Tuesday, May 25, 1999
Tuesday, May 25:
Eighth Tuesday of Ordinary Time and
Feast of Saint Bede, Doctor of the Church, and
Feast of Pope Saint Gregory VII and
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, virgin and religious
White vestments
First Reading: Sirach 35: 1-12
Psalms: Psalm 50: 5-8, 14-23
Gospel Reading: Mark 10: 28-31
SAINT BEDE THE VENERABLE, RELIGIOUS AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
This English saint -Saint Bede the Venerable - was a Benedictine monk in England and a learned man who specialized in English history and wrote an account of Christianity in Britain from the earliest times up to his time. He was dubbed "the Venerable" because of his wisdom and learning acumen. He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1899 by Pope Leo XIII. He is said to be the first to date events using A.D. (anno Domini.
SAINT GREGORY VII, POPE
Born in Tuscany as Hildebrand, the great Pope Saint Gregory VII was the 157th successor of Peter and a strong pontiff who excommunicated the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV and lifted it only after Henry came on bended knee wearing a rough hewn habit of public penance in the bitter cold of northern Italy to seek a pardon at Canossa. Gregory called a Council and issued a Dictatus Papae in which he decreed only the Pope is universal; no one can judge him; he alone can dispense from vows. Gregory was beatified by Pope Gregory XIII in 1584 and canonized in 1606 by Pope Paul V.
SAINT MARY MAGDALENE DE PAZZI, VIRGIN & RELIGIOUS
This Firenzen-born saint Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi was born into an influential Florentine family who wanted her to marry, but she resisted their urgings and joined a Carmelite Convent in Florence, taking the name of "Mary Magdalen". Though bedridden for most of her life after her profession as a nun, she was gifted with prophecy and the ability to perform miraculous healings. Her private revelations were recorded by fellow sisters and published after her death. She was canonized in 1669 by Pope Clement IX.
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