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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Helena, mother of Constantine, died around 330
Tuesday, May 21
Influenced by her son to become Christian, Helena (or Helen) lived an exemplary life of faith. She is also remembered for traveling through Palestine building churches on the sites she believed to be associated with Christ's life.
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Friday, May 24, 2013
Nicolaus Copernicus, died 1543; Leonhard Euler, died 1783; scientists
Friday, May 24
These two men were both scientists who helped to explain the wonders of God's universe. Copernicus is best known for promoting the idea that the sun, not the earth, is at the center of our solar system. Euler was one of the founders of pure mathematics, and contributed to many other fields.
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Monday, May 27, 2013
John Calvin, renewer of the church, died 1564
Monday, May 27
Gifted both as a systematic theologian and as an interpreter of scriptures, Calvin embraced the Reformation, and as a preacher in Geneva, Switzerland, brought a theocratic government to it. He is regarded as the father of the Reformed churches.
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Jiri Tranovsky, hymnwriter, died 1637
Wednesday, May 29
Tranovsky is considered to be the father of Slovak hymnody as well as an important reformer of the Slavic church. He translated the Augsburg Confession (the basis of Lutheran teachings) and published a collection of Slovak hymns.
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Friday, May 31, 2013
Visit of Mary to Elizabeth
Friday, May 31
This festival marks the occasion when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth who was herself pregnant with John. Elizabeth pronounced Mary "blessed among women," and Mary responded with the song called the Magnificat.
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Saturday, June 1, 2013
Justin, martyr at Rome, died around 165
Saturday, June 1
Born of pagan parents, Justin was influenced by an elderly Christian in Ephesus. He became a teacher of philosophy and the Christian faith. Jailed for practicing an unauthorized religion, he refused to renounce his faith and was beheaded.
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Monday, June 3, 2013
John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, died 1963
Monday, June 3
When elected pope, the former Angelo Roncalli was expected to be a short-term caretaker. He showed great spirit, though, and convened the Second Vatican Council which helped bring great changes to Roman Catholic and other churches.
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Monday, June 3, 2013
The Martyrs of Uganda, died 1886
Monday, June 3
On June 3, 1886, thirty-two young men were burned to death for refusing to renounce Christianity. The confident manner in which these Christians went to their deaths contributed to a much stronger Christian presence in Uganda.
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