Saint Joseph Catholic Church

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Basilides (d. 304), an early Roman martyr under the persecutions of Diocletian. Tradition holds he was born to the imperial Roman nobility and a soldier, possibly an officer.

“I thank you for your lives given in service to the Kingdom,” Pope Leo XIV told the priests and deacons of the Rome diocese at a June 12 meeting.

In an upbeat address, the Holy Father emphasized the need for unity in the lives of the clergy: unity with Jesus Christ, with each other, and with the Church. He recognized that “this communion is today hindered by a cultural climate that promotes isolation or self-reference.”

Pope Leo assured the clerics of Rome that “I would like to help you, to walk with you, so that each one may regain serenity in his ministry; but precisely for this, I ask you for a renewed effort in priestly fraternity, which is rooted in a solid spiritual life, in the encounter with the Lord and in listening to His Word.”

Today is the Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle, who was designated by the Holy Spirit to share the charge and mission of the twelve Apostles, is venerated by the Church as one of them. He played an important part in the first extension of Christianity outside the Jewish world. It was Barnabas who presented St. Paul to the other Apostles when, after his long retreat in Arabia, he came to Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion to submit for Peter's approval the mission to the Gentiles entrusted to him by the Master Himself. Barnabas was Paul's companion and helper on his first missionary journey and returned with him to Jerusalem, but left him when he set out on his second journey and went to Cyprus. The name of St. Barnabas is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass.

Pope Leo will impose the pallium on new archbishops during Mass on June 29, restoring a tradition that was discontinued by Pope Francis in 2015.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Landericus, or St. Landry (d. 661), who was the Bishop of Paris from 650 to his death. He is best remembered as the founder of the first hospital in Paris, known as Hotel-Dieu.

In 2018 Pope Francis decreed that the ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, be inserted into the Roman Calendar. The liturgical celebration, B. Mariæ Virginis, Ecclesiæ Matris, will be celebrated annually as a Memorial on the day after Pentecost.

The Solemnity of Pentecost (Whitsunday), with Christmas and Easter, ranks among the greatest feasts of Christianity. It commemorates not only the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Mary and Disciples, but also the fruits and effects of that event: the completion of the work of redemption, the fullness of grace for the Church and its children, and the gift of faith for all nations.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Robert of Newminster (1100-1159). He was born at Gargrave in Yorkshire. He spent the early years of his priesthood as rector of his hometown but later joined the Benedictine community at Whitby. In 1132 he helped to establish Fountains Abbey which embraced the Cistercian rule of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Fountains was to have a daughter abbey at Newminster near Morpeth and Robert became the first abbot in 1138/9. He died on June 7, 1159.

Today is the Optional Memorial of St. Norbert (1080-1134). Norbert was born at Xanten near Cologne about the year 1080. As a young cleric he resided at the court of the Archbishop of Cologne and then at that of the emperor where he allowed himself to be influenced by the spirit of the world. But he was won back by grace; caught by a storm during a journey on horseback he made up his mind to take his clerical obligations seriously. After ordination to the priesthood he devoted himself to itinerant preaching.