A Dominican, his pontificate was among the most glorious in the 16th century. He enforced decrees of the Council of Trent, published the Roman Catechism; and revised the Missal and Breviary. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1516)
It was during his pontificate that the celebrated victory of Lepanto (1571) was won against the Turks and conferred the title, ‘Mary, Help of Christians’. (Fr Charles Belmonte, “Aba Ginoong Maria”, 1990, p175)
As a result of this victory he ordered the feast of the Holy Rosary to be observed on the first Sunday of October. (Rev Hugo Hoever, SOCist, PhD, “Lives of the Saints”, p172)
In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII ordered that the same event be solemnized under the title of ‘Our Lady of Victory’. (Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p49)
‘The Pope of the Rosary’
Pius V was born Antonio Ghislieri, and he sat upon the Chair of St Peter from 1566 till 1572. He is especially known as ‘the Pope of the Rosary’ by reason of the impulse he gave through his example and teaching to the spread of this devotion, so dear to the heart of the Christian people ...
Dearly beloved, the truest and most sincere wish I can offer you is only this: “Turn yourselves into saints, make yourselves holy soon”, and I repeat the words of St Paul to the Thessalonians: “May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entire, spirit, soul, and body irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes 5:23)
Let us be glad to live in these times of ours, and let us courageously commit ourselves to the design which Providence is mysteriously accomplishing ... John XXIII said that “the surpassing personage that was St Pius V is linked with great trials that the Church had to bear in times much more difficult than ours”.
St Pius V teaches us as well to have recourse to Mary Most Holy in our difficulties, for she is our heavenly Mother. She has overcome every error and every heresy. Let us pray to her always especially with the Holy Rosary so that our sole and supreme ideal may ever be the salvation of souls.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p175
Jesus appears to Thomas
“After eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them.” (Jn 20:26) It was because Thomas was there, as the Gospel expressly mentions, that our Lord especially came. Why? That he might convert this unbelieving apostle, and bring back a lost sheep into the path of life.
How good was our Lord! He took the first step towards the sinner. If Thomas had been left to himself, what would have become of him? He had already persisted for eight days in his unbelief. We may reasonably presume that he would have continued and be lost for all eternity.
It is a remarkable circumstance that our Lord would only appear to Thomas in the presence of the other disciples. This was to give Thomas an occasion to repair before them all the scandal and sorrow he had caused.
‘The words of God are perfect.’ He bestowed on the apostle the grace of a sincere conversion. By his providence he also gave the means to make it entire and exemplary. If we have scandalized or wounded anybody by word or deed, seize the first occasion which Providence gives for reparation.
If it ought to be public because the fault has been public, make it heartily, humbly and sincerely. We will not lose the good opinion of others. “To acknowledge we were in error yesterday shows we are wiser today.” (“Proverb”)
Our Lord enables Thomas to do this without spoiling his reputation. “Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst.” (Jn 20:26) The circumstance mentioned in the Gospel -- ‘the doors being shut’ -- contains a mystery and a valuable lesson.
To tell our neighbor’s faults only to those who have the right to hear them. Nor to reprove anyone publicly except before those who witnessed his fault. Jesus showed himself to Thomas only before those whom he had scandalized and grieved by his unbelief.
Do we abide by these rules of justice?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp234-6
Christian family customs
The homes of the early Christians did not differ outwardly from any other. Parents passed on the Faith to their children who in turn did likewise. Thus, the family became the main ground for nurturing Christian faith and morality. Christian homes being steeped in love were havens of peace amidst errors from without.
What parents taught their children came with the naturalness of life itself, and so the family thus fulfilled its mission of education. St John Chrysostom gave the following advice to Christian couples --
“Show your wife you appreciate her company a lot and that you prefer to be at home because she is there. Show her a preference even above the children she has given you; love them because of her ... Pray all together ... Learn the fear of God; everything else will flow from this like water from a fountain and your house will be filled with bounty.” (cf St John Chrysostom, “Twentieth homily, Letter to the Ephesians”)
Sometimes responsibility for bringing Christianity into the family falls on a son or daughter: they attract other brothers and sisters to the Faith; then perhaps their parents, who in turn bring the uncles and aunts ... even the godparents end up being involved.
Many Christian devotions can be practised in the home: reciting the ‘Rosary’ (indulgenced if prayed in a family group), praying the ‘Angelus’, having pictures and statues of Our Lady, making cribs at Christmas, blessing at meals, etc.
They will help make the home always a friendly place, characteristic of a Christian family where people are taught from a very early age to speak to God and his Most Holy Mother with naturalness.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:439-40
Our Lady of Nantes, in Brittany. This church, dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul by Felix Bishop of Nantes, was demolished by the Normans in the year 937; and rebuilt by Alain, Duke of Brittany. — Fortunatus, lib. iii.; Carm., c. 1, 2, 3, and 4. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
‘Notre-Dame de Nantes’. Bretagne, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Nantes (in Bretagne, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Africa. Algiers. 1876. Celebrated by the White Fathers. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Africa (celebrated by the White Fathers). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Africa, Algiers (1876). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady of Quito (Ecuador). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) [NB see 28, 29 April]
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