High Days and Holy Days for July
Introduction to July:
For the first half of each year (Advent to Whitsuntide) our focus is on what God has done for man, particularly through Christ.
But in the second half of the year (from Whitsuntide back to Advent) we focus on Man's response to God - through faith and deeds. And here the smaller festivals can really come into their own – as we recall the lives of different saints down the centuries.
1 July Theodoric (died 533) Abbot
Born near Rheims, in France, Theodoric founded a religious community at Mont d'Or. He was noted for the numerous people he helped to convert to the Christian faith.
3 July St Thomas the Apostle
Thomas, one of Jesus' 12 apostles, was an impulsive, confused, honest sceptic. Jesus could understand and work with such a man.
Thomas' impulsiveness was evident when Jesus prepared to visit Lazarus in Bethany. It was a dangerous trip to make, because of the Jews, but Thomas urged his fellow disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (Jn 11.16) Instead, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.
Thomas' confusion is shown in later talks with Jesus. He was not really sure where Jesus was going long-term (Jn 14.5). But Jesus accepted this confused commitment, and began to untangle it, patiently explaining “I am going to my father”, and “No one comes unto the Father but by me.”
Finally, Thomas' honest scepticism is revealed after the Resurrection, which he flatly refused to believe - unless he could touch the wounds of the risen Jesus. Sure enough, Jesus appears - but instead of scolding him, shows him the wounds. Thomas responds: “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20.26ff).
Thus Doubting Thomas' honest doubts, turned to honest faith, have become a reassurance for thousands of men and women across the centuries, who also want to follow Jesus, but who require some proof of this amazing event - the Resurrection. In Doubting Thomas' complete affirmation of faith, after meeting the risen, crucified Christ, they can find support for their own faith.
Ancient legends tell how Thomas went on to India as a missionary. There are rumours that Thomas even built a palace for a king's daughter in India, and thus he is the patron saint of architects.
It is believed that he was martyred by a spear on 3 July, 72 AD in Mylapore, near Madras.
46 ancient churches in England were dedicated to him.
4 July Independence Day
If you like fireworks and parades, flag-waving and barbeques, go to America this month, as it celebrates Independence Day.
It all began way back on 4 July, 1776, in Philadelphia. On that day the 'Congress' decided to formally adopt the Declaration of Independence.
The actual signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, but the Fourth of July holiday became the official anniversary of U.S. independence, and nowadays is celebrated in all states and territories of the United States.
The holiday was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, at which time the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands played. It was not declared a legal holiday, however, until 1941!
This year the Fourth will be celebrated as usual, with many public parades and pageants, private family picnics and outings, patriotic speeches, and organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks. Early last century “safe and sane” restrictions on the general use of fireworks were brought in – with the aim of ensuring that most Americans would survive the day.
4 July Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 – 1336) Queen
As wife of Denis, the King of Portugal, Elizabeth became a byword for her acts of piety and charity to the poor. She founded convents, hospitals, and shelters for prostitutes. After Denis died she became a Franciscan tertiary at a Poor Clare convent.
8 July Theobald (1017 – 1066) Hermit
Theobald was born into an aristocratic family at Provins in France. But he became a hermit with a fellow ex-soldier in the Pettingen Forest in Luxembourg. They later moved to Salanigo in Italy. Theobald's holy life attracted so many followers that he was canonized by Pope Alexander II in 1073.
11July Benedict (c.480 – c.550) Author of famous Rule
Benedict was an abbot and author of the famous Rule that bears his name. Because of his Rule, Benedict is also the Patriarch of Western Monasticism, and Patron Saint of Europe.
Surprisingly little is known about his life: born at Nursia, Benedict studied at Rome, which he then left before completing his studies to become a hermit at Subiaco. After a time disciples joined him, whom he organised into twelve deaneries of ten. After an attempt on his life, Benedict moved on to Monte Cassino, near Naples, where he wrote the final version of his Rule.
Benedict's Rule is justly famous and respected: not only did it incorporate much traditional monastic teaching from revered monks like Basil, but Benedict went on to modify this in a way characterised by prudence and moderation within a framework of authority, obedience, stability and community life.
Benedict's great achievement was to produce a monastic way of life which was complete, orderly, and workable. The monks' primary occupation was liturgical prayer, complemented by sacred reading and manual work of various kinds.
Bendict's own personality shines through this Rule: wise, discreet, flexible, learned in the law of God, but also a spiritual father to his community.
Benedict's Rule came to be recognised as the fundamental monastic code of western Europe in the early Middle Ages. Because of his Rule, monasteries became centres of learning, agriculture, hospitality, and medicine. Thus Benedict came to influence the lives of millions of people.
14 July Camillus de Lellis (1550 – 1614) Founder
Discharged from the Venetian army with an incurable leg wound, Camillus founded a religious order called the Ministers of the Sick (the Camellians). In their Holy Ghost Hospital in Rome, and by travelling to plague-stricken parts of the world, the Camellians dedicated their lives to caring for the sick. Camillus is the patron of the sick and of nurses.
15 July St Swithun (or Swithin) - saint for a rainy day
St Swithun is apparently the saint to blame for rainy summers. It is said that if it rains on his special day, 15 July, it will then rain for forty days after that.
It all began when he was made Bishop of Winchester in 852 by King Ethelwulf of Wessex. It was an important posting: Winchester was the capital of Wessex, and during the 10 years Swithun was there, Wessex became the most important kingdom of England.
During his life, instead of washing out people's summer holidays, and damping down their spirits, Swithun seems to have done a lot of good. He was famous for his charitable gifts and for his energy in getting churches built. When he was dying in 862, he asked that he be buried in the cemetery of the Old Minster, just outside the west door.
If he has been left there in peace, who knows how many rainy summers the English may have been spared over the last 1000 years. But, no, it was decided to move Swithun. By now, the 960s, Winchester had become the first monastic cathedral chapter in England, and the newly installed monks wanted Swithun in the cathedral with them. So finally, on 15 July 971, his bones were dug up and Swithun was translated into the cathedral.
That same day many people claimed to have had miraculous cures. Certainly everyone got wet, for the heavens opened. The unusually heavy rain that day, and on the days following, was attributed to the power of St Swithun.
Swithun was moved again in 1093, into the new Winchester cathedral. His shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the middle ages. The shrine was destroyed during the Reformation, and restored in 1962. There are 58 ancient dedications to Swithun in England.
22 St Mary Magdalen
It is easy to understand the popularity of Mary Magdalen over the centuries: she is the patron saint both of repentant sinners and of the contemplative life.
Jesus drove seven demons from Mary, who came from Magadal, a small village near Tiberias in Galilee. She became his follower to the bitter end. She followed him to Jerusalem and was present during the crucifixion, standing heart-broken at the foot of the cross. Her love for Jesus did not end there, for she went to the tomb to anoint his body on the Sunday morning.
Such faithful, humble devotion was richly repaid: it gave her a unique privilege among all mankind: she was the first person to whom the Risen Lord appeared on Easter Sunday morning. She thought He was the gardener at first.
Mary Magdalen has sometimes been identified with the woman who anointed Christ's feet in the house of Simon (Lk 7.37). Over the centuries many artists have painted this scene. Mary Magdalen's feast has been kept in the West since the 8th century. England has 187 ancient churches dedicated to her, as well as a College in both Oxford and Cambridge.
25 St James the Apostle
James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and fishermen from Galilee - the 'sons of thunder', as the gospel writers describe their impetuous characters and fiery tempers.
James stands out on three accounts: he was one of the three disciples who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ. Jesus took him, along with Peter and John, to 'watch' with him in the garden of Gethsemane. Finally, he went on to be the first apostle to die for the Christian faith, when in AD 44 King Herod Agrippa put him to the sword in Jerusalem at Passover time.
In the centuries following his death, James became associated with the evangelising of Spain, and as a powerful defended of Christianity against the Moors. The heyday of the cult of Santiago de Compostela was from the 12th to the 15th century, and the pilgrimage to Compostela became one of the most important of medieval Christendom. This in time transformed the iconography of James, and his emblems became the pilgrim's hat and the scallop-shell of Compostela. Over 400 English churches have been dedicated to James.
