Jun 5 – Memorial for St. Boniface, bishop and martyr
Educated at the Benedictine monastary at Exeter, England where he became a monk, Boniface (c.673–754) was a missionary to Germany from 719, assisted by St. Albinus, St. Abel, and St. Agatha. They destroyed idols and pagan temples, and then built churches on the sites.
He was ordained a bishop and later became Archbishop of Mainz. He reformed the churches in his see, and built religious houses in Germany. He ordained St. Sola. He founded the dioceses of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Franconia. He evangelized in Holland, but was set upon by a troop of pagans and he and 52 of his new flock, included St. Adaler and St. Eoban were martyred.
Once in Saxony, Boniface encountered a tribe worshipping a Norse deity in the form of a huge oak tree. Boniface walked up to the tree, removed his shirt, took up an axe, and without a word he hacked down the six-foot wide wooden god. Boniface stood on the trunk, and asked, “How stands your mighty god? My God is stronger than he.” The crowd’s reaction was mixed, but some conversions were begun.
One tradition about St. Boniface says that he used the customs of the locals to help convert them. There was a game in which they threw sticks called kegels at smaller sticks called heides. Boniface brought religion to the game, having the heides represent demons, and knocking them down showing the purity of spirit.
He is the patron of many groups, including World Youth Day.
- Patron Saint Index
Acts 26:19-23
Jn 10:11-16
…I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike…
As with the different seasons in a year, we all go through seasons in the lifespan of our faith and our walk with God. I have come to learn, I am not alone when I feel that my faith life is often trod on rocky ground. Often, I find myself constantly meeting with challenges and stumbling in steadfastness, wondering if God is still with me. Yet as I had joined a faith community recently, I realised that many among us do indeed struggle with cleaving closely to the Lord and trusting in His providence in our lives.
As we dig a little deeper within our friendships and dare to bare more vulnerably, it is both comforting and edifying to realise that a shaky faith is not something to be ashamed of!
The most important part of calling ourselves Christian is to persist valiantly to remain with, and in Christ, to abide with God, come what may. This is certainly what St Paul expounded to the disciples in the early years. “I was blessed with God’s help, and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike, saying nothing more than what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen: that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim that light now shone for our people and for the pagans too.”
Even should we face persecution or trials, we should remember how faithful Christ was in cleaving to God’s Will for him, that he continued to preach and testify about God’s faithfulness and steadfastness — to us!
Christ himself demonstrated that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Once we are received into the faith family, we will forever be marked and known by him. Let us cling fiercely to our covenantal right and never lose sight of God’s fierce love and protection over us. May we unceasingly testify to His goodness and greatness to all, even in the darkness of doubt, even in the choppiness of waters — because He will never forsake us.
And so we must fight to remain faithful, through it all.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Lord, there are times we may seem uncertain, that perhaps we had followed the wrong voice or we doubt that you are with us and for us. Help those who doubt to remember that you have formed a convenant with them, a promise and bond that never shall be broken by you.
Thanksgiving: We thank God for the gift of Baptism and Confirmation by which we are marked as His sheepfold. We are forever His, as He is forever ours.
OXYGEN 
Thank you Debbie.
LikeLike