Sacred Calendar

Fourth Lesson - Benefices Renounced for Prayer and Preaching

John was born of a noble family at Sahagun in Spain. After his parents had long remained without children, they obtained him from God by pious works and prayers. From his earliest years he gave remarkable signs of future holiness, for he often spoke to other boys from a higher place, exhorting them to virtue and the worship of God and settling their quarrels. In his native place he was entrusted for his first instruction to the monks of St. Facundus of the Order of St. Benedict. While he pursued these studies, his father arranged for him to administer a parish, but no argument could induce the young man to retain that office. He entered the household of the Bishop of Burgos and, because of his proven integrity, became his intimate companion. The bishop ordained him priest and canon and enriched him with many benefices. But John left the episcopal court so that he might serve God more quietly, renounced all ecclesiastical revenues, and attached himself to a chapel where he offered the Holy Sacrifice daily and frequently preached on divine things to the great edification of his hearers.

Fifth Lesson - Religious Discipline amid a Violent City

He afterwards went to Salamanca for study and was admitted to the celebrated College of St. Bartholomew. He exercised the priestly ministry while pursuing his desired studies and was continually engaged in sacred preaching. When he fell into a most serious illness, he bound himself by a vow to stricter discipline. In fulfillment of it, after first giving to an almost naked poor man the better of the only two garments he possessed, he entered the monastery of St. Augustine, which then flourished in severe discipline. Once admitted, he surpassed the more advanced religious in obedience, humility, vigils, and prayer. When care of the refectory was entrusted to him, a small cask of wine which he touched supplied all the monks abundantly for a year. After completing the year of probation, he undertook preaching at the command of his superior. At that time Salamanca was so disturbed by bloody factions that murders occurred almost every hour and not only its streets and squares but even its churches ran with the blood of men of every rank, especially the nobility.

Sixth Lesson - Courageous Peacemaking before Christ

John softened the hearts of the citizens by sermons and private conversations and restored the city to tranquility. He gravely offended a powerful man by rebuking his cruelty toward his subjects. The man therefore sent two horsemen to kill John on the road. They had already drawn near when, struck by a divinely sent stupor, they and their horses remained immovable until they cast themselves at the saint's feet and begged pardon for their crime. The powerful man himself, suddenly struck with terror and despairing of his safety, recalled John, repented of his deed, and was restored to health. Factious men who attacked him with clubs likewise found their arms rigid and did not recover their strength until they begged pardon. John was accustomed to behold Christ the Lord present while he offered the Holy Sacrifice and to draw heavenly mysteries from the divine fountain itself. He frequently discerned the secrets of hearts and foretold future things. At last, having foretold the day of his death and received the sacraments of the Church with great devotion, he ended his earthly course, glorious for many miracles before and after death. After these had been duly proved, Pope Alexander VIII enrolled him among the Saints.

Commemoration - Ss. Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius

Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius were Roman soldiers, noble by birth and distinguished by courage. Having embraced the Christian religion, they preached Christ the Son of God under the Emperor Diocletian. Arrested by Aurelius, prefect of the City, and commanded to sacrifice to the gods, they despised his orders and were sent to prison. While they prayed, a suddenly arisen and most brilliant light filled the prison before the eyes of all who were there. Moved by that heavenly splendor, Marcellus the jailer and many others believed in Christ the Lord. Later they were released from prison and brought before the Emperor Maximian. Since they disregarded his command also and had only Christ, God and Lord, upon their lips, they were tortured with scorpions and again cast into bonds. Brought out on the seventh day and set before the emperor, they persisted in mocking the empty gods and most steadfastly confessed Jesus Christ as God. They were therefore condemned and beheaded. Their bodies, exposed to wild beasts but left untouched by them, were honorably buried by Christians.