MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AND SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21ST – Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Martyr and Companions, Martyrs and Saint Eugene de Mazenod. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ 🙏🏽 We pray for all families, particularly pray for dysfunctional families, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world and for the poor and needy. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially for all Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world🙏🏽
SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: “Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!” This was the slogan of the “Cristero” uprising in the 1920’s against the anti-Catholic government of Mexico which had instituted and enforced laws against the Church in an absurd attempt to eradicate the Catholic faith in Mexico, even going so far as to ban all foreign clergy and the celebration of Mass in some regions. Beginning in 1911, Mexico underwent a revolution, which brought to power a government that was, to say the least, strongly anticlerical. As a result, this event inaugurated a bitter struggle between the civil authorities and the Catholic Church, which had aided the people of Mexico from the 16th century. The authorities wanted to impose a Mexican Church on the country, replacing Catholic Bishops with schismatic prelates. To attain that goal, they mounted a full-sale campaign of terror against the Church. The government expelled foreign missionaries and closed schools and seminaries. Eventually even churches were closed, priest became hunted men, and Catholics were warned to renounce the Church and Christian worship.
This persecution gave rise to the growth of the Catholic Action Movement, which fought against the government’s repression. Over the period from 1915 to 1937 its members like Christopher Magallanes and twenty-four companions chose to die rather than give up their faith, like Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J. (November 23). These Martyrs included twenty-two priests and three laymen: Manuel, David, and Salvador who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. St. Christopher Magallanes erected a seminary in Totatiche and he and his companions secretly preached and ministered to the faithful during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-1928). The last words heard spoken by St. Christopher Magallanes were from his cell, when he shouted, “I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico”. These Martyrs died because of their membership in the Cristero movement in different places and at different times by shooting or hanging, throughout eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. Fifteen of the Martyrs were slain in Jalisco, four in Zacatecas, and one each in Chihuahua, and Morelos. All endured torture before their deaths, most of which occurred by firing squads. What bound them together was their championing of the Faith in the face of death. These great warriors of God, the Cristero Martyrs were beatified on November 22, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and canonized on May 21, 2000, by the same Pontiff.
PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You kept St. Christopher and his Companions faithful to Christ the King even to undergoing martyrdom. Through their intercession grant that we may persevere in professing the true Faith and always heed the commands of Your love. Amen🙏🏽
SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP: St. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861), a French aristocrat and Bishop was born Charles-Joseph-Eugène de Mazenod on August 1, 1782, Aix-en-Provence, France, in southern France to a noble family. When he was eight years of age his family was forced to flee the turmoil of the French Revolution and seek political asylum in Italy. Leaving their possessions behind, as refugees in Italy, they were poor and the family struggled financially as they relocated from city to city. A sympathetic priest took it upon himself to educate Eugene and stir in him a love for God. The family returned to France when Eugene was twenty. They were distressed to find a dramatically altered society, and their social status no greater than ordinary citizens. The family was also plagued with in-fighting which culminated in divorce, a rarity at the time. While Eugene’s father remained in Italy, Eugene’s mother fought to regain the family’s former possessions. She also attempted to force Eugene to marry a wealthy heiress. St. Eugene, deeply affected by how the Revolution had decimated the Church in France, decided to enter the seminary instead. After his ordination he sought out other zealous priests and together they went as missionaries into the countryside villages, calling themselves the “Missionaries of Provence,” which was later approved by the pope as the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate.” The Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod in 1815 was to evangelize the poorest populations of Provence that were being neglected. He then sent his missionaries to proclaim the Gospel in America, South Africa and Asia.
St. Eugene was later appointed Vicar General of Marseilles and, in 1836, Bishop of this same diocese. He did much work in restoring his diocese by building and repairing churches, doubling the number of priests, and bringing in religious communities. In his city, rapidly developing at the time, he created numerous parishes, built new churches and installed new Religious Institutes. — Cardinal Bernard Gantin. He also worked to weaken the government’s monopoly on education, and supported the rights of the Holy See. Until his death on May 21, 1861 at Marseille, France, he was at the service of his people with an extraordinary pastoral charity, nourished by an intense interior life. St. Eugene de Mazenod was Beatified on October 19, 1975 & April 19, 1976, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Paul VI and Canonized on December 3, 1995 & June 3,1996, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II. St. Eugene de Mazenod is the Patron Saint of dysfunctional families. His feast day is May 21st.
“I wish I could pass my life at the foot of the holy tabernacles in which our adorable Saviour dwells.” ~ Saint Eugene de Mazenod
NOVENA TO SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD
[The Novena is to be prayed on 9 consecutive days.]
PRAYER TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL FAVOR
God our Father, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you called St. Eugene de Mazenod to gather priests and brothers as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to announce the Gospel especially among the poor and neglected. May we ourselves be inflamed with his zeal for announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior and receive through his intercession the special graces of vocations to the Oblate way of life, and for those we ask for at this time. [Mention your intention(s) here and Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and 1Glory Be] Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏🏽
NOVENA PRAYERS TO SAINT EUGENE
St. Eugene, Patron Saint of Dysfunctional Families, come to the aid of all families who suffer brokenness, misunderstanding, separation or divorce. You know well these difficulties and trials because of the separation and divorce of your own parents. May all who suffer these family hard-ships seek your intercession to discern more clearly how the Light of Jesus Christ can help them in the midst of their darkness and despair. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏🏽
God our Father, we thank you for having called Saint Eugene de Mazenod to follow Christ the Savior and Evangelizer. Through his intercession help us to reach out with the healing touch of Christ who calls us to holiness and to Mission. May we be build communities which are signs of your presence, and share the Good News of salvation with all peoples. For this we dedicate ourselves, through Christ our Lord.
Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Share with us your love for Christ. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Help us to stand firm in goodness. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Be with us in all our efforts. Amen🙏🏽 [Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and1 Glory Be]
Saint Eugene, By your example, touch me to see Jesus in others, to help those in need, and to have the courage to do God’s will. I ask you to intercede on my behalf for a special need. May God, through your intercession, guide me to accept the difficulties in my life and to work toward a happy and healthy solution. May I accept God’s will in my life with strength and love. I ask this through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen🙏🏽
God our Father, you filled Eugene de Mazenod, your bishop, with apostolic virtue in the evangelization of the people. Fill our hearts with the same fervor that we may dedicate ourselves to the service of the Church and the salvation of all. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen🙏🏽
Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏🏽