SAINT OF THE DAY Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives.

Each saint the Church honors responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint. Click here to receive Saint of the Day in your email.

May 25 St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865) The legacy of Madeleine Sophie Barat can be found in the more than 100 schools operated by her Society of the Sacred Heart, institutions known for the quality of the education made available to the young. Sophie herself received an extensive education, thanks to her brother, Louis, 11 years older and her godfather at Baptism. Himself a seminarian, he decided that his younger sister would likewise learn Latin, Greek, history, physics and mathematicsalways without interruption and with a minimum of companionship. By age 15, she had received a thorough exposure to the Bible, the teachings of the Fathers of the Church and theology. Despite the oppressive regime Louis imposed, young Sophie thrived and developed a genuine love of learning.

Meanwhile, this was the time of the French Revolution and of the suppression of Christian schools. The education of the young, particularly young girls, was in a troubled state. At the same time, Sophie, who had concluded that she was called to the religious life, was persuaded to begin her life as a nun and as a teacher. She founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, which would focus on schools for the poor as well as boarding schools for young women of means; today, co-ed Sacred Heart schools can be found as well as schools exclusively for boys.

In 1826, her Society of the Sacred Heart received formal papal approval. By then she had served as superior at a number of convents. In 1865, she was stricken with paralysis; she died that year on the feast of the Ascension.

Madeleine Sophie Barat was canonized in 1925.

Comment:

Madeleine Sophie Barat lived in turbulent times. She was only 10 when the Reign of Terror began. In the wake of the French Revolution, rich and poor both suffered before some semblance of normality returned to France. Born to some degree of privilege, she received a good education. It grieved her that the same opportunity was being denied to other young girls, and she devoted herself to educating them, whether poor or well-to-do. We who live in an affluent country can follow her example by helping to ensure to others the blessings we have enjoyed.

St. Maximinus of Trier Feastday: May 29 Patron of Trier; invoked as protection against perjury, loss at sea and destructive rains Died: 347

Bishop of Trier, Germany, from 332, and a miracle worker. He was probably born at Silly, France, and succeeded St. Agritus as bishop of Trier, giving refuge to St. Athanasius in 336. St. Paul, the patriarch of Constantinople, was also given Maximinus protection. Maximinus was an ardent enemy of the Arian heretics, opposing them in the councils of Milan, Sardica, and Cologne. He was a known miracle worker and apologist for orthodox Catholicism and was called one of the most courageous bishops of his time by St. Jerome.

May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 216 days remaining until the end of the year. Contents [hide] 1 Events 2 Births 3 Deaths 4 Holidays and observances 5 External links

[edit]Events

363 Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Sassanid capital, but is unable to take the city. 1167 Battle of Monte Porzio A Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel 1176 Battle of Legnano: The Lombard League defeats Emperor Frederick I. 1328 Philip VI is crowned King of France. 1414 Council of Constance. 1453 Fall of Constantinople: Ottoman armies under Sultan Mehmed II Fatih captures Constantinople after a 53-day siege, ending the Byzantine Empire. 1660 English Restoration: Charles II is restored to the throne of Great Britain. 1677 Treaty of Middle Plantation establishes peace between the Virginia colonists and the local Natives. 1727 Peter II becomes Tsar of Russia. 1733 The right of Canadians to keep Indian slaves is upheld at Quebec City. 1780 American Revolutionary War: At the Battle of Waxhaws, the British continue fighting after the Continentals lay down their arms, killing 113 and critically wounding all but 53 that remained. 1790 Rhode Island becomes the last of the original United States' colonies to ratify the Constitution and is admitted as the 13th U.S. state. 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion: Between 300 and 500 United Irishmen are massacred by the British Army in County Kildare, Ireland. 1848 Wisconsin is admitted as the 30th U.S. state. 1852 Jenny Lind left New York after her wildly successful two-year American tour. 1861 The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce was founded, in Hong Kong. 1864 Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico arrives in Mexico for the first time. 1867 The Ausgleich ("the Compromise") is born through Act 12, which establishes the AustroHungarian Empire. 1868 The assassination of Michael Obrenovich III, Prince of Serbia, in Belgrade.

1886 Chemist John Pemberton places his first advertisement for Coca-Cola, the ad appearing in the Atlanta Journal. 1900 N'Djamena is founded as Fort-Lamy by French commander mile Gentil 1903 May coup d'etat[disambiguation needed ]: Alexander Obrenovich, King of Serbia, and Queen Draga, are assassinated in Belgrade by the Black Hand (Crna Ruka) organization. 1913 Igor Stravinsky's ballet score The Rite of Spring receives its premiere performance in Paris, provoking a riot. 1914 Ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sinks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the loss of 1,024 lives. 1918 Armenia defeats the Ottoman Army in the Battle of Sardarapat. 1919 Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity is tested (later confirmed) by Arthur Eddington and Andrew Crommelin. 1919 The Republic of Prekmurje founded 1924 AEK Athens FC is established on the anniversary of the siege of Constantinople by the Turks. 1932 World War I Veterans begin to assemble in Washington, D.C. in the Bonus Army to request cash bonuses promised to them to be paid in 1945. 1939 Albanian fascist leader Tefik Mborja is appointed as member of the Italian Chamber of Fasces and Corporations. 1940 The first flight of the F4U Corsair. 1942 Bing Crosby, the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra record Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", the best-selling Christmas single in history. 1945 First combat mission of the Consolidated B-32 Dominator heavy bomber. 1948 Creation of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization 1950 The St. Roch, the first ship to circumnavigate North America, arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1953 Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on Tenzing Norgay's (adopted) 39th birthday. 1954 First of the annual Bilderberg conferences. 1964 The Arab League meets in East Jerusalem to discuss the Palestinian question, leading to the formation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

1969 General strike in Crdoba, Argentina, leading to the Cordobazo civil unrest. 1973 Tom Bradley is elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles, California. 1982 Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral. 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster: 39 association football fans die and hundreds are injured when a dilapidated retaining wall collapses. 1985 Amputee Steve Fonyo completes cross-Canada marathon at Victoria, British Columbia, after 14 months. 1988 U.S. President Ronald Reagan begins his first visit to the Soviet Union when he arrives in Moscow for a superpower summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. 1989 Signing of an agreement Egypt - U.S. manufacturing parts of the fighter F-16 in Egypt. 1990 The Russian parliament elects Boris Yeltsin president of the Russian SFSR. 1999 Olusegun Obasanjo takes office as President of Nigeria, the first elected and civilian head of state in Nigeria after 16 years of military rule. 1999 Space Shuttle Discovery completes the first docking with the International Space Station. 2001 U.S. Supreme Court rules that disabled golfer Casey Martin can use a cart to ride in tournaments. 2004 The World War II Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. [edit]Births

May 29 Events in History - May 29 Birthdays - May 29 Deaths

2011 2011 2005 1997

Malta becomes the last country in the European Union to legalize divorce More than 100,000 homes in Michigan lose power after powerful storms hit the state French reject a referendum on the E.U. constitution 70th National Spelling Bee: Rebecca Sealfon wins spelling euonym

1997 1996 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1993

Span scientists announce new human species in 780,000 year old fossil Space Shuttle STS-77 Endeavour 11 lands "Joseph and the Amazing" closes at Minskoff Theater New York City after 223 performances "Picnic" closes at Criterion Theater New York City after 45 performances Al Unser, Jr. wins 78th Indianapolis 500 in 3:06:29.006 (255.89 kph) Beth Daniel wins LPGA Corning Golf Classic Great comet-iceball seen above North sea Hungary's Socialist Party wins parliamentary election Patty Sheehan wins J C Penney/LPGA Skins Golf Game Nazi's kill 5 Turkish women in Solingen Germany

1993 Texas Ranger Jose Canseco pitches 8th inning in 15-1 loss to Red Sox, he gives up 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks, he damages his arm 1992 1992 1991 1991 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 1989 1989 1988 1988 New York Mets score in 9th to end home shut-out streak at 3 games White Sox Tim Raines swipes his 700th career base "Les Miserables," opens at ACTEA Theatre, Auckland New Zealand Crevena Zvezda wins 36th Europe Cup I An earthquake hit Peru, killing 56 Boris Yeltsin is elected president of the Russian republic Dow Jones avg hits a record 2,870.49 Mets replace manager Davey Johnson with Buddy Harrelson New York Mets fire manager Davey Johnson and hire Bud Harrelson Rickey Henderson steals record 893rd base, breaking Ty Cobb's record Phillies 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt, 39, retires Student protesters in China construct a replica of Statue of Liberty Graeme Hick scores his 1,000th run of 1st-class cricket season President Zia ul-Haq fires government/disbands parliament in Pakistan

1988 1987 1987 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1983 1982 1982 1981 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1979 1979 1978 1978 1978 1977 1977 1977

Sherri Turner wins LPGA Corning Golf Classic "Twilight Zone" director John Landis found innocent in death of actor Michael Jackson attempts to buy Elephant Man's remains Robin Ventura set a college baseball record with hits in 57 games 59th National Spelling Bee: Jon Pennington wins spelling odontalgia Juventus wins 30th Europe Cup 1 in Brussels, 39 die in riot Boston Red Sox retires #9 (Ted Williams) and #4 (Joe Cronin) Patty Sheehan wins LPGA Corning Golf Classic Yuri Dumchev of U.S.S.R. throws discus a record 71.86 m "I Know What Boys Like," by The Waitresses hits #62 Pentagon plans 1st strategy to fight a nuclear war U.S. performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site "Billy Bishop Goes to War" opens at Morosco Theater New York City for 12 performances 53rd National Spelling Bee: Jacques Bailly wins spelling elucubrate Attempted assassination on Vernon Jordan, Jr. National Urban League president J Turners "Juliet and Her Nurse" sold for $6,400,000 in New York City Larry Bird beats out Magic Johnson for NBA rookie of year Bishop Abel Muzorewa is sworn in as Zimbabwe's 1st black PM Radio's 1st rock network "Source" premieres 1st class postage now 15 cents (13 cents for 3 years) Nancy Lopez wins LPGA Golden Lights Golf Championship U.S.S.R. performs nuclear test at Semipalitinsk, Eastern Kazakhstan U.S.S.R. A. J. Foyt wins Indianapolis 500 for a record 4th time NBC News and Information Service (24 hour news) ends on radio Sandra Spuzich wins LPGA Lady Keystone Golf Open

1977 1977 1977 1976 1976 1974 1973

U.S.S.R. performs nuclear test at Semipalitinsk, Eastern Kazakhstan U.S.S.R. Janet Guthrie becomes 1st woman to drive in Indy 500 Sue Press is 1st woman golfer to hit consecutive holes-in one "One Piece At A Time" by Johnny Cash hits #29 Only home run of Joe Niekro's 22-year career, comes off brother Phil Northern Ireland is brought under direct rule from Westminster Thomas Bradley elected 1st black mayor of Los Angeles, California

1973 Columbia Records fires president Clive Davis for misappropriating $100,000 in funds, Davis will start Arista records 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1968 1968 1967 Sandra Palmer wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship Court Room by Clarence Carter hits #61 U.S.S.R. performs nuclear test (underground) Britain's Trans-Arctic expedition makes 1st crossing of Arctic Sea ice Manchester United wins 13rd Europe Cup 1 in London Truth in Lending Act signed into law U.N. resolves sanctions on white-minority-ruled Rhodesia Australian Paul McManus water skis barefoot for 1:30:19

1967 Pope Paul VI names 27 new cardinals, including Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Krakow, who later became Pope John Paul II 1966 1965 1962 1960 1959 1958 1957 Carol Mann wins LPGA Baton Rouge Ladies Golf Invitational Phillies Dick Allen hits 529' home run out of Connie Mack Stadium Barbra Streisand appears on "Garry Moore Show" Everly Brothers "Cathy's Clown" hits #1 Charles de Gaulle forms French government Real Madrid wins 3rd Europe Cup 1 in Brussels Algerian rebels kill 336 collaborators

1957

Laos government of prince Suvanna Phuma resigns

1957 New York City Mayor Robert Wagner says he plans to confer with the Giants and Dodgers about the proposed move to the west coast 1956 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1949 1946 1945 1944 1943 1943 1942 1940 1940 1940 1935 1928 1922 Arnold Schonberg's "Modern Psalm," premieres WESH TV channel 2 in Daytona Beach-Orlando, Florida (NBC) 1st broadcast Jordan government of Tewfik Abdul Huda resigns Kirk and Anne Douglas married Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norkay are 1st to reach summit of Everest 2nd Round Conference between Dutch Antilles and Suriname ends 1st North Pole flight in single engine plane-CF Blair Candid Camera, TV comedy Variety, moves to NBC KVP wins Provincial National election in Netherlands U.S. 1st Marine division conquerors Shuri-castle Okinawa British troops occupy Aprilia, Italy Confederacy of Algiers (Churchill-Marshall-Eisenhower) Meat and cheese rationed in U.S. Bing Crosby records "White Christmas," greatest selling record to date Adolf Kiefer swims world record 100 yards backstroke (58.8 sec) Arthur Seyss-Inquart installed as Reich commissar of Hague, Netherlands In WW II, Germans capture Ostend and Ypres in Belgium and Lille in France Hague local museum opens Fritz von Opel reaches 200 kph in experimental rocket car Ecuador becomes independent

1922 U.S. Supreme Court rules organized baseball is a sport and not a business and thus not subject to antitrust laws 1919 Charles Strite patents pop-up toaster

1919 1916 1916 1916 1914 1912 1911 1910 1909 1905 1902 1900 1900 1897 1889 1884 1874 1864 1861 1849

Einstein's light-bending prediction confirmed by Arthur Eddington New York Giants win 17th consecutive road game Official flag of president of U.S. adopted U.S. forces invade Dominican Republic, stay until 1924 Ship rams Canadian ship Empress of Ireland on St. Lawrence R; 1024 die 15 young women fired by Curtis Publishing for dancing "Turkey Trot" during their lunch break 1st running of Indianapolis 500 Pope's encyclical on Editae Saepe, against church reformers Frank "Home Run" Baker's 1st career home run Pogrom against Jewish community in Brisk Lithuania Dutch State Mine law forms 25th Preakness: H Spencer aboard Hindus wins in 1:48.4 Trademark "Escalator" registered by Otis Elevator Co 31st Belmont: J Scherrer aboard Scottish Cheiftain wins in 2:23 August Strindberg's "Hemsoborna," premieres in Copenhagen 1st steam cable trams start in highgate Present constitution of Switzerland takes effect Mexican Emperor Maximilian arrives at Vera Cruz Dorothea Dix offers help in setting up hospitals for Union Army Patent for lifting vessels granted to Abraham Lincoln

1849 Lincoln says "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and of people some of time, but you can't fool all of the people all of time" 1848 1848 1790 1787 Battle at Curtazone: Austrians beat Sardinia-Piemonte Wisconsin becomes 30th state Rhode Is becomes last of original 13 colonies ratifying Constitution "Virginia Plan" proposed

1765 Patrick Henry historic speech against the Stamp Act, answering a cry of "Treason!" with, "If this be treason, make the most of it!" 1753 1727 1721 1692 1692 1660 1652 1630 1576 1506 1453 1453 1415 1176 1167 1138 757 526 Joseph Haydns "Krumme Teufel," premieres Peter II Aleksei (11) becomes czar of Russia South Carolina formally incorporated as a royal colony Battle at La Hogue: English and Dutch fleet beat France Royal Hospital Founders Day 1st celebrated Charles II restored to English throne after Puritan Commonwealth English Admiral Robert Blake drives out Dutch fleet under lt-adm Tromp Governor John Winthrop begins "History of New England" Spanish army under Mondragon conquerors Zierik sea Earl Willem I van Nassau-Dillenburg weds countess Walburg van Egmont Constantinople falls to Muhammad II (Turks); ends Byzantine Empire French banker Jacques Coeurs possessions confiscated Council of Konstanz Battle at Legnano: Lombardi League beats Frederik Barbarossa Lombard League defeat Frederick Barbarossa at Battle of Legnano Anti-Pope Victor IV (Gregorio) overthrows self for Innocentius II St. Paul I begins his reign as Catholic Pope Antioch struck by Earthquake; about 250,000 die

Tuesday (May 29): "We have left everything and followed you" Scripture: Mark 10:28-31

28 Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and

brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first."

Meditation: What's the best investment you can make with your life? The gospel presents us with a paradox: we lose what we keep, and we gain what we give away. When we lose our lives for Jesus Christ, we gain a priceless treasure and an inheritance which lasts forever. Whatever we give to God comes back a hundredfold. Generosity flows from a heart full of gratitude for the abundant mercy and grace which God grants. Do you give freely and generously? And why do you give, for reward or for love?

Right after a wealthy young man refused to follow Jesus, Peter, somewhat crudely wanted to know what he and the other disciples would get out of it since they had freely accepted Jesusoffer to follow him unconditionally. Jesus spoke with utter honesty: Those who left all for him would receive a hundred times more now, even in this life, as well as unending life in the age to come. Jesusdisciples can expect opposition and persecution from those who are opposed to Christ and his gospel.

Should we be surprised if we lose favor and experience ridicule, intimidation, and injury when we take a stand for truth and righteousness? In place of material wealth, Jesus promised his disciples the blessing and joy of rich fellowship with the community of believers. No earthly good or possession can rival the joy and bliss of knowing God and the peace and unity he grants to his disciples. The Lord wants to fill our hearts with the vision of heaven and with his joy and peace. Do you know the joy of following the Lord as his disciple? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of the gospel and the knowledge of Gods personal love.

"Lord Jesus, I want to follow you as your disciple and to love you wholeheartedly with all that I have. Fill my heart with faith, hope, and love that I may always find peace and joy in your presence." Mark 10:28-31

A reflection on todays Sacred Scripture . . . .

Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (see Mark 10:31)

A friend, an unmarried lady with no living relatives, told me she had "adopted" a younger woman in need so that in her old age she would have someone to love and care for her. The fact is that genuine Godly love is always freely given, neither expecting nor extorting return for kindnesses rendered.

In Sirach we see that living in God means living in a love that is ever directed outwardly from self to others by treating them with truth, justice and cheerful generosity. These would be rewarded by God. Old Testament thinking took this to mean that such people would be given wealth and power.

In today's Gospel Peter reflects this latter thinking by asking Jesus what His disciples' "return" will be for their having sacrificed family, home and security for His kingdom. Jesus overturns the Old Testament idea; for He tells us this world is destined to pass away, but those following God's Word, though heirs to suffering, will gain for themselves and others far greater treasures that can last eternally.

Those who expend all their energies amassing wealth, power and fame, people this world considers the "first" will become so absorbed in keeping and adding to their possessions, that they will render themselves "last," those blind to God who is the giver of a life which transcends all our earthly weaknesses. Those willing to be liberated by Christ from sin, who are ready to learn how to participate in God's holiness by abandoning all selfishness and self-will can bring a bit of heaven into this world.

O Heavenly Father, giver of every good gift, make us seek bringing into this world Your greater wisdom, a deeply sincere and self-giving love and a clearer discernment of Your truths. Amen.

Commentary:

28-30. Jesus Christ requires every Christian to practise the virtue of poverty: He also requires us to practise real and effective austerity in the possession and use of material things. But of those who have received a specific call to apostolate--as in the case, here, of the Twelve--He requires absolute detachment from property, time, family, etc. so that they can be fully available, imitating Jesus Himself who,

despite being Lord of the universe, became so poor that He had nowhere to lay His head (cf. Mt 8:20). Giving up all these things for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven also relieves us of the burden they involve: like a soldier shedding some encumbrance before going into action, to be able to move with more agility. This gives one a certain lordship over all things: no longer the slave of things, one experiences that feeling St. Paul referred to: "As having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (2 Cor 6:10). A Christian who sheds his selfishness in this way has acquired charity and, having charity, he has everything: "All are yours; you are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (1 Cor 3:22-23).

The reward for investing completely in Christ will be fully obtained in eternal life: but we will also get it in this life. Jesus says that anyone who generously leaves behind his possessions will be rewarded a hundred times over in this life.

He adds "with persecutions" (v. 30) because opposition is part of the reward for giving things up out of love for Jesus Christ: a Christian's glory lies in becoming like the Son of God, sharing in His cross so as later to share in His glory: "provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him (Rom 8: 17); "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted' (2 Tim 3:12).

29. These words of our Lord particularly apply to those who by divine vocation embrace celibacy, giving up their right to form a family on earth. By saying "for My sake and for the Gospel" Jesus indicates that His example and the demands of His teaching give full meaning to this way of life: "This, then, is the mystery of

the newness of Christ, of all that He is and stands for; it is the sum of the highest ideals of the Gospel and of the Kingdom; it is a particular manifestation of grace, which springs from the paschal mystery of the Savior and renders the choice of celibacy desirable and worthwhile on the part of those called by our Lord Jesus. Thus, they intend not only to participate in Christ's priestly office, but also to share with Him His very condition of living" (Paul VI, "Sacerdotalis Coelibatus", 23).