June

Called to be God’s Holy People: Sing the Church Triumphant Hymns for the Saints, Solemnities and Seasons

Centre for Christian Initiation and Liturgy Archdiocese of Perth, Western Australia

CONTENT 1

January

2

February

Saint Justin 1 June Martyr

ABOUT

SAINT JUSTIN Saint Justin was born at the beginning of the second century in Nablus, Samaria, of a pagan Greek family. He sought the truth and studied many systems of philosophy before being led through Platonism to Christianity. While remaining a layman, he accepted the duty of making the truth known, and he travelled from place to place preaching the Gospel. In the year 151, he travelled from Ephesus to Rome, where he opened a school of philosophy and wrote treatises defending and explaining Christianity, which have survived to this day. He wrote the first explanation about the Mass.

In the year 165, during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Justin and his companions were denounced as Christians, and they were subsequently arrested and beheaded.

HOW CAN

SAINT JUSTIN INSPIRE US TODAY?

It is interesting to note that the transcript of Justin Martyr’s trial before the Prefect of Rome, Rusticus, has survived to this day. The record presents a striking dialogue—almost like a verbal tennis match - as Justin and Rusticus exchange statements. Despite his articulate defense, Justin makes little headway with the Prefect. He boldly proclaims Christ as the true God and affirms that to worship Christ is to offer true worship.

Justin was authentic in his worship of Christ and in how he led his Christian life. We, too, must do the same, always seeking the truth in everything we do. He remained faithful to Christ when it may have been easier to do otherwise. In this way, the words of the Gospel for today’s liturgy are exemplified by Justin: Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

Bibliography ~ St Paul’s Weekday Missal, © 2012 Saint Paul’s Publications, Universalis App: 1 June

A HYMN FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT JUSTIN 1. Saint Justin, you were a pagan, (a pagan you were), but in your life the truth you sought.

Until at last the Lord you found, he guided you in deed and thought.

2. As you travelled from place to place your task was to make Christ’s truth known.

The Gospel you always proclaimed, the seeds of Christ from your heart sown.

3. The Roman Prefect Rusticus questioned you during your trial; demanding you make sacrifice: you gave him a firm denial.

4. Faithful to Christ you always were, which led you to a martyr’s death, you proclaimed Christ as your Saviour until you uttered your last breath.

Text: Chris deSilva and Alessio Loiacono Tune: TALLIS CANON LM 88.88

Download Hymn and Sheet Music

Saint Boniface 5 June Bishop and Martyr ABOUT

SAINT BONIFACE Saint Boniface was a member of a Benedictine Monastery in Devon (England). At the start of the eighth century A.D., he was elected abbot but resigned to become a missionary. Pope Gregory II gave him the name Boniface and sent him to Germany to evangelise the Germanic peoples.

He was ordained a bishop and given wide-ranging papal commissions throughout Germany and Gaul. He founded monasteries and established dioceses, presided at synods and maintained close associations with various emperors.

On one occasion, he was evangelising people who worshipped the god Thor.

There was an oak tree that the people regarded as being sacred to Thor, which Boniface cut down with an axe. This impressed the people present, and in this way, he gained their confidence.

He is remembered as a determined missionary, a church worker, and a reformer whose work laid the groundwork for the future of the Church in Europe.

He was martyred by a band of pagans during Mass on Pentecost Sunday, 754.

Boniface left the comfort of his homeland and travelled to a foreign land, where he was unfamiliar with the people and likely didn’t speak their language. He didn’t let those barriers prevent him from doing God’s work and setting up parishes and organising the Church. He also opposed the superstition and idolatry of the pagans, cutting down their sacred oak tree.

Like Saint Boniface, we should focus on doing God’s INSPIRE US TODAY? work, regardless of the barriers we may encounter.

HOW CAN

SAINT BONIFACE

As Saint Boniface said, “Let us stand fast in what is right, rejecting false gods and prepare our souls for trial and wait upon God’s strengthening aid.”

HYMN FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT BONIFACE 1. Apostle to the people of Gaul and Germany, Saint Boniface did live in an English monastery.

He chose to leave his homeland to preach and to proclaim to those Germanic people, to them make known Christ’s Name.

2. He holy was and humble, but did not hesitate to preach Christ to the pagans and end their sinful state.

His axe brought down an oak tree, the pagans were impressed, their confidence in him grew, the faith they all professed.

3. “Go out to every nation, My Gospel they must know.”

Saint Boniface obeyed Christ wherever he did go.

May we who live in this age find ways to tell God’s news of his eternal love to a world that is confused.

Text: Chris deSilva and Alessio Loiacono Tune: AURELIA 76.76D

Bibliography ~ Daily Mass Book, © 2019 Liturgy Brisbane, Saints of The Roman Calendar Sourcebook 2017: © Liturgy Training Publications 2017, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Boniface

Download Hymn and Sheet Music

Saint Ephrem 9 June Deacon and Doctor of the Church ABOUT

SAINT EPHREM 306 - 373 Saint Ephrem served as head of a cathedral school in Syria. When the Persians invaded his hometown of Nisibis, he fled to a cave near Edessa (now known as Urfa) to live the rest of his life as a monk. Edessa is located in south-eastern Turkey, once part of Upper Mesopotamia on the frontier of the Syrian Desert. While living an austere life marked by isolation and fasting, he wrote hundreds of hymns and commentaries on Scripture.

His hymns and scriptural commentaries provide a profound insight into the Paschal Mystery of Christ and also opposed the Gnostic tendencies that pervaded during his lifetime.

From time to time, he would leave his cave to preach in Edessa. He drew in crowds of people by his eloquent preaching and therefore became known as “the harp of the Holy Spirit.”

His preaching and hymns have spread far beyond the Syriac Church and are used in both the Eastern and Western Churches alike.

Later in his life, he was ordained a deacon and helped the people of Edessa to deal with a severe famine.

Saint Ephrem devoted his whole life to preaching and explaining Scripture, addressing the heresies that arose in his time. While not all of us are called to a life of solitude, Saint Ephrem reminds us of the profound value of silence. In a world where many rush from one task to the next, burdened by a constant stream of thoughts, we are invited to reclaim moments of quiet each day. Silence gives us space to reflect, to find inner calm, and to open our hearts and minds to new INSPIRE US TODAY? insights and the gentle whisper of God’s voice.

Saint Ephrem used his gifts and talents, and we are called to the same. After becoming a Deacon, he helped the people of his town survive a famine. Deacons are ordained for service, and Saint Ephrem certainly lived out that call. We, too, are called to serve people in their time of need and to provide reassurance to those who are anxious.

HOW CAN

SAINT EPHREM

HYMN FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT EPHREM 1. Saint Ephrem lived an austere life in which he preached God’s holy word, explaining what the Scriptures mean, that people’s hearts for God be stirred.

2. “Harp of the Holy Spirit” was the title by which he was known.

He wrote hymns of great eloquence by which the seeds of faith were sown.

3. The heresies that had been spread led people of his time astray.

His preaching and his writing were intended to show them the way.

4. A Deacon later he became, and served the people in his care.

He helped them when a famine came, and lifted them from their despair.

5. By the way which we live our lives may people come to know the Lord and follow Him with greatest joy that their lives with Him e’er accord.

Text: Chris deSilva and Alessio Loiacono Tune: OLD 100TH LM 88.88

Bibliography ~ Sourcebook 2019: © Liturgy Training Publications 2019, Universalis App: 9 June, https://www.worldhistory.org/edessa/

Download Hymn and Sheet Music