CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD : MON. JUNE 17, 2013 - SHARE BREAKING NEWS

POPE FRANCIS "FOLLOWING JESUS IS NOT EASY" AND LATEST NEWS FROM VATICAN FREE CATHOLIC MOVIES - ST. ANTHONY WARRIOR OF GOD - PART 5 MAN SHOT INSIDE CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING MASS IN OGDEN UTAH NEW PRESIDENT OF IRAN MODERATE HASSAN ROWHANI - EU HAS HIGH HOPES RESIGNATION OF CZECH REPUBLIC PRIME MINISTER AFTER SPY SCANDAL PRO-LIFE MARCH IN SOUTH KOREA WITH OVER 3000 4 CHURCHES BURNED IN AN ATTACK IN NIGERIA TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : MON. JUNE 17, 2013 TODAY'S SAINT : JUNE 17 : ST. AVITUS Vatican Radio REPORT: For a Christian, Jesus is “all”, and this is the source of his or her benevolence. This was the focus of Pope Francis’s message during Mass on Monday morning at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The Pope also affirmed that the righteousness of Jesus exceeds the righteousness of the scribes, that it is superior to the “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” kind of justice. Amongst those present at the Mass, which was concelebrated by Cardinal Attilio Nicora, was a group of collaborators of the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority and a group of Vatican Museums collaborators accompanied by the Museum administrative director, Fr Paolo Nicolini. The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Tagle, was also present. “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also”. Pope Francis focused his homily on Jesus’ earth-shaking words to his disciples. The slap of the cheek – he said - has become a classic take used by some to laugh about Christians. In life, he explained, everyday logic teaches us to “fight to defend our place” and if we receive a slap “we react and return two slaps in order to defend ourselves”. On the other hand, the Pope said, when I advise parents to scold their children I always say: “never slap their cheek”, because “the cheek is dignity”. And Jesus, he continued, after the slap on the cheek goes further and invites us to hand over our coat as well, to undress ourselves completely. The righteousness that He brings – the Pope affirmed – is another kind of justice that is totally different from “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”. It’s another justice. This is clear when St. Paul speaks of Christians as “people who have nothing in themselves but possess all things in Christ”. So, Christian security is exactly this “all” that is in Christ. “All” - he added – is Jesus Christ. Other things are “nothing” for a Christian. Instead, the Pope warned, “for the spirit of the world “all” means things: riches, vanities”, it means “to be well placed in society” where “Jesus is nothing”. Thus, if a Christian can walk 100 kilometres when he is asked to walk 10, “it’s because for him or for her this is “nothing”. And with serenity, “he or she can give his or her coat when asked for his or her tunic”. This is the secret of Christian benevolence that always goes together with meekness”: it is “all”, it is Jesus Christ: “A Christian is a person who opens up his or her heart with this spirit of benevolence, because he or she has “all”: Jesus Christ. The other things are “nothing”. Some are good, they have a purpose, but in the moment of choice he or she always chooses “all”, with that meekness, that Christian meekness that is the sign of Jesus’ disciples: meekness and benevolence. To live like this is not easy, because you really do receive slaps! And on both cheeks! But a Christian is meek, a Christian is benevolent: he or she opens up his or her heart. Sometimes we come across these Christians with little hearts, with shrunken hearts…. This is not Christianity: this is selfishness, masked as Christianity”. “A true Christian” – the Pope continued – “knows how to solve this bi-polar opposition, this tension that exists between “all” and “nothing”, just as Jesus has taught us: “First search for God’s Kingdom and its justice, the rest comes afterwards”. “God’s Kingdom is “all”, the other is secondary. And all Christian errors, all the Church’s errors, all our errors stem from when we say “nothing” is “all”, and to “all” we say it does not count… Following Jesus is not easy, but it’s not difficult either, because on the path of love the Lord does things in such a way that we can go forward; it is the Lord himself who opens up our heart”. This is what we must pray for – the Pope said – “when we are confronted with the choice of the slap, the coat, the 100 kilometres”, we must pray the Lord to “open up our heart” so that “we are benevolent and meek” . We must pray so that we do not “fight for small things, for the “nothings” of daily life”. “When one takes on an option for “nothing”, it is from that option that conflicts arise in families, in friendships, between friends, in society. Conflicts that end in war: for “nothing”! “Nothing” is always the seed of wars. Because it is the seed of selfishness. “All” is Jesus. Let us ask the Lord to open up our heart, to make us humble, meek and benevolent because we have “all” in Him; and let’s ask him to help us avoid creating everyday problems stemming from “nothing”. POPE RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA: FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND DRUG TRAFFICKING Vatican City, 17 June 2013 (VIS) – This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience His Excellency Mr. Nicolas Maduro Moros, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. President Maduro then met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States. During the talks, which were held in a cordial atmosphere, topics focused on included the country's social and political situation after the recent death of President Hugo Chavez Frias, as well as current issues such as poverty and the fight against crime and drug trafficking. As the talks continued, reference was made to the Catholic Church's historical presence in the country and her decisive contribution to charity, health care, and education, and the need for constant and sincere dialogue between the Episcopal Conference and the State for the development of the entire nation was agreed upon. Finally, the regional situation was discussed, with particular reference made to the peace process in Colombia.

GOAL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICS IS TO SERVE HUMANITY Vatican City, 17 June 2013 (VIS) – Yesterday a letter from the Holy Father to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron was made public. It was sent in response to the message he had received on 5 June regarding the British presidency of the G8 and the upcoming meeting scheduled to take place at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on 17 and 18 June, with the theme of “A G8 Meeting that Goes Back to First Principles”. In the letter, the Holy Father emphasized that, for the theme “to attain its broadest and deepest resonance, it is necessary to ensure that all political and economic activity, whether national or international,” makes reference to humanity. “Indeed, such activity must, on the one hand, enable the maximum expression of freedom and creativity, both individual and collective, while on the other hand it must promote and guarantee their responsible exercise in solidarity, with particular attention to the poorest.” Francis praised the priorities that the British Presidency has set out for the upcoming summit, noting that the fundamental reference to humanity is not lacking, “specifically in the proposal for concerted action by the Group to eliminate definitively the scourge of hunger and to ensure food security. Similarly, a further sign of attention to the human person is the inclusion as one of the central themes on the agenda of the protection of women and children from sexual violence in conflict situations, even though it must be remembered that the indispensable context for the development of all the afore-mentioned political actions is that of international peace. … and this year [the G8] cannot fail to address the situation in the Middle East, especially in Syria,” the Pope noted. “The actions included on the agenda of the British G8 Presidency, which point towards law as the golden thread of development – as well as the consequent commitments to deal with tax avoidance and to ensure transparency and responsibility on the part of governments,” Francis said, “are measures that indicate the deep ethical roots of these problems, since, as my predecessor Benedict XVI made clear, the present global crisis shows that ethics is not something external to the economy, but is an integral and unavoidable element of economic thought and action.” The Holy Father repeated that the long-term measures “designed to ensure an adequate legal framework for all economic actions, as well as the associated urgent measures to resolve the global economic crisis, must be guided by the ethics of truth”. First and foremost, this entails a respect for the truth of the human person, “who is not simply an additional economic factor, or a disposable good, but is equipped with a nature and a dignity that cannot be reduced to simple economic calculus. Therefore concern for the fundamental material and spiritual welfare of every human person is the starting-point for every political and economic solution and the ultimate measure of its effectiveness and its ethical validity.” Stressing that “the goal of economics and politics is to serve humanity, beginning with the poorest and most vulnerable wherever they may be, even in their mothers' wombs,” the Pope, in his letter, noted that “every economic and political theory or action must set about providing each inhabitant of the planet with the minimum wherewithal to live in dignity and freedom, with the possibility of supporting a family, educating children, praising God and developing one's own human potential. This is the main thing; in the absence of such a vision, all economic activity is meaningless.” Pope Francis wrote that he wished to share these thoughts with the Prime Minister “with a view to highlighting what is implicit in all political choices, but can sometimes be forgotten: the primary importance of putting humanity, every single man and woman, at the centre of all political and economic activity, both nationally and internationally, because man is the truest and deepest resource for politics and economics, as well as their ultimate end.”

MSGR. BATTISTA RICCA APPOINTED INTERIM PRELATE OF IOR Vatican City, 15 June 2013 (VIS) – In a declaration published this morning, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Press Office of the Holy See, made it known that: “The Commission of Cardinals for oversight of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), with the approval of the Holy Father, has appointed 'ad interim' Msgr. Battista Mario Salvatore Ricca as Prelate of the Institute.” “In his capacity as prelate, Msgr. Battista Ricca will act as secretary of the meetings of the Cardinals’ Commission and will attend meetings of the Board of Superintendence in accordance with the Institute’s statutes.” “Msgr. Battista Ricca, who was born in Offlaga in the province of Brescia, Italy, in 1956, is part of the Diplomatic Service, serving in the First Section of the Secretariat of State. He is also Director of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI, the Domus Romana Sacerdotalis, and the Casa San Benedetto.” “As can be recalled, he succeeds Archbishop Piero Pioppo, currently Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, who held the post from 2006 to 2010.” “With the appointment of Mr. Ernst von Freyberg as President of the Institute and of Msgr. Battista Ricca as its prelate, the Cardinals’ Commission has filled the two important positions that are provided for in the statutes of the IOR, which had been vacant for some time. Msgr. Battista Ricca’s appointment is effective immediately.”

AUDIENCES Vatican City, 17 June 2013 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father received:    - His Excellency Mr. Rowsch N. Shaways, vice prime minister of the Republic of Iraq, and    - Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, S.D.B., bishop emeritus of Hong Kong. On Saturday, 15 June in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Holy Father received:    - Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, archbishop of Krakow, Poland, and    - Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS Vatican City, 15 June 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father:    - appointed Msgr. Xavier Munyongani as bishop of the Diocese of Gweru (area 29,158, population 2,313,000, Catholics 368,000, priests 54, religious 216), Zimbabwe. The bishop-elect was born in Mutero Mission, Gutu District, Zimbabwe, in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1977. Since ordination he has served in many pastoral, academic, and administrative roles in the Dioceses of Gweru and Masvingo, Zimbabwe, as well as serving in London, England, since 2007, as chaplain of the Zimbabwe Catholic Community.    - appointed Fr. Alphonse Nguyen Huu Long, P.S.S., as auxiliary of the Diocese of Hung Hoa (area 54,352, population 7,187,000, Catholics 235,000, priests 63, religious 242), Vietnam, assigning him the Titular See of Gummi in Byzacena. The bishop-elect was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1990. Since ordination he has: served as vicar for the parish of Tam Ky (1990-1994); obtained a license in Canon Law from the Institut Catholique of Paris, France; served as pastor for the parishes of Ha Lam (1999-2001) and Tra Kieu (2001-2003); served as spiritual director and professor of Canon Law, Church History, and Catechesis at the Major Seminary of Hue (2003-2011) as well as that institution's rector since 2011.    - appointed Fr. Pierre Nguyen Van Vien as auxiliary of the Diocese of Vinh (area 30,594, population 6,285,000, Catholics 506,992, priests 197, religious 1,882), Vietnam, assigning him the Titular See of Megalopolis in Proconsulari. The bishop-elect was born in Huong Phuong, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam, in 1965 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Vinh in 1999. Since ordination he has done pastoral service for the Vietnamese community in Sydney, Australia, where he obtained his doctorate in Theology, served as vice rector and professor of Dogmatics at Vinh Thanh's Major Seminary, and, since, 2010, served as general vicar of the Diocese of Vinh.    - appointed Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis, archbishop emeritus of Vilnius, Lithuania, as his special envoy to the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus' scheduled to take place in Kiev, Ukraine from 17-18 August 2013.    - appointed Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of San Cristobal de la Habana, Cuba, as his special envoy to the closing celebrations of the First anniversary of the elevation of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Salvador, El Salvador, and the erection of the Dioceses of Santa Ana and San Miguel as well as the closing ceremony of the national Eucharistic Congress in El Salvador scheduled for 11 August 2013.

MAN SHOT INSIDE CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING MASS IN OGDEN UTAH

DESERET NEWS RELEASE: A man was shot inside the St. James Catholic Church Sunday afternoon.

OGDEN — A widespread police search  after a man was shot and injured inside the St. James Catholic Church.

Police arrested Charles Richard Jennings, (pictured)35, on Interstate 84.

The search for Jennings started just after 11:30 Sunday morning. Police said Jennings entered the church and specifically targeted the victim, who he is related to by marriage.

Police said Jennings fled the scene in a stolen 1996 white GMC quad-cab, short-bed truck with license plate number 584 UTV. Several agencies participated in a state-wide search.

A parishioner who spoke on condition she wouldn't be identified said the victim is a longtime member of the congregation, and the grandfather of Jenning's son.

The victim was shot in the back of the head in the church, 495 N. Harrison Boulevard. He was taken to McKay Dee Hospital in critical condition.

Another member of the congregation said the shooting happened as parishioners were lining up to take Communion. Once the shot was fired, she said people began diving under pews. She said several men chased after the shooter.

After Jennings left the church, police said he stole the truck at gunpoint. The owner of the truck said he was in his backyard holding his young daughter when Jennings hopped the fence, pointed a gun at his chest and demanded the keys to the truck.

Jennings has a lengthy criminal history, including felony charges for domestic violence and drug possession.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

— Emilee Eagar SHARED FROM DESERET NEWS

NEW PRESIDENT OF IRAN MODERATE HASSAN ROWHANI - EU HAS HIGH HOPES

DEUTSCHEWELLE SHARE

EU nations have reacted positively to the news of the election of a moderate candidate as Iran’s next president. They are hoping for a change in tone from Iran, particularly regarding its disputed nuclear program.

A statement released by the European Union's top diplomat on Saturday stressed the 27-nation bloc's willingness to engage with newly elected President Hassan Rowhani

"I remain firmly committed to working with the new Iranian leadership towards a swift diplomatic solution of the nuclear issue," Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy coordinator said in a statement.

Ashton is the chief negotiator in talks between six world powers and Tehran aimed at resolving an international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, which Western nations in particular fear could be a front for efforts to produce atomic weapons. Tehran has repeatedly insisted that its nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes only.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle of Germany, which is part of that group of six, expressed the hope that the new leadership in Iran would cooperate in efforts to find solutions to issues of international and regional concern.

Westerwelle described Rowhani's victory as a "vote by the people for reforms and a constructive foreign policy."

The two other European countries involved in the nuclear talks, France and the UK, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, expressed similar sentiments.

"The international community has high expectations from Iran, especially about its nuclear program and its involvement in Syria," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "We are ready to work on this with the new Iranian president."

DW.DE

Reformist win surprises observers in Iran

A bombshell in the Iranian election: moderate cleric Hasan Rowhani won by an unexpectedly wide margin. Many Iranians are now hoping for reform - but Rowhani's room for maneuver is limited. (15.06.2013)

A statement released by the British Foreign Office called on Rowhani "to set Iran on a different course for the future: addressing international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, taking forward a constructive relationship with the international community."

Criticism from US, Israel

A White House statement criticized how Friday's election was conducted. At the same time though, it said Washington “remains ready to engage the Iranian government directly in order to reach a diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear program."

Israel noted that Iran's supreme leader, not the country's president, has the last word on foreign policy.

"Iran will continue to be judged by its actions, in the nuclear sphere as well as on the issue of terror," an Israeli foreign ministry statement said.

Rowhani won just over 50-percent of the votes in Friday's presidential election, allowing him to avoid a run-off. More than 72-percent of the country's 50 million eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots.

The lone moderate candidate in the race, Rowhani was supported by reformists and has promised to end what he called the "eight-year dark era" of Ahmadinejad by promoting freedom of expression and the press. He has long been an outspoken critic of Ahmadinejad and accuses him of being needlessly hostile with the international community.

Rowhani, 64, served in parliament from 1980 until 2000, when he became a member of the Assembly of Experts, the body that oversees the work of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He also held Iran's top security post as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005.

pfd/jlw (AFP, Reuters, AP)

SHARED FROM DEUTSCHEWELLE

RESIGNATION OF CZECH REPUBLIC PRIME MINISTER AFTER SPY SCANDAL

NEWEUROPEONLINE SHARE - by

Karafillis Giannoulis

17/06/2013 - 10:13am

The Prime Minister of Czech Republic Petr Necas was forced to resign after fraud and spying scandal.

Necas quit days after prosecutors charged the head of his office, Jana Nagyova, with bribing MPs and ordering agents of the national intelligence authority to spy on people. The Czech PM held a meeting of his Civic Democrat party late on Sunday. After the end of the meeting, the former Prime Minister of Czech republic told reporters, “i will step down as prime minister tomorrow. I am aware of my political responsibility.”

Nagyova, denied only part of the spying allegations, saying she acted in good faith. According to the lawyers involved in the spying scandal, one of the surveillance targets was the prime minister’s own wife, whom Necas is divorcing. The Prime Minister of Czech Republic stressed that he wasn’t aware of the surveillance governmental instructions.

Necas announced that his Civic Democrat party would try to form a new government led by a different politician, to rule until a scheduled election in 2014. However, according to Guardian, it was unclear if his coalition partners or the president of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, would back the governmental proposition.

The President of the Czech Republic, has significant executive powers but he is elected by the Members of the Parliament and the senators. Zeman, will have an important say in who takes over, after Necas resignation. Zeman is allowed of performing three attempts to establish a new government.

If after the three tries there is no viable government, or the parliament agrees to dissolve itself, an early election in Czech Republic will be held.

Shared from NEWEUROPEONLINE

PRO-LIFE MARCH IN SOUTH KOREA WITH OVER 3000

ASIA NEWS REPORT
by Joseph Yun Li-sun
In Seoul, more than 3,000 people from different religious backgrounds call on the government to promote the sanctity of life. Inspired by the slogan 'Life says, Life listens, and Life walks!', protesters want change to boost births. "Let us give people an opportunity to do the right thing," said the president of the Pro-Life Commission of the Bishops' Conference.


Seoul (AsiaNews) - More than 3,000 people from different religious and social backgrounds marched in the streets of the South Korean capital calling on the government to "put the sanctity of life back at the centre of society."
Titled 'Life says, Life listens, and Life walks!', the 4-km march was held on 8 June in Seoul's Yeouido District under the auspices of the Pro-life Federation, an interfaith group that for years has fought in favour of a higher birth rate.
At the start of the event, Pro-life Federation officials laid out their programme 'The principle of life: our requests', a pro-life manifesto in which they ask the government to outlaw pre-natal murder and stop funding for pregnant women and single mothers.
"The tragic situation of abortions in South Korea has not changed," said Mgr Linus Lee Seong-hyo, president of the Pro-life Commission of the Korean Bishops' Conference.
"Despite its great success in so many different fields," he added, "our nation remains underdeveloped from the point of view of the defence of life. The government needs to stop this and give people the chance to make the right choice. "
At present, South Korea's birth rate is 1.05, one of the lowest in the world.
Conscious that this figure constitutes a danger, the Catholic Church has always been involved in several programmes to support the family and procreation.

Issues about genetics and cloning are deeply felt in the country, which pioneered scientific research in human cell reproduction.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT

4 CHURCHES BURNED IN AN ATTACK IN NIGERIA

Agenzia Fides REPORT - Four churches were burned in an attack probably committed by members of the jihadist group Boko Haram in Borno State, one of the three northern states of Nigeria where a state of emergency has been imposed (see Fides 21/5/2013). A group of armed men with improvised explosive devices and petrol bombs attacked the Hwa'a, Kunde, Gathahure and Gjigga communities on Gwoza Hills, burning the 4 churches, raiding and looting cattle and grain reserves belonging to the population.
"Unfortunately I do not have precise information and do not know what communities the Christian churches destroyed belong to," says to Fides Agency His Exc. Mgr. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama Archbishop of Jos and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria. "All communications have been cut off with the areas affected by military operations and it is impossible to get in touch with the Bishop of Maiduguri," explains Mgr. Kaigama.
Despite this incident, the Archbishop said that "the operation of the Nigerian army and the imposition of the State of emergency has made the population feel better and safer."
Before the recent attacks in Niger (see Fides 04/06/2013), it is certain that Boko Haram is coordinating with jihadist groups expelled from Mali. "Boko Haram is a regional issue and should be resolved with a regional approach," said Mgr. Kaigama. "We are paying the price of terrible negligence on behalf of our intelligence and our police forces who did not deal with the phenomenon in time. Now we need to bring together the resources of Nigeria, Niger and Mali to address the threat of jihadist groups. I think, however, that eventually they will be defeated," concluded Bishop Kaigama. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/06/2013)

TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : MON. JUNE 17, 2013

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 365

Reading 12 COR 6:1-10

Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Responsorial PsalmPS 98:1, 2B, 3AB, 3CD-4

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

GospelMT 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

TODAY'S SAINT : JUNE 17 : ST. AVITUS

St. Avitus

ABBOT

Feast: June 17

Information: Feast Day: June 17 Died: 530

ST. AVITUS was a native of Orleans, and, retiring into Auvergne, took the monastic habit, together with St. Calais, in the abbey of Menat, at that time very small, though afterward enriched by Queen Brunehault, and by St. Boner, Bishop of Clermont. The two Saints soon after returned to Miscy, a famous abbey situated a league and a half below Orleans. It was founded toward the end of the reign of Clovis I. by St. Euspicius, a holy priest, honored on the 14th of June, and his nephew St. Maximin or Mesnim, whose name this monastery, which is now of the Cistercian Order, bears. Many call St. Maximin the first abbot, others St. Euspicius the first, St. Maximin the second, and St. Avitus the third. But our Saint and St. Calais made not a long stay at Miscy, though St. Maximin gave them a gracious reception. In quest of a closer retirement, St. Avitus, who had succeeded St. Maximin, soon after resigned the abbacy, and with St. Calais lived a recluse in the territory now called Dunois, on the frontiers of La Perche. Others joining them, St. Calais retired into a forest in Maine, and King Clotaire built a church and monastery for St. Avitus and his companions. This is at present a Benedictine nunnery, called St. Avy of Chateaudun, and is situated on the Loire, at the foot of the hill on which the town of Chateaudun is built, in the diocese of Chartres. Three famous monks, Leobin, afterwards Bishop of Chartres, Euphronius, and Rusticus, attended our Saint to his happy death, which happened about the year 530. His body was carried to Orleans, and buried with great pomp in that city. (Taken from Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler)

SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/A/stavitus.asp#ixzz1y4EHatSf

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)