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      This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Apostle of Germany, the martyred Saint Boniface on Saturday and Sunday's glorious Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, more appropriately known in liturgical circles as Corpus Christi Sunday. For the liturgy, readings, meditation and vignettes on these feasts, click on LITURGY

Friday, June 4:
Ninth Friday in Ordinary Time
FIRST FRIDAY

Green vestments

First Reading: Tobit 11: 5-17
Psalms: Psalm 146: 2, 7-10
Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 35-37

First Saturday, June 5:
Feast of Saint Boniface,Bishop, Religious and Martyr
FIRST SATURDAY

Red vestments

First Reading: Tobit 12: 1, 5-15, 20
Psalms: Tobit 13: 1-2, 6
Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 38-44

      Known as the "Apostle of Germany," Saint Boniface was born in the 670's in Wessex, England. He became a Benedictine and became a missionary at the approval of Pope Gregory II who ordained him a bishop in 722 and placed him ecclesiastically in charge of Germany. His zeal and perseverance paid off in converting most of this land, producing many saintly monks and nuns. One account tells of him chopping down a huge oak tree which had been dedicated to the god Jupiter. Boniface then proceeded to use the wood from this tree to build a church dedicated to St. Peter. Pope Gregory III saw the fruits and added Bavaria and what is today Austria to Boniface's charge, making the saint an archbishop. Boniface founded numerous dioceses establishing monasteries and abbeys in each. On a trip to Holland, while waiting to confirm 52 newly-Baptized Dutch Catholics, he was murdered by a hostile troop of heathens on June 5, 755. His body was buried at the now-famous abbey in Fulda which Boniface had not only founded, but had managed to receive pontifical exemption for the monastery, a first in the history of the Church. Fulda is the site where the bishops of western Germany still convene today for synods.

June 6: SUNDAY
SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI - The Body and Blood of Jesus

White vestments

First Reading: Deuteronomy 8: 2-3, 14-16
Psalms: Psalms 147: 12-15, 19-20
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17
Gospel Reading: John 6: 51-58

      Jesus says in John 6: 48, "I am the Bread of Life." The Feast of Corpus Christi which means "The Body of Christ" is intended to glorify the Blessed Sacrament in which Jesus is present Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. For centuries the custom was to exclaim this publicly by processing through the church and often into the streets on this feast with the celebrant holding the Eucharist aloft in the sacred Monstrance for all to see and worship. Many times the procession would stop at smaller altars, especially in Europe where side altars were the norm, to offer Benediction with the final Benediction and blessing given at the main altar. This special feast was first established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorote of Liege through the encouragement of Saint Juliana of Mont Cornilon and less than 20 years later in 1264 this feast was extended to the universal Church by Pope Urban IV at the urging of Saint Thomas Aquinas whose deep love for the Blessed Sacrament is legendary. Thomas wrote the original office of this feast including the Sequence sung at the Mass Pange Lingua. In recent times the Feast of Corpus Christi has officially been called the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ and celebrated on the Sunday following the Feast of the Holy Trinity.

Monday, June 7:
Tenth Monday in Ordinary Time

Green vestments

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1: 1-7
Psalms: Psalm 34: 2-9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1-12

Events this weekend in Church History

      On June 5, in 755 during an ambush by heathen troops in Holland, Saint Boniface, beloved as the "Apostle of Germany", was martyred for the faith along with those accompanying him on a mission to baptize numerous Dutch souls. For other events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history this weekend, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for June 4:

597 A.D.


Baptism of Saint Ethelbert, King of Kent, by Saint Augustine of Canterbury. This christening allowed Ethelbert to become the first Christian monarch of England and prompted a mass conversion among his subjects as well as neighboring kings of the Saxons and Angles during his 56-year reign.

1039 A.D.


Death of Conrad II, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor who essentially was not in the mold of his predecessor Henry II, but rather responsible for beginning over two-centuries of harrassment and power struggle with the Vatican beginning with Pope John XIX in 1024 through Pope Clement IV in 1268.

1133 A.D.


Pope Innocent II crowns Lothair III as Holy Roman Emperor who was not as bad as Conrad II, but nevertheless still gave the papacy plenty of headaches.

1365 A.D.


Charles IV is coronated as King of Burgundy. It was Charles, who besides Saint Catherine of Siena played an important role in convincing Pope Blessed Urban V to abandon the 70-year Avignon exile and return the papacy to Rome.

1608 A.D.


Death of Saint Francis Caracciolo, a prior and master of novices for the Minor Clerks Regular, an order which he had co founded, devoted his life to God after being cured of Leprosy in his early twenties. He co-founded the Order dedicated to administering to the sick in hospitals and prisons. He was purported to have had the gifts of prophecy and ecstacy and after his death many miracles were attributed to his intercession, prompting Pope Pius VII to canonize him in 1808.

Historical Events in Church Annals for June 5:

755 A.D.


Death of Saint Boniface, Bishop and "Apostle of Germany" for his missionary work to the people of Deutchland, Austria and Holland. In fact, it was in a trip to baptize several Dutch that a heathen troop ambushed him and his party and he was martyred for the faith on this day and his body buried at the monastery he founded. For more, see DAILY LITURGY

1249 A.D.


The Seventh Crusade captures the city of Daimetta in the Holy Lands.

1510 A.D.


The master sculptor Buonarroti Michelangelo, at the age of 35, is commissioned by Pope Julius II to fashion fifteen statues of saints for the Duomo of Siena, Italy. The response would prompt Julius to bring him to Rome and turn over the Sistine Chapel to the master of masters who recruited Raphael to help finish the work.

Historical Events in Church Annals for June 6:

1134 A.D.


Death of Saint Norbert, founder of the Norbertines in the twelfth century and close friend of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a holy influence on the popes of his time. Norbert died peacefully at Magdeburg and his remains and relics transfered to Bohemia a few centuries later after he had been declared a saint by Pope Gregory XIII.

303 A.D.


Death of Saint Erasmus, also known as Saint Elmo, the bishop of Campagna, Italy who was martyred under the persecution of Diocletian though it was not easy for the pagan emperor. Elmo was hurled into a fiery pit but emerged unscathed (thus the phrase "St. Elmo's fire") and then imprisoned. An angel freed him and led him to Formiae where he eventually died of his wounds in dignity. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is patron saint of sailors.

1484 A.D.


The Dominicans in Toledo, Spain issue instructions on how to deal with cases of sorcery for the Inquisition of Toledo which were spread to all orders and Inquisition courts throughout Europe.

1536 A.D.


Through the Jesuits and Dominicans, the Court of Inquistion is brought to Mexico four years after Our Lady appeared to Blessed Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, at Guadalupe and presented him the miraculous tilma that is intact today and hangs in the Basilica in Guadalupe.

"Behold, My Cross and the Most Blessed Sacrament are inextricably linked. They are one as the Most Divine Trinity is One. A sublime Mystery."

      Those meaningful words come from Our Lord in Message #541 on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on September 14, 1994 to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart and it is fitting that we bring you this message during Corpus Christi Weekend. His Blessed Mother Mary follows up her Divine Son's Message the following day on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and talks about the prophecy of Simeon and the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart which will come sooner if we cooperate and live the Will of God. For Messages 541 and 542, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Message Five-Hundred-forty-one, September 14, 1994

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Sacred of Jesus)

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, I love and bless you.

      Say to all the world: Behold My Cross! Behold My Cross! Behold My Cross! It is the sign of your eternal salvation! In these days to come this Sign shall appear in a glorious fashion seen by all, to be loved, honored and adored! Behold, My Cross and the Most Blessed Sacrament are inextricably linked. They are one as the Most Divine Trinity is One. A sublime Mystery.

      Therefore, let those who have ears, hear! Let those who have eyes, see! Let those who speak, proclaim the Truth! My Cross has wrought your salvation. The Everlasting Sign.

      Let those who have reduced My Cross to a mere symbol heed My words. This is the price I paid for your eternal salvation. I died for you upon this Sacred Wood. Why then do you remove My anguished Body from My Cross? Why do you replace My anguished Body with the glory of My Resurrection? This does not please Me, Who suffered for you. It saddens My Sacred Heart and I groan inwardly at all who gaze upon this sign and do not pick up their daily cross and follow Me.

      I solemnly tell you the day approaches when you shall seek to cling to My Cross. The day approaches where the voices of My faithful remnant shall rise up in loud chorus to return the Crucifix to My Church, where It may be reverenced. And their voices shall proclaim the Truth! The Mass is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and I desire My True Presence to be returned to Its rightful place in My True Church where I, your God, watch over you as you gaze longingly at Me.

      Reflect upon My Cross and cling to It now while there is yet time. If you do not, faith will slip away from you and you shall become satan's prey.

      Behold My Cross! Behold My Cross! Behold My Cross!

Message Five-Hundred-forty-two, September 15, 1994

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Immaculate Heart of Mary)

      Beloved Hidden Flower of my Immaculate Heart, today the universal Church remembers the prophecy of Simeon, and reflects upon the piercing sorrow of my heart.

      O! My children, I am truly your Mother and I desire to help you. I come to bring all to the true font of Mercy, my Divine Son. But each day my Immaculate Heart is pierced anew by sorrow because you fail to respond to my pleas; you do not pray from your heart and you lack sincerity in your fiat. You live only for the world and its pleasures, and therefore you are far away from God and I cannot help you.

      Let all of my children come back beneath my Immaculate Mantle on this day, with purity of intention and a willingness to seek God above all things.

      I, your Heavenly Mother, solemnly tell you that the Hour of Justice hangs over mankind like a fiery sword. Only by your prayers and sacrifices do you hold back the Justice. I, your Mother, call you to great holiness, to a life of loving suffering and ceaseless prayer, that in these end times you might be filled with the Holy Spirit and remain steadfast in the True Faith.

      Remember well my Sorrows and reflect upon my Divine Son's Most Sacred Passion. Never has a mother suffered as I suffered willingly from the Passion of My Divine Son! Therefore, bring me all your afflictions and seek to join them to my Divine Son's Passion.

      I love and bless each of you, my children! Pray! Pray! Pray! You do not understand what is yet to come! Thank you for responding to my Call!

The Archbishop of Bangkok Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu is the first and only Thai prelate ever to receive the red hat

     We continue with this new series that debuted the beginning of the year, bringing you on a regular basis three times a week the Princes of the Church. Our sixty-first red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, the Archbishop of Bangkok for over a quarter of a century. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II in the Consistory of February 2, 1983. For more on Cardinal Keeler, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

61.   Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu

      The Archbishop of Bangkok in Thailand is Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu who was born on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, January 25 in 1929 in Samphran, Thailand in the archdiocese that he would ultimately head. He studied for the priesthood at Siracha in Thailand and attained a degree in both Theology and Philosophy in Rome at the Urban Pontifical College. It was in the eternal city that he was ordained on December 20, 1959. After further studies he returned to Bangkok where he was appointed consultant for the Archdiocese. In the mid sixties he became Rector of the metropolitan Seminary in Bangkok which he held until 1972 when Pope Paul VI named him not only bishop, but Archbishop of Bangkok on December 18, 1972. He was installed that following summer on June 3, 1973 and has remained in this post for twenty six years.

      Ten years after his appointment as Archbishop, he became Thailand's first ever cardinal when Pope John Paul II included him in his second Consistory on February 2, 1983 bestowing on Cardinal Kitbunchu the red-hat and the titular church of St. Laurence in Panisperna. He still serves membership in the Office of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples while residing at Assumption Cathedral on 51 Oriental Avenue in Bangkok 10500, Thailand. His most recent international exposure occurred last August when he hosted the week-long World Assembly of Families which is a major challenge for Catholics in southeast Asia for Thailand's Catholic population is in the vast minority with only 4% of the sixty million Thais claiming fidelity to Rome.

Click here to go to SECTION THREE or return to SECTION ONE or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.

June 4-6, 1999 volume 10, no. 108   DAILY CATHOLIC