Sunday, February 20, 2022 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

MARY AND THE SAINTS WHO WILL GUIDE AND ASSIST US

We stand on the shoulders of giants. A great cloud of witnesses preceded us and are with us today. May the saints – officially recognized, as well as our ancestors who are surely with God in heaven – intercede for us. We especially call upon the following saints in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee:

• St. Michael the Archangel (Primary patron of the diocese): Defender of the faith, conqueror of the devil and protec-tor of the faithful.
•  St. Thomas More (Co-Patron of the Diocese): Married layperson, lawyer. Was passionate about defending and pro-moting the Catholic faith, even unto martyrdom.
•  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Co-patron of the diocese): First citizen of the United States to be canonized and founded many schools and academies for the promotion of the Catholic faith.
• St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Patroness of missionaries): Even though she remained in the convent for most of her reli-gious life, she had a heart for evangelization, and therefore she encouraged many through her prayer and writings.
• Servant of God Antonio Cuipa and Companions, Martyrs of La Florida: Native Americans and missionaries who embraced the faith and laid down their lives for the faith – right here in what is now our diocese. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” (Tertullian, 2nd century).
• Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman (Jackson, MS): Convert to Catholicism and religious sister, dedicated to sharing the joy of the Gospel – especially with her African-American sisters and brothers. Worked for racial harmony and inspired millions to embrace the faith and live it well.
• St. Andrew Dũng-Lac and the Vietnamese Martyrs: One hundred seventeen missionaries, catechists, clerics and laypeople, who died for the faith in Vietnam.
• St. Joseph: Faithful (earthly) father for Jesus and spouse of Mary. In this, the Year of St. Joseph, we call upon this great saint to inspire us to carry the Gospel to all nations.
• Mary, the Mother of God: After receiving the news of the incarnation from the angel Gabriel, Mary went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth and to share the good news of salvation. She followed Jesus faithfully, shared in his suffering, rejoiced in his resurrection and received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with the Apostles. Perhaps her words at the Wedding at Cana are most appropriate for us today, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)

Questions for reflection:

• Do you have a patron saint or namesake or confirmation name? How is that name/saint significant to you?
  
• Name one saint and one of his or her qualities that you strive to be like.
  
• What saint do you admire for his/ her evangelizing methods?
  

Bishop William A. Wack