MEDITATION
JULY 2010
Sunday 4th July ~ Saturday 31st July
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In July we focus on four Feast Days in the month. The first two are Franciscan saints: St Elizabeth of Portugal and St Bonaventure. In the following weeks we have two women saints from the bible: Mary Magdalene and Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus.
St Elizabeth of Portugal (Feast Day July 4th) was born 1271 into the royal family of Aragon. She was married to the king of Portugal at the age of 12. After her husband’s death she renounced the world and lived in poverty as a member of the Third Order of St Francis (the Secular Franciscan Order of today).
St Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church, was born in 1218 (Feast Day July 15th). He became Minister General of the Franciscan Order in 1257. He endeavoured to reconcile the Franciscan spirit of living the gospel life with the administrative demands of a world-wide order. His writings reveal a profound spirituality.
St Mary Magdalene (Feast Day July 22nd) was said to be the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared (Mark 16:9). She was one of his disciples, accompanied him on his journeys through the villages preaching (Luke 8:3) and stood by the cross.
St Martha (Feast Day July 29th), the sister of Mary and Lazarus, at the resurrection of Lazarus, proclaims her faith in Jesus describing Him as “Son of the living God).
Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.
Copyright C 1973,1978,1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission.
Photographs by Liz Hayward, Sr Frances Hall FMDM, Charlotte McDowell, Jennie Mc Manus, Maggie Larkin and Mary Smith.
Used by permission.