June 3
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs of Uganda

God has freed us from the raging flame and delivered us from the fire (Daniel 3: 88)

The story of Charles Lwanga and his companions recalls the Old Testament story of Daniel, the virtuous Israelite called to serve in the Babylonian court of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was cast in a lion’s den and his companions were plunged into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship idols, but God delivered them all safely from their trials, and Nebuchadnezzar burst into spontaneous praise of Israel’s God.

Charles Lwanga was a young catechumen when he entered the service of King Mwanga of Uganda. Through Charles' words and example, twelve of the young pages who served with him also began to believe. When these young men refused the king’s licentious demands, Mwanga began a relentless persecution of “those who pray,” as he called the Christians. Charles, who had recently received baptism, himself baptized the young pages shortly before they were martyred together on June 3, 1886, burned to death by a slow fire. They were canonized, with other martyrs of the same period, by Paul VI in 1964.

Prayer in Honor of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions
Father, you have made the blood of the martyrs the seed of Christians. May the witness of Saint Charles and his companions and their loyalty to Christ in the face of torture inspire countless men and women to live in the Christian faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. (The Sacramentary)

June 13
St. Anthony of Padua

Seek the Lord while he may be found (Isaiah 55: 6)

Born in Lisbon, St. Anthony, a Franciscan, carried out his ministry in Padua, where he died at the age of 36. It is said that Anthony had “a loud and clear voice, a winning countenance, wonderful memory, and profound learning, to which were added from on high the spirit of prophecy and an extraordinary gift of miracles.” No wonder, then, that his preaching was so powerful that heretics renounced their errors and fishes put their heads out of the water to listen. There are many stories and legends associated with St. Anthony, whom we know best as the saint we invoke to help us find what is lost.

In His Words
The person who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different tongues. These different tongues are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those tongues when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.

June 29
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

By the grace of God I am what I am (I Corinthians 15:10)

“How glorious are the apostles of Christ; in life they loved one another; in death they rejoice together for ever,” says one of the antiphons for this great feast. Peter and Paul did love one another—traditional icons often show them sharing the kiss of peace—but they also disagreed at times. The twelve had a hard time accepting Paul, who had persecuted the young Church with such vigor, and who was now suddenly preaching Christ; and Paul had his concerns about Peter, especially when the “rock” seemed to be waffling on important issues. But both of these men—unlikely candidates though they were in some ways—were chosen by Christ, who called each of them by a new name (Simon became Peter; Saul became Paul) and followed Jesus in life and death.

In His Words
I think it right, as long as I am in this ‘tent,’ to stir you up by a reminder, since I know that I will soon have to put it aside, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. I shall also make every effort to enable you always to remember these things after my departure. (2 Peter 1: 12-15)

Year of Prayer and Renewal Home