Important announcement from the Sisters of St. Basil the Great regarding the cancellation of the 86th Annual Pilgrimage

Editor | May 28, 2020

Important announcement from the Sisters of St. Basil the Great regarding the cancellation of the 86th Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help,

The First Commandment: I am the Lord Your God

Vasyl Symyon | May 28, 2020

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we continue this series of articles in the field of Moral Theology. One of Moral Theology’s most important lessons is the Decalogue (literally Ten Words) or the Ten Commandments. I am sure you remember them from your catechism classes but let me review them so you may reflect on them for yourselves.

Very often when we hear about the Ten Commandments, we immediately imagine something negative, something that prohibits us from doing something: “Don’t do this or don’t do that.” Yet at the same time, we overlook why God gave the Decalogue to the people.

In Chapter 20 of the Book of Exodus, we read God was a protagonist and gave the commandments to the Jewish people because of His love for them. The Decalogue served as a sign of the Covenant, a sign of God’s love for the Jewish people. By keeping the Ten Commandments, the Jewish people accordingly declared their love for God and obeyed God’s word because of His love.

With the coming of Jesus Christ, scripture inherited a universal character. It also offered the world a new and everlasting Covenant, one established through the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ for the benefit of all nations. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Continue reading →

Hair today, gone tomorrow

David Mayernik Jr. | May 28, 2020

I saw an interesting question going around on Twitter the other day: What changes in your life that have been necessitated by being quarantined may carry over whenever our lives get back to normal?

(Or, as normal as can be expected, that is.)

There were a variety of intelligent comments. Some people may continue to work from home, if possible and permitted by their boss. Continue reading →

Following Christ with a sense of moderation

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick | May 28, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ!
I remember a distinct moment in eighth grade when Sister Basil, at the beginning of the school year, said to us, “Please know that I pray for you every day.”

Then she said something shocking. She said, “In my prayers, I pray any of you that do something wrong will be caught immediately.” Continue reading →

Thoughts for our day

Archpriest David M. Petras | May 28, 2020

The Anaphora of St. Basil tells of the whole story of our relationship with God.

The story of the Garden of Eden reveals that as human beings, we have not trusted God, but instead thought that we could achieve glorification by our own efforts. By being unfaithful to the divine plan, “man disobeyed you, the true God who created him; he was led astray by the deceit of the Serpent, and by his own transgressions was subjected to death.” Continue reading →

At morning mass, Pope offers prayers for unemployed

Junno-Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service | May 29, 2020

VATICAN CITY — As countries continue to reel from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis offered prayers for the men and women who have been unable to work.

“In these days, many people have lost their jobs, were not rehired, or work off the books. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours who are suffering from this lack of work,” the pope said May 11 at the start of his Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. Continue reading →

WORLD NEWS (Catholic News Service)

Read the latest world news as reported by Catholic News Service. With headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS provides the most comprehensive coverage of the church today.

Trump visits shrine on anniversary of St. John Paul II visit to Poland
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-02
Update: Bishops around U.S. express sorrow over Floyd killing, racism
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-02
Selection of quotes from Pope Francis on equality, fraternity, racism
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-02
As poverty rises, Mexican parishes encourage neighbors to help neighbors
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-01
Vatican official: Racism is 'spiritual' virus that must be wiped out
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-01
Catholics in Twin Cities grappling with Floyd's death, related rioting
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-01
Pope: Pandemic is an opportunity for mission, service to others
Source: CNS Published on 2020-06-01
Church united by Spirit, not personal beliefs, pope says on Pentecost
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-31
From Vatican Gardens, pope leads rosary to pray for pandemic's end
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-30
Bishops 'sickened' by Floyd's death, say racism 'real and present danger'
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-29
Louisiana bishop: 'People are losing their lives because of racism'
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-29
Racism 'at heart' of man's death at hands of police, says Pax Christi USA
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-29
Vatican official says anti-religious bias was evident during lockdown
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-29
Pope thanks refugee center's efforts to help migrants
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-29
Some European Catholic leaders echo pope's call for universal basic wage
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-28
Knights 'praying for years' for founder's beatification, says Anderson
Source: CNS Published on 2020-05-28

An Explantation of the Byzantine Rite Liturgical Practice of Observing All Souls Saturdays

ETERNAL MEMORY! VIČNAJA PAMJAT’! ALL SOULS SATURDAY “The Holy Fathers were convinced that the commemoration of the departed by alms and sacrifices (Divine Liturgies) brings great comfort and benefit to them.” (SYNAXARION FOR MEAT-FARE SATURDAY) O Church, equally observed in … Continue reading →

	June 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1 Pentecost Monday Pentecost Monday June 1, 2020 Eph 5:8b-19 Mt 18:10-20 See more details •	2 St. Nicephor Patriarch St. Nicephor Patriarch June 2, 2020 Our holy father, Nicephor, Patriarch of Constantinople. (For the other Feast of this Saint see the 13th day of March.) Our holy father, Alexander, Archbishop of Constantinople. He resolutely stood against the Arian heresy, assisted at the Council of Nicea. The awful death of Arius is regarded as a response to the Saint’s prayer for deliverance from the evils of this heresy. He died A.D. 340 in the reign of Emperor Constantinus. See more details •	3 Lucillian & Others Lucillian & Others June 3, 2020 St. Lucillian, Martyr and with him: Claudius, Hypetius, Paul, and Dionysius. Lucillian, an old man, was first tortured and with the four- mere boys - tied to the stake to be burned. Rain, however, extinguished the fire. He was then crucified and the boys beheaded, under Aurelian A.D. 273. St. Paula, Martyr, a Christian maiden of Byzantium who was tortured and beheaded A.D. 273. See more details •	4 Metrophanes Metrophanes June 4, 2020 Our holy father, Metrophanes, Patriarch of Constantinople, suffered imprisonment in the persecution under Diocletian, Emperor. He died A.D. 325 in the reign of Constantine the Great, Emperor. See more details •	5 Dorotheus Dorotheus June 5, 2020 St. Dorotheus, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Tyre, suffered banishment under Julian the Apostate A.D. 362 being 107 years of age. See more details •	6 St. Bessarion and Hilary Venerables St. Bessarion and Hilary Venerables June 6, 2020 Our venerable father, Bessarion, wonderworker, because of his virtues and miracles the Greek writers compare him with Moses, Elias, and others of the Prophets. He is thought to have died before A.D. 400. Venerable, Hilary, the “Newer,” monk in Dalmatia. He suffered exile for his resistance to the Iconoclasts. He died A.D. 864. See more details •
7 Sunday of All Saints Sunday of All Saints June 7, 2020 Heb 11:32-12:2a Mt 10:32-33, 37-38 & 19:27-30 See more details •	8 Translation of the Relics of the Great-Martyr St. Theodore Translation of the Relics of the Great-Martyr St. Theodore June 8, 2020 Translation of the Relics of St. Theodore the Great Martyr. (For the other Feast of this Saint see the 8th day of February.) Our holy father, Ephrem, Patriarch of Antioch. See more details •	9 Cyril of Alexandria Cyril of Alexandria June 9, 2020 Our holy father, Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria. (For the other Feast of this Saint see the 18th day of January.) SS. Thecla, Martha, and Mary, Martyrs, suffered in Persia A.D. 315 in the reign of the Emperor Constantine. See more details •	10 St. Timothy Bishop- Martyr St. Timothy Bishop- Martyr June 10, 2020 St. Timothy, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Prusia in Bithynia (Asia Minor), suffered death in the persecution under Julian the Apostate A.D. 362. Alexander and Antonina, Martyrs. See more details •	11 St. Bartholomew & Barnabas - Apostles St. Bartholomew & Barnabas - Apostles June 11, 2020 SS. Bartholomew and Barnabas, Apostles. Bartholomew is thought by many to be Nathanael, the "Israelite without guile" of St. John's Gospel. He suffered death in Greater Armenia. His relics are enshrined in his church in Rome. (Confer August 25.) Barnabas was one of the SS. Seventy disciples. He labored with St. Paul of Antioch, Seleucia, etc., and is said to have been stoned to death by the Jews on the Isle of Cyprus. See more details •	12 St. Onuphrius and Peter Venerables St. Onuphrius and Peter Venerables June 12, 2020 Our venerable father, Onuphrius the Great, Hermit, lived alone for sixty years in the desert of Thebes. He died about A.D. 345 in the reign of Constantius. Our venerable father, Peter of Athos. See more details •	13 St. Aquilina Martyr St. Aquilina Martyr June 13, 2020 St. Aquilina, Martyr, suffered death A.D. 117 under the Emperor Trajan. St. Trephillus, Bishop of Levkusia in Cyprus, suffered at the hands of the Arians especially because of his loyalty to St. Athanasius. He died about A.D. 370. See more details •
14 2nd Sunday After Pentecost 2nd Sunday After Pentecost June 14, 2020 Rom 2:10-16 Mt 4:18-23 See more details •	15 St. Amos Prophet St. Amos Prophet June 15, 2020 St. Amos, Prophet, was the father of Isaiah, the Prophet. Tradition says he was scourged and his temples pierced with an iron spike in the 8th century B.C. Venerable, Jerome, born at Stridonium in Dalmatia, was one of the most learned doctors. He studied at Rome, visited centers of learning in Gaul and Greece, retired into the Desert of Syria for study and prayer, was ordained a priest at Rome, became confidant and advisor of Pope St. Damasus, and finally settled in Bethlehem. He died A.D. 420. He compiled the “Vulgate” edition of the Bible which is used even now. Translation of the Relics of our father, Theodore “Sykeot” A.D. 613 in the reign of the Emperor Heracleus. (For the other Feast of this Saint see the 22nd day of April.) See more details •	16 Tychon the Wonderworker Bishop Tychon the Wonderworker Bishop June 16, 2020 St. Tychon, wonderworker, Bishop of Amathunsa, was conspicious for his detestation of idolatry and his care of the poor. He died about A.D. 450. See more details •	17 St. Manuel, Sabel & Ishmael Martyrs St. Manuel, Sabel & Ishmael Martyrs June 17, 2020 SS. Manuel, Sabel, and Ishmael, Persian Martyrs, Christians, sent by their King, Baitan, to negotiate peace with the Emperor Julian, the Apostate. Tradition has it that Julian had them arrested, condemned, beheaded, and their bodies burned A.D. 362. SS. Isaurus, Basil, Innocent, Jeremias, and others, having concealed themselves in a cave at Appolonia in Macedonia in the 3rd century persecution, on being discovered were tortured and beheaded. See more details •	18 Leontius Martyr Leontius Martyr June 18, 2020 St. Leontius, Martyr, suffered torture and death for Christ in Tripoli in Phoenicia about A.D. 76 in the reign of Vespasian, Emperor. See more details •	19 St. Jude Apostle St. Jude Apostle June 19, 2020 St. Jude, Apostle, brother of St. James, the Less, and thus related to our Lord Jesus, was one of the Twelve, called also Thaddaeus, preached in Mesopotamia and with St. Simon in Persia. Both suffered martyrdom together in Persia. St. Zosimus, Martyr, was beheaded for the Faith at Spoleto in Italy under Trajan, Emperor about A.D. 110. See more details •	20 St. Methodius Bishop-Martyr St. Methodius Bishop-Martyr June 20, 2020 St. Methodius, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Patara, in the reign of Aurelian A.D. 275. See more details •
21 3rd Sunday After Pentecost 3rd Sunday After Pentecost June 21, 2020 Rom 5:1-10 Mt 6:22-34 See more details •	22 Eusebius Eusebius June 22, 2020 St. Eusebius, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Samos, contended against the Arians, banished to Thrace but recalled after four years. Died A.D. 379 or 380. An Arian woman threw a heavy tile from a roof upon his head, thus killing him. SS. Galacteon and Juliana, Martyrs. See more details •	23 St. Agrippina Martyr St. Agrippina Martyr June 23, 2020 St. Agrippina, Martyr, endured cruel tortures and death for the faith in the reign of the Emperor Valerian A.D. 256. See more details •	24 Commemoration of the Birth of John the Baptist Commemoration of the Birth of John the Baptist June 24, 2020 Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Glorious Prophet, Precursor and the Baptist. Devotion to the holy precursor of our Lord was very popular in ancient times and throughout the Middle Ages in the Latin Rite Church as well. See more details •	25 Febronia Venerable Martyr Febronia Venerable Martyr June 25, 2020 St. Febronia, Venerable-Martyr, a young nun in her twentieth year was a victim of the persecution under Diocletian Emperor, A.D. 304 at Sybapolis in Syria. See more details •	26 St. David of Thessalonica Venerable St. David of Thessalonica Venerable June 26, 2020 Our venerable father, David, Hermit, was a native of Mesopotamia, settled in a solitary place near Thessalonica where he served God for seventy years. He lived in about the fifth century. See more details •	27 St. Sampson, Venerable BI, Nicholas Charmetsky & Others, Martyrs St. Sampson, Venerable BI, Nicholas Charmetsky & Others, Martyrs June 27, 2020 Our venerable father, Sampson, "Father of the Poor," lived in the time of the Emperor Justinian. He insisted that along with the magnificent Cathedral of Holy Wisdom there should be built a great hospital worthy of its position and of the Imperial prestige. See more details •
28 4th Sunday after Pentecost 4th Sunday after Pentecost June 28, 2020 Rom 6:18-23 Mt 8:5-13 See more details •	29 Peter & Paul - Prime Apostles Peter & Paul - Prime Apostles June 29, 2020 Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, prime Apostles. They suffered at Rome under the Emperor Nero probably A.D. 67. See more details •	30 St. Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles St. Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles June 30, 2020 Synaxis of the holy and most praiseworthy Twelve Apostles. See more details •