St. Augustine, a martyr born in 1822 in Lorraine, France, was part of the Paris Foreign Missions Society and was beheaded in Vietnam. His Feast Day is May 1. Evangelization in Vietnam began in the 16th century, with missionaries and local Christians facing severe persecution. From 1645 to 1886, 53 anti-Christian edicts led to approximately 130,000 deaths. Rulers like Minh Mang and Tu Duc intensified the persecution, executing priests and forcing Christians to renounce their faith. Despite this, many remained steadfast, and the Church honors those whose martyrdom has been confirmed and documented. St. Augustin Schoeffler 1822 - 1851 Feast Day: May 1 Location: France & Vietnam Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: Piece of Cloth imbued with blood St. Augustine was a martyr of Vietnam. He was born in 1822, at Mittelbron, in Lorraine, France. Joining the Paris Foreign Missions Society, he went to Vietnam, and there he suffered martyrdom by beheading. His Feast Day is May 1. The work of evangelization, undertaken at the beginning of the 16th century, then established in the first Apostolic Vicariates of the North (Dàng-Ngoài) and the South (Dàng-Trong) in 1659, has seen an admirable development over the centuries. From the earliest years, the seed of Faith has been mixed in the Vietnamese land with the abundant blood of the Martyrs, both of the missionary clergy and of the local clergy and of the Christian people of Vietnam. All together they have endured the hardships of apostolic work, as in common agreement they have also faced death to bear witness to the evangelical truth. From 1645 to 1886 there were 53 edicts against Christians, signed by Lords Trinh and Nguyen or by the Kings who, for almost three centuries, XVII, XVIII, XIX (exactly 261 years: 1625-1886), decreed persecutions against Christians, one more violent than the other. There are approximately 130,000 victims fallen a bit everywhere in the national territory. During the reign of Minh Mang (king from 1821), the persecution became merciless: even those who dared to hide Christians were condemned to death. Emperor Tu Duc (who reigned from 1847 to 1883) also hated everything European, making no distinction between politics and religion. He decreed that anyone who helped capture a missionary should receive 300 ounces of silver. The missionary, however, should have his skull smashed and be thrown into the river. Local priests and foreign catechists were slaughtered, while local catechists had the words “Ta dao,” meaning “False religion,” branded on their cheeks with a red-hot iron, thus marking them as objects of public contempt. Ordinary Christian believers, on the other hand, could save their lives if they trampled on the cross before the judge. Faced with the Christians' steadfast faith, the sovereign ordered their dispersion and the confiscation of their property: husbands went to their wives and children to their parents; many were exiled to distant regions, among non-Christian populations. Of this myriad of heroes of faith, the Church has selected those whose lives have been reconstructed and whose martyrdom has been ascertained. Local priests and foreign catechists were slaughtered, while local catechists had the words “Ta dao,” meaning “False religion,” branded on their cheeks with a red-hot iron, thus marking them as objects of public contempt. Ordinary Christian believers, on the other hand, could save their lives if they trampled on the cross before the judge. Faced with the Christians' steadfast faith, the sovereign ordered their dispersion and the confiscation of their property: husbands went to their wives and children to their parents; many were exiled to distant regions, among non-Christian populations. Of this myriad of heroes of faith, the Church has selected those whose lives have been reconstructed and whose martyrdom has been ascertained. Next Item Previous Item

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26th, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. She left home at 18 to become a Catholic missionary nun and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish order known for their missionary work in India. She was given the name Sister Mary Teresa and sent to Calcutta, where she established the Missionaries of Charity - a religious community dedicated to “laboring at the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor.” Mother Teresa was a radiant servant of Christ who ventured boldly out into the world to tirelessly serve the poor and unwanted. St. Teresa of Calcutta 1910 - 1997 Feast Day: September 5 Location: Calcutta Identifiers: Virgin, Foundress of Missionaries of Charity Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of hair The luminous missionary known as Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26th, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. The youngest of Nikola and Dranafile Bojaxhiu’s three children, Agnes was of Albanian heritage and only eight years old when her father, a local businessman, suddenly passed away. Her mother, a very devout and religious woman, raised Agnes to possess a strong faith, and after becoming very involved in her parish youth group and interested in missionary work, she left home to become a Catholic missionary nun at the age of 18. She joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish order known for their missionary work in India. She was admitted as a postulant and was given the name Sister Mary Teresa, after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Teresa was sent by her order to India, and arrived in Calcutta, located on the Eastern side of the country near Bangladesh, in 1929 to teach geography and catechism at St. Mary’s School for girls. She made her final profession to join the Loreto order on May 24, 1937, becoming what she called the “spouse of Jesus” for “all eternity” and was henceforth called Mother Teresa. She continued to teach at St. Mary’s and in 1944, was made the principal of the school. On September 10th, 1946, Mother Teresa was riding a train from Calcutta to Darjeeling for her annual retreat, when she received what she termed the “call within a call,” where Jesus’ thirst for souls took over her heart. Her desire to satiate that thirst and spread His love would become the motivating force in her life, driving her to establish the Missionaries of Charity, a religious community dedicated to “labouring at the salvation and sanctification of the poorest of the poor.” After nearly two years of planning and discernment, Mother Teresa received permission to begin, and on August 17, 1948, she dressed for the first time in her iconic white, blue-bordered sari, to leave the Loreto convent and enter the world of the poor. She cared for the elderly, nursed the dying, washed the sick and desired to find Jesus in “the unwanted, the unloved and the uncared for.” After many months, former students from her time teaching began to join her, and on October 7, 1950, the Missionaries of Charity was officially established as a religious order in the Archdiocese of Calcutta. Through Mother Teresa’s hard work in the 1950’s, and Pope Paul VI granting them the Decree of Praise (an official measure from the Holy See which elevated their order to the recognition of pontifical right) in 1965, the Missionaries of Charity began opening houses in Venezuela, Rome, Tanzania, and even in Communist countries such as the former Soviet Union, Albania and Cuba. Throughout all of the rapid growth, Mother Teresa remained rooted in the Lord, bearing witness to the joy of loving and respecting the dignity of every human person, while doing little things with great love. She persevered through what she called the “painful night” of her soul, where she experienced a deep, abiding feeling of being separated from God, starting around the time she began working for the poor, and leading up to the end of her life. Despite this “darkness” and her deteriorating health, she never wavered, and by 1997, there were more than 4,000 Missionaries of Charity in nearly 600 foundations across 123 different countries. She blessed her successor as Superior General for the Missionaries of Charity in March 1997, before returning to Calcutta to spend her final weeks, passing away on September 5th, 1997. She was granted the honor of a state funeral by the Government of India, and less than two years after her death, Pope John Paul II permitted the opening of her Cause of Canonization. Mother Teresa was a radiant, loving servant of Christ, who ventured boldly out into the world to tirelessly reach the poor and serve the unwanted. Next Item Previous Item

St. Rose of Lima, born Isabel Flores de Oliva in 1586, was known for her devotion to the Virgin Mary and her love for Christ. After her family fell into poverty, she worked hard while bringing Christian values to her community. She dedicated her life to prayer, penance, and helping the needy, especially children and the elderly. Despite her desire for cloistered life, she lived as a Dominican tertiary in seclusion. Known for miracles and mortifications, she was canonized in 1671. Rose is the first saint of the Americas, and patroness of Peru, Latin America, and the Philippines. St. Rose of Lima 1586 - 1617 Feast Day: August 23 Location: Location: Peru Identifiers: Virgin, Dominican Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Isabel Flores de Oliva was born in Lima on April 20, 1586, the tenth of thirteen children of the Flores de Oliva, Spanish nobles who had moved to Peru. It was her nurse Marianna, of Indian origin, who gave her the name Rose because of the incredible beauty that characterized her. A name later confirmed at her confirmation and at the age of twenty when she wore the habit of the Third Order of Dominicans, like her model of life, Saint Catherine of Siena. The name "of Saint Mary" was then added to Rose, to express the tender love that always tied her to the Virgin to whom she turned at every moment to ask for protection. Santa Rose experienced poverty when her family fell into poverty due to the failure of her father's business; she worked hard as a maid, in the garden and as an embroiderer, until late at night, bringing the Word of Christ and her yearning for good and justice to the homes of buyers, which, in the Peruvian society of the time, crushed by colonizing Spain, seemed completely obscured. In her mother's house she created a sort of shelter for the needy, where she assisted abandoned children and elderly people, especially of Indian origin. Already as a child, Rose aspired to consecrate herself to God in the cloistered life, but she remained a "virgin in the world" and as a Dominican tertiary she locked herself in a cell of a few square meters, built in the garden of her mother's house, from which she left only for religious functions and where she spent most of her days praying and in close union with the Lord. While praying before an image of the Virgin Mary with Jesus in her arms, one day Rose heard a voice from that child that said to her: "Rose, dedicate all your love to me ...". She had no doubts: from then on, Jesus was her exclusive love until death, a love cultivated in virginity, prayer and penance. She often repeated: "My God, you can increase suffering, as long as you increase my love for you". It is the redemptive meaning of the Passion of Christ that became clear to her: pain lived with faith redeems, saves. And the pain of man can be associated with the saving pain of Christ. It is an interior turning point that coincided with the reading of Saint Catherine, from whom she learned love for the blood of Christ and love for the Church. And it is precisely in her hermitage in the garden that Saint Rose relived in the flesh the passion of Jesus, with two intentions: the conversion of the Spaniards and the evangelization of the Indians. In fact, mortifications and corporal punishments of all kinds are attributed to her, but also many conversions and miracles. One of all, the failed invasion of the Dutch pirates in Lima in 1615. While she was still alive, Rose was examined by a mixed commission of religious and scientific people who judged her mystical experiences as true "gifts of grace", so much so that at her death, due to the enormous crowd that attended her funeral, Rose was already a saint. She died only after having renewed her religious vows, repeating several times: "Jesus, be with me!". It was the night of August 23, 1617. After her death, when her body was transported to the Chapel of the Rosary, the Madonna from that statue before which the Saint had prayed so many times smiled at her again, for the last time. The crowd present cried out a miracle. In 1668, Rose was beatified by Pope Clement IX and canonized three years later. She is the first canonized saint of the New World and is the patron saint of Peru, of all Latin America, of the Indies and of the Philippines. She is invoked as the protector of florists and gardeners, against volcanic eruptions and also in case of wounds or for the resolution of family disputes. A Jubilee Year commemorated the 400th anniversary of the death of Saint Rose with the motto: “400 years interceding for you,” in reference to the thousands of prayers that the Saint received and answered over the course of four centuries. https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/rosa-da-lima.html Next Item Previous Item

Contact us Volunteer Opportunities Are you looking to give your time and volunteer at St. Anthony's? Below are all the opportunities for you to get involved! St. Anthony of Padua requires all adults (18 years +) volunteering with our parish to be in compliance with Safe Environment. If you have not taken the Safe Environment Training, click the link below to complete it. If you have questions, please contact us. Safe Environment Training Contact Us Filter by Category Select Category Contact us Breaking Bread On Sundays after Mass, parishioners are invited over to Fr. Jesse's home to share a light meal with him. We are in need of volunteers to help "host" the Breaking Bread sessions. Contact Us Fellowship Sunday Fellowship Sunday is a great opportunity for our parish to come together after Mass and enjoy some donuts, coffee, and community! Come meet some new friends, and learn about the various ministries and events going on in our Parish. If you would like to volunteer for Fellowship Sunday, contact us.

St. Anthony of Padua is proud to be a beacon of light in our community. Assistance Ministries, Support Groups, Community Resources and other ministries are here to help you.  I Need Help St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is proud to be a beacon of light in our community. Below are the various Assistance Ministries, Support Groups, Community Resources and other ministries to help you. Contact Us I Want to Volunteer More Information Red Bird Ministries Red Bird Ministries is a Catholic, pro-life/pro-family grief support ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced child loss of any age and circumstance, including pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, adolescent, or adult. Request Form Annulments The ending of a marriage is a difficult experience, and divorce is one of life’s tragedies. Many marriages end in divorce in spite of good intentions and the establishment of a family. We are sensitive to the pain and stress that a failed marital relationship brings to those involved. We are here to assist those who want to know more and those who want to file a petition for an annulment. More Information Community Resources If you’re in need of financial aid, legal assistance, employment help or another tough time, there are a wide variety of community resources available to help. We’ve compiled a PDF of some of the most useful resources and contacts in the area that can help in a time of need, available in both English and Spanish. More Information Help Our Marriage Retrouvaille is a volunteer, peer ministry endorsed by the Archdiocese that has helped thousands of couples rebuild the loving relationships they once had. Whether your marriage needs a refresh or a rescue, Retrouvaille can help you. Contact Us Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction is an ancient tradition of mentorship and discipleship in the Christian faith. Spiritual Directors will help you recognize how the Holy Spirit is working in your life and help you deepen your relationship with God. They will help you develop an active prayer life, guiding you in a deeper spirituality. More Information Gratia Plena Counseling Gratia Plena (which means “full of grace” in latin) is a non- profit organization, which offers mental health, couples/marriage, and addiction counseling in service to the Catholic Community. Our mission is to provide counseling services and spiritual direction that is faithful to the teachings, values, and traditions of the Catholic Church. Contact Us Grief Support HOPE (Helping Our Pain Ease) is a 7-week adult informative grief support group offered four times a year. It is a program to assist you with the healing process after the death of a loved one. Contact Us Nar-Anon en Español Los Grupos de Familia Nar-Anon son una confraternidad mundial para aquellos afectados por la adicción de otra persona. Este grupo es para aquellos que saben o han conocido un sentimiento de desesperación por el problema de adicción de alguien muy cercano a ti. No tiene costo unirse. No hay registro, cualquiera puede presentarse. More Information Couple Check-Up An online assessment designed to identify the unique relationship strengths and growth areas of dating, engaged, or married couples. Couples receive a report with Discussion Guide, designed to help them learn proven relationship skills. Research shows this process improves relationships by stimulating dialogue, increasing understanding, and empowering couples. More Information Caregiver Support As a caregiver, you likely have many responsibilities. It is important to take care of your own well-being and to connect with others that understand. Our caregivers group does this, plus offers the support of other caregivers sharing their experiences to help each other on this journey with a loved one. Contact Us Al-Anon All family members or friends who have been, or are being affected by someone else’s alcoholism or addiction are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions about this meeting, or problems that you or your family may be experiencing due to alcoholism or addiction, you can contact us. All inquiries and attendance are strictly confidential. More Information AA All men and women who are alcoholics, or think they may have a problem with alcohol, and families of those with this problem are welcome to attend. All inquiries and attendance will be strictly confidential. Come and participate in the grace of recovery by visiting Alcoholics Anonymous on the web at aahouston.org for meeting times and locations near you or by calling the AA Intergroup Houston. More Information Funerals Funeral Planning assists with the planning of the Funeral Mass following the death of a loved one. Funeral planning can be done at any time. Please contact us for an appointment if you are interested in pre-planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one. More Information St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent De Paul helps tackle poverty and disadvantage by providing short-term assistance to those in crisis in the form of rent assistance, utility bills, or other emergency funding. For those needing assistance: Please call 281-466-1920 and leave a detailed message with your name and return phone number, and one of our members will contact you. More Information Food Pantry St. Anthony’s Bread is the food pantry that serves thousands of families every month, we are proud to help support our community by providing nutritious meals to those in need. At your first visit our volunteers will ask you provide a valid identification or a utility/service bill containing your name and address. If the address falls in one of our zip codes , you will fill out a short registration form.

Saint Peter –the first Pope and rock upon which Jesus built His church – is one of the greatest stories of redemption and love in the Bible. His bold faith was gained from humble beginnings, repeated missteps, and a stubborn trust that Jesus Christ was truly God. Jesus loved his Apostles dearly but was also unafraid to correct the words and actions of the fallible, fragile humans He chose to be His closest followers. Peter, an inquisitive, brash, hopeful follower of Christ, was the perfect leader of this group and provided the foundation for the Church we still have today. He shares his feast day on June 29th with St. Paul. St. Peter the Apostle 1st Century Feast Day: June 29 Location: Jerusalem Identifiers: Apostle, Martyr Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Peter – the most outspoken apostle, the first Pope, the rock upon which Jesus built His church – is one of the greatest stories of redemption and love in the Bible. His bold faith that would ultimately change the world was gained from humble beginnings, repeated missteps and a stubborn trust that Jesus Christ was truly God. It is nearly impossible to fully encompass all of Peter’s deeds in the Bible. His adventures are recounted throughout the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and numerous letters of St. Paul; his name appears a total of 187 times in the New Testament. As prominent of a role Peter played in Jesus’ ministry, we know very little about his life prior to his conversion. Tradition places his birth in the 1st century BC, and he was originally named Simon. He lived in the village of Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee, and scripture (as well as most historians) point to him having been married. Him and his brother Andrew were both fisherman by trade and Peter owned his own boat. It was in this boat that Peter’s life was changed forever. Matthew 4:18-19, Mark 1:16-17, and Luke 5:1-11 all depict Jesus encountering Peter as he was fishing on the Sea of Galilee. As the crowds listening to Jesus pressed in, He hopped into Peter’s boat and asked him to put out from the shore. Obeying the preacher, Peter rowed out so Jesus could continue to teach the people. After Jesus finished speaking, He turned to Simon Peter to teach one of the most important lessons Peter would ever learn: trust in Him. “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Simon Peter, already sensing the prominence of Jesus by calling Him “master”, obliged the request, and upon seeing the miraculous catch of fish they procured, fell to his knees in front of Jesus. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But Jesus instead called him deeper, replying, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So, they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” The Gospel of John tells a slight variation of when Simon Peter first met Jesus, including an earlier name change than the other three Gospels. John 1:35-42 tells of Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, hearing John the Baptist cry out, “Look, the Lamb of God!” as Jesus passed by. After Andrew heard this, he immediately ran to find his brother and tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” Jesus, meeting Simon for the first time, greeted Simon with a gift: a new name. “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” In all of the Gospels, Jesus began to travel throughout the region after he had called His first disciples. He taught in synagogues, healed sicknesses and attracted large crowds everywhere He went. How awestruck must these first Apostles have been witnessing these miracles and hearing the Sermon on the Mount as written in Matthew 5. Just a few chapters later, Simon Peter witnesses a very personal miracle, as Jesus visits his mother-in-law, sick in bed with a fever. Matthew 8:14-15 tells of Jesus “touching her hand and the fever left her.” The faith of Peter was growing. That faith would be tested though later in Matthew 8, when the experienced fisherman found himself caught in a furious storm while out in a boat with Jesus, who was sleeping. The Apostles, many of whom were likely still just beginning to grasp the divine abilities of Jesus, frantically awoke him saying “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Matthew 8:26: “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Sitting in the boat, an astonished Simon Peter stared at the calm waters which just seconds ago had been raging all around him. His faith was growing. Another miracle that Jesus would perform not long thereafter points to Simon Peter beginning to form a particular group with James and John out of the twelve Apostles. When a synagogue leader named Jairus earnestly pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying daughter, as written in Mark 5:21-43, Jesus would eventually only bring Peter, James, and John into the home to witness the healing. Perhaps it was for them to witness the mourners laughing at Jesus as He announced “The child is not dead, but asleep” or maybe Jesus wished Peter to see those miraculous steps the little girl took towards Him after she was resurrected. No matter what Jesus’ motives, it’s clear that this trio of Apostles (who would also be the only ones present at the Transfiguration of Jesus and were called deeper by Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane) were special. It’s clear throughout the Bible that Simon Peter was essentially the “spokesman” of the twelve Apostles. Whenever they are all listed by name (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16; Acts 1:13), Peter is mentioned first. On a few occasions, when multiple Apostles were present or speaking, only Peter is specifically mentioned by name and the others are merely with him (Mark 1:36; Luke 8:45). His authority was recognizable by others as well; Matthew 17:24 tells of the collectors of the temple tax approaching Peter specifically to question him regarding Jesus. Peter – displaying remarkable insight, developing a depth to his faith, but still harboring reservations and doubts – was the perfect representative of the Apostles, as stubborn and foolhardy as they often were. Matthew 14 and Matthew 16 both contain a monumental event in Peter’s life and both of them are preceded with a misstep or misunderstanding by the Apostles. In Matthew 14, Jesus attempts to retreat to a solitary place following the death of John the Baptist. Crowds followed Him regardless, and while still mourning the loss of His close friend, Jesus “had compassion on them and healed their sick.” As night fell though, the worn-out disciples implored Jesus to dismiss the crowds so they would go away to buy themselves food and leave them alone. Jesus, likely beginning to prepare the Apostles for their ministry following His ascension into heaven, replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And while they could only muster five loaves and two fish, Jesus taught them an important lesson that night: despite their “little faith” (Matthew 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, 17:20), what they have is enough. After five thousand were fed and twelve baskets of leftovers collected, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat (a recurring location of transformative moments in Peter’s life) and meet Him on the other side. Jesus dismissed the crowds and retreated up the mountainside to pray alone. As the night grew later, the Apostle’s boat traveled a “considerable distance from land” as the wind had picked up. As they continued to traverse across the lake and dawn approached, an impossible sight appeared: a man, Jesus himself, walking on the water. Matthew 14:26-27: When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Then, Simon Peter took a leap of faith. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Simon Peter, a normal fisherman from Bethsaida, stepped out of the boat. Eyes fixed on Jesus, he began to walk across the water. But as the wind picked up, his gaze on the Lord wavered and he instead looked at the waves all around him. Afraid and sinking into the cold water, Simon Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” There was no hesitation at all by Jesus. Matthew 14:31 – “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”” Peter and Jesus returned to the boat, where the incredulous Apostles began to worship Jesus saying, ““Truly you are the Son of God.” Two chapters later, the second prominent milestone of Peter would take place, and it was preceded with Jesus yet again questioning the Apostles and their little faith while in a boat. Matthew 16:5-12 depicts Jesus and the Apostles traveling across a lake. The Apostles had forgotten to pack bread for their journey, and Jesus took the opportunity to begin teaching them to be on their guard against “the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The Apostles took the words in a literal sense (as they too often did) and began to discuss the teaching among themselves, as they assumed it was a form of chastisement from Jesus brought forth due to their forgetfulness. Matthew 16:7 – “They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” This reaction is unique for a number of reasons. Firstly, prior to this journey they had witnessed Jesus on multiple occasions supernaturally multiply bread right in front of them. Secondly, both scripture passages of this story (Mark 8:14-21 also tells of this moment) specifically displays them discussing this apparent chastisement by Jesus just among themselves, without including Jesus in the conversation. The all-knowing Jesus immediately cuts into the chatter and makes it clear that His teaching is regarding something much more serious than baking ingredients. Matthew 16:9 – Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” It’s not hard to imagine a stunned silence filling the boat, as Simon Peter and the other Apostles realized the profundity of Jesus’ words and the deeper meaning He was speaking to them. Arriving in the region of Caesarea Philippi, these thoughts were likely still swirling in Simon Peter’s head as Jesus turned to His disciples and asked: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The first replies were hesitant and non-committal: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then, Jesus presented the most important question they’d ever face. Matthew 16:15 – “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” It was Simon Peter who stepped up for his second leap of faith. Matthew 16:16 – “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”” This was the first outright proclamation by an Apostle that Jesus was truly the Messiah – the one promised by God to save His people. It was a significant moment, and the response by Jesus was also significant. Matthew 16:17-18 – “Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Simon Peter had become the foundation of the future Catholic Church, but just a few verses later, it was clear that his sturdiness was still under construction. With everything slowly falling into place for Jesus to fulfill His mission, He began to explain what was soon to come. Peter however, still riding high from being given the keys of the kingdom, wasn’t too fond of the idea of his closest friend going to Jerusalem to be killed. Matthew 16:22 – “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”” Jesus replied with a stinging rebuke of His own, one that likely cut Peter to the core. Matthew 16:23 – “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”” The teaching that followed from Jesus, as Peter stood reeling from the swift reproachment, was one that would shape the lives of many future holy men and women of the Catholic Church. Matthew 16:24-25 – “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”” As sharp as this moment was for the future saint, Peter took it in stride. He experienced the wonder of the Transfiguration of Jesus just six days later, at which he had the unique opportunity of being interrupted by God Himself, speaking down from the clouds. Matthew 17:4-5 – “Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”” Peter and his fellow Apostles continued to do just that, but they found themselves dumbstruck while listening to Jesus on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, as they sat around the table to eat: one of them would betray the Messiah and Peter would deny Jesus three times. Jesus, alluding again to His death, had foretold the desertion of the Apostles and Peter’s response again resolutely denied this charge: “Even if I fall away on account of you, I never will.” Matthew 17:34-35 – ““Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.” But try as he might to prevent Jesus from being taken away later that night, going so far as to strike the servant of the high priest with his sword and cut off his ear, Peter was forced to witness the betrayal of Judas and arrest of Jesus. Peter, his world crashing down all around him, retreated to the courtyard as Jesus was brought before the high priests, who mocked and scorned his friend, his leader, the Son of Man. First, a servant girl came to him: “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said to Peter as Jesus was spit at and struck. He uttered his first denial – “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then, a second slave woman noticed him and said to the people around them – “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” As bloodthirsty cries for Jesus, who had called Peter out into the depths, to be put to death rung out in the courtyard, Peter denied him again – “I do not know the man. And a final time, as more bystanders noticed his accent and came up to him with accusations, he began to curse and swear, crying out – “I do not know the man!” Immediately, a rooster crowed, and the devastating words of Jesus Christ had come true: Peter had denied Jesus three times. Just before Jesus was led away to face Pontius Pilate, be crowned with thorns, and ultimately crucified upon Golgotha, He locked eyes with Peter, who was filled with sorrow. He left the courtyard and wept bitterly. But the tomb would not remain occupied for long, and redemption was on its way to Peter. All four Gospels tell of the Resurrection of Jesus, with the Gospel of John providing unique details to the discovery of the empty tomb. After Mary Magdalene discovered the stone had been rolled away, it was Peter who she ran to in distress, believing someone to have taken the body of Jesus from the tomb. Simon and John immediately ran to the tomb, with John arriving first but remaining outside. Peter however, arrived at the tomb and went straight in. Stunned, Peter saw the strips of linen and the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head, lying on the ground. The immensity of what had happened was beginning to dawn on them. Even when Mary Magdalene told them of her seeing Jesus risen from the dead, many of the Apostles were likely still in a state of tense disbelief while together later that day in the locked upper room. But before they knew it, Jesus was there, standing in their midst. He would appear in the room again a week later to prove He had returned to Thomas the Apostle, who had been absent at the first reappearance. But it was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after being raised from the dead that was most significant for Peter. John 21:1-14 tells of the Apostles once again on the Sea of Galilee. Peter, likely still yearning for a chance to reconcile with Jesus after his denials, had returned to his original occupation and familiar pastime: fishing. In a reflection of the first time Peter had encountered Jesus, they were fishing without success until a man on the shore called out to them. John 21:5-6 – “He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” The disciple whom Jesus loved immediately cried out “It is the Lord!” and that was all Peter needed to hear. Refusing to even wait for the boat to return to shore, Peter sprung into the water and swam the roughly hundred yards to shore, where Jesus was preparing a familiar breakfast of bread and fish. It was after this meal that Jesus finally spoke to Peter, but the conversation did not go how the future saint likely expected. John 21:15 – “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”” Twice more Jesus would ask Peter, “Do you love me?” and a perplexed Peter responded earnestly in affirmation but was hurt by what he perceived as a lack of trust between Jesus and himself on account of the repeated questions. “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you,” Peter responded to Jesus’ final question. But it was not an absence of trust that had led Jesus to ask Peter three times, but instead an opportunity for redemption – the three denials of Jesus had now been countered with three declarations of love. With that conversation Jesus reinstated Peter; the betrayal had been superseded by an ultimate act of forgiveness and love. Peter was at the head of a flurry of activity following the Ascension of Jesus Christ, which is depicted clearly in the Acts of the Apostles. He was in charge of appointing the replacement of Judas Iscariot, he was the first to preach following the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (which was so powerful that 3,000 people asked to be baptized following his preaching), and he even was the first one to defend the Church by rendering judgement upon anyone who sought to damage it (the first case being Ananias and Sapphira for lying about their almsgiving). He was even the first Apostle to perform a miracle of healing. A crippled beggar, cast down lame on the side of the road by some affliction, asked Peter for some money. While he had none on him, he instead told the man that in the name of Jesus the Nazarene, to arise and walk. Immediately cured of his lameness, the beggar stood up and was able to walk freely. As the Apostles began to fan out across the regions, Peter was instrumental in spreading the message of Jesus, but not without coming into conflict with the Jewish authorities, still dismayed by the boldness being displayed by the followers of the man they had put to death. Acts 4 tells of Peter and John being brought before the same high priests who had not long ago been spitting upon Jesus, to question their power to teach the people. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered a matchless declaration that it was by the name of “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead” that they did their mighty deeds. The high priests were astonished that these “unschooled, ordinary men” could have such wisdom and courage and they quickly attempted to threaten and silence them. But it was the faith of Peter, growing steadily through every miracle and misstep he had experienced in his journey with Jesus Christ, that led him to boldly reply, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Even when King Herod attempted to arrest and persecute some who belonged to Christ’s Church, including Peter, God had other plans for him. Acts 12 depicts Peter, bound with chains, freed and guided out of the prison by an angel; an escape so miraculous that when he arrived at the house of Mary, the mother of John, he had to knock multiple times before they believed it was truly him to let him in! On and on the stories continue, as Peter preached to countless regions and races, converting hearts for the Lord. We don’t know precisely the events towards the end of his life and details such as whether he ever physically resided in Rome, but testimony of Peter’s martyrdom is widespread. Following the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64, the emperor Nero wished to place the blame on Christians for the fire that had destroyed their city. Three months after the fire, on the “dies imperii” of Nero assuming power (the ten-year anniversary of him ascending the throne), Church tradition tells of Peter being sentenced to death by crucifixion at Vatican Hill. Peter had initially been encouraged to flee the city by his followers, in order to escape persecution, but stories tell of Peter coming across Christ, heading the other way as he fled the city. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” Realizing he is about to make the same mistake he made when denying Jesus three times, Peter turned around to return to Rome and accept his martyrdom. The death of Peter had been foretold by Jesus during that fateful breakfast next to the Sea of Galilee: “when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” However, Peter felt he was unworthy to die in the exact same manner that Jesus had, so he made one final request: to be crucified upside down. Most historians believe he died between the ages of 62 and 67. Most recounts of Saint Peter’s life tell of him having been buried in Rome near Vatican Hill. It was at his burial site that in the early 4th century, Emperor Constantine I built a large basilica in honor of Peter. The exact location of Peter’s body and relics were largely a mystery until 1950, when human bones were discovered beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. Believing these to belong to Saint Peter, an excavation began in 1953 that unearthed St. Peter’s tomb in Jerusalem (bearing the name Simon) as well as the tombs of other apostles. More excavations were conducted in the 1960s, which eventually led to Pope Paul VI in 1968 announcing that the relics they had discovered belonged to the Apostle Peter. Finally, on November 24, 2013, Pope Francis revealed the relics of nine bone fragments for the first time to the public during a Mass celebrated in the very square that bore Peter’s name. Jesus did not coddle the twelve Apostles. He loved them and cared for them deeply, but He was unafraid to correct the course of their words and actions. Fully God and fully man, He purposely selected fallible, fragile humans to be His closest followers. Saint Peter, an inquisitive, brash, hopeful follower of Christ, was the perfect leader of this group and provided the foundation for the Church we still love and cling to today. As the waves of our life rise, and the winds blow all around us, may we keep our eyes on Jesus as Peter did, and walk towards him with trust and faith. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Anthony of the Desert had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius. But what we do know is that he spent most of his days in solitude- living in the desert as a hermit – while occasionally traveling into cities to defend Christians from Roman persecution or spreading heresy. Anthony was extremely devoted to the Lord, and his ascetic lifestyle inspired many to devote themselves as well. His feast day is January 17th. St. Anthony of the Desert 250 - 356 Feast Day: January 17 Location: Coma, a village in Lower Egypt Identifiers: Abbott, Hermit Relic located in the: Left Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Anthony of the Desert went by many names (St. Anthony of Egypt, St. Anthony the Great, St. Anthony Abbot, and more) but had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius titled “The Life of Saint Anthony the Great.” But what we do know about him, is inspiring in our current day and age. Anthony was born around 250 A.D. in the village of Coma, located in Lower Egypt to an extremely wealthy family. His parents owned three hundred acres of land, which Anthony inherited around the age of 20 when his parents died, leaving him with vast wealth and the care of his unmarried sister. One day while attending Mass though, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew changed everything for the future Father of All Monks. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven.” – Matthew 19:21 While most would balk at the prospect of living out those words to their fullest, Anthony decided to do just that around the year 285: he gave away some of the inherited land to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, and donated all of the funds to the poor. Placing his sister in the care of a group of Christian virgins, he left the city and entered the desert. Anthony was not the first monk or ascetic hermit, but he was notable for being one of the first to truly cut himself off from civilization. While most monastics chose to practice their lifestyle on the outskirts of cities, Anthony decided to head into the desert region called the Nitra, which was about 95 km west of Alexandria and filled with some of the most rugged terrain that could be found. According to Athanasius’ biography, Anthony remained in this area for 15 years, practicing a strict ascetic diet of only bread, salt and water, eating at most only once a day. He took up strenuous spiritual exercises, such as staying up all night, choosing sleepless nights of prayer over a restful night of sleep. He had discovered, as written in his biography, that “the mind of the soul is strong when the pleasures of the body are weak.” Trial would soon arrive at Anthony’s doorstep, as the devil perceived the strength of this ascetic monk. Anthony, who had walled himself into a ruin in order to devote himself fully and perfectly to the Lord, was afflicted with boredom, laziness and even the phantoms of women as the devil attempted to break his focus. Anthony combatted these afflictions with the power of prayer, which would eventually form a theme for future Christian art. Saint Anthony being assailed by demons became a popular subject in the history of art and literature in the 15th Century. The earliest depiction of him being attacked by demons can be traced to a wall painting in the atrium of Santa Maria Antiqua, a Catholic Church in Italy, from the 10th Century. Perhaps the most famous depiction was an engraving by Martin Schongauer titled “The Temptation of St. Anthony”, which Michelangelo would later use to paint one of his earliest known paintings, “The Torment of Saint Anthony.” The calmness of Saint Anthony depicted in the artwork is hard to believe when reading the torments he endured, as recounted by Athanasius. The demons would assault him furiously, both physically and spiritually, but Anthony endured the attacks. Despite being beaten to the point of unconsciousness, phantoms appearing in the form of horrid wild beasts, and repeated attacks, he persevered. When he would see the wolves, lions, snakes and scorpions gathering in an attempt to attack, he would laugh at them scornfully and say, “If any of you have any authority over me, only one would have been sufficient to fight me.” At the age of 35, he wished to retreat to absolute solitude and relocated to an abandoned Roman fort for another 20 years of ardent prayer. Food was thrown to him over the wall, and he would not allow anyone to enter, but word of his devotion to the Lord spread, and gradually a number of would-be disciples would come to the wall to listen to his advice. As the number of followers grew to the nearby caves and huts around the mountain, many begged Anthony to come out and be a guide for those wishing to imitate his spiritual life. Finally, around the year 305, Anthony emerged from his retreat. By this time, after decades of solitude, most expected him to have wasted away physically or been driven insane mentally, but who would emerge but a perfectly healthy and serene Anthony of the Desert, clothed in sackcloth and sheepskin but rippling with muscle. Rejuvenated, he continued his mission to serve the Lord, even as his legend grew. He would soon found two monasteries for the great body of monks which had formed, and he wrote a rule of life in order to help guide them in the path of ascetism. These were reportedly the first monasteries ever founded, which led to the namesake “Father of All Monks”, despite the fact Anthony himself was not in fact, the first monk to exist. Anthony is noted for not allowing the attention or number of followers distract him from remaining solely focused on the Lord, both in his own personal life, and in the monasteries he was founding. It is written he had a disdain for “stately buildings and well-laden tables”, so all of his efforts were rooted in a focus on Christ alone. After his time guiding those seeking to practice self-denial and the hermetic life, he focused his efforts on aiding the Church amidst the persecution of Egyptian Christians in the early 300’s. Word had spread to Anthony of the severe attacks by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, in which churches were razed, scriptures burned, and Christians martyred. He and several monks traveled to Alexandria, where they ministered to the persecuted. The Governor of Alexandria is reported to have ordered Anthony not to show up in the city and continue to comfort those imprisoned, but Anthony, in hopes that he would be tortured and martyred, refused. He was 60 years old at the time, and fearlessly exposing himself to danger in hopes of being an ultimate witness to the faith. He spent the majority of his remaining years returning to solitude in order to pray, as well as share teachings with those who traveled to hear him. Occasionally, he would grow tired of visitors keeping him from his worship, so he eventually went further into the Eastern Desert of Egypt, finding a spring of water and palm trees. He created an inner monastery there, where he would often retreat to following trips to the desert to visit the brethren of monks. On the spot where he settled amid the palm trees now stands the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great. He traveled out of his desert solitude only one additional time, around the year 338 when the Arian heresy began spreading in Egypt. The former deacon Arius began swaying many Egyptian Christians with his teachings about how Jesus was not equal with God, and the leader of the church in Alexandria, Athanasius himself, called upon Anthony to join him in a campaign to champion the truth to the people of Egypt. The future saint provided an eloquent defense of the belief as Jesus being true God and true Man, which led to the eventual elimination of Arianism. Anthony would live to be over 100 years old, but still miraculously maintain the appearance of youth. Eventually, Anthony felt that the day of his departure was nearing. He commanded his disciples with strict instructions to give away his possessions (which consisted of a staff and two sheepskin cloaks) and to bury his body in an unmarked, secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. He died around the year 356. He was 105 years old. Saint Anthony was canonized Pre-Congregation and left no physical writings behind. A handful of his words are included in the Apophthegmata, a collection of sayings attributed to the early desert fathers and mothers, but he most likely only spoke his native language of Coptic, and almost certainly was illiterate. But through the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert, we discover a great, divine paradox. He hardly ate, yet remained in perfect health. He grew extremely old, yet retained the appearance of youth. He lived in extreme isolation, yet grew agonizingly popular. He possessed so little, yet continually gave so much. Saint Anthony, devoted to the Lord, persevering against afflictions, and emboldened in faith, was aware of his shortcomings, but rooted himself in what he knew to be his ultimate strength. When two Greek philosophers traveled to speak with Anthony, he questioned why they “wished to meet with a fool.” They replied that they viewed him as no fool, but wise and prudent. In response, Anthony said: “If you think me prudent, become as I am, for we ought to imitate what is good. And if I had come to you, I should have imitated you; but if you to me, become as I am, for I am a Christian.” While those philosophers departed in silence, having no desire to be converted, may we have our hearts and lives converted by Saint Anthony the Great. Next Item Previous Item

The sealing of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church. If, for whatever reason, you have not received this powerful sacrament, we encourage you to do so! During the Fall Semester, Adult Confirmation preparation is offered through an 8-10 week course. Confirmation - Adult The sealing of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church. If, for whatever reason, you have not received this powerful sacrament, we encourage you to do so! During the Fall Semester, Adult Confirmation preparation is offered through an 8-10 week course. 18+ years old Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Katie Krall Adult FF/ Marriage Manager kkrall@ap.church 832-482-4147 The sealing of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church. If, for whatever reason, you have not received this powerful sacrament, we encourage you to do so! During the Fall Semester, Adult Confirmation preparation is offered through an 8-10 week course. What you need: Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old AND graduated from High School. Have already received the Sacrament of Baptism in the Catholic Church. Do not have any marriage impediments. Are growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Fill out the Adult Confirmation Interest Form ***You will need to provide a recently issued copy of your baptismal certificate dated within the last 6 months. Please call the church that you were baptized at and ask them to “re-issue” your baptismal certificate. Please Note: If you are married, and you and/or your spouse are Catholic, but you were not married in the Catholic Church, you will need to have your marriage convalidated prior to becoming Catholic. For more information and to see if this applies to you, please read the Marital Status Information below. Marital Status Information Adult Confirmation Request Form

The Tomb of the Holy Innocents is under the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem. The relic is a piece of their tomb. They were martyred in the 1st Century and their feast day is December 28.  The Holy Innocents are the male infants of the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, whose deaths were recorded in Matthew 2:1-18. The infants were put to death by the soldiers of King Herod the Great (r. 37-4 B.C.) in order to prevent the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy that the King of the Jews would be born in the little town. The exact number of the slain is unknown, but it can be deduced that the population of Bethlehem during that period was not large. An angel warned Joseph of the impending danger and thus the Holy Family escaped into Egypt. The fourth-century poet Prudentius called the infants the flores martyrum, “flowers of martyrdom.” According to legend, one of Herod’s own sons, who was with a wet nurse in Bethlehem, was also slain.  The Holy Innocents 1st Century Feast Day: December 28 Location: Bethlehem Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: Left Reliquary Type of Relic: A rare relic of their tomb The Tomb of the Holy Innocents is under the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem. The relic is a piece of their tomb. They were martyred in the 1st Century and their feast day is December 28. The Holy Innocents are the male infants of the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, whose deaths were recorded in Matthew 2:1-18. The infants were put to death by the soldiers of King Herod the Great (r. 37-4 B.C.) in order to prevent the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy that the King of the Jews would be born in the little town. The exact number of the slain is unknown, but it can be deduced that the population of Bethlehem during that period was not large. An angel warned Joseph of the impending danger and thus the Holy Family escaped into Egypt. The fourth-century poet Prudentius called the infants the flores martyrum, “flowers of martyrdom.” According to legend, one of Herod’s own sons, who was with a wet nurse in Bethlehem, was also slain. MATTHEW 2:1-18 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” (Bunson, Matthew E. Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints. 2nd ed., Our Sunday Visitor Inc.,u.s., 2014.) Next Item Previous Item

Saint Padre Pio was a luminous and captivating Italian priest who generated immense interest and even controversy during his life, but at the core of his mission, served the Lord faithfully through piety and charity. Born in Italy in 1887, he enjoyed “playing church” at a young age, eventually being ordained a priest in 1910. He soon experienced intense visions of Jesus, leading to the stigmata – the wounds of Christ appearing on his hands, feet, and side. Despite the complications attached to these beautiful wounds, Padre Pio embraced his sufferings and lived a life centered on the love of Jesus. St. Padre Pio 1887 - 1968 Feast Day: September 23 Location: Italy Identifiers: Confessor, Franciscan, Stigmata Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: Blood-soaked bandage Saint Padre Pio was a luminous and captivating Italian priest who generated immense interest and even controversy during his life, but at the core of his mission, served the Lord faithfully through his piety and charity. Born in Pietrelcina, Italy on May 25, 1887, Francesco Forgione was focused on the Lord starting in his earliest days. Baptized the day after he was born, he decided at just the age of five to consecrate himself to Jesus. He enjoyed singing hymns, reading and praying, and even “playing church” where he acted out serving as presider of a Mass. His parents were peasant framers who were very religious and supported his Catholic development, attending daily Mass and praying the Rosary nightly along with his older brother and three younger sisters. It is written that even as a young boy, he possessed the ability to see and communicate with his guardian angel, Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He didn’t think much of it though at the time, as he assumed other people could see them too. To help support his relatively poor family, Francesco tended to a small flock of sheep for many years. While this helped his relatively poor family get by, it also delayed his education to the point that later when the first desires to become a priest began stirring in his heart, only having three years of public schooling quickly became an issue. Francesco was also very sickly as a child. He suffered from gastroenteritis at the age of six and survived a bout of typhoid fever when he was ten. His health would continue to ail him for most of his life, but he never let it get in the way of his pursuit of holiness. In 1897, a young Capuchin friar traveling across the countryside inspired Francesco to pursue religious life. “I want to be a friar… with a beard” he reportedly told his parents, who traveled with the future saint to Morcone, Italy, home to an order of Capuchin Franciscan Friars. While they were interested in admitting him, they told his family that more education would be needed before he could join. In order to pay for the private tutoring needed for his son, Francesco’s father Grazio traveled to the United States to search for work. Thanks to his father’s dedication and hard work, enough money was sent home to tutor Francesco sufficiently so that he passed the necessary academic requirements to join the Friars. On January 6, 1903, he entered the novitiate in Morcone, and on January 22, donned the Franciscan habit for the first time. At the age of 15, he was now known as Fra Pio, in honor of Pope Pius I, whose relic he saw regularly at a chapel in his hometown. Pio’s seven-year study for the priesthood would begin with further health issues, when at the age of 17, he fell severely ill with loss of appetite, insomnia, exhaustion, and migraines. He could only stomach milk and cheese and experienced fainting spells regularly. During this time though, inexplicable phenomena began to occur with Pio, with fellow monks reportedly seeing him levitate during prayer. Pio’s health continued to decline at the friary though, and his superiors decided to send him to a mountain convent, in hopes that the change of air would improve his health. This too proved to be little help, and eventually his doctors advised him to return home, all the while he continued his studies for the priesthood. On January 27, 1907, he made his solemn profession, and on August 10, 1910, the twenty-three-year-old Fra Pio was ordained a priest by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi at the Cathedral of Benevoto. Four days later, he celebrated his very first Mass at the church of Our Lady of the Angels. From the very beginnings of his priesthood, Padre Pio became well-known for his immense piety. He would include long pauses of contemplative silence during various parts of the Mass, which could sometimes make the service last several hours. The parish priest in Pietrelcina called Pio “an incomprehensible mystery” and when asked to shorten his Mass, Pio responded, “God knows that I want to say Mass just like any other priest, but I cannot do it.” Many people began traveling to meet him, confess to him, or simply try to hear some of his wisdom. He compared weekly confession to the act of “dusting a room” and encouraged Christians to recognize God in all things, and to continually strive to do the will of God. His life took a sudden turn in 1914 with the beginning of World War I. A number of Capuchin Friars became drafted in the Italian Army, and Pio himself was drafted on November 15, 1915. He was assigned to the 10th Medical Corps in Naples, but due to his poor health, he was continually discharged from active service until finally a bout of tuberculosis led to him being declared unfit for military service on March 16, 1918. He returned to the friary at San Giovanni Rotondo, where he would remain for the rest of his life. It was in the period of many people rebuilding their lives after the war that Padre Pio really began to emerge as a symbol of hope among the faithful. He became a spiritual director and began to experience extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit that captivated those who heard of the friar. On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio had an intense vision of Jesus after serving at Mass earlier that day. When the vision ended, he felt a sharp pain and noticed the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appearing on his hands, feet and side. They would soon become permanent and remain on his body for the next 50 years. Countless experts and doctors looked at the wounds, with numerous attempts to explain the miraculous nature of their appearance. Some questioned the authenticity of the wounds, which were perfectly round and said to smell of roses. Pio felt a sense of humiliation from the wounds and the controversy that they created. It didn’t help that many were also attesting to his ability to bilocate, levitate, heal wounds, prophecy, and abstain from sleep and nourishment for extraordinary amounts of time. “Will he at least free me from the embarrassment caused by these outward signs?” Pio wrote. “I will raise my voice and will not stop imploring him until in his mercy he takes away, not the wound or the pain, which is impossible since I wish to be inebriated with pain, but these outward signs which cause me such embarrassment and unbearable humiliation.” Life became complicated for Padre Pio, as his popularity soared and became a source of concern for the Church and the Vatican. The authenticity of the stigmata was called into question in 1924 and again in 1931, and the Vatican restricted Pio’s ability to celebrate Mass publicly or to hear confessions. He did not complain or argue against these decisions, and they were reversed soon after. A church investigation into his stigmata concluded that his condition was not faked. By 1934, he was back to performing his full public duties as a priest. He focused a large portion of his ministry as a “martyr of the confessional”, hearing hours upon hours of confessions from those flocking to his convent to attain absolution. His superiors at the convent were forced to develop an organizational system for making reservations to keep the large crowds under control. Around 1940, Pio was inspired to erect a hospital for the sick and suffering. In 1946, ground was broken on a plot of land near Mount Gargano that would eventually become a 350-bed hospital known as the “House for the Alleviation of the Suffering.” In 1947, a young Fr. Karol Wojtyla was studying in Rome, when he made the pilgrimage to meet Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, and have his confession heard by him. Decades later, when Fr. Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II (another saint whose relic will be alongside Padre Pio’s in the Our Lady of the Angels reliquary at St. Anthony of Padua), many speculated whether Pio had divulged any prophecy to the future Pope about what was to come. Pope John Paul II later clarified that while he did not tell him that he would one day be Pope, he did reveal that Pio had admitted a rare, significant detail about his stigmata – when asked by Wojtyla which one of his wounds caused him the most suffering, Pio replied “It is my shoulder wound, which no one knows about and has never been cured or treated.” With many historians providing a diligent analysis of Padre Pio’s life, it is revealed that Saint Pope John Paul II was the only person Padre Pio ever told about his most painful wound. While it is remarkable that Pio refrained from telling the young Polish priest about his future papacy, it is perhaps even more remarkable that he would choose John Paul II, and not any of the future Popes he would meet in his life, about this wound. Padre Pio continued to carry out his ministries dutifully, garnering large crowds seeking to witness his piety, charity, and quality of his preaching. On June 5th, 1954, Pio was forced to celebrate Mass outside on the plaza in front of the church, because the size of the crowd was too large to accommodate all of the worshippers. His health declined rapidly in his later years, battling everything from cancer to arthritis. He offered all of his bodily sufferings up to God as a sacrifice and for the conversion of souls, saying “I am fully convinced that my illness is due to a special permission of God.” On August 10, 1960, Padre Pio celebrated 50 years of priesthood. By 1965, he gained permission from the Holy See to continue to celebrate Masses but remain seated due to this health. He collapsed after celebrating Mass on September 22, 1968, but still went to the confessional in an attempt to administer the sacrament of reconciliation. He was unable to hear confessions due to his condition, but still managed to bless a large group of people who had crowded in front of his church, as well as bless a group of parishioners who had assembled in the church to pray later that evening. Padre Pio died on September 23, 1968 after receiving the sacrament of confession, renewing his priestly vows, receiving the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, and holding a rosary. His last words were “Gesú, Maria” (“Jesus, Mary”) repeated over and over until he breathed his last. He was 81. His funeral on September 26 was attended by more than 100,00 people, and he was buried later that day. On March 20, 1983, the diocesan procedure was initiated for the canonization of Padre Pio. He was beatified on May 2, 1999 and canonized on June 16, 2002, both by his close friend, Pope John Paul II. His canonization Mass was one of the largest liturgies in the history of the Vatican. Recalling his encounters with Padre Pio, Pope John Paul II said, “Prayer and charity–this is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pio’s teaching.” The San Giovanni Rotondo is second only to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in its number of annual visitors – nearly eight million pilgrims visit the site of Saint Padre Pio’s incorrupt body annually. He is the patron saint of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and the village of Pietrelcina. Saint Padre Pio lived out the words of St. Paul to the Colossians in chapter 1, verse 24: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.” He embraced his sufferings, his abilities and his love for Jesus Christ in order to captivate the world; not necessarily through spectacular feats and miracles, but instead at the foundation of the wonder, was an awe for his inspiring piety, prayer and charity. Next Item Previous Item