Oh my! We celebrate the feast day of three Saints:
St. Paulinus Of Nola, Bishop died in 431. You can read about him here http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5329
St. John Fisher
It is also the feast day of the great martyrs St. John Fisher, and St. Thomas Moore. They were both beheaded in 1535 by King Henry VIII because they refused to disobey the Pope and allow him to divorce and re-marry.
We know the most about St. More because of his letters, and the movie “A Man for All Seasons” (clip embedded below).
St. Thomas More
I will not mistrust him, Meg, though I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how Saint Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to him for help. And then I trust he shall place his holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.
And finally, Margaret, I know this well: that without my fault he will not let me be lost. I shall, therefore, with good hope commit myself wholly to him. And if he permits me to perish for my faults, then I shall serve as praise for his justice. But in good faith, Meg, I trust that his tender pity shall keep my poor soul safe and make me commend his mercy.
And, therefore, my own good daughter, do not let your mind be troubled over anything that shall happen to me in this world. Nothing can come but what God wills. And I am very sure that whatever that be, however bad it may seem, it shall indeed be the best. (Office of Readings June 22)
Read more here: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/950/Letter_of_St_Thomas_More_to_His_Daughter_Margaret.html
Here is a scene from A Man for All Seasons a movie about St. Thomas More:
Prayer (From the Office of Readings)
Father,
You confirm the true faith
With the crown of martyrdom.
May the prayers of Saints John fisher and Thomas More
Give us the courage to proclaim our faith
By the witness of our lives.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
A Deacon's Wife 
This is a reminder to me to trust God in all things. I cannot imagine facing sure death and still loving God. I carry a cross daily and ask it to be taken from me. Perhaps I should change my pleas. I have not learned to suffer in silence or to bear the cross with pride. Thank goodness I still have time to perfect my nature!
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LeAnn,
When Deacon and I were going through difficult times a few years ago, I felt as if God was picking on us. Now I realize that God was preparing my husband to live the life of a deacon; he was preparing me to be a deacon’s wife. We can’t learn to suffer with love and joy, without God’s grace. I used to really, really, really hate it when my Mom said, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” But as Monsignor said to me once, if God gives you trials, he has to give you the strength and grace to handle it. LeAnn we are all unfinished Christians. Just keep on swimming!
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I used to think when I herd of people going thru trails I would never be able to handle that, but I have been able to but not because of me but only because I have God… no way would I have been able to handle the illness of my dad or the deaths of very close uncles if I did not have God to lean on and all of you praying for me and my family…
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