Today, 14 June, is the feast of ...
Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea and doctor of the church,
patriarch of eastern monks (379): Throughout his busy life Basil never
fell behind in regard to his pastoral duties. He had the
wonderful gift of making his audience feel uncomfortable, especially the
rich. In one sermon he preached the following: "You refuse to give on the
pretext that you have not got enough for your own needs. But while your
tongue makes excuses, your hand convicts you - that ring shining on
your finger silently declares you to be a liar! How many debtors could be
released from prison with one of those rings? How many shivering people
could be clothed from only one of your wardrobes? And yet you turn the
poor away empty-handed ... Do not put your own interests before
the common need. Give your last loaf to the beggar at your door, and trust
in God's goodness."
Valerius and Rufinus, martyrs (287): Nearly all the martyrologies mention
these two saints who were martyred near Soissons towards the close of the
third century. According to some accounts they were missionaries sent form
Rome to evangelize Gaul. According to others, they were local Gallo-Romans
who held the office of keepers of an imperial granary.
Dogmael (not Dogmeal!) (sixth century): Not too much is known about this
obscure saint whose cult flourished in Brittany and Wales. He was
sometimes invoked by anxious parents to help their little children learn
how to walk.
Methodius I, patriarch of Constantinople (847): Took part in the final
overthrow of Iconoclasm.
Castora Gabrielli, Franciscan tertiary (1391): Married a man with a
violent temper. She had one child, Odo, whom she educated and raised to be
a religious man. After her husband died, she became a Franciscan tertiary.
She sold all her possessions and gave all the proceeds to the poor.
Carolyn Muessig
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