Jun 5 – Memorial for St. Boniface, bishop and martyr
Educated at the Benedictine monastery 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
2 Tim 1:1-3,6-12
Mk 12:18-27
Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers.
I don’t think many of us give too much thought about our ancestors. We might remember our grandparents or great-grandparents had we met them, and not anyone else. We might broadly know where our families originated from prior to them migrating to where we live today, but we do not know their life stories and how they were like as individuals.
That differs for wealthy or political families like the Rothschilds and the Kennedys. Those families are very proud of their heritage and can trace their lineage back for generations. Even in wealthy Asian families, there is much emphasis placed on family ties, family history, and legacy sustainment.
Does your family give much thought to its heritage? And how do you want to be remembered by your descendants? We should want to be remembered for meaningful things. For example, for being active in church, or for setting up a charity that endures.
You could also choose to be remembered as someone who was honest and magnanimous in their work, and who made a positive change in their organisation. With a little effort in keeping heritage mementos and proper records, we can keep the memories of our families so as to inspire future generations to be humble servants of God.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gregory Mathew)
Prayer: We ask you Lord, to help us remember the good works that our forefathers have done. May we go about our lives with a consciousness that our actions will inspire future generations to serve you better.
Thanksgiving: We are grateful for the people that have gone before us who have paved the way for the lives we lead today. May we always remember that we consciously and subconsciously affect others in more ways than we can imagine.
OXYGEN 
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