St Maria Goretti: 06/07/2022:
Born 16th October 1890- Died 6th July 1902. Her attacker who was well known to her. She fought attempts of sexual abuse by her employer- Alessandro who ended up killing her.
She died after 20 hours in hospital and when she was asked if she’d forgive her attacker, without hesitation she declared that she forgave him, without even him asking for forgiveness.
Alessandro was later caught and imprisoned, but 6 years later, St Maria Goretti appeared to Alessandro in prison as an apparition and inspired his conversion.
He was released from jail after 27 years, went straight to St Maria Goretti’s mother and asked for forgiveness. Alessandro then became a lay brother at a monastery and died in 1970.
St Maria Goretti is a vivid reminder of faith and power of forgiveness. She’s known for commitment to purity and the courageous defense of her faith at a young age.
She is also recognised as an Italian virgin martyr who fought attempts of sexual assault and ended up dying and is a patroness of purity, young women, victims of assault and rape, crime victims, teenage girls, modern youth and Children of Mary.
Canonised on 24 June 1950 by Pope Pius XII, she is amongst the first and very few to be canonised at St Basilica, Vatican City. St Maria Goretti is amongst the first and very few to be canonised in St Basilica, Vatican City. A 250 000 crowd, the largest in history witnessed her canonisation with millions watching from all over the globe. This “Martyr of Jesus Christ” was the first to be canonized while her mother was still alive.
St Maria Goretti story is almost similar to that of St Josephine Bakhita: Women of Courage, Faith, Forgiveness, Love of God and Purity.
St Maria Goretti Prayer:
O God, author of innocence and lover of chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that, as you gave her a crown for her steadfastness, so we, too, may be firm in obeying your commandments. Amen.
“We highlight the importance to fighting Gender-based Violence and Femicide”
St Benedict: 11/07/2022:
Born on 4 March 480 AD in Nurcia, Italy.
St Benedict is a religious reformer who lived in the 400’s-500’s AD. It is believed that through the Holy Spirit, he pushed an elderly monk and the fallen monk was exorcised of demons, which taken over and obsessing monks to do evil to other brother monks.
St Benedict stands for the power of Prayer in times of temptations and suffering. St Benedict symbolises how prayer creates peace within us and in the communities.
St Benedict is known as the father of western monasticism and for opening doors and difficult paths in life. St Benedict protects us from curses, evil and against diseases and protect our good health.
St Benedict medal is associated with many miracles and power of exorcism. St Benedict silver sterling medal protects us from evil and when his bracelet breaks, It’s believed that you were directly protected from evil.
There are over 100 Benediction houses in the USA, it all began with monks and nuns in 1854. St Benedict has three vows: stability, fidelity to monastic way of life and obedience. Also, promises of poverty and chastity are implied in Benediction. The first three are the most primary because of their connectedness and their relationship to community life.
St Benedicts influence is succinct and complete directory for govt, emotional and spiritual well-being of monastery. St Benedicts rule integrated Prayer, labour and study into a well-rounded daily routine that has shaped Christianity for over 1 500yrs. St Benedict is a patron saint of students.
There’s confusion about his date of death, monks still believe he died on 21 March 547 AD in Italy. But Roman Catholic Church in Europe believe it is 11 July 547 AD. St Benedict founded monastery in Monte Casino and is known as the father of monasticism.
Today, Monte Casino has his image as his remembrance and was made a patron saint of Europe by Pope Paul VI, in 1964.
Prayer to St Benedicts:
Dear St Benedict, I thank God for showering you with His Grace to love Him above all else and establish a monastic rule that has helped so many of His children live, life full and Holy life.
Mandela Day: 18/07/2022:
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on the 18 July 1918 and died on 5 December 2013.
The Nelson Mandela International Day was unanimously launched by the UN Assembly on 18 July 2009 and then declared in November 2009.
This was in recognition of his birthday and the life that he led. It was inspired by him a year earlier when,
“He called for the next generation to take up a burden of leadership and address the world’s social injustices and he said- it is in your hands now”
This international day is not only about celebrating his life and legacy but a global movement to honour his life’s work to change the world for better. Nelson Mandela was committed to Human Rights, amicable Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.
He contributed largely to the culture of Peace and Freedom. Then 67 minutes for Mandela is derived from the 67 years he spent fighting against apartheid, So, it’s a call for all of us to do something for someone in the 67 minutes on Nelson Mandela International Day.
You can volunteer or donate something or do community service.
He said- “Let’s build a better world”, this by striving to do good all the time and everytime.
He said- “Free yourself- Free others- Serve everyday”, this by helping yourself- helping others- avail yourself to good courses.
In February 1995, he said- the time has come to accept in our hearts and minds that with Freedom comes Responsibility.
Take Action- Inspire Change Everyday:
Nelson Mandela believed that, we must live to serve everyday.
He said- “My wish is that as South Africans never give up a belief in goodness and cherish faith in human beings as a cornerstone of our democracy.
Let’s spread a message of Hope and Action together……
First Nelson Mandela lecture was delivered by former USA President, Bill Clinton on the 19th July 2003.
He used Dylan Thomas Poem to describe how Mandela even in his retirement continues to work and inspire people.
He said- “You refuse to go gentle but you soldier-on, raging against injustices and lead us to light.
On 29 July 2006, President Thabo Mbeki delivered a Nelson Mandela lecture.
He used biblical parables, poetry and economics quotations to describe Nelson Mandela.
The theme was Reconstructing our Souls, he quoted one Duke Gloucester’s poem who later became King Richard III.
He compared the most famous passage in the poem with Proverbs 3: 29 “Device not evil against thy neighbour”.
To this day, Nelson Mandela still touches the lives of millions of people globally.
Quotes to change thinking……
- Lead from the back and let others believe they’re in front…..
- It always seems impossible until it’s done- I’M POSSIBLE……
- You must be the change you wish to see in the world…..
- Don’t judge me by the success but by how many time I fell and got up again and again…..
- Success is not final- Failure id not fatal but the courage to continue is what counts the most…..
- There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children……
