Saints of the Holy Land & Rome

Presented by Al McCauley

SAINT HELEN

c. 247-330 A.D.

Feast Day: August 18

Vision of St. Helena

Paolo

Veronese (c. 1580)

Helen was the mother of Constantine – the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity. Constantine called for a council at Nicaea to help define what we believe. From this meeting, our Church’s first creed was produced. He also supported the building of Christian churches.

Like her son, Helen felt called to embrace Christianity, and spent many hours in prayer. Her interest in Christianity lead to a strong desire to visit the places where Jesus lived and died. She wanted to find those places and objects that were sacred to Christians and to preserve them for later generations.

On one such pilgrimage, it is said that she had a dream which detailed where sacred items could be found. Following this vision, Helen found the true cross on which Jesus was executed, and she commissioned the building of the Church of the Nativity Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Since her time, millions of believers from around the world have visited these holy sites.

Helen spent the rest of her life living humbly in the Holy Lands, supporting Christians there and giving aid to the needy. She would often meet pilgrims who had traveled great distances to visit the shrines that she had built, showing them respect and hospitality; and the renowned historian Eusebius wrote of Helen, “Especially abundant were the gifts she bestowed on the naked and unprotected poor.”

 How have the pilgrimage sites founded by St. Helen been a source of inspiration and faith for travelers over the centuries?

 How do you show and share your faith with family members?

 Notice that St. Helen appears to be leaning on the cross in the painting. When do you most lean on the cross for support and spiritual guidance? In what circumstances of your life do you need to do this more often?

SAINT CATHERINE of ALEXANDRIA

c. 287-305 A.D.

Feast Day: November 25 Saint

Caravaggio (1598)

Catherine was the well-educated daughter of the pagan queen of Egypt and became a Christian upon hearing the preaching of a holy hermit, and after receiving visions of both Jesus and Mary.

This angered the Roman Emperor, Maxentius, who had come to northern Africa to wipe out the growing influence of Christianity there.

Because she was both nobility and renowned for her intelligence, the Emperor sent fifty of his most learned men to hold a trial against Catherine. She was so persuasive in her arguments for Christ, however, that all of the Emperor’s philosophers converted!

In a rage, Maxentius ordered that Catherine be killed immediately on a spiked wheel. But, when Catherine touched the wheel, it splintered and broke apart. So, he had her beheaded.

It was said that angels came and buried her body at the foot of Mt. Sinai. A Christian monastery was built over her body in the sixth century and is still operational today.

Catherine was one of three Saints identified by Joan of Arc (14121431) as appearing to her and providing comfort and counsel.

Catherine is also counted among the legendary Fourteen Holy Helpers – powerful intercessors who have been invoked by the faithful against various diseases or dilemmas for centuries.

 How are Catholics persecuted today? How can we help to change the hearts and minds of those who dislike the Church?

 The word martyr means witness. In what ways can you “witness” Christ in your life without dying bodily?

SAINT JEROME

c. 347-420 A.D.

Feast Day: September 30

Caravaggio (1606)

Saint Jerome Writing

St. Jerome is mostly remembered for two things: his irascible temperament and his translation of the Sacred Scriptures. It is perhaps because of his cranky character that his gift of a vernacular Bible was made possible!

Jerome was a fearless critic of immorality and, although quick to anger at injustice and sin, he was tougher on himself than others. His somewhat pugnacious personality no doubt helped guide his life’s most important work.

A brilliant scholar, Jerome was asked by Pope Damasus I to undertake a herculean task: translate the Old and New Testaments into the common language of the Church and society – Latin. It took Jerome and a team of helpers over a decade to complete the work, which is called the Vulgate (from the Latin, meaning “common”).

Jerome’s great love of Sacred Scriptures guided the process, and he is often quoted as having said, “Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

Jerome spent his final years in the deserts of the Holy Land living an austere life of prayer as a hermit. He eventually settled in Bethlehem, living in the cave where Christ was believed to have been born. After dying, his remains were taken to Rome and now reside in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

 How can your specific personality traits and talents be used to help others know Jesus?

 What role does the Bible play in your faith life?

 As Catholics, why is it important to remember our death?

SAINT MARY MAGDALENE

First Century A.D.

Feast Day: July 22

Penitent Magdalene

Titian (c. 1565)

Mary Magdalene is arguably the most misunderstood and misrepresented of all Saints!

She stood by Jesus during his torment, watched him die on the cross, and then was gifted by God to be the first witness of the risen Christ. Because Mary was sent to relate the news of Jesus’ Resurrection first, the Church has given her the title “Apostle to the Apostles.” As the primary witness and messenger of the Resurrection, Mary became an important and well-respected disciple after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven. Unfortunately, most Christians today think of Mary more as a repentant prostitute that a distinguished herald.

Contrary to long-held thought, nothing in the New Testament indicates that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute! This errant view originated with an unfortunate misunderstanding by Pope St. Gregory I (r. 590-604) and became indelibly stamped in the western psyche due to the repeated depictions of Mary as a fallen woman by scores of artists over the centuries.

In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church officially declared that there was no scriptural evidence to support this undeserved reputation which obscures her important role as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

Regrettably, the damage to Mary’s status has persisted, and many still think of her as a sinful woman. It is incumbent upon all Christians to know the truth of Mary’s life and rightly honor her as not only a vital member of Jesus’ closest followers, but as a courageous evangelist.

 Have you ever felt misunderstood or misrepresented? How can Mary Magdalene be a source of hope for you in this trial?

 How can you be an “apostle” in your life, bringing the good news about Jesus to others in your words and actions?

SAINTS MARTHA and

MARY of BETHANY

First Century A.D.

Feast Day: July 29

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary Johannes Vermeer (c. 1655)

Martha and Mary are sisters to Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead [Jn. 11:1-44]. They live in Bethany, which is about two miles from Jerusalem, so they are not Galilean like Jesus and his disciples. Still, we can glean from the New Testament that they are dear friends of, and believers in, Jesus.

In addition to Lazarus’ raising, we also read about the sisters as they welcome Jesus into their home [Lk. 10:38-42] – a scene which features Mary sitting and listening to Jesus, while Martha busies herself with work. When Martha complains about Mary’s lack of help, Jesus gently chides her.

This well-known vignette is not a lesson about contemplation over action. Rather, it is an invitation to move from distraction to being attentive – in prayer and action.

Jesus did not tell Martha to stop serving! Indeed, hospitality is a spiritual gift from God – and it’s necessary for us to eat and drink. Martha’s service is good, but it seems to be tainted by anxiety. Jesus wants her (and us) to pay more attention to Him, and less to the distractions of daily life.

 To which sister can you most relate? Why?

 How can attentive listening improve your daily life?

 When the product or the process become more important than the people served, we become “Martha.” Consider how this may be true in your own life and pray for the grace to find a balance between being “Mary” and being “Martha.”

BARABBAS

First Century A.D.

Jesus and Barabbas

Giovanni Gasparro (2014)

At Jesus’ trial, Pontius Pilate offered to the crowd a choice of convicted criminals to be released: Jesus or Barabbas. Ironically, the name Barabbas [bar abba] means “son of the father,” highlighting the fact that instead of clamoring for Jesus’ release, the crowd chose the wrong “son of the father.”

Although he’s mentioned in all four Gospel accounts, the authors provide no biographical information about Barabbas prior to or after his release by Pilate. Nor do they agree with the exact nature of his crime.

Matthew calls Barabbas a “notorious prisoner” [Mt. 27:16]; Mark and Luke both agree that he was guilty of “murder and insurrection” [Mk. 15:7, Lk. 23:19]; and John merely refers to him as “a robber” [Jn. 18:40].

Although Barabbas was guilty, Jesus took his place (and punishment), just as he did for you and me. In that sense, we are all like Barabbas –with Jesus standing in for us to atone for our transgressions.

 How do you daily choose Jesus – the true “Son of the Father”? What are some temptations or pressures that steer you away from making that choice?

 Have you ever been falsely accused of wrong-doing, or punished for something that was not your fault? How can those moments draw us closer to Jesus?

 How can you become more aware of Christ taking your place, and live more gratefully in that truth?

MARY, THE MOTHER of JESUS

First Century A.D.

Pieta

Michelangelo (1499)

Michelangelo completed this magnificent work when he was just 24 years old! It was the creation that launched his career more than anything else he had completed prior to it.

He titled it Pietà – the Italian word meaning “pity.” Michelangelo does not want to convey a mere patronizing sympathy, but an expressive compassion. Notice how he has displayed Mary’s left hand – open and outstretched toward the viewer – as an invitation into her sorrow over the brutal death of her Son. It also serves to remind us of losses that we have mourned in our own lives.

On another level, the Pietà also suggests that we are never alone. Through trials and even death, our faith teaches us that Christ is with us in our deepest sufferings and Mary shares in our grief.

Michelangelo believed that the marble from which he carved the Pietà was the most ideal block he had ever used, and he would continuously tweak and refine and buff it toward perfection.

 How can works of art inspire you to greater understanding, and greater faith?

 To what aspect of the Pietà are you most drawn, and why? What would you ask of Michelangelo about it if you could meet him?

 How can meditating on the subject matter of the Pietà help bring perspective to your own moments of suffering?

SAINT PETER

d. c. 64 A.D.

Feast Days: June 29 (with St. Paul) and February 22 (Chair of St. Peter)

Crucifixion of Saint Peter

Caravaggio (1601)

Simon Peter is a study in contrasts. The Gospels portray him as brave, yet weak; determined, yet scared; wise, yet lacking in understanding.

We first meet Simon, when he is asked by Jesus to cast his nets out again after a long day of fishing with no success [Lk 5:1-11]. The abundance of fish Simon eventually caught lead him to realize that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Soon, Simon would embrace a new job – becoming a “fisher of men.”

Later, in response to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon asserted that Jesus was the Messiah. Simon’s reply correctly hit the mark, and so Jesus changed his name to Peter, which means “Rock,” upon which the Church would be built. [Mt. 16:13-16]

Jesus changed more than Simon Peter’s name. This simple Galilean fisherman emerged as the chief shepherd of the fledgling Christian community following Pentecost because Jesus had given him the keys of authority and responsibility, bridging Heaven and Earth.

As the recognized head of an outlaw Church, Peter would face his own death in Rome – being crucified upside-down because he felt unworthy to die as Christ had – in the year 64 AD.

The Vatican embraces Peter’s legacy by displaying crossed keys – the symbols of his (and every subsequent pope’s) authority – on its national flag.

 Who do you say that Jesus is?

 What specific “keys” of authority has Jesus entrusted to you?

 What lesson(s) can you learn from the life of St. Peter?

SAINT FRANCIS of ASSISI

1181-1226 A.D.

Feast Days: October 4

Dream of Innocent III

Giotto (1295)

Growing up, Francis lived a privileged life of excess, as his father was a successful textile merchant. He enjoyed parties and socializing with his friends and wanted very little beyond these pleasures.

As he matured, Francis felt an increased attraction to prayer and living out his Christian faith. In one famous instance, he heard the voice of God speak to him as he prayed alone in a run-down chapel. God commanded Francis, “Repair my church, which has fallen into ruin.”

Francis incorrectly interpreted God’s request to rebuild the crumbling chapel of San Damiano. But eventually he came to realize that his true calling was to build up the Church – that is, the Body of Christ – of which we are all a part.

As he worked with the sick and poor in and around Assisi, Francis came to understand that his relationship with Jesus Christ inspired a deeper love for others and for God’s created world.

His new lifestyle attracted many followers, so Francis traveled to Rome seeking the Pope’s blessing to start a new religious order centered on humble service.

At first, Francis’ plans were rejected as too extreme. However, after a vivid dream which featured him holding up the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Innocent III relented and approved all of Francis’ plans.

 In what area of your life could you more effectively embrace humility? With whom can you show humility?

 How can you help to build up the Church – the Body of Christ – in your little corner of the world?

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