Text Box: May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima, 91st Anniversary of her Apparition. Our Lady of Fatima is venerated under this title following apparitions to three shepherd children in Portugal in 1917. The message of Fatima includes a call to conversion of heart, repentance from sin, and prayer, especially the Rosary. This memorial has been newly included in the Universal Calendar of the revised Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia. Holy Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 PM followed by the rosary and a procession to honor Our Lady of Fatima. May 14 – Matthias, Apostle. Matthias, chosen to replace Judas, was qualified because he witnessed Jesus’ ministry and resurrection. He is said to have suffered martyrdom at Colchis (modern day Georgia) in the first century. May 15 – St. Isidore the farmer, a farm laborer whose wife, Maria de la Cabeza (Torribia), is also a saint, was associated with miracles. He is the patron saint of Madrid, of farmers and rural communities. He died in 1130. May 18 - St. John I, pope & martyr from Tuscany; introduced the Alexandrian computation of the date of Easter; led an embassy to Constantinople to discuss Emperor Justin I’s policy toward Arians in the East. This day also marks the 89th birthday of the late pope, John Paul II. May 20 - St. Bernardine of Siena, a famous reformer & eloquent Franciscan preacher who traveled throughout Italy, encouraging devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. He is known for his use of the monogram, IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator). May 21 – St. Christopher Magellanes, priest & martyr. He, together with 21 diocesan priests and 3 laymen, were either shot or hanged between 1915 and 1937 for their association with the Cristero uprising, which opposed the anti-Catholic Mexican government in the 1920s. The Cristero motto was, “Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!” May 21 – THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD is transferred to 7th Sunday of Easter, May 24. May 22 – St. Rita of Cascia was born in 1381 in the town of Roccaporena in Umbria. She lived with a brutal husband and had two sons. After the violent murder of her husband, she urged forgiveness in contrast to the customary vendetta of her day. Becoming an Augustinian nun, she spent some forty years in prayer, contemplation, and service to the sick and poor. Toward the end of her life, she received a wound from a thorn in the crown of thorns. She died in 1457. She is the patron saint of desperate situations. This memorial has been newly included in the Universal Calendar of the revised Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia. May 25 - St. Bede the Venerable, priest & doctor of the Church, O.S.B., was born in Northumbria and called “Venerable” while still living. He wrote Scriptural expositions, commentaries, and homilies. He died in 735 and is known as the “Father of English history.” Gregory VII, pope, O.S.B., came from Tuscany and championed reform of the clergy against simony, clerical marrige, and lay investiture, leading to the excomunication of Henry IV. He expanded the authority of the Roman See and died in 1085. Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi, a Carmelite mystic of Florence, instrumental in the reform of her Order, who died in 1607. Text Box: May 26 - Philip Neri, priest, founder of the Congregation of Priests of the Oratory to promote holiness of priestly life and foster effective preaching. He was noted for his joyful and simple spirit. He died in 1595. May 27 – Augustine of Canterbury, bishop, a monk of Mt. Coelius in Rome, who was sent with 40 other monks by Pope Gregory I to England. ther he baptized the king of Kent and was ordained bishop in 597. He established the Sees of Canterbury, London & Rochester. In 601 he received the pallium as Primate of England. He died in 604. May 31 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On that day the Church celebrates Our Lady's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. After the Archangel Gabriel leaves, Mary hastens to visit and help Elizabeth. Inspired by God, Elizabeth greets Mary for the first time as the mother of God with the words "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb.