Jun 22 – Memorial for St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Memorial for St. John Fisher, Bishop & St. Thomas More, martyrs
Paulinus (c.354–431) was a friend of St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Nicetas of Remesiana, and was mentioned for his holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints.
He was a distinguished lawyer who held several public offices in the Empire, then retired from public ministry with his wife, Therasia, first to Bordeaux, where they were baptised, and then to Therasia’s estate in Spain. After the death of their only son at the age of only a few weeks, the couple decided to spend the rest of their lives devoted to God. They gave away most of their estates and dedicated themselves to increasing their holiness.
Paulinus became a priest and with Therasia, moved to Nola and gave away the rest of their property. They dedicated themselves to helping the poor. Paulinus was chosen bishop of Nola by popular demand. He governed the diocese for more than 21 years while living in his own home as a monk and continuing to aid the poor. His writings contain one of the earliest examples of a Christian wedding song.
- Patron Saint Index
John Fisher (1469–1535) studied theology at Cambridge University, receiving degrees in 1487 and 1491. He was parish priest in Northallerton, England from 1491–1494. He gained a reputation for his teaching abilities. He was proctor of Cambridge University. He was confessor to Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII, in 1497. He was ordained Bishop of Rochester, England in 1504; he worked to raise the standard of preaching in his see. He became chancellor of Cambridge. He was tutor of the young King Henry VIII. He was an excellent speaker and writer.
When in 1527 he was asked to study the problem of Henry’s marriage, he became the target of Henry’s wrath by defending the validity of the marriage and rejecting Henry’s claim to be head of the Church in England. He was imprisoned in 1534 for his opposition, and he spent 14 months in prison without trial. While in prison, he was created cardinal in 1535 by Pope Paul III. He was martyred for his faith.
- Patron Saint Index
Thomas More (1478–1535) studied at London and Oxford, England. He was a page for the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a lawyer. Twice married, and a widower, he was the father of one son and three daughters, and a devoted family man. He was a writer, most famously of the novel which coined the word ‘utopia’. It was translated with the works of Lucian.
He was known during his own day for his scholarship and the depth of his knowledge. He was a friend to King Henry VIII, and Lord Chancellor of England from 1529–1532, a position of political power second only to the king.
He fought any form of heresy, especially the incursion of Protestantism into England. He opposed the king on the matter of royal divorce, and refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy which declared the king the head of the Church in England. He resigned the Chancellorship, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was martyred for his refusal to bend his religious beliefs to the king’s political needs.
- Patron Saint Index
2 Cor 11:1-11
Mt 6:7-15
“…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. “In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do” and when I looked up the meaning of “babble” just to be doubly sure, it means to talk quickly in a way that’s difficult to understand. I believe that when Jesus said that, he knew that some people will pray and talk without really letting the prayers sink in their hearts, without sincerity. I believe I also “babble” when I pray. I will talk fast and non-stop because I have so much I want to pour out to Jesus and the words just come tumbling out. So, in a way, it’s probably become incoherent or “difficult to understand”.
What touches me is the line where Jesus said that “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” So you may ask, why do we still need to pray then? For me, prayer is a time for me to come clean with Jesus, to speak from the heart, to admit my sins and be ashamed of my wrongs, to not be afraid to ask for what’s meant to be good for us, as well as to share little moments of glory. Prayers are a way for us to build our relationship with God. When in doubt of what to pray, there is also formulaic prayers like Our Father, which everyone knows how to recite in a flash. We have been saying it since baptism, since we knew how to pray. Let’s go back to the basics of what prayer means. First, to honour the Father in heaven, before asking for our daily bread and needs (nothing more), and ask for pardon for any sins, and protection from falling into temptation and sin because it is so easy to do so.
How many of us really extol the Lord when we pray? We often launch into what we need, and our big ask. Let us recall and learn from Tobit. Just a few weeks ago, we’ve been reading from the book of Tobit. I am just amazed by his complete faith. He prayed, praised and blessed God, even in the midst of trials and sufferings, never once blaming God. I want to share this prayer in the hope that one day, should we find ourselves in great distress, may we learn from Tobit’s prayer of lamentation.
Sad at heart, I, Tobit, sighed and wept, and began this prayer of lamentation:
‘You are just, O Lord,
and just are all your works.
All your ways are grace and truth,
and you are the Judge of the world.
‘Therefore, Lord, remember me, look on me.
Do not punish me for my sins
or for my heedless faults
or for those of my fathers.
‘For we have sinned against you
and broken your commandments; …
‘Lord, I wait for the sentence you will give
to deliver me from this affliction.
Let me go away to my everlasting home;
do not turn your face from me, O Lord.
For it is better to die than still to live
in the face of trouble that knows no pity;
I am weary of hearing myself traduced.’
- Tobit 3:1-11,16-17
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Blessed be God, our Father in heaven, for you already know all that is in our hearts. We know your goodness has no end. Forgive our weaknesses, especially when we are unable to forgive those who sinned against us. Help us to grow in holiness just as Tobit did. Hear our prayers. Amen
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord Jesus, for teaching us to be more like you.
OXYGEN 
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