June 7 Servant of God Joseph Pérez. breski1 Jun 8, 2010 (1890-1928) The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," said Tertullian in the third century. Joseph Perez carried on that tradition. Joseph …More
June 7 Servant of God Joseph Pérez.
breski1 Jun 8, 2010 (1890-1928) The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," said Tertullian in the third century. Joseph Perez carried on that tradition. Joseph was born in Coroneo, Mexico, and joined the Franciscans when he was 17. Because of Mexico’s civil unrest at that time (the forces of Pancho Villa had crossed into New Mexico on a raid the previous year), he was forced to take his philosophy and theology studies in California.
After ordination at Mission Santa Barbara, he returned to Mexico and served at Jerecuaro from 1922 on. The persecution under the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28) forced Joseph to wear various disguises as he traveled around to visit the Catholics. In 1927 Church property was nationalized, Catholic schools were closed, and foreign priests and nuns were deported.
One day Joseph and several others were captured while returning from a secretly held Mass. Father Perez was stabbed to death by soldiers a few miles …More
breski1 Jun 8, 2010 (1890-1928) The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," said Tertullian in the third century. Joseph Perez carried on that tradition. Joseph was born in Coroneo, Mexico, and joined the Franciscans when he was 17. Because of Mexico’s civil unrest at that time (the forces of Pancho Villa had crossed into New Mexico on a raid the previous year), he was forced to take his philosophy and theology studies in California.
After ordination at Mission Santa Barbara, he returned to Mexico and served at Jerecuaro from 1922 on. The persecution under the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28) forced Joseph to wear various disguises as he traveled around to visit the Catholics. In 1927 Church property was nationalized, Catholic schools were closed, and foreign priests and nuns were deported.
One day Joseph and several others were captured while returning from a secretly held Mass. Father Perez was stabbed to death by soldiers a few miles …More
TUESDAY, 07 JUNE 2011
TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER
Saint(s) of the day : St. Robert of Newminster (12th century) [1]
Saint Justin : «This is eternal life, that they may know you, the
only true God.» [2]
HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN 17:1-11A.
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that …More
TUESDAY, 07 JUNE 2011
TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER
Saint(s) of the day : St. Robert of Newminster (12th century) [1]
Saint Justin : «This is eternal life, that they may know you, the
only true God.» [2]
HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN 17:1-11A.
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son
may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give
eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true
God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to
do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you
before the world began.
I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They
belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your
word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they
accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have
believed that you sent me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have
given me, because they are yours,
and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I
have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world,
while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you
have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB [3]
Commentary of the day :
Saint Justin (c.100-160), philosopher and martyr
Dialogue with Trypho, 2-4, 7-8; PG 6, 478-482, 491
«THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD.»
My soul was impatient to learn what is the principle of
philosophy and specific to it... Knowledge of incorporeal matters held
me entirely captive; the contemplation of ideas gave wings to my
thinking. In a short time, I considered that I had become wise, and I
was even so stupid as to hope to see God immediately, for that is the
goal of Plato's philosophy. In that state of mind... I was going
towards an isolated place, where I was sure I would be alone, when an
old man began to follow me...
«What has brought you here?» he asked. «I like this kind of a
walk ... It is very conducive to philosophical meditation...» «So
philosophy gives happiness?» he asked. «Certainly,» I answered, «and
philosophy alone ...» «So what do you call God?» «That which is always
identical with itself and which gives being to everything else; that
is God.» «How can philosophers get a correct idea of God when they
don't know God, since they have never seen or heard him?» «But,» I
responded, «the divinity is not visible to our eyes like the other
beings; it is not accessible to intelligence alone, as Plato said; and
I agree with him...»
«A long time ago,» the old man said, «there were people who
lived before these so-called philosophers, happy and righteous people
who were friends of God. Inspired by the Spirit of God, they spoke and
predicted a future that has now been realized; they are called
prophets. They alone saw the truth and proclaimed it to humankind...
Those who read them can benefit greatly by them, if they trust them
... They were the faithful witnesses to the truth... They glorified
the creator of the universe, God and Father, and they announced the
one whom he sent, the Christ, his Son... And you, above all pray that
the gates of light might be opened to you, for no one can see or
understand if God or his Christ does not give him understanding...
I never saw him again. But all of a sudden a fire was
enkindled in my soul; I was filled with love for the prophets, for
those people who are Christ's friends. When I reflected on the old
man's words, I recognized that this was the only sure and profitable
philosophy.
www.dailygospel.org
TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER
Saint(s) of the day : St. Robert of Newminster (12th century) [1]
Saint Justin : «This is eternal life, that they may know you, the
only true God.» [2]
HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN 17:1-11A.
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son
may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give
eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true
God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to
do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you
before the world began.
I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They
belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your
word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they
accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have
believed that you sent me.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have
given me, because they are yours,
and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I
have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world,
while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you
have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB [3]
Commentary of the day :
Saint Justin (c.100-160), philosopher and martyr
Dialogue with Trypho, 2-4, 7-8; PG 6, 478-482, 491
«THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD.»
My soul was impatient to learn what is the principle of
philosophy and specific to it... Knowledge of incorporeal matters held
me entirely captive; the contemplation of ideas gave wings to my
thinking. In a short time, I considered that I had become wise, and I
was even so stupid as to hope to see God immediately, for that is the
goal of Plato's philosophy. In that state of mind... I was going
towards an isolated place, where I was sure I would be alone, when an
old man began to follow me...
«What has brought you here?» he asked. «I like this kind of a
walk ... It is very conducive to philosophical meditation...» «So
philosophy gives happiness?» he asked. «Certainly,» I answered, «and
philosophy alone ...» «So what do you call God?» «That which is always
identical with itself and which gives being to everything else; that
is God.» «How can philosophers get a correct idea of God when they
don't know God, since they have never seen or heard him?» «But,» I
responded, «the divinity is not visible to our eyes like the other
beings; it is not accessible to intelligence alone, as Plato said; and
I agree with him...»
«A long time ago,» the old man said, «there were people who
lived before these so-called philosophers, happy and righteous people
who were friends of God. Inspired by the Spirit of God, they spoke and
predicted a future that has now been realized; they are called
prophets. They alone saw the truth and proclaimed it to humankind...
Those who read them can benefit greatly by them, if they trust them
... They were the faithful witnesses to the truth... They glorified
the creator of the universe, God and Father, and they announced the
one whom he sent, the Christ, his Son... And you, above all pray that
the gates of light might be opened to you, for no one can see or
understand if God or his Christ does not give him understanding...
I never saw him again. But all of a sudden a fire was
enkindled in my soul; I was filled with love for the prophets, for
those people who are Christ's friends. When I reflected on the old
man's words, I recognized that this was the only sure and profitable
philosophy.
www.dailygospel.org
June 7 Servant of God Joseph Pérez
(1890-1928) The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," said Tertullian in the third century. Joseph Perez carried on that tradition. Joseph was born in Coroneo, Mexico, and joined the Franciscans when he was 17. Because of Mexico’s civil unrest at that time (the forces of Pancho Villa had crossed into New Mexico on a raid the previous year), he was forced …More
June 7 Servant of God Joseph Pérez
(1890-1928) The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," said Tertullian in the third century. Joseph Perez carried on that tradition. Joseph was born in Coroneo, Mexico, and joined the Franciscans when he was 17. Because of Mexico’s civil unrest at that time (the forces of Pancho Villa had crossed into New Mexico on a raid the previous year), he was forced to take his philosophy and theology studies in California.
After ordination at Mission Santa Barbara, he returned to Mexico and served at Jerecuaro from 1922 on. The persecution under the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28) forced Joseph to wear various disguises as he traveled around to visit the Catholics. In 1927 Church property was nationalized, Catholic schools were closed, and foreign priests and nuns were deported.
One day Joseph and several others were captured while returning from a secretly held Mass. Father Perez was stabbed to death by soldiers a few miles from Celaya on June 2, 1928.
When Joseph’s body was later brought in procession to Salvatierra, it was buried there amid cries of "Viva, Cristo Rey!" (Long live Christ the King!).
Comment:
The Catholic Church in Mexico today is much freer than it was in the 1920’s. Catholicism is very much alive in Mexico today, nurtured in part by martyrs like Father Perez.
Quote:
Father Joseph’s memorial card includes these words: "May almighty God grant that our prayer, which is supported by the bloody sacrifice of this martyr, may graciously appear in his sight and bring salvation to us and redemption to our country" (Marion A. Habig, O.F.M., The Franciscan Book of Saints, p. 412).
www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx
(1890-1928) The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church," said Tertullian in the third century. Joseph Perez carried on that tradition. Joseph was born in Coroneo, Mexico, and joined the Franciscans when he was 17. Because of Mexico’s civil unrest at that time (the forces of Pancho Villa had crossed into New Mexico on a raid the previous year), he was forced to take his philosophy and theology studies in California.
After ordination at Mission Santa Barbara, he returned to Mexico and served at Jerecuaro from 1922 on. The persecution under the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28) forced Joseph to wear various disguises as he traveled around to visit the Catholics. In 1927 Church property was nationalized, Catholic schools were closed, and foreign priests and nuns were deported.
One day Joseph and several others were captured while returning from a secretly held Mass. Father Perez was stabbed to death by soldiers a few miles from Celaya on June 2, 1928.
When Joseph’s body was later brought in procession to Salvatierra, it was buried there amid cries of "Viva, Cristo Rey!" (Long live Christ the King!).
Comment:
The Catholic Church in Mexico today is much freer than it was in the 1920’s. Catholicism is very much alive in Mexico today, nurtured in part by martyrs like Father Perez.
Quote:
Father Joseph’s memorial card includes these words: "May almighty God grant that our prayer, which is supported by the bloody sacrifice of this martyr, may graciously appear in his sight and bring salvation to us and redemption to our country" (Marion A. Habig, O.F.M., The Franciscan Book of Saints, p. 412).
www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx