FEASTS OF THE DAY

12 June, 2025 - Thursday

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FEASTS OF THE DAY

THURSDAY, 12 JUNE, 2025

1) FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

2) SAINT JOHN OF SAN FACUNDO (SAHAGUN)
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1) FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

The Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest is a Roman Catholic feast that is celebrated on the Thursday following Pentecost and is celebrated locally in England, Wales, Poland, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Spain.
 
The feast focuses on Jesus' priestly office, which is Latin for Munus sacerdotale or emphasizes Jesus' role as priest, offering himself as a sacrifice for all. Pope Pius XII wrote about this aspect of Jesus' ministry in his encyclical, Mediator Dei: Christ is a Priest indeed; however, he is a Priest not for himself but for us, since, in the name of the whole human race, he brings our prayers and religious dispositions to the eternal Father; he is also a victim, but a victim for us, since he substitutes himself for sinners.
 
While this feast is only celebrated in certain parts of the world, we can still participate in it as there does exist in the current Roman Missal a votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, which can be celebrated during Ordinary Time when there is not an obligatory memorial on a specific day.
 
The feast was first approved in 1987 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
 
PRAYER: O God, who for your glory and the salvation of the human race willed to establish Christ as the eternal High Priest, grant that the people he has gained for you by his Blood may, through their participation in his memorial, experience the power of his Cross and Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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2) SAINT JOHN OF SAN FACUNDO (SAHAGUN)

CONFESSOR

(1419 - 1479)

Born the oldest son of John Gonzalez de Castrillo and Sancia Martinez, John was raised in a pious and well-to-do family. He was educated by Benedictines at Fagondez abbey at Sahagun. John was ordained in 1445 and held several benefices in the diocese of Burgos, Spain.

Unlike many of his class who took their vocation as a profession, John felt a true call to service and a holy life, and he gave most of the proceeds from his benefices to the poor. Following a grave illness and major surgery, he became an Augustinian canon at Salamanca, joining on June 18, 1463, and making his final profession on August 28, 1464. He became the Novice-master in the order. St. John would later become the prior of the order in Salamanca in 1471.

He is noted for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; during Mass, he often saw the Host surrounded by light and sometimes had visions of the bodily form of Christ at the moment of consecration. His devotion, and his visions, often led to some very lengthy Masses. He was reported to levitate during his prayers. St. John could read hearts in confession, and became a sought-after spiritual director. He was a great preacher whose sermons helped change social conditions in Salamanca. His sermons against sinful living conditions, and in support of the rights and dignity of workers brought him the opposition of some local leaders. A duke at Alba de Tormes hired assassins to stop him, but they recognized John's holiness, and would not touch him, confessed to him, and asked forgiveness. The duke later fell ill and was healed by John's prayers. Some local women, however, were not so concerned; when he preached against wasting resources on extravagant fashions, some of them threw stones at him in the street.

Miracles were attributed to Father John's intervention, before and after his death. One occurred in Salamanca when a small child fell into a well. The locals made every effort but could not orchestra a rescue. They sent for Father John who went to the scene, laid his waistband on stone wall of the well, and prayed that the waters return the child. The well water rose to ground level, floating the child to safety.

He died on June 11, 1479, possibly from poisoning. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690. Let us seek out his intercession this day and always.

PATRON: Salamanca in Spain.

PRAYER: O God, you are the author of peace and the source of love who conferred on Your blessed confessor John the wondrous gift of being able to reconcile enemies. May his merits and prayers root us in Your love so that we may never be tempted to separate ourselves from You. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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