather. The “Discalced Carmelites,” consist of both nuns and friars who live the contemplative life as they did in the 13th Century. The spiritual headquarters of the Order is the Stella Maris Monastery (STAR OF THE SEA) located on Mount Carmel, named after the traditional title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The devotion to Our lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated around the world with Spain and Spanish Speaking countries holding annual festivals and in Acquafondata, Italy, there is a small sanctuary where the Virgin of Mount Carmel appeared on July 16, 1841. In Brooklyn, New York, the feast is a 10-day event held in her honor and in the “Little Italy”, neighborhood of the Bronx, a procession will be held on 187th Street around the parish church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The best-known Carmelite Saint is Therese of Lisieux, the Litle Flower who died in 1897. A Prayer for the special intentions for the Devotees of the Blessed Mother of Mount Carmel: “O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity (MAKE YOUR REQUEST). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet Mother I place this cause in your hands, AMEN.”
On July 18th in the General Roman Calendar, we honor Camillus de Lellis born in Naples, Italy in 1550 and died in Rome in 1614. He was a Roman Catholic Priest who founded the Camillians, the Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm, the religious order dedicated to care for the sick. He is the patron saint of hospitals, nurses, physicians and all who care for the sick. When he was a young man, Camillus led a wayward life with an addiction to gambling. He took many menial jobs but was always dismissed for bad behavior. Finally, he became a mercenary soldier for Venice fighting the Turks. He became penniless and lost all he had due to his gambling. He heard the Capuchin monks of Manfredona were putting up new buildings and secured a job as a labourer. He heard one of the friars preaching and fell to his knees asking God for forgiveness. Now only 25 and suffering from a diseased leg, he tried to join the Franciscan Order but was turned away. Returning to Rome, to the hospital who cared for him previously, he became a caregiver. During this time, St. Philip Neri became his confessor and while working at the San Giacoma Hospital, Camillius was promoted to Superintendent. With his new title, he turned the hospital around with many reforms, mostly concerning patient care. He studied for the priesthood and was ordained on Pentecost Sunday in 1584 at the age of 34. Camillius isolated those with contagious diseases, instituted healthy diets and obtained Hospital Chaplains. With two companions Camillius established the Society of Servants of the Sick caring for those suffering in the hospital or in their own homes. He had many benefactors and was able to start a hospital in Naples and many other hospitals that were needed in nearby cities. Pope Sixtus V gave the group formal recognition as a congregation in 1586 assigning them the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome. The Servants of the Sick were called into service in 1588 when there was a plague in Naples Harbor aiding those who were ill aboard the ships. His members were fearless and never worried about their own welfare and when there were wars in Hungary and Croatia, his followers assisted the wounded and dying. Camillius said: “A good soldier is willing to die in battle and a good servant of the sick in the hospital.” A large red cross on their cassock symbolizing service and charity is still worn on the habits of their congregation. Camillius honored the living images of Christ, and by serving them in the spirit he did penance for the sins of his youth. He died in 1614 and was Beatified in 1742 and Canonized in 1746, both by Pope Benedict XIV. A Parish in Quebec, Canada, Saint-Camille-de-Lillis is named after him. On the Canadian United States border has a population of around 800. Ther are 20 hospitals, colleges, churches, schools, and charitable organizations named in his honor. A Prayer in honor of the Patron of Hospitals, St. Camillus of Lellis: “O, God, You adorned St. Camillus, Your Priest, with the singular grace of charity toward the sick. By his merits, pour forth the spirit of Your love into us, so that by serving You in our brothers here on earth we may safely come to You at the hour of our death. AMEN.”
On July 20th we remember St. Apollinaris who is celebrated in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church. He was born in Antioch, Syria now modern day Anitakya, Turkey. He was a Disciple of St. Peter who consecrated and commissioned him as the first Bishop of Ravenna during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. Apollinaris worked for the evangelization in Emilia-Romagna as a Bishop for 26 years while facing constant persecution. His preaching brought many converts but also those who treated him cruelly, attacked him and drove him out of the city of Ravenna three times, always returning to continue his work. Apollinaris and the Church would triumph with his movement spreading beyond the city limits. Popes Simmachus and Honorius I were responsible for promoting his work through Rome and in Dijon, the Frankish King, Clovis, dedicated a church to Apollinaris. The Benedictine and Camaldolese Monasteries also spread the veneration to his evangelization works of Apollinaris throughout Germany and in Bologna, with a church in the area of Palazzo de Podesta established in his honor. After Apollinaris was Martyred, his relics were placed at the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare in Classe at the place of his death. Due to the threat of pirate raids along the Adriatic Coast, the relics were transferred to the Basilica of Sant Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna in 856. There are also relics of St. Apollinaire at St. Lambertus in Dusseldorf and at the Apollinaris Church in Remagen, Germany with churches dedicated to the saint in the Czech Republic and in Prague. There is a stained-glass window in the Cathedrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Troyes that tells the story of his ordination. In 1957, in Napa, California, there is a church named in honor of St. Apollinaris who has been considered a miracle worker who is invoked for those suffering from gout and epilepsy. The municipality of Saint-Apollinaire in Quebec, Canada on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, is named in honor of the Saint. The municipality covers an area of 60 miles, with a population of 8,000, and is 12 miles from the bridges of Quebec City.