57 Stories of Saints E-Book

Anne Eileen Heffernan

• Herausgeber: anna ruggieri
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

Some of the best-loved saints of the Church are featured in a revised and updated edition of a classic collection. Wonderfully written biographies and illustrations of Saint Lucy, Monica, Augustine, Benedict, Francis Xavier, Edith Stein, Juan Diego, Katharine Drexel, and many others. Perfect for intermediate readers and school or church libraries.

Leseprobe

57 Stories of Saints

57 Stories of Saints

By

Anne Eileen Heffernan, FSP

Illustrated by

Jerry Rizzo

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Heffernan, Eileen.

57 stories of saints / by Anne Eileen Heffernan; illustrated by Jerry Rizzo.—3rd ed.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN-10 Print: 0–8198-2681–2

ISBN-10 eBook: 0-8198-2693-6

ISBN-13 eBook: 978-0-8198-2693-0

1. Christian saints—Biography—Juvenile literature. I. Title: Fifty-seven stories of saints. II. Rizzo, Jerry. III. Title.

BX4658.H39 2006

282.092’2—dc22

2006002707

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

“P” and PAULINE are registered trademarks of the Daughters of St. Paul.

Copyright © 2006, 2003, 1994, Daughters of St. Paul

Published by Pauline Books & Media, 50 Saint Paul’s Avenue, Boston, MA 02130–3491

www.pauline.org

Printed in the U.S.A.

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing house of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of women religious serving the Church with the communications media.

Contents

The Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael

St. Joachim and St. Ann

St. Joseph

St. Peter

St. Paul

St. Thecla

St. Cecilia

St. Tarcisius

St. Sebastian

St. Lucy

St. Agnes

St. Helen

St. Martin of Tours

St. Monica and St. Augustine

St. Patrick

St. Brigid

St. Benedict

St. Columban

St. Kevin

St. Margaret of Scotland

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

St. Clare

St. Peregrine

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Joan of Arc

St. Bernardine of Siena

St. Juan Diego

St. Francis Xavier

St. Stanislaus Kostka

St. Benedict the Moor

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

St. Philip Neri

St. Germaine

St. Camillus de Lellis

St. John Berchmans

St. Martin de Porres

St. Jane Frances de Chantal

St. Isaac Jogues and St. René Goupil

Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Benedict Joseph Labre

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Bartholomea

St. Joseph Cottolengo

St. Dominic Savio

St. Bernadette Soubirous

St. John Bosco

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

St. Gemma Galgani

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Bl. Miguel Augustín Pro

St. Edith Stein

St. Katharine Drexel

Bl. James Alberione

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

Index

The Archangels

St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael

September 29

Angels were created by God, just as we were, but they’re very different from human beings! Angels have no bodies; they are pure spirits. They never get tired. To talk to one another, they only have to think a thought—they don’t have to speak out loud. They never misunderstand one another.

The Bible mentions three angels by name: the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These three angels brought special messages from God to his people.

The Book of Tobit (one of the books in the Old Testament) tells about the Archangel Raphael, who guided Tobit’s son Tobiah during a difficult journey and presented Tobit’s prayers to God.

We can read about the Archangel Gabriel in the Gospel of St. Luke. Gabriel was the angel who invited Mary to become the Mother of Jesus, God’s own Son.

The Bible mentions three angels by name: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.Angels are messengers of God, and they also present our prayers to God.

Michael is mentioned several times in the Bible. In a great battle against Satan, Michael led the angels who wished to remain faithful to God. Satan and some other angels had revolted against God. They did not love God and refused to do what God asked them to do. Satan and the other rebellious angels lost the battle. They went to hell. Today we call them devils or fallen angels. After that great battle, Michael became a defender and protector of God’s people on earth.

Boys named Michael and Gabriel can think of these archangels as their special patrons (helpers) in heaven. So can boys named Ralph or girls named Gabrielle, Gabriella, or Michelle.

Jesus told us about another group of angels called the guardian angels. Each one of us has an angel to watch and guard us from dangers, especially from evil. We can pray to our guardian angels. They can help us keep calm during times of stress or danger. They can help us think clearly and make good choices when life seems confusing. They can comfort us when we go through difficult times. We celebrate the feast of the guardian angels on October 2.

One way we can be like the angels is to listen carefully to God and try to understand what he wants us to do. We can listen to God by reading the Bible, paying attention to the priest’s homily at Mass, and taking time every day to pray. We can pray to the angels when we are afraid of danger or are tempted to do what is not right.

St. Joachim and St. Ann

(First Century)

July 26

Ann and her husband Joachim were prayerful people who tried to obey all the laws of their Jewish religion. At that time, the Jewish people were praying that God would send a leader called the Messiah to save them. They were not a free nation; the rulers of Rome had conquered them and made them pay high taxes. Every young Jewish woman hoped that she might be the Mother of the Messiah. But Joachim and Ann lived together for many years without having any children.

Every day Ann took good care of their home while Joachim brought their flock of sheep out to the pastures. Ann would say many prayers as she carried water from the deep well, or spun the wool from the sheep into fine thread. She prayed that God would bless her and Joachim with a child. At the time when Joachim and Ann lived, people thought that a couple without children must have done something wrong.

An ancient story tells us that one day when Joachim went to the Temple, the priests wouldn’t allow him to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. They were afraid that God was not pleased with him. Feeling sad and confused, Joachim left the Temple and went out into the hill country to pray. Suddenly, an angel appeared to him telling him not to be distressed. Soon he and Ann would have a baby!

Joachim had been gone a long time, and Ann started to worry. Just as she was about to go out and look for him, an angel appeared to her also! “Don’t be sad any longer,” the angel advised. “God has heard your prayers. Soon you’ll have a child.”

Ann whispered a prayer of thanks and rushed out of the house to find Joachim. She met him by the Temple gate. “Joachim!” she cried, struggling to catch her breath. “Something wonderful has happened! I’ve seen an angel!”

But Joachim was shouting louder than she was. “Ann, Ann! We’re going to have a baby! An angel told me so, too. Surely we are the most blessed couple on earth!”

“We are blessed,” Ann agreed, wiping tears of joy from her eyes. “And I think our child must be very special to have an angel come and tell us the good news. We’ll consecrate our baby to God.”

Ann eagerly prepared the house and made warm blankets and clothes for the baby. At last the day arrived. How happy the couple was when a little girl was born to them. They decided to call their daughter Mary (Miriam in the Hebrew language). Little did they realize that this beautiful little baby would grow up to become the Mother of the Messiah! Nor did they know that their grandson, Jesus, would be the Savior of the whole world!

Mary grew quickly. She slept, toddled, and soon began to walk and run and dance. Ann carefully taught her daughter the prayers of the Jewish people and told her the stories of how God had protected his people for many long years. But what Mary most loved to hear about was how God had promised to send a Messiah to save his people. She prayed often that the Messiah would come soon.

Seeing how much their daughter loved God and prayer, Joachim and Ann decided to bring her to the Temple school in Jerusalem. They would miss having Mary running about and singing in their home. But they knew that Mary would be happy in the Temple. There she would live with other young Jewish girls and learn more about God and the promised Messiah.

Joachim and Ann were happy to do their daily work, loving God and loving their family and friends.

Tradition tells us that Joachim and Ann were already elderly when Mary went off to the Temple. We don’t know when they died, but it was probably before Mary became the Mother of Jesus. Certainly, while they were loving and caring for Mary, they didn’t know that they would someday be the grandparents of the Savior of the world. But that didn’t matter. Ann and Joachim focused all their energy on carrying out their daily duties well, loving God, their family, and their friends. They knew that if they did this, God would be pleased, and his will would be done through them.

We can imitate Joachim and Ann by doing our daily duties as well as we can and worshiping God in a special way on his day, Sunday. We can pray that all people will come to know Jesus, the Savior of the world.

St. Joseph

(First Century)

March 19 and May 1

When she was old enough, Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Ann, married a good man named Joseph. According to the custom of the times, the young couple waited a while before beginning their life together.

While they were waiting, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to ask Mary to become the Mother of the Messiah, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“I am God’s servant,” Mary replied. “Let this happen as you said.”

Later, in a dream, another angel told Joseph that Mary was going to have a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. “You must name him Jesus,” said the angel. “He will save his people from their sins.” (“Jesus” means “God saves.”)

Joseph was a carpenter and spent his days making furniture and farm tools for the people of Nazareth.

Mary and Joseph set up their home in the small town of Nazareth, in Galilee, and eagerly awaited the birth of Mary’s son. Joseph was a carpenter and spent his days making furniture and farm tools for the people of Nazareth. Mary took care of their house and got everything ready for the birth of her son. Then, just a few weeks before the baby was to be born, Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor who ruled Galilee and Judea at that time, announced that he wanted to count all the people in his kingdom. He ordered all the people to go to their hometowns to be registered in a census.

At first Joseph and Mary were worried because they knew that it would soon be time for the baby to be born. But then they remembered that a long time ago, one of the prophets had said that the Messiah would be born in Judea, in the town of Bethlehem. That was Joseph’s hometown! They realized that this trip was part of God’s plan. They packed some food and extra clothes onto their donkey and set out.

It was almost eighty-five miles to Bethlehem, and the weather was cold. As they got closer to the town, they were joined by many other travelers. Joseph told Mary, “I hope that some of our cousins will have room for us. It looks like all the inns will be full!”

“Don’t worry, Joseph,” Mary replied. “No matter where we end up tonight, this child belongs to God. God will take care of us.”

But the conditions in Bethlehem were even worse than they had imagined. There was no space anywhere. At last they met an innkeeper who felt sorry for them and brought them to his stable. It was a small cave in a hillside, but at least they wouldn’t have to sleep outside in the cold wind.

In the cave, Joseph found a pile of fresh, clean straw and spread his cloak over it. Mary rested while Joseph quickly lit a fire to heat their dinner. How safe Mary felt with Joseph there to help her!

A little later, when Joseph thought Mary had gone to sleep, he went out into the cool night. He was wondering how he was going to fit into God’s plans.

The sky grew bright with stars, and suddenly Joseph heard a baby’s cry! He dashed into the cave.

A little while later, the newborn baby had been wrapped up warmly and had fallen asleep in a manger. Later that night, shepherds from the nearby fields came in to adore the infant. Angels had told them that the Messiah was there in that little cave. How proud Joseph was of Mary and of the child as the shepherds crowded around!

The child was given the name Jesus, the name God himself had chosen.

Eventually Mary and Joseph returned to their home in Nazareth. Jesus grew quickly, and everyone was happy that Joseph had such a fine son to help him in the carpenter’s shop. No one except Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus’ real Father was God himself!

Mary taught Jesus his prayers, and Joseph made sure he learned all the skills of a carpenter. In the synagogue, Jesus learned to read the Torah and listened to the explanations of the Jewish Law given by the rabbi.

When Jesus was twelve, the family made a pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem. It was the time of the Passover feast, and many of their neighbors were also going. Jesus and his parents traveled with people from other small cities of Galilee. In Jerusalem, the little family spent hours in the huge Temple. They also visited with their friends and relatives.

At last it was time to return home. They started out early in the morning. Mary traveled with the women and Joseph with the men, as was the custom in those days. At night, Mary went to find Joseph and say goodnight to Jesus. How surprised and upset she was to discover that Jesus was not with Joseph! And all day Joseph had thought that Jesus was traveling with Mary! They were both very worried and started back to Jerusalem. They had to find their son!

After three days of searching, they went to the Temple. And there was Jesus, in the midst of a circle of rabbis and other teachers. These important men were holding a conversation with Jesus. His wisdom and knowledge amazed them.

Mary hurried over to Jesus. “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have looked all over for you and have been so worried about you!”

Joseph didn’t say anything, but his face shone with pride as he took the boy’s slim hand into his big rough one. He didn’t mind that Jesus had been there in the Temple. He knew that Jesus had been busy with something very important.

They went home to Nazareth, and Jesus obeyed Mary and Joseph. The days and years of hard work and study passed, with Joseph and Jesus working side by side in the carpenter’s shop.

And then, one day, God called his good servant Joseph home. Joseph’s work was done. It had been done well.

The Catholic Church celebrates two feast days for St. Joseph: on March 19, we honor Joseph as the husband of Mary, and on May 1, we honor him as Joseph the Worker.

What a humble and holy man Joseph was! He did few things that anyone would think extraordinary, but he did everything with great love for God and for his family. Today, we pray to St. Joseph to be with people we love at the moment of their death. We pray that he will watch over and protect the Church, the “family” of Jesus, as he watched over and protected his own holy family. St. Joseph knew what God wanted him to do, and he was happy to do it. He is the special friend of all fathers who work hard to care for their families.

St. Peter

(First Century)

June 29

Simon was strong and tanned, with sparkling eyes that took in everything around him. His gaze most often rested on his treasured fishing boat, his large nets, and the Sea of Galilee—that unpredictable lake where he fished every day. Simon had been born a fisherman, and he planned to die a fisherman.

One day, when Simon had been listening to John the Baptist preach by the Jordan River, his brother Andrew came rushing up to him. “We’ve found the Messiah!” Andrew excitedly announced. Simon didn’t know it yet, but that day his life would change forever.

Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, who gazed long and hard at the sturdy fisherman. At last Jesus said to him, “From now on you’ll be called Peter.” (In Greek, the word was Cephas, which means “rock.”)

Simon Peter didn’t understand why Jesus had given him that name, but he didn’t care. He was convinced that there was something wonderful about this new teacher. He decided then and there to spend as much time as possible with Jesus and learn all that he could from him.

Jesus had other new followers, too. They were John, Philip, and Nathaniel. One day the little group hiked up the high Galilean hills to the town of Cana. A young couple was getting married. Jesus, his new friends, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, had all been invited to the wedding. The party was going well until something unexpected happened—they ran out of wine!

Mary, the mother of Jesus, noticed the problem right away. She didn’t want the young couple to be embarrassed, so she went to Jesus and told him what had happened. But Jesus had not planned to do anything extraordinary that day, so he seemed to hesitate. Mary told the waiters, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”

The waiters were puzzled when Jesus told them to fill some large stone jars with water, but they obeyed. How amazed everyone was when they saw that the water had become good wine! That day Peter was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, the long-awaited leader of Israel.

Many months later, Peter was discouraged. He was back home in Capernaum and had spent the whole night fishing, but had caught nothing. Now the hot morning sun beat down on him and Andrew as they bent over their nets, mending the torn parts. Peter’s empty boat sat beside them, its prow resting in the sand. Nearby, John, James, and their father Zebedee were mending their nets, too.

Suddenly they heard the noise of a large crowd swarming over the hill. Looking up, they saw Jesus coming toward them. There were so many people with him that Peter was afraid someone would get hurt, or that Jesus would be pushed into the water. Before Peter could say a word, Jesus was stepping into his boat. He asked Peter to pull out a few feet from the shore. Once they had dropped anchor, Jesus continued to teach the people from the boat. This made it easier for everyone to hear Jesus.

When he had finished speaking, Jesus turned to Peter. “Go out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch,” he instructed.

A catch! But night was the best time to catch fish. Surely Jesus knew that. Besides, Peter was tired. “Master,” he said, “we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll go out again.”

Peter and his crew rowed their boat out into deeper water and lowered their nets. Within minutes the nets were full of fish! They even had to call James and John to come out in their boat and help haul in all the fish. “We almost sank!” gasped Andrew when they finally pulled the boats up onto the beach.

But Peter wasn’t thinking of the fish. He was thinking of how holy Jesus must be and how imperfect he, Peter, was. He knelt at Jesus’ feet. “Leave me, Lord,” he pleaded, “for I’m a sinful man.”

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus replied. “From now on, you’ll be catching people.”

That day Peter, Andrew, John, and James left their boats and nets. They had decided to give up everything to follow Jesus.

Religious teachers in Jesus’ time and country were called rabbis. Jesus was a traveling rabbi and his followers were called disciples, or students.

The group of Jesus’ disciples grew. People heard about Jesus’ miracles and teachings and came from all over to see and hear him.

One night Jesus went up a hill by himself to pray. His disciples and the crowd camped at the bottom of the hill. The next morning, Jesus came down and chose twelve of the disciples to be his closest followers. “Peter!” Jesus called out. Peter’s tanned face broke into a broad grin. He was thrilled to be chosen, along with John, James, and Andrew. Jesus continued to call out names: “Philip. Bartholomew. Matthew. Thomas. James. Simon. Jude. Judas.”

The group of twelve was complete. These twelve, called apostles, followed Jesus from village to village. They witnessed many miracles and heard the stories Jesus told. They didn’t understand some of the stories right away, but Jesus explained them afterward.

One evening, after spending several days near the lake with crowds of people, Jesus told the disciples, “Take the boat and cross over to Capernaum. I’m going to stay here for a while, but I’ll join you later.” So Peter and his companions set sail for Capernaum.

As darkness fell, the wind grew strong and the men had to lower their sail and pull hard on the oars to keep the vessel steady. The boat tossed and pitched, going nowhere.

When they had been fighting the wind for hours, and the waves were growing bigger and bigger, they suddenly saw a tall, pale form gliding across the water toward them. “A ghost!” someone gasped. Frantically, the disciples strained at the oars.

“Be brave,” a gentle voice called. “I’m here; don’t be afraid.”

“Master!?” cried Peter. “Lord, if that’s really you,” he shouted, “tell me to come to you across the water!”

“Come,” invited Jesus.

Immediately Peter was over the side of the boat, hurrying across the waves toward Jesus. Suddenly, he realized what he was doing. How could he be walking on water? Peter stared down in terror. Sure enough, the black water was surging up around his feet and legs. Another second and he would go under. “Master!” he cried. “Save me!”

At once he felt Jesus’ strong hand pulling him up.

“You have so little faith,” said Jesus. “Why did you doubt?”

Standing there with the Master on top of the wild waves, Peter wondered: Will I ever doubt again?

Some time later Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

“Certain people say you’re John the Baptist. Others think you’re Elijah. Some even say you’re Jeremiah, or another of the prophets,” they answered.

“But you,” Jesus insisted. “Who do you say that I am?”

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” Peter enthusiastically exclaimed.

“Blessed are you, Simon son of John,” Jesus replied. “No mere man has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it.”

Peter didn’t know what Jesus meant by this. But he knew it must be true. Jesus had said it, and that was enough for him.

The Master had once told a very large crowd that anyone who would eat his flesh and drink his blood would have everlasting life. Many people had stopped listening to Jesus that day. But not Peter. Now, almost three years after Peter had left everything to follow Jesus, he witnessed something amazing. It was the feast of Passover, and Jesus and his apostles were celebrating together in an upstairs room, which they had rented for the occasion.

When it came time for the traditional Jewish blessing of the meal, Jesus took a loaf of bread. He passed it around for them to share, saying, “This is my Body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Next, Jesus took a cup of wine and passed it around. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my Blood, which will be shed for you.”

Peter was thinking about these strange words when the Master began to speak again. Jesus told his apostles to serve each other. He said that the most important person among them should behave like the least important. Just before supper, Jesus had washed their feet as an example of the service they should give one another. Now he turned to Peter and added, “Simon, Simon, Satan wanted to have you, to sift you like wheat. But I’ve prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. Someday, you must strengthen your brothers.”

“Lord,” said Peter, not understanding what Jesus was saying, “I’m ready to go to prison with you. I would die for you!”

But Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before a rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Later that night, Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Olives, a place near Jerusalem, where Jesus liked to pray. Jesus took Peter, John, and James farther into the garden, and then he went a short distance away from them to pray by himself. The three men grew drowsy as they waited for Jesus. Soon they were sound asleep.

Suddenly, Peter felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake. “It’s time,” Jesus was saying. “The Son of Man has been betrayed into the hands of sinners. Come, my betrayer is here.”

The disciples staggered to their feet. Flickering lights drew near, casting strange shadows in the night. A large group of men came crashing through the trees, carrying clubs and swords. Leading them was Judas, one of the apostles.

“Hail, Master,” said Judas, kissing Jesus in greeting. Jesus looked sadly into his eyes and asked, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

The other men rushed forward and seized Jesus. The Master did not resist. Peter was frightened and angry. He grabbed one of the two swords they had brought and lunged at the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.

“Put your sword away,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by it. Don’t you know that my Father would send thousands of angels if I asked him?” Reaching out, Jesus touched the servant and immediately healed his ear.

The mob was hemming Jesus in now. Jesus calmly asked why they had come at night, with weapons, as if he were a criminal. Peter slipped into the shadows. From his hiding place, he watched them lead his Master away. Then he followed.

Jesus was led to the palace of the high priest. The building was heavily guarded. Peter saw John go in through the gate. John had been allowed in because he knew the high priest. Soon enough, John approached the gatekeeper and asked her to admit Peter. The woman peered at Peter in the dim light. “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?” she asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Peter nervously replied, pushing his way past her. In the courtyard of the palace he joined some servants who were warming themselves around a fire. He strained to hear any news of what was happening to Jesus. The crowd in the courtyard was growing restless. Some of the men were calling for Jesus’ death. Peter shuddered. In the dancing light of the fire, fear clouded his face.

“This is one of that man’s followers!” someone shouted, pointing at Peter.

“No,” he replied. “I’m not!”

But a relative of the man whose ear had been cut off was staring at him. “Weren’t you there in the garden with him?” he demanded.

This time Peter made his point loudly. He swore with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

The shrill crowing of a rooster suddenly pierced the air. Just then a group of guards led Jesus into the courtyard. For an agonizing moment, the Master turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter realized what he had done.

He turned and fled out through the gates and into the night, hoping that the darkness would swallow him up. He stumbled as he ran, hot tears searing his face.

No one knows where Peter went or what he did during the next two days. Perhaps he stayed at the edge of the crowd that gathered to watch Jesus’ trial before Pilate. He may have heard the people in the crowd who screamed, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Maybe he even followed the painful procession to Calvary and watched from a distance as Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Peter didn’t dare approach the cross, where Mary stood. How could he ever face Jesus or his mother after what he had done?

On Sunday, Mary Magdalene, a good friend of the Master, came rushing into the room where the apostles were staying. “The body of Jesus isn’t in the tomb!” she sobbed. Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb and found it empty, but they were not sure what all of this meant.

Later that same day, the risen Jesus appeared to Peter alone. No one knows what happened at that meeting. But we can imagine how happy Peter was to see his Master again and how grateful he was to know that Jesus had forgiven him.

In Galilee a few weeks later, Peter and some of his companions were out fishing on the lake when Jesus called to them from the beach. As soon as Peter realized it was Jesus, he plunged into the water and swam ashore. The others brought the boat in, and they ate breakfast with Jesus on the beach.

After the meal, Jesus turned to Peter and asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these men do?”

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you!” Peter exclaimed.

“Feed my lambs,” said Jesus. Then he repeated his question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you!” Peter again responded.

“Tend my sheep.”

A third time Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Lord,” said the big fisherman, “you know all things; you know that I love you!”

“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.

Just as Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, he now declared his love for him three times. At the same time, Peter received the command from Jesus to take care of the entire Church.

Just as Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, he had now declared his love for the Master three times. And he had received from Jesus the mission to take care of the entire Church.

Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. His mother, Peter, and the other disciples and apostles stood on the top of Mount Olivet watching their Master rise steadily into the sky. Finally a small cloud hid him from view. They were alone, but Jesus had said, “I won’t leave you orphans; I’ll send you another Advocate.” The little group made their way back to Jerusalem to wait for what would happen next.

For nine days they prayed together in a large room. On the morning of the tenth day, they heard a loud roar, like a strong wind blowing. Tongues of fire appeared above their heads. And all at once, what they had found difficult to understand about Jesus and his teachings became clear in their minds! They began to really understand Jesus’ mission—and their own.

Peter and his companions hurried out into the street, where they found a growing crowd of people who had traveled from many lands to celebrate the harvest feast of Pentecost. These people had also heard the rushing wind and had come to see what was happening. Peter and the other apostles began to tell them about Jesus—how he had fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah, how he had been crucified, how he had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. They explained that Jesus is God and the Savior of the world!

Although the people listening spoke many different languages, they all understood what Peter was saying. The Holy Spirit had made this possible. “What shall we do, brothers?” they eagerly asked the disciples.

“Be sorry for your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,” Peter answered.

By that night about three thousand people had been baptized!

The lives of the followers of Jesus centered around the Eucharist, which renewed Jesus’ presence among them. They found themselves being transformed by the Eucharist and by the Holy Spirit, until they were living more and more as Jesus had lived—with great love for all people, with humility and patience, spending time in prayer to their heavenly Father. The Acts of the Apostles, which tells us how the first followers of Jesus lived, says, “The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul” (4:32). This was the beginning of the Church.

The Church grew in spite of being persecuted and misunderstood. People who were not Jewish also began to believe in Jesus and received baptism.

Soon Peter went to live in Antioch, a city much larger than Jerusalem. It was there that members of this new Church were first called “Christians.” Later, Peter went to Rome, the center of the Roman Empire.

In Rome, Peter encouraged, comforted, and taught Christians, especially those who were being mistreated because of their faith. He urged all Christians to be humble and kind and to give good example to everybody.

During Nero’s rule as emperor, a fierce persecution of Christians broke out in Rome. Nero didn’t understand why Christians wouldn’t worship him, as Roman law required, and why they wouldn’t pray to the Roman gods.

Peter was taken prisoner and put on trial. He was sentenced to death together with Paul, another great disciple of Jesus. Since Paul was a Roman citizen, he would be beheaded. Not being a Roman citizen, Peter would suffer the crueler punishment of crucifixion.

While the soldiers were leading him out to a hill called the Vatican, Peter remembered the day that Jesus had been led up another hill—called Golgotha—and to another cross. I’m not worthy to die in the same way as Jesus, he thought.

“Please,” Peter asked the soldiers, “crucify me upside down.”

They fastened him upside down on the cross, and the agony began. Pain tore at every part of Peter’s body until his half-closed eyes could see no more and numbness overcame him. But suddenly Paradise opened wide before him, and Peter saw with joy once more the gentle Master whom he had loved so much.

One of Peter’s most beautiful attitudes was his humility. He often spoke at the wrong time or said things before thinking. But when he had made a mistake, he always admitted it, and he let Jesus correct him and teach him. We can be like Peter by admitting our mistakes and apologizing when we have hurt anyone.

St. Paul

(First Century)

January 25 and June 29

While Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, a young Jewish boy named Saul was growing up in a seaport city in Asia Minor called Tarsus. Many wealthy Jewish families lived in Tarsus.

Saul’s father was a Pharisee. This meant that he followed many strict religious rules. Saul had to live by those rules too.

The boy was intelligent and lively. At the age of five, he began his schooling with the study of the Bible. As soon as he was old enough, Saul also began to learn a trade, as was the custom at that time. His father taught him how to make tents.

“Come, O Lord, and don’t delay,” the boy often prayed as he worked. Like all Jewish children, he was waiting for the coming of the Messiah whom God had promised to send to his people. Saul didn’t know that the Messiah had already come. He was Jesus, God’s own Son. He was living in a town called Nazareth, where he learned the carpenter’s trade from his foster father. People were expecting the Messiah to be a mighty prince who would free Israel from the Roman armies and conquer the whole world. What a surprise Jesus would be to everyone!

While Jesus was still living a quiet, hidden life in Nazareth, twelve-year-old Saul set out with a camel caravan for the great city of Jerusalem. There, at the magnificent Temple, he studied to become a rabbi—a teacher of the Hebrew Law.

Years passed. Saul became a rabbi and returned home to Tarsus. Saul was in Tarsus when Jesus began his public ministry and revealed that he was the Messiah. He was in Tarsus when some of the Pharisees refused to recognize that this poor Man who spoke of a spiritual kingdom was really the leader sent by God to his people. Saul was in Tarsus when word came that the leaders in Jerusalem had killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross.

At some point, Saul returned to Jerusalem. There, one day, he joined a crowd of people who were determined to punish a man named Stephen. Stephen was a disciple of Jesus and had been teaching others about him. This angered Saul and some of his friends. They felt that Stephen had betrayed their religion and must be killed.

The crowd dragged Stephen outside the city. As the men hurled stone after stone at him, they piled their cloaks at Saul’s feet. Just before he died, Stephen fell to his knees and cried out, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” Saul didn’t understand how Stephen could forgive the men who were killing him. But he was still determined to stop these “Nazarenes.” From that day on, Saul became one of the fiercest and most violent persecutors of the followers of Jesus. He rushed from city to city capturing the Nazarenes and having them thrown into prison.

Saul was soon on his way across the desert to Damascus—a city that had become a new center for Jesus’ followers. After long days of travel, Saul and his companions saw Damascus before them. Saul felt a new burst of energy. Nobody will escape this time, he silently vowed. Suddenly, the very air about him seemed to explode with light, and an unknown power knocked him to the ground. Dazed and confused, Saul struggled to open his eyes. A voice rang out, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

“Sir,” he cried, “who are you?”

Terrified, Saul heard the reply: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Jesus! The one who had been crucified really was the Messiah, and was alive…just as his followers claimed! Not only that, but Jesus was identifying himself with the people Saul was persecuting. Saul felt sick. What a terrible mistake he had made!

“It’s hard for you to accept this,” came the voice again.

Yes, Saul thought, it’s very hard indeed. But now that he knew the truth, he had to swallow his pride and forget his plans. “Lord,” he asked, “what do you want me to do?”

Jesus told Saul to go into the city to the house of a man named Jude. Saul stumbled to his feet. His eyes were open, but he could see nothing. His startled companions, who had seen the brilliant light but not heard Jesus’ voice, had to lead him by the hand into Damascus.

A few days later, Jesus appeared in a dream to Ananias, one of the disciples who lived in Damascus. The Lord instructed him to go to the house of Jude, where he would find Saul praying. Ananias knew that Saul had been persecuting the disciples, and he was afraid. “Go,” Jesus insisted. “This man is the one I have chosen to make me known throughout the world. I’ll show him how much he will have to suffer for my name.”

When Ananias arrived at Jude’s house, he found Saul praying, just as Jesus had said. “Saul, my brother,” said Ananias, laying his hands on him, “the Lord Jesus has sent me to you so that you may see and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” When Saul heard Ananias’s voice and felt his touch, peace filled his heart and he was able to see again!

Then Ananias baptized Saul, making Saul a member of the same group he had been so violently persecuting. Now Saul promised to do everything he could to spread the Good News about Jesus.

Saul immediately began preaching in the synagogues of Damascus, proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. He kept this up for a long time until some people decided to kill him. But the followers of Jesus learned about the plot and warned Saul. Disguised as an Arab, Saul left Damascus and went out alone into the desert.

Saul stayed in the desert for many months. While he was there, Jesus instructed him through inspirations and revelations. Saul prayed and fasted. Finally he returned to Damascus and began to preach again. Again there were rumors that some men wanted to kill him. The gates were being watched, so this time his friends had to lower him over the city wall in a huge wicker basket!

Saul traveled to Jerusalem, but he had trouble there, too. Many of Jesus’ followers, who knew what a fierce enemy he had been, didn’t believe that Saul had really been converted. Even the apostles, who led the young Church under the guidance of Peter, wondered whether Saul could be trusted. A disciple named Barnabas finally came to the rescue. Barnabas believed that Saul was sincere, and he told the apostles so. Barnabas was able to convince them to accept Saul as a new apostle.

Saul spent fifteen days in Jerusalem. With Peter he walked the road that Jesus had followed to Calvary, prayed at Jesus’ tomb, and remembered the suffering he himself had caused Jesus.

“I persecuted him,” cried Saul.

“I denied him,” recalled Peter. Together they thanked God for the mercy and love he had shown both of them. Together they continued to preach about Jesus to the people living in Jerusalem. But many of the people still would not listen to Saul. One day, when Saul was praying in the Temple, Jesus appeared to him. “Don’t be discouraged,” the Lord told him. Hurry and leave this city. I’ll send you to the people of distant nations.”

Saul obeyed. He went home to Tarsus and began to tell friends and relatives about Jesus, while he waited to learn what to do next.

After a few years had gone by, Barnabas arrived in Tarsus, looking for Saul. “Come with me to Antioch, Saul,” he invited. “We need you there.”

So Saul eagerly set out with Barnabas. Antioch, in Syria, was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, and many of Jesus’ followers were already living there. In fact, Antioch was where members of the Church were called “Christians” for the first time.

Saul found that his days were busy and full as he preached the Gospel in Antioch. More and more people came to believe in Jesus.

Time passed. Once, while the disciples were praying, the Holy Spirit let them know that Barnabas and Saul were to be missionaries, bringing the Good News of Jesus to many different people and nations.

Saul and Barnabas took Mark, Barnabas’s young cousin, with them on their first journey. Their hearts pounded with excitement as they set sail for the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

The trio had been preaching on the island for several days, and had baptized many of the people, when they received a summons to appear before Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor of Cyprus. The disciples felt honored to be called before the governor. They thought that he, too, wanted to learn about Jesus. But trouble was waiting for them at the governor’s home. Sergius Paulus had a crafty magician named Elymas living in his household. “Don’t listen to them, Paulus!” Elymas urged. “They’re speaking a lot of nonsense.”

“Son of the devil!” retorted Saul, feeling himself full of the power of the Holy Spirit. “As a punishment you will be blind for a while!” At that moment Elymas gasped and began groping about. He was blind!

Governor Paulus was amazed. Men with such power, he thought, must be representatives of the true God. “Saul, will you baptize me into your faith?” he asked. And so Sergius Paulus became a Christian.

It was after this that Saul (who was now called Paul) and his companions set off for Asia Minor. When they reached the coast, Mark returned home to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas traveled on foot from city to city, establishing Christian communities. Because the Christian religion was not understood, Paul and Barnabas were persecuted almost everywhere and had to keep moving on.

In a city called Lystra, Paul and Barnabas met a crippled man, who listened to them intently. Paul looked at the man and knew that he had faith. “Get up,” said Paul, “and walk.” The man stood up, healed!

“It’s Hermes himself,” whispered a man in the crowd to a companion. “It’s Zeus and Hermes!” cried another. The crowd was in an uproar, convinced that Barnabas and Paul were two of their pagan gods. “Bring them to the temple!” they cried. “Cover them with flowers! Call the priests!”

When Paul and Barnabas realized what was happening, they began to protest, “We’re not gods, but human beings—just like you!” But then a new rumor started. The people began to shout, “They’ve tricked us! Stone them! Stone them!” Instead of being draped with flowers, Paul and Barnabas had to run for their lives. Stones whizzed through the air, pounding them on every side. Finally, Paul and Barnabas sank to the ground. Members of the angry mob dragged them outside the city, leaving them for dead.

Fortunately, Paul and Barnabas had made some friends in the city. When some of them heard what had happened, they rushed out to find the two missionaries. As Paul and Barnabas opened their eyes, they saw a circle of anxious and compassionate faces looking down on them.

The new Christians tenderly cared for the apostles, and Paul and Barnabas recovered enough to move on. The next day saw them limping away to the next city. They had to tell others the Good News of Jesus.

Four years later, after having preached in many cities and towns, the two friends returned to Antioch. They also went to Jerusalem, where they spent time with Peter, telling him of the many new Christian communities in Asia Minor. Peter happily sent Paul back to evangelize other parts of Asia Minor.

This time, Paul’s companion was Silas instead of Barnabas. The two men passed through many of the towns Paul had visited on his previous trip. At each stop, Paul encouraged the Christians. In Lystra, a young man named Timothy joined Paul and Silas.

One night, while the three men were in Troas, a city on the coast of Asia Minor, Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia stood before him and begged, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Though close to Asia Minor, Macedonia was part of a different continent—Europe. The next morning, Paul excitedly told Silas and Timothy what had happened. “God must want us in Macedonia,” Silas agreed. Timothy nodded. So the missionaries immediately made plans to sail for Europe.

In Philippi, the first European city they visited, a woman named Lydia was baptized. She opened her home to the three apostles, and many of the new Christians also gathered there to pray. In Philippi, a doctor named Luke also joined Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Luke would one day write down all he knew about Jesus and the early Christian communities. The books he wrote are what we know as the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

But Paul and Silas soon found themselves in trouble again. When Paul freed a slave girl from an evil spirit, her owners became very upset. Now she could no longer tell people’s fortunes—which meant she could no longer earn money for them. The girl’s masters stirred up anger against Paul and Silas and had the city officials of Philippi arrest them. “Beat them with rods and throw them into jail!” came the order. That night, bruised and bleeding, and with their feet tied to a stake, Paul and Silas thanked Jesus for having made them worthy to suffer for his name. To the amazement of the other prisoners, they even began to sing!

God had given Paul such great powers to heal that sick people only touched his clothes or objects that belonged to him and they were cured!

Around midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing, a violent earthquake shook the prison. The cell doors flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and learned what had happened, he panicked. If the prisoners have escaped, I’m doomed! Better for me to take my life than to be killed, he reasoned. The jailer was ready to commit suicide with his own sword, when Paul’s voice echoed in the dark jail, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”

Calling for a torch, the jailer ran in and fell to his knees before Paul and Silas. “What must I do to be saved?” he asked.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved,” Paul and Silas promised him. That night the jailer and his whole family were baptized.

Paul and his companions moved on to Thessalonica. But they had to leave when some men there stirred up the people against them. Paul went on to Athens and then to Corinth, where he waited for Timothy and Silas to join him.

After spending a year and a half in the busy port city of Corinth, Paul and his companions returned to Jerusalem.

But soon Paul was back in Asia, where he stopped in the city of Ephesus. He stayed there for almost three years, preaching and working miracles. God had given Paul such great powers to heal, that sick people only touched his clothes or objects that belonged to him and they were cured!

Once, the Christians of Ephesus brought Paul all the books they could find that taught magic or superstitious practices. He made a huge pile and burned them in the city square. The bright bonfire reminded the people of the light of the new faith in Jesus that Paul had brought them.

Soon Paul’s restless spirit urged him to search for other people to bring to Christ. He traveled again to Macedonia and Greece. Then he returned to Troas in Asia. There an amazing thing happened.

One evening, Paul was celebrating Holy Mass in an upper room. The room was crowded with Christians eager to take part in the Eucharistic Celebration and to hear Paul speak. During the sermon, some of the boys sat on the windowsills. As Paul spoke on and on about the love of Jesus, one of the boys became sleepy. His head began to sag. He nodded, caught himself, then drooped again…and all of a sudden it was too late! He was falling!

“Eutychus!” screamed one of his companions. The people rushed wildly down the stairs and out into the street. “Paul,” a terrified voice cried, “Eutychus is dead!”

Paul had raced down the stairs behind them. He shouldered his way through the crowd and knelt beside the lifeless form. The boy had fallen three stories onto the hard stones of the street. What could save him? The power of God!

Paul quickly threw his own body onto the boy’s, praying silently. Then, wrapping his arms around the boy, he said, “Don’t be afraid. He’s alive!”

Sure enough, Eutychus was moving! His eyes opened. He blinked and smiled up at Paul. “Praised be Jesus Christ,” murmured one of the onlookers. Exclamations of joy ran through the crowd. With their hearts full of love and thanks, the Christians returned to Mass.

Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem again. On the way, he stopped in Miletus. Many of his friends from Ephesus met him there. Perhaps I’ll never see them again, Paul thought. “Be real followers of Jesus,” he urged them. They cried for sorrow as he prepared to board a ship for Jerusalem. Paul himself had to wipe tears from his eyes.

The last part of Paul’s journey was over land. On the way, he and his companions met an old prophet named Agabus, who was enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Agabus came up, took Paul’s belt, and tied his own hands and feet together with it. “The man who owns this belt will be bound just like this in Jerusalem,” he said. There was no doubt that he was talking about Paul!

“Turn back, Paul, before it’s too late,” his friends urged him. “You’re risking your life to go to Jerusalem now!”

“Why are you crying and breaking my heart?” Paul asked with pain in his voice. “I’m ready to be chained and even killed in Jerusalem. It will be for the honor and glory of Jesus, my Lord.”

Tense and expectant, Paul and his companions finally reached Jerusalem. They found the place where the Christians met for prayer, and were greeted by James, the cousin of Jesus. James was in charge of the Jerusalem church. Peter had moved on sometime before.

Soon a false story began circulating among the people in Jerusalem. Rumor had it that Paul had brought non-Jews into the Temple. This was forbidden, and an angry mob pounced on Paul. They would have killed him if Roman soldiers hadn’t stepped in. Thinking that Paul must be a criminal to have started such a riot, an officer barked to his soldiers, “Arrest this man! Bind him in chains, and take him to the prison.”

Some men were still determined to kill Paul. Paul’s young nephew overheard them plotting and told the Roman commander. “Don’t tell anyone that you gave me this information,” the officer instructed the boy. “I’ll keep Paul safe.”

The commander immediately arranged for a group of armed soldiers to bring Paul to the palace of Felix, the governor, in the city of Caesarea. Paul would be safe there until his trial. Paul and his guards left Jerusalem that very night.

For two years, Paul remained in the dungeon of Felix’s palace. It was not until a new governor, Festus, took office that the apostle was brought forward and questioned. Festus didn’t find Paul guilty of anything, but decided to keep him in prison to please some of the people.

“I appeal to Caesar,” Paul declared at last. Such an appeal was the right of every Roman citizen, and Paul had inherited Roman citizenship from his father. When a man appealed to Caesar, he had to go to Rome for his trial.

Two of Paul’s friends, Luke and Aristarchus, started out for Rome with him. Of course, Paul was still a prisoner, so a Roman soldier was sent along as a guard. The soldier, Julius, was a kind and considerate man who grew to admire and respect Paul during the long and dangerous sea voyage.

After many adventures, including a shipwreck on the island of Malta, Paul, Luke, Aristarchus, and Julius walked the last few miles to Rome. Christians living near Rome came out to greet Paul and encourage him along the way.

In Rome, while Paul was waiting for his trial, he met often with the Christians. Even though he was under arrest, he was allowed to live in a rented room and have visitors. From that room, Paul wrote many letters to his friends in the communities of Greece, Macedonia, and Asia Minor. At last his trial came to court. He was found innocent of any major crime and set free!

Paul continued his travels and preaching. At one point, he met Peter in Corinth. The two apostles decided to return to Rome to help and comfort their fellow Christians, who were undergoing a terrible persecution. The cruel and insane Emperor Nero had set Rome on fire—and blamed it on the Christians!

Peter and Paul were not in Rome long when they, too, were arrested and flung into prison. Both apostles were sentenced to death.

Paul was led outside the city walls, whipped, and blindfolded. He was told to rest his head on a low pillar. The executioner raised his gleaming sword and brought it down with all his strength. The apostle’s head fell to the ground. But his soul flew to God.

From heaven, St. Peter and St. Paul have watched over the Church down through the centuries. Their spirit lives on in the Church even today. Their letters to various Christian communities are part of the New Testament and are often included in our readings at Mass.

The Church celebrates the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25, and the Solemnity of Peter and Paul on June 29.

St. Paul’s letters speak to us today, just as they spoke to the people to whom they were first written. In reading and studying them, we can become filled with faith and love for the Lord Jesus just as Paul was. We can pray to St. Paul for the strength to live and spread our faith in Jesus as he did.

St. Thecla

(First Century)

September 23

Tradition tells us that St. Thecla was the first martyr among Christian women, as St. Stephen was the first of the men.

Thecla was born around A.D. 30 in the city of Iconium, in Asia Minor. It is said that she was the daughter of an important citizen, whose house was noted for the expensive banquets that were given there.

Thecla’s family believed very strongly in the pagan gods and magical superstitions, which were popular at the time.

Thecla liked to spend her time studying great works of art and literature. But the more she learned, especially about philosophy, the more unhappy she felt. It seemed that none of the many books she read, or the many teachers she had, could answer her deepest questions about life.

Often, after long hours of study, she would go out on the balcony and gaze at the sunset, wondering silently, If my soul is to die out like that setting sun, why was it created? If it is to go on living after death, what will happen to it? Will some God take it to live with him? If so, who will he be? In her heart, Thecla would say to that unknown God, O mysterious Being, if you exist, if you love me as I believe, let me know about you!