August
25
ST.
LOUIS OF FRANCE
St. Louis was born on April 25, 1214. His father was King
Louis VIII of France and his mother was Queen Blanche. The
story is told that when Prince Louis was small, his mother
hugged him tightly. 
August 26
ST.
ELIZABETH BICHIER
St. Elizabeth was born in 1773. As a little girl, her favorite
game was building castles in the sand. Many years later, this
holy French woman had to take charge of building convents
for the order of nuns she founded.
August
27
ST.
MONICA
St. Monica, the famous mother of St. Augustine, was born in
332 in Tagaste, northern Africa. She was brought up as a good
Christian. Her strong training was a great help to her when
she married the pagan Patricius.
August
28
ST.
AUGUSTINE
St. Augustine was born in Tagaste in modern Algeria on November
13, 354. This famous son of St. Monica spent many years in
wicked living and in false beliefs. He was one of the most
intelligent persons who ever lived.
August
29
BEHEADING
OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
St. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus. His mother was
St. Elizabeth and his father was Zechariah. The first chapter
of Luke's Gospel tells of the wonderful event of John's birth.
Mark's Gospel, chapter 6:14-29, records the cruel details
of John the Baptist's death. What harsh consequences John
accepted for teaching the truth.
August
30
ST.
PAMMACHIUS
St. Pammachius was a distinguished Christian layman who lived
in the fourth century. As a young student, he had become friends
with St. Jerome. They remained friends all their lives and
kept an ongoing correspondence.
August
31
ST.
AIDAN
St. Aidan was a seventh-century Irish monk. He lived at the
great monastery of Iona, which St. Columban had founded. St.
Oswald became king of North England in 634.
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“Why
did Jesus, the sinless one sent from the Father in heaven, submit
himself to John’s baptism? John preached a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3). In this humble submission
we see a foreshadowing of the “baptism” of Jesus bloody
death upon the cross. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and
the beginning of his mission as God’s suffering Servant (Isaiah
52:13-15; 53:1-12). He allowed himself to be numbered among sinners.
Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s will. Out
of love he consented to this baptism of death for the remission
of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust and submission to God?
