Calendar for August!

Commemorations  

Monday, August 08, 2016 - Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), died 1221

Dominic was a Spanish priest who saw the wealth of the clergy as a stumbling block for the church, so he formed a movement, the Order of Preachers (commonly called Dominicans) devoted to itinerant preaching and living in poverty.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 - Lawrence, deacon, martyr, died 258 As one of the seven deacons of the church at Rome, Lawrence was responsible for the church's financial matters and for the care of the poor. Asked by the emperor to gather the church's treasure, he presented a collection of orphans, lepers, and the like. The enraged emperor had him put to death.

Thursday, August 11, 2016 - Clare, Abbess of San Damiano, died 1253 A contemporary of Francis of Assisi, Clare and a growing number of companions established a women's Franciscan community, called the Order of Poor Ladies, or Poor Clares. She inspired other women to pursue spiritual goals.

Saturday, August 13, 2016 - Florence Nightingale, died 1910; Clara Maass, died 1901; renewers of society Nightingale was born in England, and horrified her wealthy family by deciding to become a nurse. She led a group of nurses in ministering in the midst of the Crimean War, and worked for hospital reform. Maass, a native of New Jersey, was also a war nurse, and volunteered as a subject for research on yellow fever. She died of the disease.

Sunday, August 14, 2016 - Maximilian Kolbe, died 1941; Kaj Munk, died 1944; martyrs Father Kolbe was a Franciscan priest arrested by the Nazis and confined in Auschwitz. Kolbe gave generously of his meager resources, and finally volunteered to be starved to death in place of another man. A Danish Lutheran pastor and playwright, Munk strongly denounced the Nazis who occupied Denmark in the Second World War. His sermons and articles helped to show the anti-Christian nature of the movement.

Monday, August 15, 2016 - Mary, Mother of Our Lord

The church (including Martin Luther) honored Mary with the title theotokos, meaning "God-bearer," for her role in giving birth to the Son of God. Her song, the Magnificat, speaks eloquently of God's lifting the lowly and feeding the hungry.

Saturday, August 20, 2016 - Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, died 1153 Bernard, a Cistercian monk, was a man of great spirituality who wrote mystical works and criticized those whom he thought took an overly intellectual approach to the faith. He became an abbot, and wrote several hymns that are still beloved today.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 - Bartholomew, Apostle Mentioned as one of Jesus' disciples in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Bartholomew's name is replaced in John's gospel by Nathanael, leading many to believe that the two are different names for the same person. Little is known about his work, though some traditions place him later in India or Armenia.

Sunday, August 28, 2016 - Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, died 430 Augustine was one of the greatest theologians of the Western church. A native of North Africa, he recovered from a debauched young adulthood through the influence of his mother, Monica, and Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Besides writing influential theological books, he served as bishop of Hippo, in present-day Algeria.

Sunday, August 28, 2016 - Moses the Black, monk, martyr, died around 400 Converted from life as a thief and a robber to Christianity, Moses was an Ethiopian who became a desert monk at Skete. His conversion had a great impact in his native country. Wearing a white habit, he said, "God knows I am black within." He was murdered during an attack by Berbers.

Birthdays!
14 - Matt H

17 - Mae P

17 - Ro B

19 - Alex M

21 - Lois O

23 - Meg L

28 - Dolores E

29 - Millie A

30 - Anais M