Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
St. Peter Canisius
Feastday: December 21
b: 1521 d: 1597
In 1565, the Vatican was looking for a secret agent. It was shortly after the Council of Trent and the pope wanted to get the decrees of the Council to all the European bishops. What would be a simple errand in our day, was a dangerous assignment in the sixteenth century. The first envoy who tried to carry the decrees through territory of hostile Protestants and vicious thieves was robbed of the precious documents. Rome needed someone courageous but also someone above suspicion. They chose Peter Canisius. At 43 he was a well-known Jesuit who had founded colleges that even Protestants respected. They gave him a cover as official "visitor" of Jesuit foundations. But Peter couldn't hide the decrees like our modern fictional spies with their microfilmed messages in collar buttons or cans of shaving cream. Peter traveled from Rome and crisscrossed Germany successfully loaded down with the Tridentine tomes -- 250 pages each -- not to mention the three sacks of books he took along for his own university!
Why did the Vatican choose Peter Canisius for this delicate task?
Born in Holland in 1521, Peter had edited and written several volumes on Church history and theology, been a delegate to the Council of Trent, and reformed the German universities from heresy. Called to Vienna to reform their university, he couldn't win the people with preaching or fancy words spoken in his German accent. He won their hearts by ministering to the sick and dying during a plague. The people, the king, and the pope all wanted to make Peter bishop of Vienna, but Peter declined vigorously and administered the diocese for a year.
For many years during the Reformation, Peter saw the students in his universities swayed by the flashy speeches and the well-written arguments of the Protestants. Peter was not alone in wishing for a Catholic catechism that would present true Catholic beliefs undistorted by fanatics. Finally King Ferdinand himself ordered Peter and his companions to write a catechism. This hot potato got tossed from person to person until Peter and his friend Lejay were assigned to write it. Lejay was obviously the logical choice, being a better writer than Peter. So Peter relaxed and sat back to offer any help he could. When Father Lejay died, King Ferdinand would wait no longer. Peter said of writing: "I have never learned to be elegant as a writer, but I cannot remain dumb on that account." The first issue of the Catechism appeared in 1555 and was an immediate success. Peter approached Christian doctrine in two parts: wisdom -- including faith, hope, and charity -- and justice -- avoiding evil and doing good, linked by a section on sacraments.
Because of the success and the need, Peter quickly produced two more versions: a Shorter Catechism for middle school students which concentrated on helping this age group choose good over evil by concentrating on a different virtue each day of the week; and a Shortest Catechism for young children which included prayers for morning and evening, for mealtimes, and so forth to get them used to praying.
As intent as Peter was on keeping people true to the Catholic faith, he followed the Jesuit policy that harsh words should not be used, that those listening would see an example of charity in the way Catholics acted and preached. However, his companions were not always as willing. He showed great patience and insight with one man, Father Couvillon. Couvillon was so sharp and hostile that he was alienating his companions and students. Anyone who confronted him became the subject of abuse. It became obvious that Couvillon suffered from emotional illness. But Peter did not let that knowledge blind him to the fact that Couvillon was still a brilliant and talented man. Instead of asking Couvillon to resign he begged him to stay on as a teacher and then appointed him as his secretary. Peter thought that Couvillon needed to worry less about himself and pray more and work harder. He didn't coddle him but gave Couvillon blunt advice about his pride. Coming from Peter this seemed to help Couvillon. Peter consulted Couvillon often on business of the Province and asked him to translate Jesuit letters from India. Thanks to Peter , even though Couvillon continued to suffer depression for years, he also accomplished much good.
Peter died in December 21, 1597. He is known as the Second Apostle of Germany and was named a Doctor of the Church.
In His Footsteps
Peter believed in the importance in learning and understanding the Catholic faith. If it is available to you, resolve to read a portion of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. Don't try to read too much but consider reading a page a day. Before we can spread our faith we must have a solid foundation in ourselves.
Prayer:
Saint Peter Canisius, you saw the good in even the most troublesome of people. You found their talents and used them. Help me to see beyond the behavior of others that may bother me to the gifts God has given them. Amen
Copyright 1996-2000 by Terry Matz. All Rights Reserved.
Bl. Adrian
Feastday: December 21
thirteenth century
Dominican martyr in Dalmatia. Adrian and twenty-seven others were executed by Muslims for confessing Christ.
St. Anastasius XII
Feastday: December 21
609
Patriarch of Antioch, the successor of Anastasius, although some scholars believe that there was only one such prelate. This Anastasius was murdered in an uprising of Syrian Jews who had been forced to convert to Christianity
St. Andrew Dung Lac
Feastday: December 21
1839
Vietnamese martyr, companion of St. Peter Thi. Andrew, born in 1785, was a priest in Vietnam, his homeland. He was arrested and beheaded on December 21 with Peter Thi. He was canonized in 1988.
St. Themistoeles
Feastday: December 21
253
With companion Dioscorus, martyrs put to death during the persecutions under Emperor Valerian (r. 253-260). Themistocles was a shepherd in Lycia (modern Turkey). He died by beheading after refusing to divulge the hiding place of Dioscorus who was himself later martyred.
St. Severinus
Feastday: December 21
300
Bishop of Trier, Germany. No details of his labors are available. Trier is the oldest see in Germany
St. Glycerius
Feastday: December 21
303
Martyred priest of Nicomedia, in Asia Minor. He was burned at the stake
St. Honoratus of Toulouse
Feastday: December 21
3rd century
Bishop of Toulouse France, the successor of St. Saturninus. Honoratus consecrated St. Firminus as bishop of Amiens
Sts. John & Festus
Feastday: December 21
unknown
Martyrs of Tuscany, Italy. Their Acta are no longer extant.
St. John Vincent
Feastday: December 21
7th century
Benedictine bishop and hermit. He was a native of Ravenna and a hermit at Monte Caprario.
Scriptural Readings;
11:09 PM (35 minutes ago)
First Reading - Zeph 3:14-18a
14 Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy enemies: the king of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened. 17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise. 18 The triflers that were departed from the law
11:09 PM (35 minutes ago)
Gospel - Lk 1:39-45
39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. 40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
11:09 PM (36 minutes ago)
Psalm - Ps 33:2-3,11-12,20-21
2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector. 21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted
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