Some Celebrations For June

(Plain Text Version)

June 3: St. Charles Lwanga and Companions. Charles, and 21 other Ugandan Christians were martyred for Christ in 1886.

June 5: St. Boniface.  Boniface, a bishop from England, traveled to Germany in 716 AD.  He spread the faith, and died for it, along with 52 companions.

June 6: The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  Today, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist.  We know this because He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood at the Last Supper.  He told the Apostles to do the same thing.  This happens every time the Holy Mass is celebrated.
On this feast, the Body of Christ is carried in processions to proclaim that He is present in the world.

June 11: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The heart of Jesus is the symbol of His great love.  This love continues even though it is forgotten or rejected by so many people.  We can be reminded of His love by setting up a Sacred Heart statue or picture.
Here is a short prayer:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.

June 12: The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  As the mother of Jesus, Mary shared in His mission, and suffered with Him.  Like her Son’s heart, Mary’s heart burns with love for each one of us.  

June 21: St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591).  Aloysius joined the Society of Jesus, hoping to become a missionary.  He was known for his reverence for everything holy.  In caring for victims of the plague, he caught the disease and died from it.

June 22: Saints John Fisher and Thomas More.  During the reign of Henry VIII of England, John Fisher (a bishop) and Thomas More (a high government official) were put to death for affirming that the Church is led by the Pope rather than by the king.

June 24: Birth of St. John the Baptist.  John was the last of the prophets.  He announced that the Christ was already on Earth and was about to begin his saving work.  He tried to get the king to leave an unlawful marriage, and for this was beheaded.

June 29: Saints Peter and Paul.  The lives of both Peter and Paul show us that you don’t have to be perfect to do great things for God and His people. 
Peter had a great love for Christ but was weak in carrying it out.  Jesus made him the first pope. 
Paul thought that the first Christians were enemies of God and persecuted them mercilessly.  Christ appeared to Paul and told him to spread Christianity all over the world.
After building up the Church for a long time, both Peter and Paul were martyred by the Romans.

June 30: The First Martyrs in the Church at Rome.  In 64 AD, the Christians were blamed for a devastating fire and were put to death.  For the next 240 years, the Church endured a series of persecutions.