August 5

Feast of the Dedication of Saint Mary Major

After the Council of Ephesus (431) in which Mary, the mother of Jesus was given the title, Mother of God, Pope Sixtus III built a basilica in Rome to honor her under this title. This basilica is Saint Mary Major and it is the oldest church in the West dedicated to our Blessed Lady.

“Who can put Mary’s high honor into words? She is both mother and virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the holy temple of God, and of God Himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom.”

-St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop

August 4

Feast of St. John Vianney (1786 – 1859)

“The way to destroy bad habits is by watchfulness and by doing often those things that are opposites to one’s besetting sins.”

-St. John Vianney

August 3

“I must never allow the world to evangelize me, so that I forget God’s power and wisdom and look to worldly power and wisdom. Jesus gives us the Church, our guiding light on the journey…whose mission it s to urge us continually on the journey to God."

-Sister Briege McKenna

August 2

Feast of St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811 – 1868)

“We must keep in mind that the Holy Eucharist, is Jesus Christ past, present, and future; that the Eucharist is the last development of the Incarnation and mortal life of our Savior, that in the Eucharist Jesus Christ gives us every grace; that all truths tend to and end in the Eucharist; and that there is nothing more to be added when we have said, ‘The Eucharist,’ since it is Jesus Christ.”

-St. Peter Julian Eymard

August 1

Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori  (1696 – 1787)

“Contradictions, sickness, scruples, spiritual aridity, and all the inner and outward torments are the chisel with which God carves His statues for paradise.”

-St. Alphonsus Liguori

July 31

"If we but paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament, I am sure that the thought of Christ's love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude."

-St. Angela of Foligno

July 30

"Let us be a Eucharistic People who are transformed by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and bear His presence to the world!"

-Johnnette Benkovic Williams

July 29

"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

-1 Samuel 3:9

July 28

"At every moment of every day, somewhere in the world, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus."

-Johnnette Benkovic Williams

July 27

"What could be more important than meeting Jesus who in the Mass leaps down from heaven to be with us?

-Dr. Ronda Chervin