Liturgical Calendar

Saint of the day

Saint Catherine of Alexandria (d.305)

Saint Catherine is thought to have been born in Alexandria to a noble family. She converted to Christianity after she had a life-altering vision. Catherine criticized Emperor Maxentius for his persecution of Christians. In an attempt to sway Catherine away from her newfound faith, Maxentius offered her an advantageous marriage if she denounced her Christianity. Catherine refused, and she was thrown into prison. While she was incarcerated, Catherine converted the wife of Maxentius and 200 of his soldiers to Christianity. In his anger, Maxentius had them all put to death. Catherine also suffered the same fate. She was condemned to be tortured on a spiked wheel, and when the wheel miraculously broke she was beheaded instead. Saint Catherine is the patron saint of philosophers and preachers.

Reflection

Sometimes we take our Christian faith for granted, or bump it down a few notches on the list of things that are the most important to us. By not making our faith the most important thing in our lives, we run the risk of being easily swayed to denounce it when we are faced with temptation. Saint Catherine faced many temptations from Maxentius when he tried to sway her from her Christian beliefs. Because her faith was the most important thing in her life, she refused these temptations and stood strong in her Christian beliefs, even when faced with death. Have a conversation with the Lord. Ask him to help you refuse temptation and make your Christianity a more important part of your life.

Prayer

Loving God, help me to make choices that reflect your desire and love. Please lead me away from temptation, but when I find myself there, deliver me from evil. (Taken from “Good News Day by Day: Bible Reflections for Teens.”)

Meditations

Meditation for Gospel

The Father gives Jesus kingship over both heaven and earth. Jesus's Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom that is finite but rather a heavenly Kingdom that lasts forever. Each Sunday in the Nicene Creed, we pray: "[Jesus] ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end" (Sacramentary, page 368). Jesus ascends to this position of honor by bearing witness to the truth, even dying on a cross. The way to truth then is through Jesus Christ. All we need to do is listen to Jesus. (Taken from "Youth Engaging Scripture: Diving into the Sunday Gospels")