6th Sunday after Pentecost 2013

The words of St. Elizabeth, combined with the words of the angel Gabriel, are recited everyday by Catholics when praying the Hail Mary. These words of praise are recited repeatedly to acknowledge the Blessed Virgin’s plenitude of grace and the great privilege of her divine maternity. St. Elizabeth was possessed of the virtues of magnanimity and munificence, and one might call her the patron saint of all those who have little to give but still desire to give all to God. The important Order of the Visitation was inspired by this saint and her great generosity of heart.

Although the Sunday takes precedence, today is normally the continuation of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. They were held in custody in the Mamertine Prison in Rome before their martyrdom. These two men are the pillars of our Faith because of their proclamation of the Gospel and the Divinity of Our Lord. All the teachings that have been imparted to us came, in a special way, from these men. The Church is a visible structure that outwardly expresses Christ’s authority, not merely existing in the hearts of believers. Rome was chosen as the headquarters of the True Church, because God desired that the capital of the devil’s power on Earth should be overthrown in the establishment of His earthly kingdom. This fledgling Church was watered by the blood of St. Peter so that it could flourish throughout the world.
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